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The authors report the case of a male 61-year-old patient with Cotard's syndrome. Onset occurred three years ago with depressive symptoms that did not show the specific features of the syndrome, but failed to respond fully to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants. A probable later recurrence was characterised by elements typical of Cotard's syndrome. Treatment with tricyclic and serotoninergic antidepressants was ineffective. Encephalic NMR showed multiple ischemic foci and signs of cortical atrophy. Three years after the onset of depressive symptoms Cotard's syndrome is virtually unchanged and shows ingravescent mental deterioration.

Sexual dysfunctions may represent a symptomatological aspect of epilepsy or it may be a consequence of the pharmacological therapy. This kind of trouble is frequently associated to primary generalized epilepsy and focal secondary epilepsy. In our investigation we considered a group of 30 males during treatment with drugs like phenobarbital, carbamazepine and valproate, at the "Center for the Study and the Treatment of Epilepsy", University of Turin, using a sexological and psychosomatic questionnaire. The purpose was the analysis of the sexuality in relation to a specific kind of epilepsy or to a particular drug.

We evaluated in this study the relationships between the clinical course of patients affected with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases and plasma catecholamine and cAMP levels. We compared two groups of acute and chronic patients. These results show a different behaviour of plasma catecholamine and cAMP levels. This hematochemical parameter might assume a distance prognostic significance.

Every time we see a patient who is complaining of erectile failure we have to evaluate with proper exams the possible organic causes of this dysfunction. After having excluded the organic etiology we can speak of psychogenic impotence. The Authors describe a mixed type case and point out that a strict division between organic and psychological causes it's not always possible; besides it's better to try to understand the patient in his total structure.

Neuroleptic drug treatment can produce tardive dyskinesia of which the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics and problems of differential diagnosis are described. Possible therapeutic approaches are then considered in the light of the hypothesis that the condition may derive from a physiopathological hypersensitivity of the dopamine receptors.

In Parkinson's disease the decrease of dopamine in the nigro-striatal pathway is allied to modifications of other neuromodulation systems. The biochemical disorder of cholinergic, gabaergic and epinephrinergic pathways is present. Moreover the alteration of certain neuropeptides such as endorphins or enkefalins have been found. The Authors analyse the functional repercussions of these important biochemical modifications in the T.I.D.A. tract. In particular the variation of PRL synthesis and secretion due to dopamine deficiency during basal conditions and after pharmacological treatment is discussed.