Martin Bax

The Hospital Ship

Christopher Gillberg

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 187 In the last decade the term ‘comorbidity’ has gained popularity in the field of paediatric neurodisability, with the increasing recognition that many conditions are rarely present in isolation. Within this field, the term is often used to refer to the co-occurrence of conditions more frequently than would be expected by chance, which can include instances where one condition causes the other, where they share a common cause (for example, genetic), or where they are in fact manifestations of a single condition. Whether it is valid to use the term ‘comorbidity’ in all these situations, and how precisely it should be used, is something that the contributors to this book grapple with in their own fields of interest. The contributors, all world experts in their fields, also discuss what we can learn from the presence of comorbidities, however defined, about the aetiology and treatment of neurodevelopmental disabilities. In particular, they demonstrate how our increasing understanding of the mechanisms underlying the common association of many ‘comorbidities’ is helping us to understand the natural history of these conditions and improve our management of them. Readership Paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, child psychiatrists, neurodevelopmentalists, and physical, occupational and speech therapists working with children with developmental disabilities.

Comorbidities in Developmental Disorders

Originally published in 1976, Martin Bax's seminal cult novel is back in print after three decades. From harbours around the world, the hospital ship picks up casualties, emergency cases of men and women in states of severe psychic withdrawal and large groups of autistic children. They are victims of a worldwide disaster; a holocaust that spreads as the hospital ship sails on, struggling to save itself from its own lunacy.

Andrew Thomas

Diane Smyth

This book addresses a topic that has received surprisingly little attention to date--the health and social needs of young adults with physical disabilities. Following an extensive review of the contemporary literature on the subject, the authors report an in-depth study on a large sample of physically disabled 18- to 25-year olds living in two survey areas, one urban and one semirural. The study, which included pediatric examinations and interviews by a social psychologist, found that a large proportion of subjects face social and medical problems, for instance: They have serious health needs that are not being met by the statutory services; they left school with less than adequate skills to enable them to lead an independent adult life; they are without a daytime occupation or attend day centers that are described as "unstimulating" places; they do not receive all the financial benefits to which they are entitled; they are isolated from their peers and lack the social skills to interact with others in a positive and successful way. Parents and guardians were also found to receive little physical or emotional support. These findings underline the need for a better system of providing and coordinating services for this client group, and the authors call for the formation, within each local health authority area, of an "Adult Disability Service" that would have a clinical and planning role in terms of health care and that would act as a linchpin in the coordination of health, educational, social, and voluntary services. Although this work relates specifically to service provision in the United Kingdom, it is felt that the conclusions and recommendations are also broadly applicable to the situation in other countries.

Martin Bax

About

Books

Join the club