Needs of forensic psychiatric patients with schizophrenia in five European countries.

AIMS: The purpose was to compare the frequency of needs of patients with schizophrenia in forensic services across five European countries as assessed by both the patients and their care staff. METHODS: Patients with schizophrenia and a history of significant interpersonal violence were recruited from forensic psychiatric services in Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland and England. Participants' needs were assessed using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs-Forensic Version (CANFOR). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify predictors of numbers of needs. RESULTS: In this sample, (n = 221) the most commonly reported need according to patients (71.0%) and staff (82.8%) was the management of psychotic symptoms. A need for information was mentioned by about 45% of staff and patients. Staff members reported a significantly higher number of total needs than patients (mean 6.9 vs. 6.2). In contrast, staff members reported a significantly lower number of unmet needs than patients (mean 2.0 vs. 2.5). Numbers of total needs and met needs differed between countries. Unmet needs as reported by patients showed positive associations with the absence of comorbid personality disorder, with higher positive symptom scores and lifetime suicide or self-harm history. Significant predictors of unmet needs according to staff were absence of comorbid personality disorder and higher positive as well as negative symptom scores according to PANSS. CONCLUSIONS: Staff rated a significantly higher number of total needs than patients, while patients rated more unmet needs. This indicates that patients' self-assessments of needs yield important information for providing sufficient help and support.

Eimeria duszynskii sp. n. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae), a parasite of the mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi Girard.

Eimeria duszynskii sp. n. is described from 21 of 35 (60%) mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi Girard, from the Provo River, Provo, Utah. Sporulated oocysts of E. duszynskii were spherical with a thin transparent oocyst wall and an average diameter of 12.2 (range, 11.6--12.9) micron. Micropyle, polar granules, and oocyst residuum were absent. Sporocysts were ovoid with one slightly flattened side and 6.0 (range, 5.2--6.3) X 9.1 (range, 8.4--10.0) micron in size. Sporocyst residuum was coarsely granular and compact. Stieda and substieda body were absent. Sporozoites had transverse banding on one end.