Changes in cytokines during treatment of elderly, hospitalized psychiatric patients - a naturalistic study.

Immunological abnormalities have been demonstrated in several psychiatric disorders. Predominantly, studies have focused on younger adults, and research on elderly psychiatric in-patients is scant. In this naturalistic study, we investigated changes in cytokine levels during the treatment of diagnostically unselected elderly psychiatric in-patients, and whether these changes could be related to clinical outcomes.

Cytokine profiles and diagnoses in elderly, hospitalized psychiatric patients.

Background: There is a paucity of studies on inflammatory markers in elderly psychiatric patients. Hence, our study was undertaken to investigate cytokines as biomarkers in diagnostically unselected elderly patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Methods: Demographic data, clinical data and blood samples, including 27 cytokines, were collected from 98 patients above 60 years, consecutively admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Tromsø, Norway (69°N).

Probable clozapine-induced parenchymal lung disease and perimyocarditis: a case report.

Background: Clozapine is the archetypical atypical antipsychotic, its primary indication being treatment resistant schizophrenia. Severe side effects caused by clozapine, including leukopenia, agranulocytosis, and myocarditis, are well known. A rarely described side effect is concurrent perimyocarditis and parenchymal lung disease.