This paper describes the results of a five year follow up study on factors associated with the course and outcome of schizophrenia conducted in 3 centers (Lucknow, Madras and Vellore) under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research. 386 patients who satisfied well defined criteria of diagnosis and inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied. All patients were regularly followed up. 287 patients had complete follow up after 5 years. After 2 years, most of the active symptoms had subsided. At 5 year follow up, about 67% of the patients showed good outcome. Regular drug compliance, short duration of illness, absence of economic difficulties, absence of dangerous behaviour and delusions of presecution at intake; presence of agitation at intake; acute onset, absence of schizoid traits in personality, low level of education, rural background and lower age of onset were significantly related to good outcome. A combination of 8 factors could correctly predict the outcome in 80% of patients. The implications of the above findings are discussed.

This paper examines attrition in a sample of 96 schizophrenic patients followed up prospectively for a period of four years. The characteristics of 25 patients who were totally lost for the study are discussed. Among those followed up, two groups were identified based on regularity of attendance to the OPD. It was found that it was primarily the clinical course which determined regularity, most of those who were irregular having a more favourable course and outcome. The importance of studying sample attrition in long term follow up of schizophrenic patients is stressed especially with reference to the continued use of psychiatric facilities.

Twenty four schizophrenic patients who met DSM-III criteria, 28 of their nonschizophrenic first degree relatives and a group of 28 normal controls who did not have any personal or family history of major psychiatric illness were assessed by the same investigator for the presence of abnormalities on clinical neurological examination. Patients had significantly greater neurological impairment (p<.001) than the normal control group. Nonschizophrenic first degree relatives of patients also had greater impairment (p<.05) when compared to the matched control group. Significant excess of neurological abnormalities seen in schizophrenic patients and their close relatives suggest that neurological factors are important in the development of schizophrenia. It was also found that those who had lower education had more neurological abnormalities. The implications of these observations are discussed.

Depressive mood is a common accompaniment of schizophrenia. The present study was taken up with the aim to study the effect of imipramine on depressivse symptoms of schizophrenia. Eighteen patients of schizophrenia with depressive symptoms were studied under a double blind controlled design with a chlorpromazine-imipramine and a chlorpromazine-placebo group. Both the groups showed significant improvement (p<.001) after the 6 week trial and the addition of imipramine to chlorpromazine therapy did not have any advantageous or deleterious effect.

An epidemiological study was conducted in Madura! to assess the prevalence of psychiatric problems in school children using Rutter B Scale. After screening 755 children by Rutter B Scale, 207 children were subjected to clinical evaluation and parental interview. Psychiatric morbidity was found to be 33.7%. The prevalence rate for (Afferent disorders were as follows: Conduct disorder 11.1%; Enuresis 14.3%; Hyperkinetic Syndrome 1.7%; Mental retardation 2.9%. Low intelligence, lower socio-econemic status and lack of parental involvement in children's studies were significantly related to psychiatric morbidity. The Rutter B Scale is an useful screening instrument in epidemiological surveys.

Efficacy of low dose levodopa in treatment of TD has been studied on 30 male inpatients with predefined selection criteria. The preliminary results are encouraging but long term double blind studies in larger samples are needed.

Psychotheraphy based on principles of Existential Philosophy has been described step-by-step. Its suitability in Indian patients has been discussed along with its effects in a case after one year follow-up.

Forty eight patients of delusional parasitosis seen during a short span of five years were studied and underlying psychosocial factors were analysed. The findings revealed that elderly, married, and illiterate persons of rural area from lower socio-economic stratum were distinctly more affected. The incidence of the disease was greater during the months of May to August. Majority of them had abnormal personality traits and definite psychiatric illness was present in about one third of the patients. The psychosocial factors associated with the disorders are discussed.

The varieties of marriage described by Manu and accepted by Vatsyayana are mentioned. The qualities of the bride and bridegroom for an ideal marriage are enumerated by Vatsyayana. The Shastraic view of the same along with the valid conditions of a Hindu Marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 are contrasted. The role of the virtuous wife in house-keeping and looking after the husband, according to Vatsyayana, is highlighted. A brief mention is made of adultery and prostitution in various times in India. It is concluded that Vatsyayana's view on marital harmony could be utilised even to-day by various therapists.

In a follow-up of 52 alcoholic head injured patients for a period of 18 months, 14 patients were found to abstain from alcohol totally. The rest resumed alcohol consumption between three and six months. Leaving out three patients with other complications. 11 patients in the abstainer group were compared with equivalent groups of persistent abusers, and non-alcoholic head injured patients, using PG1 Memory Scali. The performance of the groups ^indicated that persistent abusers wire the poorest and that abstinence were followed by welcome change in memory. Qualitative analysis of the results and their implications for the rehabilitation of the alcoholic head injured patient are discussed.

Parental Care and Control, which are two major parental handling, variables are significantly related to psychological morbidity in children where high care-low control is associated with healthy development and low care-high control is related to psychiatric disorder. Parents by & large do not differ in their patterns of handling with regard to age and sex of the child, rural-urban living and SES except that younger children are given more care and those from high SES exercise less control among normal children. However, low care for younger children, high control for older children; low care and high control for males, rural background and higher SES families was associated with psychiatric morbidity in children.

Conventional neurochemical animal models of tardive dyskinesia are based upon the production of dopamine postsynaptic receptor supersensitivity by the chronic administration of neuroleptics. This study demonstrates that the same result is obtained by injecting Sprague-Dawley rats with a single ('high') dose of ipomorphine. It is hence suggested that apomorphine-induced time-dependant potentiation of dopaminepostsynaptic receptor response may be a more convenient neurochemical animal model of tardive dyskinesia; related theoretical and practical issues are discussed briefly, as also he methodological differences between the present study and an earlier report.

Two patients with monosymptoniatic hypochondriacal psychosis are reported and the condition is briefly discussed.

Sixty nine patients with various types of haematological malignancies were studied. Chronic myeloid leukaemia (n =32) was the commonest diagnosis. The patients were assessed on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, PGI-N, Health Questionnaire and Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale and those who had scores above the cut off points for Hamilton Rating Scale and/or PGI-N2 Health Questionnaire were assessed on Present State Examination. The patients were followed up at 3 and 6 months interval. At 3 months 51 patients were re-assessed whilst at 6 months only 26 could be re-evaluated. There were no significant changes in scores of Hamilton Rating scale and PGI-N2 Health Questionnaire at intake and subsequent follow-up assessments. No significant correlations between stressful life experience and severity of illness emerged. Twenty nine patients were interviewed on Present State Examination and of these 20 had diagnosable depressive neuroses- From consultation liaison psychiatric point of view, provision of psychiatric help to these patients is discussed.

A case of factitious illness in a young village woman is described. She presented with multiple physical and psychiatric symptoms and had interpersonal and sexual problems. A simple behavioural approach was successful in ameliorating her symptoms.

Presented here is the case report of a lady who was referred for evaluation and management of frank psychotic manifestations. A carefully taken history and physical findings pointed to the presence of hypothyroidism. This was later confirmed by laboratory evaluation. The patient improved after thyroxine supplementation.