STELLATE GANGLION INFILTRATION IN ORGANIC PSYCHOSES OF LATE LIFE
JOSEPH HABER M. D.
The results of stellate ganglion infiltration in 8 patients, suffering from psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis or senile psychosis, are discussed.
The rationale of this treatment is presented and a number of papers dealing with the effect of this method are briefly reviewed.
Six patients who were in an advanced state of organic mental deterioration showed only temporary or moderate improvement. Two patients in the early phase of senile organic psychosis showed marked improvement. One remains improved to date (1 year after completion of treatment), while the improvement of the other patient lasted for 3 months.
The tentative conclusions arrived at were that while stellate ganglion infiltration is not of great benefit to patients in the advanced stages of senile psychoses it seems to have good results in patients in the early phase of psychoses of late life. Although we had only 2 cases in this group, the results seem encouraging enough to explore the value of stellate ganglion infiltration in such patients.
The technique used is simple and complications did not occur.
