Aging, research on aging, and national policy: A conversation with Robert Butler.

Reports on an interview with R. N. Butler (August 10, 1982), who was the first director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), from 1976 to 1982. Butler speaks about the federal role on aging research in the "post-Butler" era (following his resignation from NIA), stressing the importance of behavioral science. He suggests that the National Institute of Health may support more behavioral research than the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration. Butler also expresses views on the 1981 White House Conference on Aging and the 1982 United Nations World Assembly on Aging; the national social, economic, and health policies related to a 4-generational society; nursing home training sites where health care providers can get first-hand experience with the aged; and the role of Medicaid and Medicare in meeting health care cost of the elderly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging: Psychology and the aging boomers.

I report on the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA), describing the process and results with a focus on mental health and psychology, and ending with the implications for public service psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Public sector psychology in the wake of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging.

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging provides a vantage point for discussion of important public sector topics related to aging. The article points out important implications for psychologists and other health care professionals in the area of aging. After reviewing the resolutions passed by the White House Conference, there is a focus on the geriatric workforce which notes the under supply of psychologists who provide services to older adults. The efforts of professional associations are detailed with emphasis on the American Psychological Association and its collaborative efforts with the American Bar Association. These efforts deal with providing more information for lawyers and judges who deal with the topic of diminished capacity. A case example is provided to elucidate some of the important issues. The article continues with a discussion of the needs of older Veterans, the work of the Veteran's Health Administration and the recommendations by the Geriatric and Gerontology Advisory Committee. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

M. Powell Lawton (1923-2001).

M. Powell Lawton, PhD (1923-2001), the founding editor of Psychology and Aging (1986-1991), died on January 29, 2001, of a brain tumor. Dr. Lawton's groundbreaking studies of the environmental psychology of later life and the needs of Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers, as well as his continuing interest in probing areas of health and well-being in aging, have played a major role in enhancing the quality of life of elderly people. Dr. Lawton was a strong advocate for the needs of elderly people. He was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1971, a member of the National Technical Committee on Housing, and chair in 1996 of APA's Ad Hoc Committee on Issues of the Older Adult. In addition to his scholarly achievements, Dr. Lawton was a wonderful mentor and friend to many in gerontology. He was truly a giant and will be missed greatly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children and youth services: A vanishing species.

Explores the role of psychology in the development of public policy and programs for children and youth services in the US. An examination of the proposed funding cuts and implications of the Reagan policies on these programs for fiscal year 1983 is made, using Public Law 94-142, Head Start, child mental health, clinical training, prevention, adoption assistance, runaway children, and the White House Conference on Children and Youth as examples. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest 1986: Stanley Sue.

Stanley Sue, one of the 1986 recipients of the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest, is recognized for "his energetic, enthusiastic and pioneering contributions to the human welfare of diverse ethnic and cultural groups during his distinguished professional career. An internationally recognized scholar of Asian-American personality and mental health, Stanley Sue has advanced our understanding of cultural diversity as a model for cooperation, mutual respect and collective advancement through his leadership, diplomacy and dedication, His books, chapters, and articles offer brilliant, thought-provoking analyses of the obstacles to cooperative race relations produced by value conflicts, and chart a course for effective system change to ameliorate these problems. He has served his own ethnic group as founder of the Asian American Psychological Association, the concerns of all ethnic minorities as a consultant to the National Institute of Mental Health, and the needs of underserved communities through his active lecture and workshop activities. He has influenced his profession as an elected officer of three APA divisions and as a valued member of the APA governance system. In every respect, Dr. Sue's total commitment to 'promoting human welfare' for all, embodies the ideals of this Association with good humor, sincerity, leadership, and unfailing dedication." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Women's utilization of outpatient psychiatric services: Some emerging priorities for rehabilitation psychologists.

