Personality factors analogous to the Big Five observed in humans are present in the great apes. However, few studies have examined the long-term stability of great ape personality, particularly using factor-based personality instruments. Here, we assessed overall group, and individual-level, stability of chimpanzee personality by collecting ratings for chimpanzees (N = 50) and comparing them with ratings collected approximately 10 years previously, using the same personality scale. The overall mean scores of three of the six factors differed across the two time points. Sex differences in personality were also observed, with overall sex differences found for three traits, and males and females showing different trajectories for two further traits over the 10 year period. Regardless of sex, rank-order stability analysis revealed strong stability for dominance; individuals who were dominant at the first time point were also dominant 10 years later. The other personality factors exhibited poor to moderate rank-order stability, indicating that individuals were variable in their rank-position consistency over time. As many studies assessing chimpanzee cognition rely on personality data collected several years prior to testing, these data highlight the importance of collecting current personality data when correlating them with cognitive performance.

Forty-three intubated and mechanically ventilated patients in five intensive care units (ICUs) of one hospital developed respiratory colonization or infection with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subspecies anitratus over a 16-month interval. Neither the frequency nor rate of A anitratus isolation exceeded the hospital endemic norms. Single isolates from 34 of the patients were subtyped by plasmid DNA analysis, two biotyping systems and antimicrobial susceptibility to 24 drugs. Plasmid DNA fingerprints were distinct in 18 isolates (they differed from each other and all others), similar in two and identical or similar in ten. The latter group of isolates were recovered from patients in four ICUs. Reproducibility of biotyping was poor. Neither biotyping nor antimicrobial susceptibility were successful in identifying sameness among the group isolates nor differences among other isolates. We conclude that plasmid DNA fingerprinting should be used to assess the possibility of multiple patient transmissions of the same A anitratus strain in the absence of an obvious outbreak.

The relapse and readmission rates of schizophrenic patients who participated in a controlled trial of a nine-month behavioural family intervention trial based on the EE status of their relatives are presented at two years. The patients who received the behavioural family intervention had lower rates of relapse and readmission than patients from high-EE homes who had received a short educational programme or routine treatment. The relapse rate of the behavioural family intervention group (33%) was the same as that of the low-EE group (33%), and significantly lower than that of the non-intervention high-EE group (59%).

Schizophrenic patients were recruited into a trial of a prophylactic behavioural intervention with families. Families with at least one high Expressed Emotion (EE) relative were randomly allocated to one of four intervention groups: Behavioural Intervention Enactive; Behavioural Intervention Symbolic; Education Only; Routine Treatment. Patients from low-EE families were randomly allocated to two groups: Education Only or Routine Treatment. Relapse rates over nine months after discharge were significantly lower for patients in the two Behavioural Intervention, compared with Education Only and Routine Treatment groups. There was little difference between the two low-EE groups. Patients returning to high-EE relatives showed significantly higher relapse rates than those returning to low-EE relatives, in groups not receiving active intervention. Changes from high to low EE occurred in the Behavioural Intervention groups, and similar although less extensive changes occurred in the Education Only and Routine Treatment groups. Changes in criticism and marked emotional over-involvement (EOI) occurred generally in high-EE groups but were larger in magnitude in the Enactive and Symbolic groups. Reduction of hostility only occurred in the Behavioural Intervention groups. These results give partial support for the causal role of EE in relapse. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to contact with the psychiatric services or medication.