Autobiographical memory deficits in acute transient psychosis after remission

Background : In our clinical practice, in patients who went into clinical remission from their psychotic episodes, we found variability in recall pattern of events and experiences occurring during psychotic states. Aims: The present study aimed to find out the deficits in autobiographical memory regarding the events and experiences which occurred during psychotic states in clinically remitted acute and transient psychotic disorder (ATPD) patients. Method: Consecutive patients (20), who went into clinical remission within a period of three months of onset of their first ATPD episodes, along with their informants (20), who were selected as per specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, were interviewed within a period of two months of clinical remission of their psychotic episodes. The interviews were based on a list which included items regarding different events and experiences restricted to the period of patients' illness and their recall abilities were compared. Results: Catatonic features, features suggestive of dis-inhibition, impairment of personal care, manic features and biological function impairment were the items which patients found difficult to recall. Conclusion: The study showed that the patients had autobiographical memory deficits regarding their catatonic features, dis-inhibitions, personal care and biological function impairments and manic symptoms after their clinical remission, which has clinical and management implications. However the study was limited by the small sample size and naturalistic design. Key message - Patients found it difficult to remember catatonic features, dis-inhibitions, manic symptoms, personal care and biological function impairments which occurred during their psychotic episodes after clinical remission of their acute transient psychotic episodes.

Serological profiles for HBV, HDV, HIV-1 and HTLV-1 in Saudi patients with a malignancy.

Serologic markers for HBV, HDV, HIV-1 and HTLV-1 were tested in 42 patients with a primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC); 19 with a malignancy of epithelial origin (EPM) and 16 with a non-epithelial malignancy (NEPM) in the Gizan Area of Saudi Arabia. HBV exposure in 77 PHC, EPM and NEPM patients was 92.2 per cent for any marker (overall) while 75.3 per cent positive for HBsAg. 3.9 per cent positive for anti-HBc and 12.9 per cent positive for anti-HBs. There was no inter PHC, EPM, NEPM or intersex variation for an individual marker or total HBV exposure. Among HBsAg-positives, 9 of the 12 PHC tested, 7 of the 10 EPM, 1 of the 9 NEPM were anti-D IgG positive. The HDV prevalence was the lowest in NEPM (p < 0.01). In patients with a malignancy, all HBV and HDV markers were higher than those of control population, even though anti-HBs was lower (p < 0.001). The probable contribution through different viruses in pathogenesis of malignancies of different types should be ascertained through polymerase chain reaction for viral components, oncogenes, etc. on tumourous biopsy tissues. The aggravation in PHC morbidity in HBV hyperendemic foci through HIV infection should be monitored through tests for unintegrated and integrated viral DNA in tumorous and non-tumorous tissues.