Biomedical subjects

D Aizenberg

Publications and source records attributed to D Aizenberg.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1985

Autoscopic and drug-induced perceptual disturbances. A case report.

The unique association of autoscopic and toxic hallucinatory phenomena is presented. These two phenomena were clearly differentiated by two clinical aspects--their course of appearance and the patient's attitude. Various conditions affecting the central nervous system have been associated with the autoscopic phenomena. In this case, hallucinatory disturbances were caused by drug intoxication. However, the special features of the autoscopic phenomena were retained and could be clearly distinguished. Psychiatrists should be familiar with the syndrome as lack of clinical recognition might cause wrong treatment decisions--as presented in our patient.

Clomipramine↗

PubMed1985

The aftercare of the patient with the neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is an idiosyncratic reaction to neuroleptic drugs, made up of hyperthermia, muscular rigidity, disturbance of level of consciousness and autonomic dysfunction. It is potentially lethal and should be kept in mind whilst using anti-psychotic drugs; as most patients treated by them require further anti-psychotic treatment, the clinician faces the problem of treating those patients after a NMS episode, yet reports in the literature have generally neglected the problem of late management. A patient suffering from a psychosis and NMS is presented, and a rationale for management offered.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Donepezil for the treatment of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease: a 6-month open trial.

Behavioral and psychological signs of dementia (BPSD) are common clinical characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They result in patient and caregivers distress, decreased quality of life and placement in nursing homes. Treatment of BPSD with antidepressant and antipsychotic medications is not without complications and serious adverse effects. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) show preliminary promise as psychotropic agents possibly able to improve BPSD in AD patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of donepezil (an AChEI) as an only treatment for AD patients with BPSD. Ten consecutive AD patients hospitalized at a psychogeriatric ward due to BPSD were treated with donepezil for 24 weeks. Effect was measured using the NeuroPsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Significant reduction in the presence of delusions, irritability/lability and disinhibition were achieved after 24 weeks of donepezil treatment. This was accompanied by reduction in caregivers distress. The drug was well tolerated and all patients completed the study. Our findings complement the preliminary data that donepezil as well as other AChEIs are promising candidates for further study as psychotropic agents positively affecting BPSD in AD patients.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual dysfunction in male posttraumatic stress disorder patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that sexual dysfunction may be associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet such studies have not examined a full range of sexual functioning and have not accounted for the possibility that medication used to treat PTSD may contribute to sexual dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: The current study compares the various components of sexual functioning among three groups of males: (1) untreated PTSD patients (n = 15), (2) PTSD patients currently treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) agents (n = 27) and (3) a group of normal controls (n = 49). METHODS: All participants completed an 18-item questionnaire for assessment of sexual functioning. Those with PTSD also completed the Impact of Events Scale and the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90). RESULTS: Untreated and treated PTSD patients had significantly poorer sexual functioning in all domains (desire, arousal, orgasm, activity and satisfaction) as compared to normal controls. Those treated with SSRI had greater impairment in desire, arousal and frequency of sexual activity with a partner. There was a high correlation between sexual dysfunction among the PTSD group and the anger-hostility subscale of the SCL-90. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD appears to be associated with pervasive sexual dysfunction that is exacerbated by treatment with SSRIs. PTSD may represent a heterogeneous syndrome. Patients with PTSD have a high rate of comorbid panic disorder, major depression and anxiety, and it could thus be argued that these comorbid disorders, rather than PTSD, accounted for the observed result. Future research aimed at understanding comorbidity and heterogeneity should help to illuminate the psychobiology of PTSD and eventually guide both medication and psychosocial treatments.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The serotonin antagonist mianserin for treatment of serotonin reuptake inhibitor-induced sexual dysfunction in women: an open-label add-on study.

The aim of this study was to determine if the serotonin antagonist mianserin improves antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women. The work was prompted by an earlier study of men by our team of researchers. The study population included 16 women aged 20-65 years undergoing treatment at a psychiatric outpatient clinic, who presented with sexual dysfunction subsequent to intake of a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) for depression. Sexual function (four domains) was evaluated by semistructured interviews before and after the administration of mianserin 15 mg/d for 3 weeks. The most prominent sexual dysfunction was anorgasmia. Clinically significant improvement was noted in all domains in two thirds of the patients, in most cases in the first or second week of treatment. None of the patients with panic disorder (PD) responded to mianserin, in contrast to those with affective disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), indicating a possible relevance of the psychiatric diagnosis to mianserin effectiveness. There were no major adverse effects and no changes in the patients' stabilized psychiatric status. We conclude that mianserin is beneficial in reversing sexual function caused by SRI intake. Further large-scale, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Adult↗