Asserts that male youths from abusive family environments may be particularly vulnerable to recruitment into satanic cults. Describes etiological factors and treatment approaches of 10 hospitalized boys who voluntarily involved themselves in repeated group satanic activities during their adolescence. Includes two case illustrations. Provides…

Contrasts dreams of suicidal patients to those of nonsuicidal, depressed patients. Notes that dreams of suicidal patients often reveal wishes for revenge, punishment, reunion, fusion, and rebirth and that confusions between patient's body and that of others are suggested by dreams of some suicidal patients. Discusses phenomenon of transparency in…

Reports on epidemic of six inpatient suicides in Finnish psychiatric hospital. Notes that suggestion and identification had effect on timing and method of four of six suicides. Views epidemic from individual, network, and organizational perspectives. Speculates on how such epidemics could be avoided. (Author/NB)

Although subject to modification by political, funding, and popular considerations, the audit review of psychiatric facilities is seen as a useful step in providing quality care. (CM)

Presents theoretical model describing practice of psychiatric residential treatment for children and adolescents. Emphasis is on 40 practice principles, guiding concepts which dictate specific treatment techniques and administrative procedures for Southern Oregon Adolescent Study and Treatment Center. Groups principles into six clusters: program…

The article explores the feasibility of integrating child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric care. Aspects to consider in setting up such a program include the nature of the integration (partial at first, using a child/adolescent tutorial model), the diagnostic categories to be integrated, the age ranges of patients, and staff preferences. (PHR)

Notes that there often is no formally established bereavement service designed to assist surviving family members, patients, or staff members when patient dies while receiving care in acute care setting. Presents exemplar bereavement service using data from few existing or proposed efforts to formalize bereavement services in acute care settings…

In study of hospitalized suicidal youth, account of 16-year-old girl, diagnosed as schizophrenic, is analyzed to gain insight into family's role in suicidal career of adolescent preoccupied with death and dying, sleep, and drugs; the interplay of her construction of reality with her risk-taking, self-injurious way of life; and her perceived…

Presents case study of 44-year-old male admitted to acute psychiatric unit and diagnosed as having chemical dependency, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and major depression. Following description of the case, comments are given by Candace Coggins, clinical specialist, and Jane Zibelin, Director of Nursing, and by Lois…

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…

Elaborates on standards of care for assessment, management, and treatment of hospitalized suicidal patients. Attempts to synthesize concepts of minimal standard of care with clinical risk management and clinical judgment. Points out areas of overlap and shows where optimum care diverges from legal standards of care. Tables differentiate…

The current non-system for dealing with the mentally disabled is expensive and inefficient and is the primary cause of a substantial proportion of all homelessness. A comprehensive national policy and the delegation of greater administrative responsibilities to private agencies would help to address the problem of the homeless mentally ill. (GC)

This article outlines considerations in planning inpatient groups for psychiatric patients and presents a model for group psychotherapy with a heterogeneous admission ward population. The model includes session plans based on objectives graded according to patients' levels of functioning. Also discussed are group rules and the therapist's role.…

The Office of United States Senator Daniel Inouye requested information on state minimum licensing and certification requirements for physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses who work directly with patients in state mental hospitals. To obtain this information, the General Accounting Office called the offices of the…

Demonstrates that following termination of treatment, there is little difference between psychiatric subjects treated in institutions and those treated in community-based alternatives. Presents a model for assessing psychiatric treatment effectiveness. Concludes that institutional and community-based alternatives should be viewed as complementary…