Decision-making Capacity for Treatment After Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression.

Objectives: Depression can impair decision-making capacity (DMC) for health care decisions. However, it is unclear whether DMC improves after treatments for depression such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). There is limited evidence available on DMC for treatment in patients with depression referred for ECT, and it is unknown whether ECT has any impact on DMC.

Drawing on emotions: the evolving role of art therapy.

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media to improve well-being. This article explores the history and development of art therapy, from the first description of art therapy in the 1940s, to the two main approaches still in use today. The benefits of art therapy with regard to its delivery, patient population, and cost are then broadly discussed.

The recovery of factors associated with decision-making capacity in individuals with psychosis.

Background: There is limited data on the recovery of factors associated with decisional capacity in patients with psychosis.

Aims: To study the relationship between changes in mental capacity, symptoms and global functioning using structured measures during treatment for psychosis.

Method: Fifty-six patients with psychosis were assessed for capacity to consent to treatment on admission and at 6 and 12 weeks following treatment.

Functional mental capacity, treatment as usual and time: magnitude of change in secure hospital patients with major mental illness.

Background: Decision making ability can change with time, depending on mental or physical health. Little is known about the factors that determine this change and the relationship of capacity to time. As a pilot for studies using functional mental capacities as an outcome measure, we sought to quantify this relationship measuring change over time using competence assessment tools, and rating scales for symptoms and global function.

Extra information about treatment is too much for the patient with psychosis.

Background: Case law across jurisdictions requires ever more complete disclosure of material facts when obtaining consent to treatment.

Aims: To determine whether giving extra information impairs the mental capacity to make decisions about treatment.

Method: The MacCAT-T, MacCAT-FP, PANSS and GAF were administered to 88 detained forensic patients with psychosis.

Antitumour and antimalarial activity of artemisinin-acridine hybrids.

Artemisinin-acridine hybrids were prepared and evaluated for their in vitro activity against tumour cell lines and a chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum. They showed a 2-4-fold increase in activity against HL60, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells in comparison with dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and moderate antimalarial activity. Strong evidence that the compounds induce apoptosis in HL60 cells was obtained by flow cytometry, which indicated accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Functional mental capacity is not independent of the severity of psychosis.

Background: Function-specific mental capacities are the legal criteria for competence. These are regarded as superior to clinical assessments of mental state and general function.

Aims: To determine whether tests of fitness to plead and capacity to consent are independent of each other and independent of mental state and global function in psychosis.

A review of recorded information given to patients starting to take clozapine and the development of guidelines on disclosure, a key component of informed consent.

Clozapine is a very effective drug with both significant benefits and significant risks in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Informed consent is generally accepted as both desirable and necessary in order to ensure that the patient's human rights and dignity are respected. Disclosure is a key element of informed consent.