Foreword to the special issue on program evaluation.

Introduces the special issue of Rehabilitation Psychology, which focuses on program evaluation. It is hoped that these paper will stimulate further productive work in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological information center to solve our publication problems.

It is universally accepted that originality should be the first editorial criterion for contributions to a scientific journal. This means that the article should be a real extension of knowledge or at least a significant attempt to solve some of our problems. Many items now published in the psychological journals are very far from meeting this condition. Too many articles printed today contribute little to objective knowledge. As parts of dissertations they arc useful as training aids, both conceptually and in the techniques of research. These ends are important, but such research exercises seldom yield lasting contributions. These studies usually introduce some variations in other people's experiments, and the number of such variations is limitless. Must all be published? These sorts of studies simply corroborate more basic works and add relatively insignificant details. A better way to record such material might be to gather them in a Psychological Information Center. Research projects in all branches of psychology could be registered with the Center, and all reports of work done could be gathered there. They could be recorded and evaluated; and parts that contain original contributions could be included in Psychological Abstracts. Only studies of wider importance or definite contributive value would be published in toto by regular journals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special issue on rehabilitation psychology and the law.

Introduces this Special Issue of Rehabilitation Psychology, which includes a compilation of articles that represent the most current thinking in and is an up-to-date report of the interplay between legal factors and rehabilitation psychology. The guest editor, Bruce Sales, in his overview of the issue, cogently identifies those barriers to effective rehabilitation and highlights those that are created by our legal system, at either the national, state, or local level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A survey of training in rehabilitation psychology practice in the United States and Canada: 2007.

Objective: Examine the structures, processes, and outcomes of training for rehabilitation psychology practice in the United States and Canada during 2007. Methods: Public data sources provided 947 potential training sites and programs, with 635 meeting selection criteria, from which 328 unique sites were identified. Of these, 117 sites (36%) reported providing training in rehabilitation psychology practice, and were sent a survey. Eighty percent (80%) returned the survey (n = 94). Results: There were nearly equal numbers of intern and resident training sites. Of the resident training sites, 46% had a complete rehabilitation focus, and 41% had faculty with American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology (ABRP) certification. Resident training sites ranged from 73% to 100% in meeting the Patterson and Hanson (1995) training guidelines, and ranged from 7% to 100% in formally teaching the current ABRP required competencies. Discussion: Many rehabilitation patients receive psychological services from practitioners whose professional emphasis is not in rehabilitation psychology, and many trainees involved with rehabilitation populations do not receive comprehensive training in rehabilitation psychology. There is a need for increased structure in and funding of training programs for rehabilitation psychology practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

…the other journals.

As Division 22 of the APA was created to provide a vehicle for the distribution of theoretical and empirical knowledge specific to the problems of the rehabilitating patient, this journal periodically attempts to review other psychological and medical journals to call its readers' attention to relevant material published in these sources. With the exception of a single brief report of a psychometric nature, three clusters of articles were identified from the 17 APA journals reviewed, relating to different aspects of rehabilitation psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abstracts: Selected symposia/paper/poster presentations: APA annual convention.

Presents a collection of abstracts of selected symposia, papers and posters presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA). These include symposia on rehabilitation psychologist training; culture and the rehabiltation process; the effects of physical trauma on distress and observer bias; geriatric rehabilitation; disability assessment; intervention of substance abuse after traumatic brain injury; and health care reform and pediatric rehabilitation. Paper sessions focused broadly on family issues in health and disability, and self and affect as correlates of disabling conditions; and, poster sessions addressed new directions in rehabilitation psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Rehabilitation psychology: A comprehensive textbook.

Reviews the book, Rehabilitation psychology: A comprehensive textbook by David W. Krueger (1983). In this volume, David W. Krueger has developed a new blueprint for constructing an edited volume in rehabilitation. Unique in the present design is the attempt, within a single volume of reasonable size, to cover the rehabilitation field from both a type-of-disability approach and an issue-oriented approach. To achieve this objective, the editor has recruited well-known and highly respected authors to write short chapters in their areas of expertise. In all, there are 42 chapters, which range in length between 4 and 14 pages. Each chapter is written by a different author, with the exception of two chapters written by the editor. No uniformity of style or standard outline for presentation has been followed. Instead, each chapter stands on its own. As a result, the effect is more that of a carefully selected book of readings than that of an integrated textbook. This book stands as an impressive attempt to provide the reader with a broad overview of the field of rehabilitation. As such, it serves as a fine introduction to the field of rehabilitation by providing a good sampling of the diversity of issues that surround rehabilitation and having these issues discussed by recognized experts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physician-assisted suicide. Finding common ground

In Washington state, practicing physicians have been forced to confront the emotional, complex issue of physician-assisted suicide sooner than physicians elsewhere in the US. The Washington State Medical Association has struggled at length with the issue and ultimately delineated a policy on safeguards for physician-assisted suicide. The Washington experience may prove instructive to other professional physician organizations even before the US Supreme Court rules on the issue.     

Review of Behavioral psychology in rehabilitation medicine: Clinical applications.

