Impaired Decision-Making Capacity in the Elderly King David (c. 1040-970 BCE): Was Hypothyroidism the Underlying Cause?

It has been suggested in the medical literature that in the last period of his life King David (c. 1040-970 BCE) suffered from dementia, osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, Parkinson's disease, autonomic neuropathy, major depression, and malignancy. The goal of this study was to identify, based on the "Succession Narrative (SN)," a historically objective section of the Old Testament, the clinical syndrome presented by King David and to determine whether an impaired decision making capacity may have been manipulated by his courtiers to influence his succession's politics. The "SN" indicates that besides forgetfulness and trouble in thinking, King David suffered from marked cold intolerance and sexual dysfunction. The symptom triad consisting of cognitive impairment, cold intolerance, and sexual dysfunction is more strongly suggestive of hypothyroidism than of any other diagnoses proposed in the medical literature so far. We hypothesized that hypothyroidism was the underlying cause of the elderly King David's clinical picture and that his sometimes troubled thinking was successfully manipulated by the courtiers to favor his son Solomon's accession to the throne, with profound historical consequences.

Case Report: Depression × dementia with Lewy bodies in the elderly: The importance of differential diagnosis.

Background: Dementia is a clinical syndrome which is more common in elderly people. Dementia with Lewy bodies (LBD) is not so rare in elderly people, with cognitive impairment in about 30% over age 65. The clinical picture is characterized by fluctuation in cognitive functions, recurrent, well-formed, detailed visual hallucinations, and Parkinsonism, with rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, and slurred speech. Case presentation: We present a case report of LBD in a 73-year-old retired teacher, which a initial wrong diagnosis of refractory depression for at least 3 years. We also conduct a review of recent works on theme. Conclusion: LBD diagnosis can be neglected for years, with a legal and clinical issues to patients and their families. Detailed medical research, including differential diagnosis, are very necessary on those cases, specially when they are called refractory. We encourage new research and adequate clinical training to prevent damage.

Tonic Immobility is Associated with PTSD Symptoms in Traumatized Adolescents.

PURPOSE: Growing evidence suggests that peritraumatic tonic immobility, an involuntary defensive response that involves extreme physical immobility and the perceived inability to escape, is a significant predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. However, this issue has not been specifically addressed in adolescents. Here, we investigated whether tonic immobility response experienced during the worst childhood or adolescent trauma is associated with PTSD symptom severity in a non-clinical student sample. METHODS: The sample was composed of students in 9th grade who were attending public and private schools. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress and tonic immobility were assessed using questionnaires. We performed bivariate and multivariate negative binomial regressions to examine whether tonic immobility was associated with PTSD symptomatology after controlling for confounders (peritraumatic dissociation, peritraumatic panic reactions, gender, age and time since trauma). RESULTS: We found an association between tonic immobility and PTSD symptom severity, even after controlling for confounders. Therefore, tonic immobility is associated with PTSD symptoms in trauma-exposed adolescents. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight tonic immobility as a possible risk factor that could be used to provide direction for more targeted trauma interventions for individuals, particularly those at risk for developing PTSD. Therefore, it contributes to preventing and reducing the psychiatric burden in adolescence and later in life.

Violent behavior by involuntarily committed female offenders with mental disorders: A population-based case series.

The goal of the current study was to investigate the socio-demographic, psychiatric, and criminological characteristics of female violent offenders with mental disorders involuntarily committed to a forensic psychiatric hospital. The present study was a population-based retrospective case series including all female offenders with mental disorders found not guilty by reason of insanity by the criminal courts in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and involuntarily committed to a forensic psychiatric facility (n = 27). Patients were assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. We found that most offenders were Afro-Brazilian, uneducated unmarried women. Schizophrenia with active psychotic symptoms was the most common clinical condition. Relatives were the frequent victims of aggressive behavior. Most patients had already been diagnosed with a mental disorder and placed under psychiatric treatment, but poor adherence and treatment dropout were common. Violent behavior in psychiatrically ill female patients is associated with a specific socio-demographic and clinical profile and is thus potentially amenable to prevention particularly if the mental health and social services are to provide the much-needed support for economically, socially, and psychologically vulnerable women.

