The subjects consisted of 84 female SLE outpatients who were all over 20 years of age. These patients were able to maintain relatively stable physical conditions and lead normal daily lives, and they were regularly treated at the outpatient clinic. All subjects were Japanese. Psychological features (trait anxiety, state anxiety, depression and suicide ideation) were evaluated using psychological tests, and the relationships between the respective psychological features and background factors were statistically evaluated using stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses. In this study, we found that 'the self-evaluation of not having understood SLE at the time of starting SLE treatment' was the background factor significantly affecting depression or trait anxiety. 'No spouse' had a statistically significant effect on depression, and 'self-awareness as problems of side-effects due to steroids' had a statistically significant effect on state anxiety. We also found 'human relations among family members' and 'high daily steroid dosage' to be significantly correlated with suicide ideation. However, there were no correlations between the psychological features and 'disease activity at the time of investigation' or 'history of neuropsychiatric diseases'. In female SLE outpatients, performing psychological approaches focusing on 'understanding SLE at the beginning of treatment', 'the human relationships among family members', or 'issues related to steroid therapy' may be useful for the early treatment or prevention of various major mental problems.

We reviewed all patients with dissociative disorders (nine patients with dissociative amnesia or dissociative fugue) and conversion disorders (10 patients) who were admitted and treated during the past 15 years. Needs frustrated at the appearance of the symptoms and those fulfilled at discharge were studied in both groups using Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The patients of both groups who encountered troubles in their life events were found to have frustrated needs. These symptoms tended to be accompanied more often by frustrations regarding a 'need for love' in the dissociative disorders group and by frustration in the need for 'self-esteem and selfactualization' in the conversion disorders group. In addition, needs of lower orders were already threatened at onset in many patients. The symptoms disappeared in patients in whom the situation completely improved (needs were fulfilled), but the symptoms were alleviated or unchanged in those in whom the problems remained unresolved.

Eighty-four female outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are able to live on their own were investigated. We statistically analyzed the relationship between emotional instability based on psychological tests (Cornell Medical Index), and physical, medical, and social factors based on both our clinical records and original questionnaires. The emotional instability was related to not "working," an older "age at the time of SLE diagnosis," being "anxious about the adverse effects of steroids," or not "understanding the details of the disease and treatment at the time SLE treatment was started." No relationship with previously experienced physical factors was observed. In addition, no relationship with disease activity was observed either. We identified the characteristic correlation between emotional instability and medical and social factors in this study. Paying close attention to these factors may thus be useful in both preventing the appearance of psychological problems and developing effective early treatment strategies.

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Summary 1) The drivings caused by photic stimulation were observed in various parts of the cortex and the subcortex of non‐anesthetized cats with the use of no restraint. 2) The lateral geniculate nucleus gave perfect driving at 3–30 c/s flicker rates, responded with spikes and sharp waves. 3) Drivings were recorded at the nucleus centralis lateralis, nucleus reticularis and nucleus lateralis‐posterior of the thalamus. At the nucleus centralis lateralis and the nucleus reticularis, drivings in form of waves were observed at about 3–30 c/s flicker rates, but at the nucleus lateralis posterior drivings were provoked as sharp waves. In these nuclei of the thalamus, regular second‐harmonic responses were sometimes recorded constantly at about 18–28 c/s flicker rates, and the spindle‐like burst and the waxing and waning of driving were often recorded at certain flicker rates. 4) At the mesencephalic reticular formation, drivings were recorded in the shape of more simple waves. 5) Drivings were provoked both at the posterior and at the ventromedialis of the hypothalamus but never at its anterior. 6) At the dorsal part of the hippocampus, drivings were caused in general at somewhat higher frequency than 8–30 c/s flicker rates. 7) Drivings in the cortex were investigated at the gyrus sigmoideus posterior, the gyrus lateralis, the gyrus suprasylvius medius and the gyrus posterolateralis, and each characteristic of driving in the respective areas was observed. 8) From the above results. the methodological possibility in psychopharmacological study with utilization of photic driving was referred.