The primary purpose of this study was to examine and compare physically and sexually violent juvenile offenders (PVJOs and SVJOs) to determine whether specific factors in their abuse histories, if present, tend to be associated with-the type of violent offense pattern they exhibit. The Youth Experiences and Behaviors Structured Interview (YEBSI)--an instrument which assesses for primary (victimization), secondary (witnessing), and perpetrated abuse of an emotional, physical, and sexual nature, by and/or toward family members, acquaintances, strangers, and animals--was developed by the primary researcher for use in this study. Thirty-six PVJOs and 30 SVJOs were interviewed. Results indicated that the YEBSI demonstrated high levels of internal consistency reliability and a very high level of interrater reliability. Various descriptive statistical, scale, and subscale correlations for the YEBSI were provided. Very high percentages of both groups reported experiencing and witnessing all types of abuse. In all cases, a similar or larger percentage of SVJOs reported histories of primary and secondary abuse. SVJOs reported more severe levels of emotional abuse, similar severity levels of physical abuse, and less extremely severe levels of sexual abuse than did PVJOs. Family members and acquaintances (as compared to strangers) tended to be far more frequently reported as perpetrators by respondents. Composite primary and secondary abuse scores were moderately correlated with abuse perpetration scores for SVJOs and strongly correlated with abuse perpetration scores for PVJOs. For emotional, family, acquaintance, and stranger abuse, reported primary-secondary abuse scores were found to be most highly correlated with abuse perpetration scores of the same nature (e.g., emotional abuse history-witness scores best correlated with physical abuse perpetration scores and family abuse history-witness scores best correlated with perpetration scores against family members) Finally, the classification variables correctly predicted 75% of those in the physically violent group and 67% of those in the sexually violent group, with an overall "hit" rate of 71%. Examination of the discriminant function-variable correlations in this study indicates that it was primarily the emotional, family-perpetrated, and sexual abuse subscales that defined the function. Theoretical interpretations and implications for these results are provided.

"July 1994". / Thesis (PhD) -- Macquarie University, School of History, Philosophy and Politics, 1995. / Bibliography: leaves 400-462. / Women and substance use. An introduction -- Women and substance use from a different perspective. Feminist theory and methodology -- 'Fallen angels and moral heroines'. The historical construction of women and substance use -- 'When the normal is pathological and the pathological is normal'. Psychological explanations of women and substance use -- 'A foot in both camps'. Psychosocial explanations of women and substance use -- 'Violence as symptom and cause'. The role of substance use in the social control of women -- 'Breaking all the rules'. Legal responses to women and drugs-related crime -- 'When liberation is no liability'. Women as consumer targets -- 'A nice girl like you'. Women and substance use treatment -- Conclusion -- Bibliography. / In Australia today, as in many other comparable societies, women's use of alcohol and other legal drugs is not circumscribed as it has been in the past. On the face of it, this suggests that there has been a major shift in social attitudes towards use of certain substances by women in line with changes to women's social position that occurred in the last few decades. Despite these changes, however, or perhaps because of them, women's use of alcohol and other drugs still attracts different attitudes and social responses when compared to similar behaviour in men. -- The objective of this research is to investigate the reasons why women's substance use behaviour is viewed differently from that of men's, how this has come about, why it is so culturally pervasive, and what are the effects for women. It has involved exploring how the meanings attached to women's use of certain chemical substances have been socially and historically constructed through scientific discourse, and how these meanings continue to be reproduced, reinforced and legitimated within other interlocking discourses. They are reflected too in cultural images as well as in popular attitudes, held by both women and men. -- The research has been undertaken using a 'woman-centred' approach, within the framework of feminist analysis. Such approach provides an alternative way of understanding women's experience with substance use. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / [9], 462 leaves

