Postmortem investigations were performed in brains from 14 schizophrenic patients and 21 controls matched for age and autopsy latency. Concentrations of galanin, delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), arginine vasopressin (AVP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY (PYY) were determined in the hypothalamus and grey matter from the temporal cortex. A significant positive correlation between age and the concentrations of galanin and CRF was found in the controls. No sex differences were found except a higher mean of CRF in the hypothalamus of the women. In the temporal cortex of the schizophrenic brains, galanin, AVP, NPY and PYY were significantly reduced. DSIP reduction only bordered on significance. CRF was not reduced. Comparing neuroleptic-treated vs non-treated schizophrenics, the treatment factor could not explain the reduced concentrations of neuropeptides in the temporal lobe. A comparison of controls with schizophrenics showed no significant differences in hypothalamic neuropeptide concentrations.

An intraindividual double-blind cross-over comparison for the anterograde effect on memory of unilateral non-dominant frontofrontal (FF) and temporo-parietal (TP) ECT was performed in connection with the second and third treatment of an ECT-series, the electrode placement being alternated at random. Treatment technique was standardized and seizure duration was measured by means of EEG. Memory functions were tested after treatments by means of four memory tests: the 30 Word-Pair Test, the 30 Figure Test, the 30 Geometrical Figure Test and the 30 Face Test. Three operationally defined memory variables, immediate memory (IMS, 3 hours after ECT), delayed memory (DMS, 3 hours after IMS), and their difference, forgetting, were scored. No differences were found in the mean time of electrical stimulation, in the amount of methohexital and suxamethonium chloride, and in seizure duration between the two treatment groups. No statistically significant differences in any of the memory tests were found. The FF electrode position did not show any advantage compared with the routine TP electrode placement.

In spite of a decrease in the number of electroconvulsive treatments (ECT) administered during the decade 1966-1975, ECT is still commonly used in Sweden. About 4 per cent of all patients admitted for psychiatric treatment during 1975 received ECT. Affective disorders and confusional states appear to be the main indications. Treatment is usually unilateral, with general anaesthesia and muscle relaxants, generally using the same type of ECT machine.

The aim of the investigation was to find whether a single dose of ACTH4-10 could alleviate the retrograde dysmnesic effects of unilateral ECT and improve retrieval. Twenty depressive inpatients participated in the study, which was a double-blind intraindividual cross-over comparison between ACTH4-10 (30 mg subcutaneously) and placebo. The drug was administered 150 min after learning and 90 min after the second or third ECT unilateral treatment. Retrieval was tested 30 min after the administration of the drug. An identical design was used in 20 unmedicated healthy female subjects. The results of both studies give no support to the hypothesis that a single dose of ACTH4-10 facilitates memory retrieval.