SummaryThis randomised, placebo-controlled, patient and observer blinded trial was conducted to determine whether acupuncture at the acupuncture point P6 is effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) compared to placebo acupuncture. Female patients (n = 220) scheduled for gynaecological or breast surgery were randomly assigned to two groups receiving either acupuncture (n = 109) or placebo acupuncture (n = 111). Each group was stratified for type of surgery and included two subgroups receiving intervention either before or after induction of anaesthesia. The incidence of PONV and ⁄ or antiemetic rescue medication within 24 h after surgery was the main outcome measure which showed no statistically significant difference between groups (43.7% acupuncture, 50.9% placebo, p = 0.27). The differences were more pronounced for patients having gynaecological surgery (48.9% acupuncture, 67.6% placebo, p = 0.07) than for those having breast surgery (38.7% acupuncture, 40.3% placebo, p = 0.86). The secondary outcome, vomiting, was significantly reduced by acupuncture from 39.6% to 24.8% (p = 0.03). Subgroup analysis showed no difference between applications of acupuncture before compared to after induction of anaesthesia.

Episodic memory performance was improved in the galantamine treatment group but did not improve in the placebo group. In contrast, performance on 2 of the processing speed measures showed significant improvement in the placebo condition, whereas that of the patients treated with galantamine did not improve. Galantamine may thus have specific benefits for episodic memory, but not processing speed, in patients with cognitive impairment as part of bipolar disorder.

Relationships among predictors and criteria of subjective well-being were examined in a sample of 151 urban adolescents of color, ages 12-15. The relative strengths of family, peer, and school-related support and esteem in predicting three measures of subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect) were explored. Results suggested that sense of worth in one's family explained a significant amount of variance in subjective well-being variables, above and beyond the contributions of individual, school, and peer-related variables. Implications for prevention and mental health promotion with urban adolescents of color are discussed based on these findings.

Despite the availability of atypical antipsychotics, the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia remains a challenge. This study was designed to confirm the positive effect observed in our pilot study with paroxetine as augmentation to antipsychotics in the treatment of negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia. Twenty-nine patients with chronic schizophrenia, as defined by DSM-IV, who scored at least 20 points on the negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were randomized for treatment with 30 mg paroxetine or placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study for 12 weeks. Ratings included the PANSS, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and scales for extrapyramidal side-effects. An intention-to-treat analysis was based on the 25 patients who were available for at least one follow-up assessment. The last observation carried forward principle was applied. The mean score of the negative subscale of the PANSS decreased in both groups. Using an analysis of covariance, there was a significant treatment effect with paroxetine compared to placebo with respect to negative symptoms (-4.53; 95% confidence interval -9.054 to -0.015). The mean HAM-D scores remained almost constant. The study suggests the efficacy of paroxetine with respect to the treatment of negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.

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