Private psychiatric practice: image and reality.

This study reports data collected from an individual private psychiatric practice. Despite the paucity of information concerning private practice, a popular image has evolved. An analysis of a sample of 400 patients' records confirmed certain aspects of this image, but suggested that other aspects of the image are misleading. A short-term model of private practice may be more effective than other competing models.

Involvement in everyday imaginative activities, attitudes toward hypnosis, and hypnotic suggestibility.

One hundred male and 83 female subjects were assessed on absorption (i.e., involvement in everyday imaginative activities), attitudes toward hypnosis, and hypnotic suggestibility. Significant positive correlations were obtained for both sexes between absorption and attitudes and between each of these variables and hypnotic suggestibility. Multiple regression analyses indicated that most of the predicted variance in hypnotic suggestibility scores was accounted for in both sexes by the absorption variable.

Altered states of consciousness therapy. A missing component in alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment.

Attaining altered states of consciousness is described as a basic human motive. The substance dependent population is distinguished from other populations because they pursue these states destructively by inappropriate use of alcohol and drugs. Despite a body of literature supporting the benefits of altered states of consciousness, alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment programs fail to address this motive because of social disapproval, means-end confusion, and inadequate staff training. The authors maintain that Alcoholics Anonymous directs its members toward an altered state of consciousness called a spiritual awakening, which replaces the self-destructive pursuit of substance induced "highs." Failure to address patients' need for alternative methods of achieving altered states of consciousness is presented as part of the reason for relapse. An Altered States of Consciousness Therapy (ASCT) program is described that can be used to teach patients to consciously manipulate affect and cognition to achieve a new consciousness.

Neuropsychologically impaired alcoholics: assessment, treatment considerations, and rehabilitation.

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in the neuropsychological status of the alcoholic. The research documenting neuropsychological deficits has consistently shown impairments in abstract reasoning ability, visuospatial and visuomotor ability, and learning and memory skills. Despite these findings, it appears that many alcohol treatment clinicians interpret patient behavior from a psychological perspective and treatment programs make unwarranted assumptions about patients' ability to profit from standard treatment approaches. This paper discusses these issues, and presents an outline of an innovative cognitive rehabilitation program designed specifically to meet the needs of neuropsychologically impaired alcoholic patients.

The Beech Hill Hospital Eating Disorders Treatment Program for Drug Dependent Females: program description and case analysis.

The association of eating disorders and substance abuse has increasingly been noted among chemically dependent women. Without diagnosis and focused interventions around the disordered eating, female substance abusers are vulnerable to chemical relapse and continued out of control eating. This paper describes an eating disorder treatment program for drug-dependent females during the inpatient phase of chemical dependency treatment. The interrelationship and need to treat both addiction and eating disorder at the beginning of early sobriety is emphasized.