CLINICAL CASES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2004 October;163(5):185-7

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Amphetamine addiction: lacking consent for treatment in closed institution. Case report

Ros L. T.

Department of Neurosurgery, Independent Public Health Care Institution, Armed Forces School of Medicine, Central University Teaching Hospital, Warsaw, Poland

­Detailed psy­chi­at­ric exam­ina­tion of the ­patient ­revealed ­that the ­cause of the man­i­fes­ta­tions ­that led him to ­take amphet­a­mines ­were chron­ic sub­de­pres­sive con­di­tions of endog­e­nous char­ac­ter. The ­author decid­ed to ­treat chron­ic sub­de­pres­sion con­di­tions of endog­e­nous ori­gin in the ­patient ­with ser­tra­line ­since it is a ­very ­safe ­drug. The ­author ­assumed ­here the pos­sibil­ity of inter­ac­tions ­between ser­tra­line and amphet­a­mine, ­should the ­patient, in ­spite of his numer­ous prom­is­es, ­break absti­nence and ­take amphet­a­mine. Ser­tra­line ­proved ­very effec­tive in the ­patient. Sub­de­pres­sive ­states ­regressed com­plete­ly and the ­patient has not ­been tak­ing amphet­a­mine at all for 6 ­months.