Being a mother is often described as a difficult but rewarding experience. Maternal parenting reward (PR) may serve an important function, helping to facilitate responsive maternal care and healthy infant development. However, it should not be taken for granted that the rewards of parenting will emerge naturally for women, particularly women who were abused by their own caregivers in childhood, within family systems that enabled or perpetuated the abuse. Despite an abundance of research on the neurobiological correlates of PR, surprisingly little is known about mothers’ self-reported experience of PR, both in general and in relation to early adversity. The aims of this survey-based dissertation were to develop and psychometrically evaluate a PR self-report measure, and to determine the extent to which childhood abuse predicts short-term (family betrayal) and long-term (maternal depression, posttraumatic stress, and problematic substance use) sequelae of abuse that are associated with diminished PR. In Study 1, with 203 mothers of young children, the final 14-item questionnaire assessed PR in a way that was not confounded with social desirability or maternal demographic characteristics, and was distinct from the related constructs of parenting pleasure and satisfaction. On average, mothers reported being highly rewarded by parenting, though there were individual differences in PR within and across mothers. In Study 2, with 270 mothers of young children, maternal history of childhood psychological and sexual abuse by caregivers each predicted diminished PR indirectly. Childhood psychological abuse was strongly associated with family betrayal, or actions and inactions by the family of origin that enabled or perpetuated abuse, which in turn predicted recent maternal depression and posttraumatic stress, each of which predicted diminished PR. The association between childhood sexual abuse and diminished PR was mediated by increased maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms only, not by family betrayal or alcohol use problems related to posttraumatic stress, as hypothesized. Although alcohol use problems predicted diminished PR at the bivariate level, they did not predict PR in the full model. Maternal childhood abuse by caregivers is indirectly associated with disruptions to the social rewards of attachment, with potential intergenerational consequences for the mother-infant relationship and infant development. / 10000-01-01

The first part of the thesis explored the pattern of emotional reactivity amongst individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A previous review (Rosenthal, Gratz, Kosson, Cheavens, Lejuez & Lynch, 2008) claimed that a discrepancy exists in the subjective versus objective patterns of responding to emotional stimuli in those with BPD. The present review assessed the reliability of such findings by reviewing a more homogenous sample of studies that had used similar methodological procedures, in addition to a range of subjective and objective measures. It also aimed to investigate psychophysiological factors associated with this proposed divergent pattern of responding. The methodological quality of all included studies was assessed. The evidence reviewed disputes claims that BPD individuals display diminished physiological reactivity, despite equal or higher self-reported emotional reactivity than controls. Instead, the present review found that individuals with BPD react more severely (both psychologically and physiologically) to experimental stimuli, than controls, particularly when the stimuli is personally-relevant. Disruption of specific brain structures involved in the regulation of emotion within the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) are implicated in this heightened profile of emotional reactivity. Furthermore, present state dissociation acts as a defence mechanism which appears to limit cognitive processing abilities such as problem-solving, attention and concentration in those with BPD. The second part of the thesis described a randomised controlled study investigating the effects of an attention training technique on pain tolerance. The Attention Training Technique (ATT; Wells, 1990) is a brief technique used in metacognitive therapy to modify attentional control. The effect of ATT versus Progressive Muscular Relaxation (PMR) on pain tolerance was examined in a sample of individuals who had experienced early childhood trauma (N=57). Participants were randomly assigned to either the ATT condition (N = 29) or the PMR condition (N = 28). A laboratory stressor was included: The Cold Pressor Task (CPT) as an objective measure of pain tolerance. Results supported the hypothesis that ATT modified performance on the CPT. Individuals assigned to the ATT condition were able to persist significantly longer with the CPT than those in the PMR condition. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed. Results provide preliminary evidence for the possible benefits of ATT within medical settings. The third part of the thesis critically reflected on the methodological issues and dilemmas presented by the systematic review process, as well as the methodological and ethical issues raised by the research study.

