Examines the extent of adolescent drug abuse and alcoholism, psychological factors that lead to drug abuse and drinking, and treatment approaches that have been used with young people. Focuses on drug-abusing family systems and the roles of the school and the community in combatting drug abuse. (Author/GC)

Studied the use of mental health services by enrolled populations, in order to establish a model or predictor of utilization. Primary focus of utilization data has been patient characteristics; organizational variables, such as plan design and benefit packages, are also shown to affect utilization. (LAB)

The article presents research reports on the nature of creativity, including such elements as its characteristics; the function of the affective gatekeeper (which filters the "reality" perceived by each individual); the constructs of perception; and the functions of role playing, altered states of consciousness, and fantasy. (PHR)

Examines assessment, intervention, and follow-up phases of treatment process with lifestyle criminals. Recognizes that every therapeutic relationship is unique and should take into account individual characteristics of therapist, criminal, and environment. Subdivides assessment and intervention phases to reflect importance of lifestyle analysis,…

The power of the symbol "Sephardic" to foster community association is extremely problematical in the Washington, D.C., context. Washington's Sephardic population is heterogeneous with respect to generation, self-definition, and culture. Complicating the situation is the nature of Washington itself, which in turn is inextricably linked…

Notes that family therapists may focus on systematic aspects of problems, inadvertently neglecting children's individual issues. Presents ways in which family therapists make use of a psychodynamic understanding of the child's issues while continuing to employ brief, action-oriented intervention strategies. Crucial to the approach described is the…

The National Research Council's survey of earned doctorates found a continuing decline in the proportion of Ph.D.'s earned by U.S. citizens. Among Blacks, more than half of the doctorates were in education-related fields. Cornell University and MIT have started recruitment efforts to encourage minority groups. (MLW)

Defines and discusses characteristics of economically insecure individuals and families and provides estimates of the numbers of individuals and families affected by economic insecurity. Recommends that social workers be more cognizant of economic insecurity and its effects on clients. (Author/NB)

Discusses various attributes of and factors related to creative problem solving. These include sensitivity to problems, fluency, flexibility, originality, curiosity, feelings and the unconscious, motivation, freedom from fear of failure, persistence, and concentration. (JN)

Recently endorsed definitions of learning disabilities presume that the disability is due to central nervous system dysfunction. To identify those children who should receive a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, an effective approach to neuropsychological screening is needed. Provides a rationale and conceptual framework for development…

This attempt to provide a low-cost technique of assigning nonarbitrary weights to client characteristics uses a multiple regression model to predict high-risk clients. Presents statistical results and a sample case. (Author)

Economic factors serve to control the degree to which individual and work-related factors can explain variation in turnover. Individual and work-related variables will be more predictive of turnover under prosperous economic conditions than when the economy is strained. (Author)

Critically reviews characteristics thought to be associated with "difficult clients" in light of research findings emerging from psychiatric and psychological literature pertaining to Borderline Personality Disorder. Reviews recent developments for brief treatment strategies and describes development of short-term interpersonal therapy…

Traces John R. P. French, Jr.'s contribution to the development of person-environment (PE) fit theory. The text examines recent extensions of PE fit theory, including the introduction of response surfaces to examine the homogeneity of effects of PE fit on indicators of mental health across all levels of person or of environment. (GLR)

This article discusses Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS), a disability in which the individual has visual hallucinations that are complex, persistent, or repetitive, retains full or partial insight into the unreality of the hallucinations, does not have hallucinations in other modalities, and does not have delusional ideation. (Contains 12…