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Test results (raw scores) are composed of an unknown true score and an error term. The error term can be estimated by means of test reliability which is defined by the ratio of true variance and obtained variance. Different estimates of reliability either based on single measurements (e. g. Cronbach's coefficient, split half reliability, Kuder Richardson method) or two measurements (test/retest, inter- or intrarater reliability) are available. Parallel test reliability depends on the correlation of two different tests obtained in one session. Canonical correlation methods allow an extension of the parallel test situation and split half technique. Two or more tests are performed in a sample of subjects. Randomized subsets are correlated using canonical correlation technique. The objective of this study is to estimate the homogeneity of test batteries. 94 patients (64 f, 30 m; age: 54 - 89 ys.) supposed to have dementia were tested using the clocktest (CT, scores: 1 - 5), MMSE (mini mental state examination) and SKT (Syndrom Kurztest). Four (i, j: 1 - 4) subsets of 20 patients each were determined by random and the following characteristics were calculated: Empiric correlation coefficient for n = 94 (R), canonical correlation coefficient (Rcan), eigenvalues (EV) and redundancy (Rnd) of corresponding variable sets. The results of canonical analysis showed canonical correlation coefficients in order of 0.8 to 0.9 (p-values < 0,001). This high internal consistency can be interpreted as a measure of reliability of the test batteries. In conclusion, canonical correlation based on parallel tests splitted in subsets gives information on consistency, i. e. reliability, of test batteries in addition to conventional correlation methods.

The concept of frontotemporal lobar degeneration comprises a heterogenous group of cortical dementias, including frontotemporal dementia, as the major clinical variant. Because of their highly variable clinical presentation, to establish the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia could be a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. Here we report a 53 years old caucasian male patient who was admitted for hospitalization due to acute severe schizophrenia-like symptoms. The leading symptomatology comprised acoustic and bizarre optical hallucinations with euphoria and self-overestimation. Remission of the psychotic symptoms demasked the clinical picture of a rapidly progressive frontotemporal dementia with marked apathy, indifference, emotional blunting, loss of insight, change of personality and typical cognitive impairment. The diagnosis was supported by the results of cerebral MRI and FDG-18 PET. This first clinical manifestation of a schizophrenia-like syndrome in the 6 (th) life decade implicates frontotemporal dementia as an important differential diagnosis of schizophrenic disorders in late life. In addition of basically thinking about frontotemporal dementia, a detailed medical history, cognitive testing, neuroimaging and eventually the evaluation of the further disease course are necessary to establish a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

OBJECTIVE [corrected] To evaluate tau-associated genetic polymorphisms in patients with sporadic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and healthy control subjects. METHOD Tau-gene sequence of 30 patients with FTD and 30 healthy controls was analysed by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR). Subsequent sequencing was performed to identify exonic and intronic differences between both groups. RESULTS The following polypmorphisms, which are localized closely to each exon-intron-border, have been identified: In 37 % (n = 11) of the control subjects three different intronic polymorphisms occur simultaneously (Intron 2, 263, C --> Y; Intron 3, 590, A --> R; Intron 11, 150, G --> A). In the FTD group, this coexistance has been observed only in 17 % (n = 5). CONCLUSIONS In how far there exists a significant correlation between the newly identified triple polymorphism in the Tau gene and an alternated risk for FTD must be evaluated in a lager population. The proximity of these polymorphisms to the exon-intron border would facilitate functional influences on gene expression patterns. These preliminary results described, above potentially point to further pathogenetic factors in the genesis of FTD.

The diurnal variation of pain threshold was studied in 13 healthy volunteers (age: 21 - 27 ys) using the tourniquet pain model. A tourniquet was inflated above systolic blood pressure for 1 minute and pain scores and heart rate were recorded at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 minutes. The test was repeated during a study day at 6.00 h, 12.00 h, 18.00 h and 24.00 h. Significant differences of pain scores between clocktimes were found 1 minutes after inflation and after 1.5 minutes with regard to heart rate. Generally, the highest pain scores were found at 24.00 h.

