On beyond urine: clinically useful assessment instruments in the treatment of drug dependence

Although there are a wealth of clinically useful, brief, and low-cost assessment instruments available for use with drug-dependent populations, relatively few are broadly used in clinical practice. With an emphasis on: (1). the multidimensional nature of drug users' problems; and (2). assessments that can be integrated into empirically validated treatments, clinically useful assessments in four general categories (evaluation and diagnosis of drug dependence, identifying concurrent disorders and problems, treatment planning, and evaluation of treatment outcome) are briefly summarized. Progress in the field of drug abuse treatment has been significantly hampered by the failure to adopt, across research and clinical settings, a common set of assessments.     

Individual and contextual predictors of involvement in twelve-step self-help groups after substance abuse treatment

Drawing on ecological and narrative theories of self-help groups, this study tests a multilevel model predicting self-help group involvement among male veterans who received inpatient substance abuse treatment. Following K. Maton (1993), the study moves beyond the individual-level of analysis to encompass variables in the treatment and post-treatment social ecology. Surveys administered to patients (N = 3,018) and treatment staff (N = 329) assessed these predictor domains and self-help group involvement 1 year after discharge. A hierarchical linear model fit to the data indicates that greater involvement in 12-step groups after discharge is predicted by the compatibility between personal and treatment belief systems. The implications of these findings for efforts to facilitate transitions between inpatient professional treatment and community-based self-help groups are discussed.     

Evaluating Environmental Change Strategies: Challenges and Solutions

In this introductory article we define environmental change strategies (ECS), summarize the primary challenges associated with evaluating ECS, and provide an overview of the methods researchers have employed to begin to address these challenges. This special issue provides a range of examples, from researchers and practitioners in the field, of different approaches for addressing these challenges. These articles present new methods to understand and test how ECS are implemented and propose methods to evaluate their implementation. The content of the articles covers multiple public health issues, including substance abuse prevention, tobacco control, HIV prevention, and obesity prevention. This special issue is intended to build the evidence base for effective ECS, generate compelling discussion, critical analyses, and spur future research that will help improve the implementation and evaluation of ECS.     

Evaluation of a Spiritually Based Child Maltreatment Prevention Training Program

The authors empirically evaluated a spiritually based 1‐day child maltreatment training program. Pretest, posttest, and follow‐up results indicated that participants' recognition of hypothetical maltreatment did not increase after training. Furthermore, although participants decreased their use of items known to dissuade decisions to report, they were less likely to report maltreatment posttraining and 1 month later. Focus group data revealed that participants felt more knowledgeable but insufficiently prepared to respond to maltreatment and that they needed opportunities to practice what they had learned. Suggestions for clergy, pastoral counselors, and mental health professionals working within spiritual communities are provided to inform curriculum advancements.     

College Student High-Risk Drinking as a Maladaptive Serious Leisure Hobby

The role of occupational therapy in community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) multidisciplinary teams is not well documented. This qualitative study investigated the perception of occupational therapy practice held by community CAMHS workers in the Perth, Australia, metropolitan region. Eight mental health community CAMHS professionals took part in semi-structured interviews. Three themes emerged which included team membership, the nature of the work, and the team and occupational therapy. This article focuses on the third theme. Findings suggest a limited understanding of the scope of occupational therapy practice. Implications for occupational therapy in CAMHS are discussed.     

Edgar Allan Poe: A psychological profile

Edgar Allan Poe is often regarded as one of the most well-known American poets of the 19th century. He is best known for his dark, gruesome depictions of emotionally haunted characters. His most famous poem, The Raven, exemplifies this style. To understand what motivated this writing style, we must learn about the man behind the pen. Not surprisingly, Poe had a difficult upbringing, fraught with illness, loss, and poverty. This review will examine Poe’s personal life and discuss how early experiences and possible genetic predispositions may have contributed to his affect and behaviours as an adult.     

Internalized Classism:

Internalized classism refers to the process by which a personÆs experience as a member of the poor or working classes becomes internalized and influences her self-concept and self-esteem as well as her relationships with others. Internalized classism, often not recognized by clients or by therapists, may be manifested in a variety of ways in psychotherapy. Active clinical attention to internalized classism can carry significant benefits for people with poor or working-class backgrounds.     

An Open Letter to Health and Mental Health Care Professionals from a Survivor of Sexual Exploitation

The following is a personal acount from a woman who has cerebral palsy dealing with her experiences with sexual exploitation. The article gives suggestions to the mental and health care profession about working with a survivor of sexual abuse who happens to have a disability.