Absence of definitive scientific evidence that benzodiazepines could hinder the efficacy of exposure-based interventions in adults with anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorders: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Exposure-based interventions (EBIs) are the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. Although common, the association between EBIs and benzodiazepines is controversial. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate if benzodiazepines could undermine the efficacy of EBIs in treating these disorders. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review aiming for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases. We scrutinized the reference list of selected papers and other systematic reviews. Finally, we evaluated the methodological quality and the scientific evidence of the studies. RESULTS: We screened 1,529 studies and included 12 RCTs in this review (all showing some concerns or high risk of bias). Benzodiazepines did not impact the efficacy of EBIs in nine studies at posttreatment, improved efficacy in two, and reduced it in one. In the follow-up, benzodiazepines (after its discontinuation) did not impact the efficacy in six studies and reduced it in five. The scientific level of evidence achieved was B for both phases. CONCLUSIONS: Until now there is no definitive evidence that benzodiazepines could hinder the EBIs' efficacy for treating posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders.

Can horror movies induce PTSD-like syndrome? / Podem filmes de terror induzir uma síndrome TEPT-símile? / Les films d'horreur peuvent-ils induire un syndrome semblable au SSPT? / ¿Pueden las películas de terror inducir a un trastorno similar al TEPT?

We reported a case of a 10-year-old girl who developed a PTSD-like syndrome after watching a horror movie. After 6 years, the now 16-year-old patient still fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, except for the trauma itself. We reviewed the scientific literature for case reports of PTSD-like syndrome induced by horror movies and found 13 cases. In only two was the presence of the DSM criteria confirmed. Watching horror movies may thus trigger PTSD-like syndromes in vulnerable viewers

O caso de uma menina de 10 anos de idade que desenvolveu síndrome do tipo transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) após assistir a filme de terror é relatado. Após seis anos, a paciente ainda preenchia os critérios do DSM-IV para TEPT. Em revisão da literatura, identificamos 13 casos de síndrome TEPT-símile induzida por filmes de terror, mas o diagnóstico baseado em critérios DSM foi feito em dois casos apenas. Filmes de terror podem desencadear síndromes TEPT-símile em pessoas vulneráveis.

Presentamos el caso de una niña de 10 años que desarrolló un síndrome tipo trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) después de ver una película de terror. Al cabo de seis años, la paciente aún cumplía con los criterios del DSM-IV para el TEPT. Durante la revisión de la literatura, identificamos 13 casos de síndromes similares al TEPT, inducidos por películas de terror, pero el diagnóstico basado en los criterios DSM fue hecho solo en dos casos. Películas de terror pueden desencadenar síndromes similares al TEPT en espectadores vulnerables.

Cet article décrit le cas d'une jeune fille de 10 ans qui a développé un syndrome qui ressemble à celui du stress post-traumatique (SSPT) après avoir regardé un film d'horreur. Six ans plus tard, la patiente présentait toujours les symptômes du SSPT correspondants aux critères du DSM-IV. La littérature scientifique a été examinée à la recherche de cas semblables et treize cas semblables ont été recensés. La présence des critères DSM-IV a été confirmée uniquement dans deux cas. Nous concluons que l'exposition à des films d'horreur peut déclencher un syndrome du type SSPT chez les personnes vulnérables.

Dieser Artikel beschreibt den Fall eines 10-jährigen Mädchens, das ein PTBS-ähnliches Syndrom entwickelte, nachdem sie einen Horrorfilm angeschaut hatte. Sechs Jahre später zeigte die nun 16 Jahre alte Patientin nach wie vor PTBS Symptome auf, die den Kriterien des DSM-IV entsprachen. Wir forschten in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur nach Fallberichten des PTBS-ähnlichen Syndroms, die durch Horrorfilme induziert wurden und fanden 13 Fälle. In nur zwei Fällen wurden die DSM-IV-Kriterien bestätigt. Wir kommen zum Schluss, dass bei anfälligen Personen, die sich Horrorfilmen aussetzen, es zu PTBS-ähnlichen Syndromen kommen kann.

