Bupropion for amphetamine withdrawal syndrome.

This study was a case report of an amphetamine abuser who came to see doctor because of amphetamine withdrawal syndrome three days after stopping prolonged use of amphetamine. The patient was treated him with a slow-release bupropion at the dose of 150 mg per day. After taking bupropion, his withdrawal symptoms i.e. dysphoric mood, fatigue, somnolence, and psychomotor retardation gradually disappeared within two to three days. Moreover, his craving for amphetamines was absent. The authors discussed the possible application for the clinical use for amphetamine abusers or dependence.

Quetiapine for tic disorder: a case report.

Tic disorders happen in nearly 20 per cent of children. There is no "best drug" to treat this illness. Potent antipsychotics e.g. haloperidol and pimozide, are the most effective drugs but their limitations are their extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). Risperidone has been proved on efficacy for tic disorders but EPS still remain, even though it was claimed to be less. Thus, quetiapine, a newer atypical neuroleptic with the same action as risperidone and produces fewer EPS, was included in this study. OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and side effects of quetiapine in tic disorders. METHOD: A case report of a 19-year-old female patient with tic disorder who had taken haloperidol 2 mg/d with benzhexol HCl 2-4 mg/d, then switched to risperidone 1.5 mg/d with benzhexol HCl 4 mg/d because of acute dystonia and oculogyric. She was then prescribed quetiapine, 50 mg/d as a starting dose without benzhexol HCI, because of the remaining symptoms and EPS. The severity of the symptoms was assessed monthly using the Behavior Rating Scale. The dose was increased by 50 mg/d weekly for a better outcome. RESULTS: The tic was improved after the first week and disappeared for three weeks with 150 mg/d of quetiapine. However, the tic returned again, but less frequently (20%). Thus, the dose was stepped up to 200 mg/d. One week later, the patient reported that the tic has disappeared. CONCLUSION: Quetiapine showed the efficacy and fewest EPS in this patient. However, a further clinically controlled trial must be carried out before quetiapine can become the first-line treatment for tic disorders.

Medical students' attitudes towards behavioral sciences.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to find the medical students' attitude to Behavioral Science after completing the course. METHOD: Second and third year Chiang Mai medical students were asked to complete a 25-item questionnaire regarding their attitude to Behavioral Science at the end of their final examination. RESULTS: Both mean scores of attitude were quite high. There was no difference in mean scores for both years, but some items were answered differently. CONCLUSION: Even though Behavioral Science was regarded as a crucial matter for medical application and the results were satisfactory, many factors involving this subject, such as the teaching system could be changed. The author suggested a possible way to make Behavioral Science more acceptable and understandable.

Meditation in association with psychosis.

This study analysed the correlation between contemplation and psychosis from three cases of patients presenting psychotic symptoms subsequent to practising meditation. Sleep loss following a wrong doing in meditation was found to be the main cause in the first two cases, and drug withdrawal was found to be the principal factor in causing a psychotic eruption in the third case. In this last case, sleep deprivation subsequent to meditation was only a minor influence. Discussion regarding the correlation between meditation and psychosis is presented in this study.

Medical student selection: which matriculation scores and personality factors are important?

Sixty-five from a total of 160 medical students were administered the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) to identify which of all 18 scales can be used as a predictor for academic performance. The entrance examination scores of six subjects were also combined with the CPI variables for the purpose of the study. Students' performances were determined by Grade Point Average (GPA) collected between 1993-1997 (year 1 to year 5). Data was analyzed by descriptive and stepwise method of multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that mathematics, biology and English language were positively correlated with all year GPAs-r2 value was 10-18 per cent. Scales of "dominance", "flexibility" and "socialization" were positively correlated to the GPA, while "sociability" and "sense of well-being" were negatively correlated. R2 value was increased to 16-59 per cent as prediction of GPA when the CPI variables were combined with scores of entrance examination. A comparison of this finding with other studies was conducted.

Alprazolam and standard antidepressants in the treatment of depression: a meta-analysis of the antidepressant effect.

Alprazolam differs from other benzodiazepines by the incorporation of a triazolo ring in the basic chemical structure. Several lines of evidence have supported that alprazolam and standard antidepressants have some similar actions, such as beta-adrenergic receptor down-regulation, antipanic effect. Because of the difference in opinions pertaining to the antidepressant effect of alprazolam, this issue could not reach a firm conclusion. In the present analysis, we carried out a meta-analysis of 11 random controlled studies that compared the antidepressant effect of alprazolam and standard antidepressants in depressed patients. The results showed that the weighted mean effect size d (dw) is equal to 0.06. In conclusion, the antidepressant effect of alprazolam is comparable to that of low-dose tricyclic antidepressants. Very few studies have investigated severely depressed patients. Also, in long-term administration, the lack of a long-term treatment study makes the issue of alprazolam's benefits and disadvantages still undetermined.