Cold Injury Caused by Psychiatric Illness: Six Case Reports

Abstract

Six patients are reported in whom mental illness led to severe cold injury. The main contributory factors were cold surroundings, inactivity and neglect. The additional factor of impaired microcirculation in these patients may also be significant. In the winter of 1979 two instances of cold injury in patients with mental illness came to our attention. A search of the medical records at the Whittington Hospital revealed a further three cases over a period of 14 years. One patient was seen at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square.

Use of Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Treatment of Frostbite in 62 Patients with Review of Thrombolytic Therapy in Frostbite

“…22 Alcohol also inhibits shivering and causes cutaneous vasodilatation, 23 precipitating frostbite at warmer temperatures. 24 Many schizophrenic patients exhibit acrocyanosis, 25 and their ability to assess tissue cooling or comprehend cold injury is often impaired. Any behavior that prolongs cold exposure will worsen the prognosis.…”

Use of Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Treatment of Frostbite in 62 Patients with Review of Thrombolytic Therapy in Frostbite

“…22 Alcohol also inhibits shivering and causes cutaneous vasodilatation, 23 precipitating frostbite at warmer temperatures. 24 Many schizophrenic patients exhibit acrocyanosis, 25 and their ability to assess tissue cooling or comprehend cold injury is often impaired. Any behavior that prolongs cold exposure will worsen the prognosis.…”

Gender Differences in Schizophrenia: Hormonal Effect or Subtypes?

“…But is there clinical evidence of any relationship between estrogen levels and psychosis? Admission rates to psychiatric hospitals increase for women in the paramenstruum (Janowsky et al 1969; Abramowitz et al 1982; Dalton 1982; Blumenthal and Nadelson 1988). Seeman and Lang (1990) proposed that low estrogen levels at this time could precipitate relapse of a schizophrenic illness.…”

Use of Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Treatment of Frostbite in 62 Patients with Review of Thrombolytic Therapy in Frostbite

“…22 Alcohol also inhibits shivering and causes cutaneous vasodilatation, 23 precipitating frostbite at warmer temperatures. 24 Many schizophrenic patients exhibit acrocyanosis, 25 and their ability to assess tissue cooling or comprehend cold injury is often impaired. Any behavior that prolongs cold exposure will worsen the prognosis.…”

Gender Differences in Schizophrenia: Hormonal Effect or Subtypes?

“…But is there clinical evidence of any relationship between estrogen levels and psychosis? Admission rates to psychiatric hospitals increase for women in the paramenstruum (Janowsky et al 1969; Abramowitz et al 1982; Dalton 1982; Blumenthal and Nadelson 1988). Seeman and Lang (1990) proposed that low estrogen levels at this time could precipitate relapse of a schizophrenic illness.…”

Use of Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Treatment of Frostbite in 62 Patients with Review of Thrombolytic Therapy in Frostbite

“…22 Alcohol also inhibits shivering and causes cutaneous vasodilatation, 23 precipitating frostbite at warmer temperatures. 24 Many schizophrenic patients exhibit acrocyanosis, 25 and their ability to assess tissue cooling or comprehend cold injury is often impaired. Any behavior that prolongs cold exposure will worsen the prognosis.…”

Gender Differences in Schizophrenia: Hormonal Effect or Subtypes?

“…But is there clinical evidence of any relationship between estrogen levels and psychosis? Admission rates to psychiatric hospitals increase for women in the paramenstruum (Janowsky et al 1969; Abramowitz et al 1982; Dalton 1982; Blumenthal and Nadelson 1988). Seeman and Lang (1990) proposed that low estrogen levels at this time could precipitate relapse of a schizophrenic illness.…”