Life expectancy of mentally retarded hemiplegics.

Sixty-four mentally retarded people with hemiplegia (35 females and 29 males), first recorded in 1963, were re-examined 30 years later for life expectancy. Detailed physical and mental states, lengths of hospital stays and other information were noted. Recent advances in diagnosis and prognosis of hemiplegics were included. The results of the study indicate that, with special provisions available, people with hemiplegia have the prospect of reaching pensionable age and beyond: the oldest female is 85 and the oldest male 76 years of age.

Zuclopenthixol decanoate in the management of behavioural disorders in mentally handicapped patients.

One hundred and sixteen mentally handicapped patients with behavioural disorders were studied in a double-blind clinical comparison of zuclopenthixol decanoate injection (mean dosage 123 mg/week) and placebo. The study consisted of a 4-week open phase, in which all patients were treated with zuclopenthixol decanoate, followed by a 12-week double-blind phase where approximately half of the patients were changed to placebo. Patients were assessed every 2 weeks using the Clinical Global Impression, the Nurse's Observation Scale for In-patient Evaluation, a specific behaviour rating scale designed for this study and a side-effects check-list. Fourteen patients in the placebo group were withdrawn because of an increase in the frequency and severity of their behavioural disorders compared to only 4 in the zuclopenthixol decanoate group. Analyses of the rating scales of the patients remaining in the study also showed zuclopenthixol decanoate to be superior to placebo in the treatment of mentally handicapped patients with behavioural disorders. Side-effects in general were not a problem and did not affect treatment.