Older persons (55 years and older) with cardiovascular disease are at increased risk for hospital readmission when compared to other subgroups of our population. This issue presents an economic problem, a concern for the quality and type of care provided, and an urgent need to implement innovative strategies designed to reduce the rising cost of…

This self-instructional model, written for registered nurses, is divided into three sections: (1) anatomy and physiology of the patient before and after laryngectomy; (2) eating and nourishment following the total laryngectomy; and (3) two options for speech following a total laryngectomy--the electrolarynx and esophageal speech. The manual…

Most patients with diagnosable major depression may fail to show the classic symptom pattern for which standard assessment instruments were designed. To investigate the influence of subtype of depressive illness on Zung Self-Rating Scale (SDS) and Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS) validity, 36 in-patients, who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual…

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale was administered to 30 male criminally insane patients and 15 violent convicts. The latter had similar subtest score configurations and the mean similarities ratio score for the violent group was significantly lower than that of the nonviolent group. (Author/SE)

Stress has been hypothesized to be both a negative and a positive prognostic factor. Stress was examined in relation to total symptomatology as rated by the patient and a significant other and to five symptom factors. This was accomplished at the time a patient was hospitalized and one year subsequently. (Author)

Sim One is a computer-controlled patient, a sophisticated simulator developed by the University of Southern California School of Medicine. This article summarizes fifteen cost-effectiveness studies conducted over a 2-year period. Savings with the use of Sim One were found to justify the cost within a short period. (JT)

Describes an embryological course program that encourages students to apply what they are currently learning to a clinical problem that brings them in intimate contact with patients and clinicians. (Author/PG)

The quality of patient care suffers because of the intellectual separatism that exists among medical, nursing, and other professions. Description of an attempt to introduce knowledge of selected nursing and laboratory skills to third-quarter clinical clerks. (Author/PG)

An experienced physician-teacher shares her own experiences with loss in medicine and loss in her personal life. Through personal writings during her divorce, she exemplifies the healing effect writing can have during difficult transformations that occur in life. She shares her bias that physicians need to accept and own their emotions and can use…

To teach first-year medical students to communicate with patients more effectively, a course was designed and evaluated that uses developments in communication technics. The students' goals include identification of doctor-patient interactions, description of their feelings and reactions to the interview, and learning ways of responding in the…

This study was an investigation of the incidence, impact, and methods of coping with patient suicide during the training years of psychology graduate students. A survey was conducted of 54 interns in Clinical Psychology at the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital from 1983 through 1988. The findings revealed that one in six subjects had…

Hypnotherapeutic approaches in helping physically disabled patients cope with stress and plan further goals during the rehabilitation period are discussed. Several techniques possible in a rehabilitation setting are presented, including integration of ego strengthening and self-esteem building. It is noted that, in rehabilitation, a major goal of…

A recent development in the field of personality assessment has been increasing interest in the use of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) in clinical settings. The MCMI Scales 1 (Schizoid), 2 (Avoidant), 3 (Dependent), and 8 (Passive-Aggressive) appear to be a possible measure of initial stress in certain psychiatric inpatients. To…

College students (N=396), chronic pain patients (N=319), and schizophrenic veterans (N=43) completed the Depression Coping Questionnaire (DCQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Factor analysis of the DCQ identified eleven coping responses: social support, problem solving, self-blame/escape, aggression, indulgence, activities, medication,…

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been receiving considerable attention by the medical community as well as by the public. This attention is due to the rapid increase in cases of AIDS, the uncertain etiology of the disease, and the poor prognosis of the disease. Although some research has investigated the psychological impact of AIDS…