ABSTRACT
The term paranoid is derived from the Greek word paranoia meaning nadnese. It does not only mean self-reference, but there are various personality features as they are hostility, a tendency towards aggressiveness, irritability, a lack of sense of humour, feelings of overestimation of one-self and a tendency towards accusations. These features may appear also within normal psychology and they becomeclinically important after thein increase of intensity and conspicuousness (los sof hearing, long-term abuse of alcohol and psychostimulants) and organic disorders of the brain may contribute to the development of paranoidity. A mechanism of projection is considered as a decivise factor from the point of view of dynamic psychiatry. Clinically unimportant sign sof paranoidity can be observed due to unusual situations. If a paranoid reaction becomes more serious, formation of a paranoid delusion should be taken to account. In our koncept the term paranoid and paranoidity should be used only as a psychopathological term.
Subject(s)
Paranoid Disorders , Paranoid Personality Disorder , Delusions/etiology , Humans , Paranoid Disorders/diagnosis , Paranoid Disorders/etiology , Paranoid Disorders/psychology , Paranoid Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Paranoid Personality Disorder/psychology , SyndromeABSTRACT
The term dependence is found in the International Classification of Diseases-10 only in conjunction with the diagnosis of a dependent personality disorder and the substance-related syndrome. Nowhere dependence not related to a substance is mentioned. At present we encounter in the press and professional literature frequently comments on dependence in relation to gambling, work, television, sports activities or some hobby. From the medical aspect it is a dominating idea, i.e. rather a phenomenon within the framework of an extended standard than a symptom from the field of psychopathology. The author recommends to avoid the use of the term "dependence not related to a substance" to prevent psychiatrization of common activities..
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive , Dependency, Psychological , Humans , Terminology as TopicABSTRACT
The contemporary epidemiological position as regards syphilis, worldwide and in the Czech Republic, is deteriorating in a dangerous way. New cases are not adequately detected, their treatment is frequently implemented by non-professionals and the symptoms of the 1st and 2nd stage remain unnoticed and may be even lacking. In the near future we must foresee an increasing incidence of late complications of syphilis. The authors present four catamnestically followed up cases of progressive paralysis which were detected during the past five years at the Psychiatric Clinic of ther First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague. The observation confirms the old view that patients who contracted neurosyphilis must remain throughout life on the records of VD clinics despite excellent remission of the clinical condition as in none of their patients complete normalization of the finding in the cerebrospinal fluid was found.
Subject(s)
Neurosyphilis/diagnosis , Adult , Humans , Male , Neurosyphilis/drug therapyABSTRACT
102 patients were divided into 3 groups: epileptics, psychotics and epileptics with psychotic symptoms. All had long been monitored for a number of clinical and laboratory parameters. Though different in many respects, all share states of sudden dysphoria, cacophoria, panic anxiety, horror, and EEG (stereo-EEG, too) signs of epileptic or other gross anomalies, often correlated to those affective disorders. Attacks of dysphoria, epilepsy, and psychosis come spontaneously and in response to biological (hypoglycemia, sleep deprivation, alcohol, menses) or psychosocial stimulation (agitation, quarrels, fear of redundancy, psychic trauma). These states (attacks, dysphoria, "neurotic" or even psychotic episodes) often provoke one another. -Calling this syndrome epileptosis, we believe its mechanism is due to lesions of the limbic and brainstem modulation systems. At the start of the process there is an epileptic focus in the amygdalo-hippocampal complex (AHC) which in itself can trigger simple or complex partial paroxysm but also-by means of electric stimulation of the AHC-states of dysphoria, anxiety, and psychotic hallucinations. Besides, a form of pathological learning develops in premorbid "hypersensitive" personality which can be put down to associative learning and to Overton's phenomenon of "state-dependent retention of learned responses". This may give rise to mutual stimulation where epileptic focal activity in AHC can provoke dysphoria while an external psychosocial situation can trigger epileptic activity there, too (AHC). Since there need not always be mydriasis (though other vegetative signs such as tachycardia, tachypnoea, nausea, blush and others are frequent) or unconsciousness, and some psychomotor manifestations may be out of the ordinary, and scalp EEG may be normal, such patients are often regarded as "hysterics" or malingerers.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/complications , Psychotic Disorders/complications , Adult , Aged , Diagnosis, Differential , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , SyndromeABSTRACT
The authors recapitulate the term of pathological gambling in different classifications incl. the 10th revision of the ICD. It is a new concept which involves certain obscure points also from the linguistic aspect. They demonstrate on a forensic expert opinion elaborated by the Faculty why the statement of the accused that he committed extensive property offenses as a result of pathological gambling was not accepted by experts.
