Clinical data from 1,752 ambulatory patients treated at five public mental health clinics were used to test hypotheses concerning the diagnoses and psychopharmacotherapy of Hispanic patients compared with Anglos and blacks. Hispanics were less likely than the other two groups to be labeled schizophrenic but more likely to be diagnosed as having other mental illnesses. Hispanics were less likely to receive medication than the other two groups. However, when pharmacotherapy was used there were no significant differences among groups in the number of medications prescribed. There were no differences among the groups in the doses prescribed.

Attitudes have been a neglected variable in the development of public sector clinicians. Clinicians of differing disciplines may commonly possess attitudes which would affect their role in the public sector. The Houston Consortium assessed some of these attitudes in their students and faculty. The results may have heuristic implications for improving mental health care.

The development of comprehensive health and mental health services depends on a number of factors. One overlooked factor, especially for the public sector, seems to be the attitudes of the health care providers. In an attempt to address this and related issues, the Houston Consortium was designed as a prototype training model. As part of that endeavor, the attitudes of mental health trainees toward the poor, interdisciplinary interaction, and community mental health were assessed. While the ethnic identity of the students had some influence, the major findings concerned the discipline of the students. Social work students, in particular, seemed to possess or be able to develop attitudes relevant to a prominent role in primary health care.

Areas of rapidly shifting population are a perennial phenomenon. Such occurrences offer particular challenges to mental health services. The boom areas which have developed recently in the southwestern rim of the United States have highlighted certain inadequacies in our mental health system. The Houston Consortium, a multi-institutional endeavor, offers one model for addressing these problems. This model emphasizes innovative educational programs geared to local service needs.

External fixation of the mandible is required in complex fractures or to stabilize the mandibular segments during reconstruction. The method supplements interosseous wiring and intermaxillary fixation techniques.