Childhood social competence in 59 schizophrenics, 40 personality disordered patients, 14 psychotic depressives, 28 neurotics, and normal adults was assessed. The results indicated that children eventually hospitalized for schizophrenia are characterized by their poor interpersonal skills long before symptom onset; academic competence failed to…

A review of eight research studies on the question of size in relation to quality of resident life in state institutions is presented. Findings of seven of the studies reviewed showed that there is some advantage to the smaller setting. None showed any advantage to larger institutions. (PHR)

Studied effects on nursing home residents playing a discussion-stimulating board game called "Angels and Devils." Results indicate a high incidence of sensory deprivation and social isolation effects. These do not correlate with length of institutionalization, amount of social contact, or degree of medical restriction. (Author)

Evaluations were made of 46 mentally retarded residents (mean age=18.32 years) in a central Ohio state institution using part one of the American Association on Mental Deficiency's Adaptive Behavior Scale. A significant overall setting effect was not revealed in the multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures. (Author)

The effects of social skills training upon the behavior of eight previously institutionalized mentally retarded adults residing in community group homes were evaluated. In comparison to a control group, the Ss who received training showed substantial changes in the desirable direction for each behavior. (Author)

The levels of political knowledge of 62 institutionalized and 55 noninstitutionalized mildly retarded adults were compared with those of fifth- and eighth-grade children and nonretarded adults. On all four knowledge indices, the retarded adults' performance closely resembled that of nonretarded fifth-grade children. (Author)

The paper uses survey responses of 370 dependent children (10 to 18 years old) to examine claims made about the purposes of child welfare institutions. The data suggest that institutions are the least supportive form of surrogate care, that group homes share some of their defects, and that, in practice, neither are therapeutic environments.…

The "relocation syndrome" in 16 multiply handicapped, institutionalized mentally retarded residents (mean age 18 years) was examined in an observational study. Weight change and the initiation and duration of constructive and nonconstructive behavior were observed, as well as resident-staff interactions before and after relocation to a new living…

Demonstrates the importance of shape of the hazard function in determining rate of accumulation of chronic patients. New facilities characterized by length-of-stay distributions with decreasing hazard functions may at first appear to prevent chronicity even though eventual, steady-state patient mix includes many more long-stay patients than…

Data presented in this paper suggest that mentally retarded males are more likely to be institutionalized than retarded females, and that males tend to be institutionalized at earlier ages and for milder disorders. (Author/EB)

Intellectual assessment of institutionalized delinquents is discussed as a social labeling process. A three step hierarchical evaluation schema is proposed to maximize the accuracy and efficiency of assessment procedures and minimize negative labeling. (Author)

Restoration of a major social role to institutionalized aged through a program of social interaction and socialization with adult mentally retarded is described and evaluated. The over-all findings encourage this innovative opportunity for institutionalized aged. (Author)

With consideration given to tort law, specifically Negligence, the author analyzes the standard of care, determines what factors may alter the standard, and suggests how the standard of care may vary with the advent of new developments in any field. (LBH)

Utilizing flexible community-supporting services integrated with a hospital-based program of planned intermittent relief of the patients' supporters, patients (N=50) were maintained in the community at an average cost of 79.5 hospital bed days per patient per annum. The Continuing Care Program is an alternative to institutionalization. (Author)

The effect of age on foster care outcome was examined for 572 male psychiatric patients referred for foster care from five VA hospitals. Patients in foster care changed significantly compared with hospitalized controls by having less social dysfunction and better adjustment. (Author)