Perceptions by medical students of patients' affective states were investigated, and the effect of the students' own emotions on such perceptions. One hundred and one fourth-year medical students rated the levels of anxiety and depression of three women patients presented on videotape, rated their own levels of anxiety and depression and completed a questionnaire on aspects of the rating process. Students had widely different and often inappropriate perceptions of patients' levels of anxiety and depression. Students who consistently overrated anxiety or depression in patients, compared to those who consistently underrated, were themselves significantly more anxious or depressed. These data suggest a need in medical education for systematic teaching of empathic skills and for recognition of potential bias in clinical decision-making arising from the clinician's own emotional state.

A group of eight infants with a disorder termed the IDD syndrome and another group of eight matched healthy infants taken into study at the same time have been followed-up for 6.75 years. The follow-up technique and some findings are described. Three IDD syndrome children are still severely disturbed. Three others show recovery from severe developmental disturbance. But one child who was grossly abused after being taken into the study has been well since the third follow-up. The comparison children have not experienced comparable problems. A qualified affirmative to the question of predictive power is given and discussed.

A matched comparison was made of 158 parents of preschool twins conceived under three conditions; spontaneously, after infertility workup including drug treatment, and after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Indications of probable psychiatric caseness were obtained using the 60-item General Health Questionnaire. IVF parents' mean scores were similar to those of parents who spontaneously conceived, and both were significantly greater than those who conceived after an infertility workup. Mothers and fathers overall had similar scores, contrary to previous community findings of higher rates of psychiatric disorder among females. The prevalence of probable psychiatric caseness was less for IVF and spontaneously conceiving mothers, but greater for the respective fathers, than in an English community sample and greater than in an Australian community sample. The extent to which the self-reports of current psychiatric disturbance can be ascribed to any preexisting psychopathology is unknown. Indications of increased psychiatric disturbance found in this investigation warrant further prospective investigations, especially of the difficulties of rearing twins when couples are vulnerable in having this degree of psychiatric morbidity.

In severe continuing adversity, it is postulated that a potential for survivor behavior with common characteristics is evoked that may ultimately result in survival of what at first sight appears to be insuperable odds. The process of survival results in a radical change of values, intensified concern with the body (the survival value of hypochondriasis and narcissism), the establishment of absolute trust in a few others or the equivalent for internalized objects if alone. Communication is paramount. This survivor behavior is distorted in the clinical setting resulting in noncompliance, manipulation of power figures (clinical staff), and distorted understanding, both ways, of communication. Suggestions are offered on the developmental history of the patient as a survivor and how survivor behavior can be incorporated into therapeutic regimes. In line with the concept of conservation-withdrawal, the action-engagement of survivor behavior is hypothesised as being biologically based.