The Working Party appointed to review the form, content and value of the MRCPsych examination is about to discharge its awesome brief. Professor Cawley, the Chairman, presented a preliminary report to the Education Committee on 14 September 1982. It is expected that the final Report will be submitted to the Court of Electors sometime in 1983. The recommendations will be implemented only after the current cohort of candidates has been allowed to complete their examination under the old regulations.

The College ECT survey questionnaire in March 1980 asked ‘Are you doing research on any aspect of the use of ECT?’ From the 61 who replied ‘yes', it appears that there were 49 separate individuals or groups involved. By April 1982 I knew that 12 of these had published, or had had accepted, at least some of their work. A short questionnaire was sent to the other 37 to find out how their work was going on and to canvass opinion on the possible usefulness of the College setting up a Register of Research.