To understand circumstances in which urgent treatment provisions are used in clinical practice, by means of a retrospective study. A list of patients to whom Sections 62, 64B and 64G of the Mental Health Act 1983 were applied during the 1-year study period was obtained from the information technology department. Case notes were traced for detailed information on the circumstances of use of these provisions.

The most common reason for urgent treatment was to continue the established treatment plan rather than to start a new treatment (45% Section 62, 84% Section 64). The urgent treatment provisions were most commonly used because of a delay in examination by a second opinion appointed doctor in 45% cases for Section 62 and 84% cases for Sections 64B and 64G.

This is probably unlawful use of the urgent treatment provisions.

A completed audit cycle, consisting of email surveys of all psychiatrists and a review of acute trust information technology registers was undertaken in Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to assess whether psychiatrists could access electronic laboratory results from the neighbouring acute trust laboratory. This was replicated in Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, with an initial audit; plans were then implemented to increase access.

In Derbyshire, 14% of psychiatrists could access electronic results initially, with limited ward access. By re-audit, all wards had access, and 28% used those systems. The later initial audit in Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust revealed 6% access.

Benefits of electronic results include clinical (faster decisions, safer monitoring, prompt detection of acute problems); efficiency savings (less wasted time telephoning); and other (improved relationships with general practitioners and laboratories, reduced marginalisation of patients with mental illness and professionals). There may be considerable clinical and efficiency savings for trusts.

To review the evidence for the use of paliperidone palmitate for people with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like illnesses. We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Specialised Register and contacted the manufacturer of paliperidone palmitate, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the authors of papers that reported study results.

Based on the evidence from five short-term, placebo-controlled studies, paliperidone palmitate is efficacious as an antipsychotic. Its adverse effects are similar to those of the closely related compounds paliperidone and risperidone. Extrapyramidal side-effects, weight gain and tachycardia are more common with paliperidone palmitate than placebo. Paliperidone palmitate was associated with substantial increases in serum prolactin but not with increased sexual side-effects in these studies. In two studies paliperidone palmitate was similar to depot risperidone.

Paliperidone palmitate is an effective antipsychotic whose optimal dose appears to be between 39 and 234 mg every 4 weeks. We have no data assessing its long-term effectiveness or comparing it with any long-acting injected antipsychotic other than depot risperidone.

The upsurge of cyberbullying is a frequent cause of emotional disturbance in children and young people. The situation is complicated by the fact that these interpersonal safety issues are actually generated by the peer group and in contexts that are difficult for adults to control. This article examines the effectiveness of common responses to cyberbullying.

Whatever the value of technological tools for tackling cyberbullying, we cannot avoid the fact that this is an interpersonal problem grounded in a social context.

Practitioners should build on existing knowledge about preventing and reducing face-to-face bullying while taking account of the distinctive nature of cyberbullying. Furthermore, it is essential to take account of the values that young people are learning in society and at school.