INTRODUÇÃO: As crises não-epilépticas psicogênicas são uma condição médica complexa que pode se apresentar como sintomas físicos ou neurológicos porém sem achados orgânicos correspondentes, evidenciando a presença de fatores psicológicos como base dos sintomas. Elas podem ocorrer isoladamente ou se repetir de forma sistemática. Quando se repetem podem estar associadas à baixa auto-estima, perda de emprego, dificuldade nas relações amorosas e sociais. A esta condição clínica denomina-se transtorno de crises não-epilépticas psicogênicas (TCNEP). Dentre os fatores de risco para TCNEP, os mais amplamente estudados são a história de trauma e os fenômenos dissociativos. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo caso-controle, cujos dados foram obtidos entre janeiro de 2003 e setembro de 2009, foram avaliados 20 pacientes portadores de TCNEP e 20 pacientes com epilepsia do lobo t e m p o r a l , a p ó s m o n i t o r a ç ã o p r o l o n g a d a em u n i d a d e d e vídeo-eletroencefalografia (VEEG). Foram excluídos os sujeitos com associação das duas patologias. Os grupos foram pareados quanto ao gênero, faixa etária, anos de escolaridade formal e classe social. Também foram avaliados: idade de início das crises, idade do diagnóstico, pior frequência de crises e classificação social. Os pacientes responderam também a dois instrumentos estruturados e validados no Brasil, um quanto à história de trauma na infância e adolescência (QUESI), e outro sobre a presença de fenômenos dissociativos (DES) ao longo da vida. RESULTADOS: 1) Não houve diferença significativa do ponto de vista estatístico no que diz respeito ao gênero, faixa etária, classificação social, e frequência de crises; 2) Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na escolaridade (p=0,006); 3) No grupo caso, a idade de início foi superior (22,25 DP 9,19) à do grupo controle (11,62 DP 9,59), p=0,007. Assim como a idade do diagnóstico, que foi de 30,79 (DP 11,33) no grupo de pacientes com TCNEP e de 15,97 (DP 9,67) nos pacientes com epilepsia, p<0,001; 4) A DES teve valores também estatisticamente significativos, sendo 53,35 (DP 23,15) no grupo com TCNEP e de 22,02 (DP 16,37) no grupo com epilepsia, p<0,001. Quanto às subescalas, todas tiveram resultados significativos entre os grupos; 5) O QUESI apresentou também resultados médios significativos, com média de 60,30 (DP 21,75) no grupo de TCNEP e de 45,40 (DP 12,27) no grupo com epilepsia, p=0,014, mas somente as subescalas que identificaram a negligência e o abuso emocionais foram estatisticamente significativas (p=0,013 e p=0,014 respectivamente). CONCLUSÕES: Fenômenos dissociativos e história de trauma na infância são mais frequentes nos pacientes com TCNEP do que nos pacientes com epilepsia. Todavia, em relação à história de trauma, apenas a negligência e o abuso emocionais podem estar associados à TCNEP / INTRODUCTION: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are a complex medical condition that may present as physical or neurologic symptoms but without corresponding organic findings, suggesting the presence of psychological factors as the basis of symptoms. They can occur alone or recur systematically. When recurrent they can be associated with low self-esteem, loss of employment, difficulty in intimate and other social relationships. This clinical condition is called a psychogenic non-epileptic seizures disorder (PNESD). Among the risk factors for PNESD, the most widely studied are the history of trauma and the presence of dissociative phenomena. METHODS: In this case-control study, with data obtained between January 2003 and September 2009, 20 patients with PNESD and 20 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were evaluated after monitoring in video-electroencephalography unit. We excluded subjects with a combination of both conditions. The groups were matched for gender, age, length of school education and social class. We also evaluated age of onset, age at diagnosis and worse seizure frequency. Patientes of both groups responded two structured instruments for history of trauma in childhood and adolescence (QUESI) and FOR the presence of dissociative phenomena (DES) throughout life, both valitaded in Brazil. RESULTS: 1) There was no statistical significant difference between both groups regard to gender, age, social status and seizure frequency; 2) There was a statistical significant difference in education (p = 0.006); 3) Age of onset and at diagnosis in PNESD group were significantly higher (22.25 SD 9, 19) than the control group (11.62 SD 9.59), p = 0.007, as well as age of diagnosis were higher in patients with PNESD (30.79 SD 11.33) than in patients with epilepsy (15.97 SD 9.67), p <0.001; 4) DES values were also significantly higher in the PNESD group (53.35 SD 23.15) than control group (22.02 SD 16.37), p <0.001. As for the subscales all had significant results between groups; 5) QUESI\'s results were also significantly higher in the PNESD group (60.30 SD 21.75) than in epilepsy group (45.40 SD 12.27), p = 0.014, but only the subscales that identify emotional neglect and emotional abuse were statistical significantly in PNESD group (p = 0.013 and p =0.014 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: History of childhood trauma and dissociative phenomena are more common in patients with PNESD than in patients with epilepsy. However, in relation to history of trauma, only emotional neglect and emotional abuse may be associated with PNESD.

