Sensory-based and higher-order operations contribute to abnormal emotional prosody processing in schizophrenia: an electrophysiological investigation.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is characterized by deficits in emotional prosody (EP) perception. However, it is not clear which stages of processing prosody are abnormal and whether the presence of semantic content contributes to the abnormality. This study aimed to examine event-related potential (ERP) correlates of EP processing in 15 chronic schizophrenia individuals and 15 healthy controls. METHOD: A total of 114 sentences with neutral semantic content [sentences with semantic content (SSC) condition] were generated by a female speaker (38 with happy, 38 with angry, and 38 with neutral intonation). The same sentences were synthesized and presented in the 'pure prosody' sentences (PPS) condition where semantic content was unintelligible. RESULTS: Group differences were observed for N100 and P200 amplitude: patients were characterized by more negative N100 for SSC, and more positive P200 for angry and happy SSC and happy PPS. Correlations were found between delusions and P200 amplitude for happy SSC and PPS. Higher error rates in the recognition of EP were also observed in schizophrenia: higher error rates in neutral SSC were associated with reduced N100, and higher error rates in angry SSC were associated with reduced P200. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that abnormalities in prosody processing occur at the three stages of EP processing, and are enhanced in SSC. Correlations between P200 amplitude for happy prosody and delusions suggest a role that abnormalities in the processing of emotionally salient acoustic cues may play in schizophrenia symptomatology. Correlations between ERP and behavioral data point to a relationship between early sensory abnormalities and prosody recognition in schizophrenia.

Ask your pharmacist?

Retail pharmacists should recognize their inadequate knowledge of Ipecac instructions. When confronted with an acute poisoning, these patients should be referred to their physician or nearest regional poison control center (3). Providing improper instructions creates the risks of: Vomiting a substance with which emesis is contraindicated; Unnecessary emesis; and Use of ineffective and unsafe methods of inducing emesis. Only 2 (6.25%) pharmacists gave complete and accurate instructions for the use of Ipecac--with the exception of mentioning the contraindications to emesis. However, both pharmacists referred the caller to their regional poison control center.

Black widow spider bites.

Black widow spiders (Latrodectus species) are found worldwide. Envenomation of humans usually occurs as the result of chance intrusion into the spider's domain by the human. The venom is regarded as one of the most potent biologic toxins. The venom acts by destabilization of cell membranes and degranulation of nerve terminals resulting in the release of neurotransmitters. The clinical picture is characterized by painful muscle spasm and hypertension. The very young, the elderly or enfeebled, and those with cardiovascular disease are at greatest risk. While not always necessary, the most effective treatment is specific antiserum. Muscle relaxants, analgesics and intravenous calcium are useful adjuvant treatment.