Subject(s)
Criminal Psychology , Gambling , Theft , Adult , Humans , Male , Personality DisordersABSTRACT
The 10th revision of the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) has many pitfalls for translators due to an effort to adhere strictly to the English original and the wish to respect the usual psychiatric terminology and the spirit of the Czech language. The author draws attention to some newly introduced and abandoned terms and diagnoses and the importance of this phenomenon for forensic expertise.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/classification , Humans , TranslationsABSTRACT
In a review of psychiatric problems of the Vietnamese population in particular experiences with refugees to the USA are mentioned where with regard to the great influx it was necessary to resolve rapidly in particular problems of the mental health. The group is formed by 20 Vietnamese subjects (11 men and 9 women) who were hospitalized in 1979-1988 at the Prague Psychiatric Clinic, Charles University and who had various jobs in Prague. In six men psychosis was diagnosed (3x schizophrenia or schizoaffective psychosis, 2x depressive phase and 1x manic phase of manic depressive psychosis). In women the psychopathological symptoms were evaluated as neurotic, in 6 of them there were attempts of suicide, while in men suicidal behaviour was recorded only once. Regardless of sex, the suicidal attempts were made with great determination. Aggressive behaviour focused on the environment was found in three men. The authors describe cases of somatizing depression and hysterical manifestations. In the development of symptoms participated psychogenic factors such as separation from the home country, partnership conflicts, incl. unwanted pregnancy and unsatisfactory work. Some psychopathological symptoms reminded of experience with the so-called Gastarbeitersyndrom.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/ethnology , Refugees , Adult , Czechoslovakia , Female , Humans , Male , Vietnam/ethnologyABSTRACT
The author submits a new classification of schizophrenias, schizotype, hallucinatory and other disorders as found in the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) in the chapter bearing the code F20-F29. Some new units will be found (post-schizophrenic depressions, schizotype disorders); paraphrenia and paranoia are no longer separate units. The new revision will be valid from Jan. 1, 1993; by a five-digit classification it will make as regards symptoms and course of mental disorders a more accurate diagnosis possible.
Subject(s)
Schizophrenia/classification , Terminology as Topic , HumansABSTRACT
The paper summarizes findings from the literature concerned with transcultural psychiatry. It is divided into five parts which deal with specific culturally conditioned units, problems of immigrants, cultural problems, methods, international studies and the bias of psychiatrists. The organization of psychiatric care in developing countries is mentioned. In the conclusion the author draws attention to the small number of original Czechoslovak contributions to this sphere as a result of the prolonged international isolation. Basic knowledge of transcultural psychiatry will obviously be very useful with regard to the expected influx of immigrants from the East.
Subject(s)
Cultural Characteristics , Psychiatry , HumansABSTRACT
In the course of the ten-year period 1979-1988 the authors subjected to psychiatric examination or hospitalized 52 Ethiopian university students. The authors were concerned with the problem whether in the development and character of the psychopathological symptoms factors of the different cultural environment participated. University students sent to Czechoslovakia are a specific group which is not representative of the Ethiopian population. This may be the reason why the revealed symptoms did not differ markedly from conditions in the local population. This applies in particular to neurotic disorders, among which the neurasthenic syndrome predominated. In 14 hospitalized students schizophrenia was diagnosed 6 times, endogenous depression 6 times and neurotic symptoms due to maladaptation twice. The schizophrenic attacks presented classical symptoms, after their regression there was however, complete remission and thus the original diagnosis was somewhat doubtful.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/ethnology , Students/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Cultural Characteristics , Czechoslovakia , Ethiopia/ethnology , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
In 1979-1988 at the Prague Psychiatric Clinic 26 patients from Arab areas were hospitalized. The reason for admission were acute mental disorders involving paranoid, paranoid hallucinatory, manic or depressive syndromes, alcoholism and aggressive behaviour. No bizarre or at least remote psychopathological symptoms were recorded. The author draws attention to the frequent incidence of alcoholism and aggressiveness: these manifestations are at variance with traditions of Arab morality. In the diagnostic evaluation syndromological conclusions proved more useful than nosological ones.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/ethnology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/therapy , Middle East/ethnologyABSTRACT
Sulpiride is a substituted benzamide which blocks selectively D-2 receptors. The authors tested its clinical effectiveness in schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In schizophrenia its action was compared with that of haloperidol. It was revealed that sulpiride is an effective drug, in particular in schizophrenia with abulic and depressive symptoms without productive symptoms and in psychoaffective psychoses. In the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa its therapeutic action was not superior to that of other preparations used in these diseases.