Provides a brief profile of women's utilization of outpatient psychiatric services, based on a 1975 survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, and focusing on population characteristics that have special implications for rehabilitation psychologists, including race, age, marital status, diagnosis, and type of treatment. Findings reveal that more than 60% of adult admissions (aged 18–64 yrs) were female. Black females had the highest admission rate, followed by Black males, White females, and White males. Most female admissions 14 yrs or older, both Black and White, were married, and depression was the leading diagnosis, suggesting that developing effective rehabilitation strategies for women will require special attention to the causes and consequences of depression. Results also indicate that minorities were less likely than Whites to receive individual psychotherapy, and more than 40% of clients diagnosed as having a depressive disorder received drug therapy. Sources of information on mental health of women and minorities are identified, including reviews of the literature, journals, and research centers that deal specifically with the mental health needs of special populations. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Splenectomy in childhood. The laparoscopic approach

Although the fact that, in general, the US population is living longer is said to be the public health success story of the 20th century, the boom in the population aged 65 years and older is having and will continue to have major implications for all age groups as well as for the nation's health, social, and economic institutions. The concept of productive aging can provide guidance in addressing these implications. The assumptions of productive aging reflect today's reality that older people are repositories of wisdom and experience and important assets for society; relatively healthy, with the potential for maintaining that condition until late in life; capable of making economic and social contributions that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities; and in need of purposeful and meaningful roles and activities in life. A productive aging activity model emphasizes involvement in paid work, volunteerism, education, fitness and exercise, leisure and travel, advocacy and political action, and consumerism. This article discusses the concept of productive aging, a related activity model, and qualitative focus group research undertaken in conjunction with the 1995 White House Conference on Aging.     

Hulda Rees Flynn (1910-2000).

An American Psychological Association (APA) member since 1935, Hulda Flynn died on November 24, 2000. Flynn received her bachelor's (1931) and master's (1933) degrees in psychology from Smith College and her doctorate from Columbia University (1943). During her career, she taught at Smith and Mount Holyoke Colleges, at George Washington University, and at Yale University. She was one of the pioneers of the community mental health movement, having served first in the planning of and then as a staff member at the Connecticut Mental Health Center operated jointly by the state and Yale University. Flynn was a research associate in Yale's Department of Psychiatry and an assistant professor for the last five years of her career. Flynn's life and and further career contributions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Outcome evaluation: Deja vu all over again.

The current interest in and call for use of outcome evaluation data are not new in the mental health field. This paper identifies barriers that have served to temper the outcome evaluation movement in the past. Barriers identified and discussed include economic, technical, scientific, and organizational issues. For the consultant assisting mental health organizations establish outcome evaluation processes, several aspects to consider in developing a productive consulting relationship are offered. These include entry and movement in the mental health system; qualities of the mental health consultant most likely to be congruent with the values of mental health administrators; roles the consultant might play; and potential targets for the consultant's interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Association of hypersensitivity and carriage of dermatophytes in clinically normal sites in patients with Tinea cruris

In April 1993, Governor Miller signed House Bill (HB) 100, intended to reform Georgia's mental health system. This legislation called for, among other things, the creation of Regional and Community Service Boards designed to empower consumers and families served by the mental health system. This report reviews the rationale behind HB 100 and progress made toward implementing the legislation. Several problems are discussed which may severely impede actual reform, including the system fragmentation created by the new Regional Board system. A proposal is made to further improve Georgia's mental health system by creating a separate Department of Mental Health governed by a Board having significant consumer and family membership, reducing the number of Regional Boards, and developing a system of performance measures to monitor the progress of reform and to improve accountability.     

Active and passive smoking: hazards for children

In 1995 the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health commissioned a major review of all specialist mental health training. The current, largely uni-disciplinary approach to training was felt to be failing to equip professionals with the necessary skills for today's multi-disciplinary, integrated, community-based service, where users and their carers expect an equal partnership and sharing of information. Kevin Gournay and Susannah Strong outline the findings and recommendations of the review, and its implications for mental health nurse education, which make a case for its separation from the rest of the nursing profession.     

Psychodynamic research perspectices on development, psychopathology, and treatment in later life.

Reports on a meeting held at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). At this meeting, over 700 psychoanalysts and other mental health professionals and investigators gathered to consider research on the interplay of personality, biology, and society in shaping adaptation to aging. The convening of this meeting, co-sponsored by the Center for Studies of the Mental Health of the Aging and the Psychosocial Treatments Research Branch, marked the first time that NIMH had sponsored a conference in which the clinical and theoretical contributions of psychoanalysis to the study of normal and pathological development had been so explicitly recognized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Panel IV: Risk-taking and abusive behaviors among ethnic minorities.

