This survey aims to aid implementation of continuing professional development (CPD) by determining the acceptability of current proposals and predict problem areas. All non-training grade psychiatrists working in the area of a single deanery were asked about their attitude to CPD and, in particular, focusing on the peer group method.

Of the 115 respondents, 98% said they agreed with some form of CPD. Just under half of respondents thought peer groups were appropriate for CPD planning, with four being the most popular size, and 3 months the preferred frequency of meeting. Problems identified with the peer group structure included individual, speciality-based and organisation-related issues. Regarding sharing of CPD information, 40% of respondents thought the College should receive updates of individual progress, while the medical director was cited in over half. Finally, loss of educational supervisor status was felt to be the most appropriate penalty for failure to adhere to the CPD process.

These results indicate that although there is general agreement to some form of CPD, peer groups are not universally accepted as the best design.

We undertook a postal questionnaire survey of all consultant psychiatrists working in Scotland to examine whether psychiatrists themselves may contribute to the misunderstandings surrounding schizophrenia by avoiding discussion of the diagnosis with their patients.

Two-hundred and forty-six (76%) responded. Ninety-five per cent thought the consultant psychiatrist was the most appropriate person to tell a patient their diagnosis of schizophrenia, although only 59% reported doing so in the first established episode of schizophrenia, rising to 89% for recurrent schizophrenia. Fifteen per cent would not use the term ‘schizophrenia’ and a variety of confusing terminology was reported. Over 95% reported telling patients they had mood disorders or anxiety, under 50% that they had dementia or personality disorders.

Greater openness by psychiatrists about the diagnosis of schizophrenia may be an essential first step in reducing stigma.

We conducted a telephone survey of medium secure units in England and Wales to determine the distribution of women patients.

The survey identified 1836 medium secure beds, housing 342 women patients. Women in the NHS were housed primarily in mixed-gender units (170 women, 94%). Most NHS beds in single-gender units were for men (56 beds), whereas most private sector beds in single-gender units were for women (79 beds).

Increased awareness of the often inappropriateness of services for women in mixed-gender units has led to units deciding not to admit women patients and, inadvertently, more single-gender beds for men in NHS units than for women. The NHS units have to rely on private sector units to provide beds in single-gender units for women, perhaps at the expense of effective continuity of care.

To describe the reported experiences of 15- and 16-year-old boys on remand in a young offender institution (YOI) as told to a child psychiatrist. Nineteen remanded adolescents were interviewed using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia as part of a study. During the warm-up conversation prior to this semi-structured interview, the boys were given the opportunity to talk about their experiences of being in a YOI.

The boys described experiences of institutionalisation, including the deprivation of incarceration and the intimidation of a ‘macho-culture’, which on occasions verged on the abusive. Their responses are described.

An emotionally deprived prison environment that lacks appropriate care for children is likely to contribute to the very high levels of mental disorder known to exist in this population. A major reform of conditions for young prisoners has commenced since this study was conducted. The prison service and society as a whole must, however, ensure that the planned improved living conditions for children in prison are reached. Child psychiatry has a very important contribution to make by providing mental health care within prison institutions in order to engage young prisoners with mental health problems and their families.

We assessed psychiatrists' knowledge and attitudes towards the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) regulations concerning mental illness. A postal survey of all consultant and trainee psychiatrists (228) on the South Thames (East) regional psychiatry rotation was carried out.

For category 1 (private car and motorcycles) licenses, 40.0% of psychiatrists could correctly advise patients with a bipolar affective disorder; this figure was 0% for schizophreniform disorders. For category 2 (heavy goods vehicles) licenses the corresponding figures were 13.2% and 11.8%, respectively.

For alcohol misuse, alcohol dependency and alcohol related disorders, the scores were 26.0%, 29.1% and 19.7%.

Psychiatrists fail to know or apply existing DVLA regulations, for a number of reasons. Failure to inform patients of the restrictions and to record this may result in medico-legal liability for practitioners.

To assess and update the available data on use of ginkgo to treat dementia. A Medline search as conducted for the period January 1985 to October 2000. The search included other aspects of the usage of ginkgo, such as side-effects, mechanism of action and drug interactions.

Most of the trials using ginkgo were to treat cerebral insufficiency. Only five trials could be identified that used ginkgo to treat dementia. There are no trials comparing ginkgo to cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil.

Ginkgo is generally well-tolerated and appears to ease the symptoms of dementia. Although it has been suggested that the effect is comparable to donepezil, confirmation from controlled studies is required.

A Medline literature search revealed a large number of articles on anticonvulsant monitoring. More relevant articles were selected with the aim of summarising current best practice in this area.

Most articles were written to address monitoring in epilepsy and not psychiatric illness. Serum ranges should only be regarded as guidelines. Some patients may show toxic signs at therapeutic serum levels while others may show tolerance and require higher levels.

Appropriate monitoring of serum levels improves efficacy and enhances safety. Clinician ignorance may lead to inappropriate or inaccurate sampling with resultant adverse consequences for the patient.