Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-95). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thèse (M.Tr.Soc.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, programme en extension de l'Université du Québec en Outaouais, 2006. / Bibliogr.: f. [125]-134. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--Rhodes University, 2005. / "This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology" -T.p.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2002. / Typescript. Vol. 2 subtitled: TANDEM intervention package. Includes bibliographical references.

Conduct Disorder (CD) is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviour in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated. It is one of the most common problems in South African schools, particularly in those that are poverty-stricken. The child who participated in the study lived in the shelter that was for homeless and disadvantaged children. He attended at Amasango School where the majority of children in the shelter attended. There were many conduct-disordered children in the shelter and the school, particularly in the school. They disrupted classes making in difficult for teachers to carry out their education activities. The aim of this study was to draw on the standard procedures of the CBT in order to design interventions that would be effective in reducing aggressive behaviour in an adolescent who had CD Adolescent-Type and who lived at the shelter. This case study evaluated the effectiveness of a multi-modal CBT programme in a 16 year-old Black male who had been displaying aggressive behaviour for about a year. The treatment consisted of 23 sessions and included teacher counseling, contingency management, self-control and self-instructional training. The treatment was evaluated qualitatively by means of interviews with the child and teacher and quantitatively by means of repeated applications of behaviour checklists completed by the teacher. The results showed a decrease in the client's aggressive behaviour and an increase in prosocial behaviour. The client ultimately ceased from all aggressive behaviour towards his peers and this outcome was sustained during his last two months in therapy.

En la literatura científica existe una amplia descripción de las consecuencias derivadas del impacto de la psicopatología en la infancia y la adolescencia, pero existe relativamente poca información sobre la patología de la personalidad en el adolescente, asociada a trastornos clínicos del Eje I y sobre el cómo afrontan sus problemas. El objetivo principal de esta tesis es tener un mejor conocimiento acerca de la patología de la personalidad en pacientes con trastornos mentales, teniendo en cuenta su impacto a nivel individual y asistencial. Esta tesis se configura a través de diversos estudios. En el primer estudio “The influence of Personality Disorders in the Use of Mental Health Services in Adolescents with psychiatric disorders”, se ha encontrado que los adolescentes con un trastorno clínico del Eje I, que presentan una situación comórbida de patología de personalidad en comparación con aquellos que no la presentan, hacen significativamente un mayor uso de servicios psiquiátricos, tales como ingresos hospitalarios (p <.001) y urgencias psiquiátricas (p <.01). El segundo estudio “Neither too much, nor too little. The dilemma of identifying personality disorders in adolescent patients with self-reports” versó, sobre la identificación de TP en adolescentes utilizando distintas metodologías de evaluación, basadas en auto-informes y entrevista diagnóstica. Se observó una pobre concordancia entre instrumentos (medias de k entre .02 - .42). El tercer estudio “Usefulness of the International Personality Disorder Examination Screening Questionnaire for Borderline and Impulsive personality pathology in adolescents” se centró en encontrar los puntos de corte óptimos para la detección de patología de personalidad impulsiva y límite con en el instrumento de cribaje IPDE-SQ, observándose una aceptable sensibilidad y moderada especificidad para la evaluación de los trastornos de la personalidad en la adolescencia. El cuarto estudio “Prevalence and severity of categorical and dimensional personality disorders in adolescents with eating disorders” se enfoca sobre la prevalencia de patología de personalidad en adolescentes con trastorno del comportamiento alimentario (TCA), desde el punto de vista dimensional, categórico vinculándose a través del concepto de severidad. En el quinto trabajo “Subtypes of adolescents with substance use disorders and psychiatric comorbidity using cluster and discriminant analysis of MMPI-A profiles”, se replicaron hallazgos previos sobre tipologías de personalidad en sujetos con trastornos por uso de sustancias (TUS), añadiendo en este estudio el componente de la comorbilidad psiquiátrica. El sexto estudio “Dimensional model of the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) and facets in adolescents with substance use disorders and healthy controls”. Se ha encontrado que la dimensión de “Disconstraint” es un buen predictor de TUS. Por último, en el séptimo trabajo “Personalidad, psicopatología y estilos de afrontamiento: un estudio caso-control en adolescentes con trastornos del comportamiento alimentario”, profundiza acerca de la relación entre la patología de personalidad en pacientes con TCA y los estilos de afrontamiento. Los resultados de esta colección de estudios, sugieren que los trastornos de la personalidad en la adolescencia, aunque controvertidos en cuanto a su detección, diagnóstico y tratamiento, son frecuentes en los individuos que tienen problemas mentales en edades tempranas. Una mejor comprensión evolutiva de sus efectos nos permitiría identificar mejor a las personas en riesgo, pronosticando mejor el curso del desarrollo en la intervención terapéutica, reduciendo el impacto negativo en los servicios de asistencia, la clínica y las conductas de riesgo asociadas. / In the literature there is a broad description of the consequences of the impact of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence, but there is relatively little information on the association between personality pathology and both Axis I clinical disorders and use of coping strategies in adolescence. The main objective of this thesis is to provide a better knowledge of the personality pathology in patients with mental disorders, taking into account its impact at both individual and healthcare levels. This thesis is configured through seven studies (which focus of study is the identification of personality pathology in adolescence) and four specific issues around personality pathology (mental health use services, relationship with eating disorders, relationship with substance use, and coping). The results of this collection of studies suggest that personality disorders in adolescence, although controversial in terms of detection, diagnosis and treatment, are common in individuals with mental health problems at an early age. A better understanding of their developmental effects allows us to better identify people at risk, predicting the course of developing proper therapeutic interventions, reducing the negative impact on healthcare services, and the clinical risk behaviours associated.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Serious emotional disturbance, including disruptive disorders (i.e., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder), affects large numbers of adolescents, with costly and tragic consequences. Adolescents with disruptive disorders are likely to be arrested, drop out of school, and have poor treatment outcomes. There is an urgent need to identify strengths-based factors associated with improvement in adolescents’ behavioral and social functioning to help them achieve their full potential. The purpose of this study was to determine whether change in adolescent personal strengths and change in family functioning over 12 months predicted changes in behavioral and social functioning for adolescents with disruptive disorders who participated in a System of Care (SOC) program and if findings varied by race. De-identified data from 179 adolescents, aged 12-17 years, with disruptive disorders and their caregivers were included in this secondary analysis. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, t-tests, chi-square tests, and multivariate multiple regressions. Upon admission to the program, caregiver ratings indicated that African American adolescents had greater personal strengths (p = .001), fewer behavior problems (p < .001), and less functional impairment (p < .001) compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Girls had more behavior problems (p = .05) and fewer personal strengths than boys (p < .001). Increase in caregiver-rated adolescent personal strengths was significantly associated with improvement in caregiver-rated adolescent behavioral and social functioning (p < .001). Change in caregiver-rated family functioning was not significantly associated with change in caregiver-rated adolescent behavioral and social functioning (p = .171). The strength and direction of predictors did not vary by race. The adolescents in the study participated in a SOC program that emphasized their strengths versus, primarily, focusing on their deficits. Change in caregiver ratings of adolescent personal strengths was a significant predictor of change in adolescent behavioral and social functioning over a 12 months period. Findings provide evidence for psychiatric mental health professionals to focus on enhancing adolescent personal strengths to improve behavioral and social functioning in adolescents with disruptive disorders. Future research is needed to understand the impact of family variables on adolescents’ treatment outcomes.

Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem facing the world today. In order to understand the reasons for adolescent substance abuse behaviour, various theoretical perspectives were utilised and strategies to curb substance use were also identified. The study was conducted in the rural areas of Zeerust, North West province of South Africa. The participants included 12 male adolescents, whose ages ranged from 12 to 15 years. A qualitative, explorative research design was employed. Data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, genograms and observations. Thematic analysis was used to analyse audio-taped data. The study found that substances abused by the participants include alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and heroin. Their reasons for using these substances include individual, family and environmental factors. However, peer group pressure was identified as the primary factor for adolescent substance use. This study emphasises the painful nature of substance abuse among adolescents, yet at the same time it succeeds in highlighting the strategies that can be employed to address substance abuse among adolescents. In addition, this study recommends a concerted effort by all the stakeholders in addressing the substance abuse problem. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem facing the world today. In order to understand the reasons for adolescent substance abuse behaviour, various theoretical perspectives were utilised and strategies to curb substance use were also identified. The study was conducted in the rural areas of Zeerust, North West province of South Africa. The participants included 12 male adolescents, whose ages ranged from 12 to 15 years. A qualitative, explorative research design was employed. Data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, genograms and observations. Thematic analysis was used to analyse audio-taped data. The study found that substances abused by the participants include alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and heroin. Their reasons for using these substances include individual, family and environmental factors. However, peer group pressure was identified as the primary factor for adolescent substance use. This study emphasises the painful nature of substance abuse among adolescents, yet at the same time it succeeds in highlighting the strategies that can be employed to address substance abuse among adolescents. In addition, this study recommends a concerted effort by all the stakeholders in addressing the substance abuse problem. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)