This study investigated the rates of severe substance misuse, severe emotional disturbance, and dual diagnosis in a meal-line population of mixed ethnicity, 75% of whom were homeless and the remainder near-homeless. Alcohol and/or drug use was reported by 93% and severe substance misuse was found in 39% of the population. Severe mental illness was found in 54% of the population. Both conditions, dual diagnosis, was found in 29% of the cases. A cluster analysis of the total population found three types: those with dual diagnosis (24.27%), those with serious substance misuse and personality disorder (39.3%), and those with neither severe disorder (37.3%). The ethnicity of the homeless individual was very weakly, if at all, associated with the disorders.

The Professional Affairs Committee conducted a survey of its members regarding the desirability of training for prescription privileges among its membership. While a majority of those surveyed appeared to be in favor of such training, many members expressed concern regarding the complexity of the training involved and its impact on the rigorous educational expectations already in place for clinical neuropsychologists.

No abstract

We conducted a review of drugs that were most commonly associated with inducing seizures in the elderly population. The method for determining the risk of these agents includes evaluating the utilisation and the percentage of adverse events in previous studies and case reports. Classes of medications, such as anti-psychotics and antidepressants, are extensively reviewed to provide the clinician with treatment options in high risk patients. The risk of seizures secondary to the withdrawal of alcohol (ethanol) and benzodiazepines, and methods employed to minimise the risk are discussed. In addition, the management of patients with drug-induced seizures is delineated. Drug-induced seizures are a potentially serious adverse effect. It is important that clinicians are aware of which classes of medications and individual medications are associated with reducing seizure threshold.