An interactive case presentation during the monthly meeting of Early-career psychiatrists in Jeddah, SA. Basically, a case managed and supervised clinically by Dr Shokry Alemam, MD
An interactive case presentation during the monthly meeting of Early-career psychiatrists in Jeddah, SA. Basically, a case managed and supervised clinically by Dr Shokry Alemam, MD
Insight is one of the crucial components of a mental status examination in Psychiatry. Scarce data is available in the standard textbooks on this concept.
The following presentation was made after going through the myriad of articles and case studies i found online.
Insight is one of the crucial components of a mental status examination in Psychiatry. Scarce data is available in the standard textbooks on this concept.
The following presentation was made after going through the myriad of articles and case studies i found online.
Chief Complaint I don’t know how much longer I can go on li.docxbartholomeocoombs
Chief Complaint:
“I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this. I’ve been down in the dumps for years and it isn’t getting any better.”
History of Present Illness:
75-year-old white male present to clinic with above complaint. Lost his first, the “love of his life” wife 19 years ago. Remarried 2 years after her death and states he probably married again too soon reporting his current wife is difficult. He describes an instance, when he was at work, the second wife would not let his son, daughter-in-law and new grandbaby into his house to visit until he got home from work. The second wife also insisted that he no longer visit with his deceased wife’s family telling him ‘when you married me, you divorced that whole family’. Conversations with his wife about his concerns resulted in only short-term changes in her approaches and behaviors. Now his wife insists they sell the house he has lived in for 46 years. He reports that his memory and ability to make simple decisions have been deteriorating significantly over the last several months. His wife suggested he probably has Alzheimer’s and should go see his primary care provider about his memory issues. He reports that he engages with modest exercise daily, eats well but is waking up numerous times at night and is usually “up for good” by 5am. He blames his disrupted sleep pattern on his feeling of fatigue starting around 9am. He reports all these circumstances as contributing to his increased depression and his desire to “give up the fight”.
PMH:
reports usual childhood illnesses inclusive of measles, mumps and chickenpox
traumatic injury, likely secondary to ‘blast’ effect, sustained during the bombing of Pearl Harbor where he was stationed as a cook; he suffered a hearing loss for six months after the bombing and was diagnosed at 54 with a rare eyes disorder resulting in poor peripheral vision that is thought to be secondary to this trauma
Family Hx:
Father died at 67 secondary to colon cancer; mother died at 24 secondary to influenza during an epidemic (he was 2 years old at that time)
No know family history of depression or other mental illness
Social Hx:
HS graduate, married to HS sweetheart for 27 years then widowed
Current marriage of 17 years
Retired after 25-year banking career
Attends Catholic mass regularly
Drinks 1-2 beers several times a week, denies episode of intoxication; never smoked or used illicit drugs
Drinks hot tea, reporting coffee causes too much GI distress
Never driven a motor vehicle secondary to poor peripheral vision
ROS:
Denies HA, body aches, dizziness, fainting spells, tinnitus, ear pain, ear discharge, nasal congestion, diarrhea, constipation, change in appetite skin abnormalities, or genitourinary symptoms
Denies periods of extreme irritability or elation associated with periods of sadness; denies feeling more depressed during the winter months than other seasons
Reports fatigued most of the time, often feels stiffness in his neck and should.
Delusional DisordersPakistani Female with Delusional Thought ProLinaCovington707
Delusional Disorders
Pakistani Female with Delusional Thought Processes
BACKGROUND
The client is a 34-year-old Pakistani female who moved to the United States in her late teens/early 20s. She is currently in an “arranged” marriage (her husband was selected for her when she was 9 years old). She presents following a 21-day hospitalization for what was diagnosed as “brief psychotic disorder.” She was given this diagnosis as her symptoms have persisted for less than 1 month.
Prior to admission, she was reporting visions of Allah, and over the course of a week, she believed that she was the prophet Mohammad. She believed that she would deliver the world from sin. Her husband became concerned about her behavior to the point that he was afraid of leaving their 4 children with her. One evening, she was “out of control,” which resulted in his calling the police and her subsequent admission to an inpatient psych unit.
During today’s assessment, she appears quite calm and insists that the entire incident was “blown out of proportion.” She denies that she believed herself to be the prophet Mohammad and states that her husband was just out to get her because he never loved her and wanted an “American wife” instead of her. She says she knows this because the television is telling her so.
