This study aimed to describe the features of everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care as experienced by women who self-harm. Participant observations and informal interviews were conducted with six women and were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The major feature of everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care was 'being surrounded by disorder', which consisted of 'living in a confusing environment, being subject to routines and rules that offer safety but lack consistency' and 'waiting both in loneliness and in togetherness'. The nursing staff spent minimal time with the patients and the women turned to each other for support, care and companionship.

During a period of 1 year, data concerning life events, non-specific psychological symptoms, individual social history, and ulcer history were obtained for consecutive cases of patients about to have elective surgical treatment for duodenal ulcer. At the 1-year follow-up examination a blind, clinical evaluation was performed (dumping, dyspepsia, recurrence, and Visick grading), and information concerning the 94 patients' assessment of outcome was obtained. A multivariate predictor analysis was performed. Most patients (85%) benefited from treatment. The excess rate of non-specific psychological symptoms indicating impairment remained unchanged. The patients assessments of outcome were correlated with the clinical assessment. A positive correlation was found for women to have dumping and poor Visick grade and for unmarried persons to have postoperative dyspepsia and a poor Visick grade. A negative correlation between a long ulcer history and postoperative dyspepsia and a positive correlation between pyloroplasty and dumping were found. Non-specific psychological symptoms predicted poor clinical assessments. It is suggested that it is relevant to apply the patients' assessments for the purpose of evaluation, supplementing the clinical assessment of the more biomedical aspects of outcome.

Within the framework of the Aarhus County Vagotomy Trial a socio-medical interview investigation was performed. Ninety-one patients were asked to participate. Half of the patients had an ulcer history of more than 15 years. One fifth had experienced preoperative complications. Thirty-nine per cent of the patients showed changes in social activity according to Patrick's grading. Within work and leisure time significant improvements had taken place. Most of the patients with paid work were characterized by a high degree of satisfaction, conscientiousness, and stability at work. Symptoms indicating psychological impairment were commoner among the patients than in the background population. No accumulation of tobacco or alcohol abuse was found. The consumption of medicine was rather high. During the period of observation a decrease in the consumption of ulcer drugs, but not in other drugs, was noted. The frequency of sick days was rather high. The rate of consultations at the general practitioner did not differ from what would be expected. It is suggested that surgical cure of an ulcer only has some impact on the total life situation of the patients and that non-specific psychological symptoms in some patients may invalidate the overall result of treatment.

Within the framework of the Aarhus County Vagotomy Trial a socio-medical investigation was performed. Eighty-eight patients were interviewed. Data were collected concerning the patients' own assessments and several psychological symptoms. The interview also comprised questions about education, career, and personal and family problems. The surgeon's assessment, expressed by the Visick classification, was significantly correlated with the patients' assessments. In the analysis of predictors for surgical failure expressed by the Visick classification, age was the only significant predictor. Indicators of social or psychological stress showed a tendency towards association with an unfavourable outcome. No associations were found between the selected predictors and surgical failure expressed as recurrent ulcer. Patients classified as Visick III or IV had an accumulation of non-specific psychological symptoms indicating psychological impairment. It is suggested that evaluations of surgical outcome for duodenal ulcer consider both a specific surgical dimension and a subjective dimension expressed by the patients' judgements and/or expression of their health status.

During a period of one year data were obtained concerning life events, non-specific psychological symptoms, individual social history and ulcer history in consecutive cases of patients about to undergo elective surgical treatment for duodenal ulcer. At a one-year follow-up, a blind clinical evaluation was performed, and information concerning the patients' assessment of outcome was obtained. Those patients who at the one-year follow-up stated no improvement due to the operation could be predicted to some extent from postoperative complications, partly from a long ulcer history. The patients who stated that the result did not come up to their expectations were predicted from older age, and from certain symptoms, especially severe headache. It is suggested that it is relevant to apply the patients' assessment of outcome for the purpose of evaluation, supplementing the clinical assessment of the more biomedical aspects of outcome.