This study described several brief behavioral measures which, with further validation, could be useful in predicting the deaths of older adults within a five-year period following testing. Such tests can be used in routine biomedical examinations, alerting the physician to possible problems in the future. (Author)

Describes research conducted related to the disease of senility; indicates it is different from normal aging. (SL)

Luekemia and aplastic anemia are beginning to be treated by bone marrow transplants, involving donors and recipients from the same family. Such intimate involvement in the patient's life and death struggles typically produces a family crisis and frequent maladaptive responses by various family members. (Author)

Investigated the relation of pain coping strategies to pain, health status, and psychological distress in a group of osteoarthritis patients with chronic pain. Patients completed various questionnaires. Medical status variables were also used. The Pain Control and Rational Thinking factor derived from the Coping Strategies Questionnaire proved to…

Investigated dream content of 104 dreams from nine terminally ill patients with estimated life expectancy of one year or less. Found differences between dreams of terminally ill and dreams of physically healthy individuals, suggesting an adaptive withdrawal and process of social and emotional disengagement by terminally ill individuals. (Author/NB)

Outlines a cognitive-behavioral approach to treating bulimia, focusing on the client's eating behavior, physical condition, and dysfunctional attitudes responsible for deficiencies in self-concept. (Author/ABB)

Examined the degree to which depression predicted pain and pain behavior. The Beck Depression Inventory was administered to 207 low back pain patients. Depression and physical findings were the most important predictors of pain and pain behavior. Depression proved significant even after controlling for important demographic and medical status…

Interviewed heart attack victims (N=287) seven weeks and eight years after their attack. Explored interrelations among causal attributions for the attack, survivor morbidity, and heart attack recurrence. Found that patients who cited benefits from their misfortune seven weeks after the first attack were less likely to have another attack and had…

Fear of contracting AIDS has exaggerated the feeling of isolation that AIDS patients experience. This article discusses issues surrounding the spread of AIDS and provides information to deal with AIDS as a health issue, instead of a moral or religious one. (MT)

Compared the subjective and objective experiences of noninstitutionalized childless and parent elderly (N=338). Results showed few significant differences between the two groups, but trends showed benefits for both. The childless were more financially secure and in better health, while parents had more friends and more satisfaction with life. (BH)

Thousands of schools contain dangerous asbestos which threatens the safety of students and teachers. The Environmental Protection Agency can be contacted to inspect and advise on this problem. Suggestions are offered for school personnel who suspect their school may contain asbestos. (DF)

Examined the use of public spaces in a nursing home by elderly residents by means of systematic observations. A cluster analysis disclosed several common behavior patterns related to residents' health status. The results support the thesis that, as an individual's health declines, behavior will become less diverse. (JAC)

Used two-by-two factorial design employing two levels of age and two levels of work status to examine whether young people (N=126) ascribe different sick-role expectations to the elderly than to the middle-aged. Results partially supported contention that the young do ascribe an elderly sick role. (NRB)

Investigated risk factors involving the health of the elderly among persons aged eighty years and older living at home in the community of Holbaek, Denmark (N=459). Results indicated that although it is possible to identify a series of predictors (hospitalization, nursing home admission, death) which are statistically significant they are of…

To reduce the cost of reimbursements, many insurance companies have begun to use insurance incentives as a way to motivate individuals to participate in health promotion activities. Traditional health education, research and demonstration, and policy-premium incentives are methods of health promotion used by life and health insurance companies.…