SynopsisThree studies are reported using the Geriatric Mental State in one of its community forms on a total of 647 subjects aged over 65 and living in their own homes. The concordance between the computer diagnosis AGECAT and psychiatrists' diagnosis is at least as good in these replication samples as in the original studies (Copeland et al. 1986). AGECAT has been shown to be useful for epidemiological surveys and as a diagnostic guide for non-medical interviewers.

Of 665 patients referred between 1969 and 1984 for behavioural treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, 22 had marked slowness not due to washing, which was secondary to mental or overt rituals or ruminations. Over 90% of the slowness cases were male, and over a quarter had pre-natal or delivery problems.

This paper briefly outlines the role of occupational therapy in assessing and treating patients with the tripartite problems of mental disorder, dangerousness and an addictive behaviour. The first unit dedicated to the management of such patients within conditions of high security was opened in Broadmoor Hospital in 1995. It is a 25-bedded male inpatient ward. This article focuses on occupational therapy in this unit, the forensic addictive behaviours unit, but many of the issues discussed apply to patients with an addiction within other forensic psychiatric settings.