[Photomaniac behavior and schizophrenia].
Two patients with a chronic residual schizophrenic disorder, according to DSM-III-R, showed a marked resistance to intensive light, manifested through a lack of intolerance and pain when looking at the Sun directly. Light suppresses melatonin secretion in humans, and the melatonin rhythm reflects the subject's light/darkness exposition. A photomaniac character of such a behavior (or phenomena that could favor it) recalls its opposite--the photophobic behavior as described in some cases of depression, and could cause a different profile of exposition to the light. Knowing about such phenomena--such though they lack every explanation for the time being--could be useful--from a methodology point of view, as well as heuristically valuable--during the study of photosensitive neuroendocrine processes in patients who evidence such phenomena.
Gerbaldo
H
H
Servicio 29 Hospital neuropsiquiátrico José T. Borda, Bernal, Argentina.
Muller
T
T
Osuna
A
A
Visciano
O
O
Jorge Benenti
E
E
Carlos Orlando
J
J
D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D008550:Melatonin
Conducta fotomaníaca y esquizofrenia.