A family contracting approach, delineating those behaviors which could not be used as sole justifications for involuntary hospitalization is recommended to decrease a psychiatric patient's fear of arbitrary, family-initiated commitment. The contract outlines the decision rules which might necessitate involuntary hospitalization. Advantages are…

Training therapists effectively requires familiarizing them with the modal expectations that clients bring to the therapeutic encounter. Ways in which therapists can be apprised of clients' expectations of therapy are discussed. Accurate understanding of clients' attitudes permits development of appropriately focused therapy goals and is generally…

Written by a woman who, at age 25, was diagnosed as "a textbook case for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," (ADHD) this book, examines: the pitfalls of traditional psychotherapy and medications for those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD; how an interactive, hands-on learning environment can markedly improve the educational experience of…

This proceedings presents a variety of international perspectives on the nature of adventure therapy and charts new insights into its historical, philosophical, theoretical, and practical realms. Following an editorial "Adventure and Therapy: 'Dancing in the Moonlight'" (Kaye Richards, Barbara Smith), the 21 papers are: (1)…

The rapid expansion of managed care raises questions about services for those at risk for, or those suffering from, mental and addictive disorders. Managed care requires communities to assess the issues affecting clients and the treatment providers. This type of care is designed to be cost effective. While treatment can be effective, it must be…

The purpose of this study was to determine the problem areas of adopted children in Pampanga, Philippines using the Mooney Problem Checklist (MPCL). The participants of this study were 40 adopted children whose ages range from 10 to 15 years of age and who reside in Pampanga, a province in the Philippines. The participants were asked to answer the…

The purpose of this study was to determine any correlation between learning styles and performance in the academic and clinical course work of occupational therapy students at the Medical University of South Carolina. (Availability: RAM Associates LTD., P.O. Box N, Laurel, MD 20707) (SSH)

Presents a rationale for client choice of therapist or therapy as an alternative form of matching and discusses implications for clients, therapists, and helping agencies. A review of the limited research encourages client participation in therapy decisions but shows mixed results on client choice of therapist. (Author/JAC)

Explores the issues of patient homogeneity, external validity, internal validity, choosing and implementing specific treatment modalities, therapist experience and attitudes, therapist age, reliability and validity of measures, and problems obtaining follow-up information when studying treatment of depressed elderly patients. (Author)

Presents a summary of the Albany Research Conference, April 1980, sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health. Leading investigators recommend general research strategies to further knowledge on behavioral approaches to anxiety disorders including areas of: classification, process research, outcome research, treatment delivery, and…

Each year, dozens of natural disasters occur, leaving child victims in their wake. Short-term effects on children include such maladaptive behavioral reactions as enuresis, insomnia, crying, vomiting, and phobias. Long-term effects include compulsive behavior, personality changes, chronic anxiety, and nightmares. (JN)

Psychodynamic theory and family systems theories have come to represent competing orientations in the understanding of human behavior. This paper extends the quest for an integration of these perspectives. Maps ideas from one orientation onto constructs from the other. Case examples illustrate the ideas. (Author)

Advocates teachers' use of personal writing for both personal and professional well being. (RL)

To explore the antecedents of emotional distress among physicians, the relationship between year in medical school and student attitude toward seeking professional psychological help was investigated using students at the University of Southern California. For women, no attitudinal changes were noted; an early, significant positive change was…