The effects of several variables on the gelation behaviour of the chitosadglutaraldehyde system have been studied. The rate of gelation is increased by increase in concentration of either chitosan or glutaraldehyde, or by an increase in temperature, and reduced by an increase in the concentration of acetic acid. Addition of a number of neutral electrolytes also causes an increase in the rate of gelation, the increase being larger the greater the activity coefficient of the electrolyte. UV/visible and NMR spectra of glutaraldehyde, acetaldehyde and crotonaldehyde, together with those of their 2,4dinitrophenyIhydrazine derivatives, indicate that only a very small proportion (<0,15%) of the aldehyde groups have undergone an aldol condensation reaction leading to a,D-unsaturated aldehyde groups. This, together with other evidence, suggests that the cross-linking mechanism involves formation of Schiff's base structures rather than Michael-type adducts as previously postulated. a) Part 2: cf.9. 0025-1 16X/89/%03.00

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The literature on coping with mental illness is reviewed. A study is reported which was designed to operationalize and measure the responses to chronic psychiatric illness of denial or adoption of a sick role outlined by Wing & Morris (1981) and Shepherd (1984) and to investigate their correlates and relationship to identity as measured by Thompson (1988). On the basis of existing literature, it was anticipated that subjects who identified themselves as 'community members' would tend to cope by denial of psychiatric problems whilst those seeing themselves as a 'typical psychiatric patient' would exaggerate their disabilities. Although both types of response and identity were found within the group studied, this prediction was not confirmed: responses of patients to their illness were independent of identity, and had different sets of correlates. As compared with 'exaggerators', 'deniers', tended to have social networks within the hospital, and showed higher self-esteem and less subjective distress. Community identity, on the other hand, was related to actually going into the community, better overall functioning (especially in the areas of social activities and community skills), and poorer compliance with medication. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.