[Sleep apnea syndrome--serious complications in a female patient treated with psychopharmaceutic agents].

The authors present the case-history of a patient treated in the past on account of depressive syndrome who suffered repeatedly from somnolence or even unconsciousness with dyspnoea which called for hospitalization in an anaesthesiological and resuscitation department. The repeatedly expressed suspicion of attempted suicide by drugs was always ruled out by toxicological examination. Based on the clinical picture a preliminary diagnosis of the sleep apnoea syndrome was established confirmed later by polysomnographic examination. The evoking factors of the mentioned serious complications were probably respiratory infections and psychiatric medication, in particular hypnotics--flunitrazepam and triazolam.