She currently weighs 140 lbs., and she is 5’ 5.
SUBJECTIVE
Client reports that her mood is “good.” She denies auditory/visual hallucinations but believes that the television talks to her. She believes that Allah sends her messages through the TV. At times throughout the clinical interview, she becomes hostile towards you but then calms down.
A review of her hospital records shows that she received a medical workup from a physician, who reported her to be in overall good health. Lab studies were all within normal limits.
Client admits that she was tolerating her Risperdal well but stopped taking about a week after she got out of the hospital because she thinks her husband is going to poison her so that he can marry an American woman.
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
The client is alert and oriented to person, place, time, and event. She is dressed appropriately for the weather and time of year. She demonstrates no noteworthy mannerisms, gestures, or tics. Her speech is slow and, at times, interrupted by periods of silence. Self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect is constricted. Although the client denies visual or auditory hallucinations, she appears to be “listening” to something. Delusional and paranoid thought processes as described above. Insight and judgment are impaired. She is currently denying suicidal or homicidal ideation.
You administer the PANSS which reveals the following scores:
-40 for the positive symptoms scale
-20 for the negative symptom scale
-60 for general psychopathology scale
Diagnosis: Schizophrenia, paranoid type
RESOURCES
PANSS Scale. Available at: http://egret.psychol.cam.ac.uk/medicine/scales/PANSS
§ Kay, S. R., Fiszbein, A., & Opler, L. A. (1987). The Po ...
Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy Augmentation on Clozapine-Resistant Psy...Zahiruddin Othman
Case Report: Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy augmentation on clozapine-resistant psychosis with neurosyphilis is effective and safe but has never been reported in the literature to the authors' knowledge. It is hoped that this case report would contribute to the scarce literature on this augmentation strategy
Case Report: Schizophrenia patient with prodromal OCS is probably at increased risk of developing TTM while on atypical
antipsychotics treatment. Atypical antipsychotics and SSRI combination therapy is a useful strategy in such patient
Isolated Cerebellar Stroke Masquerades as DepressionZahiruddin Othman
There are numerous reports on neurological conditions masquerading as psychiatric disorders. However, cerebellar
stroke is not established as one of it. The 2 case reports will highlight that this masquerade is possible and the physician's
high index of suspicion is the key to accurate diagnosis.
Best Ayurvedic medicine for Gas and IndigestionSwastikAyurveda
Here is the updated list of Top Best Ayurvedic medicine for Gas and Indigestion and those are Gas-O-Go Syp for Dyspepsia | Lavizyme Syrup for Acidity | Yumzyme Hepatoprotective Capsules etc
micro teaching on communication m.sc nursing.pdfAnurag Sharma
Microteaching is a unique model of practice teaching. It is a viable instrument for the. desired change in the teaching behavior or the behavior potential which, in specified types of real. classroom situations, tends to facilitate the achievement of specified types of objectives.
Ozempic: Preoperative Management of Patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Saeid Safari
Preoperative Management of Patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists like Ozempic and Semiglutide
ASA GUIDELINE
NYSORA Guideline
2 Case Reports of Gastric Ultrasound
- Video recording of this lecture in English language: https://youtu.be/lK81BzxMqdo
- Video recording of this lecture in Arabic language: https://youtu.be/Ve4P0COk9OI
- Link to download the book free: https://nephrotube.blogspot.com/p/nephrotube-nephrology-books.html
- Link to NephroTube website: www.NephroTube.com
- Link to NephroTube social media accounts: https://nephrotube.blogspot.com/p/join-nephrotube-on-social-media.html
Basavarajeeyam is an important text for ayurvedic physician belonging to andhra pradehs. It is a popular compendium in various parts of our country as well as in andhra pradesh. The content of the text was presented in sanskrit and telugu language (Bilingual). One of the most famous book in ayurvedic pharmaceutics and therapeutics. This book contains 25 chapters called as prakaranas. Many rasaoushadis were explained, pioneer of dhatu druti, nadi pareeksha, mutra pareeksha etc. Belongs to the period of 15-16 century. New diseases like upadamsha, phiranga rogas are explained.
