OBJECTIVE: This research was designed as a pilot proof-of-concept study to evaluate the use of low-dose methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia patients who remained refractory after first and second line post-herpetic neuralgia treatments and had indications for adding an opioid agent to their current drug regimens. METHODS: This cross-over study was double blind and placebo controlled. Ten opioid naïve post-herpetic neuralgia patients received either methadone (5 mg bid) or placebo for three weeks, followed by a 15-day washout period and a second three-week treatment with either methadone or placebo, accordingly. Clinical evaluations were performed four times (before and after each three-week treatment period). The evaluations included the visual analogue scale, verbal category scale, daily activities scale, McGill pain questionnaire, adverse events profile, and evoked pain assessment. All patients provided written informed consent before being included in the study. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01752699 RESULTS: Methadone, when compared to placebo, did not significantly affect the intensity of spontaneous pain, as measured by the visual analogue scale. The intensity of spontaneous pain was significantly decreased after the methadone treatment compared to placebo on the category verbal scale (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Evoked pain was reduced under methadone compared to placebo (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Allodynia reduction correlated with sleep improvement (r = 0.67, p = 0.030) during the methadone treatment. The side effects profile was similar between both treatments. Conclusions: Methadone seems to be safe and efficacious in post-herpetic neuralgia. It should be tried as an adjunctive treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia in larger prospective studies.

CONTEXTO: Pouco se sabe sobre os mecanismos neurais precoces da leitura. Crianças com doenças do espectro do autismo, em raras ocasiões, apresentam avançadas habilidades de leitura. Apesar de suas sérias dificuldades na expressão e recepção da linguagem, essas crianças podem identificar palavras impressas tão jovens quanto aos 18 meses de idade sem nenhuma instrução explícita. RELATO DE CASO: Relatamos aqui um caso de uma criança de seis anos com história de autismo e que embora apresentasse dificuldades na comunicação, começou a ler aos três anos. Em seguida, discutimos algumas teorias sobre essa associação. CONCLUSÃO: Deficiências no desenvolvimento da linguagem e na comunicação são critérios definidores do autismo; já a hiperlexia, apesar de incomum, quando presente deve ser levada em conta para o diagnóstico. Seus mecanismos ainda são pouco compreendidos, mas diversos estudos feitos associados a outros que estão em andamento poderão elucidar melhor esse sintoma.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the early neural mechanisms of the reading ability. Children with autism spectrum, in rare occasions, present advanced reading abilities. In spite of their severe difficulties in language reception and expression, those children can identify words printed as young as for the 18 months of age without any explicit instruction. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a six year-old child with history of autism who, in spite of severe difficulties in communication, began to read at the age of three. We discuss some theories supporting this association. CONCLUSION: Deficiencies in the development of language and communication are definition criteria for autism. Hyperlexia is uncommon, but when present should be taken into account for the diagnosis. The underlying mechanisms are not completely understood and there is a limited number of studies that in addition to other studies in progress, will help to ellucidate the neurobiology of this symptom.

OBJETIVO: Revisar a literatura acerca das psicoses funcionais na infância e adolescência e permitir ao pediatra a possibilidade de reconhecer esta patologia em sua rotina de trabalho. FONTES DOS DADOS: As informações foram obtidas através de livros textos clássicos de psiquiatria, além de pesquisa nas bases de dados MEDLINE e Lilacs no período de 1993 a 2003. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: O artigo foi estruturado em tópicos, procurando-se definir e classificar as psicoses na infância e adolescência, sendo a esquizofrenia a principal representante deste grupo. As dificuldades em seu diagnóstico na infância são ressaltadas, e as principais linhas de tratamento são abordadas. CONCLUSÃO: A esquizofrenia com início na infância é uma patologia rara, quase 50 vezes menos freqüente quando comparada com pacientes que iniciaram a doença com idade acima de 15 anos. É uma doença distinta do autismo infantil não somente por questões conceituais, mas por um embasamento na fenomenologia, genética, quadro clínico e neurológico associado.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature about functional psychosis in children and adolescents, allowing pediatricians to recognize the pathology in their daily work routine. SOURCES OF DATA: Classical textbooks of child and adolescent psychiatry; search of MEDLINE and Lilacs databases (1993 to 2003). Computerized search methods were combined with manual search of the literature. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: This article is structured in topics, trying to define and classify psychosis in childhood and adolescence, with schizophrenia being the main disorder. The article stresses the difficulties for the diagnosis in children, and addresses the main treatment guidelines. CONCLUSION: Schizophrenia beginning in childhood, or very-early-onset schizophrenia, is a very rare pathology, almost 50-fold less frequent than early-onset schizophrenia (appearing at age 15 or later). Childhood-onset schizophrenia is a separate disorder, different from infantile autism, not only in terms of conceptual issues, but also in terms of phenomenology, genetics and associated clinical and neurological issues.