A prospective study of 167 consecutive patients admitted to a general hospital following an episode of deliberate self-harm was carried out; 102 patients were interviewed by computer and then by a psychiatrist who was blind to the results of the computer interview. The computer interview consisted of a self-rating modification of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and a novel questionnaire developed to assess suicidal ideation. This article explores the preliminary findings in these patients and suggests that not only is the computer interview acceptable to the majority of patients but the data suggest, in line with previous studies, that the patients are prepared to confide information to the computer that they may be unwilling to tell the clinician. Further the data also suggest a significant pathoplastic effect of the personality of the patient on the perception of the psychopathology by the clinician. The computer appeared to be a better predictor of suicidality than the interview by the clinician.

SynopsisA program on an inexpensive microcomputer was designed to elicit personal histories from patients in a general psychiatric ward. Their answers were compared with the information recorded by the responsible psychiatric team. Where answers disagreed with the clinicians' records, the patient was interviewed to investigate the discrepancy. In the computer-elicited case-histories 90% of items were correct; a further 3% of items were considered correct by the patient. Most patients' computer histories revealed several items unknown to the clinicians and of importance in the management of the patient. Most patients (88%) found that the computer interrogation was as easy as a clinical interview. Computer assessment is proposed as a useful technique for the routine assessment of patients to augment the clinician's findings and to allow him to concentrate on the most relevant areas.

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Galambos, Makeig and Talmachoff (1981) described what they called the 40 Hz event-related potential (ERP). This steady-state response is an EEG following response to repetitive auditory stimulation which becomes sinusoidal in form and maximal in amplitude at rates between 35 and 45 Hz. The present study was designed to examine the scalp topography of the 40 Hz ERP in order to complement previous magnetoencephalographic studies which implicate auditory cortex in the generation of the response. In addition, this study was designed to collect normative data on an aged sample in order to assess the effects of aging on the response. 40 Hz ERP's were recorded from a group of seven audiometrically and neurologically normal elderly subjects (mean age = 69.6 years) and a younger group of five normal adults (mean age = 38.0 years), using 1000 Hz tones presented binaurally at 40 per second. A 21 channel recording system was used to obtain a comprehensive picture of the scalp distribution of the response. Recorded ERP's were Fourier transformed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. No significant differences were found in phase or amplitude of the 40 Hz ERP between the two age groups, indicating that the normal aging process does not have an effect on this response. Topographic maps of the 40 Hz ERP showed reversals of electrode potential in temporal regions, supporting an interpretation of bilateral sources in temporal cortex. The data presented in this study complement previous studies of the 40 Hz event-related magnetic field and support the position that temporal cortex is involved in the generation of the response.

A self-rating depression questionnaire based on the Hamilton Depression Questionnaire was given directly by a microcomputer to 43 controls and 125 depressed patients. Scores obtained from the two groups differed very significantly; choosing an appropriate cut-off point, the computer-delivered questionnaire accurately detected the presence of depression. The severity of depression in the patients, as indicated by their scores, correlated significantly with assessments of severity by qualified clinicians. Patients commented favourably on the procedure, and the medical and nursing staff found it instructive and helpful. The use of this technique appears practicable and further evaluation is in progress.

It behooves us to research diagnostic methods pertaining to psychoses and affective disorders associated with hypercortisolemic states. Very little research is available, but we must be alert to the possibility that the elderly are more susceptible to cortisol endotoxicosis than the younger adult population. Without accurate diagnosis, we cannot take advantage of existing antiglucocorticoid strategies.

The efficacy and side‐effect profile for three dose ranges of remoxipride were compared with haloperidol in 242 schizophrenic inpatients in 13 centres. All patients were in a productive phase of schizophrenia according to DSM‐III criteria. Relative efficacy of low dose (30–90 mg daily) vs middle dose (120–240 mg daily) vs high dose (300–600 mg daily) was compared with the standard dose of haloperidol (15–45 mg daily), as were the side effects. It was concluded that the therapeutic efficacy of remoxipride was comparable to that of haloperidol for acute episodes of schizophrenia; that the low dose range was significantly less effective than the higher ranges; that there was a clear advantage of remoxipride over haloperidol with respect to incidence and severity of extrapyramidal symptoms. The general I safety profile of remoxipride as assessed from clinical chemistry, haematology, and cardiovascular variables suggests that remoxipride in the dose ranges studied can be used safely for the treatment of schizophrenic patients.