Case of Steroid-Sensitive Neuronopathy as a Differential Diagnosis to Dissociative Paralysis in Conversion Disorder

Neuromuscular diseases are sometimes challenging in diagnosis, often associated with progressive symptoms. In rare cases, there are treatable reasons. We report about a 11-year-old female adolescent who developed subacute progressive paralysis over nearly half a year ago. She was presented to our department as a case of psychosomatic disease. After reevaluating her diagnosis with electrophysiology, cerebrospinal fluid, magnetic resonance imaging, and even biopsy and genetic testing, we treated her with intravenous methylprednisolone. Her symptoms were retreated during 3 months, and no further signs during a 18-month follow-up appeared. No psychotherapy was necessary.

Identifying Psychological Intervention Points for Alexithymia Based on the Process of Emotional Expression

Background: Alexithymia is a central concept in the field of psychosomatic disease. Patients afflicted with alexithymia have difficulties identifying feelings preventing them from responding well to psychotherapy. This study aims to evaluate in detail which steps of emotional expression (Steps 1–5) proposed by Kennedy-Moore et al. (Kennedy-Moore E and Watson JC. Expressing emotion. In: Salovey P, editor. Expressing Emotion. New York: Guilford; c1999. p. 8-18) are disrupted in alexithymia to enable the administration of effective treatment to such patients and identify appropriate methods of intervention for each step. Methods: To investigate the relationship between the Japanese version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (J-DERS) total score and subscales and the 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) subscales, multiple linear regression was performed using the former as dependent variables. The psychological examination records of eligible patients were retrospectively investigated. To evaluate the effect of alexithymia on each step of the process of emotional expression, the scores on the total and subscale J-DERS of the group that scored high on TAS-20 were compared with those of the group that scored low on TAS-20. Results: Of the 188 total subjects, 106 (56%) were included in the analysis. The median total J-DERS score was significantly different (p < 0.01) between the high-scoring group (defined as 52 points or higher) and the low-scoring group on the TAS-20, with a median score of 42.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 52.8 [upper limit]–31.0 [lower limit]) and 29.5 (IQR 37.3–23.0), respectively. Similarly, a significant difference was seen with each subscale (p < 0.01). Thus, disruption of the process of emotional expression in alexithymic patients is not only observed in Step 3 but also in Steps 4 and 5. Of the three TAS-20 subscales, only difficulty in identifying feelings correlated with the J-DERS total score and subscales (p < 0.01).Conclusions: The results indicate that, when dealing with alexithymic patients individually in a clinical setting, therapeutic intervention should be adapted to Steps 3, 4, and 5 as appropriate for the patient, and that assessing each step using J-DERS may be more clinically useful.

PSYCHOEMOTIONAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

The purpose of this review is to highlight the present state of the problem of interconnection of psycho-emotional processes with the onset, clinical course and treatment of bronchial asthma.The current researches of domestic and foreign authors is analyzed and summarized. Bronchial asthma is considered by researchers as a psychosomatic disease. The characteristic psychoneural status of children with chronic obstructive syndrome is formulated and the dependence of psycho-emotional changes on the level of bronchial asthma control is shown.The importance of further study of the psychopathogenesis of emotional disorders associated with bronchial asthma is stated in order to develop more effective methods of therapy for these conditions.

Pengaruh Teknik Relaksasi Terhadap Penurunan Nyeri Epigastrium Pada Pasien Gastritis

ABSTRACTBackground: Today the frequency of psychosomatic illnesses experienced by a person is increasing. One such psychosomatic disease is gastritis. Pharmacotherapy for gastritis often results in less satisfactory results. Meanwhile the other alternatives to overcome these problems can be done with relaxation exercises. Relaxation can increase the sensitivity of baro-reflect and decrease sympathetic nerve activity and activate the correction so that there will be a decrease of pain level.Objective: To know the effect of relaxation technique on the reduction of epigastria pain in gastritis patients.Research Method: The design of the research used is one group pre test and post test design, where the patient came to check the level of pain with the scale of pain then done relaxation. After the relaxation was done and then re-check in the same way. Bivariate analysis used Wilcoxon Test.Results: The statistical results obtained p = 0,000 (P 0.05) which means that there is a very significant difference in the average value of the pain scale before relaxation with the average of pain scale after relaxation.Conclusion: There is a relaxation effect on the reduction of epigastria pain in gastritis patients Keyword : Relaxation, Pain, Epigastria

As-Shifa` Perspektif Tafsir al-Ibris Karya Bisri Mustofa

This article aims to explain how As Shifa in the interpretation of Al-Ibriz by KH Bisri Mustofa and how to obtain physical and mental health in the interpretation of Al-Ibriz by KH Bisri Mustofa. He interpreted the verses of shifā 'as medicine for spiritual health only, but there also argued that the Qur'an could not only be used as a medicine for spiritual / mental health (soul and heart) but could also be used as a medicine for health physical. The results of this study show that the Qur'an as a guide book, the Qur'an contains various information about medicine for humans, the Qur'an fulfills the principles of medicine and the rules of treatment. Shifā 'in the Qur'an has a close relationship to physical health. According to Bisri Mustofa, the Qur'an is not only a medicine for liver disease, but the protracted liver disease will cause physical illness known as psychosomatic disease.