Benzodiazepine

Catatonia has been more studied in the past 10 years after a period of declining interest. This is due, on the one hand, to its inclusion in major psychiatric nosographic systems, and on the other hand, to the possibility to treat efficiently this condition, which was previously a fatal one. Catatonia is characterized by concurrent motor, emotional, and behavioural symptoms. This syndrome is commonly observed in persons with mood disorders, and less frequently in schizophrenia as well as in numerous neurological affections. A central dopaminergic dysfunction could explain the its apparition Catatonia is usually successfully treated by benzodiazepines and ECT. in REVUE MEDICALE DE BRUXELLES 27(6):489-92

Of 55 patients screened, 7 were enrolled (mean age = 26, range 18-49 years, 5 male). Mean amblyopic eye VA was 0.67 LogMAR (range 0.3 to 1.2 LogMAR), 2 patients had anisometropic, 2 strabismic and 3 mixed amblyopia. The effects of placebo and citalopram on amblyopic eye VA did not differ significantly (F1,6 = 1.991, p= .208), figure 5 below. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine has been shown to significantly enhance visual cortex plasticity in adult animals, an effect which was blocked by a benzodiazepine 1. The aim of this research was to assess:

From their introduction in the psychiatric clinic, benzodiazepines have meant a great advance in the treatment of numerous pathologies, due to their therapeutic effectiveness and safety. Despite the consensus that indicates the rational use of this medication, it is much too frequently that actual practice does not conform with said criteria. We believed it necessary to conduct a revision regarding the prescription of benzodiazepines in our institution. For that purpose, we carried out a retrospective study using 130 medical histories trough a three-year period, analyzing the indication and duration of benzodiazepine usage. Consequently, we are able to affirm that the use of benzodiazepine, in relation to diagnosis and duration of usage, is not made according to international guidelines.

The major inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acts on a postsynaptic receptor complex which includes GABA and benzodiazepine (BZ) recognition sites and a chloride ionophore (Turner and Whittle, 1983). Pharmacological, biochemical and neurophysiological studies suggest that BZ agonists, such as diazepam, exert their central effects by enhancing lowaffinity GABA binding (DeFeudis, 1983; Olsen and Venter, 1986).

To estimate the prevalence of Benzodiazepine use in the outpatient setting of general medicine clinics at a single tertiary care centre. The prospective prevalence study was conducted in the outpatient setting of Internal Medicine Clinics at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from November to December 2009. All subjects were interviewed after informed consent and variables were recorded on a specially-designed proforma. Apart from basic demographics and comorbid conditions, duration, frequency and route of benzodiazepine use, as well as the reason and who initiated it was noted. Chi-square test and t test was applied to see the association of socio demographic or clinical factors with the use of benzodiazepine. Of the 355 patients, 129 (36.33%) reported using the drug. The majority (n=86; 24.2%) were taking it on a daily basis. The highest numbers of patients using the drug were suffering from cardiovascular problems, 32 (25%) followed by 22 (17%) from endocrinology. Diazepam eq...