Dysfunctional isolation in the elderly: Increasing marital and family closeness through improved communication

Unique developmental crises in old age may lead to social withdrawal that negatively affects the individual and his/her marital and family relationships. Without an awareness of these aging dynamics, the therapist can inadvertently perpetuate these distancing behaviors which can exacerbate marital and family conflict. This paper discusses certain developmental crises which can result in increased isolation for the older adult, and suggests therapeutic interventions to facilitate increased closeness among family members.     

Media review

Abstract

The AIDS Movie. Produced by Durrin Films, Washington, DC. Film or videocassette, 26 minutes, color, 1986. Purchase: $455 for 16mm film, $390 for VHS. Rental: $57. All prices include shipping. A teaching guide and a copy of the U.S. Surgeon General's report are included. Contact New Day Films, 22 Riverview Drive, Wayne, NJ 07407: telephone, Barb Giniger, (202) 387-6700     

Development of a telephone-based intervention for support persons to help smokers quit

This study represents the first step toward systematic behavioral treatment development and pilot testing of a novel approach to smoking cessation that utilizes adults interested in helping someone to stop smoking (i.e., support persons) as the agent of change. The counselor manual for a telephone-based intervention for support persons was developed based on a previous clinic-based intervention. Social cognitive theory served as the conceptual basis for the intervention. Ten adult non-smoking females completed the treatment protocol, consisting of six 20 - 30-min sessions and written materials. The support person was the sole recipient of the professional intervention. Feedback was obtained from 8 of the 10 participants and all 4 telephone counselors 1 week post-treatment (week 10). Results indicate that the telephone-based intervention was feasible and acceptable to participants. The intervention was refined based on participant and counselor feedback and will be subsequently tested in a randomized pilot trial.     

Marriage Guidance Counselling: Ii. What Counsellors Want to Give

Seventy-six counsellors practising under the auspices of the Scottish Marriage Guidance Council responded anonymously to a postal questionnaire. This was designed to survey their attitudes regarding various aspects of counselling and, by means of case-studies, to in vestigate the extent to which they adopted a uniform approach with all clients. The counsellors considered marriage guidance to be appropriate for a wide range of problems. In general, 'nonspecific' factors were considered helpful. However, in line with current trends towards flexibility and eclecticism, the counsellors considered that some interventions, styles and approaches were more appropriate for some problems than for others. The implications of the findings are discussed and some practical recommendations are made.     

SCORE ON THE EXAMINATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN PSYCHOLOGY AS A FUNCTION OF ATTRIBUTES OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Graduate programs' correlates with doctoral recipients' scores on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) were determined. Higher EPPP score was associated with larger faculty-to-student ratios, smaller clinical programs traditional as opposed to professional program orientation, and PhD rather than Psy D awarded Programs approved by the American Psychological Association and those that scored favorably on a number of objective indices also produced graduates with high EPPP scores Among the more frequently used admissions requirements median Quantitative score on the Graduate Record Examination correlated most highly with EPPP score.