Cessation of dangerousness status: an analysis of 224 reports from the Instituto de Perícias Heitor Carrilho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Objectives: To evaluate factors related to dangerousness cessation at the end of involuntary commitment based on an analysis of expert reports. In light of the current legal requirement of dangerousness cessation as a pre-requisite for prison or internment release of individuals subjected to the safety measure, we sought elements to reflect on the practice of expert examiners in charge of making this decision. Methods: The authors revised 224 expert psychiatric dangerousness cessation reports released 2011 through 2014 and collected data for a statistical analysis. Results: The following variables were associated with positive risk cessation assessments: no inadequate behavior (according to the assistant professionals), no productive psychotic symptoms, no negative symptoms, presence of insight, presence of a support network, and no psychoactive substance abuse. The following variables were associated with negative dangerousness cessation decisions: early onset of malfunction, lack of insight, negative attitudes, active signs of major mental illness, presence of impulsiveness, poor response to treatment, presence of plans lacking feasibility, exposure to destabilizing factors, lack of personal support, and presence of stress. Conclusions: In this study we were able to identify factors associated with dangerousness in a sample of expert reports. The knowledge of factors linked to a higher risk of recidivism in illegal activities or violent behavior is crucial for decision-making regarding the release of offenders after their legally established period of involuntary commitment.

Self-Embedding Behavior in Adults: A Report of Two Cases and a Systematic Review.

Self-embedding behavior (SEB) is the repeated insertion of sharp objects, such as needles or pins, into the soft tissues of abdomen, limbs, and other body parts. In this study, two cases of SEB were reported and the scientific worldwide literature reviewed. Thirty-two cases of SEB were identified through systematic searches in the main bibliographic databases. Mean age was 35 years (SD = 8.97). Just over two-thirds of the patients were female. Although the number of embedded objects could be as high as 200, major clinical and surgical complications were uncommon and mortality was null. Patients with SEB presented three major diagnoses: psychotic (25%), personality (21.9%), and factitious (28.1%) disorders. The practice of SEB largely went undetected as the patients themselves did not bring it to the attention of family members or physicians and usually denied they have engaged in SEB. A high level of suspicion is required to avoid a missed diagnosis.

The worldwide incidence of neonaticide: a systematic review.

Neonaticide is the killing of a neonate on the day of its birth by his/her own mother. Neonaticidal women were reported to be predominantly young, unmarried, and primiparous. The motive for murdering the newborn relates to the shame, the fear of rejection, and abandonment by significant others, and the social stigmas associated with an illegitimate birth. The goal of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature and identify population-based studies reporting the incidence of neonaticide in different countries. A total of 485 abstracts were screened. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected. Additional searches identified two more articles. Most of these studies were from Europe, where incidence varied from 0.07 (Finland, 1980-2000 period) to 8.5 neonaticides per 100000 births (Austria, 1975-2001 period). More recent studies have indicated that a growing proportion of neonaticidal women are married, multiparous, and suffers from mental disorders. Preventive measures, such as anonymous free delivery, were shown to reduce the incidence of neonaticide, although this effect may be short-lived. Despite social and institutional changes, neonaticide persists even in the most socially advanced, liberal, and prosperous societies in the world.

Cessation of dangerousness status: an analysis of 224 reports from the Instituto de Perícias Heitor Carrilho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES:: To evaluate factors related to dangerousness cessation at the end of involuntary commitment based on an analysis of expert reports. In light of the current legal requirement of dangerousness cessation as a pre-requisite for prison or internment release of individuals subjected to the safety measure, we sought elements to reflect on the practice of expert examiners in charge of making this decision. METHODS:: The authors revised 224 expert psychiatric dangerousness cessation reports released 2011 through 2014 and collected data for a statistical analysis. RESULTS:: The following variables were associated with positive risk cessation assessments: no inadequate behavior (according to the assistant professionals), no productive psychotic symptoms, no negative symptoms, presence of insight, presence of a support network, and no psychoactive substance abuse. The following variables were associated with negative dangerousness cessation decisions: early onset of malfunction, lack of insight, negative attitudes, active signs of major mental illness, presence of impulsiveness, poor response to treatment, presence of plans lacking feasibility, exposure to destabilizing factors, lack of personal support, and presence of stress. CONCLUSIONS:: In this study we were able to identify factors associated with dangerousness in a sample of expert reports. The knowledge of factors linked to a higher risk of recidivism in illegal activities or violent behavior is crucial for decision-making regarding the release of offenders after their legally established period of involuntary commitment.

