John R., admitted into the Melrose Asylum on the 29th May, 1875, æt. 38.

Clinical conditions simulating various degrees of intellectual handicap have been described quite frequently in the past. Individuals with such a deficiency have been observed in increasing numbers by psychiatrists, pediatricians, psychologists and social workers in schools for the mentally defective as well as in psychiatric hospitals and mental hygiene clinics.

From time to time in convict prisons examples are seen of certain morbid mental states which are described as distinct disease forms under the name of “prison psychoses.” These states may be defined as special types of mental reactions developing upon conflicts which arise as the result of imprisonment, and possibly from the shock attending the criminal act, trial and conviction. They have been the subject of much inquiry, but, on account of the variation in the material which was available and in the conditions under which the studies were pursued, some confusion of thought appears to exist as to what may or may not be regarded as belonging to this class of disorder, and whether, in fact, the classification is not redundant. The sole justification for the use of the term “true prison psychosis” lies in the ability to establish the disorder as a separate entity, lest the name should be applied to conditions which are adequately described under other titles, as has been the case with shell-shock and “barbed-wire” disease.

Wing and Freudenberg (1961) assessed the response of schizophrenic subjects to regimes of active and passive encouragement. Their findings suggest that a subgroup of very inactive patients exists and that this group responds dramatically to incentives. The purpose of this study is to re-examine the behaviour and attempt to define this subgroup. Such an examination may provide information which could be applied to treatment programmes. It may also contribute to a better understanding of the nature of the schizophrenic's volitional defect.

The training experiences of 35 academic psychiatrists first appointed in the years 1966–72, obtained by a postal questionnaire, are reported and compared with those of N.H.S. consultant psychiatrists appointed in the same period. The academic group reported less satisfactory training in a number of important areas, including psychogeriatrics and work in the community. Academics also differ from consultants in their fathers' socio-economic status and educational background.