This is an updated version of a Cochrane review first published in Issue 3, 2006 (Perry 2006). The review represents one in a family of four reviews focusing on the effectiveness of interventions in reducing drug use and criminal activity for offenders. This specific review considers interventions for female drug-using offenders.

Female drug-using offenders are a large but under-researched and vulnerable population with specific needs. Only a handful of randomised controlled trials of interventions for this population are of sufficient quality to shed light on what might work to reduce their criminal activity and drug use, and interpretation of the results of most of these trials is limited by an ‘unclear’ risk of bias due to a lack of descriptive information. Better-quality research is needed to inform practitioners and policy makers. In the meantime, this month's Cochrane Corner review provides cautious support for the use of some psychosocial treatments, particularly if delivered in a gender-responsive way addressing issues of abuse and victimisation, in the expectation that re-imprisonment can be prevented, even if there is no proven effect on re-arrest rates and only uncertain effects on substance use.

Perinatal psychiatry is a relatively new subspecialty and controversy exists about such specialist provision. Differences can occur in how mental illnesses present in pregnancy, and there is a need to take into account both mother and baby. The risks of not treating perinatal mental illness can be both acute and chronic, and suicide in the context of untreated illness remains a leading indirect cause of maternal mortality. Despite the government's agenda of preventive healthcare, service provision is inequitable across the UK. Advice regarding treatment continues to be complex, and perinatal psychiatrists need to keep abreast of a growing evidence base. This review offers an overview of some current issues in the care of patients in the perinatal period and shows how specialised perinatal services are uniquely placed to meet their needs. Hopefully, it will prove useful to all clinicians responsible for the perinatal care of women and their families.

Up to 40% of people with depression do not recover following standard treatments such as medication and psychotherapy. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment used worldwide for adult patients with severe clinical depression when antidepressants have repeatedly failed to control their symptoms. This article explains the use of TMS in clinical practice.

Hallucinations (erroneous percepts in the absence of identifiable stimuli) are a key feature of psychotic states, but they have long been known to present in children with non-psychotic psychiatric disorders. Recent epidemiological studies of child populations found surprisingly high rates (about 10%) of hallucinatory experiences. These hallucinatory phenomena are most likely to occur in the absence of psychiatric disorder and are usually simpler, less elaborate and less distressing than those observed in children with psychiatric disorders. This article details the clinical assessment of hallucinations in children and adolescents, taking into account developmental considerations and paediatric organic associations. It describes hallucinations in young people with psychoses (schizophrenia spectrum and mood disorders) and non-psychotic psychiatric disorders (emotional and behavioural disorders), and it addresses therapeutic aspects.

Auditory hallucinations (voices) are the most common symptom in schizophrenia, occurring in 70% of those with the diagnosis. A proportion respond to antipsychotic medication, but despite adequate concordance with prescribed medication, voices may still remain. Voice hearers often inadvertently activate coping strategies that maintain the symptoms and linked distress. Assessment can identify ineffective strategies. Effective strategies can then be initiated, starting with distraction to reduce distress in the short term and leading to focusing approaches that give an improved understanding of voice maintenance. This article describes how to recognise voice hearers' ineffective coping strategies and how to teach effective approaches that are a crucial catalyst in the recovery process.

Miguel de Cervantes, the most influential writer in Spanish literature, created two of the most recognisable fictional characters, Don Quixote de la Mancha and Sancho Panza, in 1605. His novel The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha is regarded as the first modern novel and first international best seller. This article, in the 400th anniversary year of Cervantes' death, introduces Cervantes' biography, discusses the enduring features of his classic novel and explores the value and importance of the novel for psychiatry.

Alcohol is the most commonly used recreational drug in the world and the third leading cause of preventable death. Alcohol consumption and alcohol problems have increased steadily over the past six decades. Methods likely to reduce alcohol problems (e.g. minimum pricing, restricting licensing hours and increasing the availability of alcohol treatment) tend not to be supported by the drinks industry. Methods favoured by the industry (e.g. public education, industry self-regulation and product warning labelling) are less effective or do not work. The recent history of alcohol policy clearly demonstrates how the financial power of industry can influence governments and undermine effective public health measures, for instance by lobbying, political donations, confusion marketing and creating fnancial vested interests by grants from industry-sponsored 'social aspect organisations'.

There have been many developments in mindfulness-based approaches (MBAs) since the original mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course was first delivered in the 1980s. There are now a variety of mindfulness approaches, which are used to good effect in a range of psychological and physical health disorders. The addictions field first witnessed the development of relapse prevention techniques more than 30 years ago. MBAs have been adapted for use in relapse prevention and can be offered as a mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) course. MBSR or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) courses may also be useful for those with addiction problems. In this article, we describe the MBAs that are commonly offered at present. We highlight ways in which these approaches may be useful in the addictions feld. We also make suggestions for clinicians who may be interested in offering MBAs within their own service.

The use of PowerPoint has become nearly ubiquitous in medical education and continuing professional development; however, many alternatives are emerging that can be used in its place. These may confer some advantages, but they also have potential drawbacks. It is helpful that educators are aware of these new presentation options and their pros and cons, including any financial implications and issues of data protection. This article considers the role of technology in teaching and learning, identifying underlying assumptions that are often made. It identifies and appraises technology that can be used with or instead of PowerPoint to best facilitate deep learning. The potential pedagogical benefits and practical limitations of these technologies are considered, and strategies are highlighted to maximise the impact of PowerPoint where it is the software of choice.