Means and standard deviations are reported for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Zung Self-Rating Depression scale, collected during the course of a general health survey. Data for different age samples and for both sexes are presented for use in the evaluation of the significance of anxiety and depression levels in patients presenting with these symptoms. High estimates of reliability based on internal consistency statistics were found for all scales. Females scored more highly on both the measures and scores were inversely correlated with age, indicating the importance of specific and appropriate norms in assessing affective states.

The results of this trial do not support the hypothesis that homocysteine lowering with B vitamins improves cognitive performance. (Australian Clinical Trials registry number, ACTR NO 12605000030673.).

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Closed-head injury (CHI) patients at either 6 months (n = 24), 1 year (n = 19), or 2 to 3 years (n = 23) postinjury, were compared with a group of orthopedic control (OC) patients (n = 27). CHI patients assessed at 6 months postinjury experienced a Post-Traumatic Insight Disorder, in which they underreported the severity of their behavioural impairments. CHI patients in the 1 year and 2 to 3 year follow-up groups evidenced both greater insight about their level of behavioural impairment, and higher levels of emotional dysfunction. These findings suggested that the return of insight is associated with increased risk for emotional dysfunction. Implications of these findings for assessment and treatment of closed-head injury patients are discussed.

Fifty-five spousal caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis completed a questionnaire assessing the stress associated with caregiving. They were found to experience a range of negative effects, similar to those reported by other groups of carers of persons with degenerative neurological diseases. The behaviors causing most distress to the carers were associated with motor problems, sudden mood changes, partner upsetting other people, incontinence and pain. Overall, wives had higher burden scores than husbands. This was accounted for primarily by their higher levels of physical distress such as tiredness. Following the stress-appraisal-coping model of Lazarus and Folkman (1984) it was hypothesized that individual differences in burden would be accounted for primarily by the carers' appraisal of the symptoms, perceived social support, and satisfaction with coping. Regression analyses supported the importance of satisfaction with coping and social support as predictors of perceived burden. In addition, life satisfaction was found to be predicted by burden independently of other predictors.

Normative statistics are provided for the UCLA Loneliness Scale based on the results of a sample of 978 adult subjects collected during a general population health survey. Factor analysis of the data revealed that the scale had a two factor structure; positively worded items loaded on one factor and negatively worded items on the other. Results from the factor analysis were used to construct two equivalent 10‐item short forms of the scale. Previous findings that the scale is highly reliable were confirmed.

The responses to a questionnaire on subjective burden are reported for 52 primary caregivers of a group of persons with traumatic brain injuries sustained an average of 6 years previously. The aim of the study was to examine satisfaction with social support, perception of coping skills, and appraisal of symptoms as predictors of strain in the carers. A range of responses, both positive and negative, to the work of caring for a relative with a head injury was reported. A high prevalence rate of emotional and behavioural changes in the persons with head injuries was found and the amount of distress caused by these symptoms was found to be predictive of burden. The other factor important in predicting burden was the carers' ratings of their satisfaction with their ability to cope with the work of caregiving. Social support, injury severity, and the demographic characteristics of the persons with head injury and their carers were not significant predictors. Depression in the carers was also investigated and the variable most predictive of elevated depression scores was coping satisfaction. These findings reinforce the importance of strengthening carers coping resources in rehabilitation work with head injured persons and their families.

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