A concise review is given of the importance of the atypical antipsychotic drugs clozapine, sulpiride, remoxipride and raclopride. Both the concept of atypicality and the pharmacological profile of these compounds is discussed. The newly developed atypical antipsychotic remoxipride has been studied in several double blind studies. In virtually all of these studies a reduced propensity for the induction of extrapyramidal symptoms was found.

These findings implicate that atypical antipsychotics may also not induce tardive dyskinesia. In addition to the treatment of acute schizophrenia, these compounds might be of use in the treatment of treatment resistent schizophrenia (clozapine), tardive dyskinesia and psychosis during the course of Parkinson's disease.

To answer the question if it is possible for specific psychiatric illnesses to influence the thyroxine-concentration, a group of 376 patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital was studied retrospectively.

13.5% had an elevated thyroxine-concentration and only 0.6% had a low concentration.

Of the group of 145 men, 22.8% was found to have an elevated thyroxine-concentration. In the group of 196 women we found 6.6% to be elevated. A low thyroxine was found in only 0.5% of the women and 0.7% of the men.

In the group with an elevated thyroxine the psychiatric diagnoses of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders NOS are more common (19.6% and 17.4% respectively) than in the group with a normal thyroxine (4.4% and 6.5% respectively).

The influence of propofol on mood was evaluated, considering the potential use of propofol as an anesthetic for electroconvulsive therapy. The mood state of 80 psychologically healthy subjects was assessed before and from 1/2 hour till 4 hours after surgery under anesthesia with either propofol or methohexitone. The mood was assessed with the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The propofol group was more elated from one hour until 4 hours after anesthesia (p<0,01 )(factor 1). 1 hour after anesthesia the propofol group was continuously more composed than the methohexitone group (p<0,01) (factor 4) and after two hours the propofol group was more agreeable (p<0,05) (factor 2). Moreover, patients, who received propofol, were less tired (factor 3) and confused (factor 5). It can be concluded that, compared with methohexitone, propofol has a favorable influence on different aspects of mood.