The ball search field task in the evaluation of methylphenidate treatment of children with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder.

Assessing behavioral change in psychiatric contexts requires retesting patients where, however, ecologically relevant tasks are rarely used. We employed the Ball Search Field Task (BSFT) to evaluate the performance of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) outpatients before and after administration of methylphenidate (MPH) and compared their performance with that of non-medicated ADHD outpatients and age-matched controls. The outpatient groups showed poorer performance at initial testing, improved performance at re-test although not to the level of the controls, and no clear effect of MPH treatment.

Validity of the Spanish version of the Personal and Social Performance scale in schizophrenia.

Background: The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale is a reliable and valid instrument that utilizes objective parameters for the assessment of social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the PSP scale.

Method: In total, 100 patients with DSM-IV diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were recruited and assessed with the PSP, the GAF, the PANSS, and the CGI.

Amoxapine shows atypical antipsychotic effects in patients with schizophrenia: results from a prospective open-label study.

Objective: Amoxapine is marketed as an antidepressant. However, its receptor occupancy, in vitro and in vivo, and its effects in pre-clinical models are very similar to atypical antipsychotics. To examine if this leads to an atypical antipsychotic effect in the clinical context, the authors examined the antipsychotic and side-effect profile of amoxapine in acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia.