Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Rostock, 1933. / At head of title: Aus der Medizinischen Universitätsklinik zu Rostock. Includes bibliographical references (p. 14).

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / "A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, April 30, 1997." Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.L.T.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-34). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Kent State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed July 9, 2009). Advisor: Janis H. Crowther. Keywords: classification, dimensional model, CFA, eating disorders, comorbidity, personality, temperament, family factors. Includes bibliographical references (p. 112-137).

published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Psychology

Aims: This thesis aims to illuminate the experiences of 8 women between the ages of 22-60 who have experienced anorexia nervosa. In particular, the aim is to understand their relationship to food within the context of their wider lived world and relationships. The meaning that anorexic behaviours carried for participants is also looked at in detail. Additionally, attention is paid to the experience of any change that has occurred with their relationship to food, themselves and others. Method: Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. This method allows for in-depth data to be gathered on participants’ unique experiences, whilst uncovering commonalities of themes within a homogenous sample group. Embracing reflexivity as a researcher is an equally important part of this thesis. There is a continual engagement with my personal and professional values, beliefs and potential biases that could have influenced the findings of this thesis. Findings: The analysis produced five master themes: 1) Problematic Relationships within the Family, 2) Challenging Relationships and Experiences with the Wider World, 3) A Conflicted Relationship between the Physical and Psychological Sense of Self, 4) A Meaningful Relationship with Food, 5) The Role and Influence of Others in the Process of Change. Discussion: The importance of understanding anorexia nervosa within the context of participants’ wider past and present experiences and relationships was notable. This includes understanding how anorexia relates to their relationship with themselves and their fragile sense of self. There is a perceived need to work collaboratively as counselling psychologists, to ensure that clients have access to a range of therapeutic interventions which focus not just on symptom alleviation, but on deeper problematic relationships.

No description available.

Recent studies to determine appropriate theories of adult neurological rehabilitation for South African Occupational Therapy (OT) curricula are non-existing. Seven OT training centres in South Africa participated in a survey to determine the content of the OT neurological rehabilitation curricula. The results showed that there are no specific requirements for the assessment and treatment of stroke patients in the OT curricula and standardized assessments are not commonly taught at an undergraduate level. A second survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire to OT clinicians in the field of neurological rehabilitation. The sample consisted of 29 subjects. The questionnaire surveyed the current settings where stroke patients are receiving OT, the subjects’ treatment protocols with stroke patients, and their use evidence based practice (EBP). The most commonly use theory was neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) and the majority of subjects received training in this theory. Standardized assessments were not used to measure the effectiveness of treatment, therefore OTs were unsure of the effect of their interventions. OTs also had difficulty explaining their reasons for choice of theories and their theoretical justification was not based on scientific evidence. Only 51.85% of the sample usually uses EBP, and the subjects’ own experience had the greatest effect on their use of EBP. Two factors, the lack of time and lack of knowledge impeded the subjects’ use of EBP the most. There is however a lack of sufficient evidence regarding which neurological rehabilitation theories are the most effective and therefore more research in the South African and OT contexts is needed.

A descriptive study of patients' perceptions to sleep in a general practice was undertaken. The aim of the study was to describe the perceptions about sleep in the adult patient in a general practice environment. This included descriptions of demographic data, patient’s perceptions and expectations of sleep and their perceived seriousness and prevalence of sleep disorders. Differences in perceptions about sleep and sleep hygiene between patients with and without a sleep problem were also determined. A self-administered questionnaire with an accompanying subject information sheet was used for the research. The questionnaire was given to adult (over 18 years of age) patients,with prior informed consent, attending the author's practice in Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape, South Africa), for completion in the waiting room. A sample of 400 patients was used. Simple descriptive statistics were used to discuss three main areas of the study: 1) demographics, 2) perceived prevalence and seriousness of sleep disorders and 3) perceptions of sleep hygiene. Analysis of the results revealed a population that was predominantly White (78.9% White,11.2% Coloured, 8.1% Black)), young (67.7% were less than 40 years of age),with equal male and female ratios, well-educated (69.5% passed Metric) and with a current job (over 90% were employed). Despite such a young population the incidence of self-reported sleep problems was markedly high and were of long duration (25.8% of patients had some sort of sleep disorder, while 23.5% admitted having a sleep problem) and compared favourably with overseas statistics. Long-term sleep problems were more common in the population studied. Males had more long-term sleep-problems than females. Black patients slept for more longer periods, woke up more often without going back to sleep and perceived their sleep problem as more serious than White, Coloured and Indian patients. Patients with a higher level of education were less likely to; have a sleep problem,feel worried about their sleep, see someone professional about their sleep and suffer from any medical or psychological condition than those with a lower level of education. Patients who perceived they had a sleep problem were; more worried about their sleep, suffering from more medical or psychological conditions, taking more medication to sleep, more sleepier during the day, not falling asleep easily, not waking up feeling refreshed, waking up too early, v/aking up and going back to sleep with more difficulty, consulting someone regarding their sleep more and were consulting someone professional regarding their sleep problem more than patients without a sleep problem. Underreporting of patients’ sleep problems to health professionals was encountered. Only 10 out of the 26 sleep hygiene questions were statistically significant. Perceptions of sleep hygiene did not correlate with having a sleep problem. People who had a sleep problem probably knew about correct sleeping hygiene, but were either not implementing it, or had some external factor accounting for their poor sleep. Certain inferences were made from this study highlighting important patient perceptions regarding the concept of sleep in general. These may be used as recommendations for family physicians to assist in management of patients complaining of sleep problems.

Impairment in communication is a primary diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however relatively little is known about the early communication development of children with ASD. Vocalizations, which typically begin to emerge within the first year of life, are therefore an area of communication prime for research as a potential behavioral marker of ASD which can be assessed early in life. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in the vocalizations of children between 18 and 24 months of age later diagnosed with ASD (n = 50), a mentally and chronologically age-matched group of children with developmental delay (DD; n = 25), and a chronologically age-matched group of children with typical development (TD; n = 50). In addition, for children with ASD, concurrent and predictive relationships between vocalizations and developmental level were investigated. Precise measures of vocalizations were obtained through systematic observation of videotaped behavior samples from the Communication and Symbolic Scales Developmental Profile (Wetherby & Prizant, 2002). Children with ASD used significantly fewer vocalizations and a lower proportion of vocalizations with consonants than children with TD. In addition, children with ASD used a significantly higher proportion of atypical vocalizations than children with TD and a significantly higher proportion of distress vocalizations than both children with TD and DD. For the ASD group, the frequency of vocalizations and the frequency of vocalizations containing recognizable speech sounds correlated significantly with developmental levels in both the second and third years. In addition, communicative vocalizations late in the second year were found to uniquely predict expressive language outcome at age 3 over and above noncommunicative vocalizations. Overall, the results of this study indicated that by 18 to 24 months of age many vocalization measures significantly differentiate children with ASD from children with TD, with a higher proportion of distress vocalization differentiating children with ASD from both children with TD and DD. The importance of communicative vocalizations for later language development is highlighted by the results of this investigation. This study will contribute to the understanding of early vocal communication in children with ASD and assist in early identification. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Communication Disorders in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2008. / Date of Defense: July 18, 2008. / Vocalizations, Autism, Early Identification, Expressive Language / Includes bibliographical references. / Amy Wetherby, Professor Directing Dissertation; Mary Frances Hanline, Outside Committee Member; Michelle Bourgeois, Committee Member; Juliann Woods, Committee Member.