Psychology and mental retardation.

The history of mental retardation as a focus within our discipline reflects a long, tortuous, and mostly honorable involvement with conceptions of intelligence and handicap and with parables of ethical treatment. The articles in this special section sum up past progress, assess current conceptions and controversies, and challenge the science and practice of psychology in this demanding field of human concern. An essential message of all of the articles in this special section should be discernible as a common theme: The study of mental retardation is part and parcel of the mainstream of American psychology. Concerns about the nature of intelligence and its determinants, for example, are equally the concerns of those who deal with normal or even advanced children and adults. Findings about the impact of living conditions on the functioning of retarded individuals have implications for all of us. Psychologists and other scientists with diverse points of view will find much of relevance to their own work in this forum. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On "Psychology and mental retardation" position statement.

Comments on a statement that appeared in the March 1970 American Psychologist article entitled "Psychology and Mental Retardation" (Anonymous; see record 1970-15620-001). Part of the present commentary reads as follows: "I am not in agreement with the statement that educational psychological personnel are likely to provide the "most productive approaches" in dealing with the problems of mental retardation. This position simply places educational psychology in the same untenable bind that other disciplines, including medicine, psychiatry, education, and sociology, have achieved in the past when they claimed exclusive domain to serving the mentally retarded. Educational psychology should be devoting its efforts to working together with other disciplines rather than to making exaggerated claims of its superiority." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and the mental health movement.

The following points are elaborated: "1. Among many other things, mental health is a vast social movement which, for better or for worse, will carry us all along with it. 2. Psychologists, for a number of reasons, have not been enthusiastic participators in this social movement. 3. Psychologists have a great deal to contribute to the mental health movement, and they can contribute mightily without loss of identity." Mental health as a social movement seems due to three factors: (a) The tendency to conceive human behavior in naturalistic terms. (b) The American belief in the almost infinite improvability of almost anything. (c) The rising level of aspiration for health and well-being. The scientific humility of the psychologist "can become maladaptive diffidence, and diffidence sometimes becomes irresponsibility." 6 suggestions for dealing with diffidence are indicated. The psychologists perceptions of mental health, the orientation of the movement toward the "pathological," and the focus on the clinical may have discouraged the interests of psychologists in mental health. The unique contribution of the psychologist to mental health is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental illness and mental retardation: Message from the President of the United States relative to mental illness and mental retardation.

2 health problems of critical size and tragic impact are mental illness and mental retardation. "There are now about 800,000 such patients in this Nation's institutions—600,000 for mental illness and over 200,000 for mental retardation." A 3-fold attack is proposed: (a) Ascertain causes and eradicate them. (b) Strengthen underlying resources of knowledge and of skilled manpower. (c) Strengthen and improve facilities serving the mentally ill and mentally retarded. A national program for mental health is proposed which emphasizes comprehensive community mental health centers, improved care in state mental institutions, and expansion of research activities and increase in professional manpower. A national program to combat mental retardation emphasizing prevention, community services, and research is also proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statement on mental illness and mental retardation.

The statement made on behalf of the American Psychological Association is in support of Senate Bills 755 and 756 developed by Congress in response to President Kennedy's message on mental illness and mental retardation. "The psychologist is vitually concerned with the problems of mental disorders and of mental retardation. He is especially interested in research, and in the provision of services to people through the organized agencies of society, such as the public schools, community mental health centers, hospitals, institutions for the retarded, and rehabilitation agencies of many kinds." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to special section: Mental retardation and mental illness.

Historically, the perceived relation between mental illness and mental retardation has undergone substantial changes. During the past 2 centuries, clinical observations and systematic research addressing these 2 constructs have developed along separate lines. Consequently, the pathogenesis and treatment of psychopathology, emotional disorders, and behavior problems experienced by individuals with mental retardation have not been the purview of mainstream clinical psychology. This article initiates a special section on mental retardation and mental illness to provide up-to-date summaries of various key clinical and research issues regarding this population (i.e., individuals with "dual diagnoses"). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing mental retardation in death penalty cases: Critical issues for psychology and psychological practice.

In 2002, the United States Supreme Court decided the Atkins case, which held that mentally retarded defendants could not be executed. The opinion gave no guidance on the definition of mental retardation, preferring to leave to individual states the task of determining not only the definition of mental retardation but also the assessment procedures to be used in making the diagnosis. This lack of guidance has resulted in many issues, including varying definitions of what constitutes mental retardation across states, use of different assessment procedures to make the determination that a person has mental retardation, and numerous psychometric concerns regarding the provision of psychological assessment services to the courts in capital cases that involve a defendant who may have mental retardation. This article examines these latter issues in detail from both psychological and legal perspectives and makes recommendations for practicing psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detection of malingered mental retardation.

In a cross-validation of results from L. O. Graue et al. (2007), standard psychological assessment instruments, as well as tests of neurocognitive and psychiatric feigning, were administered under standard instructions to 24 participants diagnosed with mild mental retardation (MR) and 10 demographically matched community volunteers (CVH). A 2nd group of 25 community volunteers was instructed to malinger MR (CVM) during testing. CVM participants obtained Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (3rd ed.; D. Wechsler, 1997) Full Scale Intelligence Quotient scores that were significantly lower than the demographically similar CVH group but comparable to the MR group, suggesting that CVM subjects feigned cognitive impairment. On the basis of standard cutting scores from test manuals or published articles, of the 11 feigning measures administered, only the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM; T. N. Tombaugh, 1996) retention trial had a specificity rate >.90 in the MR group. However, the 2nd learning trial of the TOMM, as well as a short form of the Digit Memory Test (T. J. Guilmette, K. J. Hart, A. J. Guiliano, & B. E. Leininger, 1994), approached this level of specificity, with both at .88. These results raise concerns about the specificity rates at recommended cutting scores of commonly used feigning tests in defendants with MR. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New perspectives regarding positive mental health.

