Psychiatr Pol
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Introduction of new Penal code by the Parliament brings about the necessity of conducting a detailed analysis of particular legal solutions in the code. The authors present an analysis of selected issues included in the Penal Code, referring to proof from the opinion of psychiatric experts, particularly those regarding professional qualifications of persons appointed by the court in a penal trial to assess mental health state of definite persons (a witness, a victim, the perpetrator). It was accepted that the only persons authorized the conduct psychiatric examination in a penal trial are those with at least first degree specialization in psychiatry.
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The goal of the research was evaluation how, and to what degree the use of restraint in psychiatric hospitals was changed between 1989 and 1996. Two month observations of the 11 psychiatric wards of Warsaw psychiatric hospitals were conducted. Researchers used special questionnaire to account for all of the cases of restraint. ⋯ More often than in 1989 aggressive behaviour was the reason for restraining patients. The research clearly states that the practice of restraint was evidently modified and the freedom of its use limited. The main causes are probably the introduction of the Mental Health Act and the changes in the observed wards.
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Clorazepate dipotassium (Tranxene), benzodiazepine of retarded anxiety-relieving, sedative and sleep-inducing action was used in an open sample of 36 patients for fast control of anxiety and aggression in the course of schizophrenia, schizoaffective psychosis and other psychotic disorders. The intensity of aggressive behaviors was assessed as 6-7 items on the CGI scale. ⋯ No unfavourable interactions between the applied clorazepate (Tranxene) and the other medicines applied simultaneously (mostly neuroleptics and antidepressant drugs) were observed. Clorazepate (Tranxene) is an effective and safe drug giving fast and long-lasting sedation of the patients with low risk of interaction with other drugs or of side-effects.
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In this paper, a progress in research on etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia made in the recent decade was presented. Two main etiopathogenetic factors in this illness include genetic predisposition and brain damage in early period of life, leading to a disorder of brain development and lateralization, and to an increased susceptibility to stress. The use of new methods of genetic studies brought about a significant progress as to identification of relationship between schizophrenia and various changes within genotype. ⋯ Impaired brain development in schizophrenia results in disturbances of neuronal connection in the cortical structures and in cortical-limbic transmission, what may underlie the appearance of psychopathological symptoms. New neuroleptic drugs introduced in the recent years show more complete therapeutic action against schizophrenic symptoms compared with drugs used so far. This may result from their broader influence on the pathogenetic processes of schizophrenia, which may be due, apart from their effect on dopaminergic system, also to their action on some elements of serotonergic neurotransmission.
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The penal code dated April 19th 1969 allows for three privileged types of manslaughter: manslaughter under strong emotional disturbance (art. 148 sections 2), infanticide (art. 149) and euthanasia for request (art. 150). The first two types of manslaughter are the discussed the third one is neglected because only the general problems of soundness of mind, non-accountability and greatly diminished accountability (art. 25 penal code) refer to them. ⋯ But in the case of psychological disorders such possibility cannot be excluded. The author postulates a wide participation of experts in psychology and psychiatry in cases prosecuted under art. 148 sections 2 penal code and art. 149 penal code.