Benzodiazepine partially reverses tonic-clonic seizures induced by thiocolchicoside

Seizures are a disorder caused by structural brain lesions, life-threatening metabolic derangements, or drug toxicity. The present study describes the behavior related to proconvulsant activity induced by thiocolchicoside (TCC) in rats and investigates the electrocorticographic patterns of this behavior and the effectiveness of classic antiepileptic drugs used to control these seizures. Forty-nine adult male Wistar rats were used and divided into two phases of our experimental design: 1) evaluation of seizure-related behavior and electrocorticographic patterns induced by TCC and 2) evaluation of the efficacy of classical antiepileptic drugs to control the proconvulsive activity caused by TCC. Our results showed that TCC induced tonic-clonic seizures that caused changes in electrocorticographic readings, characteristic of convulsive activity, with average amplitude greater than that induced by pentylenetetrazole. Treatment with anticonvulsants, especially diazepam, reduced the electrocorticographic outbreaks induced by TCC. The results suggested that TCC caused seizures with increased power in brain oscillations up to 40 Hz and that diazepam may partially reverse the effects.

Looking for the disorder in conduct disorder

Besides their well-known externalizing behavior, children with conduct disorder (CD) often have additional impairments outside the criteria for the CD diagnosis. In a 5-year study of 984 treated children (ages 5-17 years), those with CD had an average of 2.2 primary diagnoses. Children with CD showed the worst problem and impairment scores in comparison with 11 common diagnoses. Compared with other treated children, children with CD achieved worse scores on 14 of 15 syndromes, including internalizing problems such as withdrawal and major depression. The average child with CD had larger relapse scores in the 1.5- to 3-year period after admission to treatment. This pattern, pervasive at intake and chronic in course, resembles a global disability more than a circumscribed problem managed with a narrow range of treatments specific to it.

Looking for the disorder in conduct disorder

Besides their well-known externalizing behavior, children with conduct disorder (CD) often have additional impairments outside the criteria for the CD diagnosis. In a 5-year study of 984 treated children (ages 5-17 years), those with CD had an average of 2.2 primary diagnoses. Children with CD showed the worst problem and impairment scores in comparison with 11 common diagnoses. Compared with other treated children, children with CD achieved worse scores on 14 of 15 syndromes, including internalizing problems such as withdrawal and major depression. The average child with CD had larger relapse scores in the 1.5- to 3-year period after admission to treatment. This pattern, pervasive at intake and chronic in course, resembles a global disability more than a circumscribed problem managed with a narrow range of treatments specific to it.

The Fort Bragg continuum of care for children and adolescents: mental health outcomes over 5 years

Controversial early results of the Fort Bragg mental-health-effectiveness study indicated that the continuum of care did not produce better outcomes (i.e., children's rate of improvement was the same in both the demonstration and comparison sites). The present study considered outcomes at 5-year follow-up to examine long-term effects from the continuum of care. A random regression longitudinal model analyzed 10 key outcome variables measured 7 times. Long-term outcomes in continuum-treated children were no better than those of comparison children; results are consistent with those of earlier studies.

Dose effect in child psychotherapy: outcomes associated with negligible treatment

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of children who received negligible amounts of outpatient treatment to children receiving more treatment.

METHOD

A random regression longitudinal model was used to analyze outcomes of children (aged 5-17 years) from the Fort Bragg Evaluation Project.

RESULTS

In examining several outcomes, the results show no statistically significant dose effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Children receiving substantial amounts of treatment showed no better mental health outcomes than those receiving negligible amounts of treatment. The results do not support the existence of a dose effect consistent enough to guide clinicians, administrators, or policymakers.