ABSTRACT
Benzodiazepines are among the most frequently prescribed medications in Switzerland, particularly in the elderly. Due to their unfavourable side effect profile, especially in the elderly population, this class of medication should not be prescribed for the treatment of insomnia or non-refractory anxiety disorders. A gradual withdrawal procedure, which is safe and effective according to the literature, should be offered to the patient taking such medication, with adequate monitoring of withdrawal symptoms. This procedure should, in principle, be performed in an outpatient setting but may be initiated in the hospital after discussion with the patient and the primary care physician.
Subject(s)
Benzodiazepines , Intention , Aged , Humans , Benzodiazepines/adverse effects , Anxiety , Anxiety Disorders , HospitalsABSTRACT
A patient with a paraneoplastic effusion presented with respiratory distress one hour after a 2 500 ml pleural aspiration performed at noon. A chest X-ray shows signs of unilateral pulmonary oedema. Re-expansion pulmonary oedema is a rare complication. Oxygen therapy is usually sufficient. It is advisable not to perform this procedure outside normal hours and to withdraw a maximum of 1 500 ml at a time.
Subject(s)
Pulmonary Edema , Humans , Punctures , Autoantibodies , Dyspnea , Oxygen Inhalation TherapySubject(s)
Hypertension , Baroreflex , Humans , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/drug therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The adverse effects of fluoroquinolones are yet to be fully elucidated. We present an interesting case of a 41-year-old male with binocular diplopia most likely induced by the use of a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The popular belief that creativity is associated with madness has increasingly become the focus of research for many psychologists and psychiatrists. However, despite being prime examples of creative thinking, comedy and humour have been largely neglected. AIMS: To test the hypothesis that comedians would resemble other creative individuals in showing a higher level of psychotic characteristics related to both schizophrenia and manic depression. METHOD: A group of comedians (n = 500+) and a control sample of actors (n = 350+) completed an online questionnaire containing the short version of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE), with scales measuring four dimensions of psychotic traits. Scores were compared with general population norms. RESULTS: Comedians scored significantly above O-LIFE norms on all four scales. Actors also differed from the norms but on only three of the scales. Most striking was the comedians' high score on both introverted anhedonia and extraverted impulsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: This unusual personality structure may help to explain the facility for comedic performance.
