The present research examined the ability of a group of objective and subjective social indicators to discriminate between respondents who were community mental health center clients and those who were community residents with no history of contact with mental health professionals. Previous research had suggested that objective social indicators were inadequate both for assessing well-being and for assessing mental health needs. Thus, the purpose of this project was to provide initial data on the relative efficacy of objective and subjective social indicators in discriminating those who needed mental health services from those who did not. In addition, the goal was to determine the ability of a combined group subjective and objective indicators to discriminate between those who needed mental health services and those who did not. Teams of trained undergraduates administered questionnaires containing questions regarding demographic variables, recent stressful life events, social supports, daily activities, and quality of life (domain satisfaction). Community mental health center clients appearing for the first time in East Tucson, Arizona were designated as those in need of mental health services (clinic). East Tucson community residents reporting no history of contact with mental health professionals were designated as those who were not in need of mental health services (community). Results indicate that discriminant function analysis using only demographic variables was able to correctly classify 85.7 percent of these respondents as belonging to either the community or clinic group. Using quality of life variables, 85.2 percent of these respondents were correctly classified. By combining one demographic variable, one recent stressful life event, and three quality of life items, a discriminant function analysis correctly classified 93.1 percent of these respondents as either clinic or community. Results of discriminant function analyses with a cross-validation sample support these results. The overall results are viewed as preliminary but suggestive of the potential utility of combining objective and subjective indicators for predicting mental health needs. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for preventive approaches to mental health in light of the limitations of defining need on the basis of utilization of services.

The central purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the devaluation of women's psychological problems upon the recognition of women's behavior as deviant and the subsequent impact of both variables upon the recognition of women's need for psychological treatment. A secondary purpose was to determine whether culture and gender influenced each concept in this study. The study utilized a mathematical correlational design with a causal modeling approach to test a three-stage theory. The convenience sample selected for the study consisted of 80 subjects: 20 Arabic males; 20 Arabic females; 20 Anglo American males; and 20 Anglo American females living in a southwestern city. A three-scale instrument (each scale contains two subscales) was constructed to index the theoretical concepts. Reliability and validity estimates were conducted to determine the psychometric properties of the instrument. The theory was tested using correlational, analysis of variance, and multiple regression statistical techniques. The traditional orientation of the Arabic culture appears to account for the differences found in the data. Along with cultural influences, gender also appeared to impact upon two of the concepts in the neurotic level, devaluation of neurotic behavior (B = -.64) and recognition of the need for treatment of neurotic behaviors (B =.22), with males evidencing a lower level of sensitivity to women's psychological problems. Gender interacted with culture for two concepts, devaluation of neurotic behavior (B = -.28) and recognition of neurotic behavior as deviant (B = -.27), and Arabic males were the least sensitive group. Both culture and gender did not have an impact upon devaluation of psychotic behavior and recognition of the need for treatment of psychotic behavior. However, there were cultural differences in the recognition of psychotic behavior as deviant. Arabic subjects probably evaluated some of psychotic behaviors as religious rather than considering them as psychiatric disorders. Only the variable, devaluation of women's psychological problems was found to be a predictor of recognition of women's need for treatment. Also the variable, devaluation of women's psychological problems, had an impact upon recognition of women's behavior as deviant.

Based upon the thesis that human functioning consists of affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes which operate interdependently, targeting all three areas should be more effective than targeting only one or two areas of functioning. The present study compared the Mutual Problem Solving Program, a marital therapy intervention with affective and behavioral components (MPS-AB), an MPS program with added cognitive components (MPS-CAB), and a wait-list control (WLC) condition. Forty-nine couples participated. Both treatments involved eight sessions. Assessment utilizing self-report questionnaires and observational measures was done at pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up. MPS-AB and MPS-CAB couples exhibited better dyadic adjustment (p =.006) than the WLC couples. MPS-AB was just as effective as MPS-CAB at improving irrational beliefs. The percentage of subjects who experienced statistically reliable improvement in dyadic adjustment from pre-test to post-test was 34.4, 35.3, and 9.4, for the MPS-AB, MPS-CAB, and WLC groups respectively, while for deterioration the percentages were 18.8, 11.8, and 37.5. Emotion was the best predictor of dyadic adjustment.

