ABSTRACT
Unconventional methods used in the course of treatment are also called alternative, holistic, complementary or natural medicine and according to accounts given by different people, patients often use those methods. In the primitive societies there are shamans or curaderos performing those treatments, whereas in the highly developed countries also arise surgeries offering those unconventional methods of treatment. This study is a review of most commonly used methods in the geographical aspect, both historically and currently.
Subject(s)
Complementary Therapies/methods , Humans , Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methodsABSTRACT
The term "brain plasticity" refers to the brain capability to change in response to the environmental factors. Many of these changes are recorded and stored permanently to be used at a later stage. The concept of brain plasticity is based on assumption that the development of each person's brain is influenced by both physical and psychological experiences. On the systemic level, plasticity is the property of nervous system to adapt, change, self-repair, learn and memorize. This is a common feature of neurons present in each level of nervous system. The concept of brain plasticity therefore has two significant elements: critical periods and changes depending on activity. The notion of critical period means that for some aspects of brain development the time of data reception is crucial and that significant abilities may be lost or limited if no stimulation appears at the right moment. The concept of "activity-dependent learning" shows that changes occurring in brain may also be caused by the influence of psychological, biological or environmental factors. At the basic level organization of cells can change. On higher levels, on dendrites, subsequent branches may ramify, synapses may be formed and the concentration of chemical transmitters may get increased or reduced.
Subject(s)
Brain/growth & development , Neuronal Plasticity/physiology , Animals , HumansABSTRACT
The consultative psychiatry is the field of scientific research and medical practice connecting biological, psychological and social aspects of mental and somatic disorders. The aim of the study was to discuss the subject area of the consultative psychiatry. Psychiatrist may be asked for consultation by the physician, family or patient. The reason for this may be the need to transport or cam the patient down (emergency), the need to understand the disorder, its dynamics, therapeutic difficulties or difficulties in cooperation with the patient. The introduction to consultation consists of gathering information from the supporting staff, patient's family, main physician or from the disease records. Psychiatric examination should be taking place in peaceful surroundings enduring privacy. Basic examination of mental condition should be carried out. The results of the consultation are required to be shared in writing and they influence further treatment and often, further life of the patient. In difficult situations it is advised to carry out psychiatric consultation several times. In emergencies there is a need to consult the aggressive patients with suicidal tendencies and consciousness disorders. The future of consultative psychiatry is connected with development of medicine in the field of transplantology, oncology, pandemics of contagious diseases, biomedicine, etc.
Subject(s)
Psychiatry/organization & administration , Psychiatry/trends , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Referral and Consultation/trends , ForecastingABSTRACT
Suicide is a serious public health problem, being, according to WHO, a third leading cause of death among people aged 15-44. In 2001 the total number of suicide deaths was higher than war deaths (500.000 and 23.0000 respectively). Due to such a high incidence of suicides it is likely that a doctor may encounter a suicide or attempted suicide. According to NHS data an average GP will most likely have 10-15 suicidal patients during career. A doctor who encounters a suicidal patient or is approached by a worried family member of a suicidal patient should make right decisions and inform a patient as well as his/her family what to do in the future. The aim of this paper is to present basic data regarding epidemiology of suicides and suggestions which may help the doctor to prevent suicide attempts.
Subject(s)
Suicide Prevention , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Poland/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Suicide, Attempted/prevention & control , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data , Young AdultABSTRACT
Suicide is a serious public health problem, being, according to WHO, a third leading cause of death among people aged 15-44. In 2001 the total number of suicide deaths was higher than war deaths ( 500.000 and 23.0000 respectively). Due to such a high incidence of suicides it is likely that a doctor may encounter a suicide or attempted suicide. According to NHS data an average GP will most likely have 10-15 suicidal patients during career. A doctor who encounters a suicidal patient or is approached by a worried family member of a suicidal patient should make right decisions and inform a patient as well as his/her family what to do in the future. The aim of this paper is to present basic data regarding epidemiology of suicides and suggestions which may help the doctor to prevent suicide attempts.
Subject(s)
Suicide Prevention , Suicide/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Poland/epidemiology , Prisoners/statistics & numerical data , Psychiatric Department, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Suicide, Attempted/prevention & control , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data , Young AdultABSTRACT
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
UNLABELLED: Abstract thinking belongs to intellectual abilities of the highest level of the evolutionary development, thanks to which operations such a classification, systematisation and comparison are possible. AIM: An analysis of the psychometric properties of the Proverb-Metaphor Test (TPM) which has been used in the German speaking countries since 2001. The TPM was subject to the process of translation--retranslation--travesty in order to be adapted to clinical conditions in Poland. MATERIAL: 60 patients of the Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Lublin with diagnosed paranoid schizophrenia (according to ICD-10 criteria). METHODS: PANSS and TPM was carried out amongst 15 patients at the beginning of the hospitalisation (the first stage of the research) and among all persons during the remission of syndromes (the second stage). The WAIS-R (PL) was used in the second stage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1. The TPM is a reliable instrument, of high criteria propriety. 2. The evaluated test is a relatively homogeneous research tool. 3. The TPM is, thanks to its simple construction and the short carrying out time, a practical method of abstract thinking evaluation. 4. The TPM may be a useful instrument enabling long term prognosis.
