PsychBabel

from Technology Review: A Skin Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI), in Morgantown, WV, have developed a test that detects enzymes that are dysfunctional in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. These enzymes (PKCs) are involved in long-term memory storage and are found in both the brain and in skin cells. Large scale clinical trials are about to begin. In a preliminary trial with 600 patients, the test correctly diagnosed 36 out of 37 patients confirmed on autopsy to have the disease, as well as 5 patients confirmed on autopsy not to have it. [ed.: Does this mean that they incorrectly diagnosed 5 patients or that they correctly confirmed 5 cases that were suspected to have something other than Alzheimer's?]

A “real” test for Alzheimer’s…I hope we get to see this or another accurate test in the relatively near future.

The ICD-10 mentions the “haltlose” personality type in its discussion on personality disorders. It was not a term with which I had been familiar. It seems to be related to the German phrase “die haltlosen.”

The haltlose personality has been used to refer to someone with an aimless and irresponsible lifestyle. This type of person seems to “lack a hold” on life. Slater & Roth described the haltlose personality as “the unstable psychopath.” Schneider used the phrase “Willenlose Psychopathen.” These people seem to display a lack of will or purpose, with no interest in the future and little grounding in the past. Some with chronic substance dependence have been said to have haltlose personality disorder.

Sorry for the lack of posts. I have been busy preparing for a small DMH presentation.

It is common knowledge that many typical antipsychotic agents can cause blurred vision; this is likely due to the anticholinergic activity that many of them possess. However, I recently had a patient that seemed to get blurred vision from taking moderates doses of ziprasidone. The blurred vision resolved after ziprasidone was discontinued. Ziprasidone is said to have very little anticholinergic activity. However, visual changes are listed as a relatively common side effect (3-6%). It seems unclear to me if this is still related to anticholinergic activity.