Diffuse axonal injury - an interdisciplinary problem. Current knowledge and two case reports.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a microscopic damage of axons in the brain. Its occurrence results from head trauma with acceleration or deceleration. This article presents current knowledge about DAI and two cases of patients who experienced DAI as a consequence of a traffic accident.

["Epidemiology of mental disorders and access to mental health care. EZOP - Poland" - research methodology].

Aim: Since the second half of the twentieth century, with the development of structured diagnostic tools, population based studies on epidemiology of mental disorders are carried out. A special role is played by World Mental Health Survey Initiative which brings together a group of countries from different continents in order to carry out research projects according to standard methodology using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Polish EZOP study, which was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of WMH joined that group.

Catatonic episode after kidney transplantation.

There is a growing body of case reports of catatonic symptoms after organ transplantations. A considerable number of these cases might be attributed to neurotoxicity induced by immunosuppressive medications. However, the etiology of other cases remains unclear.

Onychophagia and onychotillomania: prevalence, clinical picture and comorbidities.

Onychophagia is defined as chronic nail biting behaviour, which usually starts during childhood. Onychotillomania results from recurrent picking and manicuring of the fingernails and/or toenails, leading to visual shortening and/or estraction of nails. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of onychophagia and onychotillomania in young adults, and the comorbidity of these conditions with anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), as well as to determine factors related to these behaviours.

[Psychiatric epidemiology--recent advances].

The aim of this article is to review recent advances and the latest research trends in psychiatric epidemiology. Examination of mental disorders prevalence delivers important information about the mental state of society and need for professional psychiatric care. The 12 months prevalence estimates are 30% for any mental disorders.

[Mental disorders in paraneoplastic syndromes].

Usually paraneoplastic symptoms precede actual diagnosis of a neoplasm, however, may also be concurrent with it. They do not result from the localization of the primary lesion nor are associated with metastases or with other effects of presence and treatment of the neoplasm. The immunological etiology is assumed.

[PTSD as result of the 1997 flood--occurrence and display of distemper].

Aim: The occurrence and course of PTSD in the countryside environment as the result of flood in 1997 has been described. The research was experimented around four villages by Nysa Kłodzka river-basin; the area was affected by disaster unexpectedly and extremely hard.

Method: 97 people have been tested as the straightforward witnesses of flood.

[Epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder].

In the article the problems of prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), comorbidity with other mental disorders and the most commonly used diagnostic instruments were presented. Epidemiological data indicate OCD as the fourth most common mental disorder, which appears as frequent as asthma or diabetes. In an international study from 1994 the year's prevalence of OCD was from 1.