ACUTE DYSTONIC REACTIONS TO SMALL DOSES OF PROCHLORPERAZINE; REPORT OF THREE CASES MISDIAGNOSED AS HYSTERIA

Unusual treatment response of a severe dystonia to diphenhydramine

A 27-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a fluphenazine decanoate-induced dystonia. He was treated with 125 mg diphenhydramine IV in four doses and 2 mg benztropine IM. A fluctuating response was observed before continued remission of the dystonia. Possible reasons for variable patient responses to diphenhydramine are discussed.

Diagnostic errors in emergency room medicine: physical illness in patients labeled "psychiatric" and vice versa

Patients coming to general hospital emergency rooms often present mixed physical and psychological problems. An unfortunate tendency of physicians caring for these patients to "label" them as either "organic" or "psychiatric," based on initial impressions, may lead to inadequate diagnosis and improper treatment. Four case examples are discussed, in which diagnostic errors resulted either from ignoring psychological and social factors, or by focusing on emotional factors to the exclusion of organic disease. The provision of quality medical care in a hospital emergency room requires that attention be directed coordinately to both physical and emotional factors in each patient's illness.