Private Interview Research Articles

Children's and parents' beliefs regarding the value of walking: rehabilitation implications for children with cerebral palsy

Walking for children with cerebral palsy (CP) has physiological and functional benefits, but also holds symbolic significance that largely remains unexplored. The aims of this pilot study were to describe beliefs about the value of walking held by children with CP and their parents, and to examine how these beliefs inform rehabilitation choices and perceptions of 'success'. A critical qualitative design was employed. Six parents and six children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System III or IV, aged 9 to 18 years) each participated in a private interview. Analyses examined the relationship between dominant social beliefs regarding walking and participants' accounts. Parents' accounts revealed that all adopted a stance of doing something/trying anything as part of being a 'good parent' and maintaining hope. Tapering of walking interventions contributed to feelings of guilt and doubt. Children primarily viewed walking as exercise rather than functional. Their accounts also demonstrated how they internalized negative attitudes towards disability and judged themselves accordingly. The results of this pilot study provide provisional evidence regarding how dominant social values regarding walking and disability are taken up by parents and children. They suggest that rehabilitation programmes need to consider how they may unintentionally reinforce potentially harmful choices, and how best to engage families in discussions of their evolving values and treatment priorities. Further research is needed with a larger sample.

«Herr Hitler gave me an interview». L'incontro di Toynbee con Hitler nel 1936 e la politica di appeasement

Arnold J. Toynbee was the author of the twelve-volume A Study of History on rise and fall of civilizations. After the First World War he also played a crucial role as political analyst at the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He was director of studies from 1924 to 1943 and supervised the Institute’s Surveys of International Affairs. Because of Toynbee’s harsh comments about Hitler’s murders of S.A. in 1934, the English historian was surprisingly invited by the German chancellor for a private interview. At that time Hitler was trying to convince the European audience of his peaceful intentions. During the interview, which took place on the 28th February 1936, he talked about several critical points of current international affairs such as the Russian threat, the colonies and his friendly intentions toward Great Britain. Toynbee never published the interview but was asked to write a memorandum of his conversation with Hitler for the British Government. Although in his book Acquaintances, written in 1967, Toynbee stated that he had never trusted Hitler’s proposed agreement with Great Britain, in the unpublished memorandum Toynbee seems to support a future arrangement with the Germans. He also stressed the right of Hitler’s claims and his good attitude toward Great Britain. The real value of these documents can only be understood inside the cultural framework of the Cliveden set, a group of appeasers in the British establishment that supported an Anglo-German appeasement. Thus, it seems that many appeasers and members of the Government, such as foreign minister Eden, were encouraged by Toynbee’s memorandum to pursue a soft line in response to Hitler’s occupation of the Rhineland on 7th March 1936 and to reach an agreement with Germany.

Depression Shows Strong Link to Smoking, Difficulty Quitting

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Professional NewsFull AccessDepression Shows Strong Link to Smoking, Difficulty QuittingMark MoranMark MoranSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:4 Jun 2010https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.45.11.psychnews_45_11_013AbstractThe relationship between smoking and depression appears to be remarkably strong, according to data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).The data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) were reported last month in a brief from the NCHS titled “Depression and Smoking in the U.S. Household Population Aged 20 and Over, 2005-2008.”In every age and gender group, adults with depression were more likely to be smokers than were people without depression and were more likely to be heavy smokers. Moreover, among adults who had ever smoked, those with depression were less likely to have quit.Over 60 percent of adults with depression had smoked at some point in their lives (“ever smokers”), and the rate was similar across age groups. Among adults without depression, the proportion who had ever smoked ranged from 43 percent among those aged 20 to 39 to 53 percent among persons aged 55 and over.“We knew there was a relationship between smoking and depression, but we didn't really know strong it was,” lead investigator Laura Pratt, Ph.D., told Psychiatric News. “The magnitude of the relationship is remarkable.”She noted, for instance, that within the general population, women smoked less than men, but that among depressed people, women smoked the same amount as men. Of women aged 40 to 54, 43 percent of those with depression were smokers compared with 22 percent of those without depression.“Basically depression is a stronger predictor than gender when it comes to smoking,” Pratt said.Also crucial for clinicians treating patients with depression is the finding that depressed smokers may find it harder to quit than nondepressed individuals. Among “ever smokers” aged 20 to 39 with depression, 17 percent had quit smoking, whereas 36 percent of people in this age group without depression had quit smoking. Among “ever smokers” aged 55 and over with depression, 57 percent had quit smoking, compared with almost 75 percent of people in this age group without depression.“Sometimes people in the mental health field avoid [talking about] the issue of smoking with their patients, but it's clear that people with depression may need a lot of help to quit,” Pratt said.Here are some other findings from the survey:•. Over half of men with depression aged 40 to 54 were current smokers compared with 26 percent of men without depression of the same age.•. Slightly more than half of adult smokers with depression smoked their first cigarette of the day within five minutes of waking up, while 30 percent of smokers without depression smoked their first cigarette within five minutes of awakening.•. Twenty-eight percent of adult smokers with depression smoked more than a pack of cigarettes a day, which was almost twice the rate for adult smokers without depression.The NHANES is a continuous survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population conducted to assess the health and nutrition of Americans. (People living in institutions, where rates of depression and smoking are higher than in the community, are not included in NHANES.) Survey participants complete a household interview and visit a mobile examination center for a physical examination and private interview. The annual interview and examination sample includes approximately 5,000 people of all ages and are extrapolated to the general population.The questions on cigarette smoking were asked in the household interview, and the depression questions were asked in the mobile examination center.“Depression and Smoking in the U.S. Household Population Aged 20 and Over, 2005–2008” is posted at <www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db34.pdf>. ISSUES NewArchived

Donor's understanding of the definition of sex as applied to predonation screening questions

Predonation screening questions about sexual risk factors should provide an extra layer of safety from recently acquired infections that may be too early to be detected by testing. Donors are required to read a definition of sex as it applies to predonation screening questions each time they come to donate, but how well donors apply such definitions has not been evaluated. We aimed to determine how donors define sex when answering screening questions. In total, 1297 whole blood donors were asked in a private interview to select from a list of sexual activities which ones they believed were being asked about in sexual background questions. Donors' definitions were coded as under-inclusive, correct or over-inclusive in relation to the blood services' definition. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 21 donors to understand reasoning behind definitions. Most donors had an over-inclusive definition (58.7%) or the correct definition (31.9%). Of the 9.4% of donors who had an under-inclusive definition, 95% included both vaginal and anal sex, but not oral sex. About 9% in each group were first-time donors (P > 0.05) who had never read the definition. The qualitative interviews indicated that donors reason their definition based on their own concept of transmissible disease risk. Donors apply a range of definitions of sex when answering questions about their sexual background. This may be due to different concepts of risk activities, and required reading of the definition has little impact.

Perú 28 de Julio: Discurso y acción política el día de Fiestas Patrias, 1969 – 1999

