To examine what current routine statistics could show about the extent to which patients are admitted to hospital beds ‘out of area’, a quality indicator proposed in the National Service Framework.

Available data record that, on average, at least 6.9% of acute general psychiatry admissions in the English NHS happen outside the normal catchment area arrangement of a patient's health authority. However, deficiencies in the calculation – arising from lack of data, mainly about private sector admissions – and the absence of a central registry of NHS trust catchment areas suggest this is a substantial underestimate.

The most useful way for this issue to be examined is from year to year for individual trusts.

This study aimed to compare the subjective quality of life and attitudes to medication between groups of patients with schizophrenia taking either olanzapine or traditional antipsychotic medication.

The two groups were matched for age, gender, length of illness and antipsychotic group demonstrated more extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS) and akathisia. Within this group, those with EPS scored lower on the affect balance scale of the Lancashire Quality of Life Scale than those without. More patients in the olanzapine group reported that medication was taken to prevent symptoms returning.

These results lend support to the hypothesis that the presence of EPS impairs quality of life and suggest that olanzapine therapy may improve patients' attitudes to medication.

An audit of in-patient prescription and administration records on acute psychogeriatric wards in a teaching hospital measured the extent of conformity to NHS trust drug policy and improvements following specific interventions. The audit also measured doctors' knowledge of the trust drug policy. Prescription cards of all patients present on the wards were re-audited after 12 months.

The audit identified important shortcomings in prescription writing, recording and policy awareness. A targeted series of interventions resulted in significant improvements in some of these areas.

Continuous evaluation and feedback via audit can reduce omissions in prescription writing and recording.

A health needs assessment was undertaken to evaluate current provision and to help inform the future development of services for people under the age of 65 years with dementia in Leeds.

The prevalence rate for early onset dementia in Leeds was found to be 42 per 100 000 aged 30–64 years, and 78 per 100 000 aged 45–64 years. Four main gateways for specialist investigation and care were identified and 38 referral pathways were identified in total. Carers had difficulties accessing information and services and they, along with the patients, valued, in particular, both the coordinated service provided by the specialist early onset dementia team and the dedicated day care facility available in Leeds.

Younger people with dementia can have very different needs to older people. The prevalence rate and the experiences of carers and patients clearly justifies the existence and further development of a specialist early onset dementia service. Such a service should provide a single gateway to coordinated service provision and ensure continuity of care. It should provide sufferers and carers with information, advice and expertise.

To investigate the interpretation of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 by Section 12(2) approved doctors and to describe a pathway that facilitates early assessment of people detained under Section 136. We surveyed a random sample of Section 12(2) approved doctors in the West Midlands.

A response rate of 70% was achieved. Approximately 65% believe that it would be illegal to transfer a person under Section 136 from the police station to a further place of safety, such as hospital. Thirty-five per cent believed that this could be done legally or were unsure.

Ambiguity still remains about the legal interpretations of the provisions of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983, which needs to be rectified.

The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJP), Psychiatric Bulletin and Advances in Psychiatric Treatment have been available at www.rcpsych.org since May 2000 (Fig. 1). During the initial free trial period all users of the internet had access to the full content of these journals on-line. This period ended on 31 January 2001. Access to full text is now limited to subscribers only; but access to electronic tables of contents (eTOCs), abstracts and the ability to search full text will continue to be available. Individuals or institutions who subscribe to BJP in print or are Members of the College are now able to activate an on-line subscription and select a username and password by entering a subscriber number. The eTOC service allows anyone who registers his or her e-mail address to be notified via e-mail when new content goes on-line. Users may choose to receive any or all of the following: notification that a new issue of BJP is on-line; a complete eTOC for new issues; and special announcements from the College.

In response to frequent cancellations, we recently changed the format of our journal club. We invited a statistician to attend and each meeting focused specifically on critical appraisal and statistical analysis. Active learning principles were used where every participant critically appraised an aspect of the paper presented at each meeting. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the impact of the new format on attendance and satisfaction levels. Attendance and satisfaction levels were measured in the 3 months before and the 3 months after the new format was introduced.

Average attendance increased from 10 to 15, with two psychologists and two trainees who did not work in the hospital starting to attend regularly. Satisfaction levels also increased significantly with respect to academic interest, enjoyment, usefulness and overall satisfaction.

Combining statistical expertise with principles of active learning has led to increased satisfaction levels among participants in our journal club.