Emotion recognition impairments have been demonstrated in schizophrenia, but few studies have examined whether these reflect generalised or specific perceptual deficits or are associated with illness course.

To examine the nature of emotion recognition abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia at different stages of illness.

We examined the performance of 50 in-patients with early-stage schizophrenia, 50 with chronic schizophrenia and 50 healthy controls on the Benton Facial Recognition Test, Facial Emotion Recognition Test and Voice Emotion Recognition Test.

Patients with chronic schizophrenia were significantly more impaired than other groups on the emotional tasks, even after controlling for impairments in non-emotional stimuli. Individual emotion recognition accuracy for the two sensory modalities was not significantly positively correlated for either group with schizophrenia.

Emotion recognition deficits in schizophrenia are trait features of the disorder and increase with illness duration.

The clinical picture of schizotypal disorders is rarely comprehensively described.

To describe psychopathological profiles of patients with ICD-10 schizotypal disorder.

A total of 151 first-admitted patients (with affective and somatic disorders excluded) were given a comprehensive psychopathological evaluation, including the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms. Patients with schizotypal disorder (n=50) were compared with those with psychosis (n=51) and those outside the schizophrenia spectrum (other diagnoses, n=50) on a number of psychopathological scales.

Patients with schizotypal disorder scored intermediately between patients with psychosis and other diagnoses on scales related to positive and negative symptoms, disorders of emotional contact and formal thought disorder, but had the same scores as patients with schizophrenia for subtle aberrations of subjective experience. Schizotypal criteria were not normally distributed with an excess of patients between 2 and 6 criteria. Family history of schizophrenia was equally elevated among those with schizotypal disorder and those with psychosis.

ICD-10 schizotypy represents a milder, less psychotic, variant of schizophrenia but there is no clear-cut division between the two disorders.

Despite several treatment options, adherence to therapy is poor in patients with bipolar disorder.

A double-blind, controlled comparison of aripiprazole and haloperidol in patients with bipolar I disorder experiencing acute manic or mixed episodes.

Patients (n=347) were randomised to receive aripiprazole or haloperidol in this 12-week, multicentre study. The primary outcome measure was the number of patients in response (550% improvement from baseline in Young Mania Rating Scale score) and receiving therapy at week 12.

At week 12, significantly more patients taking aripiprazole (49. 7%) were in response and receiving therapy compared with those taking haloperidol (28. 4%; P<0. 001). Continuation rates differed markedly between treatments (week 12: aripiprazole, 50. 9%; haloperidol, 29. 1%). Extrapyramidal adverse events were more frequent with haloperidol than aripiprazole (62. 7% v. 24. 0%).

Aripiprazole showed superior levels of response and tolerability to haloperidol in the treatment of an acute manic episode for up to 12 weeks.

Contemporary cognitive psychological theories suggest that distress plays a mediating role in delusion formation.

To study the amplifying role of distress from early perceptual intrusions to delusion formation.

A general population sample of 7076 individuals was interviewed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) in 1996 (baseline), 1997 (T1) and 1999 (T2). At T2, clinicians also scored the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) item ‘unusual thought content’. Analyses compared hallucinatory experiences with and without subjective distress at baseline for risk of delusion formation at follow-up.

Individuals experiencing hallucinations with distress, compared with those without distress had a fourfold increased risk of subsequent delusion formation.

This finding corroborates the hypothesis that distress associated with early perceptual intrusions serves as a catalyst in the development of delusions.

A number of studies have reported increased violence in patients with schizophrenia.

To determine the prevalence of violence among those with schizophrenia in samples from 1949, 1969, 1989 and 2000 in Prague (Czech Republic) and to examine trends in this behaviour.

Records from 404 patients meeting DSM–IV criteria for schizophrenia were screened for violence (defined as 3 points on the Modified Overt Aggression Scale) from the first observed psychotic symptoms until the time of latest available information.

Logistic regression revealed a marginally significant increase in violence only inthe 2000 cohort. Overall, violence was associated with schizophrenia in 41.8% of men and 32.7% of women, with no association between substance misuse and violence.