The book under review examines Peruvian government policy during and after the Velasco years by means of a systematic examination of the Independence Day speeches of five Peruvian presidents: General Juan Velasco Alvarado (1968 – 75), General Fran-cisco Morales Bermúdez (1975 – 80), Fernando Belaúnde Terry (1980 – 85), Alan García (1985 – 90), and Alberto Fujimori (1990 – 2000).Martín Sánchez creates the framework for his analysis by a methodology that draws heavily on the work of Michel Foucault, Umberto Eco, Claus Offe, and Max Weber. Particularly referencing Foucault’s Archeology of Knowledge and Order of Things, Martín Sánchez focuses on portions of the thirty speeches to determine their relationship to state policy. Quite evident in these speeches was a necessary deference to ritual. The new congress had to be welcomed and an open hand extended to the Catholic Church. But this was not the case with Velasco Alvarado’s “Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces.” Velasco and his fellow officers often engaged in bellicose nationalistic rhetoric while the congress remained closed. In 1969, for example, Velasco made it clear to the country that the armed forces planned to stay in power a long time. He announced, “This was not a golpe militar. This is the beginning of a nationalistic revolution” (p. 125). What we now know about the rhetoric of the Velasco government was that it did not reflect the majority view of the officer corps and was largely opposed by the navy, which was far more conservative in its outlook. Naval officers were fired from cabinet posts and retired from the service for speaking out against the Velasco reforms. It was even reported that Velasco ran cabinet meetings during difficult times with his revolver placed on the meeting table in front of him to symbolically enforce discipline.As Martín Sánchez moves through his analysis of the various presidential speeches, he does offer some historical context for his analysis of each administration. But this background is not sufficient for any but the Peruvian specialist. It would have been appropriate to have provided some overview of this critical thirty-year period in modern Peruvian history in the opening chapter. Still, the book does deliver some unexpected gems. The speeches of Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre as president of the Constituent Assembly when it wrote a new national constitution in 1979 are very illuminating. Looking back to the very roots of APRA’s early anti-imperialist rhetoric, Haya called upon the memory of the Cuban patriot José Martí to symbolize his acceptance of the anti-imperialist policy of the Velasco government. Nevertheless Haya told this historian during a private interview in 1974 that the Velasco government “stole” all aspects of the APRA program for revolutionary change.Unfortunately, the textual analysis on the speeches of Alan García offer limited insight into his government’s understanding or response to the mounting threat from Sendero Luminoso. This five-year period was perhaps the most devastating in modern Peruvian history, and this harsh reality is not reflected in García’s discourse. We see no mention of the failures of the armed forces to meet the insurgents’ threat, or the tacit acceptance by García of the rondas campesinas as the country’s front line of defense against the Senderistas in the sierra. Moreover, none of the samples of García’s public discourse addressed the terrible economic crisis that gripped Peru during the last years of the young president’s tenure.In some ways, the words of President Alberto Fujimori were more transparent than those of his predecessors. In 1993, after the capture of Abimael Guzmán Reynoso, the leader of Sendero Luminoso, Fujimori flaunted the rebel leader’s failure and imprisonment as his own personal victory against the forces of evil. He said of Guzmán, “He crossed the river to sow the seeds of destruction and death in Peru that would have imposed a regime of ferocity and inhumanity” (p. 223). Evoking images of Caesar at the Rubicon, Fujimori drew a contrary image of himself crossing the river to accept the charge of responsible government and the consequences of his actions as president. Fujimori fostered an image of himself as the caudillo/samurai who could take on every problem as his own personal duty. The seizure of Guzmán saved his presidency. But in reality, the capture was the work of a diligent policeman who was later fired by Fujimori because of his growing popularity.This book is somewhat useful for its insights into the mechanisms of government discourse as it relates to public policy. But on the whole, it has limited scholarly value. I think the subject would have been better served by analyzing newspaper responses to these presidential addresses and perhaps examining how Peru’s military and professional journals reacted to proposed government policy.

The Prevalence of Incontinence Pre and Post-Lung Transplantation

An increased prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) is reported in patients with chronic lung disease because of the stress that repeated coughing places on the pelvic floor. To date, it is not known if lung transplantation (LTx) affects the prevalence of UI. Purpose: to compare the prevalence, severity and impact of urinary / faecal incontinence in adult patients pre- and post-LTx. Method: patients registered with the Royal Adelaide Hospital Lung Transplant Unit were eligible for participation. The prevalence, severity, and impact of incontinence was measured using a questionnaire administered in a private interview. Results: Ninety-four patients (44 males, 50 females; 42 pre-LTx, 52 post-LTx; mean age 46.3 years [SD 13.0]) completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of UI was significantly higher in patients pre-LTx (69.0%) than patients post-LTx (30.8%), whereas the prevalence of faecal incontinence was similar in the two groups (16.7% pre-LTx, 13.5% post-LTx). In most patients with UI, it was episodic, the amount leaked was small, it was most often associated with coughing and sneezing, and it was perceived as causing few problems. Conclusion: LTx appears to be associated with a significant decrease in the prevalence of UI.

A Study on the Depression, Somatic Symptom, Activities of Daily Living for the Elderly Women in an Urban Area

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among depression, somatic symptoms, and activities of daily living of elderly women in urban areas. After obtaining participant's consent forms, a one-time, face-to-face, and private interview was conducted with each participant from Sep, 2006 to Jan, 2007 by trained graduate-level students. The questionnaire consisted of K-GDS, PHQ-15, Barthel Index, and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS/PC 12.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. The major findings of this study were as follows 1) 34.1% of participants belonged to the depression group. 2) There were significant relationships between depression and monthly income, somatic symptoms, ADL, IADL, and number of chronic disease. 3) Significant factors influencing depression were somatic symptoms, ADL, and monthly income. The results of this study give useful information for designing interventions and program development for appropriate depression management and care for elderly women.

