A single intraperitoneal administration of methamphetamine (MAP) reduces cholecystokininlike immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat brain. This report examines the effects of various dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists [haloperidol (HAL), sulpiride (SUL), YM09151-2 (YM), and SCH23390 (SCH)] on MAP-induced abnormal behaviors and the changes of CCK-LI in the rat mPFC. A single subcutaneous administration of HAL (0.25 mg/kg), YM (0.1 mg/kg), or SUL (250 mg/kg) significantly reduced the basal CCK-LI in mPFC by 20–40%; a selective D1 antagonist, SCH (up to 1.0 mg/kg), had no effect on basal CCK-LI. However, the reduction of CCK-LI induced by MAP (20–40%) was abolished by the pretreatment with HAL (0.025 and 0.25 mg/kg), YM (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg), or SCH (1.0 mg/kg), without being affected by SUL (up to 250 mg/kg). This effect of DA antagonists on MAP-induced change in CCK-LI was associated with an inhibition of MAP-induced stereotyped behaviors. These data suggest that the CCK-containing neurons in rat mPFC are functionally related to the mesocortical DA system and may participate in a development of abnormal behaviors induced by MAP.

The possible correlates of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use were investigated in a survey conducted among undergraduate students of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Factors that emerged as common correlates to the three substances investigated were peer influence, self-reported poor mental health, religiousity, parental/guardian supervision, perceived availability and perceived harmfulness. In addition, drinking and smoking were found to be commoner among the male sex and among respondents who reported study difficulty. There was also a significant positive relationship between cannabis use and a polygamous family background and belonging to an older age group. Although the data used in the analysis is limited due to its cross-sectional nature, the observations made are useful enough for the formulation of primary prevention strategies. A further and more elaborate longitudinal study is, however, suggested.

Our previous study showed that intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) produced a significant increase in locomotor activity at a dose of 1 μg and slow stereotypy with prominent grooming at a dose of 10 μg. In addition, the ICV administration of CRH caused a significant increase in dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine turnover (NE) in various forebrain regions. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the ICV administration of CRH on cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM) and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) in the rat forebrain. The ICV administration of 1 and 10 μg CRH caused a marked reduction in CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI), NPY-LI and SOM-LI in the medial frontal cortex (MFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (Ant. CC), whereas it induced an increment of NPY-LI in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and striatum. Increased SOM-LI and decreased NPY-LI were observed in the hippocampus following the ICV administration of CRH at both doses. The ICV administration of CRH caused a significant decrease in the BAGA content in the MFC, ant. CC, NAc and striatum. Taken together with our previous findings, these results indicate that the ICV administration of CRH induced classical neurotransmitter and neuropeptide abnormalities in the central nervous system which resulted increased emotionality, especially anxiety, in rats.

Psychological disorders among 275 medical and surgical in-patients was assessed by a two-stage screening procedure, using the GHQ-30 and the PSE. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 30.2% with an additional 9.8% reporting distressing psychiatric symptoms. The morbidity rates among medical (30.6%) and surgical (29.6%) patients were comparable. Older patients and females were found to be more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders. It is suggested that the paramedical personnel in general hospital wards of developing countries could be taught psychosocial intervention techniques necessary in the management of emotional complications of physical disorders.

A study of the incidence of self-medication among Nigerian University students was carried out in the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, which has a student population of 10 000. A self-administered 34-item questionnaire was distributed to 300 randomly selected students, fifty-six per cent of whom responded. The questionnaires collected information on the personal, social and family life history of the students. The habit of self-medication among the respondents in relation to a large number of drugs classified under ten main categories was also inquired into. The data obtained revealed a widespread incidence of self-diagnosis and self-medication among the students. In addition to psychoactive drugs, the respondents used antimalarial drugs, analgesics, antibiotics and haematinics. Male students used antibiotics more often than females, while the latter used analgesics to a greater extent. The problems posed by inadequate treatment of infective conditions were highlighted. The dangers of overdosage were also discussed. The needs for restricting the availability of drugs and improved public health education among the youths were emphasized.

In contrast to other amphetamine derivatives, fenfluramine (40 mg) and 780 SE (300 mg) had no effect on the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. Like other amphetamines they disturbed sleep, increasing the number of shifts to stage 1 (drowsiness) and stage W (arousal).