Critical comments regarding the terms "mental health" are indicated. "Needed is some rubric that at once retains the good will and enthusiastic participation of members of the mental health profession and their medical, health, and welfare colleagues, and yet effectively elicits the involvement of members of other social sciences, the humanities, education, religion, and philosophy—groups already committed to the exploration of new horizons and to guiding man toward the fulfillment of his aspirations." 4 areas of injury are noted "to illustrate some of the new perspectives for psychology in research and action regarding positive mental health or creative growth.… Greatly needed at this time are new conceptualizations that have compelling significance for all psychologist." (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)     

Psychology and mental retardation.

Presents the view that mental retardation is primarily a psychoeducational and social problem. In addition to traditional services, psychology can serve the mentally retarded in other indirect areas, e.g., new direct-care personnel training, institution management, manpower utilization in the retarded population, and help in changing the public image of the mentally retarded. It is concluded that psychology should increase its participation in education, training, and research in mental retardation, and that programs should be developed to demonstrate that psychological techniques and learning theories can be applied appropriately to the problems of the retarded person. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and psychiatry in Connecticut: Second joint meeting.

On November 18, 1965, the second annual joint meeting of the respective statewide organizations of psychologists and psychiatrists was held at the Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The meeting, an outgrowth of its predecessor, was directed to the particular impact of community mental health programs upon present and future training within our two professions. A brief summary is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in the news.

This "Psychology in the News" column reports on media coverage of psychologists and psychological issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Specialty" Licenses in Psychology.

The author discusses his concerns over the consequences of the licensing of psychologists trained in nonclinical academic specialties who present themselves to the public as licensed psychologists with the specific intention of practicing clinical psychology. Wiens and Menne (April 1981) address this issue and dismiss it by reference to a false analogy. The author states that until we face the issue of non-qualified licensed psychologists, we will be justifiably vulnerable to both consumer groups and non-psychological clinicians. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editorial: Psychology in the Public Forum.

With this issue, I am pleased to announce a new section of the American Psychologist entitled "Psychology in the Public Forum," with Patrick H. DeLeon as the associate editor for this section. Psychology in the Public Forum intends to provide psychologists with perspectives concerning the public arenas in which psychology must exist. Such a forum approach should aid our understanding of those public issues that both affect psychology and provide opportunities for psychologists to bring their expertise to bear as scientists, as practitioners, and as educators. I am very pleased to have two quite distinct articles appearing this month to inaugurate this section. Senator McGovern provides a broad-ranging view from a 20- to 30-year perspective of a number of intertwined issues that have in his view influenced the course of our society, and Mary G. Hager covers science and health in the Washington area for Newsweek magazine. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Annual Review of Psychology Vols. 5 & 6.

Reviews the fifth and sixth volumes of the book "Annual Review of Psychology," edited by Calvin P. Stone, and Quinn McNemar (1954, 1955). Where the topic itself provides the organization, as for instance in the chapters on the special senses, the factual approach works admirably, and the relevance of the data presented is established by a fairly well-articulated context. Looking back over this review it seems that too much time has been spent trying to tell a body of able and energetic psychologists how to do better what they are already doing extremely well. The Annual Review fulfills an indispensable function in the psychological world, and the 1955 volume worthily continues a short but honorable tradition. (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)     

Federal involvement in mental retardation programs: Past, present, and future directions.

Describes recent legislation on mental retardation issues. Suggestions are made for molding action into a comprehensive program in such areas as research, prevention, rehabilitation, and education. It is maintained that the most desirable ways to aid mentally retarded citizens are to increase the funding for research and training in the field; guarantee civil rights and services; and provide a comprehensive and effective service delivery system supported by a network of federal, state, local, and private agencies. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Methodological issues in interviewing and using self-report questionnaires with people with mental retardation.

In this article the authors review methodological issues that arise when interviews and self-report questionnaires are used with people with mental retardation and offer suggestions for overcoming some of the difficulties described. Examples are drawn from studies that use qualitative methodology, quantitative studies assessing different question types, and studies reporting on the development of instruments measuring psychiatric symptoms, self-concept, and quality of life. Specific problems that arise with respect to item content (e.g., quantitative judgments, generalizations), question phrasing (e.g., modifiers), response format (e.g., acquiescence, multiple-choice questions), and psychometric properties (factor structure and validity) are discussed. It is argued that because many self-report questionnaires include questions that have been found to be problematic in this population, more attention needs to be paid to establishing the validity of such measures and to clearly defining the population for which the instrument is designed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and the space frontier.

Psychology and psychologists have made important contributions "generally in the selection of astronauts, the determination of astronaut capabilities and design of the work station to match these, and the design of training equipment and methods for astronaut training… . Psychology as a science has a vital role to play in the conquest of space… . Psychologists have responded with vigor and imagination to the challenging problems of space flight… . The space flight challenge brings with it the stimulation of new ideas and opens opportunities for new types of research on human behavior… . Psychology has much to gain in the form of new knowledge, and also, in status as a science, from its participation in the push into space." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)