Automating reports with microsoft word.

Automating the production of routine reports does not necessarily require programming in a traditional computer language. If you are conversant with Microsoft Word, its macro facility will allow you to develop a customized report generator in a familiar environment with only a modest amount of programming. Furthermore, Word will take care of many important details, including the length of lines, automatic centering of text, and printer support. While the programming requires some work, the resulting report generator will save considerable time and can be mastered by a novice.

An MS-DOS program for certain computations for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--Revised.

A compiled program for MS-DOS computers is described. The program computes four useful measures for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--Revised (WAIS-R). It will estimate the subject's premorbid Verbal, Performance, and Full-Scale IQs from demographic data. It will prorate the sum of the Verbal or Performance scaled scores when less than the full number of subtests are administered. It will compute the deviation of each age-scaled score from either the Verbal or Performance mean, indicating the reliability and abnormality of all differences. For those subtests which differ significantly from the appropriate mean score, the program briefly describes the subject's relative strengths and weaknesses. Finally, the program will compute the difference between the Verbal and Performance IQs, indicating the reliability and abnormality of the difference.

Composite descriptions associated with rare MMPI two-point code types in an adult urban psychiatric setting: codes that involve scale 0.

MMPI files of 1,016 psychiatric patients were searched for protocols with two-point codes that involved scale 0. Thirty-eight such protocols were found, which accounted for 3.7% of the sample. Salient characteristics of the cases were noted, and composite descriptions were developed for each of the code types. An additional 14 new outpatient cases from our clinic were located over the next 2 years. Base rates from the original sample, as well as descriptive statistics and composite descriptions from the extended sample, are provided for each of the eight code types.

Composite descriptions associated with rare MMPI two-point code types: codes that involve scale 5.

MMPI files of 1,016 prior patients were searched for protocols with two-point codes that involved scale 5. Sixty-one such protocols were found; these accounted for 6% of the sample. Salient characteristics of the cases were noted, and composite descriptions were developed for each of the code types. An additional 22 cases were located over the next 2 years in response to my requests for such profiles. Base rates from the original sample, as well as descriptive statistics and composite descriptions from the extended sample, are provided for each of the eight code types with the exception of the 5-0/0-5 code, which will be presented elsewhere.

Psychological aspects of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

There is little information on the psychologic aspects of HED. In particular, there is insufficient evidence to support or dispute the claim that the intelligence of persons with HED is dissimilar to that of the general population. Impressions of frequent mental retardation may arise from patients suffering brain damage following high fever and from our biases against the physically unattractive. A small number of adults with HED have been reported to hold a relatively wide range of jobs, and an even smaller number have been reported with educational and occupational achievement that is predictive of bright average to superior intellectual functioning, but even less evidence is available here. Chronic illness and handicaps exert a toll on the patient and the family. There appears to be greater maladjustment among the families of chronically ill children, but this differs according to the type of illness, and we do not know how this affects the HED child and his/her family. Still, the HED family is exposed to some unique stresses: having always to take into account the ambient temperature regardless of their planned activity; responding to cruel stares and remarks when out in public; and dealing with the problem of broken, lost, or merely publicly discovered dentures. On the other hand, some children apparently benefit from having a sib with a disability. Families react in a variety of ways to a disability, and their reaction may interact with the child's temperament to affect emotional development for better or worse. However, the existence of HED does not insure either normal or inadequate emotional adjustment, and parents should be advised of this. As difficult as it may be, this may also be the time for the pediatrician to say "I don't know." Parents can be told that each child, not just those with HED, should be provided a warm and supportive environment congruent with his/her unique style, in order to facilitate emotional development. They should also be advised of the probable emotional benefits of early prosthetic care with wigs and dentures. When this is either not possible or not sufficient, professional guidance should be sought. Psychotherapy or counseling can be obtained for the child, a parent, or for the entire family. While some familiarity with HED may be helpful, it is not essential, and is far less important than finding a competent professional with whom the family is comfortable. As far as obtaining the information we need, a series of systematic investigations appears to be called for.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A validity scale for the Sharp consumer satisfaction scales.

Because of the apparently inflated scores commonly reported for consumer satisfaction with mental health services, we developed a 5-item validity scale for the SHARP questionnaire. The scale discriminated significantly (P less than .001) between those former clients who offered suggestions for improvement of services and those who did not (N = 38). In another experiment, the scale significantly improved the ability to predict the 46 clients' true scores from their obtained scores via stepwise regression (p less than .01). Weights were obtained from that sample of former clients, which significantly reduced the deviation of the obtained satisfaction scores from the true scores, with all p less than .05. In two successive experiments (N = 49 and 26), weights were applied to new samples, significantly reducing deviation from the criterion scores for 5 of the 6 scales (p less than .05), and new weights were then derived. A final set of weights was derived from the combined samples of the three experiments, (N = 121) which significantly improved prediction of the criterion and lowered the mean on all scales, with all p less than .05.

Using P-Stat, BMDP and SPSS for a cross-products factor analysis.

The major disadvantage of the Q factor analysis with Euclidean distances described by Tanner and Koning [Comput. Progr. Biomed. 12 (1980) 201-202] is the considerable editing required. An alternative procedure with commercially distributed software, and with cross-products in place of Euclidean distances is described. This procedure does not require any editing.

A multi-dimensional client satisfaction instrument.

Development of a client satisfaction measure through successive factor analyses is described. Five factors, each defined by five items and accounting for at least 11% of the total variance, were identified and replicated. A single second order factor also emerged in both studies. Reliability of the second order factor, and of three of the first order factors is sufficient for most purposes. The second order factor, which is a linear combination of the first order factors, was not significantly correlated with sex, age, race, or number of attempts made before receiving a client response. The distribution of scores was highly skewed, with most respondents scoring near the upper (satisfied) end.

Using BMDP and SPSS for a Q factor analysis.

While Euclidean distances and Q factor analysis may sometimes be preferred to correlation coefficients and cluster analysis for developing a typology, commercially available software does not always facilitate their use. Commands are provided for using BMDP and SPSS in a Q factor analysis with Euclidean distances.

Punishment of self-injurious behavior using aromatic ammonia as the aversive stimulus.

Punishment with aromatic ammonia was used to eliminate self-injurious behavior of an autistic woman during experimental sessions. The effects were reversible but were limited to experimental sessions until staff used the ammonia on the ward at all times.