Gay Affirmative Psychotherapy: A Phenomenological Study

There is a need for gay and lesbian affirmative psychotherapy in a society in which gay men and lesbians endure prejudice and discrimination. Using a phenomenological model informed by feminist methodology, this study investigated the gay male client's experience of gay affirmative therapy. The participants shared their experiences in in-depth interviews. Phenomenological analysis revealed certain therapist qualities which were experienced as affirmative. Findings showed that with sensitivity, imagination, and experience, the heterosexual therapist can be gay affirmative; the gay therapist may more readily serve as a role model. Results are compared with other research, and recommendations are offered for future inquiry.     

从心理学视角看欧阳修散文中独特的心理体验

针对目前欧阳修散文的研究多集中在文学、历史、政治和考据等方面的不足,采用心理学的研究方法,从对欧阳修的童年、丰富性和归依体验等方面介入分析欧阳修的散文,得出其独特的心理体验使他的散文呈现出一种“孤独”的情绪和对“自然”强烈的渴望。     

心路治疗:一种另类心理治疗方法

提出了心路治疗的基本出发点,并分析了人的三种不同性格,即理性、情感、意志三种类型的特征和表现。心路治疗就是根据这三种类型的不同特征进行综合性的治疗,采取"自我—反馈"的方法,使受助者正确认识自我,正确认识周围事物,从而以达到心理治疗的目的。     

循证心理健康教育视角下的心理健康教育

循证心理健康教育是指心理健康教育者在意识到教育对象的特征、文化与偏好的情况下,将最佳研究证据与自己的教育技能整合起来所进行的心理健康教育。它属于当今循证实践运动的一部分,是肇始于循证医学,在循证心理治疗的基础上发展起来的一种心理健康教育新取向。循证心理健康教育的出现,为心理健康教育缩短研究与实践的距离、提高教育的效果、平衡研究者、教育者及教育对象三方的利益、增强心理健康教育的"可操作性"等提供了一条可供选择的途径。     

Social enterprises as enabling workplaces for people with psychiatric disabilities

In recent years, western governments influenced by neoliberalism have emphasized paid work as a key route to social inclusion and community participation for people with psychiatric disabilities. Although paid work can offer many rewards, access to mainstream employment for people with psychiatric disabilities is difficult as they continue to encounter discrimination and a lack of workplace accommodation. One response to these challenges has been the creation of social enterprises as ‘alternative spaces’ of employment for people with psychiatric disabilities. On the basis of interviews with key informants from 21 different social enterprises across Ontario, Canada, this paper critically analyzes the strategies used by organizations to create jobs that are both accommodating for people, but also conducive to the ongoing success of the business.     

Stability and Validity of the Holden Psychological Screening Inventory (HPSI) in Psychiatric Inpatients

Abstract

Forty-seven psychiatric inpatients in a Canadian psychiatric hospital participated in an evaluation of the stability and validity of the Holden Psychological Screening Inventory (HPSI). Stability coefficients over a 1-month period were .85, .79, and .66 for the HPSI Psychiatric, Social, and Depression Symptomatology scales, respectively, and coefficient alpha reliabilities for these scales ranged between .76 and .89 across both time periods. Staff rating composite scales corresponding to the self-report HPSI scales had stability coefficients of .74, .85, and .82, respectively. As well, they had inter-rater reliabilities that ranged between .65 and .84 across both time periods. The 3 staff rating composites at time 1 correlated equivalently with the corresponding 3 primary HPSI scales at times 1 and 2 (p > .05). Similarly, the 3 staff rating composites at time 2 correlated equivalently with the corresponding 3 primary HPSI scales at times 1 and 2 (p > .05). Over a 1-month period, HPSI scale scores were very stable and correlations with criterion ratings were stable. Using a confirmatory factor analysis, with each of the 3 dimensions defined by the time 1 and 2 measures for the 3 HPSI scales and 3 staff rating composites, evidence for discriminant as well as convergent validity was obtained. In summary, the self-report HPSI and the staff rating composite measures evidenced sufficient reliability and validity to meet the requirements for routine clinical assessment work with psychiatric inpatients. Additionally, the stability data provide effects of retesting baseline data for assessing treatment outcome in this population.     

Immediate Effects of a 16-Week Life Skills Education Program on the Mental Health of Adult Psychiatric Patients

ABSTRACT

A total of 206 (105 men, 101 women) adult psychiatric patients participated in life skills programming 5 half days per week for 16 weeks. Psychosocial adjustment was assessed pre- and post-treatment with the three primary scales of the Holden Psychological Screening Inventory (HPSI). A multivariate pre- versus post-treatment analysis resulted in a nonsignificant effect for the covariate age (p= .136) but significant effects for time (p<.0005), gender (p<.0005), and the time by gender interaction (p= .003). Depression Symptomatology improved significantly for both men and women, whereas on the other two HPSI scales (Psychiatric and Social Symptomatology) statistically significant improvements were only obtained for women. The Social Symptomatology effect size for women (.25) was small and of the same order of magnitude as a treatment as usual psychiatric patient control sample and is therefore primarily a retesting effect. The effect sizes for Depression Symptomatology for men and women (.77 and .87, respectively) and Psychiatric Symptomatology for women (.57) were large and at least four times larger than the control sample. Improvement in Depression Symptomatology has considerable support in the literature but improvement in Psychiatric Symptomatology does not and will therefore require replication.     

The internalising and externalising problems of adolescents in Croatia: Socio‐demographic and family victimisation factors

This study assessed Croatian adolescents' problems in relation to socio‐demographic characteristics and experienced family violence in early and late adolescence. A national representative sample of 1,780 Croatian students (45.3% males) in two age groups representing early (M = 13.20; SD = 0.42) and late adolescence (M = 18.14; SD = 0.38) participated. The questionnaire included the Youth Self‐Report, modified version of ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool – Children's Version, and socio‐demographic data. Results show that internalising problems were more present in female adolescents, in adolescents who perceived family financial hardship and in those whose biological parents did not live together. More externalising problems were reported in late adolescence by students who were living in large cities and whose families had either low, or above‐average, financial status. Adolescents who have experienced family violence were at higher risk of developing internalising and/or externalising problems.     

Growing up with a parent who has a chronic mental illness: one child's perspective

This paper describes a growing understanding of one adolescent boy's experience of living with a parent with a chronic mental illness. The way in which services were organized and delivered to address the needs of either adults or children made it difficult to comprehend the impact of parental psychiatric disorder on the family as a whole. The case study illustrates the problems for the 'not-noticed child', the process of internalization and enmeshment that affected his internal world, his relationships with others, and his development in adolescence. The need for all professionals to focus on interactive processes both within the family and in the professional network is emphasized, as is the importance of collaborative work.