A prospective case study was conducted in the Department of Occupational Medicine, Tuzla. The purpose of this study was to indicate negative effects from occupational exposure to mercury on behavioural and mental health, memory and psychomotor function that was tested in 46 chloral-alkali plant workers (mean age was 38. 8+/- 5. 7 years; mean age of occupational history 16. 5+/- 6. 0 years). Data on toxicological monitoring on atomic absorption spectrometer, and data on mental health were collected, psychiatric and other subjective symptoms, and behavioural, psychomotor and memory function tested. The data were compared to control group, 32 healthy non exposed workers. The study was designed to assess blood and urine mercury levels and length of occupational exposure and investigate its relationships to effects on the mental health. The mean air mercury levels were 0.23 mg/m3, the mean blood mercury concentrations was 3. 6 mg/ dl and the mean urine mercury concentrations were 151.7 +/- 180.4 mg/l. In 25 (53%) workers exposed to mercury vapour was identified Depression-Hypochondrias Syndrome (p trend < 0. 001) with higher scores for scales: Hysteria (p trend <0. 001), Schizoid and Psychoastenia (MMPI). All psychological parameters were in highly significantly correlations with mercury levels and length of occupational exposure. Pathological parameters were possible general identified if the concentration of blood mercury levels are >2. 9 mg/ dl, or urine mercury levels > 87 mg/l workers exposed to mercury vapour knew that toxic effects in body resulted in loosing some of intellectual abilities, and that people who handle chemicals had an increased health risk (ESW questionnaire). The occupational mercury exposed workers had introvert behaviour (EPQ). Aggressiveness was found in 71.7% workers. The cognitive disturbances: short-term memory loss, difficult to concentrate on tasks which require attention and thinking, were significantly differed compared to those of controls (p trend < 0. 001). In 24 (52%) exposed to mercury workers we have determined ego strength loss and regressive defensive mechanisms (LB). Handwriting disturbances-micrography we have identified in 27 (58.7%) workers.

In this paper, the authors were researching on expression of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and on effect of psychosocial help to children. Existence, time of appearing, way of going through experience and expression of PTSD symptoms were established. There were methodical used structured interviews, Questionnaire for children (Saigh, 1991) and Estimation scale for engagement of children in group work. Refugee and domicile children of age from 7 to 11 years and from 12 to 16 years old were involved in program of psychosocial care. In this research there were more significant the girls than the boys (p < 0.005). Applied therapy methods have given significant effect in increasing of willing to take part in the dialogue (p < 0.005), in increasing of interest to work in group (p < 0.005) and bigger contribute each one within group (p < 0.005). By that, it is being confirmed that the effect of methodical procedure and therapy treatment at children is successful and applicable in future activities.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of left handedness in 380 stuttering children and adolescents and also to examine the differences in variables of stuttering severity between the left- and right handed subjects. The results showed that the incidence of left-handedness in stuttering children was not significantly different from normally fluent children. The difference in variables of stuttering between the right- and left-handed subjects was determined using the t-test. The results obtained revealed that the difference between the left- and right-handed subjects was not statistically significant in variables of stuttering severity.

While researching psychological disorders in soldiers during the war in Bosnia, besides the psychiatric simptomatology in post trauma stress disorder (PTSD), we analyzed also expressed somatic symptoms. The sample consists of 164 soldiers from the first front lines, divided into three groups: Group A (N = 51), soldiers who during the war asked for psychological and/or psychiatric help, group B (N = 51) soldiers who are after the war on stationary or clinical treatment and group C (N = 62) soldiers who during and after the war, did not ask for psychiatric help even though they had psychiatric problems. With the trauma questionnaire and obvious PTSD symptoms the degree of the traumatic experience and the structure of PTSD was determined, and with the self-evaluation health condition questionnaire the subjective health condition evaluation during the prewar, war and the time after the war was determined with expressed physical disorders. Another important difference was determined (P < 0.01) between soldiers who had a high stress level and suffered from PTSD, who asked during and after the war for psychological and/or psychiatric help (groups A and B) and soldiers who suffered less from PTSD and who did not ask for professional help during nor after the war (group C). 60.8% soldiers in group C and 42.1% in group B during the war, and 41.3% in group A and 92.2% in group B after the war, points out their weak or very weak health condition compared with the soldiers from group C, where 1.6% during the war and 9.7% after the war pointed out their weak or very weak health condition. Somatic symptoms are mainly in conjunction with the cardiovascular system, 47.1% in group A and 78.4% in group B, also gastrointestinal system, 50.9% in group A and 37.3% in group B, followed by back pains, 31.4% in group A and 43.1% in group B. The first signs of somatic symptoms are in direct connection with first signs of traumatic experience and first signs of PTSD symptoms. The results confirm previous researches and that is that soldiers with traumatic experiences which they can hardly bare and who suffer for a long period of time from PTSD have also the biggest number of somatic symptoms.

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina has caused severe suffering of the population, and left behind destruction and misery. Hundreds of thousands were killed, ten thousands were severely injured, and almost the whole population has endured severe psychological traumas. The consequences today are numerous stress related psychical disorders, and especially PTSD. The war has almost destroyed the system of psychiatric services, and lead to lack of professional staff. Because of this, after the war, Federal Ministry of Health of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decided to carry out a complete reconstruction of psychiatric services based on new principles. Comprehensive care for improvement of mental health; prevention of mental illness, treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill, should be transferred from institutions into the community. Consequently Ministry of Health have designed 38 Community Mental Health Centers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in connection with already existing Primary Health Care centers (Dom zdravljas). Each of these centers is responsible for mental health in general within a catchment area of 50,000-80,000 inhabitants. A network of Community Mental Health Centers has started to operate. An efficient and useful training of the staff going to work in these centers have been carried out. Nevertheless, there is still significant resistance towards this new approach to mental health services and treatment of people with mental illness in the community. However, many problems related to this new program of community psychiatry have been identified and are under consideration.

The association between HMSN and other diseases is not so frequent, but it is not unknown. Reports about the association between HMSN and cardiac disturbances are controversial, although a growing number of such cases is now being reported. We describe two cases of HMSN type 2 with stroke (one ischemic and one haemoragic type), which, to our knowledge, has never previously been reported.

Blocking activities of bunazosin and ketanserin on norepinephrine (NE)-induced vasoconstrictions were investigated in isolated, perfused canine and simian skeletal muscle arteries. NE caused an increase in perfusion pressure in a dose-related manner to almost the same extent in both canine and simian arterial preparations. Bunazosin and ketanserin inhibited NE-induced vasoconstrictions much more readily in simian arteries than in canine arteries. The mechanisms for the different adrenolytic activities of alpha 1-antagonists between these two arteries were discussed.