America is aging, older alcoholic numbers rise. Disagreement has long existed as to whether elderly should be treated within traditional programs or in special age-specific modalities. Few studies measure variables selected to show either need or efficacy of elderly specific programs. This study was designed to answer the question: What is the perception of certified alcohol and other drug abuse counselors regarding the best way to treat the elderly, mainstream or elderly specific? The study is based on a bias that addiction counselors have been delivering services to elderly for years in both program types and offer valuable perceptions on the question of treatment effectiveness. A random sample of 788 counselors from a nationwide population of over 25,000 was persistently solicited to participate in a survey addressing the treatment of alcoholics 55 years and older. The most common education level was a master degree; length of experience 9-15 years; age 46. The study analyzed data from the 574 returns, a 72.8% response rate, of a lengthy questionnaire previously validated by gerontology and alcoholism experts. Items selected as variables were clustered into three domains which indicated tendencies toward (a) choice of either traditional or special age-specific programming as most effective, (b) cognizance of elderly and alcohol treatment issues, and (c) willingness to counsel the elderly. On the main research question, according to domain scores, there was no statistical significance in counselor-perceived efficacy of either mainstream or elderly specific treatment of elderly alcoholics. The literature body also is ambiguous on the question. Amount of education predicted degree of gerontology knowledge. Greater gerontological acumen predicted preference (perceived greater effectiveness) for elderly specific programming. Females had more gerontologic knowledge than males. Gender predicted willingness to counsel the elderly; males were more willing than females. Counselor training should include more gerontology studies. Foci and loci for future research were identified with suggestions for treatment planning. Appendices include the questionnaire, item response frequencies, and an extensive annotated bibliography specifically devoted to elderly alcoholic treatment issues.

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The purpose of this study was to determine if persons with a history of chemical dependency have personality traits that differ from a norm group and to determine if personality traits are associated with the perceived level of recovery facilitation. Thirty-one subjects volunteered to fill out the research instruments (16 Personality Factor Questionnaire and a Self-Rated Perceived Level of Recovery Facilitation Scale). The results indicated that persons with a history of substance abuse are significantly more cool, shrewd, dominant, and undisciplined in self conflict, than the norm population. The sample population was also found to score more toward the constructs: abstract thinking, suspicious, apprehensive, self-sufficient, and tense. No correlation was found between self-rated levels of recovery facilitation and personality traits.

Coping has been implicated in health outcomes through a process of adaptation. The purpose of this study was to describe the coping strategies used by 37 patients undergoing Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis treatment in Taiwan. The Jalowiec Coping Scale was used to measure the use and effect of patients' coping styles. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Seven commonly used coping strategies and three never used coping strategies were reported. Subjects also reported six not helpful coping strategies. Results of t-tests indicated that there was a significant difference (p < .05) between those with a supportive person and those without. Several significant correlations (p < .05) were found between coping styles and demographic factors. Finally, the results of 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference (p < .05) in the main effect of support, gender, and interaction in total effect of the Jalowiec Coping Scale.

The purpose of this study was to compare spirituality and subjective sense of time passage between Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and those without PTSD. Rogers' Principle of Helicy provided a theoretical perspective for the study. The abrupt interactive repatterning that may occur under the extreme conditions of combat can be translated into compromised abilities of the combat veteran to assume an acceptable lifestyle once he is out of the combat situation. A population of 32 Vietnam combat veterans answered questionnaires regarding their perspectives on spirituality and subjective sense of time. It was hypothesized that these variables may differ significantly among Vietnam combat veterans with and without PTSD. Findings revealed a statistically significant difference in sense of time in Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD compared to those without PTSD. There was, however, no significant difference in spiritual perspective when these same groups were compared.