[Catatonic syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome]. / Zespól katatoniczny i zlosliwy zespól neuroleptyczny.

Several clinical reports suggest that neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is not a distinct clinical entity but an acute form of catatonic syndrome (CS). They both share many clinical features and it is impossible to differentiate them on the basis of biochemical findings. Both respond similarly to treatment. The article describes some case reports from the literature and our own case report of NMS as a form of CS.

[Presentation of the scales for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy results in catatonia]. / Skale do diagnozowania i oceny wyników leczenia katatonii.

A new concept of diagnostic and rating scales as well as a model of standardized examination in catatonia treatment are presented.

[Therapeutic effect of zuclopenthixol acetate on positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia]. / Ocena wplywu terapeutycznego octanu zuklopentyksolu na objawy pozytywne i negatywne w schizofrenii.

Fifty schizophrenic in-patients (DSM-IV) were treated in an open study with zuclopenthixol acetate. Mental status, improvement and side-effects were measured before administration of the drug as well as after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd injection. Positive and negative symptoms were evaluated with the use of PANSS. 60% of patients received three injections. Usually the intervals between injections lasted 48 hours. The improvement after the 3rd injection of zuclopenthixol acetate was found in 80% of patients. All positive symptoms improved after the treatment (p < 0.001), among them excitement (54% reduction vs. baseline), hostility (49%) suspiciousness/persecution (45%). The study revealed that parallel to the decrease of positive symptoms, the severity of negative symptoms also decreased, in particular: difficulty in abstract thinking (28%) and stereotyped thinking (27%) (p < 0.001). Passive/apathetic social withdrawal and lack of spontaneity as well as flow of conversation only slightly improved (p < 0.05). 50% of patients experienced side-effects--usually extrapyramidal reactions.

[Schizophrenia combination therapy with neuroleptics and benzodiazepines]. / Leczenie skojarzone schizofrenii neuroleptykami i pochodnymi benzodiazepiny.

The literature review of combination therapy of schizophrenia with neuroleptics and benzodiazepines is presented. Early trials from the 60s are difficult to evaluate because of the heterogeneity of the patients' groups selected, non-standardized evaluation methods and different diagnostic criteria. The more recent trials, methodologically more correct, were aimed at the allevation by the benzodiazepines of anxiety and agitation symptoms often observed in schizophrenia. The trials aimed at the efficacy of co-therapy with neuroleptics and benzodiazepines, (mainly alprazolam) in schizophrenia were less frequent. As the result, not univocally positive effect of such a therapy was found. The differences in clinical effect might be caused by the individual susceptibility to the anxiolytics. The attempts to correlate various clinical effects of combination therapy with neuroleptics and benzodiazepines and the biological changes in central nervous system in schizophrenia, are also discussed.