Family violence among psychiatric in-patients as measured by the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)

The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency and pattern of family (domestic) violence in a group of psychiatric in-patients by using the Conflict Tactics Scale. The study is based on a consecutive series of 55 married or cohabiting psychiatric in-patients treated at Huddinge Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden in 1994. The study shows that males and females use similar types of both violent and non-violent strategies when trying to solve marital conflicts. Depressed patients use both non-violent and violent methods less often than non-depressed patients, while the opposite is true for patients with a personality disorder, and for schizophrenics. Psychosocial stressors appear to be of limited importance in this context, while poor general functioning is associated with destructive ways of trying to solve conflicts between husband and wife. However, there have been no Scandinavian population-based studies to establish the frequency and type of violence used when trying to solve marital conflicts. Thus there is a need for such studies, and the present investigation supports the American experience that the Conflict Tactics Scale is a usable and easily administered instrument for population-based studies.     

Posttraumatic stress reactions after single and double trauma

This study evaluated the severity and symptom profile of posttraumatic stress reactions of 202 adults exposed in 1988 to political violence in Azerbaijan and/or the earthquake in Armenia. High rates of severe posttraumatic stress reactions were found among the most highly exposed individuals, irrespective of the type of trauma. There was no difference in symptom profile for subjects exposed to earthquake versus violence. These similarities in severity and symptom profile may be attributable to common features of the exposures, which included experiencing life-threat and witnessing injury, mutilation and death. Recent prior exposure to violence contributed to the severity of reaction to the earthquake. The high rates of chronic and severe posttraumatic stress reactions in Armenia constitute a major public mental health problem.     

Groups for poorly socialized children in the elementary school

Many inner-city children, living in resource-poor violent communities, have low self esteem, deficient social skills and do not know how to prevent and cope with provocation and conflict. A group therapy model is described for assisting elementary school children deal with these problems. Groups were led by volunteer mental health professionals in two inner-city elementary schools.     

利用垃圾填埋气体发电走垃圾处理资源化道路

城市生活固体弃物经卫生填埋后,产生的洁气可以做为资源加以利用。杭州市天子岭废弃物处理场１９９８年建成中外合作的发电厂,利用沼气并网发电,不但学习了国外的先进技术,而且培养自己的技术,管理人员。     

Needs for Youth Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention in Schools and Communities

Substance abuse and violence among today's youth are at an all time high. Numerous prevention programs have been implemented to address these issues. Not all are successful. Research has found that when schools and communities are involved in the planning of prevention programs, youth are more cognizant of risk factors and of behaviors that strengthen risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the emerging needs for prevention and health education among youth, and to identify effective approaches for prevention program development and service delivery in schools and communities. This study surveyed 312 youth prevention specialists, school and community health educators and counselors, and parents in a regional sample of ten states. Results indicated that substance abuse and violence are the two most critical and priority issues in need of comprehensive prevention. Multiple prevention service delivery strategies appropriate to youth, including training, technical assistance, conferencing and networking, needs assessment and evaluation, and information requests are discussed in detail. Implications for prevention programming emphasized reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors, reaching and motivating youth participation.     

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and preeclampsia among Peruvian women

OBJECTIVE: Mounting evidence supports the view that intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important cause of maternal mortality. Some, but not all, prior studies suggest that IPV is associated with increased risks of maternal medical conditions such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy which are leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. We assessed the relation between IPV and risk of preeclampsia among Peruvian women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study at two large hospitals in Lima, Peru. Preeclampsia cases were 339 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and proteinuria (i.e., preeclampsia). Controls were 337 normotensive women. Information concerning women's exposure to physical and emotional violence during pregnancy was collected during in-person interviews conducted after delivery and while patients were in hospital. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated from logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of IPV was 43.1% among cases and 24.3% among controls. Compared with those reporting never exposure to IPV during pregnancy, women reporting any exposure had a 2.4-fold increased risk of preeclampsia (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.3). The association was strengthened slightly after adjusting for maternal age, parity and pre-pregnancy adiposity (OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.9-3.9). Emotional abuse in the absence of physical violence was associated with a 3.2-fold (95% CI: 2.1-4.9) increased risk of preeclampsia. Emotional and physical abuse during pregnancy was associated with a 1.9-fold increased risk of preeclampsia (95% CI: 1.1-3.5). CONCLUSIONS: IPV among pregnant women is common and is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. These data support recent calls for coordinated global health efforts to prevent violence against women.     

