Cocaine Cravings, Borderline Personality Disorder & Attempted Homicide

@#In the 80’s, in Spain, there was a very significant increase in the population addicted to heroin use. The behaviour patterns of use and abuse of this substance also caused many drug addicts to be linked to the associated consumption of multiple toxic substances, favouring the appearance of politoxicomania. The origin of the change of model in drug use began in mid- 1987 and in the following years, ecstasy and the so-called designer drugs began to spread throughout the festival scene in the United Kingdom, Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsul. In the 90’s, new substances were introduced into society that had little to do with heroin use, shifting the link to toxic substances to these better accepted and less questioned substances, avoiding the possible problems associated with consumption in marginal environments. The normalization of the consumption of substances of abuse began to have a greater social tolerance, breaking the stigma that led to the alarm raised by heroin consumption in the 80’s. In this sense, drugs were no longer associated with marginalization, and were seen in environments considered festive and, therefore, “normal”. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 22(5): July 2021: 1-4.

Alcohol Consumption And Intensification Of Paranoid Traits In Attempted Homicide

@#There is strong evidence that paranoia can be an existing trait in the general population as a continuous dimension ranging from minimal levels to paranoid personality traits, and that at its maximum expression could take the form of disabling psychotic disorders such as delusional disorder or schizophrenia however, and according to Caviedes, GEC and Yonfá, EDA. Here are studies in which the existence of comorbidity between paranoid, borderline, antisocial and histrionic personality and problematic alcohol consumption is mentioned which in psychopathological terminology is called dual pathology (comorbidity of mental disorder and toxic consumption).

Tratamiento de patología dual: depresión y trastorno por consumo de sustancias / Treatment of dual pathology: depression and disorder for consumption of substances

Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 53 años que padece dos cuadros clínicos, un trastorno por consumo de sustancia (TUS) y un cuadro de depresión mayor con riesgo suicida lo cual en la actualidad se denomina patología dual. Se dedican dos sesiones a la evaluación diagnóstica y funcional y el tratamiento se desarrolla de manera individual y grupal. Se utilizan técnicas de corte cognitivo-conductual: psicoeducación, mindfulness, técnicas cognitivas y de detección del pensamiento o también llamadas de bloqueo. Tras las sesiones de tratamiento los niveles de craving disminuyen, implementa técnicas de bloqueo y cesa el consumo de alcohol y tabaco. Se mantienen sesiones de seguimiento mensual, que tiene por finalidad objetivar el mantenimiento de los logros terapéuticos. Se observa a lo largo de estas sesiones de seguimiento la remisión de total del consumo de alcohol, tabaco y depresión. Se sigue trabajando actualmente en la búsqueda de actividades placenteras que llenen su tiempo libre (uso adecuado de su tiempo libre).

We present the case of a 53-year-old patient who suffers two clinical disorders, a disorder for consumption of substance and a major depression with suicidal risk, which at present is named a dual pathology. We dedicate two sessions to the diagnostic and functional evaluation and the treatment develops in an individual way and grupal. We use cognitive - behavioral technologies: psychoeducation, mindfulness, cognitive technologies and of thought detection or blockade. After the treatment sessions the levels of craving diminish, we implement technologies of blockade, and patient stops the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. There are kept meetings of monthly follow-up, which has for purpose the maintenance of the therapeutic achievements. Is observed along these meetings of follow-up the total remission of the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and of depression. We continue working nowadays at the search of pleasant activities that fill his free time (suitable use of his free time).

