The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2013
ReviewPost-treatment lyme syndrome and central sensitization.
Central sensitization is a process that links a variety of chronic pain disorders that are characterized by hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli and pain in response to non-noxious stimuli. Among these disorders, treatments that act centrally may have greater efficacy than treatments acting peripherally. Because many individuals with post-treatment Lyme syndrome (PTLS) have a similar symptom cluster, central sensitization may be a process mediating or exacerbating their sensory processing. This article reviews central sensitization, reports new data on sensory hyperarousal in PTLS, explores the potential role of central sensitization in symptom chronicity, and suggests new directions for neurophysiologic and treatment research.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2013
Comparative StudyMan versus machine: comparison of radiologists' interpretations and NeuroQuant® volumetric analyses of brain MRIs in patients with traumatic brain injury.
NeuroQuant® is a recently developed, FDA-approved software program for measuring brain MRI volume in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to compare NeuroQuant with the radiologist's traditional approach, based on visual inspection, in 20 outpatients with mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ The radiologist's traditional approach found atrophy in 10.0% of patients; NeuroQuant found atrophy in 50.0% of patients. NeuroQuant was more sensitive for detecting brain atrophy than the traditional radiologist's approach.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2013
Use of low-dose gabapentin for aggressive behavior in vascular and Mixed Vascular/Alzheimer Dementia.
Recent reports highlighting serious adverse effects of antipsychotic medication in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) has led to calls for research on alternative agents. The authors describe the use of low-dose gabapentin to treat seven patients with a diagnosis of ICD-10 vascular or Mixed Vascular/Alzheimer Dementia with serious aggressive behavior. ⋯ Treatment was tolerated in each case without adverse reactions. Our findings suggest that gabapentin should be considered for treating aggressive behavior in patients with vascular or mixed dementia and that it is well tolerated in this context.
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J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci · Jan 2013
Concepts and strategies for clinical management of blast-induced traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder.
After exposure of the human body to blast, kinetic energy of the blast shock waves might be transferred into hydraulic energy in the cardiovascular system to cause a rapid physical movement or displacement of blood (a volumetric blood surge). The volumetric blood surge moves through blood vessels from the high-pressure body cavity to the low-pressure cranial cavity, causing damage to tiny cerebral blood vessels and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). ⋯ Clinical imaging technologies, which are able to detect tiny cerebrovascular insults, changes in blood flow, and cerebral edema, may help diagnose both TBI and PTSD in the victims exposed to blasts. Potentially, prompt medical treatment aiming at prevention of secondary neuronal damage may slow down or even block the cascade of events that lead to progressive neuronal damage and subsequent long-term neurological and psychiatric impairment.