[Unconventional methods of "treatment"]. / Niekonwencjonalne metody "leczenia".

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.

[Brain plasticity]. / Plastycznosc mózgu.

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.

[Consultative psychiatry--aims, challenges and perspectives]. / Psychiatria konsultacyjna--cele, wyzwania, perspektywy.

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.

[Mental disorders in a female patient with childhood sexual abuse--schizophrenia or complex PTSD]. / Zaburzenia psychiczne u pacjentki wykorzystywanej seksualnie w dziecinstwie--schizofrenia czy objawy zlozonego PTSD (CPTSD).

The paper presents the definition, synonyms of child sexual abuse and a short overview of the current knowledge about long-term effects of that kind of trauma. The case of a female patient with diagnosed schizophrenia and a history of being sexually abused in childhood who was hospitalised at The Department of Psychiatry in Lublin is described. Sexual abuse of the child is prolonged, repeated trauma, thus another probable diagnosis--Complex PTSD is discussed. The diagnosis of PTSD includes the symptoms that result when a person experiences a short-lived trauma. However, chronic trauma like child sexual abuse continue for months or years at a time and a new diagnosis called Complex PTSD describes the symptoms of long-term trauma.

[Mental disorders in a female patient with probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease]. / Zaburzenia psychiczne u pacjentki z prawdopodobna choroba Creutzfeldta-Jakoba.

The paper presents an overview of the current knowledge about the etiology, classification of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, abnormalities in the results of the EEG, MR and laboratory examinations in patients with this disease. The diagnostic value of the CSF examination for presence of protein 14-3-3 is underlined. The article is based on both Polish and foreign literature, describing mainly the diagnostics of CJD. The case of a female patient with dementia, mental disorders and neurological symptoms in the course of probable CJD, who was hospitalized at the Psychogeriatric Department of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Lublin is described.

[Connection between stressful live events with mental disorders]. / Zwiazek stresujacych wydarzen zyciowych z zaburzeniami stanu psychicznego.

AIM: The aim of the paper is to study the differences between the mentally ill and a control group correlated with stressful live events and its connection with a sense of coherence. METHODS: The group of 108 people, 49 psychiatric patients and 64 people without any mental disorders, were examined with the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, Early Trauma Inventory, Social Readjustment Scale and the Sense of Coherence Scale. RESULTS: Patients with mental disorders had a significantly higher occurrence of stressful psychosocial factors during the last year, and also they were exposed to traumatic events in childhood more frequently than the control group. The sense of coherence, as a measurement of resources in coping with stress, was significantly lower in the case of the psychiatric patients. Statistically significant dependence of anxiety and depression symptoms which were reported by patients with mental disorders with abuses which were experienced in childhood highly correlated with a sense of coherence in the group of psychiatric patients. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric patients experienced stressful life events in childhood more frequently, which had to do with a sense of coherence as measure of 'resistance' resources to cope with stressful events.

Paranoid syndrome and herpes simplex encephalitis--coincidence or casual nexus?

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.

[The analyses of psychiatric treatment among a group of people applying for disability pension benefits]. / Analiza leczenia psychiatrycznego w grupie osób opiniowanych dla celów rentowych.

The study includes data of 109 people who were examined by psychiatrists and psychologists of their pension demands concerning statement for the Regional Court in Lublin, in 1999-2001 period. The period of treatment and the frequency of calls to PZP have been taken into consideration. The number of hospitalizations has also been taken into account. Then, pharmacological treatment was examined. Some discrepancies have been found among algorithms of pharmacotherapy and the practice of treatment. Insufficient and inconsistent application of psychotropic medicine has been proved. It turned out that 1/3 of men and 1/5 of women of the examined group weren't patients of PZP. They were treated by physician (family doctors) or neurologists.