The persistence of psychotic, affective, cognitive, and psychosocial symptoms despite medications is commonly observed in schizophrenic patients. The present study was a 24-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial aimed to explore the efficacy of topiramate add-on pharmacotherapy on clinical symptomatology and cognitive functioning in a sample of treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients receiving clozapine. After clinical and cognitive assessments were randomly allocated to receive either up to 200 mg/day of topiramate or a placebo. A final sample of 43 patients completed the study. The results obtained indicate that topiramate appeared to be scarcely effective for reducing clinical symptomatology in schizophrenic patients who have had an incomplete clinical response to clozapine. Regarding cognitive functioning, in our sample a trend to experience cognitive impairment in the examined domains was observed, as the patients included in the topiramate groups expressed cognitive complaints partially confirmed by a mild worsening of performances on certain cognitive tasks. Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder with regard to pathophysiology; therefore, data reflecting the mean response of a sample of patients may fail to reveal therapeutic effects. More research is needed to better identify subgroups of patients with peculiar features which may account for responsivity to experimental medications and augmentation strategies.

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Based on the background that defense mechanisms might contaminate personality evaluation measures, the present study was performed with the aim of verifying the influence of defense mechanisms on a selfevaluation instrument for anger.A total of 100 healthy subjects (44 males and 56 females) completed the STAXI -State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and the DMI -Defense Mechanisms Inventory.Data were analyzed through t test for independent samples, correlation analysis (Pearson's correlation coefficients), and stepwise regression models. The means for anger experience and expression resulted all in the normal range and no gender differences were observed; no gender differences were found in the use of defense mechanisms. The interference of defense mechanisms on anger self-evaluation was more prominent in males. In both sexes, TAO predicts anger experience and expression.The ''contamination'' of self-report data by defense mechanisms can lead to oversimplified, unrealistic models of human behavior. The assessment of defense mechanisms associated to self-report instruments may conduce to a more realistic evaluation of anger.

These findings indicate that topiramate, at the dosages recommended for use as a mood stabilizer, does not affect the plasma levels of the new antipsychotics-clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine.

Gender role is a multifactorial concept, as gender-related attitudes, behaviors, and personality are partially autonomous. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalent gender role identity in a sample of male homosexuals. One hundred male homosexuals and 50 male heterosexuals matched for age and sex, have been assessed with the Italian version of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974). Statistically significant differences have been found between the two groups at the dimensions "Masculine" (z = 1.963; p = 0.001) and "Androgyny" (z = 2.367; p < 0.0001). The results obtained from the present study tend to confirm that homosexuals view themselves as adrogynous individuals, sharing both features of masculine and feminine gender roles.

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