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The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of special needs students in technical educational programs.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more recently being recognized as a lifetime disorder that continues to affect individuals into their adult lives. Recent research studies have found connections between ADHD and overweight/obesity. The current study was designed to further explore these relationships and better understand the connections between these two constructs among 340 college students. It was hypothesized that the ADHD symptoms (i.e., inattention and impulsivity) would positively predict depressive symptoms, which in turn would predict emotional/binge eating and lead to overweight/obesity. Additionally, it was hypothesized that impulsivity would predict substance use, which would predict emotional/binge eating and also predict overweight/obesity. The model was tested and exhibited excellent fit. ADHD positively predicted depressive symptoms, which in turn positively predicted emotional/binge eating and led to overweight/obesity. Further, ADHD symptoms also positively predicted substance use, which in turn predicted emotional/binge eating and led to overweight/obesity. All paths were statistically significant and findings suggest there are at least two paths that connect ADHD symptoms and overweight/obesity in adults. The current results are of importance to practicing clinicians because they provide increased clarity and depth regarding the connections and relationship between symptoms of ADHD and overweight/obesity.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complicated psychiatric disorder that is typically first diagnosed in childhood and associated with negative outcomes in adulthood such as poor academic performance and difficulties with social relationships. ADHD can be difficult to accurately diagnose in adulthood, given the absence of clear, agreed upon ADHD symptomology in adults. In the current study, two raters used psychometrically sound instruments and diagnostically valid assessment techniques on an archival dataset to create three distinct groups: ADHD [2/3 with other mental health diagnosis (OMH)], OMH only, and no diagnosis. Findings support the value of comprehensive assessment, combined with a thorough evaluation of the material by a trained clinician, for the accurate diagnosis of ADHD for research purposes. Comparisons were made across groups to infer that college students with ADHD have lower grade point averages and academic self-concept than students without mental health diagnoses. Yet, contrary to much of the current literature, college students with ADHD seem to create as strong, deep, supportive and harmonious relationships with loved ones and close friends as their non-diagnosed peers. Clinicians working with college students with ADHD may use the results of the current study to better inform conceptualization, better recognize the innate resilience college students with ADHD likely have, and inform treatment interventions.

Concussions, attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities can adversely impact learning and academic achievement, particularly with respect to attention, memory, and executive functioning; fortunately, cognitive training can be beneficial and remediating these weaknesses. One such program, strategic memory advanced reasoning training (SMART), utilizes a top-down approach to train individuals in executive, higher-ordered thinking strategies including strategic attention, integration, and innovation to facilitate information synthesis and enhance cognitive efficiency. Thus, the purpose of the study is to examine whether SMART improved performances on various neuropsychological measures tapping into attention, processing speed, memory, and executive functioning for college student-athletes with neurological conditions (e.g., concussions, ADHD, LD). Student-athletes were randomly assigned to the SMART program or a "wait-list" control group and were administered a neuropsychological battery at baseline, immediately following the intervention, and after a four-month delay. Results showed that participants benefited from SMART with respect to working memory immediately following the intervention after controlling for baseline scores. The benefits of working memory also persisted after four months. Additionally, SMART was beneficial for improving attention, but only after four months after the intervention. The findings of the current study were consistent with previous studies which showed positive effects of SMART on working memory with a variety of populations (e.g., children, adolescents, older adults, Veterans, brain-injured patients); however, the current study did not see improved performance on other aspects of executive functioning which contradict prior research. Statistical differences between the present study and prior research regarding SMART may be explained in methodology, participant characteristics, research setting, and/or limitations. Future studies may include combining cognitive training as the intervention and utilizing neuroimaging alongside cognitive training to examine the relationship between structural/functional change with neuropsychological performance.

Each year, an estimated 318,000 defendants who do not comprehend the Miranda warnings waive their rights and provide incriminating evidence without the protection of counsel (Rogers, 2008), which make Miranda-related competencies one of the most pervasive pretrial issues. A wide range of issues could potentially affect an individual's capacity to provide a knowing and intelligent waiver. Previous Miranda research has focused narrowly on the effects of cognitive and developmental factors. The current study added to the Miranda literature by examining the impact of two highly prevalent conditions found in correctional populations, attention deficits and substance abuse. Adult defendants in custody (N = 118) were evaluated within 36 hours of arrest in order to assess both chronic psychological disorders and situational variables. Results indicate that attention deficits have a significant impact on defendants' ability to provide a knowing Miranda waiver, whereas substance use profoundly affected their reasoning about Miranda waiver decisions. This study represents the first systematic investigation of the effect of transient mental states on Miranda-related abilities with criminal defendants. Important implications for forensic practice are addressed.

Transition into adulthood has been regarded as a priority in health. However, there is scarcity of literature on the transition of adolescents with intellectual disability. The purpose of this study was to develop a strategy for transition of adolescents with intellectual disabilities into adulthood based on the Transition Theory proposed by Meleis, Sawyer, Im, Hilfinger and Schumacher (2000). The research objectives of this study were in three phases: Phase I: Desk review  To explore the known factors about the transition process of adolescents with IDs into adulthood.  To identify gaps in literature on the transition of adolescents with intellectual disabilities’ transition into adulthood. Phase II: Mixed method  To explore and describe the experiences of caregivers and health care professionals on the transition of adolescents with IDs into adulthood.  To investigate challenges that hamper the transition process of adolescents with IDs into adulthood. Phase III: Development of strategy  To develop a strategy for transition of adolescents with IDs into adulthood informed by findings from phases I and II. A sequential exploratory mixed method approach was used. A purposive, snowballing and simple random sampling were used to select participants for this study. The study was conducted in Special schools, Non-Governmental Organisations and Care and Rehabilitation Centres based in Gauteng province of South Africa. Triangulation of data sources and data collection methods was used to sample one hundred and forty nine (149) participants aged 21-60+ years who experienced caring for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Interpretative analysis proposed by Terrablanche. Durrheim and Kelly (2006) was used for qualitative data limited to a sample of n=29 participants. Quantitative data was analysed by use of IBM Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS: 24) with a blend of descriptive and inferential statistics limited to a sample of n=120. Five themes from both qualitative and quantitative results emerged that is, transition possibility; the role of different stakeholders; the provision and development of working skills; caregivers’ knowledge and understanding of guidelines and alterations to adapt to change. The development of the transition strategy bridged a significant gap that informs nurses, teachers, parents, policy-makers and other stakeholders in supporting transition of adolescents with intellectual disabilities into adulthood. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)