The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior was factor analyzed in 2 institutional samples and 1 community sample of persons with mental retardation (total n=353). Factor analysis revealed no strong justification for the instrument's seven scales. An alternative three-factor solution, comprising intrapersonal maladaptive behavior, psychotic…

An investigation was conducted in Australia of 156 individuals with developmental disabilities who were long-term clients of a residential institution, to determine the incidence of hepatitis C antibodies. Results indicated that none of the residents was seropositive and that hepatitis C is less prevalent than hepatitis B in residential…

Institutionalized patients with Down syndrome (N=307) were monitored for 5 to 10 years to determine prevalence of Alzheimer-type dementia. Prevalence increased from 11% between ages 40 and 49 to 77% between 60 and 69. All patients 70 and over had dementia. Mean age of onset of dementia was 56 years. Neuropathological findings were consistent with…

In a survey of 120 inpatients admitted to a United Kingdom acute psychiatric ward, 46% reported a history of childhood sexual abuse. Only 14%, however, had disclosed the abuse previously to psychiatrists. The patterns of abuse were found to correspond with those causing problems with adjustment in adult life. (CR)

Examined sex-role attitudes toward women of incarcerated White male (n=30) and Black male (n=30) juvenile delinquents. Found significant differences in sex role attitudes toward women between first-born and later-born juvenile delinquents and sex role attitudes toward women relative to available norms. (Author/CM)

Examined 331 adult children with parents in nursing homes. Predictors of depression were poor health, time pressures, viewing parent as demanding, and lack of involvement with instrumental activities of daily living tasks. Emotional effects specific to parent's situation were predicted by poor health, negative perceptions of nursing home staff,…

Examined extent and nature of suicide, attempted suicide, and intentional life-threatening behavior in long-term care facilities and differences in patterns of suicidal behavior by gender, age, and race. Results from 463 facilities revealed sex differences in terms of method chosen, and age differences on type of suicidal behavior and likelihood…

Designed model program designed to increase social support for newly admitted nursing home residents through a structured program of peer counseling. Found residents (N=15) receiving peer counseling improved somewhat on measures of social conditioning; peer counselors (N=15) improved with regard to appearance and grooming. (Author/ABL)

Sleep patterns of 103 institutionalized individuals with profound mental retardation were explored. Almost 40% were found to have short-sleep patterns. Short-sleep was predicted by blindness; nonshort-sleep was predicted by diagnosis of cerebral palsy and sodium valproate usage. Techniques for minimizing possible negative consequences of…

The total population of individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities in state institutions has steadily decreased since 1967 along with the number of operating state institutions. Projections indicate that decreases will continue. A graph summarizes total state institution closures between 1960 and 1995, and a table lists…

Attempted to provide psychosocial description of 187 institutionalized adolescents who completed Adolescent Health Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Findings suggest that these adolescents may not be as psychologically dysfunctional as is commonly surmised, considering their accumulated life events, family problems, and current…

The prelinguistic intentional communicative behaviors of 10 noninstitutionalized children (ages 6-13) with profound mental retardation were analyzed according to communicative rate, communicative function, discourse structure, communicative means, and syllable shape. Findings are compared to data from children without mental retardation and…

Evaluation of 798 adults with intellectual disability in German residential facilities and group homes revealed that subjects did not seem especially vulnerable to depressive disorders. Almost 5% were identified with depressive disorder. Those with depressive disorders experienced reduced social support. Age, epilepsy, and etiology did not show…

Fifty-eight people (ages 2 to 66) receiving residential or other services for idiopathic mental retardation were evaluated for evidence of metabolic disease. Five (8%) demonstrated symptoms pointing to specific genetic metabolic defects, suggesting the need for evaluation of other similar populations with idiopathic mental retardation. (Author/DB)

The senator from Massachusetts introduces this special issue by reviewing his family's interest in persons with mental retardation, the potential of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) program, and the importance of improving care for residents of ICFs. (DB)