ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This analysis draws together the concept of psychache that describes the psychological pain associated with suicide and Durkheim's social integration theory in analyzing the relationship between states' spending for public welfare and their suicide rates over a 30-year period, from 1960, 1970, 1980, 1985, and 1990. Given that the threshold for enduring psychological pain varies from person to person, the questions were: Does suicide also vary with social context and has this changed over time? The answer to both questions was yes. Whereas the prevalence of divorce in combination with low population density and high rates of population change provided the context for interstate differences in suicide rates over the entire observational period and accounted for their increased variability in 1970 and 1980, this was not the case in 1985 or 1990. In both 1985 and 1990, the two variables that were important in this regard were states' spending for public welfare and race. In 1990, not only were suicide rateshigherin states that spentlessfor public welfare than in states that spent more, but states' spending for public welfare was the only variable that accounted for the widening of differences in states' suicide rates. Given the strong prevailing skepticism that government can help solve people's problems and widespread antagonism toward government social spending, these findings carry an important message.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A new diagnostic category entitled religious or spiritual problem has been included in the fourth edition of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-IV) under Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention. Along with several other changes, this category contributes significantly to the greater cultural sensitivity incorporated into DSM-IV. The authors review the approval process, including the changes that were made in both the proposed new category and the former V Code section of DSM-III-R. In addition, the definition, assessment methods, types, and clinical significance of religious and spiritual problems are clarified, along with the differential diagnostic issues raised by the definitional changes in the former V Code section. Finally, clinical issues involving cultural sensitivity and the implications for future research are addressed. The new category could help to promote a new relationship between psychiatry and the fields of religion and spirituality that will benefit both mental health professionals and those who seek their assistance.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Young children who claim memories of a previous life can be found in many countries, particularly in Asia. The child frequently states where he/she lived previously, often claims violent death in the previous life and shows phobias/philias, and sometimes has birthmarks or deformities that he/she associates with the previous life. The Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale, Raven Progressive Matrices, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and the Child Behavior Checklist were administered to 23 children in Sri Lanka who, mostly at an earlier age, had consistently been claiming memories of a previous life. They had greater verbal skills and better memory than their peers, performed much better in school, and were more socially active, but were not more suggestible. As judged by their parents, they had a higher Child Behavior Checklist problem score than their peers, but not according to their teachers.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This paper reports an analysis of the features of 122 cases of persons who became ill or even came close to death, but who survived and afterward reported that during the experience they recalled memories of earlier events in their lives. The life review varied widely in its form; the number of memories recalled ranged from only one or two to the subject's entire life. Moreover, few of the subjects reported seeing earlier events of their life “all at once,” which makes the popular phrase “panoramic memory” a misnomer. One group of 54 cases was compared with a group of 54 other cases in which the feature of the life review did not occur. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to nine common features. The life review occurs as one feature among several others of equal or greater importance in the total experience. Its function, if any, remains to be elucidated by further research.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Interactions with companion animals have been shown to have socializing and calming effects for Alzheimer's patients in an institutional setting. Sixty-four Alzheimer's patients living in the private home were studied, through medical records and information provided by caregivers, to determine what effect association with a companion animal had on the progression of cognitive decline and the manifestation of concomitant noncognitive symptoms. Prevalence of episodes of verbal aggression and anxiety was reported less frequently in 34 patients who were exposed to companion animals compared with patients who were not exposed. Significantly fewer mood disorders were reported in patients who were attached to their pets compared with patients who were not attached. There was no significant difference in the rate of cognitive decline between pet-exposed and nonexposed patients as measured by three standard indices. This study lends preliminary support to the belief that interaction with pets can aid in tempering feelings of agitation and aggression in Alzheimer's patients.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study examined the clinical correlates of lack of insight in bipolar disorder. In 28 acutely manic patients interviewed upon hospitalization and/or discharge, mean scores on the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire (ITAQ) improved only slightly, from 12.0 on admission to 15.5 on discharge (p= .08), despite marked improvement in other psychiatric symptoms. A reciprocal relationship was found between higher ITAQ scores and involuntary hospitalization (r= -.38). Like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder appears to be a condition in which poor insight is a prominent characteristic.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

It was hypothesized that chronic psychiatric patients who had quit smoking would be more functional and have lower Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores than those who continued to smoke. We interviewed 300 chronic psychiatric patients followed in the community. Fourteen percent were former smokers and nearly 11% had never smoked. Fifty-six percent of the sample were current smokers who had no intention of quitting, 13% were considering quitting, and 6% were seriously preparing to quit or had actually quit for a short period. When compared with current smokers, former smokers were more likely to live independently (p< .026) and less likely to have a drug or alcohol problem (p< .013). A random sample of current smokers were compared with former smokers on the BPRS. Former smokers had lower total BPRS scores (p< .03), and lower withdrawal/retardation subscale scores (p< .0058) than current smokers. We concluded that better functioning patients who smoked would be more likely to quit.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

In this article, a structure for self-analysis is described and the expanded applicability of self-analysis implied by the suggested structure is examined. Also, the state of computer psychotherapy programs is reviewed, and an overview of a plan for merging self-analysis and computer psychotherapy is presented.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

To clarify the diverse published results of cranial electrostimulation (CES) efficacy, we conducted an extensive literature review that identified 18 of the most carefully conducted randomized controlled trials of CES versus sham treatment. For the 14 trials that had sufficient data, we used the techniques of meta-analysis to pool the published results of treating each of four conditions: anxiety (eight trials), brain dysfunction (two trials), headache (two trials), and insomnia (two trials). Because studies utilized different outcome measures, we used an effect size method to normalize measures which we then pooled across studies within each condition. The meta-analysis of anxiety showed CES to be significantly more effective than sham treatment (p < .05). Pooling did not affect results that were individually positive (headache and pain under anesthesia) or negative (brain dysfunction and insomnia). Most studies failed to report all data necessary for meta-analysis. Moreover, in all but two trials, the therapist was not blinded and knew which patients were receiving CES or sham treatment. We strongly recommend that future trials of CES report complete data and incorporate therapist blinding to avoid possible bias.

ISSN:0022-3018    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1995

数据来源: OVID