This study investigated the relationship between suicidal attempts and parental bonding patterns among eating disorder patients. Fifty-five eating disorder inpatients, divided into 2 groups according to lifetime suicidal attempts, were compared from the view points of clinical features, chiJd abuse history, and parental bonding patterns. Clinical features included binge-eating, vomiting, the misuse of laxatives, substance abuse, and depression. These features have been indicated to be possible risk factors for suicidal behaviour in patients with eating disorders. To measure the severity of eating disorder, Global Clinical Scores (GCS) were used at admission. Parental bonding patterns were measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Sixteen of the 55 patients (290%) had had suicidal attempts. There were no significant differences between suicidal and non-suicidal patients in the age, the age of onset, the severity of eating disorder measured by GCS scores, and the proportion of patients with binge-eating, vomiting, the misuse of laxatives, substance abuse, and depression. Suicidal patients reported significantly more child abuse experiences (p<0.005). Forty-eight patients were administered the PBI. The parental contribution to bonding is scored on 2 bipolar axes defined as care and overprotection. Suicidal patients reported significantly higher overprotection from their both parents compared with non-suicidal subjects (father:p<0.01, mother:p<0.05). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in care between suicidal and non-suicidal patients. According to Parker's method the care scores and the overprotection scores were dichotomized into low and high. The proportion of suicidal and non-suicidal patients reporting each of the 4 combinations (i. e. , parental bonding styles) were compared. The parental bonding styles are characterized as "affectipnless control" (low care, high overprotection), "optimal bonding" (high care, low overprotection), "affectionate constraint" (high care, high overprotection) , "neglectful parenting" (low care, low overproteciton). Forteen of the 15 suicidal patients (930%) experienced high overprotection quadrant ("affectionless control" and "affectionate constraint" quadrant) on father and/or mother rating, in which there were significant differences compared with non-suicidal patients (p<0.001). Results suggest that high overprotection points on the PBI and child abuse history are possible risk factors for suicidal behaviour in patients with eating disorders.

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Premorbid lifestyles and Type A behavior in 98 Japanese outpatients with Parkinson disease (PD) (41 males, 57 females) diagnosed by 3 skilled neurologists from 4 hospitals in Kanto area were analyzed by direct interviews. A total of 78 healthy controls (39 males, 39 females) in the same area were also analyzed in the same manner. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicates that patients with PD were under less exercise habits (odds ratio 2.39), did not feel their sleeping deep enough (odds ratio 2.97), and consciousness to stress was lower (odds ratio 0.40), when compared with controls. On the other hand, other habits were distributed within the limits of advisable lifestyles. The mean score of Type A behavior of patients with PD was higher than that of controls. The mean scores for thoroughness, preciseness and tension in Type A behavior suhitems were significantly higher in PD patients than in controls. As patients with PD did not feel their sleeping deep enough, and their relaxation behaviors such as drinking habits and exercise were rare, it was assumed that they missed a chance to release themselves from stress. Therefore, it may be important to give care to patients with PD from the standpoint of psycho-physiological relaxation.

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This study examined the effect of EMG biofeedback with concentration on trapezius muscle relaxation. Fourteen college students were randomly assigned to biofeedback (BF) group (5), concentration (C) group (4), and feedback-with-concentration (BF-C) group (5). While the BF group wasrequiredto relax the muscular tension based on auditory biofeedback, the C group was asked to relax using concentration on the sensation of muscular tension without the biofeedback. The BF-C group was asked to relax using both the biofeedback and the concentration. The concentration was induced by a task of successive discrimination between muscular tension and relaxation. The experiment was consisted of 6 traiLing sessions (for 6 days), and 2 follow-up sessions. As the main result, the BF-C group showed a significant decrease in EMG compared with the other 2 groups. Scores of the discrimination task of the BF-C group were significantly higher than those of the other 2 groups. Implications for biofeedback with concentration on trapezius muscle relaxation training were discussed.

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We aimed to identify the functional differentiation of psychosomatic medicine between general hospitals and a psychiatric hospital. Subjects in this issue were 6 inpatients in our hospital, who experienced former admission to some general hospitals. The author of this issue interviewed subjects and doctors on duty using the semistructured style. The age of 6 patients ranged from 14 to 64 years old. Subjects consisted of a male and 5 females. Four of them were diagnosed as eating disorders, and the remaining 2 as mood disorder, and adjustment disorder respectively. Former hospitals were all general hospitals including a university hospital. The following are our results. 1)The psychosomatic medical unit in a psychiatric hospital allows long-term admission and a patient-centered approach in psychosomatic medicine. 2)It works as a rehabilitation center between general hospitals and patients' comunities. 3)The cooperation of general hospitals with psychiatric hospitals in psychosomatic medicine makes it possible to individualize every patient suffering from his/her problems.

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