Faculty Bibliography

Zolpidem is the most commonly prescribed medication for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Adverse reactions include nightmares, confusion, and memory deficits. Reported rare adverse neuropsychiatric reactions include sensory distortions such as hallucinations. Previous research has identified 4 factors that may place a patient at increased risk of zolpidem-associated psychotic or delirious reactions: (1) concomitant use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), (2) female gender, (3) advanced age, and (4) zolpidem doses of 10 mg or higher. In this article, 2 cases are presented in which individuals killed their spouses and claimed total or partial amnesia. Neither individual had a history of aggressive behavior. Both had concomitantly taken 10 mg or more of zolpidem in addition to an SSRI (paroxetine).

This article describes psychiatric/legal issues encountered by those providing emergent care to disaster survivors.

This paper addresses informed consent to antipsychotic medication of those incarcerated in a forensic psychiatric hospital. The ways in which the unique setting of the forensic psychiatric hospital impinge upon the three components of informed consent--information, voluntariness, and competency--are explored. Special attention is given to the risk-benefit ratio of receiving antipsychotic medication in terms of the liberty interests at stake--freedom of movement, that is, the effects of tardive dyskinesia, and freedom of space, that is, release from the forensic psychiatric facility.

Interviewed 3 victims of a terrorist attack in order to determine the coping mechanisms Ss used during the attack, the psychopathology present after the attack, and the ways Ss dealt with their psychopathology. Ss were a 42-yr-old married man and father of 2 children, a 39-yr-old mother of 3 children, and a 50-yr-old father of 3 children. Fantasy, the belief in one's ability to positively influence his environment, altruistic actions, and dissociation reportedly helped those interviewed to cope during the incident. Depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) phenomena comprised the major psychopathology present in those interviewed. Altruistic actions, symbolic repetition and mastery of the traumatic situation, self-esteem enhancing activities, avoidance of reminders of the incident, and involvement in certain types of relationships reportedly helped these victims after the attack.