[Electroconvulsive therapy in the Netherlands: the practice in 2015 compared to that in 2008].

Background: The most recent information about the use of ECT in the Netherlands dates from 2008. An update version of the guideline for the use of ECT in the Netherlands was issued in 2010.

Aim: To obtain insight into the practice of ECT in the Netherlands five years after implementation of the guideline.

[Apathetic geriatric patient benefits from methylphenidate].

Two independent, home-dwelling geriatric patients presented with apathy at a general practice in the Netherlands and were seen by an elderly care physician after (non-)medical interventions had failed. Both patients were treated with low-dose methylphenidate. During treatment, apathy symptoms decreased and the patients became more active.

[Dichotomy of psychiatric and somatic emergency care; fundamental flaw should be addressed].

In the Netherlands, acute psychiatric care is characterised by mind-body dualism. For acute psychiatric patients, the first port of call is the general practitioner (GP); after-hour care is provided by the out-of-hours GP service. In contrast to patients with other medical illnesses, the out-of-hours GP service does not usually refer patients with acute psychiatric issues to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of the general hospital, but to the local ambulant psychiatric 'crisis' service.

A retrospective study of 34 catatonic patients: analysis of clinical care and treatment.

Objective: To analyze clinical characteristics, time lag between diagnosis and treatment, and outcome of patients treated for catatonia, with the intention to improve daily clinical care.

Method: A retrospective case study.

Results: Between 1991 and 2009, a total of 34 patients were clinically diagnosed to have benign catatonia (n=13), malignant catatonia (n=11) and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (n=10).