Reviews the book, Behavioral psychology in rehabilitation medicine: Clinical applications by Laurence P. Ince (1980). This book summarizes, illustrates, and stimulates the application of behavioral psychology to the solution of motoric, cognitive, perceptual, communicative, pain-related, and self-management problems admirably. Overall, this is a book that deserves a prominent place in the preparatory and continuing education of rehabilitation personnel in all of the psychosocial, medical, and engineering disciplines. The volume illustrates the gap that exists between already available technologies and typical programs in rehabilitation centers, programs that, in Friedlander's words, "have barely emerged from the 19th century" (p. 62). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do our psychological laws apply only to Americans?

Comments on an article by J. J. Arnett (see record 2008-14338-003) regarding the assertion that American psychology focuses too narrowly on Americans while neglecting the other 95% of the world’s population. The authors challenge Arnett's methodology in his research and question the ways in which he drew his conclusions. They claim that a major weakness of Arnett’s argumentation is that he failed to distinguish between research that tests general laws of behavior and research aimed at describing the impact of societal factors on behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social support networks: Informal helping in the human services.

Reviews the book, Social support networks: Informal helping in the human services, edited by James K. Whittaker and James Garbarino (1983). Whittaker and Garbarino have compiled an excellent compendium describing social support systems. The introductory chapters review the history and present political, economic, theoretical, and practical implications of fostering and using the resources of family, community, and self-help groups to alleviate a variety of human problems. The chapters that follow, contributed by experts in their respective fields, give a "state of the art" overview that describes how informal networks operate in mental and physical health care, services to the elderly, child welfare, day care, aid to divorced families, schools, delinquency prevention and treatment, drug abuse treatment, and treatment of those with developmental disabilities. Rehabilitation psychologists should find the book helpful. It constitutes a necessary first step for those interested in developing the area of social support networks by researching the conditions under which various types of help are indeed helpful or harmful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An Introduction to International Perspectives in Rehabilitation Psychology Research.

Objective: To provide an introduction to the special section of Rehabilitation Psychology (2004, Vol 49[1]) with an international theme. Specific Aims: Identify factors that have affected the potential of rehabilitation psychologists to consult and interact with their peers internationally, encourage continued exchange of information between rehabilitation psychologists globally by highlighting some of the work in the international community, and provide a vehicle for understanding how diverse cultures can benefit from the work of our peers to improve the lives of people with disabilities or serious illnesses. Conclusion: A total of 5 data-based articles are presented that describe studies conducted by rehabilitation psychologists in a variety of cultural settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Defining the good life following acquired physical disability.

The objective of this article is to provide empirical and theoretical perspective on what attitudes and behaviors could constitute living a good life following acquired physical disability. We define the term "the good life"; briefly examine the construct's role in philosophy, history, and positive psychology; and then suggest links to rehabilitation psychology. We review variables presumed to be both predictive of and important to living well, noting that relatively few have pronounced effects on well-being. Across time, people tend to adapt to both positive and negative events. Following the onset of disability, however, people do not necessarily return to their baseline levels of well-being. To live a good life with disability, we illustrate some choices and actions that individuals can take within three defining areas: making connections with others, developing positive traits, and enacting life regulation qualities. We conclude by suggesting how understanding the nature of the good life following disability onset can inform rehabilitation theory and therapy, and aid clients and families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive screening in geriatric rehabilitation.

Objective: To aid rehabilitation psychologists' selection of brief measures of cognition for use in geriatric rehabilitation. Design: Literature review of neuropsychological screening measures that have been used and researched in geriatric rehabilitation, along with some newer instruments that have potential efficacy. Conclusions: All of the cognitive screening measures reviewed have varying degrees of strength and weakness in a geriatric rehabilitation setting. Thus, choosing the appropriate instrument often hinges on both pragmatic (e.g., administration time, nature of the referral, availability of population-specific norms) and psychometric concerns. Although tests are valuable tools, the lack of available research for many tests must be corrected before the practicing clinician can feel comfortable using them as integral aspects of geriatric rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

From the ground up: Building a psychology of women internship track.

Where can a graduate student interested in a specialty track in the psychology of women apply for internship? Until recently, there was no American Psychological Association (APA)-approved internship site in the United States offering such an experience. In addition to the generalist training that typifies APA internships, the internship year also presents an opportunity for specialization. If internship sites are to produce psychologists well equipped to address women's unique mental health needs, then it is vital to create opportunities for trainees to specialize in the psychology of women while on internship. This article describes the development of a Psychology of Women Track as part of a predoctoral internship program, including the context of the track, the specific training experiences included in the track, and a conceptual model of psychology of women training that can be used at other internship sites. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistical Process Control and Rehabilitation Outcome: The Single-Subject Design Reconsidered.

Rehabilitation psychology embraces the scientist-practitioner model as its professional philosophy. This model's original intent was that the diagnosis and treatment of each individual case was to be regarded as a single and well-controlled experiment. Executing this ideal in rehabilitation has been problematic owing to practical, ethical, and technical concerns. Statistical process control (SPC), a robust, graphical analytic strategy developed in industry, is offered as a means to deploy single-subject designs on the front lines of rehabilitation. The history and construction of SPC control charts are presented followed by case examples relevant to rehabilitation practice (ambulation, depression, cognitive rehabilitation, agitation). SPC control charts are a time-tested, scientifically validated, and pragmatic tool to achieve and document patient outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)