Presents an overview of behavior modification, and discusses ethical misgivings pertaining directly to the use of behavior modification in institutional drug treatment programs. Raises questions about the danger of social control,and informed consent. Concludes with a reexamination of aversive therapy and a plea for professionalism. (JAC)

Cognitively impaired elderly are often cared for by their families, but little clinical intervention has been aimed at helping families to cope with behavior problems. Families may benefit from learning behavior management strategies successfully utilized with institutionalized elderly. Several case examples are discussed. (Author/RC)

Indicates that victims and perpetrators of child abuse in institutions are similar to victims and perpetrators of abuse in the home and that, therefore, systems therapy may be similarly effective in institutions as it is in homes. Describes one program that tries to alleviate stresses that lead to abuse. (Author/GC)

Provides background reading and sources of current practice/ideas relative to instituting programs for older adults. Annotations of selected materials, published since 1972, are grouped under five headings: "Background Materials,""Model Programs,""Information and Referral Services,""Audiovisual Programs," and "Services to the Handicapped and the…

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…