Title: Sense of Taste
Presenter: Dr. Faiza, Assistant Professor of Physiology
Qualifications:
MBBS (Best Graduate, AIMC Lahore)
FCPS Physiology
ICMT, CHPE, DHPE (STMU)
MPH (GC University, Faisalabad)
MBA (Virtual University of Pakistan)
Learning Objectives:
Describe the structure and function of taste buds.
Describe the relationship between the taste threshold and taste index of common substances.
Explain the chemical basis and signal transduction of taste perception for each type of primary taste sensation.
Recognize different abnormalities of taste perception and their causes.
Key Topics:
Significance of Taste Sensation:
Differentiation between pleasant and harmful food
Influence on behavior
Selection of food based on metabolic needs
Receptors of Taste:
Taste buds on the tongue
Influence of sense of smell, texture of food, and pain stimulation (e.g., by pepper)
Primary and Secondary Taste Sensations:
Primary taste sensations: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Umami
Chemical basis and signal transduction mechanisms for each taste
Taste Threshold and Index:
Taste threshold values for Sweet (sucrose), Salty (NaCl), Sour (HCl), and Bitter (Quinine)
Taste index relationship: Inversely proportional to taste threshold
Taste Blindness:
Inability to taste certain substances, particularly thiourea compounds
Example: Phenylthiocarbamide
Structure and Function of Taste Buds:
Composition: Epithelial cells, Sustentacular/Supporting cells, Taste cells, Basal cells
Features: Taste pores, Taste hairs/microvilli, and Taste nerve fibers
Location of Taste Buds:
Found in papillae of the tongue (Fungiform, Circumvallate, Foliate)
Also present on the palate, tonsillar pillars, epiglottis, and proximal esophagus
Mechanism of Taste Stimulation:
Interaction of taste substances with receptors on microvilli
Signal transduction pathways for Umami, Sweet, Bitter, Sour, and Salty tastes
Taste Sensitivity and Adaptation:
Decrease in sensitivity with age
Rapid adaptation of taste sensation
Role of Saliva in Taste:
Dissolution of tastants to reach receptors
Washing away the stimulus
Taste Preferences and Aversions:
Mechanisms behind taste preference and aversion
Influence of receptors and neural pathways
Impact of Sensory Nerve Damage:
Degeneration of taste buds if the sensory nerve fiber is cut
Abnormalities of Taste Detection:
Conditions: Ageusia, Hypogeusia, Dysgeusia (parageusia)
Causes: Nerve damage, neurological disorders, infections, poor oral hygiene, adverse drug effects, deficiencies, aging, tobacco use, altered neurotransmitter levels
Neurotransmitters and Taste Threshold:
Effects of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) on taste sensitivity
Supertasters:
25% of the population with heightened sensitivity to taste, especially bitterness
Increased number of fungiform papillae
These simplified slides by Dr. Sidra Arshad present an overview of the non-respiratory functions of the respiratory tract.
Learning objectives:
1. Enlist the non-respiratory functions of the respiratory tract
2. Briefly explain how these functions are carried out
3. Discuss the significance of dead space
4. Differentiate between minute ventilation and alveolar ventilation
5. Describe the cough and sneeze reflexes
Study Resources:
1. Chapter 39, Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th edition
2. Chapter 34, Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology, 26th edition
3. Chapter 17, Human Physiology by Lauralee Sherwood, 9th edition
4. Non-respiratory functions of the lungs https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/13/3/98/278874
Muktapishti is a traditional Ayurvedic preparation made from Shoditha Mukta (Purified Pearl), is believed to help regulate thyroid function and reduce symptoms of hyperthyroidism due to its cooling and balancing properties. Clinical evidence on its efficacy remains limited, necessitating further research to validate its therapeutic benefits.
2. Identification Data
ZN
24 years old Pakistani man
year of birth: 1976
Petty trader (sell carpet & electrical goods)
married
admitted on 24th June 2000
discharged on 3rd July 2000
3. Reason for admission
One week history of:
Poor sleep
Poor appetite
Not working well
Refuse to talk
Talked and smiled to himself
4. History of Present Illness
According to patient’s wife, he was apparently
well until 2 weeks before admission
Came home after 2-3 hours, went to his bed and
lied down (not sleeping)
He appeared restless
He told wife that he felt afraid that somebody was
after him, wanted to kill him
At night walked aimlessly and switched the lights
on & off
5. History of Present Illness
He became preoccupied to himself
Seldom talked to family members
Occasionally he was noted to be smiling and
talking to himself
6. History of Present Illness
According to patient, he first felt that people were
talking about him about 2 months before
admission
About 3 weeks before admission, he started
hearing voices of birds chirping, and indistinct
male and females voices which talked about him.