Descripción de la población asistida en la sala de salud mental del Hospital Maciel en un año / Description of assisted population in the mental health ward Maciel Hospital in a year

Los trastornos psiquiátricos son una de las principales causas de morbilidad mundial, y la respuesta insuficiente de los servicios de salud mental viene siendo objeto de estudios científicos.Surge así la necesidad de actualizar la información epidemiológica de nuestros servicios y compararla con estudios previos.La impresión clínica lleva a plantearnos la hipótesis de un aumento en la frecuencia delos trastornos por consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y violencia, lo cual requiere objetivar estos datos.Es un estudio descriptivo observacional transversal de la población asistida en la sala de salud mental del Hospital Maciel durante un año. La internación en sala cumple actualmente con una asistencia de corta estadía, multidisciplinaria,con criterios geográficos y clínicos, de amplio espectro nosológico, predominando los trastornos por consumo de sustancias.Algunos puntos objetivados son: patología dual 40,82 %, no compensación 15 % (egresos sin alta médica y derivaciones) y el 12,24 % de reinternaciones en el período analizado.

Co-Existence of Dual Spinal Cord Tumor: Schwannoma and Meningioma

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the authors' institution with a history of progressive paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed two enhancing intradural extramedullary tumors with different signal intensity at T10-11 and L1. Surgical resection was performed via the posterior approach under microscope and the two lesions were completely removed. Histopathologic examination showed schwannoma with cystic change and meningothelial meningioma respectively. In spinal cord tumor, dual cord tumors in one patient are very rare. We report our surgical experience and review of the related literature on two spinal cord tumors in one patient.

Cortical Dysplasia and Mesial Temporal Sclerosis in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Pre-operative Clinical Feature and Surgical Outcome between Patients with Dual Pathology and Patients with Mesial Temporal Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is a well-known cause of temporal lobe epilepsy. Coexistence with cortical dysplasia (CD) has been reported, but its role is not well recognized. This study aims to determine whether there is any difference about clinical feature and surgical outcome between patients with MTS and coexistent CD (group 1) and patients with isolated MTS (group 2). METHODS: Retrospectively, surgical series of 45 patients (male:22, female:23) diagnosed as temporal lobe epilepsy were reviewed. We excluded patients who had another pathology (e. g., tumor, vascular malformation) except MTS or CD. The pathology, case histories, interictal EEG, and surgical outcome were compared. RESULTS: There was a tendency for group 1 patients to have earlier seizure onset age (10.9+/-6.35 versus 14.5+/-6.03, p=0.06) There was no statistically significant difference in the history of febrile convulsions (68.4% versus 53.8%, p>0.16) No statistically significant difference between groups were also found in disease duration, the head trauma/mental retardation history, seizure frequency, interictal EEG, and surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: CD in MTS appears to have an influence on seizure onset. The relationships among CD, febrile convulsion, and mesial temporal sclerosis must be more investigated.

Cortical Dysplasia and Mesial Temporal Sclerosis in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Pre-operative Clinical Feature and Surgical Outcome between Patients with Dual Pathology and Patients with Mesial Temporal Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is a well-known cause of temporal lobe epilepsy. Coexistence with cortical dysplasia (CD) has been reported, but its role is not well recognized. This study aims to determine whether there is any difference about clinical feature and surgical outcome between patients with MTS and coexistent CD (group 1) and patients with isolated MTS (group 2). METHODS: Retrospectively, surgical series of 45 patients (male:22, female:23) diagnosed as temporal lobe epilepsy were reviewed. We excluded patients who had another pathology (e. g., tumor, vascular malformation) except MTS or CD. The pathology, case histories, interictal EEG, and surgical outcome were compared. RESULTS: There was a tendency for group 1 patients to have earlier seizure onset age (10.9+/-6.35 versus 14.5+/-6.03, p=0.06) There was no statistically significant difference in the history of febrile convulsions (68.4% versus 53.8%, p>0.16) No statistically significant difference between groups were also found in disease duration, the head trauma/mental retardation history, seizure frequency, interictal EEG, and surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: CD in MTS appears to have an influence on seizure onset. The relationships among CD, febrile convulsion, and mesial temporal sclerosis must be more investigated.

