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This study examined the ability of a social history intervention to generate more positive attitudes toward nursing home patients, and to increase staff members' perceived rewards of care-giving. In contrast to prior studies, residents' problem behaviors were examined as potential moderators in the relationship. Forty-three staff members participated in an experimental, 3 (informational condition: social history, medical, control) x 2 (time: pre-test, post-test) within-subjects factorial design that employed newly admitted residents as target patients. Findings showed that the social history intervention alone did not generate more positive attitudes toward patients or greater rewards of care-giving. Although a larger proportion of target patients manifested other problem behaviors with greater frequently, only aggressive problem behavior was associated with more negative attitudes toward patients. A post-hoc analysis revealed that after statistically controlling for the impact of patients' aggressive behavior, the social history information appeared to allow staff members to maintain more neutral attitudes toward patients. Considerations for the use of social history information in long-term care settings are addressed.

Despite differences in samples and designs, follow-up studies of alcoholic patients by the Rand Corporation, the state of Oklahoma, and the Veterans Administration (VA) revealed more similarities than differences in outcome and relapse. In the VA study at 6, 12, and 24 months' follow-up, it was found that drinking status and psychosocial adjustment were significantly correlated, the percentage of patients drinking moderately varied from 33% to 47% and did not decrease over time, and the percentage of patients in remission remained constant at 55% over the 2-year period. These data appear to support the inclusion of moderate drinking in the definition of remission.

Of 98 alcoholics who were free to decide whether or not to drink during a 6-week inpatient treatment program, 55 chose to drink. The nondrinkers tended to show more improvement at a 6-month follow-up than did the drinkers.

Alcoholic patients who remained abstinent during a Fixed Interval Drinking Decision treatment program had fewer alcohol-related problems at a 6-month follow-up than those who drank during treatment. Pretreatment encouragement to remain abstinent may also have favorably affected the results.