This investigation was done to determine whether marked differences are present among lecturers in a single teaching department. Individual lecturers might vary in their teaching aims and attitudes, but yet resemble some of their colleagues sufficiently for sub-groups to form within the department. Such a university department might set out to provide students with a range of conceptual viewpoints, and for this purpose approve discrepant orientations among the teachers. On the other hand, a department may adopt the contrary view that only a confusing impression can result if—in the course of relatively brief undergraduate psychiatric instruction—contradictory statements are expressed by different teachers. Some departments, as yet unaware of the need to specify objectives, may never give consideration to the amount of consensus prevailing among the lecturers as a body.

The impressive successes of early Behaviour Therapy are now being subjected to critical revaluation, whilst current work in the field employs more sophisticated methodology (Marks et al., 1965; Eysenck, 1964; Lazarus, 1961; Lang et al., 1963). The treatment is entirely symptom-centred and so its effects should be more easily assessable than those of other forms of psychotherapy. Yet results are still controversial, in spite of efforts to apply all the normal control measures.

The reviewer here outlines the theory behind Patrick Slater's technique for the analysis of Repertory Grids. He then presents an analysis of a very simple Grid. The clinical possibilities of the method are assessed, and it is put into its context as a research design by a comparison with other multivariate methods.

Observations on the wife of the alcoholic have been made from various standpoints. Bailey (1961), reviewing the literature, points out that interest has moved from the simple need to include her in her husband's treatment regime to seeing her as an individual who is herself handicapped, and emphasis has been placed on her dependency needs.

In investigations in general practice it has been invariably found that the prevalence of neurosis in women is higher than in men. Logan (1960) found that housewives without family responsibilities had the lowest patient-consulting rate for psychoneurosis, and married part-time workers with family responsibilities had the highest rate. Tonge, Cammock, Winchester and Winchester (1961) found no significant difference in prevalence rates of neurosis between housewives and employed women.

Recently several papers have appeared which apply the techniques of multivariate analysis in attempts to show that patients suffering from depression can be divided into two groups, often called “endogenous” and “neurotic”, which tend to have different groups of symptoms and different outcomes with E.C.T. or other treatment. The purpose of the present paper is to look at this problem from the point of view of a statistician in an attempt to clarify the logic involved in the various procedures.

Tegretol (carbamazepine; 5-carbamyl-5H-dibenz (b, f) azepine) has been under investigation since 1958 in the treatment of epilepsy on the continent of Europe, following the demonstration of its anticonvulsant properties in animals by Theobald and Kunz (1963). Clinical reports have been enthusiastic (Lorgé, 1963, Bonduelle et al., 1963). The present investigation was undertaken with a view to a more critical appraisal of this drug, avoiding the dangers of sudden alteration of anticonvulsant therapy in epileptic patients, documented by Schwab et al. (1959), while still maintaining the double-blind nature of the trial.

The Royal Medico-Psychological Association believes that certain courses of action in relation to therapeutic abortion should be permissible by law because they contribute, according to the best available knowledge, to the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. In this belief they do not presume to dictate to those of their members who cannot personally adopt this pragmatic view of medical ethics, and who must clearly be free to adhere to the ethical standards prescribed by their religion or philosophy. Indeed, the Association would be opposed to legislation which might bring pressure on an individual doctor to act contrary to his conscience.

As cases of fatal non-responsive anaemia have been observed in schizophrenia over a period of years, with few corresponding cases in other mental diseases, it was decided to collect and tabulate the findings in cases in which full histological examinations had been carried out. This was done covering a period of 11·5 years (1951–1963).

Amylobarbitone has been shown to be effective in the symptomatic treatment of neurotic anxiety in a number of controlled trials (Raymond et al, 1957; Scott, 1955; Robin, 1959), and can therefore be used as a standard of comparison in the treatment of anxiety states. It is here compared with diazepam (7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1 -methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one).

In his survey of drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions, Ayd (1961) found that they occurred in 38·9 per cent, of 3,775 patients treated with phenothiazines. La Verne (1961) reported the occurrence of dyskinesia in 48 per cent. of 270 cases treated with haloperidol. It is therefore standard practice in many units to administer anti-Parkinson drugs concurrently with tranquillizers.

Over the past twenty years there has been a rapid growth in the provision of special schools for educationally subnormal children. Between 1953 and 1962, for example, the number of pupils attending special schools for the E.S.N. rose from 19,000 to 36,000 but there were still 10,000 children awaiting admission on the latter date (Ministry of Education, 1963). The E.S.N. population is different both quantitatively and qualitatively from the mentally deficient group of children of pre-war days, yet we have surprisingly little knowledge of the general characteristics of this growing section of the child population.

Electroplexy is widely practised and recognized as a valuable form of treatment in psychiatry. The techniques used have been studied and described, and the complications listed in detail.