Objectives: To underline the importance of a correct diagnosis and management of catatonia and complications increasing its morbidity and mortality. Catatonia is a syndrome of altered motor behaviour, mainly classified as a form of schizophrenia. Recent literature suggests catatonia is an independent syndrome, frequent among patients diagnosed with mania/depression or accompanying many general medical conditions and neurological disorders. Methods: We describe the case of a 58-year-old woman with NIDDM in antidiabetic oral therapy and history of schizophrenia, diagnosed when aged 20 and treated with Haloperidol (10 mg/day), Levomepromazine (100 mg/day) and Lorazepam (2.5 mg/day) who was admitted to our clinic for a condition characterized by mutacism, staring into space, muscular rigidity and bilateral arm cogwheeling, initially suggesting a neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Results: At hospitalization there was no fever, leukocytosis or CPK elevation. She quickly developed altered consciousness, autonomic dysfunction (hypertension, dysphagia, uncontrolled hyperglycaemia) and waxy flexibility finally recognized as a catatonic syndrome, according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Multiple infections (urinary trait infection, teeth infections leading to sepsis) worsened her clinical condition. The first therapeutic strategy was suspending neuroleptics. Psychomotor symptoms, rated with the Catatonia Rating Scale (CRS), gradually resolved by intravenous administration of Lorazepam high doses (up to 12 mg/day). General medical conditions improved with specific antibiotic therapy, endovenous hydratation and parenteral nutrition. A physiatric rehabilitation program was started, with significative motricity improvement. Conclusions: This report underlines the importance of the differential diagnosis between catatonia and similar conditions (such as NMS) and the fundamental role of multidisciplinary approach to complications.

-Background and Objectives: 1) To identify the sociodemographic, anamnestic characteristics and presentation symptoms of patients, at the time of first hospitalization, associated with a discharge diagnosis of schizophrenic versus non-schizophrenic psychoses; 2) to define risk factors, at the time of the first admission, for a rehospitalization, regardless of reasons for readmission; 3) to assess the diagnostic stability between first and second hospitalization.Methods: This study includes 245 patients first admitted to the University Psychiatric Clinic of Novara in a period of seven years, discharged with a diagnosis of psychosis as reported in the Discharge Register (ICD-9-CM codes 290-299). Data were collected by consulting medical records and registers of community-based services of the South Novara Mental Health Department. A logistic regression model was used to determine the characteristics associated with a discharge diagnosis of schizophrenia. The relationship between the risk of rehospitalization and patients characteristics was studied using Cox's regression analysis.Results: Risk factors for a discharge diagnosis of schizophrenia were age, compulsory admission, positive symptoms, and previous non-psychotic psychiatric episodes. Risk factors for rehospitalization were a diagnosis of schizophrenia, an age of less than 40 years, the absence of a stable affective relationship, and living with the family of origin. The 92% of the patients diagnosed as schizophrenic on the first hospitalization had the same diagnosis on readmission.Conclusions: Schizophrenia differs from other psychoses in terms of the greater prevalence of both some symptomatological characteristics and an history of previous non psy- Background and objectives

The immigrant population in Italy is currently increasing, particularly, foreigners in East Piedmont raised by 16,8 % last year. We aim to compare immigrant and Italian patients' Emergency Room (ER) admissions due to psychiatric symptoms. Results: Of the 658 admissions we observed, 13.1 % of ER contacts concerned immigrants mostly coming from Russia, Albania, Morocco and Romania, consistently with migration streams in East Piedmont. Compared to the Italians, immigrant patients were younger (35.70; SD = 10.56 versus 44.78; SD = 16.57) and more frequently admitted for alcohol and substance abuse/withdrawal. Italians had a higher probability of having a psychiatric history including previous hospitalizations and contacts with Mental Health Services (OR = 2.60; CI 95 %: 1.64-4.12). The presence of social/relational problems associated with admission was significantly lower among the Italians (OR = 0.55; CI 95 %: 0.35-0.88). Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that ER utilisation by immigrants may represent their main way to primary health care. Monitoring ER contacts may provide relevant information for the development of culturally sensitive Mental Health Services. Methods: We considered Italian and immigrant patients with psychiatric symptoms who were admitted to the ER Department of Novara during a period of 13 months. We compared sociodemographic (gender, age, education, occupational history, marital status, living circumstances) clinical-anamnestic (history of psychiatric illness, presentation symptoms, previous contacts with Substance Abuse/Mental Health Services, social/relational problems) and admission (type of admission, intervention and discharge) characteristics of the two groups (Italians versus immigrants).

Aims:To examine the perceived needs by patients and radiotherapists using a modified by us version of the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN).Methods:We eliminated 4/22 areas of the CAN scale -ideated for psychotic patients- in order to adapt it to oncological subjects (naming it CANo). Each of the scale areas values: the existence of a specific need; the help received from care-givers; the help coming from social services; the completeness of the help received. CANo was administrated to 30 solid cancer subjects consecutively admitted in 2007 to the Radiotherapy Department of Novara Hospital (Italy), and to their respective treating radiotherapists. Patients with cognitive impairment were excluded. Patients were also administrated the following protocol: HADS (Hospital anxiety and depression scale); Paykel's list of stressful events; MBTI (Mayer-Briggs Type Indicator); EORTC QLQ-C30.Results:Anxiety and depression occurred at any level in 15/30 of cases. There was a significant correlation (Spearman coefficient: SC) between the numbers of needs on CANo scale and anxiety (SC:0.4; p=0.002) or depression (SC:0.48; p=0.006) levels. Higher scores in all functional EORTC scales corresponded to lower needs detected by CANo. Patient needs were perceived less important by patients themselves than their physicians (mean satisfied need scores: 1.87 vs. 3; unsatisfied need scores: 0.63 vs. 1.03). The staff overestimated patient physical health needs (7/30 vs 3/30), psychological distress (20/30 vs 5/30), relationship difficulties (9/30 vs 2/30), received information correctness (7/30 vs 2/30).Conclusions:The CANo scale may be useful to detect oncological patient needs and to improve the quality of care.