Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Pilot Study Of Deaf Trauma Survivors’ Experiences: Early Traumas Unique To Being Deaf In A Hearing World, Melissa L. Anderson, Kelly S. Wolf Craig, Wyatte C. Hall, Douglas M. Ziedonis

Melissa L. Anderson

Conducting semi-structured American Sign Language interviews with 17 Deaf trauma survivors, this pilot study explored Deaf individuals’ trauma experiences and whether these experiences generally align with trauma in the hearing population. Most commonly reported traumas were physical assault, sudden unexpected deaths, and “other” very stressful events. Although some “other” events overlap with traumas in the general population, many are unique to Deaf people (e.g., corporal punishment at oral/aural school if caught using sign language, utter lack of communication with hearing parents). These findings suggest that Deaf individuals may experience developmental traumas distinct to being raised in a hearing world. Such …

Attitudes Towards Anorexia Nervosa: Volitional Stigma Differences In A Sample Of Pre-Clinical Medicine And Psychology Students, Amy Bannatyne, Peta Stapleton

Peta B. Stapleton

Background:

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a highly stigmatised condition, with treatment often involving multidisciplinary care. As such, understanding and comparing the attitudes of emerging mental health and medical professionals towards AN, within the content of sex-based differences, is pertinent to facilitate the development of targeted stigma interventions.

Aims:

Examine the volitional stigmatisation of AN in emerging medical and mental health professionals.

Method:

Participants (N = 126) were medical (n = 41) and psychology students (n = 85) who completed a range of attitudinal outcome measures (e.g. Causal Attributions Scale, Eating Disorder Stigma Scale, Opinions Scale, Characteristics Scale and Affective Reaction …

Attitudes Toward Substance Abuse Clients: An Empirical Study Of Clinical Psychology Trainees, Chandra Mundon, Melissa Anderson, Lisa Najavits

Melissa L. Anderson

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) and its frequent comorbidity with mental illness, individuals with SUD are less likely to receive effective SUD treatment from mental health practitioners than SUD counselors. Limited competence and interest in treating this clinical population are likely influenced by a lack of formal training in SUD treatment. Using a factorial survey-vignette design that included three clinical vignettes and a supplementary survey instrument, we investigated whether clinical psychology doctoral students differ in their level of negative emotional reactions toward clients with SUD versus major depressive disorder (MDD); whether they differ in their attributions …

“I Had No Idea This Shame Piece Was In Me”: Couple And Family Therapists' Experience With Learning An Evidence-Based Practice, Robert Allan, Virginia Eatough, Michael Ungar

Robert Allan

This study reports on the experience of shame while learning an evidencebased approach to working with couples or families. Couple and family therapists were interviewed about their experience with learning and using an evidence-based practice (EBP) and the data was analyzed using a phenomenological approach called interpretative phenomenological analysis. The theme of shame emerged from a number of research participants as part of their development with the EBP they were integrating into their practice. Starting with an exploration of the participants’ experiences and the impact of shame, the paper will then link these experiences with the psychological and sociological research …

Is It Racist? Addressing Racial Microaggressions In Counselor Training, Krista Malott, Tina Paone, Scott Schaefle, Jiabao Gao

Scott Schaefle

This article describes a series of activities for educating counselors regarding a form of racism dubbed racial microaggressions. Meaning and impact of microaggressions are examined. Activities for responding to microaggressions can be applied to clinical and school contexts, and are useful for educators in professional and university settings.

Comparing Multicultural With General Counseling Knowledge And Skill Competency For Students Who Completed Counselor Training, Jennifer Cates, Scott Schaefle, Marlowe Smaby, Cleborne Maddox, Ireon Le Beauf

Scott Schaefle

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a counselor education program in teaching multicultural counseling knowledge and skills. Standardized examination scores and rater evaluations compare multicultural with general counseling knowledge and skill competency for students who completed a counseling master's program. The relationship between multicultural knowledge and multicultural and general skills is examined. Este estudio evalúa la efectividad de un programa educativo para consejeros a la hora de enseñar conocimientos y habilidades multiculturales en consejería. Se emplean tanto resultados estandarizados de exámenes como evaluaciones docentes para comparar los conocimientos de consejeria y la competencia en habilidades de tipo general con los …

Implementing A Community Intervention To Promote Social Justice And Advocacy: Analysis Of A Town Hall Meeting On Race, Justice, And Peace, Scott Schaefle, Jennifer Cates, Krista Malott, William Conwill, Judy Daniels

Scott Schaefle

A diverse team of counselor educators used a phenomenological qualitative research method to analyze a social justice group intervention—a town hall meeting among a group of students, educators, and mental health professionals that focused on race, justice, and peace. Participants described forms of oppression in their personal and professional lives and strategies to combat them.

