Psychiatr Pol
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A pair of auditory stimuli presented in a 0.5 second interval cause a reduction of the P50 auditory evoked potential (P50 AEP) amplitude after the second stimuli in the pair. In some, but not all studies, a clear deficit of such P50 AEP gating was observed in schizophrenic patients. It was present constantly irrespective of the clinical state. This deficit was also found in first degree relatives of schizophrenic patients. However the results of the studies, as well as their interpretation remain controversial. ⋯ (1) Healthy individuals suppressed the neurophysiologic response to the second pair of auditory stimuli much more than the schizophrenic patients and their healthy families. (2) No difference was seen in the suppression of the response between the schizophrenic patients and their first degree relatives. The results are coherent with the idea of the dysfunction of the P50 gating having endophenotypic traits as far as schizophrenia goes.
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Memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist with moderate affinity, which results in neuroprotective potential due to reducing overstimulation caused by glutamate (excitotoxicity) and simultaneous lack of adverse events (especially psychosis) typical for an antagonist with higher affinity like phencyclidine. In randomized, controlled studies it has been shown that memantine is beneficial in the treatment of moderate to severe dementia of Alzheimer's type and it became the very first compound to be registered for this purpose both in Europe (including Poland) and in the United States. Further investigation require usefulness of memantine in less advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease as well as other types of dementia especially vascular; promising results are shown in dual therapy: memantine + cholinesterase inhibitor.
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Review Case Reports
[Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). A report of two cases].
To critically review the past years of research on paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections in children and adolescents. ⋯ Results of these studies led to the identification of children whose clinical course is characterised by abrupt and dramatic symptom exacerbations which are temporally related to group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections. The identification of such a subgroup will allow for testing of the model of pathogenesis as well as development of novel treatment and prevention strategies. Future research are needed to explore the nature of PANDAS and their relationship with different psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.
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Based on a review of studies done in the last 20 years the author presents recent knowledge on the possible relationship between child maltreatment and suicidal behaviour in childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
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The paper is an attempt to describe the current state of affairs and perspectives in Polish forensic psychiatry in relation to the EU rules and standards on dealing with psychiatric patients who break the law. Basic dilemmas and rules of forensic psychiatry are presented which allow for the formulation of a specific meta-model which in turn will enable further reforms and improvement of Polish forensic psychiatry. ⋯ This includes the role of the psychologist together with the psychiatrist, when deciding on the person's accountableness. Limiting detention use only in the cases of non-accountable offenders is an unfavourable action which is against European standards and makes it difficult for many psychiatrically ill offenders to obtain therapeutic help or adequate rehabilitation.