LITERATURE ABSTRACTS Suicide Prevention Around the Clock. Norman L. Farberow, Edwin S. Shneidman, Robert E. Litman, Carl I. Wold, S. M. Heilig, and Jan Kramer. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1966, 36, 551558. This paper presents the experiences and results of the Suicide Prevention Center of Los Angeles in extension of its services around the clock. The ways of meeting the need for increased staff and the resources used for disposition of callers are presented. A P s y c h i a t r i c Case Register. Harold C. Miles and Elmer A. Gardner. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1966, 14, 571-580. The psychiatric case register has provided a picture of the network of psychiatric services in Monroe County, New York, and to some degree, with the interaction among the services. These data and this description provide a solid baseline against which to evaluate new services as they are added to this psychiatric network. The register points to gaps in service and needs for future programming. Psychotherapy and the Sense of Community. Jerome D. Frank. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 1966, 20, 228-234. In summary, our age is characterized by widespread psychologic unrest springing from rapid and far-reaching changes in the conditions of life. These changes are unsettling by their very magnitude and speed. They have weakened the individuars sense of continuity with the past and future and his ties with the groups to which he belongs, thereby undercutting his sense of personal security and significance. At the same time they have stimulated drives toward individual self-indulgence and self-aggrandizement. To forestall the irretrievable disaster that these trends foreshadow in a nuclear world, and to enable humanity to attain the new levels of wellbeing now within reach, the first aim must be to strengthen the individual's faith in himself and his sense of connectedness with all his groups, including the family, the nation, and the human race itself. The philosophy and techniques of psychotherapy may be able to make small but significant contributions to this end. Emotional Disorder, Status Inconsistency and Migration. J. H. Abramson. The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 1966, 44, 2 3 - 4 8 . . A health questionnaire survey was performed among 970 persons, comprising a random sample of the adult population of a predominantly immigrant neighborhood of Jerusalem, in 1962-64. The instrument used was the Cornell Medical Index (CMI), which studies in the United States, Britain, and Israel have shown to be of fair validity as an indicator of emotional disorder. The prevalence rate of high CMI scores (30 or more positive responses to the questionnaire) was 33% among the men and 56% among the women. The rate rose with age. The findings are interpreted as indicative of associations between emotional disorder and social status, status inconsistency, and migration.
Inferences are drawn concerning the underlying etiological processes, with emphasis upon the possible influence, in this population, of status inconsistency, discrepancies between aspirations and achievements, and cultural change. It is suggested that the implications of the findings may extend beyond emotional disorder to general or overall ill-health. Fear and the House-As-Haven in the Lower Class. Lee Rainwater. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 1966, 32, 23-31. The attitudes of lower-class people toward their housing are analyzed by three groups: slum dwellers, traditional working-class and modern workingclass people. The human and n o n h u m a n dangers related to housing are identified. The implications for housing design are spelled out and comparisons made between a number of studies of public housing projects. The desire of lower-class people tot freedom from fear included a controlled and safe immediate neighborhood free from the threat of caretaker groups involved. The point is made that caretaking groups must provide and encourage security and order without injuring the self-esteem, dignity, and autonomy of the individual member of the lower-class group. Comment on "Fear and House-as.Haven in the Lower Class." Roger Montgomery. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 1966, 32, 313 7 . - T h i s comment by a professor of architecture defensively states the irrelevance of Rainwater's sociological insights to the American housing designer. He states that the problem-solving capacities of today's public housing architects are overloaded by the need to satisfy cost estimates, maintenance problems, and governmental agency housing authorities. He suggests that the solutions to housing problems may be in the politics and economics of income redistribution rather than in architecture. Density, Health and Social Disorganization. Robert C. Schmitt. Journal of the American Institute of Planners. 1966, 32, 3 8 - 4 0 . - - A correlation analysis of data for the Honolulu Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area is presented to test the validity of the thesis developed by Jane Jacobs in her book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, that overcrowding is more important than high density in relation to health and social problems. In this study, density was found to be closely correlated with nine variables of social disorganization when the variable of overcrowding was held constant, but the reverse was not true. The author concludes that density is the more significant variable. Psychiatric Need and Demand in a Prepaid Group Practice Program. Ben Z. Locke, Goldie Krantz, and Morton Kramer. American Journal of Public Health, 1966, 56, 8 9 5 - 9 0 4 . - - G r o u p Health Association, Washington, D.C., a prepaid group practice plan, conducted a study to assess the
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THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL
degree to which psychiatric problems were present among its membership. During the three and onehalf month period of the study, 6,104 patients aged 15 or over were seen; 15% were diagnosed by a physician as having a 'r problem. Details by age, sex, somatic illness, psychiatric problem, degree of severity, and other pertinent factors are presented. Because the pressure to
improve psychiatric program was so strong, a limited benefit for outpatient psychiatric services was initiated. Results for the first eight months of operation showed a 1% referral rate from the physicians to the screening psychiatrist. The screening psychiatrist referred about half for benefits, but only two out of three such patients actually utilized the benefits. Plans for an improved program of psychiatric coverage will soon be implemented.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
Incidence of Treated Mental Illness in Three Pennsylvania Communities. John G.
