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Biomedical subjects

R Z Fisch

Publications and source records attributed to R Z Fisch.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Psychosis precipitated by marriage: a culture-bound syndrome?

A retrospective study of 258 psychiatric out-patients in Jerusalem compared 122 patients from an ultra-orthodox Jewish community with 136 other Jewish patients. It was found that six patients who had a psychosis within a month of marriage all belonged to the ultra-orthodox community. The possible links between cultural and educational practice in the ultra-orthodox community and the vulnerability to the stress of marriage are discussed. It seems feasible to regard the precipitation of major mental illness by marriage as a largely culture-bound phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Drug induced suicidal ideation.

The authors present a case study of a mentally healthy man who repeatedly experienced short-lived, obsessional-like suicidal ideas and images after ingestion of the anti-fungal drug ketoconazole. Ego-alien, suicidal ideas are an extremely rare form of adverse drug reaction. This is probably the first report of drug-induced ego-dystonic, mood incongruent suicidal ideas appearing in a fully conscious, healthy individual.

Hallucinations↗
PubMed1990

Attempted suicide: a study of 133 cases in Jerusalem.

In Israel, each year, an average of 13/100,000 people die by suicide. Attempted suicide has become one of the most important issues for hospital emergency room staff. We studied 133 cases of attempted suicide in Jerusalem in order to examine whether generally accepted risk factors for such attempts are applicable to our local population. We compared the data of 70 patients who attempted suicide and were discharged from the emergency room with those of 63 patients who attempted suicide and were hospitalized in a general hospital. We then compared the characteristics of both groups with those of patients who completed suicide. The study confirmed the hypothesis that the known suicide risk factors of male sex, age over 40 years and a previous psychiatric diagnosis are also valid in this country and must be taken into account when assessing the danger of a suicide attempt.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Masochistic patients. How to help the person who finds 'joy in pain'.

Masochistic patients are encountered in all fields of medicine. They do not behave in the expected "normal" manner: They want to be cared for rather than cured. Treatment of these patients is possible if the physician recognizes and deals with any negative feelings toward the patient on his or her own part and then follows some elementary guidelines, such as not stressing progress, minimizing expectations for cure, showing appreciation for the patients' suffering, and establishing a relationship that is both supportive and nondemanding.

Behavior↗
PubMed1989

Alexithymia, masked depression and loss in a Holocaust survivor.

A woman who suffered multiple losses in childhood and adolescence became depressed 40 years later, after a series of new losses. Concomitant alexithymic features caused a masking of her depression by somatic symptoms. The relationships between alexithymia, masked depression and loss are discussed.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1988

[Masked depression].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1988

Factitious injury of an extremity: a Munchausen variant.

Self-induced injury of one or more of the extremities may represent a distinct variety of Munchausen syndrome. The nature of the injury may be infectious, dermatologic or orthopedic. The mechanism may be secondary gain or another unconscious motivation that causes a craving for attention. In many cases, the underlying psychopathology is personality disorder.

Abscess↗
PubMed1987

Trihexyphenidyl abuse: therapeutic implications for negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Trihexyphenidyl (THP) and other antiparkinsonian drugs are known to be substances of abuse. This is true both in abusers of other substances and in chronic schizophrenics, the latter being infrequent abusers of other drugs. Most reports on the abuse of antiparkinsonian drugs among schizophrenic patients warn against the possible harm of this self-medication. The present article describes the different effects of THP on both schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic abusers. The subjective experience in most chronic schizophrenic patients who abuse THP is positive: they claim that THP makes them feel and function better. In the light of these findings, the author suggests that research on the possible benefits of THP in contrast to the potential harm in chronic, residual schizophrenic patients is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Genital self-mutilation in males: psychodynamic anatomy of a psychosis.

This paper describes a man who mutilated his genitals while psychotic. His personal case history is analyzed and compared to the findings earlier described in similar patients. The present article attempts to make a psychotic process understandable both in light of the individual patient's history and in light of shared common unconscious themes.

Homosexuality↗
PubMed1987

Masked depression: its interrelations with somatization, hypochondriasis and conversion.

Masked depression appears to be a common clinical phenomenon. Most depressions present with some somatic complaints in addition to affective and cognitive ones. About one half of all depressions seen by primary care physicians initially present predominantly or exclusively with somatic symptoms. Many of these depressions are not recognized or are misdiagnosed and mistreated. The possible reasons for this are discussed here. The phenomenon of somatization in depressions and other conditions is reviewed and the interface with other related clinical problems like hypochondriasis and conversion is delineated. It is hypothesized that the proportion of depressions that are masked is positively correlated to the patients' tendency to somatize and negatively correlated to the doctors' ability to recognize depressions that hide behind somatic complaints. Suggestions for the diagnosis and treatment of masked depressions are given.

Conversion Disorder↗
PubMed1986

Masked depression. Help for the hidden misery.

Depression that is hidden by somatic or other symptoms is called masked depression. Although one of the more common illnesses in medical practice, masked depression is often misdiagnosed or ignored and usually inappropriately treated. Treatment consists of many of the same measures used in any other major depression--a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methylphenidate for medical in-patients.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin Hydrochloride) has been recommended as a treatment for depressed medical and geriatric patients. The rationale for this treatment includes both its safety (even in patients with contra-indications that prevent the use of other antidepressants) and its quick onset of action. In addition the drug can be withdrawn after a few weeks of treatment without the danger of a recurrence of depression. The author reports having used the drug safety in depressed medically ill patients with a success rate of at least 50 percent.

Aged↗