The voices gradually increased in frequency until
it became almost continuos through out the day
He did not realize its connection to any of the
substances that he took
7. History of Present Illness
Hearing the voices, he felt afraid that somebody
wanted to harm him
He also had difficulty to sleep, usually drank
alcohol before going to bed
3 consecutive nights before admission drank
alcohol, initial 2 nights drank 1 can of carlsberg
and the last night drank a bottle of Crocodile
brand liquor (alcohol content 20%)
8. History of Present Illness
That night and the following day, felt very afraid
and the voices was a lot.
He was brought to casualty at 1:30 p.m. By his
father-in law.
9. Substance Use
Claimed had stopped cannabis 6 months ago, that
time consumption had reduced and he was usually
offered by friends (not buying it)
Reason was he worried that he might fall from
m/bike during “high”
Had not experienced any psychotic symptoms or
similar experiences that led to admission when
intoxicated with cannabis
He denies morphine/heroin use
10. Alcohol Use
Drink alcohol since he came to Kelantan in 1994
Bought the drink at Chinese coffee shop, drank
with friends at coffee shop or at home (alone or
with 2-4 people)
Drank at night
Avoid taking it in the morning due to the smell in
the breath especially when he met the customers
Variable amount of consumption
11. Alcohol Use
Ranges from binges 10 cans of beer to 1 can
frequency ranges from every night to once in 2-3
days
Usually consumed 1-3 cans of Carlsberg per use;
RM 5 per can
He denies early morning tremors, blackout
episodes,
Consumption slightly reduced after he was
introduced to cough mixtures
12. Cough Syrup Use
Took cough mixtures since about (less than) 1
year ago
Bought from clinic, RM 5-10 per use
Ranged from daily to once a week
Substitute for alcohol, if he already took cough
mixtures he did not drink alcohol
No psychotic symptoms or similar experiences
associated with cough mix consumption
13. Psychotropic Pill Use
About 2 months before admission, he was
introduced to “Pil Kuda” by a siamese friend,
purported to enhance sexual performance.
RM 10 per tablet, had taken about 20 tablets in 5
weeks period
Last tablet was 1 or 2 days before emergence of
voices
He felt that people were talking about him while
he was on “Pill Kuda”
14. Psychotropic Pill Use
Also had poor appetite that resulted in loss of
weight
1 month before admission, felt lethargic, less
energy and thus became lazy to work
3 week before admission heard voices
? Still took a few tablet after the onset of the
voices (different version to other doctor)
Frequent palpitation and fearfulness led to seeking
treatment from 2 GPs
15. ? Benzodiazepine
Due to intense palpitation, he had sought treatment
from Klinik Faiz 2 weeks PTA, and Klinik Ziad 1
week PTA.
He was given oval yellow tablets 1 tablets 3 times
per day, but he often took 5 tabs per day
Mixed 2 tablets with alcohol the night before
admission.
Pills helped to calm him down
16. 2 mo 1 mo 3 wk 2 wk 1 wk Adm D/C
Pil
Kuda
Voices
Persecutor
y delusion
Delusion of
reference
Longitudinal Events
17. Personal history
Completed primary (5 years) and secondary
(5 years) school in Pakistan
came to KL at 15 years old
stayed in KL for 3-4 months selling carpets
then went to East Malaysia 1.5 years
Claimed that he came to Kelantan in 1994
after he obtained blue I/C (AY 39 yrs old)
18. Past Psy & Medical History
No previous contact with psychiatric
services
No previous similar episode
No history of epilepsy, head injury or
thyroid disease
No family history of psy illness
19. Personal History
Married to a same village Pakistani girl in
1993.
Had 2 children. The first died at 3 months
old and the second still birth.