The violence rate found in our sample is expected to remain stable over time under stable conditions. Substance misuse is not the leading cause of violence among those with schizophrenia.

Measures have not taken account of the relative importance patients place on various outcomes.

To construct and evaluate a multidimensional, preference-weighted mental health index.

Each of over 1200 patients identified the relative importance of improvement in six domains: social life, energy, work, symptoms, confusion and side-effects. A mental health index was created in which measures of well-being in these six domains were weighted for their personal importance.

The strongest preference was placed on reducing confusion and the least on reducing side-effects. There was no significant difference between the unweighted and preference-weighted mental health status measures and they had similar correlations with global health status measures. Patients with greater preference for functional activities such as work had less preference for medical model goals such as reducing symptoms and had less symptoms.

A preference-weighted mental health index demonstrated no advantage over an unweighted index.

Abnormal illness behaviour by proxy (also known as factitious illness by proxy or Munchhausen syndrome by proxy) is a type of child maltreatment, the origins of which are poorly understood.

To describe attachment representations in a cohort of mothers demonstrating abnormal illness behaviour by proxy.

Sixty-seven mothers who had shown this behaviour took part in a semi-structured interview assessing their attachment representations.

Only 12 mothers (18%) were rated secure in terms of their own childhood attachments. There was evidence of unresolved trauma or loss reactions in 40 mothers (60%). Eighteen mothers (27%) gave unusually disorganised and incoherent accounts of attachment relationships in their own childhoods. The frequency of these attachment categories is higher than in normal non-clinical samples.

Insecure attachment is a risk factor for this type of child maltreatment. Therapeutic interventions could be offered in relation to unresolved traumatic stress or bereavement responses. Further study of similar groups, such as mothers with sick children or mothers with histories of traumatic experience, would be a useful next step.

Associations between physical health and depression are consistent across cultures among adults up to 65 years of age. In later life, the impact of physical health on depression is much more substantial and may depend on sociocultural factors.

To examine cross-national differences in the association between physical health and depressive symptoms in elderly people across western Europe.

Fourteen community-based studies on depression in later life in nine western European countries contributed to a total study sample of 22 570 respondents aged 65 years and older. Measures were harmonised for depressive symptoms (EURO-D scale), functional limitations and chronic physical conditions.

In the majority of the participating samples, the association of depressive symptoms with functional disability was stronger than with chronic physical conditions. Associations were slightly more pronounced in the UK and Ireland.

The association between physical health and depressive symptoms in later life is consistent across western Europe.

The extent to which atypical antipsychotics have a lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms than typical antipsychotics has not been well-evaluated in community practice.

To examine the effects of switching antipsychotics on antiparkinsonian medication use among individuals with schizophrenia in UK general practices.

We included those switched from typical to atypical antipsychotics (n=209) or from one typical antipsychotic to another (n=261) from 1994 to 1998.

Antiparkinsonian drug prescribing dropped by 9.2% after switching to atypical antipsychotics (P< 0.0001). Switching to olanzapine decreased the rate by 19.2% (P < 0.0001), but switching to risperidone had no impact. After switching from one typical antipsychotic to another, antiparkinsonian drug prescribing increased by 12.9% (P< 0.0001).

Reduction in antiparkinsonian medication use after switching to atypical antipsychotics was substantial in community practice but not as large as in randomised controlled trials. The rate of reduction varied according to the type of medication.

Despite extensive research and recommendations regarding the optimal prescription of antipsychotic drugs, polypharmacy and excessive dosing still prevail.

To identify the factors associated with the polypharmacy and excessive dosing phenomena.

We studied 139 patients with schizophrenia, in 19 acute psychiatric units in Japanese hospitals, who were due to be discharged between October and December 2003. We examined patient characteristics, nurses' requests, and psychiatrists' characteristics and perceptions of prescribing practice and algorithms.

Polypharmacy and excessive dosing were observed in 96 cases. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of multiple medications and excessive dosing were influenced by the psychiatrist's scepticism towards the use of algorithms, nurses' requests for more drugs and the patient's clinical condition.

Educational interventions are necessary for psychiatrists and nurses to follow evidence-based guidelines or algorithms.

