ABSTRACT
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disease with a heterogeneous pattern of neurological symptoms and concomitant psychiatric syndromes. These syndromes are triggered by alterations to neurotransmission that are likely common for both neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Syndromes such as depression, anxiety, or cognitive impairment can precede motor symptoms of PD and delay its diagnosis. Recently, questions related to aetiological factors and treatment strategies of depression in PD have become a growing concern of PD researchers. This article describes the main features of depression in PD and presents current hypotheses on its aetiology and recommended treatment modes.
ABSTRACT
A 78-year-old female with a nine-year history of depression was hospitalized due to worsening depression and symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Her motor abilities improved on levodopa and the depression improved after a trial of bupropion, following unsuccessful treatment with other antidepressants. We found four reports on successful treatment of depression in PD with bupropion. However, no controlled double-blind studies have been conducted so clinicians should be cautious when administering bupropion in depression in PD.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation/therapeutic use , Bupropion/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Parkinson Disease/complications , Aged , Brain/pathology , Depressive Disorder/etiology , Female , Humans , Parkinson Disease/psychology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Stigmatization is a common problem to overcome for people suffering from chronic diseases. It usually follows infectious diseases, disabilities and mental disorders. In our study we explained basic concepts concerning stigma, particularly health-related one, and then we presented the most important socio-demographic factors influencing attitudes towards mentally ill people exemplifying them by scientific literature on mental illness stigma. Profession, frequency of contact with mentally ill persons, level of mental health literacy, own experience, education level, culture-related factors, overall value orientation, gender and age are the most relevant factors which influence perception of people suffering from mental disorders. A review of surveys on dependencies between those factors and attitudes towards mentally ill people and tendencies to stigmatize with mental illness was presented. Mental health literacy is the most easily modifiable factor among all the presented here. Majority of campaigns concerning change of attitude towards mentally ill people consist in enhancement of mental health awareness in society.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Mentally Ill Persons/psychology , Stereotyping , Adaptation, Psychological , Age Factors , Attitude to Health , Female , Humans , Male , Prejudice , Public Opinion , Sex Factors , Social Perception , Social ValuesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To asses mean endothelial cell density in glaucoma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examinations were conducted and registered using the Noncon Robo (Konan) non-contact specular microscope between years 2000 and 2004, in Tadeusz Krwawicz Chair of Ophthalmology and 1st Eye Hospital, Medical University of Lublin. The results of 159 patients (233 eyes) with glaucoma and 37 patients (44 eyes) with pseudoexfoliation syndrome were analyzed. Patients, 22-91 years old, were divided into 8 groups according to the clinical diagnosis and for each group an adequate control group was matched. Statistical analysis was carried out to compare the examined and control groups using the non-parametric U Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Corneal endothelial cell density were significantly lower in all groups of glaucoma patients. There was a significant reduction in cell count in patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma: 2333 +/- 476/mm2, control group (C): 2809 +/- 378/mm2, p< 0.001), acute angle-closure glaucoma 2136 +/- 620/mm2, C. 2780 +/- 384/mm2, p< 0.001, pigmentary glaucoma 2537 +/- 355/mm2, C. 3003 +/- 335/mm2, p< 0.05, juvenile glaucoma 2337 +/- 277/mm2, C. 3001 +/- 168/mm2, p< 0.001, primary open angle glaucoma 2326 +/- 231/mm2, C. 2779 +/- 398/mm2, p< 0.001, normal tension glaucoma 2343 +/- 394/mm2, C. 2732 +/- 356/mm2, p< 0.01, capsular glaucoma 2128 +/- 483/mm2, C. 2753 +/- 354/mm2, p< 0.001 and in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome 2255 +/- 299/mm2, C. 2721 +/- 352/mm2, p< 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with glaucoma have lower mean corneal endothelial cell density than control groups. The density of corneal endothelial cells depends on the type of glaucoma.
