SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE DURING SHOCK THERAPY FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

This case of subarachnoid hemorrhage occurring during insulin shock treatment for dementia praecox is reported because a similar case has not been found in the literature; Sakel¹also stated that he had not encountered such a condition. R. B., a white man aged 30, was admitted to the Philadelphia General Hospital on Dec. 18, 1936, with a history typical of acute onset of a schizophrenic episode of catatonic type. Insulin shock therapy was started on Jan. 8, 1937. The patient received 75 units of insulin at 7:30 a. m. on January 22; at 11 a. m. he passed into coma. He slept quietly, with regular respirations and no convulsive movements until 1 p. m., when 50 Gm. of Karo syrup was given by nasal tube to terminate the coma. No response occurred in forty minutes; 55 Gm. of dextrose was given intravenously in the course of the next hour.