Article 1: The Narrative Form Index and Matrix: A New Instrument for Analyzing Narratives of Injury and Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study

Objective: To examine trauma narratives by Detroit women within a larger spinal cord injury (SCI) study, using the Narrative Form Index Matrix (NFIM) to test specifically how women with traumatic SCI transmit their experiences, and how their narratives compare with conventional analyses of data derived from interview. Design: Retrospective, exploratory study based on semistructured interview. Setting: Private interview space at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) or University of Michigan (UM), home of participant.

Self-reported cigarette smoking vs. serum cotinine among U.S. adolescents.

No national data have been used to compare self-reported and biochemically assessed cigarette smoking status among adolescents. We investigated discrepancies between self-reported smoking and measurement of serum cotinine concentration among adolescents aged 12-17 years in a representative sample (n=2,107) of the U.S. population. Smoking prevalence was 12.9% among teens who reported in a private interview whether they smoked during the previous 5 days (95% CI=10.9%-14.9%) and 12.5% (95% CI=10.3%-14.7%) according to serum cotinine concentration greater than 11.40 ng/ml (the cutpoint). Among teens who reported being a nonsmoker (i.e., that they did not smoke during the previous 5 days), 2.7% (95% CI=1.6%-3.8%) had a serum cotinine concentration of greater than 11.40 ng/ml. Discrepancies among self-reported nonsmokers were less likely among Mexican Americans than among Whites. Among self-reported smokers, 21.1% (95% CI=13.7%-28.5%) had a serum cotinine concentration of 11.40 ng/ml or less. This discrepancy is explained primarily by the high proportion (37.0%) of teen smokers who reported smoking, on average, less than 1 cigarette per day. We believe that social stigma or fear that their parents would find out about their survey responses may be the main explanation for the 2.7% discrepancy among self-reported nonsmokers, and that smoking patterns (including the extent of nicotine dosing) and a lack of measurement of recency of cigarette smoking are the main explanations for the 21.1% discrepancy among self-reported smokers. Efforts to improve the validity of self-reported cigarette smoking will benefit tobacco-related surveillance, evaluation, and research activities for adolescents.

Internal Confidentiality: When Confidentiality Assurances Fail Relational Informants

This research note explores a limit in the principle of confidentiality, demonstrating how informants' connected relationships can lead to impaired or diminished autonomy. Insiders may recognize what other insiders have said to a researcher in a private interview. Internal confidentiality is distinct from external confidentiality, which assures protection against identification by those who were not subjects of the research.

Gender-based violence in refugee settings

Gender-based violence in refugee settings

Willingness of emergency department patients with musculoskeletal complaints to participate in complementary and alternative medicine research

The emergency department (ED) is a unique potential location for recruitment into studies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. We sought to determine the stated willingness of ED patients with musculoskeletal complaints to participate in CAM research for their presenting problem, and to determine the characteristics of this population. The study was carried out in the ED of Vancouver General Hospital weekdays between 10 am and 6 pm from Oct. 16, 2000, to Nov. 21, 2000. All adults who presented with musculoskeletal complaints involving the spine, upper extremity or lower extremity, unless they had pain severe enough to impair their ability to answer questions or unless there was a language or other communication barrier, were approached by a research nurse. If it was learned that they had already been assessed by an emergency physician, they were eliminated as potential study participants. After being presented background information by the research nurse, consenting patients were asked a series of standardized questions during a 15-minute private interview prior to their assessment by an emergency physician. Of 107 eligible patients, 93 participated (87%). Most symptoms began on the day of presentation (44%) or in the previous week (41%). The mean age of those studied was 38 years, and 56% were male. Most presenting problems involved the ankle/foot (29%), multiple sites (19%), the lumbosacral region (14%) or the wrist/hand (14%). Seventy-six percent of patients had utilized CAM previously during their lives, and 13% were currently using CAM for their presenting problem. The majority of patients stated an informed hypothetical willingness to enroll in a CAM study of the following therapies: traditional Chinese medicine 74% (69/93: 95% confidence interval [CI] 64.1%-82.7%); chiropractic 70% (65/93: 95%CI 59.5%-79.0%); and other CAM therapies 92% (86/93: 95%CI 85.1%-96.9%). Of patients asked, 99% stated they would comply with 4 to 6 weeks of outpatient follow-up, and 70% stated they would participate in a placebo-controlled study. Logistic regression modeling, performed for secondary purposes, indicated that willingness to participate in traditional Chinese medicine or chiropractic research was independent of age, sex, educational status, pain severity or prior exposure to the modality of interest. ED patients with musculoskeletal complaints have a high stated willingness to participate in CAM research, even if this involves outpatient follow-up or a placebo-controlled design. ED-based CAM research appears feasible and should be pursued.

