Examined the relationships between social interaction, as measured by a new Emotional Bondedness Scale, health, and subjective well-being in 205 ambulatory medical patients aged 65 to 98. Results indicated a significant correlation between emotional bondedness, health, and subjective well-being. (Author)

Describes the implementation of a collaborative discharge planning program for a chronic psychiatric population. Emphasizes the importance of good communication between patient and professionals. Presents a case example. Findings suggest more substantial involvement of patients in after-care programs is needed. (Author/JAC)

Assessed psychotherapy outcome for 177 patients who were seen for an average of 31 therapy hours with the rating scales for outcome of therapy and a therapist questionnaire. Results of a components analysis did not support Storrow's rationale groupings of the rating scales into five dimensions. (Author)

Technical skills and interpersonal communication contribute to diagnosing diseases, and evidence suggests that the quality of the interpersonal relationship can significantly influence the outcome of treatments that appear to depend solely on technical factors. Because communication directly influences health-related outcomes, communication…

Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder. No definitive method for the preclinical detection of carriers is known. The consequences of this diagnosis are discussed. The significance of genetic counseling and a description of the phases in psychological coping is presented to enable informed decision making by family…

States the general assumptions and principles underlying standards for terminal care for those who have initiated or are planning programs for the terminally ill. These are urgently needed in view of the rapid development of the hospice movement. Patient-oriented, family-oriented, and staff-oriented standards are also enumerated. (BEF)

Measured interviewee nonverbal behaviors, which included selected temporal speech behaviors, duration and frequency of interviewee adaptor and illustrator hand movements, and gaze at the interviewer. Normal conversation was related to positive self-descriptions. Interviewee interruptions were associated with measures of anxiety. (Author)

Patients described their perceptions of ideal therapist characteristics and subsequently described their own therapist. Data suggest there is consensus on what patients expect in a therapist and also suggest a relationship between how well therapists meet these expectancies and how effective patients consider their therapy. (Author)

Evaluated perceptions of treatment environments within the Comprehensive Drug Program of Dade County (Miami) Florida. Analysis revealed that perceptions of drug clients toward their treatment environments were more positive than those of clients in other types of medical and psychiatric treatment. Perceptions varied directly with contact between…

Efforts were made to facilitate career development of former drug abusers. Treatment consisted of a modified form of Daane's vocational exploration group (VEG). Subjects had significantly greater maturity of career attitudes and competencies than controls and greater clarity of career plans. Results indicate the VEG enhanced career-development…

Evaluated therapeutic effectiveness of setting goals in behavioral terms while monitoring subject's progress in attaining these goals. Greater beneficial changes in patient attainment of goals were effected using a structured patient-therapist collaboration on weekly goals. Results indicate the goal attainment model with periodic monitoring is…

Gove suggests higher rates of mental illness among women can be linked to their societal role, particularly marital role. Johnson calls for examination of relationship between sex roles and emotional problems. Gove replies that Johnson's response is ideological, but they are in agreement on many issues. (HLM)

The amount of anxiety suggested the need for clinical intervention to reduce procedure-related distress in children with cancer. Younger children exhibited consistently higher levels of distress than older children and displayed a greater variety of anxious responses over a longer time span. (Author/BEF)

Examines survey data from a metropolitan community to investigate comparative rankings of needs of older persons by service providers and their elderly target population. Training in gerontology, serving elderly clients exclusively, and having direct contact with elderly clients as line staff were not predictors of knowledge of elderly needs.…

Recounts the history of cancer treatment to illustrate the long-standing tradition of a holistic approach to the investigation and treatment of cancer, discusses the growing emphasis on holistic cancer treatment and the importance of counseling in such treatment. (Author)