The factors influencing the development of expressed emotion (EE) are still unclear. Understanding the carer and patient appraisals operating during the initial adaptation to psychosis may help to clarify the early ontogenesis of EE.

Fifty patients and key carers were followed-up over 9 months and their appraisals of loss and burden were measured in relation to the evolution of high emotional overinvolvement (EOI) and critical (CC) relationships.

The appraisal of loss was linked to high EOI but not high CC relationships at baseline. Loss reduced by 9-month follow-up in those changing from high EOI to high CC or low EE. Subjective burden of carers was linked to loss but not to EE status. Patients' and relatives' appraisals of loss were strongly correlated, particularly in high EOI relationships. Longer duration of untreated psychosis was associated with high CC.

The results are consistent with Bowlby's attachment theory, where EOI and coercive criticism maybe understood as adaptive reactions to perceived loss. Implications for family intervention in first-episode psychosis and the prevention of high EE are discussed.

Abnormalities of cognitive style in bipolar disorder are of both clinical and theoretical importance.

To compare cognitive style in people with affective disorders and in healthy controls.

Self-rated questionnaires were administered to 118 individuals with bipolar I disorder, 265 with unipolar major recurrent depression and 268 healthy controls. Those with affective disorder were also interviewed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and case notes were reviewed.

Those with bipolar disorder and those with unipolar depression demonstrated different patterns of cognitive style from controls; negative self-esteem best discriminated between those with affective disorders and controls; measures of cognitive style were substantially affected by current levels of depressive symptomatology; patterns of cognitive style were similar in bipolar and unipolar disorder when current mental state was taken into account.

Those with affective disorder significantly differed from controls on measures of cognitive style but there were no differences between unipolar and bipolar disorders when current mental state was taken into account.

Very old people have higher suicide rates than the younger elderly population. Psychiatric disorders are known to have a strong association with suicide among elderly people.

To analyse the suicide risk associated with psychiatric hospitalisation among the very old (⩾80 years) compared with the middle-aged (50–64 years) and old (65–79 years) populations.

Individual-level data on the entire Danish population aged 50 years or over were analysed for the period 1994–1998. Relative suicide risks were calculated using event-history analysis.

Among 1 978 527 persons, 2323 died by suicide. Although the very old group exhibited a four-fold to five-fold increase in risk of suicide for those previously hospitalised, we noted an inverse interaction effect: the increase is distinctly smaller compared with that in the middle-aged and old groups.

The association between suicide and psychiatric hospitalisation is much weaker for the very old than for the old. Psychiatric disorders among very old people may be interacting with other disorders, may be underdiagnosed or treated in other healthcare settings.

Schizophrenia guidelines differ considerably in methodology and content.

To systematically compare national schizophrenia guidelines from different countries.

An international survey was conducted on guideline development and a methodological comparison was made using a validated guideline appraisal instrument (the Appraisal Guideline Research and Evaluation Europe).

The methodological quality of many schizophrenia guidelines was at best moderate. Few guidelines had included key stakeholders in their development process. Although pharmacotherapy recommendations were similar, there were strong variations in the type of psychosocial interventions recommended.

The methodological quality of guidelines has a strong influence on their applicability However, the lack of financial means to develop and implement guidelines is a serious problem. Independent international organisations could contribute to defining a core set of unbiased schizophrenia treatment recommendations. In countries with a shortage of resources, this could be a basis for adaptation to different cultural and economic backgrounds in collaboration with stakeholders.

Although there is good evidence that interventions for carers of people with Alzheimer's disease can reduce stress, no systematic studies have investigated psychotherapeutic intervention for patients themselves. This may be important in the earlier stages of Alzheimer's disease, where insight is often preserved.

The aim was to assess, in a randomised controlled trial, whether psychotherapeutic intervention could benefit cognitive function, affective symptoms and global well-being.

Individuals were randomised to receive six sessions of psychodynamic interpersonal therapy or treatment as usual; cognitive function, activities of daily living, a global measure of change, and carer stress and coping were assessed prior to and after the intervention.

No improvement was found on the majority of outcome measures. There was a suggestion that therapy had improved the carers' reactions to some of the symptoms.

