Mental health bill or public order--cause for concern
Can we predict whether an individual with a severe personality disorder will commit murder? Should compulsory treatment in the community be introduced? In a draft mental health bill, which was under consultation until September 16, the UK government has proposed a number of changes that have caused widespread concern. The government's intention is to protect the vulnerable in society; but in doing so, is it undermining the rights of those with mental illness? This month's Leading edge discusses the changes proposed in the draft bill and their implications for both those with a mental illness and their carers.

Global democratic consensus on neuropathological disease criteria
In a Reflection and reaction article, a group of experts in Parkinson's disease outline an exciting and new initiative: to reach a democratic consensus on core definitions of the histopathological phenotype of Parkinson's disease by use of the worldwide web. The group, which includes experts from all over the world, have set up an interactive website to enable members of the neurology community to comment on and shape their proposed criteria. They state: "For the first time a global consensus on histopathological diagnostic criteria is within reach".

Why did NMDA antagonists fail?
NMDA receptor antagonists failed to show efficacy in clinical trials of stroke and traumatic brain injury. In a personal view, Chrysanthy Ikonomidou and Lechoslaw Turski hypothesise that glutamate may only be involved in the acute neurodestructive phase, after which it could resume its normal role, which may include promotion of neuronal survival. "The search for new neuroprotective therapies continues and drugs are entering clinical trials. The lessons learnt will hopefully guide these new developments", they conclude.

Review articles:
The neurology of mitochondrial DNA disease
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Contact: Richard Lane
richard.lane@lancet.com
44-20-7424-4949
Lancet
13-Sep-2002

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