An exploratory study investigated the success of a small group behavior change program in eliminating self-defeating behavior (SDB) in outpatients with chronic mental illness. Four of the six subjects were outpatients at the local mental health center but were currently not exhibiting psychotic behavior. The remaining two subjects were student…

This paper is a clinical discussion of post-traumatic stress disorder and violence, particularly as it applies to the Vietnam Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. In the first section, the syndrome is described as the sudden onset of explosive rage and unprovoked violence with little or no warning, accompanied by a drastic change in personality. It is…

The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, emphasizes the need for schools to recognize and understand the impact of culture on student academic and social success. Classroom based assessment and evaluation strategies for use with culturally diverse, behaviorally disordered students are reviewed and discussed. An…

Since 1955, deinstitutionalization has brought 1.5 million chronic mental patients back into the community. Studies have shown that perception and citizen support of this population vary greatly. To investigate responses to encounters with chronic mental patients in public settings, 160 college students responded to vignettes manipulated for four…

The Florida Mental Health Institute and the Department of Special Education, both at the University of South Florida, have created a practicum program for teacher trainees in behavior disorders. The program was designed as an intensive, sequenced approach for training in basic academic and behavioral skills related to successful teaching…

This report describes the activities and outcomes of a pioneering Telehealth project in which clinical psychologists use state of the art satellite technology to consult with paraprofessionals who live and provide treatment settings to persons with the dual diagnosis of developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. The goal is to provide early…

This paper describes the Pressley Ridge Day School (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) for emotionally disturbed/behavior disordered children and youth between the ages of 6 and 21. The physical plant, staff, programs, curriculum, and student eligibility and population are briefly described. Using the philosophy and Re-Education Model developed by Nicholas…

This study analyzed the association between resilience and violence as rated by teachers and parents of exceptional students (N=613) from large urban, public schools in Ohio. Multiple types of exceptionalities were represented and a high proportion of the diversity came from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Resilience predictor variables were…

Many gifted and talented children are often misdiagnosed by psychologists and other health professionals as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Disorder (OD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or another of the mood disorders. The misdiagnosis can stem from mistaken assumptions being made about the social and…

This paper presents results of an evaluation study of the Fostering Individualized Assistance Program (FIAP), an effort to provide individualized wraparound supports and services to foster children with emotional/behavioral disturbances and their families (foster, biological, and/or adoptive). The program aims to stabilize child placement and…

This paper describes the development of the Behavioral and Emotional Strengths Scale (BESS), developed as part of a program which focuses on strengths of children usually seen as having severe emotional and/or behavioral disorders. The BESS is a 68-item scale that identifies children's behavioral strengths on five dimensions: (1) self-control; (2)…

This conference paper discusses the results of a study that investigated how the clients of the Chicago-based Satellite Family Outreach program are served by the social workers and family workers of Satellite. The Satellite Program is offered by Kaleidoscope, Inc., a child welfare agency that provides unconditional, individualized and, when…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined a hypothesis about the acquisition of behavioral inhibitions offered by Hans Eysenck, which suggests that what is often described as morality or conscience is acquired through conditioning experiences to which individuals respond differently according to their temperament-based…

Surveys were completed by 50 Florida educators involved in programs for students with emotional and/or behavior disorders concerning the relationship between mental health professionals and educators. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported that contact time between teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders was not enough. When…

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are referred for clinical evaluation commonly meet diagnostic criteria for other behavioral or emotional disorders or poor academic performance. Occasionally, the symptoms of two disorders are very similar, and the clinician must determine which disorder the patient actually has.…