The Predictive Effects of Work Environment on Stigma Toward and Practical Concerns for Seeking Mental Health Services.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate factors in the work environment of the U.S. military that influence barriers toward seeking help from mental health. In particular, this study investigated the effects of gender, pay grade, satisfaction of work, coworkers, leaders, and perceived hostility in the workplace on practical concerns for and stigma toward seeking help from mental health services. A sample of 22,792 was drawn from the 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey. The results revealed the crucial roles of work environments for stigma toward seeking help from mental health services. Being female or an officer are significant predictors for greater stigma toward and practical concerns that impede seeking help from mental health professionals in comparison to being male or an enlisted officer. Furthermore, higher workplace hostility, lower satisfaction toward leaders, coworkers, and one's work were all significant predictors for greater stigma toward and practical concerns for seeking help. This study revealed the vital roles of work environments in the military that influence stigma toward and practical concerns for seeking help from mental health professionals. Some implications and recommendations for prevention and intervention for underutilization of mental health services are discussed.

The orthogonal-oblique bi-level model of the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2): Polish adaptation based on factor analysis.

UNLABELLED: AIM : The aim of this project was to conduct the cross-cultural factorial validation of the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45.2) using the Polish population. METHODS: Data were obtained from day-patients (n = 211), inpatients (n = 234), outpatients (n = 137) and non-patients (n = 426). Statistical analyses included: parallel analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, criterion equivalence, clinical significance and reliable change index, and test-retest. RESULTS: Statistical analyses provided the strongest support for the bi-level model of the total score, five orthogonal (subscales specific for the Polish OQ, i.e. Social Conflicts and Addictive Behaviors; and original yet modified subscales, i.e. Symptom Distress, Interpersonal Relations, and Social Role), and two oblique factors (Somatization and Anxiety, Social Role 2). The psychometric properties of the Polish OQ were found to be adequate and similar to the original American OQ and its international adaptations. Specific for the Polish OQ cut-off scores for clinical significance were established. The role of cultural differences and the passage of time in the process of the cross-cultural validation were elaborated upon. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish version of the OQ 45-2 has been recognized as an instrument adequately measuring general functioning as well as specific areas of functioning of the individual (i.e. interpersonal relations; social role performance; social conflicts; symptom distress; somatization and anxiety; addictive behaviors). Results of this factorial analysis seem to be valuable for both clinicians using the OQ-45.2 and for creators of any psychotherapy outcome measure.

Effects of providing patient progress feedback and clinical support tools to psychotherapists in an inpatient eating disorders treatment program: a randomized controlled study.

Research on the effects of progress feedback and clinician problem-solving tools on patient outcome has been limited to a few clinical problems and settings (Shimokawa, Lambert, & Smart, 2010). Although these interventions work well in outpatient settings their effects so far have not been investigated with eating-disordered patients or in inpatient care. In this study, the effect of providing feedback interventions was investigated in a randomized clinical trial involving 133 females diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorders not otherwise specified. Comparisons were made between the outcomes of patients randomly assigned to either treatment-as-usual (TAU) or an experimental condition (Fb) within therapists (the same therapists provided both treatments). Patients in the Fb condition more frequently experienced clinically significant change than those who had TAU (52.95% vs. 28.6%). Similar trends were noted within diagnostic groups. In terms of pre to post change in mental health functioning, large effect sizes favored Fb over TAU. Patients' BMI improved substantially in both TAU and the feedback condition. The effects of feedback were consistent with past research on these approaches although the effect size was smaller in this study. Suggestions for further research are delineated.

Providing patient progress information and clinical support tools to therapists: effects on patients at risk of treatment failure.

The current study examined the effects of providing treatment progress information and problem-solving tools to both patients and therapists during the course of psychotherapy. Three hundred and seventy patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: treatment-as-usual, or an experimental condition based on the use of patient/therapist feedback and clinical decision-support tools. Patients in the feedback condition were significantly more improved at termination than the patients in the treatment-as-usual condition. Treatment effects were not a consequence of different amounts of psychotherapy received by experimental and control clients. These findings are consistent with past research on these approaches although the effect size was smaller in this study. Not all therapists were aided by the feedback intervention.

When god sanctions killing: effect of scriptural violence on aggression.

Violent people often claim that God sanctions their actions. In two studies, participants read a violent passage said to come from either the Bible or an ancient scroll. For half the participants, the passage said that God sanctioned the violence. Next, participants competed with an ostensible partner on a task in which the winner could blast the loser with loud noise through headphones (the aggression measure). Study 1 involved Brigham Young University students; 99% believed in God and in the Bible. Study 2 involved Vrije Universiteit-Amsterdam students; 50% believed in God, and 27% believed in the Bible. In Study 1, aggression increased when the passage was from the Bible or mentioned God. In Study 2, aggression increased when the passage mentioned God, especially among participants who believed in God and in the Bible. These results suggest that scriptural violence sanctioned by God can increase aggression, especially in believers.