[Results of conversion from conventional immunosuppressive therapy to cyclosporin A in complications following kidney transplantation]. / Ergebnisse der Konversion von konventioneller immunsuppressiver Therapie auf Cyclosporin A bei Komplikationen nach Nierentransplantation.

In 41 patients suffering from complications late after kidney transplantation the conventional immunosuppression was converted to Cyclosporin A. A complete normalization was obtained in the case of acquired immunoglobulin G deficiency and in persistent leukocytopenia. 6 patients suffering from life-threatening bacterial infections did survive after conversion with functioning allograft and 8 out of 9 late rejections were reversible. Conversion may be necessary in chronic hepatopathy and chronic rejection. A conversion to cyclosporin A is recommended because of control of complications in 78% (46/59) of the recipients.

How physical settings affect chronic mental patients.

A study was conducted at New York State's Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center of the effects of physical changes in the ward environment on severely regressed psychotic inpatients and on the hospital staff who treat them. Two standard wards were remodeled according to principles in the scientific literature, preferences of those involved, and attempts to facilitate treatment goals. Within 8 months of the inauguration of the redesigned setting, there were selective behavior and attitude changes in both staff (N = 27) and patients (N = 37) as compared to four matched control wards (staff N = 44; patient N = 44): (1) staff mood level was raised significantly on a standard scale; (2) staff unscheduled absence rate was cut in half; (3) staff did not report significant improvement on scales of ward atmosphere and patient functioning; (4) patients themselves reported improvement in their self-images, but not in irritability, isolation, or depression; (5) patients reported significantly more satisfaction with the ward dayroom; (6) rate of patient violence decreased almost 50%.

Effects of community placement on chronic mental patients.

Patients judged ready for release from a state mental hospital were interviewed to determine their levels of depression and psychosocial functioning. This interview was repeated for 31 of the patients 8 weeks after their release and simultaneously repeated for 31 similar patients who remained in the hospital. In comparison with the matched controls, released patients became less depressed, less socially isolated, and less irritable. No differential improvement was found in their self-image. These findings, controlled for certain potential biases in a quasi-experimental design, identify some specific benefits of community placement for chronic mental patients.

Concurrent validity of the Depression Adjective Check List in a normal population.

A random sample of 309 employees of a state mental hospital completed form E of the Depression Adjective Check List (DACL), the Beck Depression Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Crowne-Marlowe Social Desirability Scale. Two psychiatrists then interviewed and independently rated all subjects on a 5-point scale. Most of the correlations between the DACL and the other measurements were significant and of sufficient magnitude to warrant interpretation as support for the concurrent validity of the DACL.

Patients' views of placement facilities: a participant-observer study.

The authors report a study in which five student nurses from a psychiatric hospital observed and talked with released patients in their new environments-family care homes, adult and boarding homes, nursing and health-related facilities, and their own family homes. Overall, these ex-inpatients seemed responsive to the physical and social features of their new environments. Some of the aspects most often noted as beneficial may have implications for inpatient facilities in terms of architecture, decor, clear differentiation of subunits, and greater exchange of information between inpatient and field staff.