Pathological gambling has so far received scant attention in the psychiatric literature. It has a prevalence rate of about 1% in most countries, and with the deregulation of gambling in the UK the prevalence is set to rise here. Pathological gambling can adversely affect the individual, family and society, and also carries high rates of psychiatric comorbidity. Early identification and appropriate treatment can limit the long-term adverse consequences and improve outcome. This article reviews assessment techniques and tools, and treatment strategies for pathological gambling.

‘Shared care in mental health is now a policy imperative in England and Wales, yet its meaning … [is] … still open to debate’. Dr Lester's opening line says it all (Lester, 2005, this issue). We're all in favour of it, but none of us is exactly sure what it is. Ambiguity is considered a failing in academic publications and, under pressure from editors, we usually excise the unnecessary and unclear. Politicians, however, often deliberately insert ambiguity, as it allows scope for interpretation. By a simple shift in emphasis, either shared care's achievement can be claimed as a manifesto success or slow progress towards it can be cited to justify further targets.

Physical disease is more prevalent in people with mental disorder than in the general population. It is important for psychiatrists to maintain skills in physical examination to ensure that physical illness is diagnosed and treated appropriately. A sound knowledge of medical illness ensures that examination is targeted at the relevant diseases. Mental health units should provide adequate facilities and equipment. All detailed examinations should be undertaken in the presence of a chaperone. Opportunities for psychiatrists to refresh their knowledge and skill are suggested.

This article is intended to update prescribers of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on the key points of the revised edition of the Royal College of Psychiatrist's ECT Handbook (due to be published in 2005). The two most important tenets that influenced the revision were that evidence from systematic reviews and appraisals was balanced with expert judgement based on clinical experience, and that both prescribers and practitioners should strive to reduce further the cognitive adverse effects of treatment. The article concentrates on revised guidance regarding the indications for ECT, important elements of the process of informed consent, and the prescription of treatment, i.e. choice of electrode placement and the frequency and total number of treatments.