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Psychiatric Complications of Sulfur Mustard (SM) Poisoning

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Basic and Clinical Toxicology of Mustard Compounds

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Abstract

Study of Sulfur Mustard (SM) effects on the central nervous system and its neuro-psychiatric complications have been proved difficult to deal with. In the First World War, and the Iran-Iraq war SM was extensively used and its medical and psychological complications can still be observed in the veterans years later. We have tried to include the findings of all available research literature regarding the neuro-psychiatric complications of SM.

The popular neurological complications attributed to SM exposure include: headache, fatigue, chronic neuropathy, impaired memory and concentration, and seizure. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders due to combat experience, especially chemical warfare agents (CWA) including SM. Its clinical features, and pharmacological and psychological treatments are covered in this chapter.

Other psychiatric complications commonly observed in the victims of SM exposure are: depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and sexual dysfunctions. Clinical features and treatment options of each disorder, in addition to their incidence and prevalence rates are discussed.

The last but not the least are the changes in quality of life of these patients due to chronic medical and psychological complications of SM exposure.

All in all, it’s safe to say that the neuro-psychiatric complications are serious and quite common outcome of SM exposure and need specific clinical attention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Fayyazi Bordbar, Farhad Faridhosseini & Ali Saghebi

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  1. Mohammad Reza Fayyazi Bordbar
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  2. Farhad Faridhosseini
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  3. Ali Saghebi
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Correspondence to Mohammad Reza Fayyazi Bordbar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Toxicology Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mahdi Balali-Mood

  2. Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Abdollahi

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Fayyazi Bordbar, M.R., Faridhosseini, F., Saghebi, A. (2015). Psychiatric Complications of Sulfur Mustard (SM) Poisoning. In: Balali-Mood, M., Abdollahi, M. (eds) Basic and Clinical Toxicology of Mustard Compounds. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23874-6_11

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