There is no evidence to support the widespread introduction of brief psychotherapeutic approaches for those with Alzheimer's disease. However, the technique was acceptable and helpful individually.

For decades there has been interest in the possibility that people with schizophrenia might have some protection against cancer, and that, if this were so, it might hold clues about aetiological mechanisms in schizophrenia.

To study cancer incidence in schizophrenia.

Cohort analysis of linked hospital and death records was used to compare cancer rates in people with schizophrenia with a reference cohort.

We did not find a reduced risk for cancer overall (rate ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.90–1.08) or for most individual cancers. There was, however, a significantly low rate ratio for skin cancer (0.56, 95% CI 0.36–0.83)

We found no evidence that schizophrenia confers protection against cancer in general. Low rates of skin cancer are consistent with the hypothesis that sun exposure may influence the development of schizophrenia, although other explanations are also possible.

Substantial weight gain is common with many atypical antipsychotics.

To evaluate the extent, time course and predictors of weight gain and its effect on study retention among people with first-episode psychosis treated with olanzapine or haloperidol.

Survival analysis assessed time to potentially clinically significant weight gain (⩾7%) and the effect of weight gain on study retention. Weight gain during the 2-year study was summarised using last-observation-carried-forward (LOCF), observed cases and study completion approaches.

After 2 years of treatment, LOCF mean weight gain was 10.2 kg (s.d.=10.1) for olanzapine (n=131) and 4.0 kg (s.d.=7.3) for haloperidol (n=132); observed cases mean weight gain was 15.4 kg (s.d.=10.0) for olanzapine and 7.5 kg (s.d.=9.2) for haloperidol. Change in body mass index was significantly predicted only by treatment group (P < 0.0001).

Olanzapine was associated with significantly greater weight gain than haloperidol, with both leading to greater weight gain than previously described.

Social factors have been shown to be predictors of suicide. It is not known whether these factors vary between countries.

To present a first European overview of socio-economic inequalities in suicide mortality among men and women.

We used a prospective follow-up of censuses matched with vital statistics in ten European populations. Directly standardised rates of suicide were computed for each country.

In men, a low level of educational attainment was a risk factor for suicide in eight out often countries. Suicide inequalities were smaller and less consistent in women. In most countries, the greater the socio-economic disadvantage, the higher is the risk of suicide. The population of Turin evidenced no socio-economic inequalities.

Socio-economic inequalities in suicide are a generalised phenomenon in western Europe, but the pattern and magnitude of these inequalities vary between countries. These inequalities call for improved access to psychiatric care for lower socio-economic groups.

Acute tryptophan depletion transiently induces symptoms in those with remitted depression. The behavioural specificity is uncertain, however. Recently, symptom provocation studies have become controversial, particularly in the USA.

To assess the specificity of acute tryptophan depletion. To investigate systematically the subjective experiences of those taking part in a symptom provocation study.

Twenty individuals with remitted depression underwent acute tryptophan depletion in a double-blind, crossover trial. Psychiatric symptoms and self-schemata relevant to depression were assessed. The quality of the informed consent procedure and subjective experiences were also evaluated.

Acute tryptophan depletion induced a specific depressive response. The effects were more pronounced in females than in males. Participants were quite satisfied with the informed consent procedure. They had understood that this was a fundamental research project and personal benefits were not expected. However, some participants still found it a positive experience.

Acute tryptophan depletion is a suitable model of vulnerability to depression, from both a scientific and an ethical perspective.

Assertive outreach has been established to care for ‘difficult to engage’ patients, yet little is known about how patients experience their disengagement with mainstream services and later engagement with outreach teams.

To explore the views of disengagement and engagement held by patients of assertive outreach teams.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 40 purposefully selected patients and analysed using components of both thematic analysis and grounded theory.

Patients reported a desire to be independent, a poor therapeutic relationship and a loss of control due to medication effects as most important for disengagement. Time and commitment of staff, social support and engagement without a focus on medication, and a partnership model of the therapeutic relationship were most relevant for engagement.

The findings underline the importance of a comprehensive care model, committed staff with sufficient time, and a focus on relationship issues in dealing with ‘ifficultto engage'patients.