Musical hallucinations, depression and old age.

The association between musical hallucinations, depression and acquired hearing loss is described in two elderly patients. Following the presentation of this underdiagnosed clinical phenomenon we propose that musical hallucinations should be addressed as a final outcome of several factors including both mental and physical components. This conceptual framework enhances our understanding and treatment of such phenomena.

Behavior therapy, pimozide treatment and prolactin secretion in anorexia nervosa.

The involvement of the hypothalamic dopaminergic pathway in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) was evaluated by monitoring the serum prolactin (PRL) levels in 10 adolescent anorectic females. 5 patients were treated by behavior therapy program and 5 were treated with pimozide, an antidopaminergic drug. The study was conducted for a period of 20 weeks.

High dose diazepam treatment and its effect on prolactin secretion in adolescent schizophrenic patients.

Thirteen acute schizophrenic patients aged 14-18 years were treated with gradually increasing doses of diazepam to a maximum of 100-400 mg/day/p.o. with a total duration of treatment of 4 weeks.

The correlation of increased serum prolactin levels with decreased sexual desire and activity in elderly men.

Serum prolactin levels and sexual function were evaluated in 28 men from 60 to 64 years of age and in 44 men from 65 to 70 years of age. All subjects were married, physically healthy, and had no psychopathology or marital problem. About a third of the men aged 60 to 70 years suffered from impotence.

Sexual dysfunction associated with hyperprolactinemia in males and females undergoing hemodialysis.

Fifty-nine uremic patients (38 males and 21 females) maintained on chronic hemodialysis (CHD) served as the subjects in a study of the relationship between sexual dysfunction and serum prolactin levels (SPL). Sexual desire and activity were evaluated by a self-report sexual function rating scale (SFRS). About half the population of this study reported sexual dysfunction.

Internal body image of the brain.

We show that there is a body image of an internal organ--the brain. Using questionnaires and drawings to compare three groups--healthy subjects, acutely ill and chronic patients (with a brain disease)--we demonstrate that there is constant body image, which is very little influenced by brain disease.

Abnormal immune response to brain tissue antigen in the syndrome of autism.

Cell-mediated immune response to human myelin basic protein was studied by the macrophage migration inhibition factor test in 17 autistic patients and a control group of 11 patients suffering from other mental diseases included in the differential diagnosis of the syndrome of autism. Of the 17 autistic patients, 13 demonstrated inhibition of macrophage migration, whereas none of the nonautistic patients showed such a response. The results indicate the existence of a cell-mediated immune response to brain tissue in the syndrome of autism.

Increased uptake of serotonin by blood platelets from patients with bipolar primary affective disorder-bipolar type.

Active uptake of serotonin (5-HT) by blood platelets with bipolar primary affective disorder-bipolar type has been compared to that of their family members and healthy controls, and Km and Vmax values were calculated for each subject. The uptake of patients' platelets, as reflected by Vmax, was found to be significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P less than 0.05) and non significantly higher than that of family members (P less than 0.

The active uptake of serotonin by platelets of schizophrenic patients and their families: possibility of a genetic marker.

The active uptake of serotonin (5-HT) blood platelets of 20 schizophrenic patients and their families was studied. The uptake was studied over a wide range of 5-HT concentrations (0.1-20 microM), and Km and Vmax of the uptake process were calculated.

The possible relationship between Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrome and a schizophrenic-like psychosis.

The Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrome is probably transmitted hereditarily and recognizable mainly by: a) retinitis pigmentosa; b) hypogonadism and obesity; and c) orthopedic anomalities such as polidactylia, syndactylia, and acroecephalosyndactylia with oligophrenia. Sometimes, other disturbance, mainly dermatological (alopecia), neurological, urological, endocrinological, and, rarely, congenital heart defects, may coexist.

A comparative uptake study of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine by platelets of acute schizophrenic patients.

Active uptake of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine by blood platelets of 22 acute schizophrenic patients and 15 normal control subjects was studied over a 6-week period. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used to evaluate the subjects' mental state over this period. Serotonin uptake by platelets of the schizophrenic group was 40% lower than that by platelets of the control group (p less than 0.

Conversive hallucinations.

Reports of conversive hallucinations are rare in the literature. A case is presented describing the psychogenesis and phenomenology of hallucinations experienced by a female patient.

Hypercalcaemia-induced psychopathology in malignant diseases.

Seven out of twelve patients with malignancy and hypercalcaemia had associated psychiatric symptoms. The mental aberrations disappeared when the calcium levels returned to normal after treatment.

Serotonin uptake by blood platelets of acute schizophrenic patients.

Active uptake of serotonin by blood platelets of acute schizophrenic patients has been compared to that of a control group. Preliminary results presented in this article indicate that the uptake of the schizophrenic patients was about 40% lower than that of controls. Patients were followed over a period of 5 weeks with no significant change in uptake.