Background: “Vascular depression” has recently been proposed. It is characterized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2-weighted subcortical lesions, a late onset of first episode of depression, and reduced heritability; a cerebrovascular etiology is suggested. The validity of “vascular depression” might be strengthened if an association was found between the subcortical lesions used to define it and particular depressive symptoms. Methods: A blinded cross-sectional examination of DSM-III-R depressive symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 1987) and MRI T2-weighted subcortical lesions in 44 patients with late-life depression. Results: Many associations were found; however, because of multiple comparisons, their significance is viewed with caution. The most robust finding was that psychomotor retardation was independently related to total white-matter score. The odds of showing psychomotor retardation was increased 1.9 times for every point increase in severity of white-matter change. Conclusion: In late-life depression the clinical expression of the depression is influenced by the pattern of MRI T2-weighted subcorticallesions. This gives some validity to the concept of an MRI-defined “vascular” subtype of late-life depression and strengthens the argument for including neuroimaging in the classification of late-life depression.

ECT has been administered to infants, children and teenagers between the ages of two and eighteen, in Europe, North America and Australasia. There are several alternate forms of effective behavioural and cognitive interventions for the range of problems experienced by minors. In this paper, some of the reasons for the contemporary popularity of ECT administration with children and teenagers are explored, via a critical evaluation of the published literature.

In a diverse therapeutic context, multiple interventions are available for use with disordered or dysfunctional minors. With this population, electroshock administration is always inappropriate.

Referrals for young males with drink-related offending behaviours were obtained from local courts. Following an assessment interview, young offenders completed either a talk-based Alcohol Education Course (AEC) or a behavioural AEC. At follow-up interviews, differences in dependent variables of offending and drinking behaviour were observed. The results are discussed in the context of their possible implications for practice.

Single definitions of complex terms do not exist. Previous authors have identified one possible translation of “rapprochement”. Equally, other definitions exist: “to bring together, to approach” (Webster's Collegiate) or “a drawing together” (Chamber's Concise).

True rapprochement attempts should be welcomed as initiatives to promote understanding between different theoretical positions and in the interest of parsimony. Persuasion attempts to achieve behaviour change, based on the moral imperative, should be inspected very closely indeed.