ABSTRACT
The benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil, can provoke panic attacks in some panic disorder patients. It has been predicted that panic responses to flumazenil may be associated with situational fear. Patients with social phobia frequently experience situational anxiety and panic attacks. The current study tested whether flumazenil induces panic in patients with social phobia. Fourteen patients with social phobia (DSM-III-R) and 14 age- and sex-matched controls were tested in a single session, double blind crossover challenge design, using intravenous flumazenil 2 mg/20 ml or matched placebo infusions 1 hour apart. Panic attacks occurred during flumazenil challenge in 2/14 subjects with social phobia. The rate of panic attacks and the severity of panic symptoms following flumazenil were not significantly greater in patients than in controls. Situational fears that are provoked by social cues therefore do not predict panic responses to flumazenil.
Subject(s)
Benzodiazepines/antagonists & inhibitors , Flumazenil/adverse effects , Panic Disorder/chemically induced , Panic Disorder/psychology , Phobic Disorders/psychology , Adult , Anxiety/chemically induced , Anxiety/physiopathology , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Female , Flumazenil/administration & dosage , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Male , Panic Disorder/physiopathology , Phobic Disorders/complications , Phobic Disorders/physiopathology , Placebo Effect , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
Recent judgments in the Court of Appeal have highlighted the significance of battered woman syndrome. This article describes the origin and features of the syndrome and some of its shortcomings. Medical aspects and legal applications of the concept are discussed.
Subject(s)
Battered Women/legislation & jurisprudence , Battered Women/psychology , Female , Helplessness, Learned , Homicide/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , United Kingdom , ViolenceABSTRACT
Two case reports are presented of significant psychiatric disorders associated with ingestion of 'Ecstasy' (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), a recreational drug whose use appears to be increasing. In one case, the patient developed a brief paranoid psychosis which recurred and persisted for at least a month after he took a second dose of the drug. In the other, the patient experienced persistent symptoms of anxiety and depression for > 8 weeks after taking the drug.
