Verification of forensic functionality of two psychiatric classification systems (ICD 8 and ICD 10), determination of similarities and differences between them, and evaluation of difficulties in subsuming particular psychiatric diagnoses into legal categories.

The retrospective method was used, based on comparison of the information from forensic psychiatric expertises made in the Center for forensic psychiatry, Vrapce Psychiatric hospital in Zagreb, in two periods: during 1968 and 1995, chosen at random up to the total of 300 expertises related to criminal law. The shortened version of standardized FPDS (Forensic Psychiatric Documentation System) questionnaire was used, which was modified for the purpose of the study and, due to the necessary reduction of the data for statistical analysis, the questionnaire was additionally shortened to the final version which consists of 51 items.

The basic hypothesis that there is a difference in the level of forensic functionality of the two classification systems compared in this study was only partially confirmed. The other hypothesis, that psychiatric classification system ICD-10 is more functional in forensic psychiatry than classification system ICD-8, is not completely confirmed either. The questionnaire can be also used in other similar studies for evaluation of forensic-psychiatric expertises. The results can be of help in everyday practice in forensic psychiatry, in the field of expertise and in the field of forensic psychiatric treatment.

To report the long-term remission results from the relapse prevention trial (ConstaTRE) in stable patients treated either with risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) or the oral atypical antipsychotic quetiapine.

Clinically stable adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder treated with oral risperidone, olanzapine, or oral conventional antipsychotics were randomized to treatment with RLAI or oral quetiapine. Dosing was according to package-insert recommendation. Efficacy and tolerability were recorded for up to 24 months of treatment. Remission was defined as achieving and maintaining mild or less symptoms of schizophrenia over a 6-month period as defined by Andreasen et al, (2005).

710 patients were randomized (n=355 per group) to either RLAI or quetiapine. Demographics were similar between treatment groups. Relapse occurred in 54 RLAI (16.5%) and 102 quetiapine (31.3%) patients (p< 0.001). Full remission was achieved by 51% RLAI and 39% of quetiapine-treated patients (p=0.003) and was maintained until the end of the trial by 44% of RLAI and 31% of quetiapine patients. Mean duration of full remission was 540.8±181.4 and 508.1±188.0 days for RLAI and quetiapine groups, respectively (p=0.1325). Tolerability was similar between treatment groups. Most adverse events (AEs) were transient. Six RLAI and 10 quetiapine patients discontinued study treatment due to AEs.

Among stable patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, remission was more likely to occur in patients switching to RLAI when compared with quetiapine. both RLAI and quetiapine treatments were well tolerated.

Alzheimer’ disease (AD) is a complex and progressive neurodegenerative disorder with unclear aetiology. Cognitive impairment and the behavioral disturbances in patients with AD might be associated with altered serotonergic system.

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) levels and platelet monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) activity might be the biological markers for the progress of AD.

To determine platelet 5-HT concentrations and MAO-B activity in female patients with mild, moderate or severe stage of AD and sex and age matched healthy controls.

The study included 106 female patients with the diagnosis of probable AD (DSM-IV-TR and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria), subdivided according to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in early (MMSE 26-18), middle (MMSE 17-10) and late (MMSE 9-0) phase of AD. Control group consisted of 102 healthy elderly women (MMSE 30-27). Platelet 5-HT concentrations and MAO-B activity were determined using spectrofluorimetric methods.

Platelet 5-HT concentrations and MAO-B activity were similar between all patients with AD and healthy controls. Patients in the late phase of AD had significantly (p < 0.05) lower platelet 5-HT concentrations and MAO-B activity than patients in other phases of AD and healthy controls. The significant correlations were found between MMSE scores and platelet 5-HT concentrations, MAO-B activity and age.

The results suggest that platelet 5-HT concentration and MAO-B activity might be the peripheral biological markers for the severity and/or clinical progress of AD.