Heart disease risk perception in college men and women

The authors sought to assess the perception of risks for coronary heart disease (CHD) in college men and women. They surveyed 470 undergraduates from 2 major 4-year institutions who completed a questionnaire that measured perceived risks for heart disease. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents rated their risks as lower or much lower than those of their peers, indicating a clear optimistic bias. The research also revealed that the students who exercised regularly rated their risk of coronary disease lower than those who did not do so. In addition, women perceived a number of risk markers to be more potent or causative factors than men did. A significant number of participants did not comprehend commonly understood causal relationships associated with heart disease risk. The findings in this preliminary investigation suggest that college men and women do not accurately perceive their risks for developing heart disease.     

Smoking reduction & cessation: a hospital based survey of outpatients' attitudes

1. Most people with mental illnesses have made at least one attempt to quit smoking on their own. 2. Psychiatric diagnosis and degree of nicotine dependence do not appear to be predictive of ability to quit. 3. People with mental illnesses are aware of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), but do not combine it with a behavioral program, possibly contributing to the higher rates of recidivism in this population. 4. The lack of participation of mental health care providers in promoting smoking cessation is a complex issue.     

LEARNING TO "THINK SYSTEMS": FIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

This paper describes five highly structured writing assignments for teaching family therapy trainees to think in systems terms: 1) Analysis of a communication task; 2) Family assessment report; 3) Family treatment plan; 4) Analysis of a marital or family therapy interview; and 5) Family autobiography. The overall training context in which the assignments are given and ways to prepare students for the assignments are also discussed.     

Transforming an MFT program: a model for enhancing diversity

Marriage and family therapy programs need to go beyond the typical practices of recruiting and retaining students of color. Marriage and family therapy educators must assume positions of leadership by transforming graduate programs to reflect a deep, active, systemic commitment to both diversity and social justice. In this article, we argue that it is through this type of transformation that programs become truly ready to support students of color and to prepare all therapists to advocate for equity in a diverse, often unfair society. This article offers a model that addresses readiness, recruitment, retention, assessment, and professional development from this perspective.     

When approved is not enough: development of a supervision consultation model

The dramatic increase in the literature that addresses family therapy training and supervision over the last decade has been predominantly in the area of theory, rather than practice. This article describes the development of a meta-supervisory learning context for approved supervisors and provides examples of interactions between supervisors that subsequently influenced both therapy and supervision. We delineate the assumptions that inform our work and offer specific guidelines for supervisors who wish to implement a similar model in their own contexts. We provide suggestions for a proactive refiguring of supervision that may have profound effects and benefits for supervisors and supervisees alike.     

Patterns among sexual assault victims seeking treatment services

The validity and reliability of research on the nature and extent of sexual assault tends to be affected by different definitions, methodologies, and measurements. As a result, two important aspects of sexual assault associated with patterns of symptom expression and therapeutic interventions are not often reflected in the research; the severity of the assault, including the duration of the abuse, and the age at the time of the assault and the gender of the victim. This research is based on intake forms from Hawai;i's only statewide provider of services to the victims of sexual assault. The analyses reveal that significant differences exist between male and female victims, by age and by assault characteristics, including the type of sexual assault, use of force and injury, length of assault, and the relationship between victim and offender.