Articles: interviews.
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This study assessed the differential prevalence rates of psychopathology in chronic and acute low back pain patients. Psychopathology was assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-III-R (SCID). ⋯ Moreover, the chronic low back patients also had high rates of premorbid psychopathology. It was concluded that psychopathology is a major concomitant of chronic low pack pain, and that treating the psychological problems, along with the physical aspects of the chronic low back pain may increase the patient's chance of a successful therapeutic outcome.
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Because physicians are often the first professionals to have contact with a sexually abused child, they must be alert to the symptoms and prepared to respond knowledgeably. Early and effective intervention affects the overall prognosis for the child and family positively. As physicians become aware of child sexual abuse, protocols can be used routinely as part of a child's medical care. Regular checks on potentially abusive situations can prevent the tragic and traumatic occurrence of child sexual abuse.
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Clearly, there are numerous troubling variations in the medical diagnosis of child sexual abuse. These variations include delays in disclosure; rapid healing; maturational changes; variations in normal congenital findings; the technique of the examiner; patient position, relaxation, and cooperation; and additional medical conditions that mimic abuse. ⋯ Emphasis on the child's history in documenting the abuse is increasing. As physicians, we must develop interviewing techniques that will assist in child protection, and we must listen and believe the comments made by our patients.
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After the downfall of the Ceausescu regime in December, 1989, the new Government of Romania abolished the law that prohibited abortions on request. Subsequently, the rate of legally induced abortions increased significantly while the rate of maternal mortality declined dramatically. ⋯ In this paper we examine factors that contribute to the disparity between women's desire to use modern contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies and their practice of having induced abortions to prevent unwanted births. The results show that women (and suggest that men) need a wide choice of dependably available high-quality contraceptives; they need to be able to obtain information, counselling, and methods from a wide range of sources/health-care providers; both women's and men's perceptions about, and use of, modern contraception could be positively affected through sexual education started in secondary school; and, to reduce repeat abortions, women's post-abortion family-planning needs must not be neglected.