[Evoked visual responses in schizophrenic patients]. / Vyvolané zrakové odpovedi u schizofrenních pacientu.

The authors investigated during prolonged ambulatory treatment with the neuroleptic preparation isofloxythepine (IFT) changes of visually induced responses in 24 psychotic patients. The reference group was formed by 10 healthy volunteers examined before and after administration of a single dose of IFT by the oral route. In addition to the visually induced responses the authors investigated also plasma prolactin levels (PRL). It was found that the latency of the P1 peak and amplitude between peaks A1 are in psychotic patients altered, as compared with healthy subjects. The latency of the P1 peak is after a single dose of IFT in healthy subjects longer and the amplitude A1 higher than in the sick group. In healthy subjects after administration of IFT a negative correlation was observed between the amplitude and the basal PRL level. In patients no relationship was found between PRL levels and parameters of the visually induced response.

[Suicidal ingestion of thioridazine as a cause of severe impairment of heart rhythm--polymorphic ventricular tachycardia]. / Sebevrazedné pozití thioridazinu jako prícina závazné poruchy srdecního rytmu--polymorfní komorové tachykardie.

A 35-year-old female alcohol addicted ingested with suicidal intentions a single dose of 500 mg thioridazine. The course of intoxication was complicated by the development of polymorphous ventricular tachycardia of the torsade de pointes type, about six hours after ingestion. The dysrhythmia was immediately suppressed by stimulation from the right atrium. After 36 hours the stimulation could be abolished. Because of delirium tremens the patient with a normal ECG tracing was returned to the psychiatric clinic.

Activities of blood glutathione peroxidase in schizophrenic and depressive patients.

Glutathione peroxidase activity was determined in the blood of healthy individuals and schizophrenic and depressive patients. No significant changes in enzyme activity were observed between the groups of patients. A slight decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity was found in the group of schizophrenic men and in the groups of depressive patients. The treatment with neuroleptics did not influence enzyme activity with an exception--the group of depressive men.

Autonomic nervous system in pathogenesis of neurotic syndrome and adaptation process.

Methodological problems of evaluation of ANS role in influencing human behavior and etiopathogenesis of reactive mental disorders are scrutinized. Authors refer to the clinical experience obtained from long-term monitoring of ANS disorders, and at the same time they try to support the necessity of psychological and mainly social view on the onset and development of neurotic syndrome. The anxiety is studied in more detail, which is supposed to be a model example of both biological, and psychosocial structure. To conclude the study, the author presents the necessity to override the behavioral scope just in recommending to pay more attention to the proper processes of human adaptation.

[Initial experience with the administration of 7-methoxyacrine to patients with psychological disorders]. / První zkusenosti s podáním 7-metoxytakrinu psychicky nemocným.

The cholinomimemtic substance 7-methoxyacrine was administered to eight patients, incl. 5 patients with tardive dyskinesias after neuroleptic drugs. In all patients an europhorizing effect was recorded, all five patients with tardive dyskinesias improved markedly after a single dose, in one female patient after repeated administration symptoms of tardive dyskinesia were eliminated. The incidence of side effects is minimal. Based on our modest experience we consider 7-methoxyacrine an important extension of therapeutic possibilities, in particular in tardive dyskinesias. The authors plan to test 7-methoxyacrine also in other indications, in particular in Alzheimer's disease and in side-effects caused by psychopharmaceutical preparations.

[Lithium in the prevention of affective disorders: 20 years' experience]. / Lithium v profylaxi afektivních poruch: dvacetiletá zkusenost.

Long term preventive lithium administration results are referred to with the manifestation of a full effect in 23% affective illness-related patients. In 70% of patients, the occurrence of side-effects including those initial ones was stated in no but 40% patients in the course of long term lithium-prophylaxis. This fact testifies about the decrease in number of side-effects during the treatment with lithium. Most frequent side-effects were tremors and diarrhea. No serious renal complications were observed, except the onsets of tardive dyskinesis in on patient after the combined administration of chlorprothixene, amitriptyline and lithium. In three patients, the distant relapses were observed without discontinuation of therapy after the 10-year-lasted successful lithium-prophylaxis. In accord to the long term experience, the authors estimate 0.4 mmol/l lithemia level to be the minimal effective one. They believe the lithium is a reliable thymoprophylactic agent, though in accord with them the other substances with larger therapeutic spectrum are to be searched as well as predictors of an effective lithium-prophylaxis.