U.S. involuntary mental health commitment statutes: requirements for persons perceived to be a potential harm to self

The civil commitment statutes of all 50 states and the District of Columbia were reviewed to determine: (1) What is required for a person who is believed to be at serious and imminent risk of self-harm to be eligible for involuntary hospitalization; and (2) Whether an attempt to involuntarily hospitalize was required or was merely an option when the requirements found in number 1 were met. The analysis revealed that nearly 85% of the jurisdictions require dangerousness to self to be the result of a mental illness, and only two jurisdictions mandate attempts at involuntary commitment if a person is deemed to be an imminent harm to self. These results have implications for practice with individuals who are suicidal.     

Media use and political commitment: The 1992 U.S. presidential election

This study explores the relationship between media use and political commitment. Undergraduate participants answered an extensive political background questionnaire, which included measures of media use, perceived importance of information sources regarding the 1992 presidential election, and various political behaviors as an index of political commitment. Correlational analyses revealed that those who are more politically committed tend to select a variety of media sources regarding a presidential candidate. This study also investigated how informational and commitment variables were related to attitudes towards the major presidential candidates. Results observed for people expressing positive attitudes toward Perot are discussed in terms of the modern day “third party voter.”     

The U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Jaffee v. Redmond: Implications for Counselors

In 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court held that communications between licensed psychotherapists and their patients are privileged under the Federal Rules of Evidence. The nature of privileged communication, the history of this Supreme Court decision, and implications of the decision for counselors are discussed.     

现象学运动在美国的发展

在20世纪初期,当现象学在德国诞生时,美国哲学界盛行的是实用主义和分析哲学.20世纪30年代前后,现象学在德国达到了繁荣时期,并逐渐传播到了美国.经过几十年的发展,特别是从20世纪60年代开始到现在,现象学(以及在现象学基础上发展起来的存在主义、诠释学)已经逐步被美国哲学界接受,并成为实用主义和分析哲学之外的另一门显学.     

美国行政伦理学的研究及发展状况

任何理论的产生和发展 ,任何行政思想的变革 ,都既是特定社会政治、经济状况的反映 ,也是人类思想观念合乎逻辑的发展。美国行政伦理学的发展也不例外。纵观美国行政伦理思想发展的百年历史 ,我们认为 ,大致经历了如下三个发展时期或阶段。一、荒芜时期 :19世纪后期到 2 0世纪 30年代美国的行政传统中包含着丰富的行政伦理思想。在建国初期 ,建立行政机构的同时也确定了公务人员的行为标准和道德准则。前几任的总统都相信国家政策必须依赖于个人道德的原则 ,而且都在宗教上寻找道德的根源。华盛顿在第一次国会会议上讲 :“我们国家政策的基…     

The effects of legislative reform on civil commitment admission rates: A critical analysis

Many jurisdictions across North America have revised their statutes pertaining to the criteria for civil commitment with the legislative intent to either increase or decrease the use of involuntary hospitalization. The impact of these revised statutes has been examined in many jurisdictions, but there has been no consensus regarding their effectiveness in changing the rates of involuntary admissions. The present article reviews the literature from a methodological perspective, comparing the differing analyses, results and interpretations. When the legislative revision has sought to expand medical prerogative, results indicate a sustained increase in civil commitments. When legislation has aimed at limiting medical discretion, there was an immediate decline in civil commitment rates, but a subsequent increase in the period following the initial post-reform declines. These results are discussed in terms of readmission trends, deinstitutionalization, and the possible reaction of mental health professionals who perceive legislation as an unnecessary constraint in the treatment of the mentally ill.