Expresses reservations concerning McConnel's (1984) application of the life table technique to the risk of institutionalization. Presents alternative interpretations as well as estimates of the probability of institutionalization that are substantially lower than McConnel's. (Author/ABB)

Few predoctoral dental students received clinical experience with handicapped patients, and in recent years, dental educators have indicated that a shortage of patients exists. A study examined the extent to which dental schools have incorporated handicapped and medically compromised patients into their predoctoral comprehensive care program. (MLW)

A computer-assisted pharmaceutical laboratory experience requires students to systematically review patient profiles and product availability before judging prescriptions for dispensing. Trial use suggests that the method is as effective as and more efficient than the traditional laboratory. (MSE)

Assessed relationship between age and treatment expectation (TE) among psychiatric patients. Results showed TE rises with age. Higher TE lead to better adjustment, however, older age and higher TE in combination, did not translate into better community adjustment. Differences were most pronounced in psychotics and in older patients not fully…

Analyzed factors that affect professionls' decisions to refer hospital patients for social work services. Social workers, nurses, and physicians individually evaluated the social service needs of patients. Identified sources of divergent views among professionals from different disciplines. (JAC)

Studied the effects of relocation on the psychosocial status of institutionalized patients. Found that among certain subgroups of patients, relocation resulted in significant decreases in depression, alienation and distress, and in an improvement in self-concept for all patients regardless of age, sex, or race. (Author/NRB)

Evaluated the emotional consequences of using wish-fulfilling fantasy (palliative) and information-seeking (instrumental) coping strategies among patients (N=151) faced with chronic illness. Results showed information-seeking to have positive effects on adjustment and wish-fulfilling fantasy to have deleterious consequences. (LLL)

Reviewed the psychiatric and medical care of female veterans using 69 interviews at a veterans psychiatric facility. The data suggested that female veterans are satisfied with care in general but are less satisfied with certain gender-related components of care. Reviews the facility's responses to the findings and suggests changes. (JAC)

Undertook a factorial analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), on a sample of male cardiac outpatients (N=214) to investigate whether the BDI factor structure is dependent on the range of BDI scores selected. Results indicated that, in general, the subgroups' factor structures provided no clear interpretation. (LLL)

Investigated correlates of depression in spinal multiple sclerosis outpatients (N=120). Results showed that the more depressed individuals tended to be more disabled, older, had never experienced a remission, and, in particular, perceived family and friends as providing less social support than those who were less depressed. (LLL)

In a medical sociology course composed of health care students with little sociology background and sociology students with no health care background, a paired observation exercise was given. Health care and sociology students were paired, and each pair observed the same medical encounter and reviewed each other's papers. (Author/RM)

Assessed Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised test-retest stability for 21 psychiatric and neurological patients. Test-retest interval ranged from 2-144 weeks (x=38 weeks). Subtest stability coefficients were highly significant, yet range of gain or loss for any single individual was comparatively large. Gain or loss was associated strongly…

Compared four forms of psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy involving experienced therapists and psychiatric outpatients (N=106) in an outcome investigation. Results favored long-term group therapy and short-term individual therapy over long-term individual therapy and short-term group therapy. (LLL)

Describes a brief nine-item interview, designed for use by practitioners. Based upon results from field-testing with 65 ambulatory geriatric patients, the instrument can be used as an aid to assess health and treatment perceptions in clinical settings. Responses to specific items may also suggest broader areas for follow-up discussion. (JAC)

Examined group differences in self-reporting anxiety for one hundred chronic pain patients, an equal number of college students, and two smaller comparison samples. Pain patients, relative to nonpatients, acknowledged dramatically fewer total signs of anxiety. Also, pain patients endorsed significantly more somatic than cognitive indicators of…