To determine whether self-reported anxious symptoms differentiated elderly medical and psychiatric outpatients, the Beck Anxiety Inventory was administered to 45 medical outpatients and 117 psychiatric inpatients. Only two symptoms, fear of the worst happening and unsteady, contributed unique variance to the differentiation of the two groups. (SLD)

The relationship among the nine clinical syndrome scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) and clinical scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) was studied with 108 psychiatric inpatients. Results indicate convergent validity of only the MCMI-II Axis I scales. (SLD)

Investigated effect of alexithymia upon person's art production. Administered Toronto Alexithymia Scale and 100-mm analog scales for depression and anxiety to 100 psychiatric patients. Each subject drew and identified his/her illness. All subjects, even those quantified as alexithymic, were able to graphically communicate their illness using these…

Describes Project PACE (Physician-based Assessment and Counseling for Exercise), a system of matching physician counseling with patient readiness for physical activity. It targets known, modifiable determinants of physical activity such as self-efficacy, social support, and perceived barriers to action. (SM)

Diabetes control involves the appropriate balance of exercise, diet, and medication. Regular exercise has many benefits for people with diabetes. Physicians can educate patients about ways to regulate and monitor blood glucose before, during, and after workouts. Patients need to understand the effects of exercise and diet on insulin requirements.…

Surveyed 90 administrative and nonadministrative social workers employed in nursing homes who identified their level of influence in 5 spheres of organizational decision making. There were few differences between the two groups. However, among directors, number of full-time equivalent social workers, type of institution ownership, and length of…

In an analysis of pharmacy extern and preceptor activities, 24 externs logged activities at random intervals over a period of 226 days. Students were alone most of the time, with little contact with prescribers or patients. Community-based externs had far more patient contact than hospital-based externs. Students spent most time in the dispensing…

Embedded a context effect experiment in a structured telephone survey of renal transplant recipients. Results indicated that context effects interacted with the treatment adherence status of respondents such that noncompliant recipients were less susceptible to context manipulations. Respondents' characteristics as potential moderators of item…

The clinical utility of using fewer than 12 trials of the Selective Reminding Test, a task to assess verbal memory, was studied with 100 cardiac patients and 100 brain injury patients. Results suggest that as few as 6 trials might be adequate, providing information consistent with that from 12 trials. (SLD)

The intensive case management service provided by a mental health consumer team of case managers was compared to services of nonconsumer case managers. Results from 91 clients with serious mental illness found significant differences in outcomes after a year only in the areas of patient satisfaction and contact with family. (SLD)

The influence of demographic variables on the quality of life was studied for 1,805 persons with chronic mental illness. In general, predicted variations in quality of life experiences based on studies of the general population were not upheld, and modest demographic influences were noted. (SLD)

Presents case study of suicidal woman diagnosed as catatonic schizophrenic in state mental hospital. Account reveals much about woman's life history, suicide career, problems of living, needs for help, and perceptions of relevant systems. Proposed model would use parts of patient's story for preventive intervention regarding suicidal behavior and…

The newly incorporated Computer-Based Patient Record Institute (CPRI) is discussed in the context of the history of medical records, the need for change (mainly because of health care reimbursement and regulation), and the need for involvement by all medical professionals in the development of standards of data collection which reflect public…

The diagnostic accuracy of nonadjusted and bootstrapped diagnosis was compared using a sample of 1,455 psychiatric patients who completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. The usefulness of bootstrapping depended on the criteria for accuracy. Conditions under which bootstrapping might increase diagnostic accuracy are detailed. (SLD)

A study comparing inpatient care costs of family practice residencies and other residency programs found that family practice residencies do not add to direct inpatient costs and may even reduce costs. It is suggested that this provides an additional rationale for institutions to sponsor graduate training in family practice. (Author/MSE)