The psychological/mediation intervention model.

Psychological/mediation intervention (PMI), a form of single-session psychotherapy, is presented as a flexible approach suitable for use in a variety of situations involving interpersonal conflict. The dual objectives are first resolution of the immediate conflict and second, as a preventative measure, alteration of the interactional pattern that gave rise to the difficulties. PMI is contrasted with 3 types of increasingly used forms of mediation—divorce, issue-centered, and neighborhood mediation. The procedures of PMI, designed to meet the 2 objectives, are described and illustrated for each of its 6 stages: introducing the concept and methods, creating a safe atmosphere, establishing a therapeutic contract, engaging in social learning instruction, finding solutions, and evaluating the session. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rehospitalization of schizophrenics as a function of intelligence.

Reports that brighter schizophrenic Ss were less often rehospitalized 3 and 5 yrs after discharge than Ss of less than median IQ. It is concluded that the prognostic significance of IQ contributes to differences in intelligence between acute and chronic hospitalized schizophrenics and poses serious difficulties for the study of differential deficits in cognitive abilities in these groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral differences between acute and chronic schizophrenics: Course of psychosis, effects of institutionalization, or sampling biases?

Notes that scores of studies have been reported which demonstrate behavioral differences between acute and chronic schizophrenics. These data have most often been interpreted as reflecting changes in psychological functioning due to processes intrinsic to the schizophrenic disorder and/or the effects of institutionalizaton. Examination of the construct of chronicity and of the design of these studies suggests that (a) the existence of perceptual and cognitive changes during the course of schizophrenia has not been demonstrated and (b) the observed acute-chronic differences may primarily reflect sampling biases. (60 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Redispersion of indoor surface contamination: A review

The importance of surface contamination as a potential source of exposure to hazardous materials is discussed. Data from the literature concerning the resuspension of indoor surface contamination are presented. Reported procedures for quantitating surface contamination are compared. It is suggested that, despite its limitations, surface contamination monitoring may be useful in estimating potential risks from hazardous materials.     

Effects of supervision in the training of nonprofessional crisis-intervention counselors.

Evaluated 3 major models currently used by crisis intervention centers to train and supervise nonprofessional counselors. Training groups included preservice training only (PSO), preservice training and delayed supervision (PSD), and preservice training and immediate supervision (PSI). The 4 nonprofessional counselors in each group saw actual clients of a walk-in clinic and were compared on (a) pattern and timing of interventions, (b) self-evaluations of their interview performance, and (c) client evaluations of treatment received. Except for explicit empathy, the groups did not differ in frequencies of counselor statements. Across time periods, only PSI counselors' response patterns began to approximate those of experienced crisis counselors. PSI patterns began to approximate those of experienced crisis counselors. PSI counselors rated their interview performances most positively, followed by PSD and then PSO counselors. Clients reported greatest satisfaction with treatment received from PSI counselors. Findings indicate that most of the learning by nonprofessionals occurs during ongoing supervision. The practice of relying on pretraining may promote harmful outcomes for volunteers and may account for the common problem of high staff attrition. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discriminative sensory preconditioning.

Describes an experiment in which 32 male hooded rats received either 7, 14, 28, or 56 pairings of a tone with a light and an equal number of unpaired tones of a different frequency. After then pairing the light with footshock in CER training, the ability of each tone to suppress drinking was tested. The paired tone yielded significantly more suppression than the unpaired tone. Suppression was an increasing function of number of presentations for the paired tone and a decreasing function for the unpaired tone. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accuracy of interviewers, certified public accountants, and students in identifying the interests of accountants.

Developed a 57-item modified forced-choice stereotype accuracy test to determine how well 14 interviewers, 23 Certified Public Accountants (CPA) who interview, and 20 male undergraduates could identify the interests of accountants. There were no differences in accuracy between the groups, but factor analysis revealed 2 clusters, 1 of CPAs and the other containing mostly interviewers and students, which have different perceptions of accountant's interests. If selection depends on the goodness of fit to a stereotype, then members of the 2 clusters would select different applicants for the position of accountant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)