2nd marriage to local Kelantanese girl in
August 1998 (love marriage)
Had a daughter age 1 year
20. Personal History
Financial commitment to wife in Pakistan
RM 700 every 1or 2 month (equivalent to
10K rupee)
Has not came home since 2nd marriage
Planned to go home in near future
Not worried leaving wife in Pakistan, last
saw her in 1997
21. Psychosexual History
Had regular sex with current wife
Frequency ranges from every night to every other
night
Used to twice per night in younger days
Claimed has no difficulty in initiating/maintaining
erection or too fast.
History of contact with prostitutes and other
women. He denies previous venereal disease.
22. Family tree
Sister
28 years old
married
stay separately
Patient
24 years old
Sister
21 years old
High School
Brother
19 years old
High School
Sister
17 years old
High School
Brother
14 years old
Secondary school
Brother
11 years old
Secondary school
Father
53 years old
farmer
Mother
53 years old
homemaker
rahimah:
23. Physical Examination
BP 146/92
T 37.2 C
PR 90 bpm
No injection mark
CNS, CVS and GTI systems were normal
no neck rigidity
25. Mental Status Examination
On admission (26th of June 2000)
eye contact present
mutism
sweat profusely
unshaven face
perplexed and fearful affect
refused oral medication
psychomotor retardation
26. Mental Status Examination
On 2nd of July 2000
Good rapport and forthcoming
well shaven face
completely relevant, coherent and rational speech
appropriate, broad-ranged affect
normal psychomotor activity
no persecutory or self-referential delusions
infrequent auditory hallucinations
27. Formulation
ZN is a 24 years old, married, carpet trader Pakistani man with
long history of polysubstance abuse presented with sudden onset
of delusion of reference for 2 months, auditory hallucination for
3 weeks and persecutory delusion for 2 weeks. Onset of
psychotic symptoms were preceded by consumption of a new
substance i.e. “pil Kuda” which has other side effects such as
suppressing the appetite, weight loss, insomnia, palpitations and
lethargy. He also took pills from clinic for palpitations and
drank higher strength alcohol to help him sleep. On admission
his BP was 146/92. He showed mutism, psychomotor
retardation, fearful and perplexed affect. He responded within a
few days to antipsychotic treatment.
28. Provisional Diagnosis
DSM-IV multiaxial diagnosis:
Axis I : 292.1 Amphetamine-induced psychosis
304.80 Polysubstance dependence
Axis II: None
Axis III: None
Axis IV: None
Axis V: GAF 25 (on admission)
GAF 71 (at discharge)
32. Diagnostic criteria for 292.89
Amphetamine Intoxication
A. Recent use of amphetamine or related
substances (e.g., methylphenidate).
33. B. Clinically significant maladaptive
behavioral or psychological changes (e.g.,
euphoria or affective blunting; changes in
sociability; hypervigilance; interpersonal
sensitivity; anxiety, tension, or anger;
stereotyped behaviors; impaired
judgement; or impaired social or
occupational functioning) that developed
during, or shortly after, use of
amphetamine or related substance.
34. • Two (or more) of the following, developing during,
or shortly after, use of amphetamine or related
substance:
tachycardia or bradycardia
pupillary dilatation
elevated or lowered blood pressure
perspiration or chills
nausea or vomiting
evidence of weight loss
psychomotor agitation or retardation
muscular weakness, respiratory depression, chest pain, or
cardiac arrythmias
confusion, seizures, dyskinesia, dystonias, or comas
• The symptoms are not due to general medical
condition and are not better accounted by another
mental illness.
35. Diagnostic criteria for 292.0
Amphetamine Withdrawal
A. Cessation of (or reduction in)
amphetamine (or related substance) use
that has been heavy and prolonged.
36. B. Dysphoric mood and two (or more) of the
following physiological changes, developing
within a few hours to several days after
criterion A:
fatigue
vivid, unpleasant dreams
insomnia or hypersomnia
increased appetite
psychomotor retardation or agitation
37. C. The symptoms in criterion
B cause clinically significant
distress or impairment in
social, occupational, or other
important area of
functioning.
D. The symptoms are not due
to general medical condition
and are not better accounted
by another mental disorder
38. Acute Amphetamine Intoxication is
sometimes associated with confusion,
rambling speech, headache, transient
ideas of reference, and tinnitus. During
intense Amphetamine Intoxication,
paranoid ideation, auditory
hallucinations in clear sensorium, and
tactile hallucination may be experienced.