Surgery of Cerebrovascular Lesions Causing Intractable Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally, the main indications for surgery in vascular-related lesion were based upon reduction or control of seizures, reversal of symptoms of deficits related to mass effect, and prevention of hemorrhage or recurrent hemorrhage. However, the results of surgical treatment for seizure control are disappointing in some reports. Here we describe surgical strategies and our experience in treating patients with intractable seizures associated with vascular-related lesions according to sophisticated presurgical and intraoperative evaluation. METHODS: Twelve(4.5%) patients were selected for this study out of total 264 patients with resective epilepsy surgery at our epilepsy center during four years since 1992. All were treated with anticonvulsant agents but became refractory. These patients operated on under local or general anesthesia for resection surgery, underwent presurgical and intraoperative evaluation for identification of adjacent, beyond or remote epileptogenic area and the eloquent area. RESULTS: Of these 12 patients, vascular malformations(AVM, cavernous angioma) were 7, overt hemorrhage due to vascular lesion were 2 and intractable ongoing seizure after vascular surgery were 3. Other vascular lesion including occlusive disease, moyamoya disease or previous hemorrhage were excluded in this study. The location of the lesion was mainly temporal and peri-Rolandic areas, and dual pathology was verified in 2 cases of 6 temporal lesion. The surgical outcome(class I;7, II;3, III;1, IV;1) was excellent by Engel's classification. CONCLUSION: Control of seizures related to vascular lesions remains strong indication for surgical resection. For this reason, careful presurgical evaluations are essential to evaluate the remote epileptogenic area, especially in temporal lesion. Intraoperative acute recording(ECoG) and functional mapping by electrical stimulation or SSEP are important for maximal resection of epileptogenic area with minimal sequellae.

Electro-clinico-pathologic Relations of Epileptogenic Foci in Cavernous Angioma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cavernous angiomas are frequently encountered in patients with intractable partial epilepsies. Cavernous angioma can make highly epileptogenic foci and dual pathology. Although it is generally thought that the epileptogenic activity originated in neuronal populations adjacent to the lesion, little is known as to the exact location of the epilepsies on electophysiologic, clinical and pathologic view. We investigated nine intractable epilepsy patients with cavernous angioma regarding relation of EEG, semiology and pathology to verify where are the epileptogenic foci in cavernous angioma. METHODS: We included 9 intractable epilepsy patients with cavernous angioma who had been were undergone video-EEG monitoring. They were aged from 15 to 49 years(average:36.7+15.7)and had cavernous angioma in temporal, frontal lobe, or multiple areas(temporal:7, frontal:1, multiple:1 patients). Four patients had invasive EEG study including subdural and/or depth electrodes. Six patients had undergone epilepsy surgery. We analyzed seizure history, semiology of their seizures, interictal and ictal EEG. To know dual pathology, MRI including hippocampal volumetry, invasive EEG, and pathology were studied. RESULTS: Four patients had multiple auras. Eight patients had complex partial seizures and one had right foot clonic seizure, which were related with the location of cavernous angioma. In scalp EEG, ictal recording showed definite EEG changes, but 3 patients had no definite EEG change in some seizures. In invasive EEG with subdural and/or depth electrodes , interictal spikes were more frequently detected than scalp EEG and ictal EEG revealed not only 3 different ictal onset zones in 3 patients but also EEG seizures without clinical events in 3 patients. Regarding dual pathology, mesial temporal involvement was detected in 2 patients in MRI. Among 6 surgery patients 4 patients including 3 patients with normal hippocampus in MRI had hippocampal or dentate gyral change in pathology. Among 4 patients with invasive ictal EEG, 3 patients including 1 patient with normal hippocampus in MRI and pathology had mesial temporal involvement in ictal onset zones. CONCLUSION: Cavernous angiomas can make multiple epileptogenic foci around themselves and often dual pathology of hippocampus, which can be easily detected by invasive ictal EEG but not by imaging and even by pathology. And the foci can have frequent EEG seizures, which do not make clinical events. Precise localization of epileptogenic foci in cavernous angioma were needed to have good medical and surgical treatments.