A word for psychologists.

Suggests that "psycho-logistics," a term coined by the author for group work with disabled, institutionalized veterans, is an appropriate term for most activities of professional psychologists. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehabilitation of the institutionalized mentally retarded.

"In order to determine the present status of psychology in state institutions, a questionnaire was sent to 101 institutions in the United States and Canada… . Replies were received from 72% of the total sent. Thirteen reported that they have no psychologists… . The 72 institutions which replied have 109,010 patients served by 143 full-time and 14 part-time psychologists—approximately 725 patients per psychologist." In general, the functions of psychologists in these institutions are very similar. The "role of the department of psychology, as with other services in an institution, should not be as an autonomous unit with separate function, but as an integral part of a patient-centered team." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to Dr. Rotgers' Letter.

Replies to the letter by Rotgers (see record 2005-09346-005) on the current author's original article (see record 1981-11085-001). Dr. Rotgers' letter is valuable, since it provides an excellent example of the fact that practice does not always conform to the "black letter" of the law. The current author is pleased to learn that New Jersey legislated their custom, for to rely on custom alone for the recognition of professional psychology is dangerous indeed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethical standards and divided loyalties.

A final questionnaire of 22 incidents was constructed. "Each incident was so designed as to present a conflict between the best interests of the client and society, with the psychologist having made a decision in each whether to reveal to a third party any part or all of the information revealed to him by his client." Responses were in terms of 4-point client-society loyalty scale. 73.6% usable returns (of 501 questionnaires to Associates and Fellows in Divisions 12, 14, and 17) were analyzed. Applied psychologists "differ in their divided loyalty percepts according to certain reference group memberships… . While there were individuals at the extremes of both tails of the distribution, some indicating retention, some release of information, the bulk of psychologists adopted some compromise position… . There should not be any dichotomous viewing of divided loyalty situations as right or wrong, nor even judgments on a continuum of rightness or wrongness." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors contributing to breaking confidentiality with adolescent clients: A survey of pediatric psychologists.

A common ethical dilemma experienced by professional psychologists involves deciding whether to break confidentiality with risk-taking adolescent clients. However, our understanding of the factors that contribute to this decision-making process is limited. The present study surveyed 200 pediatric psychologists (resulting in 74 usable surveys) and identified several items that are perceived to be important to clinicians when they consider the decision to break confidentiality in order to report potentially dangerous behaviors to the parents of adolescent clients. The present study also used exploratory factor analysis to identify 2 underlying factors--Negative Nature of the Behavior and Maintaining the Therapeutic Process--as crucial to the decision-making process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response to Grzesiak on rehabilitation psychology.

It was with some chagrin that we read Grzesiak's "Psychology Services in Rehabilitation Medicine: Clinical Aspects of Rehabilitation Psychology" in the August 1979 issue of Professional Psychology (see record 1980-33168-001). In his article, Dr. Grzesiak focuses basically on in-hospital coping and adjustment to disability--hardly a reflection of the holistic approach he mentions. Further, although he correctly points out that psychological tests should be applied on an individual basis and that results should be carefully interpreted, he might have included a discussion of the measurement and evaluative tools that have been developed and utilized in the rehabilitation counseling field. Dr. Grzesiak's relegation of rehabilitation counseling to technician status serves as a further example of his narrow perspective. It is disturbing that such a narrow view as Grzesiak's should be presented in a special issue devoted to the psychologist's role in health care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Testing in State Hospitals: Reply.

Replies to a comment made by James E. Woods (see record 2005-11050-002) regarding an original comment made by the author on the issue of testing in state hospitals. The author states that he agrees with Woods on many of the issues he presented in his comment and feels that he did not make his position clear or that Woods failed to detect his views. In summary, Hauck believes the evidence against the use of tests is not so convincing that testing should be foregone; and, until something better comes along, it is foolish to discard it, imperfections and all. He realizes his survey took for granted that such evidence does not exist and because tests remain there must be a firmer policy regarding their assumptions and how these assumptions are handled administratively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the etiology and effective management of professional distress and impairment among psychologists.

Both the psychologist and the consumer suffer when the professional's distress or impairment is inadequately managed. Although psychologists have significant rates of distress and impairment, numerous personal and occupational factors may decrease the likelihood that they will seek assistance when in trouble. Policies regarding the distressed or impaired psychologist, as enacted, are neither consistent nor comprehensive, and they may exacerbate risk to consumers and psychologists alike. Current oversight approaches to the impaired professional tend to emphasize code enforcement more than prevention and education. Recommendations to improve our effectiveness for both the consumer and the psychologist are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"The citation of Soviet scholars by Western psychologists": Reply to Bierschenk.

Reply's to a comment by Bernhard Bierschenk (see record 2009-09661-001) on the current authors original comment in the November 1985 issue of the American Psychologist. Bierschenk has objected to the current author's reference to Marx, Engels, and Zeigarnik as "Soviet scholars." In the case of Marx and Engels, he is absolutely correct—they are not "Soviet scholars" in the literal, geographic sense—and Solo thanks him for his response. However, Solo is defending his labeling of Zeigarnik as a "Soviet scholar." Even though she was an early member of the "Bediner Schule," studied with Lewin, and published some early works in the German Inn mmm% she spent most of her professional life at Moscow State University and other Russian institutions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On missing the point: A reply to Jaques et al.

