Encephale
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Schizophrenia appears to be the mental pathology the most associated with violence. The aim of this study is to show the incidence and the different risk factors of violence among schizophrenics. ⋯ Awareness of these factors will allow us to provide improved prevention of violence within schizophrenic subjects.
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Frontal lobe syndromes include reduced activity, particularly a diminution of spontaneous activity, lack of drive, inability to plan ahead, and induce a lack of concern. These last points constitute the executive dysfunction syndrome. That executive dysfunction could be the core defect in patients with geriatric or vascular depression, and might be related to frontal-subcortical circuit dysfunction. Sometimes frontal lobe syndromes are associated with restless, aimless, uncoordinated behavior or even disinhibition, increasing the risks of falls and of malnutrition. Some authors have distinguished between lesions of the lateral frontal cortex, most closely linked to the motor structures of the brain, which lead to disturbances of movement and action with perseveration and inertia, and lesions of the orbital and medial areas, interlinked with limbic and reticular systems, damage to which leads to disinhibition and changes of affect. The medial frontal syndrome is marked by akinesia, associated with gait disturbances, and loss of autonomy. For these reasons, it has been proposed that a subtype of depression, "depression-executive dysfunction syndrome" could occur in late life. This assertion was based on clinical, neuropathological, and neuroimaging findings suggesting that frontostriatal dysfunctions contribute to the development of both depression and executive dysfunction and influence the course of depression. Depressive symptomatology, and especially psychomotor retardation and loss of interest in activities, contributed to disability in depression-executive dysfunction syndrome patients. This study is not restricted to major depression. It examined the relationship of executive impairment to the course of depressive symptoms among a psychogeriatric population with dementia or depression in order to assess the consequences of these pathologies on disabilities of aged persons. ⋯ Depression and executive dysfunction triggers the loss of autonomy, the risk of fall and of malnutrition in elderly patients. The clinical significance of this study is that the delineation of specific executive in depressed elderly patients may facilitate the development of effective treatment interventions, including treatment for geriatric depression.
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This paper presents a survey conducted on a population of multi-handicapped patients and autistic adults hospitalised long term in the Paul Guiraud mental health Hospital in Villejuif France. ⋯ Although autistics are clinically different from multi-handicapped patients, no statistically significant difference was demonstrated in their prescriptions, which implies a similar pharmacological management. It is difficult to clearly distinguish these two populations only according to the type of drugs used and the doses prescribed.
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Case Reports
[A case of Usher's syndrome associated with psychotic symptoms: diagnosis and follow-up in a psychiatric unit].
Usher's syndrome is a heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder characterised by dual sensory impairment: profound congenital hearing impairment and progressive visual loss due to retinitis pigmentosa, sometimes associated with vestibular dysfunction. Some patients develop a psychotic illness, the etiology of which is still debated. Diagnosis may be difficult, and there are only a few reports in the psychiatric literature. ⋯ Access to mental health services is particularly difficult for deaf and deaf-blind people, and difficulties in communication are a challenge for patients and for caregivers too. Antipsychotic medications are helpful for associated psychotic symptoms. Potential link between Usher syndrome and psychosis is still unclear and needs further studies.