The therapeutic efficacy of drug therapy and of psychotherapy for improving the condition of the mentally ill was examined. Results were tabulated of clinical drug trials in humans as reported in English language literature between 1954 and 1977, wherein a psychotropic drug was compared to a placebo or no treatment at all. Results of this…

THESE RESEARCH SCALES PROVIDE CONCRETE SPECIFICATIONS, ALONG QUANTIFIED DIMENSIONS, OF THE THREE CENTRAL INGREDIENTS OF EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC ENCOUNTERS--(1) ACCURATE EMPATHY, (2) NONPOSSESSIVE WARMTH, AND (3) GENUINENESS. THE RELIABILITY OF THE SCALES WAS OBTAINED BY CORRELATING DIFFERENT RATER'S RATINGS ON THE SCALES FOR THE SAME SAMPLES OF…

This report describes the opiate maintenance clinic established in Shreveport, Louisiana (1919-1923), whose short existence has recently been questioned by researchers. The authors of this manuscript visited with the original director of the clinic and were given permission to use the medical records of patients of the old clinic and numerous…

The authors distinguish between the therapeutically-oriented and the socializationally-oriented nonprofessionals, and maintain that both are valuable in a comprehensive program and neither one is uniquely effective. Hence, task assignments should represent the differing orientations as should training programs. A realistic conception of the types…

To facilitate the functioning of family caretakers as care-givers who promote the independent role performance of patient-residents, a seminar was designed to change the atittudes of the 17 caretakers about "mental illness." Using a "demythologizing" approach, the leader induced a significant attitude change. (Author)

The Special Care Program represents a new community placement option for mentally retarded children. In contrast to traditional models of foster care, it involves a comprehensive five-step system designed to maximize effective care delivery. This article describes the method developed for determining fee schedules and reimbursement rates for…

Addresses concept of the therapeutic contract in clinical social work and psychotherapy. Defines "contract," describing legal implications, and implications for the professional relationship and course of treatment. Discusses mutuality, penalty clauses, voluntary participation in contractual process, malpractice and professional negligence,…

Considers the fundamental premises of the person-centered basic encounter group. Groups are considered unusual insofar as the focus is on the individuals in the groups, each becoming empowered to allow inner potential to develop and to move in a constructive direction. The counselor facilitates such growth: client-centered therapy is a way of…

The health, physical education, recreation, and dance professions have tended to neglect the frail aged and dying aged person in the provision of training, programs, and research. The Adults Health and Developmental Program is offered as a model to help improve the quality of life for this population. (DF)

Two experiments were conducted to isolate the trait-anxiety-reducing effects of transcendental meditation (TM) from expectation of relief and the concomitant ritual of sitting twice daily. The results strongly support the conclusion that the crucial therapeutic component of TM is not the TM exercise. (Author)

This analogue study was designed to determine whether physical distance between female interviewees and a female interviewer affected verbal productivity when interviewees discussed academic, social, and personal topics. Subjects talked longer about personal topics at an intermediate distance than they did when seated close to or far away. (Author)

Results supported the hypothesis that underachievers are significantly more likely to report and display "irresponsible behaviors arising from impulsivity and anxiety over achievement in work situations. (Author)

Article described the PBX workshop, a forum for behavior evaluation that facilitates the personal growth of its participants. (Author/RK)

The linguistic compatibility between black students and white counselors in counseling sessions was found to be low. (Author)

The results indicate that reinforcement can be effective in increasing the number of questions superior students ask during information seeking interviews. Thus, the use of verbal reinforcement by counselors is an effective means of encouraging high achieving students to seek information relevant to their educational and vocational planning.…