The misleading public image of the martial arts masks a rich though esoteric psychological legacy containing informative parallels for contemporary psychotherapeutic concepts and practices. To date, empirical research on the martial arts has lacked sophistication in the questions it has posed and in the methodology adopted to answer them. Whilst not entirely consistent, findings from studies of martial artists' personalities, outlooks and behaviour have generally indicated positive psychological effects of training. Clinical and psychotherapeutic applications are at an exploratory stage but appear promising. As an exemplar the psychological facets of the art of Aikido are discussed, and prospective uses of martial arts principles as systemic or adjunctive therapies are considered.

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The recent development of regionally based interim andpurposebuilt secure psychiatric units in England and Wales is described, highlighting certain factors which are expected to influence their mode of operation. A case study of one such Interim Secure Unit is reported, using questionnaire measures of "social climate" to describe the evolving milieu in the new Unit from both staffs' and patients' perspectives. Comparisons across time, within staff and patient groups, and between secure settings, are effected to reveal the "character" of the treatment environment and discern practical implications for the operation of the Unit. It is argued that social climate measures offer a salient method for studying the evolution of these new forensic psychiatric facilities, whose idealform and comparative efficacy are as yet uncertain.

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I should like to draw to the attention of psychiatric colleagues the guidelines for the use of PPG assessments. These were produced by a working group of forensic psychologists drawn from the special hospitals, NHS regional and district forensic services, the Prison Department and youth treatment centres.