Clinical and psychometric validation of the psychotic depression assessment scale.

Background: Recent studies have indicated that the 11-item Psychotic Depression Assessment Scale (PDAS), consisting of the 6-item melancholia subscale (HAM-D6) of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and 5 psychosis items from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), is a valid measure for the severity of psychotic depression. The aim of this study was to subject the PDAS, and its depression (HAM-D6) and psychosis (BPRS5) subscales to further validation.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with psychotic depression at Danish psychiatric hospitals participated in semi-structured interviews.

[Pott's puffy tumour is a rare complication of sinusitis].

Pott's puffy tumour is a well known but rare complication of frontal sinusitis or trauma. It was first described by Sir Percivall Pott in 1768. Pott's puffy tumour is characterized by subperio-steal abscess associated with osteomyelitis.

Follow-up interviews after eclampsia.

Background/aims: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of persisting symptoms 6 months or more after eclampsia.

Methods: During a 2-year period (mid-1998 to mid-2000), 210 patients with eclampsia were included in a prospective cohort study of eclampsia in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. One hundred and twenty-three women (59%) were followed up with a structured telephone interview, 6-24 months (median 11) after their eclamptic fit.