The TRANSCEND system for fault detection and isolation in continuous systems uses qualitative reasoning methods to analyze transients caused by abrupt faults. Qualitative transient analysis avoids some of the computational difficulties associated with numerical schemes, but they lack discriminating power. This paper presents the formal basis for qualitative transient analysis, and then establis...

Unless the patient has reasons for ‘malingering’ – the symptoms are simulated for compensation or litigation motives – pain is always indicative of some degree of dysfunction. In most instances, the dysfunction is physical. Sometimes, however, the pain is devoid of any organic basis. If the patient has an unconscious belief in the reality of the symptoms, a psychogenic disorder is likely. The p...

Time- and content-based memory systems are briefly described so that their importance for a refined analysis of memory disturbances becomes evident. These memory systems are then related to their brain instantiation, emphasizing that there are limbic circuits for encoding different forms of memories, largely cortical networks for memory storage, and a combined temporofrontal network acting to t...

Clinicians believe that psychosocial factors play a causal role in the etiology of many forms of functional dysphonia (FD). But for decades, all attempts to confirm such causation have failed. This paper aims to show the logic of this failure, to discuss the possibilities of employing psychology in therapy nonetheless, and to encourage clinicians to use their psychosocial knowledge and skills. ...

A case of sinus bradycardia with cardiac asystole was described in this journal (Pearson, 1945). The subsequent history and the post-mortem findings are now recorded. The patient was a woman aged 52 years who had been under observation since February 1943. Her pulse rate varied between 16 and 30 and her main symptoms were attacks of unconsciousness, resembling Stokes-Adams attacks; these were s...

Compulsive water drinking or psychogenic polydipsia is now increasingly seen in psychiatric populations. Effects of increased water intake can lead to hyponatremia causing symptoms of nausea, vomiting, seizures, delirium and can even be life threatening if not recognized and managed early. Here we present a 35-year old adult who was diagnosed with psychogenic polydipsia and was successfully man...

A case of advanced, reversible renal failure due to psychogenic urinary retention occurring in a 17 year old female, is reported. The diagnosis of psychogenic urinary retention was made on the basis of existent florid psychopathology and the concomitant exclusion of an organic cause. Family psychodynamics are discussed. Psychosocial intervention led to a resumption of normal micturition, the di...

Tongue biting, traditionally believed to be a specific clinical sign favoring epilepsy, is also reported to occur in syncope and psychogenic seizures(2). Lateral tongue biting (on the sides) is more specific for a diagnosis of true epilepsy as compared to syncope(2) or psychogenic seizures, where biting of the lip or tip of the tongue is seen(3). Nocturnal tongue biting (NTB) can rarely be the ...

Psychogenic vertigo is a disorder that merits attention from both ENT and psychiatry services as its genesis and complex symptomatology have roots in both these fields. This article is an endeavor to sift through all information that is available about it and present concisely about its evolution, its current status and all clinical aspects that are of contemporary relevance.