Examined relationship betwen attitude toward death and the terminal patient and communication with terminally ill in 103 medical students and 15 family physicians. Relationships were found between indices (Terminal Illness Questionnaire, Threat Index) and factors used in determining whether to reveal a terminal diagnosis. (Author/NRB)

Determined the level and change in denial, death anxiety, anxiety, depression, hostility, love, being, and self-esteem over time in terminal cancer patients. Cancer patients had significantly lower death anxiety than the control subjects and a relative increase in the being variable over time. The clinical opinion that denial protects against…

Examined a diathesis-stress-hopelessness model of suicidal behavior. Found that the suicidal group (N=50) differed from the control group (N=50) on a number of dependent measures in accordance with the hypothesis that suicidal individuals are deficient in impersonal and interpersonal problem solving, experience more stress, and are more hopeless.…

Interview results indicated terminally ill patients with knowledge produced significantly longer transcripts than others. Groups did not differ significantly on state or trait anxiety scales. There were significant associations involving age, anxiety, and the dependent variables of the content analysis, especially among terminally ill patients…

Explored the posttreatment phase of unipolar depression in a 12-month follow-up of 424 depressed persons who received treatment and a comparable follow-up of demographically matched, nondepressed controls. Patients whose symptoms remitted reported improvement in other aspects of their adjustment as well as in personal resources such as self-esteem…

Examined the ability of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) to indicate drug abuse in high school students (N=135), adolescent psychiatric patients (N=171), and residents of a drug abuse treatment center (N=100). Results suggested the MAC can help discriminate between groups of adolescents with and without significant drug abuse. (JAC)

Investigated seasonal trends in the birth patterns of neurotics (N=989), alcoholics (N=2,870), affective disorders (N=320) and personality disorders (N=713) both before and after controlling for age prevalence. Results did not support the view that birth rates for nonschizophrenic psychiatric disorders are higher in some seasons than in others.…

Investigated the relationship of several self-report depression scales to clinician Diagnostic Statistical Manual-III diagnoses of major depressive disorders in chronic pain patients (N=40). Results indicated a high degree of agreement between the self-report data and the results of diagnostic interviews that use standardized criteria. (LLL)

Compared three short forms of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (IRF, FAM, and MMPI-168) to the full scale in male veterans aged 60 and over (N=100). Results demonstrated no strong statistical advantage for any short form but indicated that the IRF, because of increased comprehensibility, might have wider applicability. (LLL)

Surveyed 57 new mothers to examine the relationship between level of knowledge of informed consent to medical procedures during childbirth with other variables. Results showed women reporting knowledge of patient rights and desire to learn assertiveness were less likely to give birth by cesarean section. Discusses implications for counselors. (JAC)

Describes the growth and decline of the Office of Recipient Rights in response to economic change and other factors. Describes the effects of changes and suggests that they are relevant to other programs as well. Recommends ways in which programs to protect patients' rights can be strengthened. (Author/BH)

Patients (N=58) discharged from state psychiatric hospitals into community care homes were followed for four months. Both observers and patients rated the homes' social environments and the patients' needs and capabilities. Patients' functioning in the community was enhanced when there was a congruence between the patient and the environment.…

Assessed effects of video games on adverse corollaries of chemotherapy in three pediatric oncology patients. Results indicated that access to video games resulted in reduction in the number of anticipatory symptoms experienced and observed, as well as a diminution in the aversiveness of chemotherapy side effects. (Author/NRB)

Teaches nurses to identify four common indications for fecal diversion surgery: list three types of colostomies; distinguish a colostomy from an ileostomy; describe the two basic methods of colostomy management; and identify factors that influence the choice of method of colostomy care. (CT)

A cybernetic control program was designed to reduce inappropriate days of hospitalization for Medicare patients in four Western Maryland counties. Hospital stays for patients of 282 physicians were reviewed by physician advisers, with attention to the physician's volume of hospitalized patients and the number of inappropriate days of care.…