In his interesting account of the history of Brentry Hospital, Dr. Jancar describes the work of the Burdens who came to Bristol in 1895. This era, le fin de siecle, was a golden age for the well-endowed. The rich were very rich thanks to the bounties of the industrial revolution. The arts flourished and were well-patronised; new and interesting forms were emerging in the visual arts and in lite...

The United States Supreme Court, in the recent case of Riggins v. Nevada, extended its examination of the issue of involuntary treatment with antipsychotic medication to the mentally disabled facing criminal trial. A criminal defendant who is "incompetent to stand trial" cannot be subjected to trial. Many such persons are committed to hospitals to be treated and rendered "competent to stand tri...

Being mentally handicapped doesn't relieve people of their capacity for emotion, tenderness and concern. In hospital they should still be able to experience the pleasures and annoyances of ordinary 'family' life to the greatest extent possible.

Work performance and duration of stay of 79 mentally handicapped persons attending a day care centre was evaluated and correlated with demographic and clinical variables. Work performance was below average in 37% and average in 30%. No definite relationship was established between duration of stay or work performance with any of the demographic or clinical variables.

"Stoke Park with associated Hospitals have a long record of illustrious research into the field of Mental Handicap, associated with such famous names as Berry, Norman, Fraser Roberts, Golla and Grey Walter, and also an outstanding record for the provision of services for the mentally handicapped... I consider that the field of mental handicap is one of the most promising areas of psychiatry for...

SEVEN miles from Aberdeen, on the lovely road to Braemar, lies the Newton Dee Estate, recognised by the Ministry of Labour as a sheltered workshop for the mentally handicapped. There is a fundamental difference between it and most other "sheltered workshops," for it is a social experiment, and all who are there not only share the working life, but live together as a really integrated village co...

Although sex offender risk assessment has progressed greatly over the past decade and a half since most states implemented the sexually violent predator/sexually dangerous person (SVP/SDP) laws, there continues to be limited applicability of such models to intellectually disabled sex offenders because there has been no empirical validation. However, SVP/SDP civil commitment programs have report...

Saint Dymphna, whose memory is celebrated on the 15th May, is one of the least familiar of all the saints; and yet the scene ?f her martyrdom is known by name to psychiatrists all over the world. On this day in Gheel, a small village in the moorland district called the Kampenland, some 25 miles from Antwerp, there are processions and public festivities; special services are held in the church w...

This is a refreshing and welcome addition to the many books written on education. Although it is addressed principally to Nursery School teachers (and parents of young children), there is much in it that is applicable to mentally handicapped children and all who work in Occupation Centres, or "School Departments" or as Home teachers, would do as well to consider the contents. Miss Gardner's sim...