The psychologist and the small mental hospital.

A brief questionnaire was sent to the directors of the 82 hospitals belonging to the National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals. Replies were received from 49 or 60% of the sample of which 47 could be used for tabulation. "Only two hospitals say they do not use psychological tests; four more use them occasionally; one does not say; and the other 40, or 85% of our sample, gives an unqualified 'yes.' All those hospitals giving tests even occasionally, indicate the Rorschach as routine. All but two also list the Wechsler in this way." "Only 14 of the hospitals employ full-time psychologists. 23 more employ part-time psychologists." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychological value systems of psychologists.

A scale based on historically important psychologists and their contributions was marked by 125 Fellows of the APA. The names represented 9 a priori scales of values. Factor analysis produced 3 bipolar factors: laboratory vs. clinic, psychometric vs. verbal approach to individual, and methodological analysis vs. professional service. Value scores are given for members of the APA divisions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The state mental hospital in mid-nineteenth century America: A social analysis.

To determine the identity of a mental hospital, a case study of the development of a state hospital during its 1st 25 yr. is presented. The initial success of the hospital was due largely to the efforts of its leader who rejected supernatural interpretations of mental illness, and, while holding to a somatic pathology, accepted modifications that permitted a psychologically oriented therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Status, job satisfaction, and factors of job satisfaction of state institution and clinic psychologists.

"In this report we will compare psychologists with other mental hygiene professionals—psychologists in state schools and hospitals with psychologists in clinics." Ss were 80 psychiatrists, 80 psychologists, 80 social workers, 80 teachers, 80 nurses (40 of each group in state institutions and 40 in nonstate institutions) and, in addition, 59 upper middle class and 51 lower middle class Ss. There is "limited support for the hypothesis which states that status and job satisfaction are related." The hypothesis that "the status of state institution psychologists is lower than that of clinic psychologists, is generally substantiated." The hypothesis that "there are differences in the job satisfaction of the two groups of psychologists finds some support." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Community psychology: Impressions of the Boston conference on the education of psychologists for community mental health.

Mental health "is shifting from the amelioration of illness to preventive intervention at the community level… community psychology is more than a by-product of clinical… it depends upon and interacts with all the basic areas of psychological knowledge. Particular emphasis [is] given to the contributions of social psychology, group dynamics, and child development." The Conference recommended that "some permanent organizational medium be established… to facilitate communication among psychologists with vital interest in community psychology." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

State certification of school psychologists.

"Nine questions… were answered by the responsible departments of all 50 states and the District of Columbia." 23 states and the District of Columbia are reported as having certification requirements. General requirements stipulated by states with explicit certification standards are specified in a table. The "majority of states are certifying psychological personnel mainly to assist in the placement of children for special education… . There are encouraging signs that certification requirements are gradually being improved." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An outcome index for mental hospital patients.

"An Outcome Index for mental hospital patients is described. The index relates time out of hospital to follow-up period since first admission and weights their ratio differentially by number of readmission and releases. This index becomes relatively stable on a 2-year follow-up. It can be used as a criterion for prognostic efficiency, for efficacy of treatment, and for characterizing institutional policy." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role satisfaction of psychologists in state hospitals.

"All midwestern, state employed, institutional psychologists listed in the 1960 APA Directory (N = 131) were requested to return an anonymous questionnaire. Seventy-one persons responded from the nine states included." As years of state employment increase the actual satisfaction and abstract expectation levels both rise. Master's level psychologists "tend to respond with a somewhat greater job satisfaction than do PhD staff members… . Psychologists who reported working in institutions with a frankly organic orientation express a lesser percentage of satisfaction on the PA [Professional Activities] scale than do psychologists reporting a psychologic orientation." State employed clinical psychologists "as a group are reasonably well satisfied spending almost 80% of their time in gratifying activities." From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:3AL23M. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Psychologist in community mental health.

It is "our belief that the field of community mental health is a challenging and stimulating field for research oriented psychologists. We feel strongly that the identity of the psychologist may be best maintained through a scientist-professional model." Recommendations are made for the future training of psychologists in this field. The individual psychologist "must be assisted by adequate post-doctoral interdisciplinary training in a university setting." Major sections are: Maintenance of an Identity, Scientist and Professional, and Training the Scientist-Professional. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multiple functions for psychologists in community consultation.

"Psychologists are assuming a wider range of responsibilities in community program administration and community consultation: in mental health, corrections, education, and anti-poverty." A program for training consultants was developed in New Mexico during a 4-yr demonstration project. Selection criteria include: (1) sound graduate training including the PhD for psychologists, (2) substantial clinical skills in diagnosis and therapy, (3) experience in consultation and administration, and (4) experience in community work. A 2-mo., full-time orientation program was conducted for the consultants hired. The project stimulated development of various new resources in local communities including, among others, a day school for retarded children, a family casework agency, a day center for emotionally disturbed children, a training and consultation service to an orphanage, and an alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Responses of psychologists to complaints filed against them with a state licensing board.

Psychologists are well aware of the possibility of complaints to licensing boards by clients, interns, employees, and others. As many as 11% of psychologists may have to respond to a complaint during their careers. Data collected by a licensing board from psychologists who had complaints filed against them were analyzed. Those who were found to have committed a violation were compared with those who were found to have committed no violation. The violation group (a) reported many more sequelae, including the expenditure of more time and money and the occurrence of more medical and psychological problems and (b) perceived the process and outcome as less fair. These findings suggest that review and modification of the complaint process are needed and that psychological and professional services may be helpful during and after complaint adjudication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The mental hospital in the 21st century.

