A chemical in nicotine may help people with schizophrenia to think more clearly and maintain concentration, says a report in the Archives of General Psychiatry (June). Schizophrenics are often heavy smokers and this is thought be an attempt at self-medication with nicotine, say University of Colorado researchers whose study of 12 schizophrenic patients found that the alpha-7 nicotinic agonist DMXB-A produced “significant neurocognitive improvement”.

A method of meditation made famous by the Beatles seems to help coronary heart disease patients, say researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles, in the issue of Archives of Internal Medicine (June 12). A 16-week trial of transcendental meditation in 52 cardiac patients decreased their blood pressure significantly and reduced insulin resistance.

Up to a third of people who suffer seizures don’t actually have epilepsy — their seizures are caused by psychological conditions. Now a study in Neurology (June 13) suggests a simple test that can help doctors to tell the difference: investigators at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona report that most people suffering psychosomatic seizures close their eyes, while true epileptics tend not to.

Regular scheduled naps in which junior doctors are guaranteed a few hours of uninterrupted rest when on call can cut their fatigue and increase the quality of their sleep time, says a study by Chicago University in the Annals of Internal Medicine (June). The study of 38 junior doctors suggests that they might feel less fatigued when working because they know they are assured of getting a few hours of good sleep later.

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