A balance sheet-a questionnaire that determines both quantitatively and qualitatively the ambivalent feelings that women experience in the process of deciding on whether to undergo an induced abortion-was designed to elucidate such emotional conflict during the process. Data were collected from 63 women who expressed a desire for an induced abortion. A balance sheet (with 24 pro-terminate and 24 pro-continue items) had been prepared by evaluating the content validity and the hypothesis of the constructive concept. A factor analysis of 16 pro-terminate and pro-continue items yielded 8 factors, each strongly related to ambivalence about the pro-terminate or pro-continue decision. These factors confirmed part of the constructive concept shown by the hypothesis. Cronbach's α coefficient was sufficiently high. The current survey indicated that the mental process that these women undergo is characterized by the co-existence of two seemingly conflicting attitudes, a pro-terminate move toward pregnancy termination and a pro-continue tendency to continue the pregnancy. The result also indicated that it may be possible to use a "balance sheet" as a tool to confirm the reliability and validity of the findings.

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This study aims to investigate the actual situation of thermotherapy, by adult women who attend to an A thermotherapy clinic, and their awareness. The subjects were 98 women, and a questionnaire including the actual use of thermotherapy and Japanese version of Health Locus of Control (JHLC) scales was used. The average age of the subjects was 48.9±12.0 years old, and more than 50% of them had clinical history. They were suffering from some symptoms such as aches and pain, stiffness, or felling of cold. In their scores of JHLC, the score of IHLC was highest, followed by that of FHLC in every generation. They used thermotherapy to reduce such symptoms or diseases, or maintain or improve their health. As the changes after thermotherapy, they answered with positive aspects by mentioning to have recovered from such symptoms or diseases, etc. From the above results, it was suggested that the subjects were not only looking for the therapies in medical institutes but also for their own way of therapies, indicating that they had positive and independent consciousness in their treatment to act with help of their families or friends.

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The purpose of the present study is to ascertain the effects of child-care coaching intervention on the emotional aspect of first-time mothers. Subjects consisted of 44 primiparous mothers who had experienced normal pregnancy, delivery, and puerperal period (23 in the intervention group and 21 in the non-intervention group). Child-care coaching intervention was conducted on the subjects in the intervention group at postpartum day 3, one week after hospital discharge, and at 1 month. Self-administered questionnaires were conducted at postpartum day 3 and at 1 month; analyses were made using the following indicators: (1) the "State Anxiety" of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form-Y (STAI-State); (2) Self-Esteem (SE); and (3) Maternal Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ). The changes between postpartum day 3 and 1 month were compared in each group. STAI-State scores significantly increased only in the non-intervention group, while SE scores significantly increased only in the intervention group. Although the MCQ scores tended to decrease in the intervention group and increase in the non-intervention group over this period, no significant differences were observed. Thus, it was suggested that conducting child-care coaching intervention on first-time mothers in the period up to 1 month postpartum was effective in reducing their anxiety and concerns, and in increasing their self-esteem.

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Laser conization for uterine cervical carcinoma in situ (CIS) is designed to treat malignant tumors. Because the surgical stress is believed to be minimal, its impact on the patient's mental status has not been elaborated. To clarify the impact of operation and a notice of diseases on mental health, anxiety and depression of patients scheduled for uterine conization and those scheduled for surgery for benign diseases was compared with HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Subjects were 348 Japanese female patients (55 with CIS and 293 with benign gynecologic diseases; ages, 41.6±12.1 years) who had been admitted to undergo an operation. Each was asked to fill out the Japanese edition of HADS before surgery. Compared with the patients with benign diseases in general or with ovarian cysts, those with CIS scored significantly lower on the total HADS, anxiety, and depression scales. Only the total and depression scores were significantly lower when compared with patients with myoma uteri. Comparison among surgical procedures showed that uterine conization scored the lowest on the total and anxiety scales and second to laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian cysts on the depression score. These results suggested that uterine conization, although intended for malignant tumors, is less likely to affect one's mental health than surgical procedures conducted for benign gynecologic diseases. The impact of scheduled operation is supposed to be stronger than that of a notice of diseases.

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