[Does early use of ect reduce the hospital stay period in major depressive episodes?].

ECT is an effective and safe therapy with fast response for depressive disorders. Nevertheless it's mostly used for therapy resistance. In antidepressive treatments fast response may be related with antidepressive efficacy. We studied, if earlier ECT could result in a shorter hospital stay period after the treatment.The hospital stay period after ECT and CGI-changes of 34 depressed patients with immediate ECT were compared to those of 19 patients, who had to wait for this treatment while being treated conservatively in another psychiatric hospital without ECT-possibility.Patients with early ECT could be dismitted from hospital at a mean of 57 days after the first ECT, patients who had to wait for this treatment at a mean of 100 days after the first ECT. CGI-changes were similar in both groups.Early use of ECT may reduce hospital stay periods in depressed patients

["Junk-food"-intervention in poisoning delusion]

Case report about a 29-year old US-American patient who suddenly flew to Germany due to a schizoaffektive disorder. During a stay in our psychiatric hospital she refused food, liquid and medication because of fear of being poisoned. After four days her general condition had worsened rapidly so that parenteral nutrition was discussed. Surprisingly her poisoning delusion could be overcome by offering American "Junk-Food". From this moment on compliance in taking of medication improved too, so that renormalisation of her condition was achieved

[Pharmacological treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder: practice and study results].

Many patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) receive pharmacological treatment. On account of the few treatment guidelines and the often changing symptoms, different substances are used. The present article summarises treatment-practice and study results concerning the pharmacological treatment of BPD

SENILE ANOREXIA AND HYPERALDOSTERONISM

Objective and Method: A case presentation of a 73-year-old delirious patient diagnosed with hyperaldosteronism and Anorexia Nervosa. A possible pathophysiological relationship between a decades-long uncontrolled eating disorder (so called Senile Anorexia) and a resulting transformation of the adrenal gland is discussed. Results and Conclusion: Senile anorexia can remain undetected for decades only to then manifest itself through somatic complications, e.g. symptoms of hyperaldosteronism. In older, underweight patients with unclear neuropsychiatric symptoms, the diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa should be considered.</jats:p