Notes that the mentally ill and the courts would benefit immeasurably if the behavioral sciences would turn their attention to the task of empirically defining two words: dangerous and treatment. (Author/AM)

Examined effectiveness of a comprehensive discharge planning protocol in a double-blind study with 80 acute care patients age 75 and older. According to functional status measures, placement at 2 and 4 weeks post-discharge was deemed appropriate for 87 percent of all patients. Length of hospital stay was reduced for treatment group patients.…

Developed Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scale to predict premature termination of patients from inpatient alcohol programing. A classification accuracy rate of 91.36 percent was achieved in the standardization sample comparing only valid profiles. (Author/BL)

Compared Kennedy and Elder's (1982) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) regression model with Kaufman's (1976) linear equating model. Both the Kennedy and Elder, and the Kaufman abbreviated forms attained a high degree of association, suggesting that both models are equally effective. (Author/BL)

A state-wide (Texas) prevalence survey of self-injurious behavior (SIB) among institutionalized mentally retarded individuals found that: 89.8% were severely and profoundly mentally retarded: differential therapeutic treatment modalities may have occurred according to sex of the client; and 58.4% engaged in more than one SIB response topography.…

Mentally retarded individuals who had moved from a large state institution to small community living arrangements were matched with people who remained at the same institution. Deinstitutionalized Ss demonstrated significant growth in adaptive behavior and received more services. Deinstitutionalized Ss required less public money although the…

Former nursing home residents (N=197) were followed for 2 years after discharge. Four subgroups of patients were identified on the basis of different patterns of survival and use of health care resources: those who returned home, died in nursing homes, transferred to hospitals, or transferred to other nursing homes. (NRB)

Presents a group therapy game that allows for open discussion of the drug addict's lifestyle. Describes concepts, subjects (populations of narcotics addicts in residential treatment), rules of the game, and processing after the game. (BH)

Examines the impact of isolated patient transfers on institutional dependency. The patient sample consisted of 108 transfers and 759 long-term patients in a variety of old age institutions in New York state. Analysis revealed that transfer per se does not affect subsequent dependency. (Author)

Two regression equations using chronological age and either IQ or the Fisher and Zeaman K score were developed to predict Developmental Record ratings of institutionalized mentally retarded children over a two-year interval (N=200), a four-year interval (N-165), and an eight-year interval (N=95). The equation using IQ yielded more accurate…

The mother of a brain-damaged retarded young woman describes how the daughter's eventual placement in a residential program proved to be the best solution for her family. (CL)

Data demonstrate that the majority of persons in residential facilities for people with mental retardation participate in daytime programing. State institution residents were less likely to have daytime programs than residents of community-based living arrangements. Resident and facility characteristics relating to probability of participation and…

Used a national probability sample to compare the suicide rate among adolescents in adult jails, juvenile detention facilities, and the general population. Results showed the rate for adolescents in adult jails was more than 3.5 times larger than in the general population, while suicides in juvenile facilities were lower. (JAC)

A longitudinal study of five handicapped hospitalized infants revealed that restriction in objects available for play was associated with a delay in play skill acquisition, lack of appropriate consistent interactive experiences with caretakers may have contributed to delayed development, and infants unable to initiate social contact had limited…

A personal Effectiveness Group of 30 mental patients was established to study a programed model and procedures for the treatment of psychiatric inpatients. (Author)