Subject(s)
Language , Metaphor , Schizophrenia, Paranoid/diagnosis , Semantics , Translations , Adult , Female , Germany , Humans , Male , Poland , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards , Psychiatry/methods , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Schizophrenia, Paranoid/psychology , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Connections between mental disorders and epilepsy have been perceived for a long period of time. Despite numerous investigations into this problem, it still is not fully understood in regard to the fact that in epilepsy the psychoses are situated at the intersection of neurology and psychiatry and the same phenomena, if presenting the psychotic syndrome, are often described in different terms. The most serious diagnostic as well as therapeutic problems are psychotic disorders which coexist with epileptic seizures. The goal of this paper was to present the case history of a patient, who was diagnosed with a psychotic disorder caused by partial complex seizures. The patient presented was hospitalized many times and several different neuroleptic treatments were used unsuccessfully. During the course of the illness many severe episodes of psycho-motor agitation connected with auto-aggressive acts were observed. It was not until an EEG - Holter test was performed and antiepileptic drugs were added to the treatment which aided in making the correct diagnosis. This enabled the patient to return to his highest level of functioning since the onset of the illness.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/etiology , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/etiology , Delusions/diagnosis , Delusions/etiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Mood Disorders/diagnosis , Mood Disorders/drug therapy , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapyABSTRACT
The aim of the second part of our work associated with psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation is to present current guidelines of expert-groups concerning the rules of treating affective disorders and actual data about the spreading of these disorders pre- and perinatal effects of drugs used, the classification of antidepressants and mood stabilizers according to FDA and the safety of these medications for the breast fed newborn.
Subject(s)
Fetal Development/drug effects , Lactation/drug effects , Mood Disorders/drug therapy , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects , Breast Feeding , Female , Humans , Infant Welfare , Infant, Newborn , Maternal Welfare , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Psychotropic Drugs/administration & dosage , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The aim of the third part of our work, associated with psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation is to present guidelines of expert--groups concerning the current rules of treating anxiety, obsessive--compulsive and sleep disorders and actual data about spreading of these disorders, pre- and perinatal effects of drugs used and the classification of them according to FDA and the safety of these medications for the breast fed newborn.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/drug therapy , Fetal Development/drug effects , Lactation/drug effects , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/drug therapy , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects , Sleep Wake Disorders/drug therapy , Breast Feeding , Female , Humans , Infant Welfare , Infant, Newborn , Maternal Welfare , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/psychology , Psychotropic Drugs/administration & dosage , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The aim of our work based on the global literature-review is to present the guidelines of the psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation recommended by various experts-groups as followed: 1. American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The Maudsley Guidelines, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Mainz, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw. In the first part the guidelines concerning to psychopharmacotherapy of psychotic disorders have been presented and actual data about spreading of these illnesses, pre- and perinatal effects of drugs used, the classification of neuroleptic drugs according to FDA and the safety of these medicines for the breast fed newborn.
Subject(s)
Fetal Development/drug effects , Lactation/drug effects , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy , Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects , Breast Feeding , Female , Humans , Infant Welfare , Infant, Newborn , Maternal Welfare , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Psychotropic Drugs/administration & dosage , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The aim of our work was to present the difficulties of the diagnosis and treatment which occurred during hospitalization of a 22-year-old patient diagnosed with type A hemophilia, posttraumatic epilepsy and carrier state of viral hepatitis C. The patient was transferred from Psychiatric Ward of Hospital in Parczew to the Psychiatric Clinical Hospital of Medical University in Lublin due to difficulties in settlement of diagnosis and to lack of the treatment effects. The anamnesis results showed that patient had triple febrile episodes after a trip to Romania; the last one included extreme excitement with suicidal attempt, nihilistic and catastrophic delusions. A co-traveler colleague was diagnosed with borreliosis. In our clinical ward many diagnostic procedures were conducted, obtaining significant increase of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies, due to which suitable treatment was initiated and minimum improvement of psychical state was obtained. The patient was tested many times by internist, neurologist, and specialist in infectious diseases. In the CT and EEG test no pathological state was revealed in CNS, only the results of the test in the direction of tick bone encephalitis (TBE) showed TBE. During a 3-month period a schizophreniphorm syndrome was observed: he refused consumption of meals, behaved aggressively, had auditory hallucinations, expressed many delusions, was periodically in disturbed consciousness, turned himself in many famous characters (e.g. Wlad Palownik, Pope, Koziolek Matolek, Boguslaw Linda). After four months of hospitalization we reached full remission of physical and mental state and the patients was discharged from hospital.
Subject(s)
Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/complications , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/diagnosis , Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic/complications , Hemophilia A/complications , Lyme Disease/complications , Lyme Disease/diagnosis , Schizophrenia, Paranoid/microbiology , Schizophrenia, Paranoid/virology , Adult , Borrelia burgdorferi/isolation & purification , Diagnosis, Differential , Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/isolation & purification , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
The treatment of psychiatric disturbance during pregnancy and breast feeding presents for psychiatrics a big challenge and very difficult dilemma. The psychopharmacotherapy during these periods should always involve a careful analysis of the risks and benefits of treatment which needs co-operation between obstetricians and psychiatrists. The purpose of this article is to review present scientific reports on the use of psychotropic drugs in pregnancy, puerperium and during breast feeding. The article brings forward psychopharmacotherapy in aspect of eventual risks for occurrence of teratogenecity, perinatal and postnatal toxicity in the neonate and in the breast feeding. The guidelines described concern the treatment of the psychiatric illnesses and disorders.
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Embryonic and Fetal Development/drug effects , Pregnancy/drug effects , Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects , Adult , Female , HumansABSTRACT
Patients with viral infection of the central nervous system are often difficult to establish the correct diagnosis. This paper presents our knowledge of herpes simplex encephalitis and a case report of 25-year-old woman. In this case paranoid syndrome preceded viral encephalitis. We established that the presence of mental abnormalities could go before encephalitis or could dominate in symptomatology of encephalitis.
