Magnesium is one of the most essential mineral in the human body, connected with brain biochemistry and the fluidity of neuronal membrane. A variety of neuromuscular and psychiatric symptoms, including different types of depression, was observed in magnesium deficiency. Plasma/serum magnesium levels do not seem to be the appropriate indicators of depressive disorders, since ambiguous outcomes, depending on the study, were obtained. The emergence of a new approach to magnesium compounds in medical practice has been seen. Apart from being administered as components of dietary supplements, they are also perceived as the effective agents in treatment of migraine, alcoholism, asthma, heart diseases, arrhythmias, renal calcium stones, premenstrual tension syndrome etc. Magnesium preparations have an essential place in homeopathy as a remedy for a range of mental health problems. Mechanisms of antidepressant action of magnesium are not fully understood yet. Most probably, magnesium influences several systems associated with development of depression. The first information on the beneficial effect of magnesium sulfate given hypodermically to patients with agitated depression was published almost 100 years ago. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies confirmed the initial observations as well as demonstrated the beneficial safety profile of magnesium supplementation. Thus, magnesium preparations seem to be a valuable addition to the pharmacological armamentarium for management of depression.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) remain highly prevalent worldwide, and are well known to negatively impact patients' quality of life, sleep and psychosocial wellbeing. Conversely, both depression and anxiety have been shown to have a negative effect on perception, development and prolongation of LUTS. This paper provides an overview of an association between the lower urinary tract symptoms, depression and anxiety. It also explores possible common mechanisms underlying the causes of both conditions. There has been a large body of evidence linking LUTS with anxiety and/or depression. Studies have documented not only a significant impact of LUTS on the psychosocial wellbeing, but also showed a strong negative effect of depression and anxiety on perception, development and prolongation of LUTS. High level of psychiatric morbidity has important implications on the appropriate management in patients with LUTS, as well as LUTS may have important implications on development and management of depression and anxiety. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the bidirectional association between LUTS and anxiety and/or depression, as some patients may require a multidisciplinary approach and a combined treatment. The precise common mechanism underlying LUTS, depression and anxiety remain largely unknown and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological pathways.

Animal studies using tests and models have demonstrated that magnesium exerts an antidepressant effect. The literature contains few studies in humans involving attempts to augment antidepressant therapy with magnesium ions. The purpose of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of antidepressant treatment, in combination with magnesium ions. A total of 37 participants with recurrent depressive disorder who developed a depressive episode were included in this study. As part of this double-blind study, treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine was accompanied with either magnesium ions (120 mg/day as magnesium aspartate) or placebo. During an 8-week treatment period, each patient was monitored for any clinical abnormalities. Moreover, serum fluoxetine and magnesium levels were measured, and pharmaco-electroencephalography was performed. The fluoxetine + magnesium and fluoxetine + placebo groups showed no significant differences in either Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores or serum magnesium levels at any stage of treatment. Multivariate statistical analysis of the whole investigated group showed that the following parameters increased the odds of effective treatment: lower baseline HDRS scores, female gender, smoking, and treatment augmentation with magnesium. The parameters that increased the odds of remission were lower baseline HDRS scores, shorter history of disease, the presence of antidepressant-induced changes in the pharmaco-EEG profile at 6 h after treatment, and the fact of receiving treatment augmented with magnesium ions. The limitation of this study is a small sample size.

The efficacy of the diazepam loading dose method of treatment of delirium tremens was assessed in comparison with the traditional therapy. The experimental group and the control group comprised 51 and 45 patients respectively. The clinical institute withdrawal assessment for alcohol (CIWA-A) scale was applied to assess the intensity of the symptoms. Diazepam doses in the experimental group oscillated from 40 to 210 mg (mean 86.9 +/- 47.2 mg). The control group was receiving diazepam and other psychotropic drugs in divided doses. In the experimental group deliric symptoms were present from 2 to 24 h (mean 6.9 +/- 4.8 h), and in the control group from 2 to 123 h (mean 33.8 +/- 25.7 h). The results show a large efficacy of the loading dose method corresponding to substantial reduction of the psychosis duration (fivefold in comparison to the control group). The method proved to be safe, with no significant complications.

Insomnia presents an increasing and significant health issue in paediatric population. As the problem had grown over past decade, it became recognised by the specialists dealing with children and adolescents. In a recent study American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry members were asked about their experience with patients complaining about sleep disturbances. Doctors reported that sleep was a problem for 1/3 of their patients out of which 1/4 required pharmacotherapy [1]. Multiple studies concerning adults confirmed significance of healthy sleep in optimal cognitive, emotional, social and biological functioning. Adequate sleep is important in prophylaxis of many chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke [2]. Due to increasing prevalence of insomnia in children and adolescents growing attention is paid to its short and long term consequences in this group. This review summarises available data on chronic insomnia prevalence and its consequences in population under 18 years old.

The main problem in the treatment of CRSWD is an invalid diagnosis. Hypnotics and/or psychostimulants are often used instead of chronotherapeutic interventions, what can alleviate symptoms but is not an effective treatment.

This survey showed that the perception of urological symptoms by psychiatrists in their patients may be limited. Therefore, it is necessary to adequately inform and educate psychiatrists in terms of the impact of urological symptoms on patients'management, prognosis and quality of life.

Cel pracyCelem badań była ocena nasilenia objawów z dolnego odcinka układu moczowego (LUTS) w zależności od nasilenia objawów psychopatologicznych u pacjentów leczonych z powodu zaburzeń depresyjnych.MetodaZbadano 102 pacjentów (43 mężczyzn, 59 kobiet) w wieku 20-67 lat (M = 46,1) leczonych z powodu depresji. Objawy depresyjne oceniano za pomocą Skali Oceny Depresji Hamiltona (HDRS) oraz Inwentarza Samooceny (QIDS-SR). LUTS zbadano za pomocą Międzynarodowej Skali Punktowej Objawów Towarzyszących Chorobom Prostaty (IPSS). W celu analizy wpływu prezentowanych objawów, zarówno urologicznych, jak i psychiatrycznych, na jakość życia badanych osób badanych wykorzystano 30-itemowy Kwestionariusz Ogólnego Zdrowia (GHQ-30).WynikiŚredni wynik IPSS u kobiet był istotnie wyższy niż u mężczyzn (9,59 vs 6; p = 0,04). Pacjenci cierpiący na depresję ocenianą za pomocą QIDS-SR mieli istotnie wyższe wyniki w IPSS (9,76 vs 4,1; p = 0,002). Nasilenie wszystkich LUTS ocenianych za pomocą IPSS korelowało z wynikiem QIDS-SR u badanych mężczyzn (p <0,05). U kobiet całkowity wynik IPSS korelował z wynikiem QIDS-SR (p <0,05) i globalnym wynikiem GHQ-30 (p <0,05). Zaobserwowano wiele innych znaczących (p <0,05) korelacji między IPSS a wartością niektórych pozycji GHQ-30 zarówno u mężczyzn jak i kobiet.WnioskiLUTS występują powszechnie wśród pacjentów z depresją. Istnieje korelacja między nasileniem objawów depresyjnych a LUTS. LUTS wpływa na jakość życia i dobrostan oraz powoduje znaczne cierpienie u pacjentów z depresją. Współwystępowanie LUTS i depresji powinno zwrócić uwagę zarówno psychiatrów, jak i urologów, skłaniając do wzmocnienia interdyscyplinarnego podejścia do leczenia. Dalsze badania prospektywne i kohortowe są niezbędne, aby poszerzyć wiedzę na temat zależności między LUTS a depresją.