The Acceptability of a Vaginal Microbicide among South African Men

With the explosive nature of the South African AIDS epidemic there is an urgent need for HIV prevention methods controlled by women. Because several microbicide trials are going on in South Africa and elsewhere there also is an urgent need to determine South African mens perceptions of and preferences for a potential vaginal microbicide. 243 men were recruited from three sites in South Africa: sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics (N = 95) the general population (N = 98) and universities (N = 50). A brief demonstration of a potential vaginal gel microbicide was followed by a private interview which included questions about mens demographic characteristics sexual activities condom use and willingness to support their partners use of a vaginal product. The mean ages of men from STD clinics the general population and universities were 30 28 and 23 years respectively. 45% of men from STD clinics 69% from the general population and 65% of the university students reported a dislike for male condoms. More than 80% of the entire sample wanted their partner to be protected against HIV and other STDs. The majority of the men in the three groups (77-87%) would like their partner to use a microbicide and 66-82% said they would like to be involved in the decision to use a microbicide. Men were more likely to prefer a vaginal product that prevents HIV and STD transmission and does not act as a contraceptive that one that acts only as a contraceptive. The majority (58-67%) of men reported that excess lubrication was not a desired product characteristic. Vaginal microbicides may be acceptable to South African men. The amount of lubrication provided by the product and non-interference with sexual pleasure may be keys to product acceptability. Preference for an effective non-contraceptive microbicide was greater than for a contraceptive product. (authors)

Borderline personality disorder: the voice of patients.

The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to generate knowledge about the experience of living with the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. Persons identified as meeting DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987) or DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for borderline personality disorder were invited to participate in a private interview focusing on what it means to live with the diagnosis. The data were analyzed using the procedures of interpretive phenomenological data analysis (Benner, 1994; Diekelmann, Allen, & Tanner, 1989). Three themes were identified: (a) living with a label, (b) living with self-destructive behavior perceived as manipulation, and (c) living with limited access to care. The findings suggest that mental health care for persons with borderline personality disorder could be improved by confronting prejudice, understanding self-harm, and safeguarding opportunities for dialogue.

Agreement between survey and interview measures of weight control practices in adolescents.

The present study examined agreement between survey and interview measures of weight control practices in a nonclinical sample of adolescents. Surveys were administered in three school health classes. Clinical interviews were conducted in a student subsample (N = 43). Survey-based prevalences for eating behaviors in the past month were: trying to lose weight, 44%; binge eating, 41%; vomiting, 4.7%; laxative use, 0%; and fasting, 14%. Interview-based prevalences were 30%, 11.6%, 0%, 0% and 0%, respectively. Sensitivity was high for all behaviors assessed. However, positive predictive values were low. Surveys may be useful as preliminary screening tools for prevention programs, but may yield inflated estimates of unhealthy weight control practices in nonclinical adolescent populations. Research is needed to examine whether adolescents overreport weight control practices on surveys or whether they are less willing to disclose such practices in a private interview.

Mothering children who survive brain injuries: playing the hand you're dealt.