Conditional risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in an epidemiological study of a Brazilian urban population.

INTRODUCTION: Conditional risk for PTSD is the risk of developing PTSD after exposure to traumatic events. This epidemiological study of the general urban population from the two largest cities in Brazil reports exposure to traumatic events; conditional risk for PTSD; and proportion/estimated number of PTSD cases secondary to each type of traumatic event. METHOD: Cross-sectional study of general population (15-75 y.o.) from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. PTSD was assessed through Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1. RESULTS: Our main findings, from 3744 participants, were: 1) high prevalence of traumatic events (86%), urban violence being the most common; 2) conditional risk for PTSD was 11.1%; 3) women (15.9%) have overall conditional risk 3 times higher than men (5.1%); 4) war-related trauma (67.8%), childhood sexual abuse (49.1%) and adult sexual violence (44.1%) had the highest conditional risks; 5) 35% of PTSD cases (estimated 435,970 individuals) were secondary to sudden/unexpected death of a close person, and 40% secondary to interpersonal violence. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian urban population is highly exposed to urban violence, and overall conditional risk for PTSD was 11.1%. Violence prevention and enhancement of resilience should be part of public policies, and mental health sequelae of trauma should be better recognized and treated.

The correlates of obsessive-compulsive, schizotypal, and borderline personality disorders in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

We assessed correlates of obsessive-compulsive (OCPD), schizotypal (SPD) and borderline (BPD) personality disorders in 110 obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. We found OCD patients with OCPD (20.9%) to exhibit higher rates of hoarding and bipolar disorders, increased severity of hoarding and symmetry, lower prevalence of unacceptable thoughts involving sex and religion and less non-planning impulsivity. Conversely, OCD patients with SPD (13.6%) displayed more frequently bipolar disorder, increased severity of depression and OCD neutralization, greater prevalence of "low-order" behaviors (i.e., touching), lower low-planning impulsivity and greater "behavioral" compulsivity. Finally, in exploratory analyses, OCD patients with BPD (21.8%) exhibited lower education, higher rates of several comorbid psychiatric disorders, greater frequency of compulsions involving interpersonal domains (e.g. reassurance seeking), increased severity of depression, anxiety and OCD dimensions other than symmetry and hoarding, more motor and non-planning impulsivity, and greater "cognitive" compulsivity. These findings highlight the importance of assessing personality disorders in OCD samples.

Peritraumatic tonic immobility is associated with PTSD symptom severity in Brazilian police officers: a prospective study

Objective: Peritraumatic reactions feature prominently among the main predictors for development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Peritraumatic tonic immobility (PTI), a less investigated but equally important type of peritraumatic response, has been recently attracting the attention of researchers and clinicians for its close association with traumatic reactions and PTSD. Our objective was to investigate the role of PTI, peritraumatic panic, and dissociation as predictors of PTSD symptoms in a cohort of police recruits (n=132). Methods: Participants were asked to complete the following questionnaires during academy training and after the first year of work: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C), Physical Reactions Subscale (PRS), Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), Tonic Immobility Scale (TIS), and Critical Incident History Questionnaire. Results: Employing a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model, we found that each additional point in the TIS was associated with a 9% increment in PCL-C mean scores (RM = 1.09), whereas for PRS, the increment was 7% (RM = 1.07). As the severity of peritraumatic dissociation increased one point in the PDEQ, the chance of having at least one symptom in the PCL-C increased 22% (OR = 1.22). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to expand investigation on the incidence and impact of PTI on the mental health of police officers. .