Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are being diagnosed at alarmingly high rates and school psychologists are charged with evaluating, identifying, and providing interventions for students with ASD in the United States’ public school systems. A national survey probed Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) to determine their level of knowledge in the area of autism assessment; the assessment methods, measures, and techniques they employed; their level of training; and their level of preparation and confidence. Results indicated training positively affected NCSPs knowledge about autism; their levels of involvement with students with autism; and their perceived levels of preparation to work with this population. Of the 662 participants, the majority accurately identified true and false statements about autism and the diagnostic features suggesting they had a clear understanding of how to diagnose autism. Participants with more training reported an increased level of involvement on multidisciplinary teams and an ability to diagnose autism when compared to those with less training. Brief rating scales were among the most commonly used instruments, while lengthier, more robust diagnostic instruments were among the least-often employed suggesting school psychologists are not trained or are too strapped for time and resources to use these instruments. Participants felt more prepared to provide consultation and assessment services and less prepared to provide interventions. More than half (57.5%) of participants reported they had formal training (completed formal course work or internship experience) in autism, but just over 40% had only informal training in the form of workshop or in-service attendance. The National Research Council (2001) stresses that workshops are not an appropriate substitute for effective training, supervision, and consultation, indicating too many of the nation’s school psychologists lack sufficient training in the area of autism. These data and previous research (i.e., Filipek et al., 1999; Ikeda, 2002; Spears, Tollefson, & Simpson, 2001) suggest school psychologists need more formal training and experience in meeting the needs of individuals identified with autism. / Department of Educational Psychology

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The purpose of this study was to determine school psychologists' current level of knowledge about Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), their training and comfort level with that training, their roles and practices in assessing, diagnosing, and treating children and adolescents with ADHD, and their attitudes toward the disorder and those with it. An original survey (see Appendix B) developed for this purpose was distributed to 700 systematically selected members of the National Association of School Psychology (NASP) who were currently practicing in the public schools. A total of 406 usable surveys were returned for a final response rate of 58%.Overall school psychologists are confident in their abilities to deliver services (consultation, assessment, and intervention) to students with ADHD. Respondents underestimated the rate of comorbidity of ADHD with other psychiatric disorders but overestimated the percentage of students with ADHD who also have a learning disability. Respondents most often mentioned diagnosis or identification of the disorder as their goal for assessment of possible ADHD. However, in their rankings of specific goals, respondents ranked the development of appropriate interventions as more important than the diagnosis of the disorder. The most often used standardized tests for ADHD referrals are questionnaires (for parents, teachers, and students) and drawings. Most (57%) school psychologists agreed that they do not determine the diagnosis of ADHD, but rather refer to a medical doctor. A Specific Learning Disability is the most often used special education category for students with ADHD who qualify, followed somewhat closely by Other Health Impaired, then by Emotionally Handicapped. Only 14 percent of the school psychologists surveyed stated that every student with ADHD who did not qualify for special education was considered for accommodations under Section 504. More respondents (83%) agreed that teachers often press to have their problem students diagnosed with ADHD than agreed that parents often press (55%). The majority of respondents (74%) agreed that ADHD is overdiagnosed. However, there was disagreement as to whether stimulant medications were used more often than necessary to treat ADHD. Implications of these findings for school psychologists and for future research are discussed. / Department of Educational Psychology

Submitted by PAULO ROBERTO CARDOSO PEREIRA JÚNIOR (paulocardoso.ppp@gmail.com) on 2018-03-21T19:05:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FINAL DE PAULO CARDOSO MARÇO DE 2018.pdf: 1562090 bytes, checksum: 22bd104aba5d0af6d449653f47d6cdd9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Auxiliadora da Silva Lopes (silopes@ufba.br) on 2018-03-22T14:21:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FINAL DE PAULO CARDOSO MARÇO DE 2018.pdf: 1562090 bytes, checksum: 22bd104aba5d0af6d449653f47d6cdd9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-22T14:21:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FINAL DE PAULO CARDOSO MARÇO DE 2018.pdf: 1562090 bytes, checksum: 22bd104aba5d0af6d449653f47d6cdd9 (MD5) / A presente pesquisa está situada no campo das práticas psicológicas demandadas pela Justiça e aplicadas em adolescentes e jovens em conflito com a lei. Partimos das políticas de privação de liberdade de crianças e adolescentes no Brasil, que teve seu marco histórico com a promulgação do Código de Menores de 1927, e depois a sua reformulação em 1979, até o cidadão, tendo sua origem na promulgação do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente, o ECA. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo compreender a atuação da (o) psicóloga (o) que acompanha adolescentes e jovens em cumprimento de medidas socioeducativas em uma instituição de internação no Estado da Bahia. Para tal, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, utilizando-se como recursos metodológicos a análise documental e entrevistas semidirigidas com profissionais de psicologia. O referencial teórico adotado foi a Psicologia Escolar e Educacional em uma perspectiva crítica, que compreende o contexto institucional como uma síntese de múltiplas determinações. Foram levantados 94 relatórios de 24 adolescentes em cumprimento de medida socioeducativa de internação. Foram encontradas, a partir da análise dos relatórios, informações familiares, educacionais, profissionais, sobre o uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas e sobre o parecer técnico indicado pela equipe que acompanha os adolescentes. Análise das entrevistas destaca as dificuldades vivenciadas pelas profissionais de Psicologia, relacionadas ao fato de a instituição não ter fornecido formação para o trabalho; a formação acadêmica pouco contribuiu para o trabalho na instituição; dificuldades de implementação do ECA e do SINASE e a ausência de um trabalho voltado para o acompanhamento familiar. Por fim, este trabalho indica a necessidade de incluir, tanto na formação básica dos cursos de Psicologia quanto na formação dos técnicos da instituição a temática da atenção ao adolescente e o jovem em conflito com a lei. / ABSTRACT This research is situated in the field of psychological practices required by the Federal Justice and it is applied in adolescents and young people in conflict with the law. We started the research with the policies of deprivation of liberty of children and adolescents in Brazil, which had its historical milestone with the promulgation of the Juvenile Code of 1927, and then its reformulation in 1979, to the citizen, having its origin in the promulgation of the Child and Youth Statute (ECA). Therefore, this study aimed to understand the performance of the psychologist who attends adolescents and young people in compliance with socio-educational measures in a care institution in the State of Bahia. For that purpose, a qualitative research was carried out, using documental analysis and semi-structured interviews with psychologists. The theoretical framework applied was School and Educational Psychology, which understands the institutional context as a fusion of multiple interactions. A total of 94 reports were collected from 24 adolescents in compliance with socio-educational measures in a care institution. Reports analysis revealed family, educational and professional data, the reports also revealed information about the use of legal and illegal drugs and the technical report prepared by the team that attended the adolescents. Interviews analysis highlights the struggles experienced by psychologists, which is related to the fact that the institution did not provide training for work; the academic formation did not contribute much to the work in the institution; difficulties in the implementation of ECA and SINASE and the lack of work aimed at family follow-up. Finally, this work indicates the need to include; the theme of attention to adolescents and young people in conflict with the law; both the basic training of psychologists and the training of technicians that work in care institutions for young people in conflict with the law.