Suchergebnisse

Factors associated with the need to drink too much alcohol are considered within a biobehavioral frame of reference. The determination of how much is too much is traced to the nteraction of factors that include the nature of alcohol, biological variations in individual responses to alcohol, psychological processes, socio-cultural norms, medical advances affecting the average life span and the perception of alcohol's potential benefits and harms, and major societal and technological changes affecting the liabilities of intoxication. The concept of social dependency is suggested as a way of explaining persistent needs to drink excessively that originate outside the individual and are not impelled by physiological or psychological dependence.

In the planning of a new Medical Center at the University of Kentucky, a unique opportunity was provided to begin with the delineation of a philosophy and basic ob jectives around which architectural planning, program design, and staff recruitment could be developed. From the beginning, behavioral scientists have been prominent in planning, activa tion, administration, teaching, and research within the Medical Center. Features of the Center include special emphasis on meeting the needs of students and patients, on providing comprehensive health services, and on relating the Medical Center to the health needs of the community and region. The Medical Center has provided strong support for a Depart ment of Behavioral Science which has assumed many func tions. The primary impact of behavioral science is reflected in the charter and character of the institution and in the extent to which behavioral-science concepts have become inculcated in the philosophy, values, and role perceptions of personnel at varying levels of responsibility.

In the planning of a new Med Center at the U of Kentucky, a unique opportunity was provided to begin with the delineation of a philosophy & basic objectives around which architectural planning, program design, & staff recruitment could be developed. From the beginning, behavioral sci'ts have been prominent in planning, activation, admin, teaching, & res within the Med Center. Features of the Center include special emphasis on meeting the needs of students & patients, on providing comprehensive health services, & on relating the Med Center to the health needs of the community & region. The Med Center has' provided strong support for a Dept of Behavioral Sci which has assumed many functions. The primary impact of behavioral sci is reflected in the charter & character of the instit & in the extent to which behavioral-sci concepts have become inculcated in the philosophy, values, & role perceptions of personnel at varying levels of responsibility. AA.

A positive attitude of the physician toward his alcoholic patient is an essential component of a satisfactory therapeutic relationship. Despite soci ety's recognition of alcoholism as a form of illness, the physician has been reticent to accept alcoholics as patients. Alcoholism has not been medically respectable; it has no well-defined etiology or therapy. The "special problem" community approach has permitted the practicing physician to feel justified in referring alco holics elsewhere. It is suggested that medicine's new emphasis on comprehensive care, the health team concept, and new therapeutic discoveries may permit the physician to view alcoholism as an interesting clinical entity.

A Summary View of Supervised Visitation in the United States.
In response to the needs of family courts and concerns about risks to children in abusive or violent homes, supervision of parent-child contacts in the United States has doubled since 1992. This article reviews the number, characteristics, and types of services provided by supervised Visitation programs in the U.S. Questions of standards and guidelines arising from the diversity of programs are discussed, including specific issues about families with a history of domestic violence. A concluding section outlines public policy issues, focusing on needs for funding.

Throughout the United States and elsewhere in the Western world since World War II, there has been a grow ing interest in medicine. As early as the 1930's, popular accounts of scientific developments began to interest lay readers in medical care and innovation. The significant involvement of social and behavioral scientists in medical education and research began a decade ago and has increased rapidly. It has become apparent that the understanding of health and disease requires a holistic frame of reference in which the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of human behavior are appropriately related to the biological nature of man and the physical environ ment in which he lives. Emphasis upon the holistic approach to medical science and upon comprehensive health care has moved medicine to seek the services of social scientists, notably in connection with public health, preventive medicine, and psychiatry. And, as conceptualization and methodology in the social sciences have matured, social scientists have increasingly tended to interest themselves in applied fields and have come to grasp the significance of health and medicine as a major focus of organized human behavior. Thus, medical science, social science, and popular interest merge to formulate con temporary approaches and norms in health care.—Ed.

Throughout the US & elsewhere in the Western world since WWII, there has been a growing interest in medicine. As early as the 1930's, popular accounts of sci'fic development began to interest lay readers in Med care & innovation. The signif involvement of soc & behavioral sci'ts in Med educ & res began a decade ago & has increased rapidly. It has become apparent that the understanding of health & disease requires a holistic frame of reference in which the psychol'al, soc, & cultural aspects of HB are appropriately related to the biological nature of man & the physical environment in which he lives. Emphasis upon the holistic approach to Med sci & upon comprehensive health care has moved medicine to seek the services of soc sci'ts, notably in connection with public health, preventive medicine, & psychiatry. As conceptualization & methodology in the soc sci's have matured, soc sci'ts have increasingly tended to interest themselves in applied fields & have come to grasp the significance of health & medicine as a major focus of organized HB. Med sci, soc sci, & popular interest merge to formulate contemporary approaches & norms in health care. AA.