[Diagnostic difficulties and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of lethal catatonia]. / Trudnosci diagnostyczne oraz skutecznosc elektrowstrzasów w leczeniu ostrej smiertelnej katatonii.

This publication presents a case of 38-year old woman suffering from schizophrenia, whose body temperature reached 41 degrees C after she had taken 1250 mg of levomepromazine during a suicide attempt. Initially, the dominant symptoms were quantitative and qualitative disturbances of consciousness and periodically increased psychomotor activity, negativism, hallucinations, delusions, schizophrenic disturbances of affect became prominent. When the patient was hospitalized on the internal diseases ward, only symptomatic treatment was conducted, while the cause of the patient's high temperature was still investigated. Only when acute lethal catatonia was diagnosed and ECT was used, did the patient recover. In the event of rapid onset of high temperature in a patient with a mental disorder, a possibility of acute lethal catatonia must be always considered. A differential diagnosis of this disorder with neuroleptic malignant syndrome is very important, as the treatment is quite different. Many M.D.s aren't aware that high body temperature may be a symptom of a mental disease.

[Diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of panic attacks]. / Rozpoznanie, patogeneza i leczenie napadów paniki.

Panic accompanies several diseases both psychological and somatic. It may be secondary, i.e. produced by other symptoms and morbid processes. It may also be primary--"neurotic". In such cases there are two forms of panic: generalized and paroxysmal. Attacks of panic are seen in 1.6-2.9% of women and in 0.4-1.7% of men. Main pathogenetic role is played by the psychologic factors (psychical trauma precedes the onset of diseases). The role of biological factors is also important. It is believed that disorders of the noradrenergic, serotonin-ergic, and GABA-ergic transmission may produce the attacks of panic. Psychotherapy is a treatment of choice. Pharmacotherapy plays only an adjuvant role. Antidepressants (tricyclic of II generation) are most frequently used for this purpose and--exceptionally due to possible addiction--benzodiazepines. The highest impact on the development of disease has first contact physician attitude. Patient and thoughtful listening to the patient, explanation of the complaints and their source often produce and improvement, and even complete recovery.