Reviews the book, The mental hospital in the 21st century by Emmanuel Persad, Shane S. Kazarian, and Llewellyn W. Joseph (1992). The authors not only review past endeavors in the delivery of mental health services but speculate as to the role the mental hospital may take in the years to come. The starting point for this book is a conference entitled "The Role of the Mental Hospital in the 21st Century" sponsored by the London Psychiatric Hospital in October 1990. The book features 20 brief chapters regrouped in three sections. In all, 29 contributors mainly from Canada, bring forth varying perspectives on the role of the mental hospital. The real contribution of this book is that it puts into perspective the magnitude of the challenge that confronts the major stakeholders in developing a comprehensive and balanced system of mental health services. The present book could serve as a starting point for some serious debate among the stakeholders about the way the mentally ill are treated and to determine how the role of the mental hospital should change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in mental retardation: Past and present.

"For purposes of 'before-and-after' comparisons, the membership Directory of the American Association on Mental Deficiency (AAMD, 1952, 1962) was examined. The tabulations show that in 1952, 26% of AAMD psychology members were qualified at the doctoral level. By 1962, 43% were so qualified." Psychologists interested in mental retardation have tended to move "away from the public institutions and clinics, and toward private and municipal services. In 1952, 18% of the psychology membership of the AAMD was engaged in some form and level of full administrative activity. By 1962 it had increased to 21%. During the past decade the memberships in the AAMD psychology division has more than doubled. Yet, in 1952, 21% of all AAMD members were listed as psychologists, whereas by 1962 only 13% were so listed." A table summarizing psychological services to mental retardation in 1952 and 1962 is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Certification, licensing, and the movement of psychologists from state to state.

"The licensing or certification of psychologists… exists to protect the consumer from dangerous or inferior commodities. As an alternative to legislation creating certifying and licensing laws, some states have established nonstatuatory certifying boards." Generally these boards are corporations. A table titled "Some Characteristics of Psychology Laws" lists 26 states and 4 Canadian provinces, the coverage of each law, education requirements, experience requirements, whether examinations are mandatory, whether there is reciprocity, and whether residence is required. A 2nd table titled "Some Characteristics of Nonstatuatory Psychology Provisions" incorporates information under the same major headings. "A study of the laws indicates that with few exceptions the doctorate is required after the initial grand fathering." 2 or more years of experience are required in the majority of states. "An overwhelming majority of statutes requires an examination. Most of the laws cover the use of the title 'Psychologist' and restrict the use of the title to those who hold themselves out to the public as psychologists and request a fee for their services." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Proposals for state department of education certification of school psychologists.

"School psychologists are dually oriented professionals who need to be well educated in both psychology and education… . The development of competencies needed by a fully qualified school psychologist requires at least the education represented by a doctoral degree or 3 years of graduate training." Suggested standards for full ceritfication and for provisional certification are outlined. The requirements for a certified psychological assistant are also specified. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More on Sex and Salary.

Comments on an article by J. N. Cates "Sex and salary," (see record 1974-11177-001), in which she noted that female psychologists earn less money than male psychologists. While the point is valid and needs to be made, the magnitude of the difference may be deceiving. Specifically, would the magnitude shown be as large if the variables of age and years of professional experience were held constant? Any data on the point? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mobility for industrial-organizational and consulting psychologists.

This article addresses an important aspect of professional mobility: the need for industrial-organizational (I/O) and other psychologists who provide consultation to businesses and who are licensed in one jurisdiction to be able to practice for a short term in another. A growing number of these psychologists have national practices. Current laws and regulations, typically designed for clinicians providing direct mental health services, make such practice difficult. The article provides an analysis of state laws and regulations dealing with short-term cross-state practice and describes the challenges confronted by I/O and consulting psychologists in working across jurisdictional lines. Recommendations for rectifying this issue are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training for substance abuse treatment among psychologists in a rural state.

Is treating substance abuse generally a part of psychological practice? Do psychologists feel prepared to deliver substance abuse treatment? Licensed psychologists in Idaho were surveyed about their training and provision of substance abuse services. Of 144 respondents (66% return rate), nearly all (89%) had contact with substance abusers, yet most rated their graduate training as inadequate preparation for practice. Rural psychologists reported seeing the highest percentage of substance abusers. Many psychologists limited their treatment to self-help group referral. Continuing education offers the most immediate solution and might be related to certification efforts. Predoctoral training of generalist psychologists, especially in rural areas, is advocated with an emphasis on integrated behavioral health care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research survey: State mental health programs.

"In preparation for the 1959 meeting of chief psychologists in state mental health programs a questionnaire on research was prepared and sent to 77 psychologists who were either functioning as chief psychologists in state programs" or in similar positions. Replies were received from 39 individuals, representing 30 states. "Evaluation of treatment was listed most frequently as an area in need of research." At least 45 different types of ongoing research projects were listed. "Three factors were emphasized as the main obstacles to research in the state programs: lack of personnel… lack of funds… emphasis on service, with subsequent lack of time for research." Psychologists were "seen as the individuals most involved in mental health research in state programs." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)