Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-175). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-97). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-191). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-108). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-102). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Most life stress literature in bipolar disorder (BD) fails to account for the possibility of a changing relationship between psychosocial context and episode initiation across the course of the disorder. The kindling hypothesis states that over the longitudinal course of recurrent affective disorders, there is a weakening temporal relationship between major life stress and episode initiation (Post, 1992). This process could reflect either a progressive sensitization or a progressive autonomy (i.e., insensitivity) to life stress. The present study aimed to test the kindling model in BD by examining the effect of lifetime mood episodes on the relationship between proximal life events and prospectively assessed mood episodes. Polarity-specific tests of the model were conducted across the continuum of event severity, with respect to both impact and frequency of life events. Moreover, examination of the kindling hypothesis was embedded in the context of two emerging biopsychosocial theories of BD: the expanded Behavioral Approach System Dysregulation Model and the Circadian and Social Rhythm Theory. Data from 278 participants (146 bipolar spectrum participants and 132 normal control participants) were collected as part of the Temple-Wisconsin Longitudinal Investigation of Bipolar Spectrum Project. Hypotheses were polarity- and event-type specific and were in line with a stress sensitization model of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD), rather than a stress autonomy model. Results partially supported a sensitization model: there was a decreased frequency and an increased impact of major events, and an increased frequency and impact of minor events. However, results for specific polarities and event types were not fully consistent with a stress sensitization model. Implications of these findings are addressed, followed by a discussion of study strengths, limitations, and promising directions for future research. / Psychology

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka relationen mellan personlighetsdrag och ensamhet enligt definitionen av femfaktormodellen, och bringa klarhet i om denna association beror på könstillhörighet eller invandrarstatus. För att beskriva sambandet mellan personlighetsdrag och ensamhet har Kindling-hypotesen anammats. Kortfattat beskriver Kindling-hypotesen att oönskade  personlighetsdrag kan lämna “psykologiska ärr” på en individs personlighet, som i sin tur intensifierar upplevd ensamhet. Totalt inkluderades 171 respondenter i studien (i åldrarna 18-36; 71,3 % var kvinnor, och 28,7 % män).  Resultaten påvisade att det fanns en positiv association mellan neuroticism och ensamhet, och en negativ association mellan samvetsgrannhet och ensamhet. Slutsatsen som kunde dras från studien är att neuroticism samt samvetsgrannhet har en roll i relation till ensamhet. / The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits according to the Big Five model of personality and loneliness, and bring to light whether this association is moderated by gender or immigrant status. In order to describe the relation between personality traits and loneliness, the Kindling Effect has been used. Briefly, the Kindling Effect describes how unwanted personality traits can leave “psychological scars” in an individual’s personality, which in turn intensifies perceived loneliness. 171 respondents were included in a survey (aged 18-46; 71.3 % were women and 28,7 % men). The results showed that there was a positive association between neuroticism and loneliness, and a negative association between extraversion and loneliness. These results suggest that extraversion and neuroticism plays an important role in relation to loneliness.

Kindling epileptogenesis has been associated with a number of different forms of neuroplasticity in the hippocampus, including mossy fibre sprouting and an increase in both intracellular calcium and zinc. The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether interfering with the influx of calcium via the voltage gated calcium channels would interfere with kindling- induced plasticity. Both kindled and control rats were injected with either 5 or 25mg/kg of the L-type voltage gated calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, or a control vehicle, DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). The kindled groups received a kindling stimulation twice a day for 11 days. It was revealed that both doses of nifedipine significantly increased afterdischarge duration (p<0.001) and furthermore, both doses of nifedipine were capable of significantly interfering with the rate of kindling (p<0.001). Three weeks following the last kindling stimulation, rats were perfused and brain tissue was processed according to the Timm method. The density of Timm granules, an indication of the level of intracellular zinc in the mossy fibre pathway, was quantified. The results of this analysis revealed that 25mg/kg of nifedipine is capable of significantly reducing the amount of intracellular zinc in both the IML (p<0.04) and the CA3 (p<0.01) region of the mossy fibre pathway, regardless of whether the rats had received kindling stimulations or not. These results provide support for the notion that nifedipine (5 or 25mg/kg) is an effective anticonvulsant agent. These results also suggest that, at a sufficient dose (25mg/kg), nifedipine can reduce the amount of intracellular zinc in the mossy fibre pathway in both kindled and non-kindled animals, suggesting that nifedipine may be a useful therapeutic agent for pathologies that have been associated with zinc-induced neurotoxicity. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Medical College of Ohio, 2003. / "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences." Major advisor: Howard Rosenberg. Document formatted into pages: iv, 144 p. Title from title page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-132).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-161). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.