[The syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) ending lethal during the use of paliperidon and lamotrigine]. / Het syndroom van inadequate secretie van het antidiuretisch hormoon (SIADH) met letale afloop tijdens gebruik van paliperidon en lamotrigine.

Hyponatremia, as a result of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), is well known with the use of nearly all antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. The first symptoms are atypical and are not always mentioned by the patient. However, not recognising the syndrome in due time can be lethal. We describe a 35-year-old woman who died due to lack of recognition of SIADH. The patient, who had a bipolar disorder and was for a long time on a paliperidone depot, developed complaints of nausea, vomiting and thirst after lamotrigine was prescribed. A few days after increasing the dose, she died; no evidence was found of suicide. The SIADH was probably triggered by the use of lamotrigine and paliperidone. Paying sufficient attention to the symptoms that may cause this syndrome, as well as their early recognition, could save lives.

[Downbeat nystagmus - a rare side-effect of lithium carbonate]. / Downbeatnystagmus als zeldzame bijwerking van lithiumcarbonaat.

A 52-year-old woman who had been treated with lithium carbonate for 10 years developed a downbeat nystagmus. The literature describes downbeat nystagmus as a rare side-effect of lithium carbonate. In this patient other causes of downbeat nystagmus were ruled out. In most cases stopping lithium carbonate does not alleviate the symptoms, which are often debilitating. At the moment there is no adequate treatment for the condition. In some cases, however, the symptoms subside after the patient stops taking lithium. Therefore, we consider that early recognition of downbeat nystagmus in patients being treated with lithium carbonate is vitally important.

[Monumental books by Jelgersma and Rümke]. / Monumentale boeken van Jelgersma en Rümke en invloeden op hun werk.

BACKGROUND: Now that we are in the DSM-5 period, interest in the older psychiatric literature seems to be gradually waning. AIM: To provide a brief survey of important books by Jelgersma and Rümke, to show how these authors were influenced by Kraepelin, Bleuler, Jaspers, Lombroso and Pavlov, and thereby demonstrate how the older literature helped to shape the development of psychiatry. METHOD: The study is based on a selection of the older psychiatric literature in book form. RESULTS: It is evident that even today much of the older literature is still influencing current concepts and descriptions of symptoms and the development of concepts such as schizophrenia, and is still guiding psychiatrists on the best moment to begin psychiatric treatment. CONCLUSION: The older psychiatric literature should not be forgotten or overlooked. It is an invaluable source of in-depth knowledge about psychiatry.

[The complexity of repatriating psychiatric patients]. / Complexe psychiatrische repatriëring.

This article describes the method by which the repatriation to the Netherlands of psychiatric patients living abroad is carried out. On the basis of one case, namely that of a psychotic male with low Hb and fear of HIV, it is shown that the repatriation of psychiatric patients can be extremely complex and that a psychiatrist's active involvement in the patient's repatriation can be extremely important.