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Recently, the mutation causing early-onset generalized torsion dystonia has been identified as a GAG deletion in the gene for an adenosine triphosphate-binding protein named torsinA. We describe a German family with 5 clinically affected individuals carrying this mutation. In at least 4 of the 5 patients, the disease presented as a dystonic writer's cramp during late childhood or adolescence, which affected sequentially both sides but did not progress to a generalized form of dystonia. We conclude that familial writer's cramp may be a manifestation of the DYT1 mutation.

Objective: The higher incidence of man‐to‐woman transsexuals compared to woman‐to‐man transsexuals varies markedly from country to country. This is the first survey of the sex ratio to be made in Germany. Method: It covers 1785 patients who between 1964 and 1998 were diagnosed as transsexual at the four largest German centres offering treatment. Results: From 1970 to 1994 the sex ratio remained constant at 2:1 in favour of man‐to‐woman transsexuals. Over the past 4 years, however, it has altered considerably and reached 1.2:1. Conclusion: Up to 1994 our results do not support the assumption that transsexualism is gradually becoming equally prevalent in both sexes. The drop in the sex ratio after 1994 can be explained either as a reduction of an overhang of male‐to‐female transsexuals or as an artificial phenomenon caused by recent developments in therapy and by the views of transsexuals' groups on the treatment they are offered.

The frequency of galactorrhea and the subjective response to it were investigated in 150 schizophrenic patients. The incidence rate was 14% and the prevalence rate 19%. The latency periods between start of neuroleptic medication and manifestation of galactorrrhea were subject to substantial scatter, as were the prolactin values. Patients who had undergone neuroleptic relapse prevention prior to the index episode and/or had been pregnant were affected significantly more frequently by galactorrhea.

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