bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pops and Flops: Some Properties of Famous English Poems
Authors: Forsyth Richard S. 
Published: May 2005

This article describes a preliminary study of linguistic attributes that differentiate popular from obscure poems in English. Following in the footsteps of Simonton (1989), Martindale (1990) and others, frequency of appearance in anthologies was used as an index of poetic popularity. Twenty general anthologies published between 1966 and 1997 were selected and all poems appearing in more than five of them were taken as a reference sample. This gave eighty-five poems by fifty-four different authors. (The two most popular were Matthew Arnold's Dover Beach with 16 occurrences and Kubla Khan by Samuel T. Coleridge with 15.) As a control group, fifty-four other poets were selected by finding a less eminent poet of the same sex born within ten years of each poet in the reference sample. The same number of poems were chosen (as near as possible randomly) from each obscure poet as from the matching popular poet. This gave eighty-five obscure poems, also by fifty-four different authors. As a check on this dichotomy, the number of quotations from each of these authors in the Little Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (Ratcliffe, 1994) was tallied. For the popular poets the median was seven entries, for the obscure poets the median was zero. This difference is highly significant. Some aspects of the language of the two subsets were then examined. Although the popular poems were on average longer than the obscure ones (median length 155 and 127 words respectively), this difference was not statistically significant. However, a number of significant differences were found: 1) the popular poems had significantly fewer syllables per word in their first lines; 2) popular poems were more likely to begin with an initial line composed entirely of monosyllables; 3) the mean number of letters per word in the popular poem was very significantly less (4.13 versus 4.29) than the obscure poems; and 4) the vocabulary of the popular poems was on average less rich than that of the obscure ones. Syntactic differences were also investigated. Overall a clear tendency for famous poems to use simpler language than obscure poems was found. In poetry, simplicity would seem to be a virtue.
Physical Illness and Parasuicide: Evidence from the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule (Epsis/WHO-Euro)
Authors: De Leo D. , Scocco P. , Marietta P. , Schmidtke A. , Bille-Brahe U. , Kerkhof A. J. F. M. , Lonnqvist J. , Crepet P. , Salander-Renberg E. , Wasserman D. , Michel K. , Bjerke T. 
Published: May 2005

Objective: The aim of this research was to identify psychosocial characteristics which might predict future suicidal behavior in parasuicidal subjects in Europe. Method: The interview utilized for the survey (European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule—EPSIS) was administered to 1269 parasuicides aged fifteen years and over, within one week of hospital admission after a suicide attempt, and is part of a longitudinal multicenter study. EPSIS included a brief medical questionnaire, scales rating depression, hopelessness, self-esteem, suicide intention, questions on sociodemographic characteristics, an interview on life events and social support, a description of the parasuicidal act, and an evaluation of factors precipitating the index parasuicide. Results: Physical illness proved to be very frequent among suicide attempters. One in two subjects suffered from an acute, chronic, or chronic disorder in relapse at the time of the parasuicide. Subjects with a physical illness were significantly more depressed, particularly subjects from the intermediate age band and ones affected by a chronic physical disease in relapse. Forty-two percent of patients with physical illness rated their somatic problem as a factor precipitating the attempt and 22 percent judged it to be major one. Furthermore, subjects with physical illnesses considered psychiatric symptoms and disorders to be relevant factors in triggering suicidal behavior, to a greater extent than non-sufferers. The importance of physical illness in contributing to suicidal behavior increased with advancing age. Conclusions: More careful attention to somatic conditions and their subjective implications would probably augment chances of effectively preventing suicide.
Epidemiology and Planning
Authors: Ipsen J. 
Published: May 2005

Planning for medical care delivery demands epidemiologic expertise. Epidemiology needs conceptual expansion in order to meet this new challenge. This paper sketches some aspects of the historical development of epidemiology. Three basic dimensions of morbidity are discussed: the biologic gradient of disease, duration (time), and the newer dimension of costs attached to various phases of the health delivery system.
Volunteers Who Work: The Community Health Care Project in Burma
Authors: Chauls Donald S. 
Published: May 2005

The Community Health Care Project in Burma stimulates villager involvement in health issues and, simultaneously, extends the coverage of the government health services beyond existing subcenters, down to the village level. The Project, which began in 1977, is based on two voluntary part-time workers—a Community Health Worker (CHW) and an Auxiliary Midwife (AMW). CHWs have substantial curative as well as preventive and promotive responsibilities. AMWs are expected to perform deliveries as well as give pre-natal and post-natal advice. Village People's Councils select the CHWs and AMWs, develop drug resupply schemes, hold and spend funds, and participate in motivational campaigns. The majority of the volunteers in this national-scale program continue to perform their tasks several years after their initial training. Many similar programs, following an initial period of enthusiasm, have failed—or have succeeded only if their scale is kept small. Why is this program continuing to operate? Buddhism and other aspects of Burmese culture, the strong political support for voluntarism, the substantial quantity and power of community involvement vis-a-vis the voluntary workers, the large amount of supervision and an emphasis on drugs and deliveries appear to be the major reasons.
Clinical Correlates of Depression following Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Strik Jacqueline J. M. H. , Honig Adriaan , Lousberg Richel , Van Os Jim , Van Den Berg Eduard J. M. , Van Praag Herman M. 
Published: May 2005

