Should measurement of cognition be part of recovery programs for patients with Psychotic Illness?

The recovery model of schizophrenia is central to the devlopment of community services for patients with schizophrenia. However often when applying the recovery model of psychosis, often formal identification of cognitive imparements is not carried out, nor are interventions to improve cognitive functioning offered in a targeted way. Here we discuss how these issues relate to each other and argue for the use of cognitive testing in order to elp recovery in schizophrenia.

The Cambridge-Perugia Inventory for assessment of Bipolar Disorder.

It is well known that Bipolar Disorder is a condition which is often under diagnosed or misdiagnosed. We propose an inventory of questions which will help assess the longitutinal history of the patient's illness, and to evaluate the presence of mixed affective states, rapid cycling, and comorbidities, all of which have an important bearing on prognosis.

The Doctor Patient Relationship; what if Communication Skills are not used? A Maltese Story.

The doctor patient relationship is fundamental to the practice of medicine. In the UK, much work has been carried out to develop taining in communication skills for both doctors and medical students. Whereas it is true that controled trials of communication skills are now beginning to emerge in the primary care literature, it is also true that there is need for studies of communication skills on the hospital ward.