The Future of Psychology in Medical Specialities: Introduction to the Special Issue

The continuing evolution of the health care delivery system in the United States presents threats and opportunities to psychologists in medical settings. This special issue explores the future of psychology in psychiatry, family medicine, rehabilitation, geriatric medicine, and pediatric medicine. The challenges facing neuropsychology and pain management are explored also. Finally, the professional issues of ethics in managed care, psychology in the public sector, and training future psychologists are addressed. Each paper summarizes concerns and provides recommendations for clinical practice, research, and training.     

The personality assessment system: A radical hypothesis

Two stories are presented. The first story is about a clinical practitioner developing an assessment method beginning with a connection of test “signs” with behavior, and proceeding to a system that could mystify observers. The second story is about the application of scientific methods to explain how the system could work. Together the stories are an example of practice informing science, and science informing practice. The basic hypothesis used is that much of what we call personality is “caused” by differential aptitudes as modified by long-term learning. It is also assumed that people would prefer to use those aptitudes they feel are their better ones and avoid those in which they feel weaker.     

循证医学与临床实践

循证医学是９０ 年代诞生的新兴医学科学。其要点是将临床医学领域的研究结果进行系统、全面的综合评价,为临床医疗实践、科研、卫生决策和医学教育提供可靠的科学证据。在发达国家的运用表明它已经对临床实践产生了重大而深远的影响,并将继续在临床医学领域发挥重要的作用。     

Further evaluation of reinforcer magnitude effects in noncontingent schedules

We closely replicated the procedures of a previous study that showed a positive relationship between reinforcer magnitude and the response-rate-reducing effects of noncontingent schedules (NCS). NCS reduced response rates, as expected, but the NCS-magnitude effect was not reproduced, illuminating possible weaknesses of current arbitrary-response procedures and suggesting avenues for future research.     

Job Opportunities/Issues for Health Care Psychologists: The Coming of the Millennium

Job opportunities for psychology for the next decade are being influenced by ongoing shifts in our economic system and resultant general employment practices. As with many burgeoning fields, psychology is experiencing increasing diversification into subspecialities. Professionals in other fields are acquiring supplementary degrees in psychology to heighten their psychological knowledge and professional/organization skills. Thus, psychology is beginning to be viewed, like the MBA, as an important professional degree for many fields, not just mental health or teaching. Training programs are reflecting these diversification trends. Further, as professional applications at the doctoral level expand, there is increasing need for the master's-level technical competence to support the increasing specialities at the doctoral level. These changes represent the creative response of a young and vigorous profession to the challenges of changing market dynamics.     

表象旋转加工子系统特性的初步研究

通过两个实验分别检测２０名飞行员和１０名老年被试及其相应控制组的表象旋转加工水平,旨在探讨表象旋转这一典型视觉空间认知加工中各子系统所表现出的可塑性和稳定性问题。研究结果表明,在参与表象旋转的三个主要加工子系统中,负责表象转换的子系统既可随系统训练而表现出功能增强的练习效应,也可随年老过程而发生功能衰减的年龄效应。相对而言,形状识别和确认两上子系统则受练习和年老因素影响较小。本研究提示,由于受大脑     

Technology in Medicine: Ontology,Epistemology, Ethics and Social Philosophy at the Crossroads

In reference to the different approaches in philosophy(of medicine) of the nature of (medical) technology,this article introduces the topic of this specialissue of Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, that is,the way the different forms of medical technologyfunction in everyday medical practice. The authorselaborate on the active role technology plays inshaping our views on disease, illness, and the body,whence in shaping our world.     

A Systems Perspective on the Introduction of Narrative Practice in Human Services Organizations in the Era of Managed Care

General System Theory is used to examine the structure and activity of human services organizations for conditions which support the introduction of selected narrative ideas in a systemic approach to mental health services. The inquiry includes examination of the influence of larger systems (such as managed care companies and regulatory bodies) on such introduction.     

Ethics and Changing Mental Health Care: Concerns and Recommendations for Practice

Recent developments in health care delivery in the United States have left many professionals baffled by the continuing changes in practice sparked by the relatively new managed care environment. Psychologists who practice in medical settings are struggling to balance the seemingly competing needs to deliver quality care to clients and patients, while meeting the demands of third-party payers and trying to remain true to their ethical responsibilities. Critical elements of managed care, which many suggest compromise the ethical provision of quality care, include utilization review, financial incentives, and threats to confidentiality. Recommendations are proposed so that mental health professionals may be proactive in protecting their ethical responsibilities in this changing environment.     

Politics for Learning or Learning for Politics?

It is argued that political democracyand citizenship should not be taken as primarygoals within university education. Instead theauthor argues for a notion of ``academicdemocracy' with the overall goal or ethos oflearning together. Moreover it is argued that``learning' then should be understood accordingto ``practical traditions of knowledge', whichmeans that truth is not the ultimate goal. Theultimate goal is practices that lead to thegood of men and women.