The study examined the behavior and characteristics of 33 children in a self-contained unit for autistic children in a multidisciplinary framework involving psychiatric, neurologic, psychological, social, and educational parameters. Results of a comprehensive evaluation indicated the following primary diagnoses: early infantile autism, atypical…

An item format incorporating pattern recognition was designed to assess medical students' abilities in the area of clinical diagnosis. A group of approximately 20 faculty members of five New England medical schools met in Worcester for half of a day to develop pattern recognition items. Teams of four to six physicians were assigned to work on…

A scheme of classification is suggested for physicians faced with various prescriptions for remediation of children with learning disabilities. Three models of the causes of learning disability are suggested: (1) the difference model which stresses normal variability in the pattern of development of mental abilities; (2) the deficit model which…

The paper encourages the establishment of university-based clinics for the diagnosis and remediation of children's learning problems in mathematics and describes the operation of such a clinic at Arizona State University. Mathematics clinics are seen to serve two purposes: helping individual children overcome their special mathematics learning…

Differences between physicians and medical students in their recall of information from clinical problems were investigated. The focus of the study was on the recognition and recall of critical cues within cases as a function of problem difficulty and the organization of clinical information. (Author/MLW)

There has been an increase in teaching aimed at improving the physician-patient relationship in conjunction with teaching the medical interview. Unconscious, unrecognized responses of a trainee to a patient may explain failure of the trainee to use newly acquired knowledge on interviewing. (Author/MLW)

Results of a survey on the extent to which dental school curricula include the subject of child abuse and neglect, the identification of abuse and neglect cases, and the state requirements for reporting suspected abuse and neglect are reported. (MSE)

A study of cancer screening by internal medicine residents in an inner-city clinic revealed that screening was more frequent for male patients, and breast examinations and Pap smears were performed on less than a third of female patients, suggesting a need for more intensive early-detection education of residents. (MSE)

This article describes an interactive computer program that allows medical students to enter a completely free-form problem list at the keyboard and receive immediate analysis of the accuracy and thoroughness of their diagnostic impressions. (Author/LMO)

The variables affecting ratings of the importance of biopsychosocial versus biomedical assessments are examined. It was hypothesized that students would perceive the relative importance of biomedical and biopsychosocial assessments differentially based on the diagnoses of the patients and the students' level of training. (MLW)

A study of the reliability of a computer-assisted test of optometric clinical diagnostic skills that uses actual patient cases revealed that the test is most useful when used in conjunction with subjective clinical grading for evaluating problem-solving skills. (MSE)

The cognitive knowledge, performance, and patient care of 23 pediatricians who participated in continuing medical education sessions were measured by pre-, post-, and six- to nine-month follow-up tests. In general, the knowledge and performance factors and patient behavior were better for those attending case presentations as opposed to…

The issue of congruence and consistency among multiple team estimates of child functioning was addressed. Multihandicapped children were assessed by an interdisciplinary developmental diagnostic team using several developmental/behavioral scales. Assessments revealed evidence of team congruence in diagnosis. Data analysis indicated consistency…

This study investigated the utilization of early intervention services by 102 children (ages 2 to 72 months) and families seen for assessment at a diagnostic clinic in Portland, Maine. Surveys completed by subjects' case managers assessed whether recommended early intervention services were received and reasons why recommended services were not…

This study examined the validity of using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Thought Problem sub-scale with urban low-income children (N=46) referred to a hospital-based mental health clinic. It was hypothesized that cultural, linguistic, or socio-economic status (SES) factors may influence the manner in which parents understand and respond to…