Frequently, the person using the
substance recognizes these symptoms as
resulting from stimulants.
39. Extreme anger with treats or acting out of
aggressive behavior may occur. Mood
changes such as depression with suicidal
ideation, irritability, anhedonia,
emotional lability, or disturbances in
attention and concentration are common,
especially during withdrawal. Weight
loss, anemia, and other signs of
malnutrition and impaired personal
hygiene are often seen with
Amphetamine Dependence.
40. Amphetamine-related disorder and other
stimulant-related disorders are often
associated with dependence or abuse of
other substances, especially those with
sedative properties (such as alcohol or
benzodiazepines), which are usually
taken to reduce the unpleasant, “jittery”
feelings that result from stimulant drug
effects. Urine tests for substances in this
class usually remain positive for only 1-3
days even after a “binge”.
41. 304.80 Polysubstance
dependence
The diagnosis is reserved for behavior during the
same 12-month period in which the person was
repeatedly using at least three groups of
substance (not including caffeine and
nicotine), but no single substance
predominated. Further, during this period, the
Dependence criteria were met for substance as
a group but not for any specific substance
42. Diagnostic criteria of Substance-
Induced Psychotic Disorder
A. Prominent hallucinations and
delusions. Note: Do not include
hallucinations if the person has insight
that they are substance induced.
43. B. There is evidence from the history,
physical examination, or laboratory
findings of either (1) or (2):
(1) the symptoms in Criterion A
developed during, or within a
month of, Substance Intoxication
or Withdrawal
(2) medication use is etiologically
related to the disturbance
44. C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Psychotic
Disorder that is not substance induced. Evidence that the
symptoms are better accounted for by a Psychotic Disorder that
is not substance induced might include the following: the
symptoms precede the onset of the substance use (or
medication use); the symptoms persist for a substantial
period of time (e.g., about a month) after the cessation of the
acute withdrawal or severe intoxication, or are substantially in
excess of what would be expected given the type or amount af
the substance used or duration of use; or there is other evidence
that suggest the existence of an independent non-substance-
induced Psychotic Disorder (e.g., history of recurrent non-
substance-related episodes)
D. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during a course of
a delirium.
46. Substance-Induced Psychotic
Disorder
Specify if:
With Onset During Intoxication: if criteria are met
for intoxication with the substance and the
symptoms develop during intoxication syndrome
With Onset During Withdrawal: if criteria are met
for withdrawal from the substance and the
symptoms develop during, or shortly after, a
withdrawal syndrome
47. The love of speed: An analysis
of the enduring attraction of
amphetamine sulphate for
British youth
Hillary Klee. Journal of Drug
Issues; Tallahassee; Winter 1998;
28(1):33-56
48. Early History:
Licit and Illicit Use
treatment of hyperactivity in children,
obesity, depression, narcolepsy, and nasal
congestion
WW-II:troops were supplied with
amphetamine to delay fatigue and enhance
alertness
49. Early History:
Licit and Illicit Use
The `Swinging Sixties' was a period of
revolutionary social change and experimentation
with psychoactive drugs.
Amphetamine was popular among them because
it provided the energy to perform all night and
survive periods on tour (see Shapiro 1988).
1970s and 1980s decline due to popularity of
heroin
50. 1990s: methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA) or
ecstasy
Cannabis has been first in the list for some time,
but amphetamine sulphate is second and rising
(Parker et al. 1995)
The increasing use of amphetamine-type
stimulants has now assumed global importance
(Pietschmann 1996,1997; Yoshida 1997)
51. The Attractions
If amphetamine was marketed legally and
aimed at the young, it would need little
promotion, it has a range of effects and
positive attributes that make it particularly
alluring to young people
52. Energy and the ‘Buzz’
The energy and sociability induced by amphetamine
The energy and motivation, which were sustained over
several hours, were regarded as highly functional in a
variety of settings; for work and leisure.