To explore how mothers come to terms with the multiple changes that occur with children who sustain sudden brain injuries. A descriptive study based on symbolic interactionist principles. Mothers' homes or a private interview room in a hospital. Seven mothers recruited through a pediatric rehabilitation center. Each mother described her experiences with her child in one open-ended interview. Mothers' lives changed abruptly and profoundly when a previously healthy child suffered a catastrophic brain injury. Their accounts revealed how they had come to regard themselves and the children as "different people" after the injury. Their reconstructions were the result of continuous self-reflection and interactions with others. Mothers had recast life in general from being predictable and controllable to being precarious and dominated by fate. Believing they had no other choice, they played the hand they had been dealt. Nurses can play an important role in helping mothers of children who have brain injuries by reassuring them that feelings of guilt and helplessness are not uncommon, praising them for learning new caregiving skills, and treating children with brain injuries with respect and dignity.

“Talking” computers: A reliable and private method to conduct interviews on sensitive topics with children

To obtain valid results, interviews on sex‐related topics not only require confidentiality but also privacy. However, the typical solutions to this problem, self‐administered questionnaires or telephone interviews, may not be appropriate for pre‐ and early adolescents who may require face‐to‐face (FTF) interviews. In this research, we tested the hypothesis that interviews delivered by talking computers would elicit more reports of sexual experience and positive feelings toward sex than FTF interviews with children. To test the hypothesis, we compared the results of both interview methods administered to separate samples of 300 and 96 Black children ages 9 to 15 living in public housing. The results supported the hypothesis. In addition, a subsample of the children (n = 31) who had completed both interviews reported more favorable feelings toward sex in the computer interview. Computer interviews were reliable and did not produce higher levels of missing responses than FTF interviews. The results suggest that talking computers can be used with children across a wide age range to deliver a more private interview than FTF interviewing permits.

Descartes: Biographie (review)

~38 JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY 35: ~ JANUARY ~997 and on whether it is accessible to all or only to a select few. The function of the intellect and the will in relation to each other is another point of divergence, as is their respective account of limits in human virtue. But these are related to two other philosophical differences concerning matter and the soul. Unlike Maimonides, Aquinas maintains that the soul, qua intellect, is a selfsubsistent , immaterial being. But in its powers it is intellective in that it is directed towards the order of being and appetitive in that it is directed towards the order of good; likewise, it is active in relation to being and passive in relation to the good. This account leads Aquinas to argue for an essential relation between intellect and will, for locating evil in free choice, for a view of human perfection that is both speculative and practical, for multiple agent intellects, and for individual immortality available to all human beings--conclusions that do not readily derive from Maimonides's premises. In the thought of Maimonides, matter is necessarily related to evil and marks a discontinuity between the lunar and sublunar spheres. In the thought of Aquinas, by contrast, there is no such discontinuity, nor is matter the source of evil, because of a participation in goodness as well as being. In other words, matter, for Maimonides, is an ontological principle in the composition of contingent beings but one that has a disruptive influence because it subjugates forms. It poses a barrier to intellectual apprehension and therefore impedes the realization of human perfection, consisting ultimately in a knowledge of God. For Aquinas, matter is not only an ontological principle but also a moral principle. As privation, matter is basically good because of its inclination towards an end and active because of its role in the actualization of forms. Rather than impede human perfection, matter provides an impulse towards it because of a natural desire to an ultimate end, namely, the knowledge of God. The underpinning for these contrasts, as Dobbs-Weinstein shows, is a metaphysics of the Good alongside a metaphysics of Being. It is the former that allows Aquinas to elucidate providence in terms of a participative relationship between creatures and God in a much more explicit and comprehensive way than Maimonides can. Although the study is rich in detail, it is also compact in argumentation and occasionally dense in style. I am surprised that previous work of the author, although clearly evident in several chapters, is neither credited in the endnotes nor listed in the bibliography . Notes are inconveniently compiled at the end and numbered consecutively across all the chapters. Nevertheless, there are few studies comparable in scope and depth. (The most recent is the study in French by Avital Wohlman, Thomasd'Aquin etMa~monide [Paris: Les Editions du Cerf, 1988].) Dobbs-Weinstein's study is, therefore, a welcome and significant addition to both Maimonidean and Thomistic scholarship. JOSEPH A. BuIJS St.Joseph's College,Edmonton Genevieve Rodis-Lewis. Descartes:Biographie. Paris: Calmann-Levy, 1995. Pp. 371 . Paper , FF t5o. In her comprehensive biography of Descartes, Genevi/~ve Rodis-Lewis tells the story that has come to be called the legend of Descartes. There is his father's little philosopher, the BOOK REVIEWS t39 adolescent prodigy allowed to sleep late in a single room at his Jesuit college, the soldierphilosopher meditating while the Thirty Years' War rages about him, the chivalrous disarming without injuring a rival for a young woman's affections, the private interview with Cardinal Bdrulle who directed his life, the meeting with Beeckman in front of a placard announcing a mathematical problem in Breda, the intellectual love affair with Princess Elisabeth, his library containing a dead sheep, the ballet Queen Christina made him write because he wouldn't dance, and his last hours full of acts of continuous piety and devotion. Rodis-Lewis follows Adrien Baillet's Vie de Monsieur Des-Cartes (1691) with corrections based on later work, most recently that of Vincent Carraud, Faenestra de Leyde (Nouvelles de la R~publique des Lettres, 1988), Jean-Robert Armogathe (Theologia Cartes /ana, 1977) , and Theo Verbeek (La...

