A study to examine the content validity of the Test of Orientation for Rehabilitation Patients provided moderate to strong support for the retention of 46 of 49 test items and for grouping the items by domain of orientation. It exemplified a quantitative approach to the examination of content validity using content experts. (JOW)

Alcoholic male inpatients (N=26) who preferred disulfiram and who were entering a 28-day rehabilitation program were given either disulfiram, placebo, or nothing and were re-assessed about preferring disulfiram at discharge. The results appeared to show that the preference for disulfiram was unaffected by the treatment conditions. (Author/NB)

Examines client violence and illustrates the ways in which it is manifested, the risk factors for violent behavior, and the ways in which incidents psychologically and physically affect clinicians. Recommends strategies and policies that social workers and agencies can implement to protect frontline workers from violence without compromising…

Reports on epidemic of six inpatient suicides in Finnish psychiatric hospital. Notes that suggestion and identification had effect on timing and method of four of six suicides. Views epidemic from individual, network, and organizational perspectives. Speculates on how such epidemics could be avoided. (Author/NB)

Reports on abandoned study examining potential benefits of psychotherapy to terminal cancer patients. Preliminary feasibility study found physicians' attitudes toward their dying patients as reformed and progressive. Interest shown by physicians did not translate into tangible research effort in spite of active pursuit by investigator over period…

Considers ethical dilemmas inherent in health care decision making and in patients' advance directives. Describes PRACTICE (patient, relationships, advocacy, conflicts, treatment/nontreatment options, interests, consequences, ethical principles) model which allows health care practitioners to think about ethical issues in structured and systematic…

Sixty cancer chemotherapy patients were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: relaxation training with guided relaxation imagery (RT), general coping preparation (PREP), both RT and PREP, or routine clinic treatment only. Found that PREP intervention increased patients' knowledge of disease and treatment, reduced anticipatory side effects,…

Used data from Wisconsin Annual Survey of Home Health Agencies to describe urban/rural differences for home health care patients. Findings indicated urban dwellers were more likely to be home health patients than were rural residents. Urban home health patients were more apt to be nonelderly, male, and have "other conditions" as their…

Examined role of self-efficacy beliefs in rehabilitation of 45 low back pain patients participating in 3-week rehabilitation program. Increments in self-efficacy beliefs during program were not associated with improved patient functioning at discharge. However, in support of theorized role of self-efficacy in behavior change, increments in…

Notes that burnout among caregivers of the terminally ill is related to the various ways in which people meet their death. Provides examples of reactions to different types of death and makes suggestions for identifying and coping with caregiver burnout throughout the spectrum of individuals, relationships, and modes of death. (Author/NB)

Administered Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Self-Concept Test (BST), and Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) to 908 psychiatric outpatients. Found that none of DAS subscales discriminated ideators and nonideators or was significantly related to SSI total scores of suicide ideators after…

Illustrates application of Carkhuff's model to occupational therapy, through the core dimensions (empathy, respect, genuineness, concreteness), helping client learning (exploration, understanding, action), and helper skills (attending, responding, personalizing, and initiating). (SK)

Addresses differences among competence, commitment, and mental illness; the right to privacy; and the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Reviews professional motivations in relation to both sides of controversy over rights of psychiatric patients to refuse medication. Presents position for social work profession that stands for…

Notes that overriding a mentally ill person's refusal to take medications may pose a dilemma around the issue of patients' rights, despite opinion of many authorities that refusal is often illness related. Presents information to help promote understanding of reasons why those who work with mentally ill people should be ready to override their…

Discusses research on the focus and functions of language in medical practice and training. Four specific areas are highlighted: (1) speaking to patients; (2) speaking with patients; (3) speaking about patients; and (4) speaking by patients. Example studies are cited in each section, and the contributions and limitations in each topic are noted.…