Doctoral Degrees (Psychiatry)

Brain structural and white matter changes in first-episode schizophrenia and their demographic, clinical and cognitive correlates

Asmal, Laila (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)

ENGLISH SUMMARY : In schizophrenia, decreased brain volume and altered cortical thinning (especially in the frontal and temporal areas), as well as white matter deficits are described at the first-episode. The relationship ...

Association between motor timing and treatment outcomes in patients with alcohol and/or cocaine addiction in a rehabilitation programme

Young, Susanne Yvette (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12)

ENGLISH SUMMARY : Introduction: Motor timing deficits have been found in DA system related disorders and, more recently, also in individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUD). Motor timing is fundamental to our ability ...

Measuring the impact of HIV on the fronto-striatal system

Du Plessis, Stefan (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12)

ENGLISH SUMMARY : HIV infection remains a major contributor to the global health burden despite the introduction of effective prevention strategies and the effectiveness of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Of ...

Establishing modified mental health assertive treatment programs in a developing country

Botha, Ursula Alexandra (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12)

ENGLISH SUMMARY : An increasing demand for acute inpatient beds has put pressure on psychiatric services in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. While this is not unusual compared to elsewhere in the world, this ...

A prospective study of clinical, biological and functional aspects of outcome in first episode psychosis

Chiliza, Bonginkosi (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Prospective, longitudinal clinical studies in first-episode schizophrenia have become relatively commonplace over the past two decades or more and have provided a wealth of useful information regarding ...

Mechanisms in social anxiety disorder in the context of early developmental trauma : an imaging, neurocognitive and genetics study

David, Rosenstein (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12)

ENGLISH SUMMARY : The contribution of early developmental trauma (EDT) to the neurobiological mechanisms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) is poorly understood. A cross sectional study was conducted to examine the effects ...

Neurocognition and thought disorder : it’s association, temporal stability and outcome correlates in first-episode psychosis

Olivier, Marius Riaan (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Abstract Neurocognitive deficits and thought disorder in schizophrenia have generally been accepted as core features of the illness, yet their underlying relationship, response to treatment, and ...

Efficacy and mechanism of action of intrahippocampalD-cycloserine in an animal model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Fairbairn, Lorren Rosli (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-03)

ENGLISH SUMMARY : Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been described as a persistent (Bremner et al., 1996) and incapacitating (Zatzick et al., 1997; Mendlowicz &Stein 2000) psychiatric disorder which occurs after ...

The identification of novel susceptibility genes involved in anxiety disorders

McGregor, Nathaniel Wade (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch University, 2014-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The etiology of anxiety disorders remains incompletely understood. Clear evidence for a genetic component has been proposed; however, there is also an increasing focus on environmental factors and the ...

Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in women with alcohol abuse and dependence in a community sample in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

Pithey, Alitha (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Women in the communities of the Western Cape Province of South Africa are confronted with high levels of trauma exposure and acute stressful life events. Many live in rural communities where violence, ...

Molecular mechanisms of D-cycloserine in a fear extinction posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) animal model

Malan-Muller, Stefanie (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe, chronic and debilitating psychiatric disorder that can present after the experience of a life-threatening traumatic event. D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial ...

A prospective study of neurological abnormalities in a cohort of Nigerian patients with schizophrenia

Ojagbemi, Abel Akinsola (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background The changes in cognition, brain structure, and neurological soft signs which are characteristic of schizophrenia appear to have been present before the onset of the phenotype. They therefore ...

Subtyping schizophrenia

Niehaus, Daniel Jan Hendrik (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Schizophrenia is a phenotypically heterogeneous disorder believed to have a strong genetic component. Limiting its clinical heterogeneity by means of subtyping may help to shed light on some of the genetic ...

The relationship between substance abuse, health status and health behaviours of patients attending HIV clinics

Kader, Rehana (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV infection, substance abuse, and psychiatric disorders are major public health issues in South Africa. Psychiatric disorders and substance-use disorders together have a negative impact on the health ...

The neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder : neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and pharmacotherapy

Stein, Dan J (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-12)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetiti ve mental acts or behaviours (compulsions) . For many years, it was considered a rather uncommon ...

Treatment of first episode schizophrenia with low-dose haloperidol : a study in the Western Cape Province of South Africa

Oosthuizen, P. P. (Petrus Paulus) (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003--03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although schizophrenia is traditionally viewed as an illness with a very poor prognosis, research over the last few years indicates that early intervention may substantially improve the long-term outcome ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder : serotonergic and dopaminergic system involvement in symptom generation and treatment response

Carey, Paul D. (Paul Dermot) (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Investigations into the neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have provided useful insights into this prevalent and disabling disorder in recent decades. Encouraging advances have also been ...