ACUTE PORPHYRIA PROVOKED BY BARBITURATES GIVEN WITH ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY

Porphyria in a patient can, under certain circumstances, especially when under barbiturates, produce symptoms of an emotional disorder, which do not respond to the psychiatrically oriented therapies, but must be treated medically. There is a possibility that in many cases diagnosed primarily as "mental disorder," "hysteria" or other "emotional disturbance," a hidden factor of prophyria exists, which can be easily determined by laboratory testing. It is needless to state that this evaluation could be beneficial in the successful diagnosis and treatment of some patients now in mental hospitals.