Objective: Post-MI depression increases mortality, especially in the first 18 months after MI. Identifying patients at risk for post-MI depression is therefore important. In the present study we investigated possible correlates for post-MI depression on an a priori basis. Method: Based on the literature, four clinically easily attainable variables were selected as possible correlates for post-MI depression. These were prescription of benzodiazepines during acute hospitalization, cardiac complications during acute hospitalization, history of depression, and not being able to stop smoking within six months after MI. A consecutive cohort of 173 first-MI patients was screened with the SCL-90 depression scale and DSM-III-R citeria for major depression. Of this cohort 35 depressed patients were compared with 35 non-depressed post-MI patients, matched for gender, age, and severity of MI. Results: In univariate analyses, complications during hospitalisation (OR = 2.14; CI = 0.89–5.14), prescription of benzodiazepines (OR = 3.67; CI = 1.11–12.1), history of depression (OR = 3.0; CI = 0.87–10.4), and not being able to stop smoking (OR = 4.5; CI = 1.11–18.2) were clinical correlates for post-MI depression. Multivariate analyses showed that none of these variables were independent of the others in predicting depression. Conclusions: A number of easily measurable patient characteristics identify those MI-patients at risk of post-MI depression. Further investigations should focus on the predictive value of these factors in relation to post-MI depression.
Psychiatric Referral and Medical History of Outpatients in a General Hospital
Authors: Zitman Frans G. , Van Der Ploeg Henk M. 
Published: May 2005

Outpatients of the Department of Internal Medicine with an early psychiatric referral (within twelve weeks), when compared with outpatients of the same department referred to the psychiatrist at a later stage or not at all, were found to be ten years younger when the complaints started, when they first visited the G.P. and (later) a medical specialist, and at the time of the investigation. They had visited more medical specialists and had been admitted to hospital more frequently. Outpatients of the pain clinic with an early psychiatric referral (within six weeks), when compared with outpatients of the same department referred to the psychiatrist later or not at all were eleven years younger when the complaints started and eight years younger when they first visited the G.P. They were referred later to a medical specialist, visited more medical specialists, and belonged to a lower social class and income group. The results are discussed and compared with those of inpatient-studies.
Which Cancer Patients Benefit Most from a Brief, Group, Coping Skills Program?
Authors: Cunningham Alastair J. , Lockwood Gina A. , Edmonds Claire V. I. 
Published: May 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of a number of variables on the improvements in quality of life of some 400 cancer patients who completed a brief, group program providing psychosocial support and training in coping skills. Method: The factors tested were: patient gender, age, marital status, religion, education level, diagnostic site, recurrence status, expectations of the course, previous experience in self-help techniques, and different group leaders. Three assessment instruments were used, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Functional Living Index for Cancer (FLIC), and the Stanford Inventory of Cancer Patient Adjustment (SICPA). Assessments were made at three time points. Results: The overall finding was that the program improved mood and enhanced quality of life for most cancer patients: there was no evidence that it was more or less effective for subgroups based on gender, marital status, religious orientation, education level, and previous experience with mental self-help techniques. It was also found that several different group leaders with widely varying experience facilitated similar improvements. However, there was a significant tendency for patients under fifty to improve more by the end of the program, than older patients, although this difference disappeared at the three month follow-up. In addition, patients with recurrent disease showed less improvement in quality of life than those with primary cancer. Conclusions: The beneficial effects on quality of life of a seven-session group psychoeducational program were seen across a wide range of categories of cancer patients. The generalizability and implications of these findings are briefly discussed.
Psychologic Distress during the Menopausal Years in Women Attending a Menopause Clinic
Authors: Stewart Donna E. , Boydell Katherine , Derzko Christine , Marshall Valerie 
Published: May 2005