Perinatal Mental Health Services: A Preliminary Needs Assessment From The Consumer Perspective, Amara Zee, Jennifer Cates, Scott Schaefle

Scott Schaefle

This study is a preliminary community needs assessment of the current status of services for Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMD) including mental health assessment, prevention, and treatment services available to women in Central Washington State. Due to the prevalence rates of PMD and the negative outcomes for women, children and families, it is important that women at risk for PMD be identified and treated. This study surveyed women who gave birth between one to two years ago about their experiences with health care professionals regarding assessment, prevention, and treatment services. Barriers to care were also considered in the assessment. Results indicate …

Counseling Skills Attainment, Retention, And Transfer As Measured By The Skilled Counseling Scale, Scott Schaefle, Marlowe Smaby, Cleborne Maddox, Jennifer Cates

Scott Schaefle

The purpose of this study was to determine if counseling students acquire counseling skills and transfer those skills to their work with actual clients. Students' skills were measured by the Skilled Counseling Scale at pretest (before training), Posttest 1 (immediately after training), and Posttest 2 (at the end of a master's-degree program). Eighteen of 19 skills scores showed significant improvement from pretest to Posttest 1, and 15 of 19 skills scores showed significant improvement from pretest to Posttest 2.

Using Group Work Strategies To Continue The National Discussion On Race, Justice, And Peace, Krista Malott, Scott Schaefle, William Conwill, Jennifer Cates, Judy Daniels, Michael D'Andrea

Scott Schaefle

There is increasing empirical evidence demonstrating the negative impact of racism and other social injustices on individuals' mental and emotional health. Those findings challenge counselor educators and practitioners to address social injustices in professional training programs and communities across the country. This article illustrates a national advocacy project, whereby a group approach is applied to address social injustices. Application of the model is presented, along with a description of the specific group constructs and skills that were used in the intervention.

Addressing Clients' Experiences Of Racism: A Model For Clinical Practice, Krista Malott, Scott Schaefle

Scott Schaefle

This article synthesizes the literature relevant to coping with racism to provide a 4-stage model for addressing clients' discriminatory experiences. Major suggestions drawn from the literature include applying frameworks with a contextual lens, using broaching and eliciting skills to promote client exploration of racism and the effects of racism on persons of color, enhancing client racial and ethnic identities, and tailoring interventions to the clients' culture and preferred coping strategies.

Conceptualized Heterosexual Theory And Identity Development, Breyan Haizlip, Scott Schaefle, Danica Hays, Jennifer Cates

Scott Schaefle

Through the use of consensual qualitative research and interpretative phenomenology, the present study examined how 50 heterosexually identified counselors-trainees conceptualized their sexual identity development. The results provide support for Conceptualized Heterosexual Theory, which indicates that how heterosexual counselors conceptualize their sexual identity is related to four developmental dimensions: inherent orientation responses, pre-conceptualized heterosexuality, heterosexual identity development, and identification, directed towards 3 distinct identities: interdependent heterosexuality, independent heterosexuality, and unresolved heterosexuality. Implications for counselor education and future research are discussed.

Expanding White Racial Identity Theory: A Qualitative Investigation Of Whites Engaged In Antiracist Action, Krista Malott, Tina Paone, Scott Schaefle, Jennifer Cates, Breyan Haizlip

Scott Schaefle

This article presents outcomes of a qualitative exploration of White racial identity. Ten participants whose characteristics were reflective of Helms's (1990) autonomy status defined their racial identities and related lifestyle choices. Findings are conceptualized within the framework of Helms's (1990, 1995) theory of White racial identity development. Suggestions are intended to enhance White racial identity theory and provide empirical support for characteristics of Whites who are engaged in antiracist activities.

Symptom Patterns Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Deaf Trauma Survivors, Melissa Anderson, Amanda Sortwell, Kelly Wolf Craig, Douglas Ziedonis

Melissa L. Anderson

Details about Deaf people’s pattern of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms remain relatively unknown due to inaccessible methods used in most epidemiological research. We conducted semi-structured American Sign Language interviews with 16 trauma-exposed Deaf individuals to explore their PTSD symptom patterns. Half met criteria for current PTSD, a rate higher than the general population. Underlying this disparity may be heightened rates of dissociation and psychogenic amnesia reported by many Deaf trauma survivors. Future research with large samples of Deaf survivors is needed to clarify this hypothesis, and to inform interventions that more accurately target Deaf people’s pattern of trauma symptoms.