OBJECTIVE To describe differences in cerebral glucose metabolism between frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS 14 patients with FTLD (7 f/7 m, mean age 60.1 years) and 14 patients with AD (7 f/7 m, mean age 59.5 years) were examined. [18F]FDG positron emission tomography (PET) scans were analysed with statistical nonparametric mapping (SnPM) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM99). RESULTS Significant decreases in glucose metabolism in FTLD compared to AD were detected in the left insula/left inferior frontal gyrus (Brodman area [BA]13, 45 and 47) and in the medial frontal gyrus bilaterally (BA10). A significant decrease in AD compared to FTLD was identified in the right middle temporal gyrus (BA39). CONCLUSION Cerebral PET could be a promising tool to discriminate FTLD from AD.

Schizophrenic disorders as well as neuroleptic treatment can affect locomotion. The study assessed the influence of neuroleptic treatment on externally triggered gait on a treadmill at three different velocities via ultrasonic topometric gait analysis. Spatial and temporal gait parameters were assessed in two groups of schizophrenic patients either under treatment with conventional neuroleptics (n = 12) or without neuroleptic treatment (n = 10) and re-assessed after treatment change to the atypical neuroleptic olanzapine in a repeated measures design. After switch from conventional neuroleptics to olanzapine patients showed an increase of step length and decrease of cadence at the low (p

Caregiver counselling is an indispensable feature of current concepts for dementia treatment. Self-support groups and psychoeducative programms for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease may reduce the burden of nursing and psychological strain. Specific caregiver needs from patients with frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD [frontotemporal dementia, semantic dementia, progressive aphasia, corticobasal degeneration]) are only partially taken into account. We conducted a German wide epidemiologic study which revealed that specific counselling for supporting relatives and caregivers of patients with FTLD is only fragmentary in hospital services for old age psychiatry. In most cases, they are referred to the local Alzheimer's disease Associations (89 %). Besides that, the existence of large hospital care units has significant negative repercussions on psychosocial supply for caregivers of patients with FTLD. To establish decentralized support units by these hospitals would lead to a significant improvement of medical and social care in this field.

The total number per month of prescribed antibiotics or psychiatric drugs during one year (1998) was assessed by means of sine wave models [Y(t) = M + A x sin(2 x pi x t/tau + Phi)]. M (no. of prescriptions per month) denotes mean frequency over one period, A (no. per month) denotes amplitude, tau (month) corresponds to the period and Phi (month) to the phase of the fitted curve. Data were evaluated descriptively and chronograms including 95 %-confidence limits were given. Significant nonlinear regression models could be calculated for amoxicillin, paroxetine, citalopram, amitriptyline and buspirone prescription behaviour. Both circannual and ultra-annual (period shorter than one year) rhythms of prescription were found. Peak values for antibiotic drug prescription during fall and winter is probably associated with higher incidence of infectious diseases. Antidepressant drug prescription has maxima in spring and fall, which is in keeping with the epidemiology of depressive disorders. The seasonality of buspirone prescription may reflect a basic periodicity of anxiety disorders. In conclusion, the chronopharmaco-epidemiological data of antibiotic and antidepressant drug prescription with circannual and ultra-annual rhythms may reflect the periodicity of infectious and psychiatric diseases.

The diurnal variation of pain threshold was studied in 13 healthy volunteers (age: 21 - 27 ys) using the tourniquet pain model. A tourniquet was inflated above systolic blood pressure for 1 minute and pain scores and heart rate were recorded at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 minutes. The test was repeated during a study day at 6.00 h, 12.00 h, 18.00 h and 24.00 h. Significant differences of pain scores between clocktimes were found 1 minutes after inflation and after 1.5 minutes with regard to heart rate. Generally, the highest pain scores were found at 24.00 h.

