Rules for making psychiatric diagnoses in children on the basis of multiple sources of information: Preliminary strategies

Inherent in the structured diagnostic interviewing of children is the problem of how to resolve differences between the child's own report and that of the parent about the child. A related problem concerns the use of outside source of information about the child, such as information from the teacher. In this study, the authors review the decision-making process used in the assignment of summary psychiatric diagnoses based on the child and parent reports, as well as a number of other sources of information about the child. Provisional rules for making summary diagnoses of children are presented.This research was supported by NIAAA Center Grant Number AA-03539, and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Network III on Risk and Protective Factors in the Major Mental Disorders.     

MOMENTUM AND EXTINCTION EFFECTS ON SELF-INJURIOUS ESCAPE BEHAVIOR AND NONCOMPLIANCE

Previous research on applications of behavioral momentum has indicated that a high-probability (high-p) instructional sequence, in which a series of instructions for which there is a high probability of compliance is presented immediately before an instruction for which there is a low probability of compliance, is an effective method for increasing compliance. It is not dear, however, whether the procedure is effective when individuals actively attempt to escape from the instructional situation. In this study, we examined the effects of the high-p sequence, when implemented first alone and then later with an extinction component, as treatment for the self-injurious escape behavior of 2 individuals. Results showed that when the instructional sequence was implemented without extinction, rates of self-injury increased and percentage of compliance decreased. In addition, the percentage of trials occasioning escape behavior increased for both high- and low-probability instructions. When an extinction component was added to the high-p sequence, rates of self-injury and the percentage of trials containing self-injury decreased, and compliance increased. These findings suggest that extinction may be an important component of treatment when escape behavior such as self-injury accompanies noncompliance in instructional contexts and competes with compliant behavior.     

Psychology of Religion: What One Needs to Know

This essay is an introduction to systematic nonsectarian psychology of religion—its nature and scope, and its history. Among major issues, the study of motivation for being religious and stages of religious development are discussed, as well as counseling and psychotherapy. I summarize current trends.     

Modifications of Treatment Approaches for Axis I Disorders in Patients Who Also Have a Concurrent Axis II Disorder

Personality disorders have been an area of active interest in psychiatry for many years. Mental health professionals have suspected that these disorders retard the treatment of Axis I disorder and a comorbid personality (Axis II) disorder represents a special clinical challenge. This report draws from empirical literature in the field and the experience of the author to provide one possible theoretical framework to use in viewing these patients as well as practical suggestions to improve management of patients with these comorbid conditions.     

Bullying behaviors in female and male adolescent offenders: prevalence,types, and association with psychosocial adjustment

Despite the surge of research on bullying, few studies have examined bullying in young offenders, particularly female young offenders. This study investigated the prevalence, types, and correlates of bullying behaviors in 193 male and 50 female incarcerated adolescents from nine young offender facilities. Overall, 37% of participants identified themselves as bully‐victims, 32% as pure bullies, 23% as not involved, and 8% as pure victims. In comparison to males, females were more likely to report being involved with bullying in some capacity, particularly as pure victims, and being bullied by sexual touching and comments. Pure victims reported higher rates of psychological distress and suicidal behaviors than those youth not involved in bullying, and pure bullies were more likely to have been previously incarcerated and affiliated with a gang. Bully‐victims reported the highest rates of previous abuse, peer victimization in the community, drug use, and suicide attempts while in custody. All groups, including pure victims, reported high rates of bullying others in the community. Treatment providers should recognize that offenders who are victims are often bullies as well, and be alert to broad mental health needs among victims and bully‐victims. Given the prevalence and potential serious consequences of bullying, the development of anti‐bullying policies appears to be an important step in recognizing and reducing bullying. Aggr. Behav. 00:1–16, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The Quick Discrimination Index: Normative Data and User Guidelines for Counseling Researchers

This article summarizes normative data and psychometric evidence for scores on the Quick Discrimination Index (J. G. Ponterotto et al., 1995; S. O. Utsey & J. G. Ponterotto, 1999). Specific guidelines for counseling researchers and practitioners are provided. Este artículo resume los datos normativos y evidencia psicométrica para resultados del Indice Rapido de la Discriminación (J. G. Ponterotto et al., 1995; S. O. Utsey & J. G. Ponterotto, 1999). Las normas específicas para investigadores y profesionales practicantes de la consejería son proporcionadas.     

Busy perceivers and ineffective suppression goals: a critical role for distracter thoughts

With limited cognitive resources, suppressing thoughts can be ineffective. The detrimental effects of cognitive load on suppression have typically been attributed to increased accessibility of avoided thoughts. However, little research has examined distracter thoughts and their contribution to these effects. In three studies, participants pursued suppression goals related to social judgments (e.g., avoid negative thoughts about a target's performance) with sufficient or diminished cognitive resources. Compared to suppressors not under cognitive load, suppressors under load drew more negative social inferences when pursuing a negative suppression goal and more positive inferences under a positive suppression goal; load did not similarly disrupt a concentration goal (i.e., focus on positive thoughts). Across studies, load reduced high-quality oppositely valenced distracter thoughts, and these distracter thoughts mediated the detrimental effects of load on social inferences. The discussion focuses on mechanisms underlying the effects of load on suppression, implications, and future directions for research on ironic processes.     

Doppelte Wirklichkeiten

The paper describes phenomenological, psychodynamic, interpersonal and developmental aspects of shame affects and shame conflicts, the difference between the experience of shame and guilt, and assessment instruments for shame. The relationships between the experience of shame and family dynamics are presented on a conceptual and case material level. In both family systems and in individuals, shame protects privacy, intimacy and boundaries. Beyond this, families as private spheres can protect their members from exposure and shame. Shame is closely connected with the development of family self-images and the family feeling. As a result of these and family loyalty bonds, a borrowed feeling of shame can develop. The development of family myths and family secrets can be motivated by shame and by many defensive operations, which contribute to confusion and disturbances in the perception of the self and interpersonal relationships. These defences also appear in transference. An awareness of shame and loyalty can foster therapeutic change in family systems.