Risk factors and preventive strategies for post-traumatic stress disorder in neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Preterm birth and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) could induce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an important factor to focus on, as it is associated with parental mental health difficulties and with changes in caregiving quality such as increased intrusiveness, reduced sensitivity, and increased attachment insecurity for the child.

Aims: We aimed to study the main risk factors, in the early life of newborns, and preventive measures for PTSD in parents of neonates hospitalized in the NICU.

Haloperidol decanoate in schizophreniform disorders. Clinical and neuroendocrine aspects.

The recently synthesized depot neuroleptic haloperidol decanoate (HD) has been mainly used in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. In this trial 23 outpatients, 11 male and 12 female, suffering from schizophreniform disorders, according to the DSM III, were treated with 50 mg to 250 mg of HD, every 4 weeks for 12 months. At the end of the trial, the mean dosage of HD administered and BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) mean scores were significantly lower than the initial ones (70.