Sex Offending And Serious Mental Illness: Directions For Policy And Research, Andrew Harris, William Fisher, Bonita Veysey, Laura Ragusa, Arthur Lurigio

Arthur J. Lurigio

Over the past decade, two rapidly evolving areas of criminal justice practice have garnered increasing attention from policy makers, practitioners, and researchers: the management and treatment of justice involved individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, and the challenges of managing the perceived societal risk presented by sex offenders. Yet, whereas each of these issues has independently attracted significant attention, the nexus between them has remained largely unexamined. Matters of concern include the manner in which individuals with serious mental illness may be disproportionately affected by the expanding range of restrictions placed on those with sexual offense histories, the demands …

Frontal Alpha Asymmetry As A Pathway To Behavioural Withdrawal In Depression: Research Findings And Issues, Emmanuel Jesulola, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, Linda Agnew, Peter Wilson

Vicki Bitsika

Depression has been described as a process of behavioural withdrawal from overwhelming aversive stressors, and which manifests itself in the diagnostic symptomatology for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The underlying neurobiological pathways to that behavioural withdrawal are suggested to include greater activation in the right vs the left frontal lobes, described as frontal EEG asymmetry. However, despite a previous meta-analysis that provided overall support for this EEG asymmetry hypothesis, inconsistencies and several methodological confounds exist. The current review examines the literature on this issue, identifies inconsistencies in findings and discusses several key research issues that require addressing for this field to …

Brain Maruration And Poverty, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

No abstract provided.

Measuring Individual Burden Of Illness For Depression Among Prostate Cancer Patients, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Objective: This study aims to develop and test three potential models of Individual Burden of Illness for Depression (IBI-D) in prostate cancer patients. Methods: Responses to three sets of scales measuring depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and quality of life satisfaction were collected from 191 prostate cancer patients and analysed via principal components analysis to obtain weightings for each of the scales within the three sets of measures. These weightings were then used to form IBI-D Indices, and these were then compared with depressive symptoms alone for their overlap. Results: Single-factor solutions were found for each of the three IBI-D models, …

The Influence Of Gender, Age, Psychological Resilience And Family Interaction Factors Upon Anxiety And Depression In Non-Autism Spectrum Disorder Siblings Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Rebecca Mailli

Vicki Bitsika

The influence of gender, age, Psychological resilience and family interaction factors upon generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) was investigated in 75 non-autism spectrum disorder (NASD) siblings who had a brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). GAD and MDD were much more prevalent than in comparable age group samples, and adolescent females had the highest MDD rates. Several Psychological resilience skills were significantly associated with lower GAD and MDD, particularly being able to recognise mistakes in their thinking (for children) and being able to remain in control of their anger (for adolescents). Suggestions are …

The Hot Flush Beliefs And Behaviour Scale For Men (Hfbbs-Men) Undergoing Treatment For Prostate Cancer, Myra Hunter, Christopher Sharpley, Evgenia Stefanopoulou, Omar Yousaf, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Objective: Hot flushes and night sweats (HFNS) are commonly experienced by men receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective treatment for HFNS in women, but cognitions and behavioural reactions to HFNS in men are under-researched. This study describes the development of the HFNS beliefs and behaviour scale for men.

Methods: HFNS beliefs and behaviour items were generated from a qualitative study, from pilot interviews with men with prostate cancer and HFNS, and from scales used for women. 118 men with prostate cancer, aged above 18, English-speaking, who had minimum of seven …

Variability In Depressive Symptoms Of Cognitive Deficit And Cognitive Bias During The First 2 Years After Diagnosis In Australian Men With Prostate Cancer, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

The incidence and contribution to total depression of the depressive symptoms of cognitive deficit and cognitive bias in prostate cancer (PCa) patients were compared from cohorts sampled during the first 2 years after diagnosis. Survey data were collected from 394 patients with PCa, including background information, treatments, and disease status, plus total scores of depression and scores for subscales of the depressive symptoms of cognitive bias and cognitive deficit via the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. The sample was divided into eight 3-monthly time-since-diagnosis cohorts and according to depression severity. Mean scores for the depressive symptoms of cognitive deficit were significantly …

