[Clinical study of patients with benzodiazepine dependence, hospitalised between 2006-2008]. / Studiu clinic asupra cazurilor de dependenta la benzodiazepine spitalizate în perioada 2006-2008.

UNLABELLED: The authors present the result of retroprospective clinical diagnosis on benzodiazepines dependence hospitalised in the Drug-Dependence Clinic from the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry "Socola" Iasi between January 2006-September 2008. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included a number of 49 patients. RESULTS: The present article consists of data covering current issues in the area of benzodiazepine side effects. The most frequent clinical manifestations were depression (62.5%), anxiety (52%), perspiration (43%), insomnia (31%), cognitive symptoms (25.2%).

Psychopathology of alcoholics during withdrawal and early abstinence.

Epidemiologic surveys show a high lifetime co-morbidity with psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety) in alcoholics. However, alcoholics frequently complained about psychopathologic symptoms, particularly during alcohol withdrawal. There is some evidence that symptomatology decreases spontaneously with prolonged abstinence. Thus, the question arises whether high levels of psychopathology could be accounted for by withdrawal effects. This study was aimed at examining the impact of the alcohol withdrawal severity (assessed by the AWS scale) on psychopathologic symptoms. The psychopathologic profile of 110 alcoholics as measured by the Symptom Checklist-90 revised (SCL-90-R) was compared to that of 253 patients with adjustment, anxiety or depressive disorders (according to ICD-10 criteria). No relationship between the severity of alcohol withdrawal and psychopathology could be found which might hint at two different neurobiological processes underlying these phenomena. The comparison with patients suffering from depression or anxiety disorders revealed that the global symptom severity of alcoholics undergoing withdrawal was similar, but recovery was achieved more rapidly than in the other groups. On the other hand, the self-rated psychopathologic symptom profile of alcoholics was rather similar to that of patients with adjustment disorders. While about one-quarter of the alcoholics reported severe psychopathology on admission, only about 10% showed symptomatology at discharge about three weeks later, predominantly depression or anxiety. These results underline the notion that much of the psychopathology described by alcoholics decreases within 2-3 weeks after withdrawal without specific treatment.

Prevention of adjustment disorders and anticipatory nausea secondary to adjuvant chemotherapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the usefulness of alprazolam.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: Although a high prevalence of adjustment disorders and anticipatory nausea secondary to adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) has been reported, little has been done to develop strategies to prevent these problems. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was therefore designed to assess the usefulness of adding low-dose alprazolam (0.5 mg to 2 mg per day) to a psychologic support program including progressive relaxation training designed to prevent the aforementioned conditions. Fifty-seven women undergoing adjuvant CT for stage II primary breast cancer agreed to participate in the assessment, which was conducted at four time points: before starting CT, 6 weeks after CT, before the fourth CT, and after the fourth CT. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS), Revised Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R), Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis (MANE), and World Health Organization (WHO) grading of acute and subacute toxicities were used to compare the alprazolam (AA) and placebo (PA) arms of the study. RESULTS: At the second evaluation, the results showed a higher rate of anticipatory nausea (18% v 0%) in the PA compared with the AA arm (P = .038). These differences were no more significant at each of the further assessments. Significant differences were found for the intake of hypnotics at each assessment visit, with the rate of hypnotic users being significantly higher in the PA (19%) compared with the AA (0%) arm at the fourth assessment (P < .05). Anxiety and depression scores of self- and observer-report were similar in the two arms. A significant relationship was found between the development of anticipatory nausea and the self-report of anxiety and depression score measured by HADS at baseline. The average HADS total score at baseline was 15.33 (SD = 6.56) for patients who developed anticipatory nausea and 11.23 (SD = 6.67) for other patients. CONCLUSION: The adjunct of alprazolam to a psychologic support program delays the occurrence of anticipatory nausea and controls sleeping problems secondary to adjunct CT. Although studies are needed to improve the efficacy reported here, physicians may already consider the use of alprazolam for cancer patients undergoing CT.

[Psychosocial functioning of children and adolescents dependent on inhalation of toxic substances]. / Funkcjonowanie psychospoleczne dzieci i mlodziezy uzalezniajacych sie od toksycznych preparatów wziewnych.

Fifty persons of the age of 13 to 18 who had been stuffing themselves with steams of solvents, were medically examined. There were used medical (psychiatrical, neurological, internal) and psychological examinations--with the D. Weschler's scale of intelligence and questionnaire interviews obtaining from those who underwent the examinations and their parents. It was stated that the beginning of the intoxication was mostly preceded by the difficulties in social adjustment. Number of inter-related negative elements of biological and psychosocial nature were at the base of those difficulties from among which the substantial part was taken by disturbed family conditions and irregularly formed (for various reasons) personality of those peoples. The dependency was followed with more and more intensified social difficulties.