Psychiatric disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): a serious SLE-related crime

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with CNS disorders in 50-90% of all cases. Thus far 19 neuropsychiatric syndromes have been reported in association with SLE, and many others will be added to this list in the future. Long-term observation and use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (Text Revision) is the solution for a correct diagnosis. Case report: The patient was an 18-year-old woman who had been charged with the attempted murder of an elderly woman in the latter’s home. According to the victim’s testimony, the young woman had entered the victim’s home under pretence and suddently attacked her with a hammer. The young woman denied all knowledge of the event. A few days after her arrest the patient was hospitalized for attempted suicide. The work-up that began with this hospitalization led to the diagnosis of an intermittent explosive disorder secondary to SLE. The authors analyze this case from the psychiatric, medical, and legal points of view. Conclusions: This is the first report of this type of disorder is a patient with SLE. The authors suggest that intermittent explosive disorder should be added to the list of neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with this disease

Depressive symptoms and disability in acute patients with comorbidities in departments of internal medicine

Introduction: There are few data on the prevalence of depression among acute patients with comorbidities. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in hospitalized patients admitted to Internal Medicine Units and the correlation between these symptoms and comorbidities and disability indexes. Materials and methods: All consecutive patients admitted to 26 Internal Medicine Units of the Italian National Public Health System in Sicily, Italy, from September 2001 to March 2002 were screened. Within 24 hours of admission, patients were administered the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini-Mental State Examination, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Charlson’s Comorbidity Index. Results: 1,947 subjects were included in the analyses. Of the patients, 509 (26.1%) showed depressive symptoms (indicated by GDS score > 15). Depression was significantly associated (univariate analyses) with hypertension (OR 1.45; CI 95% 1.18-1.79), diabetes (OR 1.48, CI 95% 1.17-1.87), cerebrovascular disease (OR 1.50, CI 95% 1.08-2.07), cirrhosis (OR 1.49, CI 95% 1.01- 2.19), ADL score (OR 0.72: CI 95% 0.63-0.82), and IADL score (OR 0.83; CI 95% 0.78-0.87), but not with Charlson’s Comorbidity Index (OR 1.04; CI 95% 0.98-1.10). Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictive factors for depression were age (OR 1.02, CI 95% 1.01-1.02), female gender (OR 2.29, CI 95% 1.83 - 2.87), and IADL score (OR 0.86, CI 95% 0.81 - 0.93). Conclusions: The data suggest that depressive symptoms are not linked to worse clinical conditions but are associated with the loss of autonomy in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living