Background. The stability of the National Adult Reading Test (NART) as a measure of pre-morbid intelligence in schizophrenia has not yet been satisfactorily established despite the widespread use of the NART in schizophrenia research.

Method. We examined NART stability in a diverse group of 45 schizophrenic patients in a prospective longitudinal study over 6·5–7·5 years.

Results. The results showed that NART performance does not decline significantly with increasing duration of schizophrenic illness and that test–retest reliability, even over 6·5–7·5 years, is extremely high.

Discussion. Our results provide the necessary evidence that the NART can be used as a stable measure of pre-morbid intelligence in schizophrenia.

Background. Three hypotheses have been proposed in regard to the origin of cycloid psychoses: (1) they are an independent nosological entity; (2) they are atypical cases of affective disorders; and (3) they are a heterogeneous group of disorders. This study examined the heterogeneity hypothesis by attempting to delineate distinct affective and non-affective subgroups.

Methods. In 60 cases drawn from a classic study of cycloid psychoses by Perris (1974), latent class analysis was used to delineate subgroups.

Results. Two classes were identified in the analysis: one characterized by the convergence of affective symptoms and family history of affective disorders and the other by the relative paucity of such features.

Conclusions. Cycloid psychoses are composed of at least two subgroups, distinguishable on the basis of symptoms and family history.

Background. Little is known about the interaction of life events with prodromal symptoms in bulimia nervosa.

Methods. A semistructured research interview based on Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events and on the Clinical Interview for Depression for eliciting prodromal symptoms was administered to 30 patients with bulimia nervosa and 30 healthy control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables.

Results. Patients reported significantly more stressful life events than controls. Most of the patients reported prodromal symptoms. Anorexia, low self-esteem, depressed mood, anhedonia, generalized anxiety and irritability were the most common prodromal symptoms.

Conclusions. The prodromal phase of bulimia nervosa was found to be characterized by a combination of prodromal symptoms of affective type and stressful life events. Their joint occurrence may increase vulnerability to bulimia nervosa.