A prevalence study of folate deficiency in a psychiatric in-patient population.

Controlled clinical trials in the UK have shown folate deficiency in psychiatric patients, and it has been suggested that such deficiency is most likely to occur among patients with affective disorders. Studies have led to the use of folate as an adjunct to therapy in such patients. The present paper describes a preliminary investigation into the red cell folate status of psychiatric patients in a general hospital unit compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls, using up-to-date assays and strict entry criteria and overall improved methods on previous studies.

'Do not resuscitate': How? why? and when?

Objective: The main objective was to discover who had 'Do Not Resuscitate' (DNR) status, why, how, when and by whom these decisions were made.

Design, Setting And Patients: The medical and nursing notes of all inpatients (139) (age range 16-100 years) in an inner city district general hospital on a single day were examined to determine the resuscitation status, age, sex, and diagnosis of each patient.

Result: A decision not to resuscitate had been taken in 28 (20%) of the cases.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older patients. A tolerability perspective.

Depression is a serious illness that is common in the elderly but which is frequently overlooked. Management is complicated by physiological changes associated with aging, the presence of comorbid physical illness, and compliance problems; these factors must be taken into account when selecting an appropriate antidepressant. The well known problems associated with the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) [i.