Collateral effects of behavioral parent training on families of children with developmental disabilities and behavior disorders

We evaluated collateral effects of behavioral parent training (BPT) on families with children who have developmental disabilities and behavior disorders. We compared 18 BPT graduates to 18 similar families waiting for service. The BPT graduates reported significantly less (i) child behavior problems, (ii) disruption to child and family quality of life due to child problem behavior, and (iii) stress related to limits on family opportunities and child physical limitations, up to 5 years after discharge. On a self‐efficacy scale, the graduates reported being more effective child behavior change agents in not only stopping child problem behavior, but also in preventing new occurrences and teaching the child appropriate behavior. These results suggest that BPT has persistent beneficial effects on children and parents. The findings reflect the program's focus on teaching parents how to use functional assessment derived positive teaching strategies to replace child problem behavior. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Do Personal Dispositions Affect the Relationship Between Psychosocial Working Conditions and Workplace Bullying?

There is scarce research on the interaction between psychosocial working conditions and being a target of workplace bullying with individual characteristics as a moderator. We therefore examined 3,363 employees from 60 Danish workplaces to test whether sense of coherence moderates the relationship between the job demand-control model and bullying. This work is exploratory in nature, as no previous study to assess this moderation was found. Hierarchical linear regressions showed that demand-control model was significantly associated with bullying. Sense of coherence displayed a significant though practically negligible moderating effect. This suggests that negative psychosocial working conditions are associated with bullying independently of personal characteristics, at least in terms of sense of coherence.     

Effectiveness of Group Music Therapy in a Psychiatric Hospital: A Randomized Pilot Study of Treatment Outcome

Individuals receiving inpatient psychiatric care (n = 32) were randomized to receive either brief music therapy or group therapy that constitutes the current standard of care (SOC), and completed measures of depression, mood, quality of life (QOL), and hope pre- and post-intervention. Group dynamics were evaluated by the therapists. Results indicate that significantly more patients in the music therapy group showed an increase in QOL than those in the SOC group. Regarding group dynamics, the music groups scored significantly higher on conflict and significantly lower on avoidance. Results of this study suggest that group music therapy in inpatient psychiatric settings may be as effective as SOC groups, more effective at impacting QOL, and more effective for particular diagnostic populations. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of music therapy in this setting.     

Utilizing Narrative Methodology in Trauma Treatment with Haitian Earthquake Survivors

An earthquake devastated Haiti in January 2010, killing than over 230,000 and displacing millions. Following this disaster, a culturally specific narrative model was developed for leaders (i.e., teachers, clergy, etc.) to treat trauma symptomatology among Haitians. The Haitian local leaders (n=85) were treated with the narrative model. Data were collected and analyzed, and the results were significant. The leaders’ trauma symptoms decreased following treatment. Following the narrative treatment, they were trained to utilize the model. Recommendations for future research and limitations of the study are discussed.     

久远的文明：以往的现实，当今的挑战

在其关于当今世界的教科书（1963年初版,1987年在作者去世后以《文明史纲》为书名再版）的开篇,费尔南·布罗代尔提醒我们说,civilisation（文明）一词具有多种含义,其用法在不同语言之间并不相互对应,因而经常造成翻译上的困难。这个词出现在18世纪中叶的法国,当时与“野蛮状态”形成了对照。“高贵的野蛮人”就被贬为后一范畴,尽管启蒙思想家因其生活方式的纯正性而将他们理想化。     

Parent‐selected interventions for infants at‐risk for autism spectrum disorders and their affected siblings

Infants with older siblings having Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are at genetically increased risk for showing characteristics of ASD in the first 2 years of life. Parents, who already have at least one child with ASD, may closely monitor their later born children and implement interventions as soon as the children begin to show what the parents believe is aberrant behavior or development that may be early stages of ASD. To date, no study has examined the number and types of services and interventions these parents access for their at‐risk infants. Using a Service and Intervention Questionnaire developed for this study, we interviewed 23 parents involved in a larger prospective study of genetically at‐risk infants who reported developmental and/or behavior problems in their at‐risk infants. Parents reported utilizing a mean of 1.83 and 7.26 services and/or interventions for their at‐risk infants and older children with ASD, respectively. Two‐thirds of the interventions received by the infants were also given to their older affected siblings. The interventions included empirically validated approaches (e.g., early intensive behavioral intervention), professional services (speech–language therapy, occupational therapy), and non‐validated treatments (e.g., diet and vitamin therapies). Overall, 81 non‐validated and 18 validated interventions were used. On a Likert‐type rating scale, parents reported being involved and satisfied with what they generally thought were effective services. They felt more involved and satisfied with ABA, and felt it was more effective than non‐validated interventions. The findings suggest that parents with infants at‐risk for ASD and an older affected child will access a variety of autism services for both children, but the parents will implement primarily non‐validated interventions. Parent education is recommended to help parents make informed treatment decisions for their children. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determinants of Citation in Epidemiological Studies on Phthalates: A Citation Analysis

Science and Engineering Ethics - Citing of previous publications is an important factor in knowledge development. Because of the great amount of publications available, only a selection of studies...