Objective: This study measures psychologic distress in women attending a menopause clinic to determine if significant differences exist between perimenopausal and menopausal women. Method: Consecutive women attending a university hospital menopause clinic were administered the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and a study questionnaire to determine menopausal symptoms, menstrual cycle status, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The BSI results were compared between menopausal and perimenopausal women, and to a normative sample of middle-aged women who were nonpatients. Results: Two hundred and fifty-nine menopause clinic women completed the questionnaire: 113 perimenopausal and 146 menopausal women. There was significantly greater psychologic distress on the BSI among perimenopausal as compared to menopausal women on the global severity index, and each of the anxiety, hostility, somatization, depression, paranoid, and psychoticism subscales. Perimenopausal women met BSI caseness severity criteria significantly more often than did menopausal women on the global severity index, and on the subscales for depression, anxiety, and psychoticism. On the BSI, menopausal women showed results similar to those of a normative sample of nonpatient middle-aged women. Conclusions: Perimenopausal women attending menopause clinics have significantly higher levels of psychologic distress meeting case severity criteria on the BSI. Further research is warranted to define the subgroups of perimenopausal women who are at increased risk, in the hopes of developing effective interventions.
The Relativity of Communication: Albert Einstein as Technical Writer
Authors: Baresich Michael J. 
Published: May 2005

Efficient information flow in technical communication depends upon accurate audience analysis. The presentation of information must be adjusted relative to the knowledge and interests of the writer's audience. Problems arise when the relative differences in audiences are slight, but nonetheless important. Albert Einstein's writing can be used as an example of skillful adaptation of material for audiences with subtle differences. A prime example is his special theory of relativity, which he published in three versions for technical, semitechnical, and nontechnical audiences. Students, teachers, and technical writers can learn much from the way Einstein uses tone, personal address, varying levels of diction, definitions, and concrete examples of each of the three expositions of his special theory of relativity.
Measuring Psychological Adjustment to HIV Infection
Authors: Kelly B. , Raphael B. , Burrows G. , Judd F. , Kernutt G. , Burnett P. , Perdices M. , Dunne M. 
Published: May 2005

Aims: A modified version of the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (The Mental Adjustment to HIV Scale-MAHIVS) was used to evaluate patterns of psychological adjustment in response to HIV infection. Methods: A sample of 164 HIV positive homosexual/bisexual men were recruited across three Australian centers (79 asymptomatic (CDC II/III) and 85 symptomatic HIV infection (CDC IV)). Factor analysis of the MAHIVS was conducted and the predictive validity of the MAHIVS was investigated using the General Health Questionnaire, while The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to assess current and lifetime psychiatric disorder. Other measures of adjustment/coping were used to investigate the construct validity of the MAHIVS (neuroticism, locus of control, defense style). Results: Factor analysis of the MAHIVS detected four factors: Hopelessness, Fighting Spirit/Self Efficacy, Personal Control, and Minimization. Hopelessness and Fighting Spirit factors exhibited acceptable levels of internal consistency and validity, with significant correlations detected with psychological symptoms and significant association with other measures of psychological adjustment and personality. Fighting Spirit emerged as a potential indicator of psychological resilience, whereas Hopelessness was significantly associated with psychological symptoms and current major depression (but not past depression). Conclusions: The findings indicate the validity of the MAHIVS and support the presence of common themes in the psychological adaptation to life-threatening illness that can be detected across disease categories and groups.
Psychiatric Disorders Associated with Crohn's Disease
Authors: Schwartz Richard A. , Schwartz Ilze K. 
Published: May 2005

This article is a report of the authors' experience with a series of forty-six patients with Crohn's disease seen in psychiatric consultation over a nine year period. We treated twenty-two of these patients in either long term or short term psychotherapy in addition to the initial psychiatric evaluation. A brief literature review of previous studies on the psychiatric aspects of Crohn's disease is also presented. The most common reason that psychiatric consultation was requested was depression, followed by pain and narcotic-related problems. Factors which appeared to contribute to psychiatric morbidity were the following: duration of Crohn's disease, frequent hospitalizations and surgical procedures, presence of an ostomy, history of proctocolectomy, current psychosocial stress unrelated to Crohn's disease and a history of traumatic childhood experiences. Four suggestions regarding psychiatric management of this group of patients are presented and discussed.
Increased Prescribing of Valium, Librium, and other Drugs—An Example of the Influence of Economic and Social Factors on the Practice of Medicine
Authors: Waldron Ingrid 
Published: May 2005

Drug prescriptions per capita in the United States have more than doubled since 1950 without a commensurate improvement in health. Drugs are often prescribed for clinical conditions in which therapeutic benefits do not outweigh the risk of adverse drug reactions. Deaths due to adverse drug reactions are roughly as frequent as deaths due to automobile accidents. Valium and Librium are the first and fourth most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S., used by one in ten adults each year. The rapid rise in use of these drugs has occurred during a period of rising social stress, as indicated by increases in alcohol consumption, suicide, and homicide. Valium and Librium are frequently prescribed for patients who go to doctors with social or other nonmedical problems, often in lieu of attempts to resolve these underlying problems. Overprescribing occurs because the decision to prescribe is influenced not only by consideration of therapeutic benefit, but also by nonmedical factors, for example the widespread expectation by both patient and doctor that the doctor will provide a drug or some other technological treatment. Prescribing decisions are also influenced by the profit-motivated activities of drug companies, including the expenditure of almost one-quarter of every sales dollar on drug promotion. The most widely used source of drug information for doctors is the industry-sponsored Physicians' Desk Reference, which overrates the therapeutic value of Valium and Librium as compared to disinterested medical sources. Drug companies also contribute to overprescribing by introducing numerous minor variants of existing drugs. The therapeutic benefits of such new drugs are often overestimated in the early years of use when adverse side effects are not well known and apparent efficacy is enhanced by placebo effects in uncontrolled observations.
Family Network and Mortality: Survival Chances through the Lifespan of an Entire Age Cohort
Authors: Samuelsson Gillis , Dehlin Ove 
Published: May 2005