[corrected] To evaluate tau-associated genetic polymorphisms in patients with sporadic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and healthy control subjects.Tau-gene sequence of 30 patients with FTD and 30 healthy controls was analysed by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR). Subsequent sequencing was performed to identify exonic and intronic differences between both groups.The following polypmorphisms, which are localized closely to each exon-intron-border, have been identified: In 37 % (n = 11) of the control subjects three different intronic polymorphisms occur simultaneously (Intron 2, 263, C --Y; Intron 3, 590, A --R; Intron 11, 150, G --A). In the FTD group, this coexistance has been observed only in 17 % (n = 5).In how far there exists a significant correlation between the newly identified triple polymorphism in the Tau gene and an alternated risk for FTD must be evaluated in a lager population. The proximity of these polymorphisms to the exon-intron border would facilitate functional influences on gene expression patterns. These preliminary results described, above potentially point to further pathogenetic factors in the genesis of FTD.

Caregiver counselling is an indispensable feature of current concepts for dementia treatment. Self-support groups and psychoeducative programms for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease may reduce the burden of nursing and psychological strain. Specific caregiver needs from patients with frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD [frontotemporal dementia, semantic dementia, progressive aphasia, corticobasal degeneration]) are only partially taken into account. We conducted a German wide epidemiologic study which revealed that specific counselling for supporting relatives and caregivers of patients with FTLD is only fragmentary in hospital services for old age psychiatry. In most cases, they are referred to the local Alzheimer's disease Associations (89 %). Besides that, the existence of large hospital care units has significant negative repercussions on psychosocial supply for caregivers of patients with FTLD. To establish decentralized support units by these hospitals would lead to a significant improvement of medical and social care in this field.

Schizophrenic disorders as well as neuroleptic treatment can affect locomotion. The study assessed the influence of neuroleptic treatment on externally triggered gait on a treadmill at three different velocities via ultrasonic topometric gait analysis. Spatial and temporal gait parameters were assessed in two groups of schizophrenic patients either under treatment with conventional neuroleptics (n = 12) or without neuroleptic treatment (n = 10) and re-assessed after treatment change to the atypical neuroleptic olanzapine in a repeated measures design. After switch from conventional neuroleptics to olanzapine patients showed an increase of step length and decrease of cadence at the low (p/= 0.01) and the intermediately low treadmill velocity (p/= 0.05), whereas the parameters remained stable at the normal gait velocity. Significant differences between the untreated state and treatment with olanzapine were not detectable. We conclude that conventional neuroleptic treatment impairs the regulation of gait parameters and that this effect can be reversed at slow gait velocities by external stimulation via treadmill walking.

The total number per month of prescribed antibiotics or psychiatric drugs during one year (1998) was assessed by means of sine wave models [Y(t) = M + A x sin(2 x pi x t/tau + phi)]. M (no. of prescriptions per month) denotes mean frequency over one period, A (no. per month) denotes amplitude, tau (month) corresponds to the period and phi (month) to the phase of the fitted curve. Data were evaluated descriptively and chronograms including 95%-confidence limits were given. Significant nonlinear regression models could be calculated for amoxicillin, paroxetine, citalopram, amitriptyline and buspirone prescription behaviour. Both circannual and ultra-annual (period shorter than one year) rhythms of prescription were found. Peak values for antibiotic drug prescription during fall and winter is probably associated with higher incidence of infectious diseases. Antidepressant drug prescription has maxima in spring and fall, which is in keeping with the epidemiology of depressive disorders. The seasonality of buspirone prescription may reflect a basic periodicity of anxiety disorders. In conclusion, the chronopharmaco-epidemiological data of antibiotic and antidepressant drug prescription with circannual and ultra-annual rhythms may reflect the periodicity of infectious and psychiatric diseases.

The concept of frontotemporal lobar degeneration comprises a heterogenous group of cortical dementias, including frontotemporal dementia, as the major clinical variant. Because of their highly variable clinical presentation, to establish the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia could be a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. Here we report a 53 years old caucasian male patient who was admitted for hospitalization due to acute severe schizophrenia-like symptoms. The leading symptomatology comprised acoustic and bizarre optical hallucinations with euphoria and self-overestimation. Remission of the psychotic symptoms demasked the clinical picture of a rapidly progressive frontotemporal dementia with marked apathy, indifference, emotional blunting, loss of insight, change of personality and typical cognitive impairment. The diagnosis was supported by the results of cerebral MRI and FDG-18 PET. This first clinical manifestation of a schizophrenia-like syndrome in the 6th life decade implicates frontotemporal dementia as an important differential diagnosis of schizophrenic disorders in late life. In addition of basically thinking about frontotemporal dementia, a detailed medical history, cognitive testing, neuroimaging and eventually the evaluation of the further disease course are necessary to establish a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