NEW
Bruhn, Edward N. Brandt, and Margaret Shackelford. American Journal of Public Health. 1966, 56, 8 7 1 - 8 8 3 . - - T h i s study was conducted to see whether three adjacent ethnically different communities differed in the incidence of treated mental illness. Data were studied on all persons from these three communities who had been treated for mental illness from 1950 to 1960. The results were discussed in terms of findings from sociological studies of these three communities each of which has different attitudes and values toward illness and different social mechanisms for coping with ill-
CLASSIFIED AD SECTION i n the
Communi[y
Bess.
MentaIHealth Jou,nal for y o u r c o n v e n i e n c e i n fulfilling the n e e d to publicize s u c h items as P e r s o n n e l Vacancies, C h a r t e r Flights, Fellowships, S e m i n a r s , Training Programs, Literature D i s t r i b u t i o n , etc.
A New Venture in Administrative Psychiatry. J. Hoenigh and Marian W. Hamilton. The
AmericanJournalof Psychiatry, 1966, 123, 270.
A four-year follow-up study at two general hospital psychiatric units included a stratified sample of all first referrals for psychiatric evaluation in their catchment area. The authors found that longterm hospitalization as well as transfer to a mental hospital was largely avoided; both patients and relatives seemed satisfied with the services of the unit and preferred such a unit to mental hospital referral. However, patients living in the community on follow-up showed a relatively high rate of morbidity, unemployment, and social isolation.
A d v e r t i s i n g Rates : $1.00 per line $2.00 extra for display $25.00 per 1 / 8 pg. display $1.00 extra for box n u m b e r .
C l o s i n g Dates: t h e 1st of the m o n t h p r e c e d i n g t h e m o n t h of t h e issue (March, J u n e , September, D e c e m b e r ) , i.e., May 1st for J u n e issue.
A d d r e s s Order to: A d v e r t i s i n g Manager C o m m u n i t y Mental H e a l t h J. T e a c h e r s College, C o l u m b i a U . 525 West 120th St. N e w Y o r k , N . Y . 10027
Psychiatric Social Workers: Two vacancies pending, April 1967 in a 13-county community based NIMH research project featuring pre-admission and aftercare services. This is a popular and meaningful project in second year of operation. It combines the tested strengths of the state mental hospital with the creative and flexible approaches of community mental health concepts. Unusual opportunity for professional growth in crisis theory practice, consultation, and regional community mental health organiza. tion. Also, hospital staff vacancy, for senior psychiatric social worker. ltequirements: MSW, 3 years experience in psychiatric setting. Salary $8,400 to $13,200 depending upon experience. Phone 317-966-0511 reverse charges or write: Alex Maximiac, ACSW, Director, Social Service Department, Richmond State Hospital, Richmond, Indiana 47374.