INTRODUÇÃO: As crises não-epilépticas psicogênicas são uma condição médica complexa que pode se apresentar como sintomas físicos ou neurológicos porém sem achados orgânicos correspondentes, evidenciando a presença de fatores psicológicos como base dos sintomas. Elas podem ocorrer isoladamente ou se repetir de forma sistemática. Quando se repetem podem estar associadas à baixa auto-estima, perda de emprego, dificuldade nas relações amorosas e sociais. A esta condição clínica denomina-se transtorno de crises não-epilépticas psicogênicas (TCNEP). Dentre os fatores de risco para TCNEP, os mais amplamente estudados são a história de trauma e os fenômenos dissociativos. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo caso-controle, cujos dados foram obtidos entre janeiro de 2003 e setembro de 2009, foram avaliados 20 pacientes portadores de TCNEP e 20 pacientes com epilepsia do lobo t e m p o r a l , a p ó s m o n i t o r a ç ã o p r o l o n g a d a em u n i d a d e d e vídeo-eletroencefalografia (VEEG). Foram excluídos os sujeitos com associação das duas patologias. Os grupos foram pareados quanto ao gênero, faixa etária, anos de escolaridade formal e classe social. Também foram avaliados: idade de início das crises, idade do diagnóstico, pior frequência de crises e classificação social. Os pacientes responderam também a dois instrumentos estruturados e validados no Brasil, um quanto à história de trauma na infância e adolescência (QUESI), e outro sobre a presença de fenômenos dissociativos (DES) ao longo da vida. RESULTADOS: 1) Não houve diferença significativa do ponto de vista estatístico no que diz respeito ao gênero, faixa etária, classificação social, e frequência de crises; 2) Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na escolaridade (p=0,006); 3) No grupo caso, a idade de início foi superior (22,25 DP 9,19) à do grupo controle (11,62 DP 9,59), p=0,007. Assim como a idade do diagnóstico, que foi de 30,79 (DP 11,33) no grupo de pacientes com TCNEP e de 15,97 (DP 9,67) nos pacientes com epilepsia, p<0,001; 4) A DES teve valores também estatisticamente significativos, sendo 53,35 (DP 23,15) no grupo com TCNEP e de 22,02 (DP 16,37) no grupo com epilepsia, p<0,001. Quanto às subescalas, todas tiveram resultados significativos entre os grupos; 5) O QUESI apresentou também resultados médios significativos, com média de 60,30 (DP 21,75) no grupo de TCNEP e de 45,40 (DP 12,27) no grupo com epilepsia, p=0,014, mas somente as subescalas que identificaram a negligência e o abuso emocionais foram estatisticamente significativas (p=0,013 e p=0,014 respectivamente). CONCLUSÕES: Fenômenos dissociativos e história de trauma na infância são mais frequentes nos pacientes com TCNEP do que nos pacientes com epilepsia. Todavia, em relação à história de trauma, apenas a negligência e o abuso emocionais podem estar associados à TCNEP / INTRODUCTION: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are a complex medical condition that may present as physical or neurologic symptoms but without corresponding organic findings, suggesting the presence of psychological factors as the basis of symptoms. They can occur alone or recur systematically. When recurrent they can be associated with low self-esteem, loss of employment, difficulty in intimate and other social relationships. This clinical condition is called a psychogenic non-epileptic seizures disorder (PNESD). Among the risk factors for PNESD, the most widely studied are the history of trauma and the presence of dissociative phenomena. METHODS: In this case-control study, with data obtained between January 2003 and September 2009, 20 patients with PNESD and 20 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were evaluated after monitoring in video-electroencephalography unit. We excluded subjects with a combination of both conditions. The groups were matched for gender, age, length of school education and social class. We also evaluated age of onset, age at diagnosis and worse seizure frequency. Patientes of both groups responded two structured instruments for history of trauma in childhood and adolescence (QUESI) and FOR the presence of dissociative phenomena (DES) throughout life, both valitaded in Brazil. RESULTS: 1) There was no statistical significant difference between both groups regard to gender, age, social status and seizure frequency; 2) There was a statistical significant difference in education (p = 0.006); 3) Age of onset and at diagnosis in PNESD group were significantly higher (22.25 SD 9, 19) than the control group (11.62 SD 9.59), p = 0.007, as well as age of diagnosis were higher in patients with PNESD (30.79 SD 11.33) than in patients with epilepsy (15.97 SD 9.67), p <0.001; 4) DES values were also significantly higher in the PNESD group (53.35 SD 23.15) than control group (22.02 SD 16.37), p <0.001. As for the subscales all had significant results between groups; 5) QUESI\'s results were also significantly higher in the PNESD group (60.30 SD 21.75) than in epilepsy group (45.40 SD 12.27), p = 0.014, but only the subscales that identify emotional neglect and emotional abuse were statistical significantly in PNESD group (p = 0.013 and p =0.014 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: History of childhood trauma and dissociative phenomena are more common in patients with PNESD than in patients with epilepsy. However, in relation to history of trauma, only emotional neglect and emotional abuse may be associated with PNESD.

No description available.