[Psychoorganic and depressive syndrome in severe hepatic diseases]

Authors present the occurrence of the psychopathologic disorders in the group of 33 patients (23 women and 10 men) with severe hepatic disorders (mostly cirrhotic non-alcoholic). Patients in the 20-69 age range were treated in the Medical Academy in Gdańsk in the years 1989-1993. 15 patients were examined twice at intervals from 6 months to 3 years. Using the Hamilton Depression Scale and psychiatric examination, the authors found depression in 5 cases. These patients were treated with thymoleptic. On the basis of the Organic Brain Damage Rating Scale (by Jarema M. and others) and psychiatric examination, the psychoorganic syndrome was confirmed in 4 cases. Correlation between the psychopathologic disorders and changes in some biochemical indicators was not found.