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Bernhard J Connemann

Publications and source records attributed to Bernhard J Connemann.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Rofecoxib-induced psychosis].

Acute psychosis is a possible side effect of many centrally acting drugs. Its appearance is facilitated by certain conditions like advanced age, comedication, or comorbidity. We report two cases of acute psychotic syndromes with visual (Case 1 + 2) and auditory (Case 1) hallucinations under rofecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitor. This is one of the first reports of psychotic disorders under rofecoxib intake. We present a review of the literature on mental side effects of NSAID and on the pharmacological basis of the association of cyclooxygenase-inhibitors and mental disorders.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in motor conversion disorder: a short case series.

The neurophysiologic mechanisms involved in nonorganic paralysis are unclear. Because there is no established standard therapy, the authors investigated the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in four patients with nonorganic limb paralysis. Within the framework of a treatment trial, the patients were treated over a period of 5-12 weeks with rTMS applied to the contralateral motor cortex. Stimulation frequency was 15 Hz, train length 2 seconds, intertrain interval 4 seconds; daily total number of stimuli 4000. In one patient, motor function was completely restored; two patients experienced a marked improvement correlating with rTMS treatment. By contrast, one patient who had been diagnosed as a malingerer did not improve. Apart from possible favorable psychological factors that could partly explain the rTMS-associated effects, high-frequency rTMS might have enhanced or substituted an insufficient input to the motor cortex from failing frontal executive areas, and thereby opened the way to a learning process that lead to the reacquisition of limb use. rTMS may have a therapeutic effect in motor conversion disorder and may help elucidate neurophysiologic aspects of this condition. The potential benefit of rTMS in motor conversion disorder should be evaluated in larger, controlled samples.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Anterior limbic alpha-like activity: a low resolution electromagnetic tomography study with lorazepam challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To verify findings of an independently regulated anterior limbic alpha band source. METHODS: In a randomised cross-over study, the spontaneous EEG was recorded in nine healthy subjects after i.v. lorazepam or placebo. Intracerebral current densities within classical frequency bands were estimated with low resolution electromagnetic tomography [LORETA] and compared between groups with t-statistical parametric mapping [SPM[t]]. A region-of-interest [ROI] based method was used to compare frontal and occipital alpha band activity changes. RESULTS: Irrespective of treatment group, local maxima of alpha band power were localised both in the occipital lobe, Brodman area [BA] 18, and in the anterior cingulate cortex [ACC], BA 32. Statistical parametric mapping showed reduced parieto-occipital, but unaltered frontal alpha band power after lorazepam. This result was confirmed by ROI-based comparison of BA 18 and BA 32. CONCLUSIONS: There was an anterior limbic maximum of alpha band activity which, unlike occipital alpha, was not suppressed by lorazepam. SIGNIFICANCE: The well-known anterior alpha band components may originate from a narrowly circumscribed source, located in the ACC. Frontal and occipital alpha band activities appear to be independently regulated.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Acute psychosis with a mediastinal carcinoma metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Reversible schizophrenia-like syndromes have been reported to occur with small-cell carcinoma of the lung, thymoma, and hematological disorders. CASE REPORT: A 56-year-old man was admitted due to an acute psychosis characterized by delusions, agitation, and aggressive outbursts. His medical and psychiatric history was unremarkable. On treatment with olanzapine, valproic acid, and perazine there was only moderate improvement. Extensive checkup revealed an isolated mediastinal metastasis of an undifferentiated carcinoma. A primary tumor was not found. After removal of the metastasis, the psychosis remitted rapidly and completely, and the patient remained well on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Paraneoplastic syndromes may clinically present as acute psychoses and, in late-onset schizophreniform disorders with an atypical presentation, performing a tumor search should always be considered.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the reversal of motor conversion disorder.

BACKGROUND: There is no agreement on the most effective therapy for motor conversion symptoms. Functional electric stimulation has been successfully used to reverse conversion paralysis. We tested the therapeutic potential of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in a 20-year-old patient suffering from a conversion paralysis of the right arm. METHOD: rTMS was applied to the contralateral motor cortex. Stimulations were performed on working days at a frequency of 15 Hz (train length 2 s; inter-train interval 4 s) yielding 4,000 pulses/day. RESULTS: Within 12 weeks, motor function, hyposensibility and muscle bulk were completely restored. CONCLUSIONS: The patient recovered completely during rTMS treatment. In addition to possible psychological effects, rTMS may have had a causal therapeutic effect by strengthening corticocortical connections and thereby priming voluntary movements. Further controlled studies are needed.

Adult↗