[The place of atropine coma therapy in the complex treatment of hypochondriacal schizophrenia (non-delusional hypochondriasis)].

In order to expand the possibilities of the treatment of resistant hypochondriac schizophrenia, the author developed a new method of multiple modality therapy which is based on the use of the rebound effectiveness of atropine comas. It consists of a course of atropine comatose therapy and a subsequent intensive medicamentous therapy in the form of intravenous instillation of psychotropic agents. This treatment was given to 36 patients with slowly progressive hypochondriac schizophrenia, whose clinical manifestations were restricted to a picture of non-delirious hypochondria. In most cases (82%) the treatment yielded a positive effect. The method was the most effective in patients with syndromes of obsessive and hysterical hypochondria as well as in those with cenesthopathic conditions. The use of therapy in rigid hypochondria proved poorly effective.