Psychologists' role in the provision of mental health care for the elderly.

7,326 clinical and counseling psychologists were sent a 3-page questionnaire that requested information regarding attitudes toward, knowledge of, and practices with mature and older adults. The response rate was 19%. Results indicate that although psychologists may have some stereotyped impressions of the aged, they generally have some basic knowledge about the aging process. They are interested in learning more about this area and are interested in seeking out aged clients so that adequate care may be provided. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Symptom characteristics of counseling center and mental health service clients.

Selected university students who requested either personal counseling at the counseling center (43 males and 101 females) or psychotherapy at the mental health service (40 males and 53 females) were administered the Symptom Distress Checklist-90. This is a self-report symptom rating scale intended to assess the degree of distress associated with presenting symptoms; scores are organized along 9 symptom dimensions and 3 global indices of pathology. There was no significant difference between users of the counseling center and users of the mental health service when compared on levels of distress associated with presenting symptoms. The implications of these findings for the organization of mental health service delivery programs on a university campus are discussed. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Delivery of community mental health services to black and white clients.

Compared services rendered to 959 black and 11,904 white clients seen at 17 community mental health centers. Data included client's age, sex, income, education, marital status, diagnosis, assignment to type of treatment program, major service received, number of contacts, and assignment to type of therapist. Results indicate that the 959 blacks compared to a 10% random sample of 1,190 whites (a) represented a different group of clients in demographic characteristics, (b) were no more likely to receive inferior forms of treatment programs, (c) saw paraprofessional rather than professional personnel, and (d) failed to return after the initial contact at a high rate (i.e., over 50% terminated at this time). The latter 2 findings persisted irrespective of other demographic differences between blacks and whites. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Professional and nonprofessional mental health workers' modes of persuading clients to seek institutional services.

Used questionnaires to assess 38 professional and 31 nonprofessional mental health workers' choice of persuasive appeals to low-income clients. The following variables characterized the appeals offered to Ss: conformity, acceptance of the established order, participatory help or verbal instruction from the worker, present or future reward, and punishment. Results indicate that the professionals offer didactic help, and nonprofessionals threaten clients with punishment or stress immediate rewards. Nonprofessionals, compared to professionals, indicated that they would return more frequently to uncooperative clients. The 2 worker groups' preferences in appeals were related to their respective socioeconomic status and associated value systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists' competence to treat lesbian, gay and bisexual clients: State of the field and strategies for improvement.

Recognizing research which suggests that many practicing psychologists enter the field without training or with inadequate training in the knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to treat lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients, the authors in this Focus on Ethics provide suggestions for psychologists seeking competence with this population. In the lead article, Lyons fleshes out the contours of competent practice, presents the current state of psychologist competence, and calls for greater levels of competence. Next, Bieschke and Dendy respond by applying the Ethical Acculturation Model to describe the question of competence for those who may come from cultures not condoning of an LGB affirmative stance. Worthington provides hypotheses for the current rates of competence in the field and encourages the use of evidenced-based training and practice to increase competence. Finally, Georgemiller confirms the role of practicing psychologists who are heterosexual allies and identifies resources for gaining competence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expectancies and characteristics of outpatient clients applying for services at a community mental health facility.

Results show that clients coming to a mental health facility expected to receive advice and medicine quickly from a male therapist younger than age 50 and that this service would help them quickly broaden their interests and gain new friends. Possible service facility responses to these expectancies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists in state mental hospitals: Problems and recommendations.

Psychology as a discipline has contributed significantly to the development of new treatment methods for severe behavior problems such as those found in the chronically mentally ill. Nevertheless, there are relatively few psychologists practicing in state mental hospitals, and it is difficult to attract and retain young qualified psychologists in these settings. The current article examines some of the more common problems that psychologists face in state facilities, with specific focus on organizational, physician-related, and staff-related issues. Recommendations are provided on ways to cope with problems in these three areas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The companion program: Implementing the manpower recommendations of the joint commission on mental illness and health.

There are many barriers to successful recruitment of professional and subprofessional personnel in the mental health professions. The companion program "recruits students from… universities to serve as volunteer companions to mentally ill patients for a full academic year. Students are invited to either select or be assigned to a chronic patient who has minimal or no contact with individuals outside the hospital, and to meet with this patient for one hour on a weekly basis throughout the school year… . The goal that is stressed throughout is that the student must build a feeling of companionship between himself and the patient." The program appears to be "a very significant method for altering the attitudes of people." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Migrant mental health: A model for indicators of mental health and health care consumption.

Objective: This study explores the relationship between mental health and health care consumption among migrants in the Netherlands. Design: Samples of the Turkish (n = 648), Moroccan (n = 102), and Surinamese (n = 311) populations in Amsterdam were examined. The study tested a hypothesized model of risk factors for psychiatric morbidity, indicators of well-being, and indicators of health care consumption. The model was specified on the basis of information from earlier research on the sample and literature on the topic. The model was tested and refined using structural equation modeling. Main outcome measures: Psychiatric morbidity and well-being measures were assessed with the CIDI 1.1 and MOS-sf-36 subscales, respectively. Health care consumption was assessed by the question "Have you ever consulted one or more of these professionals or health care facilities with respect to mental health problems or problems related to alcohol or drugs usage?" Results: The primary result of this study was the confirmation that health care consumption among migrants is predicted by need and predisposition factors, such as health condition and sociodemographic characteristics. In addition, mental health care consumption of migrants is predicted by acculturation characteristics. This result suggests an effect of cultural and migrant-specific factors in help-seeking behavior and barriers to mental health care facilities. Conclusions: Findings confirm the existence of migrant-specific mechanisms in health care consumption. Mental health care professionals should be aware of these. However, ignoring common ground for interventions unnecessarily creates distance between migrant groups and between migrant and indigenous Dutch groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lesbian uses of and satisfaction with mental health services: results from Boston Lesbian Health Project

