[Transmitter dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia. Significance for cognitive functioning and treatment]. / Transmitterforstyrrelser hos skizofrene. Betydning for kognitive funktioner og behandling.

The great diversity of schizophrenic symptoms rules out one simple etiological explanation. However,impairment of information processing, including disruption of sensorimotor gating, is a consistent finding in schizophrenic patients. Dysfunction in sensorimotor gating is believed to be the result of different developmentally or environmentally caused disturbances involving the neural trajectories involved in information processing. Psychopathology and cognition will depend on the primary involvement of distinct parts of these circuits and on secondarily derived time-dependent disturbances of transmitter function. This review is focused on clinical and preclinical evidence for the impact of interactions between glutamatergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic brain systems on cognitive performance. The hypothetical consequences of transmitter dysfunction for progressive development of impairment in sensorimotor gating are illustrated. Finally, the broad receptor profile of second generation antipsychotics is analysed to explain the clinical improvement in neurocognition that may occur during treatment with such drugs.

[Emergency treatment of alcoholics. Review of the admissions and readmissions to a psychiatric department with regard to the features of the group]. / Akut behandling af alkoholmisbrugere. Gennemgang af indlaeggelser og genindlaeggelser på psykiatrisk afdeling med henblik på gruppekendetegn.

A retrospective investigation revealed 107 patients (29 women and 78 men) with the diagnosis of alcoholism who were admitted to the County Hospital in Vordingborg during a period of six months. Readmissions of these patients during the subsequent two years were registered. The object of the investigation was to characterize these patients as regards the mental and social conditions, as it was our impression that these conditions were of significance in the referral for treatment in the psychiatric department. In addition, we have investigated whether it is possible to point out prognostic factors for the frequency of readmission. 78% of the patients were between 30 and 50 years. Patients in social class 8 were overrepresented. This supports the presumption that admission to a psychiatric department is not based on the abuse per se but rather on the problem complex of abuse, mental and social problems. 2/3 of the patients had previously been treated for alcohol abuse. The frequency of readmission during the subsequent two years was highest for patient aged 30-50 years. In the age group 30-39 years, changes in the social and mental circumstances had occurred and, in the age group 40-49 years, somatic complications on account of the abuse had more frequently developed. No connection could be found between the duration of the first admission in the period of investigation and the frequency of readmission during the subsequent two years. It is concluded that the group of patients aged 30-39 years appears to require social initiative whereas the group of patients aged 40-49 years has a greater need for somatic treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)