The basic findings of these two studies are as follows: a failure of orientating and conditioning of viscero-autonomic responses, but essentially normal orienting and conditioning of a temporal muscle response in amygdalectomized animals. Small procedural differences exist between the two studies,and a possible order effect exists as a result of the use of the same subjects consecutively. However, we fell that the difference between the responses of the viscero-autonomic system and the skeletal system would still be found were all of the measures gathered simultaneously in an optimal conditioning situation. The definitive study--simultaneous viscero-autonomic and skeletal (behavioral) recording--remains to be done. Trial-by-trial analysis of the correlations or lack of correlations between these responses in such a study should be highly informative. These two studies offer substantial information relevant to the original questions. When behavior is modified by simple repetition of experience the effect of amygdalectomy is restricted to the viscero-autonomic components of orienting and classical conditioning, not to the entire spectrum of responses. The issue raised, therefore, is the significance of the viscero-autonomic components of orienting and classical conditioning. The suggestion has been proposed (Pribram, 1969) that these components serve as mechanisms of internal rehearsal necessary to the registration (as novel or familiar) of the orienting and conditioning experience. This proposal requires further testing.

Amygdala↗

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Factor structure of the SOCRATES in a sample of primary care patients.

Motivation or readiness to change has been studied intensively in recent years in research on the use of brief interventions to change alcohol problems in the primary care setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure and concurrent and predictive evidence for validity of the short Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), a 19-item self-report instrument developed to measure readiness to change alcohol problems in individuals presenting for specialized alcohol treatment. The participants were 210 men and 91 women who were identified as "at-risk" drinkers in 13 community primary care clinics. These individuals completed the SOCRATES and a number of other assessments as part of a preintervention evaluation. A principal components analysis of the SOCRATES data revealed a two-factor structure: a confirmatory factor analysis showed that this structure was a better fit to the data than the three-factor structure that Miller and Tonigan (1996) identified for the SOCRATES. The two factors (9 and 6 items, respectively), seemed to measure perceived degree of severity of an existing alcohol problem (called "Amrec" because it consisted of Miller and Tonigan's ambivalence and recognition items) and taking action to change or to maintain changes in one that exists (called "Taking Steps"). Predictions of significant and nonsignificant correlations between the two derived factors and other baseline variables (alcohol consumption, related problems and symptoms, and demographic factors) generally were confirmed. In addition, baseline Amrec scores were related in predicted directions to 6-month alcohol consumption and related problems data, but the magnitude of these relationships were reduced when other variables that correlated with Amrec or when the 6-month data were taken into account. In general, Taking Steps showed little or no relationship to the 6-month data. The results are compared to previous work with the SOCRATES and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Adult↗

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Biological markers and social differentiation: crack babies and the construction of the dangerous mother.

Crack mothers-particularly African American and Latina women-have been constructed as maternal villains who actively and permanently damage their offspring. Many women have been arrested or lost parental rights to their children because of child neglect charges. Despite this panic, recent medical and legal research indicates that reports of damage to the fetus have been greatly exaggerated. This article examines the ongoing questions in medical publications about crack babies. The authors connect the search for biological markers of cocaine use during pregnancy to a new cultural conception of a bio-underclass. The conclusion considers medical developments and controversies in the broader context of class and racial divisions and reproductive politics in the United States.

Attitude to Health↗

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A statewide early defibrillation initiative including laypersons and outcome reporting.

Rapid delivery of defibrillatory shocks increases survival in patients with cardiac arrest. The automated external defibrillator interprets cardiac rhythms and delivers electrical shocks, permitting appropriate defibrillation by persons with minimal training. California initiated a program for early defibrillation by basic emergency medical technicians, using manual or automated external defibrillators, and by public safety personnel (fire fighters, peace officers, and public lifeguards), using automated external defibrillators. The program includes a system for reporting outcomes statewide. In the first 46 months under this program, 1487 patients received defibrillatory shocks; 1009 (68%) of these patients had witnessed ventricular fibrillation. Of the latter group, 191 were discharged from the hospital, representing 19% of those with witnessed ventricular fibrillation and 13% of all patients who had had shocks applied. California also implemented a framework of training and medical direction for defibrillation by laypersons using automated external defibrillators. Early defibrillation by basic emergency medical technicians and public safety personnel, encouraged by appropriate regulatory changes, results in gratifying survival rates.

California↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Contraceptive use and fertility decline in Chogoria, Kenya.

This article describes the results pertaining to fertility and family planning from a 1985 survey conducted in the catchment area of Chogoria Hospital in central Kenya. Current contraceptive prevalence was found to be quite high, 43 percent as opposed to 17 percent for Kenya as a whole. The total fertility rate of 5.2 births per woman was 2.5 births lower than the national rate. Very few women reported wanting to have large numbers of children or thinking that fate or God should determine family size. Although these data cannot conclusively demonstrate that the family planning program operating in the area has been responsible for reduced fertility there, they do provide some support for this hypothesis.

Adolescent↗