Family group conferences: context,process and ways forward

This is the first part of a two‐part review of the literature, policy and practice relating to family group conferences (FGCs). This first paper explores the background, the global policy context, the theoretical foundations and the process of undertaking FGCs. The literature is extensive in relation to these elements of FGCs, unlike the limited literature relating to outcomes, which is examined in the second part of this review. In the subsequent review, we examine the issue of outcomes, research findings and explore future challenges in implementing FGCs.     

Long-term effects of teaching behavioral strategies for managing persistent auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia

1. Attendance at a 10-week class designed to teach behavioral management strategies to people with schizophrenia was effective in reducing some of the negative characteristics of auditory hallucinations for 12 months and in reducing anxiety for 9 months after completion of the class. 2. The sustained improvement experienced by class participants was characterized by their voices being less frequent and more mumbled and the participants feeling more in control, less distractible, and less anxious. 3. Participants recommended that other mental health consumers take similar classes to learn how to better manage their voices. 4. Monthly support groups may help participants maintain gains lost during the follow-up period.     

Omnibus Tests of The Martingale Assumption in The Analysisof Recurrent Failure Time Data

The Andersen-Gill multiplicative intensity(MI) model is well-suited to the analysis of recurrent failuretime data. The fundamental assumption of the MI model is thatthe process M_i(t) for subjects i=1,,n,defined to be the difference between a subject's counting processand compensator, i.e., N_i(t) A_i(t); >0,is a martingale with respect to some filtration. We propose omnibusprocedures for testing this assumption. The methods are basedon transformations of the estimated martingale residual process ^M _i (t) a function of consistent estimatesof the log-intensity ratios and the baseline cumulative hazard.Under a correctly specified model, the expected value of ^M _i (t)is approximately equal to zero with approximately uncorrelatedincrements. These properties are exploited in the proposed testingprocedures. We examine the effects of censoring and covariateeffects on the operating characteristics of the proposed methodsvia simulation. The procedures are most sensitive to the omissionof a time-varying continuous covariate. We illustrate use ofthe methods in an analysis of data from a clinical trial involvingpatients with chronic granulatomous disease.     

Eating habits and stress correlates in a female student population

Interviews were conducted with 100 female undergraduate students to investigate the relationship between anxiety, work related stress and abnormal eating habits. Dietary habits were examined using the EAT-26 questionnaire and an anorexia check list (derived from the DSM classification for anorexia nervosa). Anxiety and stress were assessed using self report questionnaires and blood leukocyte counts. Dietary restraint was associated with anxiety, irritability and psychosomatic complaints. Additionally, subjects with high EAT-26 scores tended to have low leukocyte counts. A six month follow-up study, carried out prior to examinations, showed a decrease in leukocyte counts, an increase in mean weight and an increase in abnormal eating habits.     

PLACING GENDER IN THE HEART OF MFT MASTERS PROGRAMS: TEACHING A GENDER SENSITIVE SYSTEMIC VIEW

This paper describes a masters level course that teaches the systemic underpinnings of the field while also addressing the feminist critique of the ideas. The goal of the course is for students to understand and adopt a gender sensitive systemic view. Students then have a systemic/gender yardstick to use as they study and evaluate MFT theories, observe client interaction, and practice.     

Development of social spacing in normal and mentally retarded children

Distances between closest playmates were measured during free play in mentally retarded and normal grade school children. Unobtrusive observation techniques minimized interference and a spacious playground environment was chosen to avoid effects of confining walls on spatial behavior. Younger children (grades 1–3) kept closer distances than older children (grades 4–6), independent of clinical history or sex (p<.0001). Parallels are drawn with findings of previous observational studies in adults and non-human primates; two hypotheses, based on cognitive development and social disturbance, are proposed to explain the findings.     

DIVORCE THERAPY OUTCOME RESEARCH: A SUBSTANTIVE AND METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW

Empirical studies related to divorce therapy are reviewed both substantively and methodologically. There is strong evidence for the superiority of mediation to traditional adversary methods for custody and visitation disputes. Conciliation counseling appears to increase the number of reconciliations in the short-term. Other conclusions must remain very tentative. Overall, the methodologies of the 22 studies are weak; however, there are wide variations in quality. Investigations of divorce mediation utilized the best designs and studies of separation techniques the worst. What we know and what we need to know about divorce therapy is answered critically and suggestions are made for future research and practice.     

Rocking the Vote: Using Personalized Messages to Motivate Voting among Young Adults

We examined a nationwide effort to encourage young adults to vote in the 1996 U.S. presidential election. During the year before the election, individuals were given the chance to sign and self-address one of two kinds of postcards pledging to vote; these cards were mailed back to the individuals within 2 weeks prior to the election. It is important to note that some individuals completed pledge cards that prompted them to provide their own reason for voting by completing the sentence, "I will vote because ______," whereas other individuals completed pledge cards that did not contain this sentence prompt. We conducted a large-scale survey of individuals who filled out pledge cards and determined that receiving a pledge card with the sentence prompt had a positive influence on voting. Moreover, this effect was found above and beyond demographic and psychological predictors of voting. Implications of these findings are discussed.