The psycho-social and clinical profile of women referred for psycho-legal evaluation to forensic mental health units in South Africa.

Background: There is a paucity of research on women offenders in the South African context, particularly those referred for forensic psychiatric observation. Little is known about their life histories, the nature of their offences or the psycho-social contexts that enable, or are antecedents to, women's criminal offending.

Aims: This research study, the largest of its kind in South Africa, examined the psycho-social contexts within which women offenders referred for psychiatric evaluation come to commit offences.

Validation of the Whooley questions for antenatal depression and anxiety among low-income women in urban South Africa.

Background/objective: In South Africa, approximately 40% of women suffer from depression during pregnancy. Although perinatal depression and anxiety are significant public health problems impacting maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, no routine mental health screening programmes exist in the country. A practical, accurate screening tool is needed to identify cases in these busy, resource-scarce settings.

Schizoaffective Disorder in an acute psychiatric unit: Profile of users and agreement with Operational Criteria (OPCRIT).

Background: Schizoaffective Disorder is a controversial and poorly understood diagnosis. Experts disagree on whether it is a discrete disorder; whether it is on a spectrum between Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia or whether it even exists. Lack of individual research attention given to this disorder, changing diagnostic criteria and hence poor diagnostic stability have all contributed to the dearth of knowledge surrounding Schizoaffective Disorder.

Ziprasidone and haloperidol in the treatment of acute exacerbation of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: comparison of intramuscular and oral formulations in a 6-week, randomized, blinded-assessment study.

Rationale: Conventional intramuscular (IM) antipsychotics used in managing acute exacerbation of schizophrenia are associated with side effects such as acute dystonia.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of sequential IM/oral ziprasidone with haloperidol in acute exacerbation of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Methods: In a 6-week, multicenter, parallel-group, flexibly dosed study, patients were randomized to ziprasidone (IM up to 3 days, then oral 40-80 mg, b.

Intramuscular ziprasidone: moving beyond the conventional in the treatment of acute agitation in schizophrenia.

The appropriate management of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder requires effective, safe antipsychotic agents for use across a continuum of treatment, from control of acute psychotic episodes to prevention of relapse. Intramuscular (IM) formulations are the method of choice for administering antipsychotics to schizophrenic patients who require emergency treatment but cannot take oral medication. Atypical antipsychotics are now widely acknowledged as the first-line choice for the management of patients with schizophrenia.

A pilot study of intramuscular ziprasidone in the short-term treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.

Ziprasidone is a novel antipsychotic which, in oral formulation, has been shown to be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of acute psychosis. This pilot study examined the efficacy and tolerability of the intramuscular (IM) formulation and the transition from IM to oral ziprasidone in patients with acute schizophrenia. The study design was an open, prospective, 5-day treatment trial of IM ziprasidone followed by oral dosing in 12 patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.

Survey of certification practices for patients admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital.

The involuntary hospitalisation of psychiatric patients continues to be a controversial issue. All patients certified and admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital under Sections 9 and 12 of the Mental Health Act, No. 18 of 1973, over a 4-week period were surveyed.