Capgras syndrome and minor head trauma.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D A Fishbain.
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Conversion paralysis has a poor prognosis when there is evidence of nonresponse to previous treatment, long duration, and secondary atrophy of the "paralyzed" muscles. The authors present four such cases in which conversion paralysis was treated successfully by means of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback. Each of the four patients also suffered from a chronic pain condition. Results from statistical analyses indicated that the four patients demonstrated significant improvement in the functional capacity of the "paralyzed" muscles as measured by isometric maximum voluntary contraction and EMG activity. The improvements occurred without explicit psychotherapy and suggest that behavioral modification techniques alone may be helpful in such cases.
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Numerous reports have documented the usefulness of functional electric stimulation (FES) in restoring and/or improving the function of organically diseased or paralyzed muscles. There are few reports related to the use of FES in the treatment of conversion disorder paralysis of the hysterical type. This paper presents a case of hysterically paralyzed muscles where the patient received daily treatment with FES for two weeks. Electric current was applied to a weak quadriceps and to paralyzed tibialis anterior muscles. This electrotherapeutic modality was effective in improving the function of the quadriceps and in reversing the paralysis of the tibialis anterior muscles. The improvement in the muscles' functional abilities was documented through the use of quantitative measures of muscle strength as well as computerized analysis of EMG signals. The results showed that the administration of FES resulted in a dramatic increase in motor units recruitment, increased muscle strength, and improved voluntary muscle control.
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During the 1983 year all patient presentations to the University of Miami Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES) at Jackson Memorial Hospital, a large county hospital, were screened by the author through patient rounds and chart review for the presence of the Capgras delusion (strictly defined). Within 4,200 unduplicated patient presentations, 6 cases were determined to have a Capgras delusion: i.e. 0.14% of all PES unduplicated presentations and 0.17% of all PES psychotic unduplicated presentations. These 6 cases are presented. The majority of these patients presented with the chief complaint of violent behavior towards a significant other and had organic factors as contributors to the psychopathology.
A review of medical examiner records yielded data on 19 men and one woman who died playing Russian roulette. The men differed significantly from 95 male suicide victims who died of gunshot wounds to the head on several variables including age, race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, marital status, living situation, health, and the likelihood of the death being witnessed. The Russian roulette victims were significantly less likely to die in the bedroom, die in the morning, leave a suicide note, and be depressed but were significantly more likely to have alcohol or drugs in their body fluids and to have a previous history of drug and alcohol abuse.
The psychodynamic etiology of kleptomania has historically been linked to "ungratified sexual instinct." This paper is the first report of kleptomanic behavior associated with masturbation during the shoplifting or at the time of discovery by authorities. However, in this case kleptomania was in fact risk-taking behavior in response to depression. Psychodynamically, risk-taking behavior may be important in kleptomania.
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In a case of Capgras' syndrome the primary double is usually the spouse. In the described case, the patient chose as a double her pregnant 15-year-old daughter even though her spouse and four other children lived with her. A psychodynamic explanation for this choice is offered within the mechanism of the "ambivalence theory."
The characteristics of four impaired veterinarians are presented and discussed. These characteristics are compared with published descriptors of impaired physicians. It appears that impaired veterinarians and impaired physicians may share some common descriptors. The phenomenon of veterinarian impairment, however, requires further study.