语前聋患儿国产人工耳蜗植入效果分析

目的 观察语前聋患儿植入诺尔康-晨星人工耳蜗(Nurotron-Venus cochlear implant,Nurotron-Venus CI)后的听觉言语发育情况及其安全性和稳定性.方法 回顾性分析郑州大学第一附属医院行Nurotron-Venus CI植入的78例语前聋患儿的临床资料,患儿植入年龄为13~96月,按植入年龄将患儿分为 A组(13~24月,16 例)、B 组(25~36月,13 例)、C组(37~48月,16 例)、D 组(49~72月,18 例)、 E 组(73~96月,15 例);在患儿术前及开机后1、3、6、12个月采用有意义听觉整合量表(meaningful auditory integration scale,MAIS)(C、D、E组)、婴幼儿有意义听觉整合量表(infant-toddler meaningful auditory integration scale,IT-MAIS )(A、B组)进行听觉能力评估,开机后1、3、6、12个月使用有意义言语使用量表(meaningful use of speech scale,MUSS)进行言语能力评估.术后行X线耳蜗平片检查明确电极位置及形态,定期随访了解术后相关并发症及佩戴人工耳蜗时间和使用情况.结果 所有患儿术前及开机后1、3、6、12月IT-MAIS或MAIS得分分别为1.67±1.19、6.60±5.12、11.86±5.44、17.41±5.04、22.87±5.46分,术后1、3、6、12月MUSS得分分别为5.01±3.26、8.38±3.58、11.88±3.88、16.58±4.95分,随着植入时间延长得分不断上升(均P<0.05);不同年龄组IT-MAIS或MAIS得分比较:术前A组低于C、D、E组,开机后1、3月A、B组低于E组,开机后6月A组低于C、D、E组,B组低于E组(均为P<0.05);不同年龄组MUSS得分比较:开机后1月B组低于E组,开机后3月A、B、C组低于E组,开机后6月A组低于C、D、E组,B组低于E组,开机后1年A组低于C、D、E组(均为P<0.05).所有患儿在开机后1、3、6、12月MUSS与IT-MAIS或MAIS得分相关系数分别为0.918、0.808、0.881、0.756(均为P<0.05),两者呈正相关.78例患儿术后耳蜗位X线平片均显示电极位置正常,形态良好;2例患儿出现处理器故障,其余CI整体工作状态良好.结论 语前聋患儿国产人工耳蜗植入后1年内,所有患儿的听觉言语能力随时间延长不断提高;小龄组患儿听觉言语得分在术后早期低于大龄患儿;听觉能力在开机后12月时已无差异,但小龄组患儿的言语能力仍低于大龄患儿;听觉整合能力越强,言语使用能力越强;Nurotron-Venus CI安全、效果可靠.     

Mental health, demographic, and risk behavior profiles of pregnant survivors of childhood and adult abuse

Our objective was to address the gap in knowledge about the extent to which perinatal mental health and risk behaviors are associated with childhood and adult experiences of abuse that arises because of barriers to screening and disclosure about past and current abuse. Survey data from an ongoing study of the effects of posttraumatic stress on childbearing were used to describe four groups of nulliparous women: those with no abuse history, adult abuse only, childhood abuse only, and abuse that occurred during both periods. The rates of abuse history disclosure were higher in the research context than in the clinical settings. Mental health morbidity and risk behaviors occurred in a dose-response pattern with cumulative abuse exposure. Rates of current posttraumatic stress disorder ranged from 4.1% among those never abused to 11.4% (adult only), 16.0% (childhood only), and 39.2% (both periods). Women abused during both periods also were more likely to be using tobacco (21.5%) and drugs (16.5%) during pregnancy. We conclude that mental health and behavioral risk sequelae affect a significant portion of both childhood and adult abuse survivors in prenatal care. The integration into the maternity setting of existing evidence-based interventions for the mental health and behavioral sequelae of abuse is needed.