ABSTRACT
B12 deficiency is widely prevalent and usually presents with haematologic and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Psychiatric symptoms seldom precede anaemia and present as the principal manifestation of B12 deficiency. A report an unusual presentation of long standing psychotic symptoms without anaemia in a 31 year old male, who presented to a tertiary care psychiatric facility. His physical examination revealed hyper pigmentation of extremities and posterior column involvement. Laboratory investigations confirmed normal haemoglobin and low serum B12 levels. He recovered dramatically with short term anti psychotic medication and intramuscular cobalamin supplementation. He remained asymptomatic and functionally independent at two years follow up.
Subject(s)
Adult , Chronic Disease , Humans , Male , Psychotic Disorders/etiology , Vitamin B Deficiency/complicationsABSTRACT
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is controversial but widely practised in India. We elicited perspectives, using qualitative interviews, from patients who received ECT and their relatives. Ethical issues related to personal autonomy, right to information, competence, informed consent and consent by proxy are discussed. We suggest strategies to ensure a basic minimum standard for obtaining informed consent for ECT in India.
Subject(s)
Adult , Coercion , Electroconvulsive Therapy/adverse effects , Family/psychology , Fear , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , India , Male , Mental Competency/psychology , Mentally Ill Persons/psychology , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Patient Education as Topic , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Qualitative Research , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Risperidone and ziprasidone are commonly used as first line drugs for the treatment of psychotic disorders and overdose with these agents is increasingly being reported. Relatively few of these reports have involved co-ingestion of multiple psychotropic agents. We report a case of overdose with risperidone, ziprasidone, valproate, trihexyphenidyl and clonazepam in a 25 years female, who recovered uneventfully with supportive management. Notwithstanding the benign outcome in this instance, age, co-ingested drugs, active metabolites and medical co-morbidity are critical issues in overdose with atypical antipsychotics. As prescription of these drugs continues to increase in developing countries, systematic studies evaluating their clinical toxicity and management are necessary. The issues associated with overdose of multiple psychotropic agents and appropriate management policies are highlighted.