This clinical study describes a pilot experience of Multi-Family Treatment Groups (MFTG) as a treatment modality. The group leaders were two family therapists. Three intact families with completely different life styles, all chronically malfunctioning, and with previously unsuccessful treatment were chosen at random from the Clinic intake. The…

Discusses accepted standards of care for suicidal patients from the perspectives of the law, malpractice insurance claims, the mental health professions, and the ideal. A review of decisions of professional liability provides guidelines for what the court considers to be adequate care, suggesting an acceptance of minimal standards. (JAC)

There is little empirical research existing in the areas of natural disaster's effects on children's mental health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold. First, it examined the effectiveness of the Oklahoma State University Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (OSU-PTSD) Screening Scale after two different types of natural disasters. The…

This paper describes a study that examined the relationship between two forms of adolescent narcissism and indicators of self-worth (positive adjustment and psychopathology) in a sample of 561 adolescents. School structure, academic performance, and school participation were also examined and mental health functioning was assessed by measures of…

Changing the roles of health workers in schools is critical if children's mental health needs are to be met. School psychologists must move beyond their traditional gatekeeping roles and engage in consultation, research, program development, and in-service training to help schools in the future. It may be possible to meet both peer consultation…

This paper discusses the results of a study that investigated the effectiveness of the Fort Bragg demonstration project, a program which provided a comprehensive approach to the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services to a population of approximately 48,000 military-related children residing within the Fort Bragg catchment area.…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) for assessing the functioning of youth with mental disorders. The CAFAS is a multidimensional tool used to record the extent to which a youth's mental health disorder is disruptive of functioning in each of five psycho-social areas: role…

This study examined the rate at which juvenile courts refer youthful offenders to mental health care and organizational factors that may account for variation in treatment referral rates. The study was based on 73 juvenile courts in Tennessee. Data sources included secondary, statewide data on youth referred to the courts in 1997 and responses of…

This paper presents results of a customer satisfaction survey of Vermont elementary and secondary public schools concerning satisfaction with mental health services during the 1996-97 school year. Analysis of completed questionnaires (N=233) are interpreted from a marketing perspective. Findings are reported for: (1) treated prevalence of…

This paper presents an example of a patient treated in a school-based clinic. The counselor used traditional diagnostic perspectives to come up with a diagnosis that would be understood by the patient's Health Maintenance Organization. This diagnosis reflects traditional understanding of mental health and psychological treatment, which promotes…

Adding to prior literature on adults' and children's appraisals of stressors, this study examined relationships among children's negative cognitive errors regarding hypothetical negative divorce events, positive illusions about those same events, the actual divorce events, and children's post-divorce psychological adjustment. Subjects were 38…

School principals face personal challenges as a result of the effect their job has on their health. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the extent to which eight health concepts, developed by the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) team at the Health Institute, were prevalent within a population of school principals. A survey mailed to…

Society tends to look upon promising and highly able musicians as fortunate individuals, yet research has shown that musicians seldom are to be envied in terms of working conditions and the longtime results of their professional commitment. A majority amongst particularly orchestral musicians suffers from a wide variety of stress and…

For the past several years, mental health professionals have been asked to testify as expert witnesses in court cases involving child sexual abuse. There is much controversy within the mental health profession and law about the propriety of such expert testimony. The controversy consists of three main issues. The first issue, the conflict between…

The success of crisis intervention work with international students is highly dependent not only on the skill of the professional staff involved, but also the availability and use of other student services that may be provided to the International Student Services (ISS) Office. There are many cultural issues that must be considered when counseling…