[Unconventional methods of "treatment"].

Unconventional methods used in the course of treatment are also called alternative, holistic, complementary or natural medicine and according to accounts given by different people, patients often use those methods. In the primitive societies there are shamans or curaderos performing those treatments, whereas in the highly developed countries also arise surgeries offering those unconventional methods of treatment. This study is a review of most commonly used methods in the geographical aspect, both historically and currently.

[Brain plasticity].

The term "brain plasticity" refers to the brain capability to change in response to the environmental factors. Many of these changes are recorded and stored permanently to be used at a later stage. The concept of brain plasticity is based on assumption that the development of each person's brain is influenced by both physical and psychological experiences.

[Consultative psychiatry--aims, challenges and perspectives].

The consultative psychiatry is the field of scientific research and medical practice connecting biological, psychological and social aspects of mental and somatic disorders. The aim of the study was to discuss the subject area of the consultative psychiatry. Psychiatrist may be asked for consultation by the physician, family or patient.

[Stigma and related factors basing on mental illness stigma].

Stigmatization is a common problem to overcome for people suffering from chronic diseases. It usually follows infectious diseases, disabilities and mental disorders. In our study we explained basic concepts concerning stigma, particularly health-related one, and then we presented the most important socio-demographic factors influencing attitudes towards mentally ill people exemplifying them by scientific literature on mental illness stigma.

[The psychometric properties of the Proverb-Metaphor Test].

Unlabelled: Abstract thinking belongs to intellectual abilities of the highest level of the evolutionary development, thanks to which operations such a classification, systematisation and comparison are possible.

Aim: An analysis of the psychometric properties of the Proverb-Metaphor Test (TPM) which has been used in the German speaking countries since 2001. The TPM was subject to the process of translation--retranslation--travesty in order to be adapted to clinical conditions in Poland.

[The occurrence of psychotic disorders in epilepsy--a problem which is not fully known. Case history].

Connections between mental disorders and epilepsy have been perceived for a long period of time. Despite numerous investigations into this problem, it still is not fully understood in regard to the fact that in epilepsy the psychoses are situated at the intersection of neurology and psychiatry and the same phenomena, if presenting the psychotic syndrome, are often described in different terms. The most serious diagnostic as well as therapeutic problems are psychotic disorders which coexist with epileptic seizures.

[Psychopharmacotherapy of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and sleep disorders during pregnancy and lactation].

The aim of the third part of our work, associated with psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation is to present guidelines of expert--groups concerning the current rules of treating anxiety, obsessive--compulsive and sleep disorders and actual data about spreading of these disorders, pre- and perinatal effects of drugs used and the classification of them according to FDA and the safety of these medications for the breast fed newborn.

[Psychopharmacotherapy of mood disorders during pregnancy and lactation].

The aim of the second part of our work associated with psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation is to present current guidelines of expert-groups concerning the rules of treating affective disorders and actual data about the spreading of these disorders pre- and perinatal effects of drugs used, the classification of antidepressants and mood stabilizers according to FDA and the safety of these medications for the breast fed newborn.

[Psychopharmacotherapy of psychotic disorder during pregnancy and lactation].

The aim of our work based on the global literature-review is to present the guidelines of the psychopharmacotherapy during pregnancy and lactation recommended by various experts-groups as followed: 1. American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The Maudsley Guidelines, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Mainz, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw. In the first part the guidelines concerning to psychopharmacotherapy of psychotic disorders have been presented and actual data about spreading of these illnesses, pre- and perinatal effects of drugs used, the classification of neuroleptic drugs according to FDA and the safety of these medicines for the breast fed newborn.

Paranoid syndrome and herpes simplex encephalitis--coincidence or casual nexus?

Patients with viral infection of the central nervous system are often difficult to establish the correct diagnosis. This paper presents our knowledge of herpes simplex encephalitis and a case report of 25-year-old woman. In this case paranoid syndrome preceded viral encephalitis.

[A dilemma of using psychotropic drugs in pregnancy and breast feeding].

The treatment of psychiatric disturbance during pregnancy and breast feeding presents for psychiatrics a big challenge and very difficult dilemma. The psychopharmacotherapy during these periods should always involve a careful analysis of the risks and benefits of treatment which needs co-operation between obstetricians and psychiatrists. The purpose of this article is to review present scientific reports on the use of psychotropic drugs in pregnancy, puerperium and during breast feeding.