Social skills training in the rehabilitation of patients with traumatic closed head injury.

This research used a traditional social skills training program in the remediation of documented social behavior deficits of severely head-injured persons. More than two years after injury, four severely head-injured persons participated in a skills training program with five components: (1) instruction in the rationale for modifying target behaviors, (2) modeling the correct form of the behaviors, (3) behavioral rehearsal, (4) videotape feedback on performance, and (5) social reinforcement of correct behaviors. The research design was a multiple baseline across behaviors design with four replications. Three patients showed clear treatment effects with evidence of generalization across situations and maintenance of gains at follow-up one year later, thus supporting the applicability of social skills training to this cognitively impaired population.

Assessment of psychosocial functioning of patients with sickle cell disease.

The Chronic Illness Problem Inventory (CIPI) was used to assess level of psychosocial functioning in 89 patients with sickle cell disease. The results indicated that sickle cell patients have significant psychosocial distress in the areas of employment and finances, sleeping and eating, and performance of normal daily activities. Fear and anxiety regarding body deterioration, and lack of assertiveness in social relationships were also found. These findings suggest that depression may be a common problem among sickle cell patients. Treatment alternatives that address these areas are reviewed.