The effects of information, social and financial incentives on voluntary undirected blood donations: evidence from a field experiment in Argentina.

In many low- and middle-income countries blood donations per capita are substantially lower than in advanced economies. In these countries blood supply is mostly collected through directed donations from relatives and friends to individuals needing transfusions or to replace blood used in emergencies. The World Health Organization considers this method of blood supply inefficient compared to undirected voluntary donations.

The use of the psychodynamic life narrative in crisis supervision.

The psychodynamic life narrative is a statement that is made to the patient that gives current emotional reaction meaning in the context of his life history, and shows it to be a logical and inevitable product of previous life experiences. Because the patient in crisis characteristically present feeling overwhelmed, confused and needy, there is a sense of urgency and helplessness which impacts on the resident therapist's intervention. Common countertransference reactions which can result are assuming omnipotent control, a grandiose rescue fantasy or passivity.

Boundary transgressions in the psychotherapeutic framework: who is the injured party?

The authors emphasize the therapeutic value of establishing and maintaining boundaries between clinician and patient. No universal definition of a therapeutic boundary exists, and this ambiguous term spans a diverse spectrum from benign crossings to harmful violations. Understanding of the traumatic nature of faulty boundaries in psychotherapy has derived largely from the study of severe sexual transgressions by therapists.

Sixth cranial nerve palsy--unusual presenting symptom of lithium toxicity?

This paper discusses a case of neurotoxicity which developed in the course of treatment of bipolar affective disorder with Lithium. It deals with the issues of Lithium levels, concomitant usage of Phenothiazine and addresses the important question of toxicity occurring at normal serum Lithium levels.

The characterologically difficult patient: a hospital treatment model.

A treatment model for the hospitalized borderline patient has evolved from the long-term, intensive treatment of these patients in a psychodynamically oriented setting. Four stages are identified and described. Each has a therapeutic goal and strategy, and repeatedly observable patient responses and staff counter-responses.

Psychotherapy and the inpatient unit: a unique learning experience.

This paper describes the advantages of an inpatient setting for the teaching and learning of psychotherapy. Contributions to this process derive from the continuous and intense expressions of conscious and unconscious dynamics, transferences, and object relationships by the patients, the obligation on residents to therapeutically engage in a relatively exposed way with all the patients under their care, the availability and familiarity of the staff supervisors who participate in assessments and decisions regarding patient management and psychotherapy, and the collaborative work of all the other team members. Conditions of the setting which make this possible are the strong psychodynamic orientation of all the staff, the resident's role as manager and psychotherapist, the staff psychiatrist's role as supervisor and team leader, and the completely open communication among all the treating personnel.

Therapeutic milieu: a dynamic approach.

This paper deals with the establishment of a therapeutic milieu in an acute care general hospital setting. The rationale and structure are defined, and dynamic considerations are elaborated. Conclusions are drawn from our experience suggesting that the therapeutic milieu is a viable and a more effective treatment delivery system than that provided by conventional inpatient units.