Indirect Self-Destructive Behavior in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

ABSTRACT: As one of a series of investigations of indirect self-destructive behavior, a pilot study was conducted with a group of 32 chronic hemodialysis patients for those characteristics of such behavior which had emerged as most salient in earlier studies: self-esteem, locus of control, rigidity, impulsivity, futurity, risk-taking and denial. Using an average of ratings of cooperativeness obtained from the head nurse, physician, dietician, technician, and staff nurse, the group was divided into two subgroups of more and less cooperative patients, and the demographic, medical, and psychological data from the two groups were compared. The findings suggest that the less cooperative hemodialysis patients have experienced the illness as a more severe blow to their self-concept and have failed to integrate their illness into an effective adaptive life pattern. The uncooperative patients feel less valued and less appreciated not only by their family but also by fellow patients and by hospital staff. They show significantly more anger and withdrawal than the more cooperative group and appear to have compensated for a significantly greater sense of powerlessness by the development of manipulative behaviors in relating to their medical caretakers.     

The Drugs May Be Synthetic but the Consequences are not:Analysis of Synthetic Cannabinoid User Accounts

ABSTRACT

Synthetic cannabinoids are the second most used illicit substance among U.S. adolescents. Despite their prevalence and dangers, we know little about the characteristics associated with use. While clinical samples have shed some light on how synthetic cannabinoids differ from marijuana, they have not explored career trajectories of synthetic cannabinoid users. We analyze online forum posts about people’s synthetic cannabinoid use to understand more about these novel psychoactive drugs and the drug careers of those who use.     

Inter-group alliance dynamics in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus)

Animal Cognition - The social intelligence hypothesis holds that complex social relationships are the major selective force underlying the evolution of large brain size and intelligence. Complex...