This study relates certain family network variables (marital status and number of children) to chances of survival. Through multivariate analysis, survival is also related to social class, social mobility, migration and local environment, and legitimacy of birth. All persons in a local birth cohort born in the years 1902 and 1903 were followed in population records from birth until eighty years of age. The group comprised 487 individuals with a dropout rate of 4 percent. Univariate survival analysis between twenty to eighty years of age showed widows and also divorced women to have a significantly higher survival than those still married and never married. Never married men and women had the lowest survival rates. The number of children was not associated with survival for neither men nor women when controlled for marital status. Multiple regression survival analysis showed different patterns for males and females. The risk of not surviving to eighty years of age for men resulted from a combination of being single, downward social mobility, a father in the manual working class group and few children, with being single as the strongest predictor. For women the strongest predictor for death before eighty was the category single and/or married (as opposed to earlier married). The combination of being single/married, high migration, earlier life mainly in rural areas, and having few children were predictors in the model of death before eighty. Thus, for both men and women marital status was the strongest predictor for survival but in different ways.
Focal Psychotherapy: Its Potential Impact on Psychotherapeutic Practice in Medicine
Authors: Ornstein Paul H. , Ornstein Anna 
Published: May 2005

A condensed illustration of a complete treatment process of “focal psychotherapy” is presented to contrast the specificity of this form of psychotherapy with nonspecific approaches. A two-year follow-up illustrates the meaning of specificity. The relationship of therapeutic results to the focal interventions is reflected in the patient's own views of his accomplishments in therapy. The theory and techniques of focal psychotherapy were originally worked out by Balint and his co-workers. The case example presented here is the basis of discussion showing how focal psychotherapy can help re-conceptualize and add precision to the theory, techniques and processes of both short- and long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Such increased precision in interventions and focal aims could help leaders and general practitioner training groups to better achieve their collaborative tasks.
Splitting on a Pediatric Consult Liaison Service
Authors: Robertson Julia M. , Robison Bradley D. , Carter Bryan D. 
Published: May 2005

Objective: Although the concepts of splitting and projective identification have been useful in explaining certain group phenomena on adult psychiatric and medical wards, their application to pediatric settings has not been addressed in the literature. The authors demonstrate that early identification, staff conferencing, and family/staff conferencing can diffuse these dynamics in an academic pediatric setting. Method: The existing literature on splitting and projective identification is reviewed. Case vignettes are then used to illustrate the manifestations of splitting and projective identification in a pediatric setting and to demonstrate intervention strategies modified for children and their families from the adult literature. Results: Splitting and projective identification can be interrupted in pediatric settings with early identification, staff conferencing, and family/staff conferencing. The cooperation of pediatric clinicians is critical in the implementation of these intervention strategies. Conclusions: The development of liaison support groups for pediatric residents and interdisciplinary treatment teams will enlist their cooperation in identifying splitting early, and in employing staff conferencing and family/staff conferencing to diffuse this group dynamic which, if left unchecked, can disrupt professional relationships and compromise the treatment of pediatric patients.
Variations in Health Perception between Black and White Elderly
Authors: Boyer Eunice 
Published: May 2005

In a sample of 414 residents of public housing for the elderly, health perception is significantly lower among Black residents than among Whites. The relationship of health perception to several measures of objective health status, to cultural background, to social participation, and to morale is analyzed separately for the two ethnic groups. The relationship of measures of health to health perception is more direct among Whites than among Blacks, except for an Index of Daily Well-Being, in which the relationship is similar for both groups. Social participation also influences health perception. With Blacks, participation in church-related activities is the most direct influence. While health perception is related to morale, life orientation (an index of morale) is higher for Blacks than for Whites. The implications for health education professionals seem to lie in the lack of direct links between objective measures of health and self-perception of health for Blacks. The need for health education, so that there may be a realistic appraisal of one's own health condition, is shown here. The relatively low educational level of many older citizens, especially elderly Blacks, suggests that newspaper releases are not an adequate tool for health education for the elderly.