Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie
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In this article we discuss the case of a patient with schizophrenia who presented with the clinical symptoms ofcoma, fever and rigidity. Initially it was suspected that the patient had a neuroleptic malignant syndrome. ⋯ It is known that cocaine can cause a variant of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome. The patient was treated with dantrolene sodium and bromocriptine in the Intensive Care Unit and made a complete recovery within four days.
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Clinical experience shows that feelings of hopelessness quite often arise in patients with schizophrenia. ⋯ Feelings of hopelessness in patients with schizophrenia are not necessarily a sign of pathology but may point to existential suffering. This needs to be recognised by those dealing with persons sufferingfrom schizophrenia,
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After successful completion of a benzodiazepine withdrawal programme it nevertheless is hard to remain abstinent in the long term. ⋯ The psychological characteristics and the DSM-IV axis I classifications should not exert undue influence on the clinician's decision to advise the patient to stop or continue taking benzodiazepines.