SynopsisThe results of an examination of the 238 cases of anorexia nervosa on the Aberdeen Psychiatric Case Register for the period 1965–82 are reported. A highly significant increase in the number of cases over time was found. The average annual incidence rate for the period 1978–82 was 4·06 per 100000 population. The case notes of every second patient on the register were inspected to assess diagnostic reliability, to define patient characteristics further and to look for changes in these over time. The diagnosis was highly suspect in 5% of cases. A social class bias was found, with an over-representation of classes I and II but an under-representation of social class III. Few significant changes were noted in the patients over time. The utilization of services was also examined, and it was found that 24% of the patients remained in contact for 4 years or more.

Annual age-standardised rates for first contacts with psychiatric services in the Aberdeen area from 1969 to 1984 were calculated for schizophrenia, paranoid states, reactive psychoses, all affective psychoses, mania, and depressive neuroses. Highly significant declines occurred in the diagnosis of schizophrenia and of depressive neuroses. No concomitant increase occurred. It is concluded that these results probably indicate that there has been a fall in the incidence of schizophrenia in North-East Scotland. This may have arisen due to changes in the mode of expression and/or the severity of all functional psychoses.

SummaryAfter the sixth week of the spring term of 1971 the unmarried female undergraduates at Aberdeen University were sent a postal questionnaire about their sexual behaviour and contraceptive practice and 1,552 (90%) replied. Of these, 684 (44%) had experienced intercourse, 486 in the six-week period preceding the study, of whom 46% had had it more than six times in this period. It was found that 86% of the relationships were with fianc6s or steady partners.Only half of the experienced and a quarter of the inexperienced girls thought that contraceptive advice and materials were adequately available. Contraceptives had not been used by 53% of the students on the first occasion that they had intercourse. In the previous six-week period 192 girls had intercourse without using a contraceptive -39% of those having sexual relations. The use of contraceptives increased with the frequency of intercourse and the stability of the relationship. During the previous six weeks 30% of those having intercourse were on the pill, 38% used the sheath, and 26% relied on the safe period or withdrawal as their most frequent method of contraception.Sixty-five girls had been pregnant in the past, six were pregnant at the time of the survey, and 49 thought that they might be.The uncertainty and difficulty that are experienced in obtaining contraceptives and the large number of occasions on which they are not used are discussed. Moral and pragmatic aspects of promoting a more effective use are examined and better publicity for the family planning clinics that already exist is urged.

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The opportunity was taken in March 1981, to obtain self-reports from a sample of men working in the North Sea Oil Industry, of the amount of alcohol consumed during the week preceding their period offshore. It was very heavy; approximately 30per cent of 213 men had drunk amounts above the safe limits suggested by the Royal College of Psychiatrists [/]. The findings are compared with data obtained by similar methods in other groups of men by other investigators, and the results discussed.