Conceptual, symptomatological, nosological, biological, and anthropological aspects of anxiety and depression are juxtaposed and surveyed. Qualitative and quantitative distinctions, and conditions governing the rise of the syndromes are discussed.
This paper deals with investigations of CNS-inflammations based on 23,338 autopsies in the period from 1967 to 1988. Inflammatory CNS-findings were observed in 210 cases (0.9 per cent). Their etiology was caused bacterially in 66 per cent and viral infections were found in 20 per cent. Additionally multiple sclerosis appeared in 14 per cent of all CNS-inflammations. The meningitis dominated among the bacterial infections and the leukencephalitis and nekrotizing polioencephalitis of Herpes type among the viral inflammations. The histological classification of the nonbacterial inflammations was difficult or impossible in 9 per cent. A clinical diagnosis was established only in 70 per cent of all cases. Especially babies and patients at the age about 60 or 70 were involved.
Out of 100 psychotic patients who underwent neurobiochemical examination, in 24 cases activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase in the thrombocytes was found to be absent. 38% of these cases were susceptible to stimulation in vitro by means of folic acid derivative, without actually reaching a normal level of activity. The patients are presented first as a homgeneous group, then in the two major diagnostic divisions, and divided according to the biochemical data. An account is given of early experiences in the treatment of the more intractable cases.
A group of 107 children with vascular diseases of the nervous system aged 3-14 years have been studied. In 100 children of the study group acute disturbances of the brain blood circulation have been found, out of which 37 children were with transitory ischemic attacks; 29 were found to be with brain ischaemia; 22-with haemorrhages (7 cases with subarchnoidal, 9 cases with intracerebral and 6 cases with subarachnoidal-parenchimatose); 5 children had wenous thromboses; 7 children were with spinal strokes. In other 7 children we found the presence of Sturge-Weber syndrome. Congenital vascular malformations have been found in 32 children (30%), out of which 16 children (15%) with loops and stenosis of the extracranial segments of the internal carotid artery, and another 16 children (15%) with AV-malformations. Congenital and acquired heart diseases are found to be primary cause for the strokes in 12 children (11%). Considerable is the rate of the epileptic seizures in the acute stage of the strokes as well as of the residual epileptic syndromes.
Application of computerized equipment in psychodiagnosis and cognitive training entails novel methodical aspects which relate to design of operator and response controls as well as to the test configuration. Some of these aspects are discussed.
The case of a 38-year-old woman is reported who developed manifest incontinence of urine following spontaneous parturition on two occasions. An extensive sacrococcygeal meningocele was identified. The paper refers to special features of such clinical after-manifestations.
The influence of childhood experience on psychological development is discussed from various scientific viewpoints. Against this background, the origin of the cross-cultural, multinational EMBU Project on the relationship between upbringing in the family and psychopathology is described. It becomes obvious that a systematic, cross-cultural, and theory-orientated approach can bring significant material for the development of psychiatric theory.