Neural networks as models of psychopathology.

Neural network modeling is situated between neurobiology, cognitive science, and neuropsychology. The structural and functional resemblance with biological computation has made artificial neural networks (ANN) useful for exploring the relationship between neurobiology and computational performance, i.e.

[Somatic illness in psychiatric patients].

Psychiatric patients are a vulnerable group in society and have been shown to suffer from a wide range of somatic diseases when admitted to the psychiatric department. During a three month period we examined 174 newly admitted psychiatric patients with the purpose of investigating 1) the frequency of somatic illness, 2) the value of routine blood tests as a screening tool for somatic illness and 3) a possible causality between somatic disease and psychiatric illness. Fifty percent of the patients suffered from a somatic disease and 31% of the patients had a previously undiagnosed disease.

Postoperative delirium: treatment with supplementary oxygen.

We have assessed postoperative delirium in 24 patients undergoing thoracotomy for pulmonary malignancy throughout their stay in hospital. Arterial oxygen saturation was measured with a pulse oximeter on the night before operation and on the second night after operation. Five patients (21%) developed clinically significant postoperative delirium, and delirium occurred in all patients who had inadequate oxygenation.