Schizophrenia is characterized by heterogeneous brain abnormalities involving cerebral regions implied in the executive functioning. The dysexecutive syndrome is one of the most prominent and functionally cognitive features of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, it is not clear to what extend executive deficits are heterogeneous in schizophrenia…

There are many ways to help children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) succeed in school. Behavior intervention plans provide support to help students adjust their actions to fit school norms. Inclusive philosophy and practices continue to break the cycle of restricted and segregated placements, whereas schoolwide intervention models…

Increasing evidence that decompensation into acute psychosis by schizophrenics can often be avoided with active pharmacological and psychosocial intervention at the early signs of relapse has stimulated research into the signs and symptoms prodromal to acute psychosis. In this study, 6-week periods prior to 17 psychotic relapses and to 11 relapses…

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are associated with high degrees of impairment and often respond inadequately to pharmacotherapy alone. In recent years, numerous clinical trials have been published showing the benefits of adjunctive cognitive behavior therapy for treating psychosis. However, research in this area has been hampered by…

Straub "et al." ("2002") recently identified the 6p22.3 gene dysbindin (DTNBP1) through positional cloning as a schizophrenia susceptibility gene. We studied a rare cohort of 102 children with onset of psychosis before age 13. Standardized ratings of early development, medication response, neuropsychological and cognitive performance, premorbid…

Objective: This article reviews evidence on the treatment of early episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders that contradicts, in some cases, the American Psychiatric Association's generic recommendation of antipsychotic medication treatment for at least a year. Method: Evidence on lack of diagnostic validity, absence of demonstrated long-term…

The symptoms of, and possible treatments for 21 borderline and psychotic adolescents who had suffered from borderline psychoses in childhood were examined from a developmental point of view. It was concluded that therapeutic possibilities exist. Some childhood symptoms could be used directly in treatment, while others disappeared with general…

Intended for personnel in programs serving persons with developmental disabilities, the booklet provides basic information about the major psychiatric disorders and their treatment. Five sections cover: the major disorders; medications--uses and problems; assessment; cooordination of services; and psychiatric emergencies. Major disorders such as…

The 14 conference papers on mental illness focus on the biological, genetic, psychopharmacological, psychopathological, and epidemiological and social factors related to psychoses. Divided into five sections each preceded by a brief introduction, entries include the following titles and authors: "The Biological Substrates of Schizophrenia" (S.…

Although clozapine is a drug specifically approved for people with schizophrenia, it has not been systematically evaluated with dually diagnosed individuals having mental retardation. This article reviews the drug's use in the general population, discusses potential difficulties in prescribing it for individuals with mental retardation, and…

The use of neuroleptic medicine in the treatment of schizophrenia is often predicated on the goal of eliminating psychotic symptoms. Use of neuroleptics, however, may produce unfortunate side effects. A case is presented which illustrates the time-limited use of neuroleptics. (JN)

The lead article by H. Drummond examines the cultural context of psychosis and concludes that madness is deeply rooted in social and sexual inequality. The author, a psychiatrist, supports his argument with case studies, reports on the use of drugs with the psychotic, research on efforts to demonstrate that schizophrenia is a biological illness,…