Substance abuse as well as its psychiatric consequences is prevalent in the Philippines. This causes an increase in admission rates in mental health institutions that describe these cases are rate. Objective: This study aims to determine the clinical profile of patients with psychoactive substance induced mental disorder and substance abuse co-morbidity. Methods: The medical records of patients admitted at the Community Center of Santo Tomas University Hospital from January 1995-September 2000 with the above diagnosis were reviewed. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most patients were single, male, college undergraduate, unemployed and Roman Catholic. The mean age was 30 years old, living predominantly in Metro Manila. Most of them were smokers and occasional alcoholic beverage drinkers. More than 30% were diagnosed with substance induced psychotic disorder followed closely by co-morbidity with antisocial personality disorder and schizophrenia, respectively. The most common substance abused was methamphetamine "shabu" and the interval between the onset of symptoms and the psychiatric manifestations was 4-5 years. The presenting symptoms were restlessness, agitation and violent behavior. They also had paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. The most common medication given was typical anti psychotics, specifically haloperidol, with a mean length of hospitalization of one month. Conclusion: Drug abuse was associated with a high risk for psychiatric co-morbidity, especially methamphetamine use, which is known to induce psychosis, responsible for agitation, violence and paranoia that would the require anti psychotic medication, and hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the histopathological effect of statins, fibrates and its combination in rat nerves
METHODOLOGY: This is a pilot experimental study. Four male albino rats were used in this study. Each rat was given therapeutic doses of simvastatin alone, gemfibrozil alone, gemfibrozil and simvastatin combination and placebo. On day 21, the sciatic nerve was harvested for histopathologic examination
RESULTS: Although not marked, the combination of simvastatin and gemfibrozil produced more axonal degeneration than did simvastatin alone or gemfibrozil alone. Axonal degeneration was documented on teased nerve fibers and epon cross sections
CONCLUSION: The use of lipid lowering agents may induce peripheral neuropathy Recommendation: This pilot study serves as rationale to proceed with an experiment not only to document neuropathy but also correlate the possible association of the pathomechanism of myotoxicity and neurotoxicity of lipid lowering agents.

Animal ; Rats ; Simvastatin ; Gemfibrozil ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coa Reductase Inhibitors ; Fibric Acids ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; Sciatic Nerve ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Epon ; Epoxy Resins ; Nerve Fibers

Despite the vast number of foreign literature on ADHD, especially on its association with psychosocial adversity, locally, there are very few if any at all. This paper presents preliminary study on the clinical as well as psychosocial characteristics of Filipino ADHD patients in the hospital setting. Thirty-seven children with ADHD were studied in comparison with aged-matched, sex-direct interview with the parent and review of medical records. There is a preponderance of male subjects but this was not statistically significant. Increased levels of adversity were found among ADHD subjects compared with controls, as to parental psychopathology, family dysfunction and the presence of negative life events. Furthermore, a distinct correlation between ADHD and conduct disorder as co-morbidity waS deduced. In conclusion, a relationship appears to exist between psychosocial adversity and the risk for ADHD.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER WITH HYPERACTIVITY ; CHILD