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This paper discusses the effects on ward atmosphere in a psychiatric hospital when a ward for chronic, mostly schizophrenic patients was divided. Several authors emphasize the importance of small ward size for this category of patient in establishing a therapeutic ward milieu. At Aasgaard hospital in Tromsø, a ward with 20 chronic patients was divided in March 1984 into two smaller units. The change in ward milieu was evaluated with emphasis on hostility and aggression. There was an overall decrease of aggressive incidents, verbal and physical, by 40 percent when periods one hundred days before and after the division were compared. The reduction in verbal aggression was found to be 65 percent, and in physical aggression only 11 percent. Aggression directed toward staff members was reduced more than aggression toward other patients. The changes brought about by the smaller wards are discussed with reference to Moos & Hout's Ward Atmosphere Scale. There was an unequivocal impression that smaller units make possible a more therapeutic milieu. Both patients and staff were very pleased with the effects of smaller ward size. Having been a chaotic, noisy ward with frequent episodes of escalating hostility and aggression, it had now turned into two highly organized, much more quiet and peaceful wards. Some aggression theories are briefly mentioned, and the effects of organizational and structural changes on individual behavior are discussed.

Coprophagia in humans can be seen among mentally retarded and psychiatric patients, but is not often reported in the literature on adult psychiatry. A case of coprophagia in a female with Major Affective Disorder is reported. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Anticholinergic antiparkinson drugs are psychotoxic and euphorigenic. Abuse of these drugs has been documented. Levodopa, a dopamine precursor used for the symptomatic treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, is potentially psychotoxic too. However, euphorigenic effects of levodopa have not been documented and to the author's knowledge there are no reports of abuse of this drug. The author presents a case of toxic confusional psychosis due to overdosage of two antiparkinson drugs, levodopa and orphenadrine. The motivation for the overdosage was to achieve pleasurable psychic effects. Levodopa should be included among psychotropic drugs with a potential to cause confusional psychotic reactions in non-Parkinsonian patients.