Kathleen Franco

Eating attitudes in college males

Three hundred and forty male college students participated in a survey study of eating attitudes. Participants completed a survey including demographic data, a weight history, and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Twelve subjects or 3.5% of the population had elevated scores of 20 or above on the EAT-26. Elevated scores correlated significantly with body building and with a past history of obesity. Fully 65% of the men reported weighing within 5 percentage points of their ideal weight. The authors suggest that males who are overinvested in their bodies and physical appearances are at higher risk for developing eating disorders.

Anniversary Reactions and Due Date Responses Following Abortion

Of 83 women who responded to surveys exploring postabortion coping, 30 women reported anniversary reactions associated with the abortion or due date. Women in the anniversary reaction group more often reported ambivalence about the decision to abort (p less than 0.007). This group also acknowledged fewer suicidal thoughts and attempts, but expressed more concern about verbally abusing their children (p less than 0.04). Strong trends toward dependency and somatoform disorders were present among anniversary group members (p less than 0.06). The authors recommend that physicians be alert to the possibility of hidden anniversary reactions of both physical and emotional nature during patient evaluation.

Conflict With Physician Pregnancy Revisited

A 10-year follow-up survey found medical school physicians (N = 200) at one institution were more interested in and accepting of pregnancy among colleagues. A greater number of physicians in 1990 than in 1980 reported that pregnant colleagues maintained their work efficiency and interest in medicine. Fewer physicians in 1990 reported being inconvenienced during a colleague’s pregnancy, and fewer perceived hiring women of childbearing age to be a risk to the optimal functioning of their departments.

Stress Profiles and Their Implications for Intervention

This study surveyed 222 medical students and found that financial difficulties, single marital status and being farther along in medical school were likely to be associated with increased dysphoria. The lack of available psychiatric faculty to meet all the student needs led to the development of two innovative programs. Psychiatrists recruited and prepared clinicians to serve as mentors for first year medical students. Psychiatric staff also trained and supervised associate deans to lead student support groups as a separate intervention. Program evaluations by both students and faculty have been encouraging.