The health status and health outcomes of many ethnic minorities have remained poor, or have deteriorated, despite massive health promotion campaigns. Multiple factors that encourage ethnic minorities to engage in high-risk behaviors and those that discourage health promotive behaviors must be closely examined before any health interventions are likely to be successful in decreasing substance abuse. high-risk sex, accidental deaths and injuries, and violence. Cultural and contextual factors may put some ethnic minorities in jeopardy and at higher risk for poorer health than their White counterparts (B. W. K. Yee, 1995, in press). This review article identifies contributing factors in high-risk behaviors and highlights research gaps for Americans of African. Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic descent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

National Training Conference in Community Psychology.

This article describes the National Training Conference in Community Psychology, which marked the culmination of several years of planning, starting in 1970, by the Executive Committee of the Division of Community Psychology (APA Division 27). The Conference was held in Austin, Texas, April 27-May 1, 1975, and was sponsored by the Community Psychology Training Program of the University of Texas at Austin Department of Psychology. The Conference served to bring together for informal meetings and discussions the older and newer community psychologists, especially those who had entered the field during the last 5 years, to critically assess the many problems facing community psychology and to examine community psychology's conceptual independence from both clinical psychology and community mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on recruiting and retaining minorities in psychotherapy research

This article introduces a special section devoted to the issue of recruiting and retaining ethnic minorities in psychotherapy research. Although minorities make up approximately 27% of the population of the United States (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1994), the major psychotherapy studies conducted to date have been based almost exclusively on White populations. In March 1994, however, a new policy of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mandated that women and members of ethnic minority groups be included in all NIH-funded projects involving human participants, unless a clear and compelling rationale justifies their exclusion. Knowledge about effective and culturally sensitive means of contacting, recruiting, and retaining minorities is an important resource for researchers who now wish to conduct NIH-funded studies. In the series of articles constituting this special section, strategies and advice are provided for researchers who want to recruit and retain minorities in psychotherapy research.     

Contemporary approaches to pharmacotherapy in Tourette''s syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Considerable research on minority health has examined whether members of a minority group experience more rapid health declines than the White majority when both groups reach later life. Researchers have sought to determine if being both old and a member of a minority creates a double disadvantage to health. The primary purpose of this research is to test the double jeopardy to health hypothesis among Black and White Americans using data from a 15-year panel study of adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I: Epidemiological Follow-up Study (NHEFS). African Americans have poorer health at all three times on a variety of health status measures, but no evidence for double jeopardy was uncovered. There were important racial differences for change in health status but Black Americans of all ages -- including Black older adults -- suffered from growing disability and more negative ratings of health. Black adults are more likely to develop serious illness, and their ratings of health decline more rapidly than is the case for White respondents. While there is little support for the double jeopardy hypothesis as originally stated, there is overwhelming evidence to show that the health of Black Americans of all ages declines at a faster rate. The formulation of the double jeopardy hypothesis is critiqued on several points: ontogenetic fallacy, attribution of discrimination, and selective mortality.     

Dale B. Harris (1914-2007).

During his long career, Dale B. Harris was at various times a teacher, author, editor, researcher, high school principal, organizational leader, department administrator, and government advisor. He is probably best known for his research on children's drawings, specifically, his extension of the work by Florence Goodenough that resulted in the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Person Test. Harris was a participant in the famed Thayer Conference (1954) on school psychology. He was a delegate to the White House Conferences on Children and Youth in 1950 and 1960 and was active in several professional organizations, including the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). He served as president of Division 7 (Developmental Psychology) of the American Psychological Association in 1956. He was also active in community organizations, both in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Joseph B. Margolin (1921-2006).

Presents an obituary for Joseph B. Margolin. In the 1940s, Margolin was in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. During that period, he was stationed at an Army hospital in California, and it was there that he developed an interest in clinical psychology. After being discharged, he returned to New York, where he received his doctorate in clinical and social psychology from New York University in 1954. He was always interested in combining his clinical activities with professional and political involvement, and held several positions including president of the District of Columbia Psychological Association, chair of the Maryland Board of Examiners for Psychologists, and staff member of the 1960 White House Conference on Children and Youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health care, Medicare, and health policy for older people: A conversation with Arthur Flemming.

Fleming, former secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and former US Commissioner on Aging, addresses (a) national health policy and how it might be more supportive of mental and general health needs of older people; (b) the need for changes to the Medicare program, such as enabling psychologists to provide mental health services to the elderly; (c) the need for a national health insurance other than Medicare; and (d) the importance of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)