Scleral buckling versus primary vitrectomy in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment study (SPR Study): recruitment list evaluation. Study report no. 2.

Background: Accompanying the patient recruitment within the "Scleral buckling versus primary vitrectomy in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment multicentre trial (SPR)", all patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) had to be documented in a detailed recruitment list. The main goal of this analysis was to estimate the prevalence of "medium-severe" RRD (SPR Study eligible) as defined by the SPR Study inclusion criteria. In addition, the detailed anatomical situation of medium-severe RRD is investigated.

Retrospective study of similarities and relations between American drug-free and European therapeutic communities for children and adults.

This article focuses on the similarities and relations between the European therapeutic community for children and adults on the one hand and the American drug-free "concept" therapeutic community on the other. Both approaches are reviewed in a historical and comparative perspective with special attention to several critical issues: democracy versus hierarchy, self-help versus professionalism, psychoanalysis versus behaviorism and concept versus social learning. These two different TC-approaches can be considered as subdivisions of one modality, namely an environment for social learning in which living together in a group can be regarded as the primary agent of growth and human development.

The "new" drug-free therapeutic community. Challenging encounter of classic and open therapeutic communities.

In view of a rapidly changing society, reflected in many changes within the drug-free Therapeutic Communities (TCs), the question has been raised: "What can and cannot be changed in this modality?" This question was addressed at a European conference of experienced therapeutic community workers, who concluded that many changes have occurred and will continue to occur, but some basic concepts should be preserved. The changes inherent in postmodern society are examined here in an effort to foresee their impact on the evolution of the TC. Necessary changes and additions are discussed.

Mortality of treated alcoholics and drug addicts: the benefits of abstinence.

A study of 2-yr treatment outcome and of mortality in the following 8 yr was conducted on all first admissions to Eagleville Hospital in 1970 (503 alcoholics and 221 drug addicts; 9% women). The average age of the alcoholics was 41.6 vs 23.