The present study describes an Arabic cross-cultural validation of the Beck Depression Inventory. An Arab sample of 53 cases was subjected to the original validation procedures which involved a preliminary exercise and a translation from English to Arabic. Acceptable equivalent meanings of Beck's depth-of-depression criteria were established by the Arab clinicians so that independent and valid clinical ratings could be made. Statistical analyses of the internal consistency and stability of the Arabic-BDI indicated a high degree of reliability. Correlations between Arabic-BDI scores and Arab clinicians' ratings indicated a high degree of validity. The results of the cross-cultural validation study agree favorably with those of the original American validation. Although the Arabic inventory makes possible an assessment of the level and intensity of a reactive type depression suffered by Saudi Arab psychiatric outpatients living in the Eastern Province, it must be adapted dialectically for other Arab-speaking regions.

Summary. Paraplegia can lead to social stigmatisation, sexual difficulties, and emotional maladjustment. The specific nature of problems experienced in these areas were investigated in an interview study of 22 male and fe male paraplegics. These interviews were followed up by a postal questionnaire and both qualitative and quantitative data are presented in this report. Effective counselling can only be offered on the basis of an understanding of problems as they are subjectively experienced, and with an acknowledgement of the wide differences that exist between individuals in the way that they view and react to their situation.

Al-Sohaibani et al [1], they cite a 30% incidence of granulomas with a Ziehl-Neelsenpositivity in only 10% of 300 patients. That leaves a large number of cases in which no additional comments were made with reference to the findings. Is there any additional information with reference to this?

This study compares the responses to a self-report depression inventory administered to a sample of 243 Saudi and American expatriate psychiatric outpatients of a large Eastern Province medical centre in Saudi Arabia. The inventory was developed by Beck et al. (1961), and the Arabic language form was validated by West and Al-Kaisi (1982). A Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis revealed that American male patients tended to be more depressed than American female patients, Saudi female patients reported "depression scores" higher than those of Saudi male patients, and Saudi patients overall reported higher "depression scores" than American patients participating in the same study. The highest and lowest significant response frequencies for Saudis were: Pessimism (H = 74.26) and Hypochondria (H = 17.13); for Americans: Indecisiveness (H = 25.57) and Self-Image (H = 7.85). (Statistical significance when H = 7.82, p less than .05; H = 16.27, p less than .001; df = 3). Although explanations are offered, the appearance of psychopathology as designated by this cross-cultural scale requires further cultural examination.

SUInInary. Paraplegia creates social, sexual and emotional problems, and the impact of these was investigated in an interview study of 22 male and female paraplegics. Of particular concern was the way in which individuals were coping with the difficulties confronting them. People used a number of strategies for dealing with other people and their attitudes, and for readjusting sexually.In dealing with their own personal feelings about their disability, ways of coping were varied and included suppression, denial and repession, resignation and acceptance, positive thinking and independence and assertiveness. No specific recommenda tions can be made about ways of coping that will be most adaptive, since these will depend upon the individual and his or her circumstances. What is important for counselling, however, is to recognise the range of coping strategies that are available, and to be able to guide the individual toward those which effect the best match between their needs and the demands of the situation.