Pheochromocytoma with hypertensive crisis due to glucocorticoid administration: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a patient who presented with single episode of severe hypertension after intramuscular injection of betamethasone which was given to treat acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. Episode of severe arterial hypertension was associated with pulmonary edema, acute renal failure and hyperkalemia. Further evaluation by appropriate diagnostic tests revealed that the patient is a case of phaechoromocytoma. This neoplasm was excised successfully and the patient is presently asymptomatic.We believe that this episode was initiated by glucocorticoid injection.

Pattern of psychiatric morbidity among the patients admitted in a private psychiatric clinic.

Background: Mental health problem is a major public health issue in the world across the developed and developing countries. However, data in most of the developing countries including Bangladesh are scarce. In Bangladesh, socio-political situation is insecure and unstable with poverty and vulnerable to natural disaster which causes psychiatric morbidity. The pattern of psychiatric morbidity in private clinic is quite different from that in government hospital. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the diagnostic pattern of psychiatric morbidity among the admitted patients in a private psychiatric clinic. Methodology: The study was carried out in a 20 bedded private psychiatric clinic in the heart of Dhaka city. All the information including longitudinal histories of patients was recorded in files and the diagnosis was confirmed by psychiatrist. Admission and discharge notes were recorded in register. Socio-demographic parameters and family history of mental illness were collected from the record file of individual patient. Results: Among 304 patients 184 (60.53%) were males and 120 (36.47%) were females. More than 50% of patients were in the age group of 18 to 37 years. Most common psychiatric disorders were schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (39.4%), mood disorder (18.75%), borderline personality disorder (3.6%), conduct disorder (2.3), somatoform disorder (1.6%), anxiety disorder (0.7%), organic psychiatric disorder (2%), impulse control disorder (1.3%) and adjustment disorder (0.7%). Conclusion: Major forms of psychiatric disorders are common both in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh.