Psychiatr Pol
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Main problems that await the modern Polish forensic psychiatry are presented. The most common mistakes made in forensic expertise are discussed and their causes are shown. The need for a change in the manner of teaching forensic psychiatry at an academic, as well as post graduate level to medical students/doctors as well as law officials, has been stressed. ⋯ The clearly defined status of the forensic psychiatric expert gives him a guarantee of legal defence and through this an unbiased position. Giving forensic expertise is not only part of the diagnostics in forensic psychiatry. An even layout of protection, treatment and rehabilitation of psychiatrically ill criminals has to be present in this system.
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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.