Replies to comments by Jaques et al (see record 2005-09346-002) on the author's original article (see record 1980-33168-001). I daresay that virtually every author who must respond to criticism thinks that the critical reader missed the point. In this case, I must join the legion of misunderstood authors. The article is entitled, "Psychological Services in Rehabilitation Medicine: Clinical Aspects of Rehabilitation Psychology." I attempted a very brief overview of the roles and functions of rehabilitation psychologists, not rehabilitation counselors. Somebody missed the point! Further, as I stated both in the abstract and in the summary, I was focusing on traditional clinical and counseling applications. I am a psychologist, and I wrote this particular article for an audience of professional psychologists to try to introduce some of the issues involved in psychological practice in this particular setting. I think that I accomplished that rather straightforward goal, and I hope that some of the readers will now consider rehabilitation psychology as an area of specialization that does utilize the skills learned in traditional clinical and counseling psychology doctoral programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists: The Backbone of the VA Health Care System.

Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are presenting in large numbers with serious mental health needs. Chairman Akaka addresses this concern and the role of the Department of Veterans Affairs in caring for those in need of mental health services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Levels of training to address religion in clincal practice.

Psychologists routinely work with clients who hold religious beliefs and values, yet there is often the question of whether psychologists are trained and competent to address religion as an aspect of diversity. How do training programs prepare psychologists to address this specific diversity issue? Do training programs equip psychologists to work effectively with religious clients? It is useful for psychologists to consider a 3-tier training system in religion and religious diversity that reflects a commitment to seeing religion as a meaningful expression of diversity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A survey of clinical psychologists on treating lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients.

Should the average psychologist receive specific training on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) concerns? On the basis of a random sample of practicing psychologists, LGB clients are present in most caseloads. Respondents rated the most important therapeutic issues with LGB clients and identified training that would improve their work with LGB clients (including the topics of coming out, estrangement from family, support system development, and internalized homophobia). In addition, participants reported on the types of training that they are getting (most frequently reading articles, supervision, and continuing education). The implications for training programs and private practitioners are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recommendations about the knowledge and skills required of psychologists working with older adults.

This article is an initial attempt to furnish recommendations for the skills and knowledge psychologists need to work competently with older adults. We use two levels of competence across seven broad areas that are most relevant for professional practice. The fast competence level is that required of general psychologists who provide some professional services to older adults; the second level is that needed by more specialized experts in the field for practice and training. This article is not fashioned as a "how to" document and is not intended to disenfranchise anyone. Recommendations are proposed that delineate the types of competence needed for specific geropsychology activities that are relevant to a variety of settings providing mental health services to older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The management of sexualized transference and countertransference with older adult patients: Implications for practice.

For a variety of reasons, psychologists are beginning to see an increasing number of older adults in their practice. However, the sexualized transference and countertransference sometimes encountered with older adult patients can foster therapeutic impasse and resistance in treatment among both novice and experienced therapists. Societal taboos and therapy within the context of institutional settings (e.g., nursing homes) can make the management of these dynamics particularly challenging. Although difficult to broach, an analysis of sexualized dynamics can provide valuable information regarding an elderly patient's sense of intrinsic value, beliefs about power and agency, and difficulties with or desires for emotional intimacy. Case examples and implications for practice are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender-sensitive recommendations for assessment and treatment of depression in men.

Psychologists increasingly recognize depression as a serious, albeit often undiagnosed, condition in men. In fact, undiagnosed and untreated depression in men may be one reason why many more men than women commit suicide. However, because of cultural conditioning that discourages expression of depressed mood in men, assessment as well as treatment of depression in men are sometimes difficult. Use of gender-sensitive assessment strategies and interventions will assure that more men will be identified and treated for depression. This article integrates scientific findings related to depression in men with specific gender-sensitive assessment and psychotherapeutic intervention strategies designed to enhance psychologists' skills in working with this significant problem in men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Addressing Religion in Clinical Supervision: A Model.

Despite the increased interest in and acceptance of religion by many psychologists and the American Psychological Association, it still appears that very few supervisees receive the proper training and supervision necessary to competently address religion in therapy. The authors identify supervisor actions that promote supervisee competence in this area by using 8 domains from C. D. Stoltenberg and U. Delworth's (1987) integrative developmental model as a template. A set of conceptual guidelines for developing supervisee competence in regard to working with religious clients and issues is presented along with examples of supervisor or therapist actions for each domain (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Productivity of American Psychologists Born Prior to 1879.

Author comments on the article by Wayne Dennis on the Productivity of American Psychologists in the American Psychologist (May, 1954), reveals the names of the 16 psychologists, born prior to 1879, who occupy the top decile of productivity based on the biblographies contained in Carl Murchison's Psychological Register, III, 1932, and who contributed 47 per cent of the total output. He lists the psychologists and tabulates the total number of publications for each. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)