A meta-analysis of nine studies on psychotherapy with persons who have mental retardation found a wide range of research designs, types of interventions, and participants. The evaluation also pointed to a moderate degree of change in outcome measure and moderate effectiveness in terms of benefit to clients with mental retardation. (Contains…

Identifies two issues pertaining to professional status (theological and psychological) of pastoral counseling: dilemma between humanistic values of psychotherapeutic community and theological values of the religious community; and the need for pastoral counselors to articulate the empirical distinctiveness of their practice. Recommends…

Surveys current research on causes and treatment of autism. Identifies features of autism and outlines causal theories and related treatments. Analyzes problems with the different approaches to causes of autism. Suggests the multiplicity of approaches implies lack of success in any one area. Contends behavior modification provides best results and…

This article outlines considerations in planning inpatient groups for psychiatric patients and presents a model for group psychotherapy with a heterogeneous admission ward population. The model includes session plans based on objectives graded according to patients' levels of functioning. Also discussed are group rules and the therapist's role.…

Describes psychotherapeutic attempt to help adolescent girl, incestuously assaulted by her father for over a decade, rebuild satisfactory sense of self and escape debilitating and stigmatizing effects of her experience. Events described were determined by client's sense of what she needed and by theoretical framework of Personal Construct Theory.…

Ninety-eight adventure therapy professionals analyzed a proposed definition of emotional safety and rated 26 factors hypothesized to affect an individual's level of emotional safety during adventure activities. Factors were related to specific techniques used by instructors, instructor skills and abilities, the physical environment, and group…

Critical factors in the behavior of Chicano gang youth are family disintegration, cultural dissolution, abusive family relationships, and histories of interpersonal violence. Specific treatment modalities (individual, family, group) are discussed, and the importance of a multimodal approach is emphasized. Case studies highlight family dynamics and…

Evaluation of the clinical significance of a depression treatment program revealed that a substantial number of clients made reliable improvements; posttreatment scores fell within a functional distribution. Results suggest that highly structured interventions for outpatients with major depression can instill clinically meaningful changes in short…

Evaluated treatment outcomes from program of research on modeling therapy with Puerto Ricans, targeting anxiety symptoms, acting-out behavior, and self-concept problems. Findings from 210 primary grade children and their mothers confirmed impact of culturally sensitive modeling therapy on anxiety symptoms and other target behaviors, but negative…

Results from an outcome study of 50 adolescents with behavioral and emotional problems in a partial hospitalization program reflect parental involvement during the treatment process. High parental involvement is related to greater improvement in school and home functioning, reduced rehospitalization, and reduced pathology and problem severity…

Describes guiding theory behind cognitive-behavioral interventions with youth, such as therapeutic posture, an important cognitive distinction, and specific treatment goal. On basis of review of literature, nature of cognitive functioning, treatments, and outcome of treatment studies are described and examined for aggression, anxiety, depression,…

Chapters included are (1) introduction; (2) mental health problems affecting Indian people; (3) impact of mental health problems on Indian communities; (4) the service delivery system; (5) treatment modalities; (6) mental health providers; (7) holding the system together; and (7) a model Indian mental health system. (KS)

Presents recent investigations and reports related to group psychotherapy in cancer patients' treatment. Describes primary characteristics and results of studies examining evidence of therapeutic factors, psychosocial support groups, women's adjustment to mastectomies, training in stress management and coping skills, pain and mood disturbance, and…

Examined the effects of economic need and self-esteem on attitudes toward and use of instrumental and psychotherapeutic services (N=224). Findings show that self-esteem was associated with help-seeking behavior, but attitudes were not. However, when economic need was included in the analyses, the effect of self-esteem disappeared. (Author/EMK)

Reviews literature and discusses the results of a study that examined supervisor ethical practices. Results indicate that 51% of the supervisees sampled reported at least one ethical violation by their supervisors. Most frequently violated guidelines involved adequate performance evaluation, confidentiality issues, and ability to work with…