Neurobiological differences on populational level.

At present, 13% of world population are suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders. Prevention and treatment of these pathological conditions are very important. New research strategies are needed for the creation of effective methods for controlling of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Development of human resources for medical research.

Acknowledges that progress in health care depends on achievements in biomedical research. Discusses the continuing professional development of research workers and the role of international organizations such as the WHO and UNESCO. Argues that a creative approach is necessary to ensure stability in health development.

[Effects of antidepressants in different populations].

A total of 370 patients were subjected to a comprehensive international examination (within the frameworks of the WHO) by the double blind method for the efficacy of low (75 mg/day) and high (150 mg/day) doses of antidepressants (maprotiline, amitriptyline, imipramine). In 324 patients, the time course of the psychopathological disorders and side effects was studied with the aid of special scales and maps. The selection of the population and, therefore, the selection of the 7 cooperative WHO centers was based on the necessity of the maximal coverage of possible cultural, economic and ethnic relations in the patients' populations.

Short-term naloxone administration in schizophrenic and manic patients. A World Health Organization Collaborative Study.

A double-blind study of the behavioral effects of short-term naloxone hydrochloride administration was performed in 32 schizophrenic and 26 manic patients in a World Health Organization collaborative project. There was a significant naloxone-associated reduction in overall physician-rated symptoms in schizophrenic patients concurrently treated with neuroleptic medication (N = 19) but not in medication-free schizophrenics (N = 13). Physician rating of auditory hallucinations showed significant naloxone-associated improvement for the total schizophrenic population, while self-ratings of auditory hallucinations showed improvement only in neuroleptic-treated schizophrenics.

A collaborative study of genetic linkage of bipolar manic-depressive illness and red/green colorblindness. A project of the biological psychiatry collaborative program of the world health organization.

A study of linkage of bipolar manic-depressive illness to the protan/deutan colorblindness region of the X-chromosome was performed on 16 informative families, in a WHO collaborative study (eight families from Brussels, Six from Bethesda, one each from Basel and Copenhagen). Overall, the series did not support close linkage, but is possibly suggestive of loose linkage. The possibility of genetic heterogeneity of bipolar manic-depressive illness, with one form linked to colorblindness, is considered.

Antithymic immune factor in schizophrenia. A World Health Organization study.

Six WHO Collaborating Centre took part in the study of the antithymic activity of blood sera of patients suffering from schizophrenia. Blood serum specimens from 118 schizophrenic patients and 62 mentally healthy donors were investigated. Statistically significant differences between schizophrenic patients and the controls were found (p < 0.