Research studies for the treatment of the putative prodromal phase of psychotic disorders have begun to appear

To obtain preliminary evidence of the short-term efficacy and safety of aripiprazole treatment in people with the psychosis prodrome

Fifteen participants meeting prodrome criteria (mean age 17.1 years, s.d.=5.5) enrolled in an open-label, single-site trial with fixed-flexible dosing of aripiprazole (5–30 mg/day) for 8 weeks

In the mixed-effects repeated-measures analysis, improvement from baseline on the Scale of Prodromal Symptoms total score was statistically significant by the first week. No participant converted to psychosis and 13 completed treatment. Neuropsychological measures showed no consistent improvement; mean weight gain was 1.2 kg. Akathisia emerged in 8 participants, but the mean Barnes Akathisia Scale score fell to baseline levels by the final visit. Adverse events were otherwise minimal

Aripiprazole shows a promising efficacy and safety profile for the psychosis prodrome. Placebo-controlled studies are indicated

Late disclosure or nondisclosure during Home Office interviews is commonly cited as a reason to doubt an asylum seeker's credibility, but disclosure may be affected by other factors.

To determine whether and how sexual violence affects asylum seekers' disclosure of personal information during Home Office interviews.

Twenty-seven refugees and asylum seekers were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and self-report measures.

The majority of participants reported difficulties in disclosing. Those with a history of sexual violence reported more difficulties in disclosing personal information during Home Office interviews, were more likely to dissociate during these interviews and scored significantly higher on measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and shame than those with a history of non-sexual violence.

The results indicate the importance of shame, dissociation and psychopathology in disclosure and support the need for immigration procedures sensitive to these issues. Judgments that late disclosure is indicative of a fabricated asylum claim must take into account the possibility of factors related to sexual violence and the circumstances of the interview process itself.

Little is known about the incidence of first-episode psychosis in urban centres of low- or middle-income countries

To estimate the incidence of psychosis in São Paulo, a large metropolis of Brazil

Prospective survey of first-episode psychosis among residents aged 18–64 years resident in a defined area of São Paulo, over a 30-month period (July 2002- December 2004). Assessments were carried out with the SCID–I, and diagnoses given according to DSM – IV criteria. Population at risk was drawn from the 2000 Census data

There were 367 first-episode cases identified (51% women), and almost 40% fulfilled criteria for schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. The incidence rate for any psychosis was 15.8/100 000 person-years at risk (95% CI 14.3–17.6). Incidence of non-affective psychoses was higher among younger males

Incidence of psychosis in São Paulo was lower than expected for a large metropolis

Speed of processing is a cognitive process underlying cognitive dysfunction in people with chronic schizophrenia

To investigate the contribution of speed of processing to the cognitive deficits observed in a representative large sample with first-episode schizophrenia

People with a diagnosis of first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n=26) and healthy controls (n=28) were compared on several cognitive measures before and after controlling for speed of processing

Before controlling for speed of processing, patients and controls differed significantly on all cognitive measures. All significant differences in cognitive functioning disappeared when the result of the Digital Symbol Substitution Test was included as an additional covariate

Speed of information processing may be considered a core cognitive deficit in schizophrenia and might be mediating a broader diversity of cognitive disturbances