[Switching to quetiapine fumarate monotherapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia: a report of five cases].

We assessed the efficacy and tolerance of switching to monotherapy with quetiapine fumarate (QF) in treatmentresistant schizophrenia with other antipsychotics, including atypical ones. QF treatment was maintained for 8 weeks. The PANSS scores improved at least 40% over this period.

Alopecia areata: psychiatric comorbidity and adjustment to illness.

Background: Decades ago, alopecia areata (AA) was regarded as a well-known example of psychosomatic disease. The poor development of measurement methods and criteria for the classification of psychiatric disorders at that time was probably partly to blame for the lack of methodologic validity of some studies.

Methods: We studied a random sample of 32 patients with AA (patchy form).

Pharmacoepidemiological patterns of antidepressant prescribing in primary care in rural Spain (1995-1999).

Background: The prescribing of psychoactive drugs is increasing progressively in western countries. The new psychiatric care modalities, in contact with the primary care centres and closer to the population, might be determining this increase in a major way.

Methods: Official data of prescription were collected from the Public Primary Care Department of Pharmacy, to monitor the use of antidepressants during a five year period in a rural health area (140,359 inhabitants).