Ceska a Slovenska Psychiatrie最新文献

In a group of 10 subjects, nine schizophrenic patients and one healthy twin (seven men and three women, i.e. two monozygotic twin pairs: two patients and a healthy man and his sick twin brother, one dizygotic pair of two female patients, three male patients and one female patient without their appropriate twin siblings) Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB) was used and partial neuropsychological tests (Wechsler Memory Scale, the Stroop Color-Word Test, Tonal Memory). The parameters of white matter density were evaluated by computed tomography. The fundamental findings include: In our small group numerous statistically significant correlations were found between neuropsychological tests and white matter density. 2. Higher density is associated with poorer neuropsychological efficiency. There are very similar correlations between neuropsychological variables and density parameters in different areas of the brain. 4. The majority of correlations of neuropsychological parameters is from the area of tactile and motor functions. 5. It is striking that there are statistically significant correlations of density with the simultaneous performance of both hands and the performance of the non-dominant hand but not with the performance of the dominant hand alone. 6. Some correlations pertain in addition to density also to the very controversial problem of the brain size of schizophrenic patients. In the investigated group an association between better neuropsychological performance and larger size of the brain was found. All findings will have to be tested in larger groups of patients and healthy subjects.

The objective of the research was to assess the satisfaction with treatment among patients of the mental sanatorium by an anonymous enquiry. In the enquiry 301 patients with different diagnoses participated, incl. some who had protective treatment. The investigation was made in open and closed wards. The majority of patients, reported a relatively high general satisfaction with treatment and the care provided by health professionals and a low grade of satisfaction as regards information on the drugs they took, on their health status and with opportunities how to spend their leisure time.

By means of interviews two sexologists examined in 1986-1994 771 Czech girls aged 16-18 years during their stay in the spa of Frantiskovy Láznĕ. Up to the end of 1989 the authors studied the sexual development of 158 girls apprentices and 231 girl students. After the "Velvet Revolution" 159 apprentices and 223 students were examined. Comparison of these sub-groups revealed that the sexual development of students was highly significantly retaried, as compared with the apprentices; this applied to the period before and after 1989. This difference is interpreted mainly by the higher education, expressed by the sum of years of school attendance of both parents of the examined girls and a higher standard of the education process in secondary schools as compared with schools for apprentices.

Demonology, i.e. the faith in the existence of mental diseases caused by demons was a medical problem from the 16th to the beginning of the 18th century. Two types of mental diseases were differentiated: those caused by natural causes and those caused by demonic obsession with attempts of clinical differentiation of the two groups. Among obsessions most frequently hallucinatory and hallucinotic mental diseases were included (in particular with demonic contents), mental disorders with a queer, unusual and antisocial behaviour, conditions of extreme unrest, vomiting of queer things, prediction of the future, "talking foreign languages" the subjects had not learned etc. The way to overcome demonological prejudices was an attempt to clear the obsessed of guilt, to prove that they are the victims of the devil whom they are unable to fight because of their impaired fantasy and because the devil is found of melancholic juice. Therefore gradually the idea was enforced that the obsessed should receive somatic treatment (in addition to magic and liturgical) which rids the obsessed of black bile. Demonology and witchcraft (which was revived during the renaissance along with demonology) are two different phenomena (witchcraft was a social phenomenon) which were frequently confounded or considered identical. This is why some mentally ill people were summoned in court and tried as sorcerers and witches.

The objective of the present work was to evaluate on the basis of the authors' data and data in the literature the role of phospholipase A2 in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The authors submit available literature pertaining to the problem as well as their own experimental findings. Based on the submitted facts, it cannot be states that phospholipase A2 is a specific marker of schizophrenia.

The authors describe the psychodynamics of aggressive attitude and behaviour in schizoid, depressive, obsessive and hysterical neurotic personality structures (personality disorders) as well as in different psychosomatic syndromes. Outline of development of views regarding aggressiveness in deep psychology and important conclusions of ethological research. Implications for therapeutic practice and the solution of relationships between the therapist and patient in the therapeutic team.

This article reviews pharmacological approaches used to overcome treatment resistance in patients with serious unipolar depressive disorders. Resistant depression is defined as depression the symptoms of which persist despite adequate treatment. Main causes of unsuccessful treatment are incorrect diagnosis, inadequate duration of treatment or inadequate dosage. Other reasons for resistance are also discussed in the article. There are three basic strategies in treatment of resistance: optimization of treatment, substitution-replacement of the current treatment with a different one, combination-concurrent use of several treatments to enhance the effect. Treatment recommendations related to these strategies are discussed.