Persistent neuropsychological impairments have been reported in the euthymic phase of bipolar affective disorder. However, the findings have been confounded by multiple episodes, chronic illness and residual mood symptoms.

To assess sustained attention and executive functioning in euthymic young people with bipolar I disorder who had had no more than two affective episodes.

Thirty euthymic patients (with illness duration of less than 5 years and no more than two affective episodes) and 30 matched healthy individuals were assessed for sustained attention and executive functioning.

The bipolar group (mean age 22.4 years, s.d.=2.52; duration of illness 20.87 months, s.d.=14.72), showed impairment on tasks of attention and executive functioning. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that deficits in executive functioning differentiated cases from controls. There was no correlation between residual depressive symptoms and neuropsychological performance.

Deficits in attention and executive functioning were present in young people who had experienced only a few episodes of bipolar disorder, suggesting that the deficits are possibly trait abnormalities. Whether these deficits worsen with progression of illness needs to be examined in longitudinal studies.

Social cognition has been implicated in the relationship between cognition and social functioning.

To test the hypothesis that social cognition mediates the relationship between cognitive and social functioning.

This was a 1-year longitudinal cohort study comparing three groups: 50 people with first-episode psychosis, 53 people with multi-episode schizophrenia and 55 people without psychiatric disorder as controls. Participants were assessed on social perception, social knowledge, interpersonal problem-solving, cognition and social functioning.

There were significant associations between social cognition, cognition and social functioning in all three groups. Deficits in social cognition were stable over time. In the first two groups, controlling for social cognition reduced the relationship between cognitive and social functioning.

This study provides some evidence that social cognition mediates the relationship between cognitive and social functioning.

Studies conducted in the USA have found the individual placement and support model of supported employment to be more effective than traditional vocational rehabilitation at helping people with severe mental illness to find and maintain competitive employment.

To determine the effectiveness of the individual placement and support (supported employment) model in a Canadian setting.

A total of 150 adults with severe mental illness, who were not currently employed and who desired competitive employment, were randomly assigned to receive either supported employment (n=75) or traditional vocational services (n=75).

Over the 12 months of follow-up, 47% of clients in the supported employment group obtained at least some competitive employment, v. 18% of the control group (P<0.001). They averaged 126 h of competitive work, v. 72 inthe control group (P<0.001).

Supported employment proved more effective than traditional vocational services in a setting significantly different from settings in the USA, and may therefore be generalised to settings in other countries.

It is uncertain whether higher doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have greater efficacy in generalised anxiety disorder.

To assess the efficacy of different doses of escitalopram in generalised anxiety disorder.

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, parallel-group, 12-week study, with 681 patients: placebo (n=139); escitalopram, 5 mg/day, (n=134); 10 mg/day (n=136); 20 mg/day (n=133); paroxetine, 20 mg/day (n=139).

Mean change in the primary efficacy measure was greater with escitalopram 10 and 20 mg than with placebo; 10 mg was more efficacious than paroxetine. Paroxetine was superior to placebo on some secondary measures, at sometime points. Compared with placebo, more patients withdrew because of adverse events with escitalopram 20 mg and paroxetine.

Escitalopram was efficacious in generalised anxiety disorder, 20 was not significantly superior to 10 mg/day Escitalopram 10 mg was more efficacious than paroxetine.

A major use of the internet is for health information-seeking. There has been little research into its use in relation to mental health.

To investigate the prevalence of internet use for mental health information-seeking and its relative importance as a mental health information source.

General population survey. Questions covered internet use, past psychiatric history and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire.

Eighteen per cent of all internet users had used the internet for information related to mental health. The prevalence was higher among those with a past history of mental health problems and those with current psychological distress. Only 12% of respondents selected the internet as one of the three most accurate sources of information, compared with 24% who responded that it was one of the three sources they would use.

The internet has a significant role in mental health information-seeking. The internet is used more than it is trusted.

Little is known about patterns of healthcare use by people with depression in Europe.

To examine the use and cost of services by adults with depressive or adjustment disorders in five European countries, and predictive factors.

People aged 18–65 years with depressive or adjustment disorders (n=427) in Ireland, Finland, Norway, Spain and the UK provided information on predisposition (demographics, social support), enablement (country, urban/rural, social function) and need (symptom severity, perceived health status) for services. Outcome measures were self-reported use Client Services Receipt Interview and costs of general practice, generic, psychiatric or social services in the past 6 months.

Less frequent use was made of generic services in Norway and psychiatric services in the UK. Severity of depression, perceived health status, social functioning and level of social support were significant predictors of use; the number of people able to provide support was positively associated with greater health service use.

Individual participant factors provided greater explanatory power than national differences in healthcare delivery. The association between social support and service use suggests that interventions may be needed for those who lack social support.

Refugee doctors constitute a potentially valuable resource for reducing the recruitment crisis in psychiatry. However, various hurdles make their route into the National Health Service (NHS) difficult.

To explore the perceptions and experiences of refugee doctors trying to practise psychiatry in the UK.

Thirty-one refugee doctors participated in qualitative interviews designed to elicit their experiences in trying to practise as doctors in the UK. Twenty were re-interviewed about 6 months later.

Doctors identified a range of practical problems that made it difficult for them to take the required steps towards practising in the UK. These included lack of appropriate information, lack of a clear route through the system and feelings of isolation. The English language examination was seen as a particular bottleneck, as were finding clinical attachments. The psychological impact of the experience was profound.

These findings have important implications for how refugee doctors are introduced to the practice of psychiatry in the NHS.

Previous research has shown that there are gender differences in reoffending after discharge from medium-secure units, but these have not been adequately explained.

To investigate gender differences in reoffending after discharge from medium-secure psychiatric units.

All people discharged from medium-secure units in England and Wales between April 1997 and March 1998 were followed up for 1 year (n=959; 12% women). Reoffending was estimated by collecting reconviction data from the Home Office's Offenders' Index or from files at the mental health unit up to 2 years after discharge.

Women were less likely than men to be reconvicted within 2 years of discharge (9% v. 16%, OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.25 – 0.98). Adjustments for history of self-harm, drug or alcohol problems and previous offending substantially reduced the gender difference. In the full model the OR was 0.97 (95% CI 0.45–2.12).

Some or all of the gender differences in reoffending between men and women are explained by self-harm, alcohol and drug problems and previous criminal history.

The psychosis-inducing effect of ketamine is important evidence supporting the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia. However, the symptoms the drug produces have not been described systematically.

To examine the effects of ketamine in healthy people using a structured psychiatric interview.

Ketamine (200 ng/ml) or placebo was administered by continuous infusion to 15 healthy volunteers. Symptoms were rated using the Present State Examination, the Thought, Language and Communication Scale and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms.

Ketamine induced a range of perceptual distortions, but not hallucinations. Referential ideas were seen in nearly half the sample. There were only mild and infrequent ratings on the thought disorder scale. Affective flattening and alogia were seen in some volunteers.

Ketamine does not reproduce the full picture of schizophrenia. The main point of similarity concerns referential thinking. Phenomena resembling negative symptoms are also seen, but the distinction of these from the drug's sedative effects requires further elucidation.