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The prevalence of lymphocytotoxic antibody in inflammatory bowel disease is 40 per cent. Twenty-seven of 90 relatives of 23 probands with the disease (30 per cent) demonstrated lymphocytotoxic antibody, as contrasted with only three of 69 control family members (4 per cent) (P less than 0.0001). Decreased lymphocytotoxicity against lymphocytes from patients with inflammatory bowel disease as compared to normal donor lymphocytes previously demonstrated in the serum of probands was also observed in the serums from family members of the probands. Nineteen of the 48 household contacts of probands (40 per cent) were positive for antibody, whereas eight of 42 nonhousehold contacts (19 per cent) demonstrated it (P less than 0.05). Eight of 16 spouses (50 per cent) of probands showed antibody. The increased prevalence of lymphocytotoxic antibody in family members of probands and its occurrence mainly in household contacts (consanguineous and non-consanguineous) may indicate the exposure of probands and their family members to a common environmental agent.

A short anxiety and depression questionnaire developed by Goldberg et al. was applied to 796 employees of an oil company operating offshore in the North Sea. Anxiety and depression scores were compared in offshore staff and their onshore counterparts at different levels of seniority. These scores were taken to be indicators of stress levels. No statistically significant differences in anxiety or depression scores were identified between groups working onshore or offshore.

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