The moderating effect of aggressive problem behaviors in the generation of more positive attitudes toward nursing home residents.

This study examined the ability of a social history intervention to generate more positive attitudes toward nursing home patients, and to increase staff members' perceived rewards of care-giving. In contrast to prior studies, residents' problem behaviors were examined as potential moderators in the relationship. Forty-three staff members participated in an experimental, 3 (informational condition: social history, medical, control) x 2 (time: pre-test, post-test) within-subjects factorial design that employed newly admitted residents as target patients.

Identification of borderline personality disorders among substance abuse inpatients.

By means of a structured interview procedure, individuals with borderline personality disorders were identified among a sample of 50 patients admitted to an inpatient substance abuse treatment program. When given a series of psychological tests, borderline patients were shown to be more pathological than a nonborderline group of substance abusers in a number of areas including depression, impulse control, antisocial tendencies and reality testing. Time spent in treatment was also shorter for the borderline group.

Follow-up of abstinent and nonabstinent alcoholics.

Despite differences in samples and designs, follow-up studies of alcoholic patients by the Rand Corporation, the state of Oklahoma, and the Veterans Administration (VA) revealed more similarities than differences in outcome and relapse. In the VA study at 6, 12, and 24 months' follow-up, it was found that drinking status and psychosocial adjustment were significantly correlated, the percentage of patients drinking moderately varied from 33% to 47% and did not decrease over time, and the percentage of patients in remission remained constant at 55% over the 2-year period. These data appear to support the inclusion of moderate drinking in the definition of remission.

Consequences of social modification of drinking behavior.

Alcoholic patients who remained abstinent during a Fixed Interval Drinking Decision treatment program had fewer alcohol-related problems at a 6-month follow-up than those who drank during treatment. Pretreatment encouragement to remain abstinent may also have favorably affected the results.

Treatment outcome in a drinking-decisions program.

Of 98 alcoholics who were free to decide whether or not to drink during a 6-week inpatient treatment program, 55 chose to drink. The nondrinkers tended to show more improvement at a 6-month follow-up than did the drinkers.