ABSTRACT
Of 288 patients admitted to our psychogeriatric unit during a 4-year study, seven patients were diagnosed as having symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia (2.4% of all admissions). All the patients were women. Their symptoms included bizarre delusions and auditory hallucinations. Negative symptoms were rare. Attempts to reduce the dosage of neuroleptic medication led to reappearance of the symptoms in six patients and readmission of the seventh.
Subject(s)
Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Schizophrenic Psychology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delusions/diagnosis , Delusions/epidemiology , Delusions/psychology , Female , Hallucinations/diagnosis , Hallucinations/epidemiology , Hallucinations/psychology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Psychiatric Department, Hospital , Quebec/epidemiology , Schizophrenia/diagnosisABSTRACT
Bipolar affective disorder arising for the first time in old age (60 years and over) has not been extensively studied. The authors present a prevalence study of mania arising after age 60. Of 217 patients admitted to our unit in a 2-year period, 10 (4.7%) showed symptoms of mania, using the DSM-III criteria. This constitutes 9.3% of 108 affective disorder patients admitted during the same period. An important factor in the precipitation of these attacks was marital discord, leading, in several cases, to separation, even in this age group.
Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology , Dementia/epidemiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bipolar Disorder/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dementia/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , QuebecABSTRACT
The authors present a prevalence study of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in the course of antidepressant therapy. Of the 50 patients evaluated, three developed TD. TD developed rapidly and in a short period of time. Withdrawal of antidepressant improved TD in two patients. The literature on TD developing in the course of antidepressant therapy is reviewed, and the different etiological theories are examined.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/adverse effects , Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Although carbamazepine is known to cause hyponatremia, no previous reports have indicated an interaction between carbamazepine and a diuretic. Two patients are described who were treated with this combination and developed symptomatic hyponatremia, which cleared when both drugs were discontinued in one patient and when the diuretic was discontinued in the second patient. The possible mechanisms of action of carbamazepine-induced hyponatremia are discussed.