Test results (raw scores) are composed of an unknown true score and an error term. The error term can be estimated by means of test reliability which is defined by the ratio of true variance and obtained variance. Different estimates of reliability either based on single measurements (e. g. Cronbach's coefficient, split half reliability, Kuder Richardson method) or two measurements (test/retest, inter- or intrarater reliability) are available. Parallel test reliability depends on the correlation of two different tests obtained in one session. Canonical correlation methods allow an extension of the parallel test situation and split half technique. Two or more tests are performed in a sample of subjects. Randomized subsets are correlated using canonical correlation technique. The objective of this study is to estimate the homogeneity of test batteries. 94 patients (64 f, 30 m; age: 54 - 89 ys.) supposed to have dementia were tested using the clocktest (CT, scores: 1 - 5), MMSE (mini mental state examination) and SKT (Syndrom Kurztest). Four (i, j: 1 - 4) subsets of 20 patients each were determined by random and the following characteristics were calculated: Empiric correlation coefficient for n = 94 (R), canonical correlation coefficient (Rcan), eigenvalues (EV) and redundancy (Rnd) of corresponding variable sets. The results of canonical analysis showed canonical correlation coefficients in order of 0.8 to 0.9 (p-values0,001). This high internal consistency can be interpreted as a measure of reliability of the test batteries. In conclusion, canonical correlation based on parallel tests splitted in subsets gives information on consistency, i. e. reliability, of test batteries in addition to conventional correlation methods.

The total number per month of prescribed antibiotics or psychiatric drugs during one year (1998) was assessed by means of sine wave models [Y(t) = M + A x sin(2 x pi x t/tau + Phi)]. M (no. of prescriptions per month) denotes mean frequency over one period, A (no. per month) denotes amplitude, tau (month) corresponds to the period and Phi (month) to the phase of the fitted curve. Data were evaluated descriptively and chronograms including 95 %-confidence limits were given. Significant nonlinear regression models could be calculated for amoxicillin, paroxetine, citalopram, amitriptyline and buspirone prescription behaviour. Both circannual and ultra-annual (period shorter than one year) rhythms of prescription were found. Peak values for antibiotic drug prescription during fall and winter is probably associated with higher incidence of infectious diseases. Antidepressant drug prescription has maxima in spring and fall, which is in keeping with the epidemiology of depressive disorders. The seasonality of buspirone prescription may reflect a basic periodicity of anxiety disorders. In conclusion, the chronopharmaco-epidemiological data of antibiotic and antidepressant drug prescription with circannual and ultra-annual rhythms may reflect the periodicity of infectious and psychiatric diseases.

The concept of frontotemporal lobar degeneration comprises a heterogenous group of cortical dementias, including frontotemporal dementia, as the major clinical variant. Because of their highly variable clinical presentation, to establish the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia could be a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. Here we report a 53 years old caucasian male patient who was admitted for hospitalization due to acute severe schizophrenia-like symptoms. The leading symptomatology comprised acoustic and bizarre optical hallucinations with euphoria and self-overestimation. Remission of the psychotic symptoms demasked the clinical picture of a rapidly progressive frontotemporal dementia with marked apathy, indifference, emotional blunting, loss of insight, change of personality and typical cognitive impairment. The diagnosis was supported by the results of cerebral MRI and FDG-18 PET. This first clinical manifestation of a schizophrenia-like syndrome in the 6 (th) life decade implicates frontotemporal dementia as an important differential diagnosis of schizophrenic disorders in late life. In addition of basically thinking about frontotemporal dementia, a detailed medical history, cognitive testing, neuroimaging and eventually the evaluation of the further disease course are necessary to establish a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.