Clin Med
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Two weeks after starting the oral contraceptive pill, a 16-year-old girl developed increasingly violent chorea and an evolving psychosis with prominent hallucinations, ideas of reference, and paranoia. An erythematous skin rash subsequently developed and Sydenham's chorea (SC) was diagnosed. ⋯ This case illustrates that severe psychotic features can occur in SC. It is recommended that antistreptolysin O titres and antibasal ganglia antibodies are checked early in patients with evolving movement disorders and prominent neuropsychiatric features, as the window for modifying the course of this immune-mediated disorder may be narrow.
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Biography Historical Article
'A ray of darkness': Margiad Evans's account of her epilepsy (1952).
This column explores the links and synergies between medicine and literature. What roles can literature play in reflecting and influencing good practice, and what sorts of images of doctoring are to be found in drama, poetry, fiction, biography, electronic fora and film? The editors would be pleased to receive short papers, ranging from 500–1,000 words, on relevant topics. Those interested in contributing should email brian.hurwitz@kcl.ac.uk or neil.vickers@kcl.ac.uk
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Comparative Study
Assessment centres for core medical training: how do the assessors feel this compares with the traditional interview?
In 2007, an assessment centre approach (a structured interview, a case-based discussion and a communication exercise) was implemented to replace the traditional interview for entry to core medical training. Feedback was obtained from 53 of 69 assessors, all consultants and most with extensive experience of the traditional system. Each station was rated by around 20 interviewers. ⋯ Comparison with the previous system was only provided by between 12 and 21 people per station. The structured interview was rated better (n=12), undecided (8), or worse (1); the case-based discussion better (16), or undecided (3); the communication station better (8), undecided (3), or worse (1). There is still work to do on the best components to include but the principle of multiple assessments to examine differing parts of the person specification seems, subjectively, to be supported.