Eighteen isolates representing six Fusarium species from diverse hosts and geographical origins were evaluated to determine ribosomal DNA variation using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. No length variation was observed for amplified 18S and 28S regions. However, amplification of the ITS region showed one isolate, a F. oxysporum, to be about 120 bp larger than the remaining 17. Restriction digestions in the 18S region revealed polymorphisms within species of F. oxysporum and F. solani. An amplified variable stretch of the 28S gene showed restriction site differences between F. avenecum, F. sambucinum and F. sporotrichioides. A large degree of polymorphism was observed both between and within species in the ITS region. Therefore, entire sequences of the ITS and the 5.8S subunit were obtained for 17 of the 18 isolates. These sequences, along with those from eight additional isolates, were analysed using PAUP to assess the occurrence of DNA sequence divergence within the ITS region. The lack of correlation between molecular-based relationships and species affinities inferred from morphology for some isolates indicates that species designation can be unreliable using morphological data alone. Possible reasons for the discordance of the sequence and morphological data are discussed.     

Introduction and overview: Psychologists' use of physical interventions.

Contends that psychologists have been involved in the design and development of physical interventions (PIs), procedures, and devices that are being used by others. It is argued that licensing statutes should be revised and training programs reviewed to include the use of PIs by psychologists. It is contended that the physician lobby will be the strongest impediment to these changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lifestyle and mental health.

Mental health professionals have significantly underestimated the importance of lifestyle factors (a) as contributors to and treatments for multiple psychopathologies, (b) for fostering individual and social well-being, and (c) for preserving and optimizing cognitive function. Consequently, therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) are underutilized despite considerable evidence of their effectiveness in both clinical and normal populations. TLCs are sometimes as effective as either psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy and can offer significant therapeutic advantages. Important TLCs include exercise, nutrition and diet, time in nature, relationships, recreation, relaxation and stress management, religious or spiritual involvement, and service to others. This article reviews research on their effects and effectiveness; the principles, advantages, and challenges involved in implementing them; and the forces (economic, institutional, and professional) hindering their use. Where possible, therapeutic recommendations are distilled into easily communicable principles, because such ease of communication strongly influences whether therapists recommend and patients adopt interventions. Finally, the article explores the many implications of contemporary lifestyles and TLCs for individuals, society, and health professionals. In the 21st century, therapeutic lifestyles may need to be a central focus of mental, medical, and public health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes.

Across several decades the effects of matching clients with therapists of the same race/ethnicity have been explored using a variety of approaches. We conducted a meta-analysis of 3 variables frequently used in research on racial/ethnic matching: individuals' preferences for a therapist of their own race/ethnicity, clients' perceptions of therapists across racial/ethnic match, and therapeutic outcomes across racial/ethnic match. Across 52 studies of preferences, the average effect size (Cohen's d) was 0.63, indicating a moderately strong preference for a therapist of one's own race/ethnicity. Across 81 studies of individuals' perceptions of therapists, the average effect size was 0.32, indicating a tendency to perceive therapists of one's own race/ethnicity somewhat more positively than other therapists. Across 53 studies of client outcomes in mental health treatment, the average effect size was 0.09, indicating almost no benefit to treatment outcomes from racial/ethnic matching of clients with therapists. These 3 averaged effect sizes were characterized by substantial heterogeneity: The effects of racial/ethnic matching are highly variable. Studies involving African American participants demonstrated the highest effect sizes across all 3 types of evaluations: preferences, perceptions, and outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research definitions of mental health and mental illness.

The conceptual and methodological difficulties involved in each of the various categories of definitions of mental health outlined in this review are discussed. Suggestions for further research are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chronic illness, pain and health behaviors of community behavioral health clients.

Persons with comorbid medical disorders, along with substance use disorders and mental illness, present complex treatment needs that are seldom addressed. Chronic physical illness negatively affects treatment participation and retention, decreasing effectiveness. Studies documenting higher medical morbidity and mortality in such persons have long been available. Less is known about their health behaviors. Respondents (n = 418) at a community behavioral health center were surveyed for prevalence of illness, pain, health behaviors, and interest in lifestyle change. A total of 73% reported at least one chronic health problem, and nearly half rated their health between fair and very poor. Most reported at least one negative health indicator or behavior (e.g., smoking). Encouragingly, nearly 50% desired lifestyle changes including smoking cessation, exercise, and stress management. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social psychological correlates of mental illness and mental health.

If there is ever to be a single comprehensive theory and/or research program concerned with the etiology of mental illness, the widely diversified empirical and theoretical findings will have to be meaningfully integrated. The present paper critically reviews theories and research from the environmental-demographic level and the interpersonal level. The large number of phenotypical relationships reported have led only to vaguely formulated and speculative interpretations suggesting the need for a reformulation which will suggest genotypes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)