Differences In Major Depressive Disorder And Generalised Anxiety Disorder Symptomatology Between Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Hormone Therapy And Those Who Are Not, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, Addie Wootten, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the associations between hormone treatment variables and depression, and the nature of depression in prostate cancer (PCa) patients by comparing the severity and symptom profile of anxiety and depression in men who were currently receiving hormone therapy (HT) versus those who were not. Method: Self-reports of anxiety and depression on standardized scales of GAD and major depressive disorder (MDD) were collected from 156 PCa patients across two recruitment sites in Australia. Patients who were currently receiving HT were compared with patients not receiving HT for their severity and symptom profiles on …

Variation In The Profile Of Anxiety Disorders In Boys With An Asd According To Method And Source Of Assessment, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley

Vicki Bitsika

To determine any variation that might occur due to the type of assessment and source used to assess them, the prevalence of 7 anxiety disorders were investigated in a sample of 140 boys with an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 50 non-ASD (NASD) boys via the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory and the KIDSCID Clinical Interview. Boys with an ASD were significantly more anxious than their NASD peers. Data collected from the boys with an ASD themselves showed differences in the severity and diagnostic criterion of anxiety disorders to data collected from the boys’ parents. There were age-related variations to …

Consumer Hookah Consumption: Is The Hubble Bubble The New Coffee And Cocktail?, Tracy Harmon-Kizer

Tracy R. Harmon-Kizer Ph.D.

Hookah smoking is a growing practice among American teens and young adults. In a single hookah smoking session, a smoker may inhale 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled in a single cigarette. Yet, the risks and adverse consequences of hookah smoking are relatively unfamiliar to health professionals, tobacco policy regulators and consumer behavior researchers. To extend our understanding of this epidemic-like consumption practice, this study explores consumer initiation and continued practice, and the meanings, attitudes and beliefs held by those who smoke hookah, especially with respect to cigarette smoking. Our findings reveal adulterated ways in which hookah …

Evaluation Of The Redeveloped Model Of Mindmatters: First Progress Report, Robert Simons

Dr Robert Simons

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Redeveloped Model Of Mindmatters: Second Progress Report, Robert Simons

Dr Robert Simons

No abstract provided.

Socio Cultural Risk Factors And Suicide Prevention, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

Society at large, particularly in the developing countries has been undergoing rapid socio-economic changes. There are newer risk factors for mental disorders playing a crucial role in pathogenesis e.g. economic transition and social inequalities. Students suicide and farmers’s have been of particular concern.Newer challenges need befitting responses, which are seldom sufficiently available in any society. Most conspicuous barrier to identify and treat mental disorders is human resources, which is not only dismal but also unequally distributed amongst different geographical and social strata of society. Globalization has changed the agenda for mental health. It’s now demonstrated that people immigrate, they share …

Honorable Mention: 27th Annual No Big Heads Exhibition, Adam Prus

Adam J Prus

This up-to-date new text provides an introductory overview of the nervous system actions and behavioral effects of the major classes of psychoactive drugs. Appropriate for undergraduate students who have an introductory level background in psychology or other areas within the social sciences, AN INTRODUCTION TO DRUGS AND THE NEUROSCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR illustrates concepts and highlights research techniques. The book's most important feature is its pedagogical elements, which are not found in other psychopharmacology texts, but are particularly important for making this specialized topic approachable for undergraduates. Charts and diagrams illustrate basic concepts and processes important for understanding the actions and …

Risk, Vulnerability And Resilience: An Epigenetic Trajectory Of Psychiatric Disorders, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

Biopsychosocial model is generally widely accepted for pathogenesis of mental disorder, recent research shows a different concept. . Social, cultural, environmental factors possibly interact in a complex way to give rise to behavioral symptoms in a particular disorder. Such factors are considered 'risk factors'. but their discrete role in causation of illness is less clear. Two main factors appear to play important role which may partially explain this process. 1. risk-vulnerability and stress diathesis model and the 2. Gene-environment interaction. Both may be operating simultaneously. Our understanding of psychosocial risk factors has been changing in recent years. Psychosocial risk can …

Increasing Tobacco Use Screening In An Emergency Department, Outpatient Family Practice And Internal Medicine Practices At An Academic Community Hospital, Judith Sabino, Suzanne Smith, Julie Dostal, Alice Dalla-Palu, Lawrence Kleinman, Mark Young, Marna Greenberg, Eric Gertner

Marna R Greenberg DO, MPH, FACEP

No abstract provided.