The Correlation Between the New Rigiscan Plus Software and the Final Diagnosis in the Evaluation of Erectile Dysfunction

Purpose The computer generated recordings for 2 nights in 40 patients studied with the RigiScan † † Dacomed, Minneapolis, Minnesota. device were reevaluated using the new RigiScan Plus software to test its value in improving the discrimination between psychogenic and organic erectile dysfunction. Materials and Methods Each man was evaluated for erectile dysfunction with a detailed medical and sexual history, physical examination, biothesiometry, plethysmography, 2 nights of ambulatory RigiScan monitoring and a psychological evaluation that usually included a private interview with the sexual partner. At the conclusion of evaluation each patient was broadly classified as having organic or psychogenic erectile dysfunction. The RigiScan reports were initially independently analyzed without the investigator's knowledge of the final diagnosis by determining the single best erectile event, with a minimal cutoff value of 60 percent erection for 5 minutes as necessary to be considered normal and the sum of measurements from the 2 nights. The original reading and final diagnosis were correlated. At this point the data were processed with the new RigiScan Plus software using 2 new measurements: 1) rigidity activity units and 2) tumescence activity units at the base and tip of the penis, and the results were correlated with the final diagnosis. Results Evaluation of the single best event again showed that tip rigidity was the best single predictor if the diagnostic criteria were modified to 70 percent tip rigidity for 5 minutes with an estimate of correct classification of 92.5 percent. Nearly the same accuracy was obtained by base single event rigidity, tip rigidity and base tumescence activity units (each 90 percent). The summary analysis of all erectile events during the 2 nights of evaluation that had a low correlation with the final diagnosis using the original software showed that the best overall predictor of final diagnosis was tip tumescence activity units (92.5 percent), followed by base rigidity and tumescence activity units (each 90 percent). Conclusions The RigiScan Plus software introduced 4 new parameters that facilitate interpretation of the RigiScan data. The new software did not improve the correlation with the final diagnosis compared to the subjective single best event analysis but added new objective parameters, measured and displayed by the software, that facilitate use of the data by the physician.

Perceived needs of wives of stroke patients.

The purpose of the study described in this article was to determine the difference between the importance that wives of hospitalized stroke patients attached to their own needs and the degree to which they felt those needs were met by members of the nursing staff. Fourteen wives whose husbands had survived an initial stroke completed the Stroke Family Inventory, a 27-item self-administered questionnaire, and participated in a structured private interview to further explore the impact of the stroke on their lives. The wives were asked to reflect on their needs as perceived during the acute stage (the first 2 weeks) of the stroke. Of the 27 needs identified by the wives, four were perceived to be most important. These were (a) a wife's need to know what she could do to assist with her husband's care, (b) a need to be included in discharge planning for her husband, (c) a need to know that nursing personnel cared about her husband, and (d) a need to know what kind of activities her husband was able and/or would be able to do. Results showed that the wives perceived that 18 (66%) of the 27 needs were not met very well by hospital nursing staffs.