Inferences are drawn concerning the underlying etiological processes, with emphasis upon the possible influence, in this population, of status inconsistency, discrepancies between aspirations and achievements, and cultural change. It is suggested that the implications of the findings may extend beyond emotional disorder to general or overall ill-health. Fear and the House-As-Haven in the Lower Class. Lee Rainwater. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 1966, 32, 23-31. The attitudes of lower-class people toward their housing are analyzed by three groups: slum dwellers, traditional working-class and modern workingclass people. The human and n o n h u m a n dangers related to housing are identified. The implications for housing design are spelled out and comparisons made between a number of studies of public housing projects. The desire of lower-class people tot freedom from fear included a controlled and safe immediate neighborhood free from the threat of caretaker groups involved. The point is made that caretaking groups must provide and encourage security and order without injuring the self-esteem, dignity, and autonomy of the individual member of the lower-class group. Comment on "Fear and House-as.Haven in the Lower Class." Roger Montgomery. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 1966, 32, 313 7 . - T h i s comment by a professor of architecture defensively states the irrelevance of Rainwater's sociological insights to the American housing designer. He states that the problem-solving capacities of today's public housing architects are overloaded by the need to satisfy cost estimates, maintenance problems, and governmental agency housing authorities. He suggests that the solutions to housing problems may be in the politics and economics of income redistribution rather than in architecture. Density, Health and Social Disorganization. Robert C. Schmitt. Journal of the American Institute of Planners. 1966, 32, 3 8 - 4 0 . - - A correlation analysis of data for the Honolulu Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area is presented to test the validity of the thesis developed by Jane Jacobs in her book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, that overcrowding is more important than high density in relation to health and social problems. In this study, density was found to be closely correlated with nine variables of social disorganization when the variable of overcrowding was held constant, but the reverse was not true. The author concludes that density is the more significant variable. Psychiatric Need and Demand in a Prepaid Group Practice Program. Ben Z. Locke, Goldie Krantz, and Morton Kramer. American Journal of Public Health, 1966, 56, 8 9 5 - 9 0 4 . - - G r o u p Health Association, Washington, D.C., a prepaid group practice plan, conducted a study to assess the
365
366
THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL
degree to which psychiatric problems were present among its membership. During the three and onehalf month period of the study, 6,104 patients aged 15 or over were seen; 15% were diagnosed by a physician as having a 'r problem. Details by age, sex, somatic illness, psychiatric problem, degree of severity, and other pertinent factors are presented. Because the pressure to
improve psychiatric program was so strong, a limited benefit for outpatient psychiatric services was initiated. Results for the first eight months of operation showed a 1% referral rate from the physicians to the screening psychiatrist. The screening psychiatrist referred about half for benefits, but only two out of three such patients actually utilized the benefits. Plans for an improved program of psychiatric coverage will soon be implemented.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
Incidence of Treated Mental Illness in Three Pennsylvania Communities. John G.
NEW
Bruhn, Edward N. Brandt, and Margaret Shackelford. American Journal of Public Health. 1966, 56, 8 7 1 - 8 8 3 . - - T h i s study was conducted to see whether three adjacent ethnically different communities differed in the incidence of treated mental illness. Data were studied on all persons from these three communities who had been treated for mental illness from 1950 to 1960. The results were discussed in terms of findings from sociological studies of these three communities each of which has different attitudes and values toward illness and different social mechanisms for coping with ill-
CLASSIFIED AD SECTION i n the
Communi[y
Bess.
MentaIHealth Jou,nal for y o u r c o n v e n i e n c e i n fulfilling the n e e d to publicize s u c h items as P e r s o n n e l Vacancies, C h a r t e r Flights, Fellowships, S e m i n a r s , Training Programs, Literature D i s t r i b u t i o n , etc.
A New Venture in Administrative Psychiatry. J. Hoenigh and Marian W. Hamilton. The
AmericanJournalof Psychiatry, 1966, 123, 270.
A four-year follow-up study at two general hospital psychiatric units included a stratified sample of all first referrals for psychiatric evaluation in their catchment area. The authors found that longterm hospitalization as well as transfer to a mental hospital was largely avoided; both patients and relatives seemed satisfied with the services of the unit and preferred such a unit to mental hospital referral. However, patients living in the community on follow-up showed a relatively high rate of morbidity, unemployment, and social isolation.
A d v e r t i s i n g Rates : $1.00 per line $2.00 extra for display $25.00 per 1 / 8 pg. display $1.00 extra for box n u m b e r .
C l o s i n g Dates: t h e 1st of the m o n t h p r e c e d i n g t h e m o n t h of t h e issue (March, J u n e , September, D e c e m b e r ) , i.e., May 1st for J u n e issue.
A d d r e s s Order to: A d v e r t i s i n g Manager C o m m u n i t y Mental H e a l t h J. T e a c h e r s College, C o l u m b i a U . 525 West 120th St. N e w Y o r k , N . Y . 10027
Psychiatric Social Workers: Two vacancies pending, April 1967 in a 13-county community based NIMH research project featuring pre-admission and aftercare services. This is a popular and meaningful project in second year of operation. It combines the tested strengths of the state mental hospital with the creative and flexible approaches of community mental health concepts. Unusual opportunity for professional growth in crisis theory practice, consultation, and regional community mental health organiza. tion. Also, hospital staff vacancy, for senior psychiatric social worker. ltequirements: MSW, 3 years experience in psychiatric setting. Salary $8,400 to $13,200 depending upon experience. Phone 317-966-0511 reverse charges or write: Alex Maximiac, ACSW, Director, Social Service Department, Richmond State Hospital, Richmond, Indiana 47374.