activity levels seemed to be increased by disinhibition that
was a result of their confidence and better mood
Klee and Ruben 1993; males tended to nominate the
euphoric effect (the high), females were more likely to
identify the extra energy, the worry-free state, and the
avoidance of depression
53. The Paradoxes Induced by
Frequent Use
Irritability and/or aggression is common when
`coming down' off the drug, when using heavily,
and when combined with alcohol
Paranoia can lead to isolation
Klee et al. 1996; Paranoid delusions, aggression,
and acute depression were the most frequent
symptoms prior to presenting to services
54. The Bonuses
A variety of other psychoactive effects add value,
for example the euphoric 'high' when injecting,
acute perception (some claiming telepathic
powers), and sexual performance
increased energy was reported by over half the
sample of men and women in one study (Klee
1992), leading to extended periods of intercourse
39% of men said their performance was improved
by delaying ejaculation, nearly as many (33%) had
experienced a failure to get an erection
55. Are cannabis and psychosis linked?
The Lancet; London; Feb 27, 1999; Peter
Harrigan;
Wayne Hall, executive director of National Drug and Alcohol Studies
at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, has re-
kindled the argument about whether heavy use of cannabis can cause
"cannabis psychosis", and whether the use of cannabis can precipitate
schizophrenia or exacerbate its symptoms.
At the inaugural international conference on cannabis and psychosis
(Melbourne, Feb 16-17), Hall enlisted support for the "cannabis
psychosis" hypothesis. Apparent precipitation of acute psychotic
symptoms by heavy use of cannabis remit after abstinence, he noted.
But are these symptoms a "toxic psychosis" induced by cannabis,
rather than a functional psychosis, he asked? It is also possible, he
added, that concurrent use of amphetamines could cause a toxic
psychosis, mistakenly attributed to cannabis alone.
56. "If cannabis-induced psychoses exist, it seems that they would
require very high doses of THC [tetrahydrocannabinol], the
prolonged use of highly potent forms of cannabis, or a pre-existing
vulnerability", Hall suggested. Cannabis might have a causal link
with psychosis in vulnerable people [eg, adolescents and young
adults], he said, but the nature of this vulnerability has yet to be
identified.
Hall referred to research indicating a linear relation between the
frequency of use of cannabis before age 18, and the risk of being
diagnosed with schizophrenia by the age of 33. "It is unclear whether
this means that cannabis precipitates schizophrenia, whether it is a
form of self-medication [of an existing psychosis], or whether the
association is because of the use of other drugs, such as
amphetamines, which heavy cannabis users are more likely to use",
he reported.
Although there is evidence that cannabis dependence is associated
with a some-time diagnosis of schizophrenia, there is better evidence
that cannabis use can exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia. The
onset of such symptoms are more likely to be acute rather than
insidious among heavy users of cannabis, said Hall.
58. Ma-huang-containing products with names such as
"Herbal Ecstasy," "Nature's Sunshine,"
"Metabolift," and "Ripped Fuel" promise a
"natural" means to improve health, increase
energy and sexual functioning, obtain a legal
"high," and to lose weight and build muscle
The psychiatric complications linked to Ma-huang
include psychosis and affective disturbances, akin
to reactions previously observed in patients who
misused asthma medications containing ephedrine
59. Reports of Ephedrine-Induced Psychosis
Herridge and O'Brook (BMJ 1968) noted that ephedrine and
amphetamine induced a similar psychosis: paranoia with a clear
sensorium
Roxanas (1996) reported the cases of one patient with auditory
hallucinations and "delusions of persecution and of grandeur" and
another patient with "markedly accelerated speech, tangential thinking,
and paranoid delusions." Affective change included "extreme anger
and hostility" and "depression with paranoid features”
In a review of 20 cases of ephedrine-induced psychosis, Whitehouse
and Duncan (BJP 1987) noted that all patients experienced delusions,
90% had auditory hallucinations, and 45% visual hallucinations.
Affective disturbance was present in 30% of the patients, and agitation
with insomnia was present in 55% of the patients. Eighty-five percent
of the patients presented with a clear consciousness.
60. Ephedrine psychosis, however, is
time-limited
In Herridge and O'Brook's original case description of a
65-year-old hostile and paranoid man, the psychosis
"evaporated" within 4 days of inpatient hospitalization.
There is no mention of pharmacotherapy
A 26 year-old man, reported by Roxanas, was admitted
with paranoid delusions, auditory hallucinations, ideas of
reference, and "passivity feelings." Trifluoroperazine (5
mg po tid) and phenytoin sodium (100 mg po tid)
alleviated his symptoms within 5 days, and antipsychotics
were stopped