Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression are prevalent among post-conflict populations worldwide but controversy about the cultural meaning of these symptoms, particularly in relation to PTSD, adds to the challenge for psychiatry in mounting appropriate intervention programmes. Accumulating scientific evidence assists in guiding the focus and scope of emergency mental health programmes, initiatives that can become the vanguard of mental health development and reform for countries recovering from conflict.

Psychotic symptoms are common in the general population. There is evidence for common mechanisms underlying such symptoms in health and illness (such as the functional role of mesocorticostriatal circuitry in error-dependent learning) and differentiating factors (relating to non-psychotic features of psychotic illness and to social and emotional aspects of psychotic symptoms). Clinicians should be aware that psychotic symptoms in young people are more often associated with common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety than with severe psychotic illness.

Autobiographical memories are a key component of our identity. Here, in the light of Cuervo-Lombard and colleagues' paper in this issue, we review impairments in autobiographical memory in schizophrenia and the association between autobiographical memory and outcome in the disorder. We also discuss whether these deficits are specific to schizophrenia and a possible link with traumatic events.

Clozapine has been endorsed by national clinical guidelines for 10 years and yet underutilisation and delay to initiation remain rife. Although there will be good clinical reasons for clozapine not being initiated for some patients, it is hypothesised here that for others, clinicians' attitudes and preferences are the most likely predictive factors.

This editorial critiques the recent literature concerning both vitamin D deficiency in major depression and supplementation as a treatment strategy, and contextualises it within a broader approach to the prevention of depression, based on the recent evidence for lifestyle as a risk factor for depression and anxiety.

A debate has ensued about the long-term consequences of mild traumatic brain injury, the ‘signature injury’ of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Most epidemiological studies have found that mild traumatic brain injury is unrelated to unspecific post-concussion symptoms based on self-reported symptoms. A longitudinal study, in this issue of the Journal, using objective tests has demonstrated that mild traumatic brain injury has limited lasting neuropsychological consequences.

Autism has been in the forefront of science and public concern because of reported increases in its prevalence. Changing diagnostic practice and improved identification explain some of this rise, but there may also be a true increase. Aetiological research needs to include environmental factors to understand the causes of autism.

Video-based and in vivo (face-to-face) contact have been shown to be effective ways to change stigmatising attitudes and behaviours. The two approaches reflect the strengths and weakness of sometimes conflicting priorities in anti-stigma programmes: broad audience v. grassroots control. Regardless of perspective, anti-stigma interventions have the greatest impact when contact is targeted, local, credible and continuous.

Adjustment disorder has been a recognised disorder for decades but has been the subject of little epidemiological research. Now researchers have identified the prevalence of adjustment disorder in primary care, and found general practitioner recognition very low but with high rates of antidepressant prescribing. Possible reasons for the seemingly low prevalence, recognition rate and inappropriate management include its recognition as a residual category in diagnostic instruments and poor delineation from other disorders or from normal stress responses. These problems could be rectified in ICD-11 and DSM-5 if changes according it full syndromal status, among others, were made. This would have an impact on future research.

Stress-induced alterations in how a person attributes meaning to internal and external stimuli may represent the first step in explaining how population ethnic minority–majority interactions affect mental health. Cross-context and diagnostic assumption-free research is required to elucidate how the wider social environment interacts with personal characteristics to increase expression of psychosis.

Positive change in prescribing practice in psychiatric services can be achieved with participation in the UK Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health (POMH-UK) quality improvement programmes. Key elements are feedback of benchmarked performance for local clinical reflection and customised change interventions informed by the national audit findings and parallel qualitative work. However, progress is gradual and gains generally modest.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may be helpful in preventing relapse in those with three or more depressive episodes. Recent research suggests it may also benefit those who have experienced fewer previous episodes of depression. If confirmed, this raises challenges of how MBCT is offered, accessed and supported.

The new generation of psychosocial interventions for dementia has been characterised by great improvements in methodology and high-quality randomised controlled trials, including cost-effectiveness analyses. There are a growing number of interventions with established effectiveness but despite this there can be difficulties with implementation in practice.