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Section A consists of a review of the literature relating to positive contribution to families in first-episode psychosis. It highlights potential gaps in the research and possible avenues for future research. Section B presents the findings of the study. The aim of this grounded theory study was to explore whether individuals who have experienced first-episode psychosis positively contribute to their families. Additionally, the study aimed to construct an explanatory model of how positive contribution to families is viewed and supported following first-episode psychosis. Method: Fifteen participants took part in the study. Seven had direct experience of psychosis, seven were relatives and one was a partner of an individual with direct experience. Participants were interviewed separately, with the accounts analysed using Charmaz’s version of grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006). Results. The constructed theory suggested that individuals who have experienced first episode psychosis can and do contribute to their families, and that such contribution when noticed and valued can lead to an increase in well-being. The model suggests that contribution is shaped by the self-concept, the impact of psychosis, the opportunity for contribution and whether it is noticed. Conclusion. The constructed theory extends current research, and suggests that contribution can positively impact both the individual and family. Limitations and clinical implications of the research are explored and suggestions for further research given. Section C offers a focused evaluation of the research study. Topics of evaluation included reflections on the research process, learning experiences, further clinical implications and possible future research.

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Mothers who are experiencing psychopathology are often unable to provide sensitivity to their infants, which is critical for the development of a secure attachment. The objective of the current study was to provide a statistical, quantitative consensus on the relationship between maternal psychopathology and infant attachment, by performing a number of meta-analyses. Prevalence rates of non-secure attachment in infants of mothers with overall and specific psychopathologies were calculated. Infants of mothers with psychopathology were also found to be at increased risk for developing a non-secure attachment, displayed significantly greater levels of attachment non-security, and there was a significant relationship between symptomology and non-security. Moderator analyses were also run to determine if any variables moderated this relationship. The results of this study indicate that it may be beneficial for clinicians to identify mother-infant dyads who may benefit from early interventions that focus on improving maternal mental health and enhancing infant attachment. / October 2016

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Thesis advisor: Stephanie C. Berzin / The primary aim of this study was to determine if various typologies of psychiatric diagnoses and patterns of comorbidity are differentially related to the medical lethality of adolescent suicide attempts. The secondary aim was to determine if the relationship between psychopathological comorbidity and suicide attempt lethality is significantly different across gender, age, and race in adolescents. To investigate these relationships, psychiatric evaluations were reviewed for all adolescents that presented to Children's Hospital Boston (CHB) from 2006 to 2010 for a suicide attempt (N = 375). Bivariate and OLS regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. Bivariate results showed that attempters diagnosed with a Substance Abuse Disorder comorbid with any other disorder had higher levels of suicide attempt lethality than those without the diagnosis. Additionally, having Bipolar or Mood Disorder NOS in combination with either Substance Abuse alone or Substance Abuse and Disruptive Disorders had a significant positive relationship with suicide attempt lethality when compared to other comorbidity patterns. In OLS regression, having Substance Abuse comorbid with any other disorder was the only significant diagnostic predictor of lethality. Female gender did not have a significant relationship with lethality. Age group was not predictive of lethality in regression analysis. African-American/Black race had a negative relationship with lethality in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Study findings have important implications for practice, policy, and future research with suicidal adolescents. Results suggest that improvements in the assessment and treatment of substance abuse in suicidal adolescents can play a critical role in decreasing the adolescent suicide rate. Screening for symptoms other than depression, such as substance use, will be critical to effective suicide prevention practices. Future research should focus on the development of effective treatment strategies with suicidal adolescent substance abusers, and aim for a better understanding of suicidal behaviors of adolescents with comorbid bipolar and substance abuse diagnoses. In order to further develop prevention and treatment strategies with this population, policies must be initiated that will support their advancement. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

by Chan Won Shing, Raymond. / "May 2000." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-191). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

There were two purposes to the current set of studies. The first was to test the validity of the Adaptiveness of Defenses Scale (ADS), a new measure developed to assess variability within ego defense mechanisms. Study 1 addressed the validity of the ADS with a sample of 104 male undergraduates. The ADS was hypothesized to account for significant unique variance on dependent measures (the PAI, ECR, and final grade in introductory psychology) beyond that accounted for by the Defense-Q. Regression analyses showed that a different pattern emerged. The Defense-Q and ADS accounted for different aspects of the dependent variables, with the Defense-Q predicting PAI Somatization scale scores and the ADS predicting ECR avoidance scale scores. Study 2 addressed the validity of the ADS with a sample of 64 male federal inmates. The ADS was hypothesized to account for significant unique variance on dependent measures (the BPI, PCL-R, and PAS) beyond that accounted for by the Defense-Q. As with Study 1, the two measures tended to predict different aspects of the dependent measures. The Defense-Q predicted immature defense factor scores on the BPI as well as BPI total score, and it predicted affective instability factor scores on the PAS, as well as PAS total score. Conversely, the ADS predicted PCL-R total and Factor 1 scores. The relation between the Defense-Q ADP similarity score and the PCL-R interpersonal facet was significantly positive, while the relation between the ADS total score and this facet was significantly negative. The results of Studies 1 and 2 suggest that the ADS captures an aspect of defensive functioning different from that measured by the Defense-Q, likely related to interpersonal functioning. Study 3 examined the relation between defenses (measured by the Defense-Q and ADS) and correctional variables (offense history, institutional incidents, institutional charges, urinalysis outcomes, and correctional program outcomes), as well as examined Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal differences. The differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates tended to show that non-Aboriginal inmates were older and had more aggressive criminal histories as well as higher PCL-R total and Factor 1 scores. They also tended to have more problematic institutional adjustments, likely because of their higher levels of psychopathy. The Defense-Q was significantly related to general offence history for Aboriginal inmates and the ADS was significantly related to violence history for non-Aboriginal inmates, but other significant relations were sparse. The results of the current series of studies provides preliminary support for the idea that individual defenses have their own ranges of adaptiveness, as the ADS scores male undergraduates and male inmates were significantly different for the same defenses. Given the pattern of the relations of the ADS to the dependent variables, it appears that the ADS is sensitive to interpersonal functioning.