We describe three recent patients in whom evaluation of subacute, progressive encephalopathy led to the initial diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection. The clinical neurological picture of a predominance of abnormalities of mental function with few elementary neurological deficits, in conjunction with a paucity of systemic symptoms and lack of evidence for prior opportunistic infections preceding the encephalopathy are notable. The cognitive, behavioral, and neuropsychiatric disturbances are described in detail to illustrate the range of manifestations of disordered mental states associated with encephalopathy in individuals with HIV infection. The importance of a comprehensive and broad-minded work-up by brain magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and specific microbiological tests in delineating the potential multifactorial pathogenesis of the cerebral syndromes in relation to the HIV infection is emphasized. The gratifying long-term clinical improvements in parallel with resolution of neuroimaging and other laboratory abnormalities in response, to antiretroviral drug treatment are reported.

In the absence of definitive etiological markers of vulnerability or a unitary profile of pathophysiology for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions seem to offer a fruitful point of orientation.The complex clinical presentation of OCD can be summarized using a few consistent and temporally stable symptom dimensions. These can be understood as a spectrum of potentially overlapping features that are likely to be continuous with “normal” worries and extend beyond the traditional nosological boundaries of OCD. Although the understanding of the dimensional structure of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) is still imperfect, this quantitative approach to phenotypic traits has the potential to advance our understanding of OCD and may aid in the identification of more robust endophenotypes. Preliminary data suggest that these dimensional phenotypes may be useful in studies of the natural history, genetics, neurobiology, and treatment outcome of OCD. A dimensional approach is not mutually exclusive of other methods to parse the larger spectrum of disorders related to OCD. Thus far, age-of-onset of OCS and the individual's “tic-related” status seem to be particularly useful categorical distinctions. Finally, existing assessment methods are inadequate and new dimensional scales are needed to take full advantage of a dimensional approach in clinical and population-based studies.

Introduction: Because major depressive disorder (MDD) is often chronic and recurrent, even pediatric patients who are treated successfully during an acute episode may need longer-term treatment. Yet, data on long-term treatment with antidepressants in pediatric MDD are limited.

Objective: To evaluate long-term effectiveness and safety of treatment with venlafaxine extended-release (ER) in children and adolescents with MDD.

Methods: Subjects (n=86) 7–17 years of age with MDD entered a multicenter, open-label study of flexible-dose venlafaxine ER for 6 weeks of acute treatment, followed by continuation treatment for up to 6 months total treatment. The primary efficacy variable was the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) total score (intent-to-treat population).

Results: Mean CDRS-R total score decreased from 60.1±10.0 at baseline to 36.3±13.1 at week 6, and to 33.8±15.0 at 6 months (last observation carried forward). Among completers (n=36), the mean CDRS-R total score was 24.3±7.6 at the end of 6 months of treatment. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were headache (53%), nausea (26%), infection (24%), abdominal pain (22%), vomiting (21%), and pharyngitis (19%). Fifteen (17%) participants discontinued due to adverse events, 9 of whom did so within the first 6 weeks. Serious adverse events (suicide attempt [two], hostility [two], hallucinations, depression, and pharyngitis) occurred in seven patients. There were no suicides.

Conclusion: Most improvement with venlafaxine ER occurs during the first 6 weeks of treatment. Prescribers should be alert to signs of suicidal ideation and hostility in pediatric patients.

It has been proposed that certain Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis I disorders share overlapping clinical features, genetic contributions, and treatment response and fall within an “obsessive-compulsive” spectrum. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) resembles obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other spectrum disorders in terms of phenomenology, comorbidity, neurocognition, and treatment response.This article critically examines the nosological profile of OCPD with special reference to OCD and related disorders. By viewing OCPD as a candidate member of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, we gain a fresh approach to understanding its neurobiology, etiology, and potential treatments.

Epidemiological and clinical data from a variety of cultural and geographic settings on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and many of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, suggest that this is a group of disorders with a good degree of transcultural homogeneity. However, the content and themes that predominate in patients with these disorders, and the course of illness, can be shaped by cultural, ethnic, and religious experiences. Across cultures, OCD is commonly comorbid with mood, anxiety, and impulse-control disorders. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which culture and ethnicity may affect the expression of OCD and related disorders. Cross-national comparative studies exploring culturally influenced differences in clinical course, treatment outcome, including ethnogenetic differences in drug response, and prognosis are needed.