Presença de risco de transtorno do estresse pós-traumático em policiais militares feridos por arma de fogo / Presence of risk of posttraumatic stress disorder in military police officers wounded by firearms / Presencia de riesgo de trastorno de estrés postraumático en policías militares heridos por armamiento de fuego

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar o risco de desenvolvimento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT), bem como sua associação com pensamentos ou tentativas suicidas e a saúde mental de policiais militares feridos por arma de fogo, na Região Metropolitana de Belém (RMB), nos anos de 2017 a 2019. A pesquisa contou com a participação de 30 entrevistados, que responderam o Inventário Demográfico e a Lista de verificação de TEPT para o DSM-5 (PCL-5). Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se a técnica estatística Análise Exploratória de Dados e a técnica multivariada Análise de Correspondência. Os resultados revelaram a existência de risco de desenvolvimento do transtorno de forma parcial ou total em uma expressiva parcela da população entrevistada, tendo homens como maioria dos sintomáticos, com média de 38 anos, exercendo atividades operacionais e vitimados em via pública quando estavam de folga do serviço. O ferimento deixou a maioria com sequelas, com destaque para dores crônicas, limitações de locomoção e/ou mobilidade e perda parcial de um membro. E, ainda, policiais sintomáticos apresentaram comportamentos suicidas, relatando já terem pensado ou tentado tirar a própria vida. Desta forma, conclui-se que policiais militares são expostos constantemente a traumas inerentes a sua profissão. Quando há ameaça de vida, como nos casos de ferimentos por arma de fogo, são suscetíveis a sequelas físicas decorrente do ferimento, somadas a sequelas mentais tardias, como o surgimento de sintomatologias de TEPT e ideação suicida.(AU)

This study aimed to identify the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its associations around suicidal thoughts or attempts and mental health in military police officers injured by firearms, in the Metropolitan Region of Belem (RMB), from 2017 to 2019. The research had the participation of 30 respondents who answered the Demographic Inventory and the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). For data analysis, we used the statistical technique Exploratory Data Analysis and the multivariate technique Correspondence Analysis. The results revealed the existence of risk of developing partial or total disorder in a significant portion of the interviewed population, with men as most of the symptomatic individuals, with mean age of 38 years, developing operational activities and victimized on public roads when they were off duty. The injuries left most of them with sequelae, especially chronic pain, limited locomotion and/or mobility, and partial loss of a limb. In addition, symptomatic officers showed suicidal behavior, such as reporting they had thought about or tried to take their own lives. Thus, we conclude that military policemen are constantly exposed to traumas inherent to their profession. When their lives are threatened, as in the case of firearm wounds, they are susceptible to physical sequelae resulting from the injury, in addition to late mental sequelae, such as the appearance of PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation.(AU)

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar el riesgo de desarrollo de trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y sus asociaciones con pensamientos o tentativas suicidas y la salud mental en policías militares heridos por armamiento de fuego, en la Región Metropolitana de Belém (Brasil), en el período entre 2017 y 2019. En el estudio participaron 30 entrevistados que respondieron el Inventario Demográfico y la Lista de verificación de TEPT para el DSM-5 (PCL-5). Para el análisis de datos se utilizaron la técnica estadística Análisis Exploratoria de Datos y la técnica multivariada Análisis de Correspondencia. Los resultados revelaron que existen riesgos de desarrollo de trastorno de estrés postraumático de forma parcial o total en una expresiva parcela de la población de policías entrevistados, cuya mayoría de sintomáticos eran hombres, de 38 años en media, que ejercen actividades operacionales y fueron victimados en vía pública cuándo estaban de día libre del servicio. La lesión dejó la mayoría con secuelas, especialmente con dolores crónicos, limitaciones de locomoción y/o movilidad y la pierda parcial de un miembro. Aún los policías sintomáticos presentaran comportamiento suicida, tales como relataran qué ya pensaron o tentaron quitar la propia vida. Se concluye que los policías militaran se exponen constantemente a los traumas inherentes a su profesión. Cuando existe amenaza de vida, como en los casos de heridas por armamiento de fuego, son expuestos a secuelas físicas transcurridas de la herida, sumado a secuelas mentales tardías, como el surgimiento de sintomatologías de TEPT y la ideación suicida.(AU)

Profile of Runaway Youths from Residential Care Centers: Variation in Risk-Taking Propensity.

During runaway episodes, adolescents engage in various high-risk behaviors and are exposed to various dangers. This situation is even more pronounced among runaway youths from residential care centers, given their personal and familial backgrounds that place them at risk. The current study attempted to disentangle the heterogeneous characteristics of runaway youths while considering the adolescent risk-taking literature. A latent profile analysis was performed among 112 runaway youths from residential care centers based on runaway characteristics (number, duration, context of return). The Parent involvement, Independent and Police involvement runaway youth profiles were compared on various characteristics involved in risk-taking, their high-risk behaviors and mental health problems. The clinical implications for these three runaway profiles are discussed.

Predictors of Runaway Behavior Among At-Risk Youth.

This study examines the factors influencing runaway experiences among at-risk youth. Using the data of 1,743 at-risk youth from the 2016 survey of Korean adolescents' contact with media usage and harmful environment, a logistic regression analysis was conducted. This study shows that factors associated with the adolescents' experiences of family relationships, violence victimization, and harmful environment influence the occurrence of runaway behavior in at-risk adolescents. A significant outcome of this study is the identification of a harmful environment as a factor affecting runaway behavior. The factors identified need to be considered in the development of prevention programs targeting runway behavior among at-risk youth. School nurses are uniquely positioned to review and revise educational strategies to raise adolescents' awareness regarding the effects of harmful environments and to promote violence prevention. This framework provides school nurses with systematic methods for early identification and management of risk factors among at-risk youth runway behavior.

The impact of exposure to parental intimate partner violence on adolescent precocious transitions to adulthood.

INTRODUCTION: Precocious transitions can create stress by placing excessive demands on adolescents and are associated with adverse outcomes that extend into adulthood. The current study assessed whether exposure to parental intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adolescent precocious transitions to adulthood. METHODS: Data come from 33,360 individuals aged 18+ years in the United States who participated in the National Epidemiologic Surveys of Alcohol and Related Conditions. Six precocious transitions (leaving home early, early sex, early marriage, early parenthood, early full-time employment, and dropping out of high school) were examined. Robust Poisson regression was used to calculate relative risks for the association between IPV exposure and each precocious transition, adjusting for confounders. We assessed effect modification by gender and by exposure to childhood abuse or neglect. RESULTS: Participants exposed to IPV in childhood were at higher risk of engaging in early sex; dropping out of high school; entering into early full-time employment; entering into early marriage; and entering into early parenthood relative to participants not exposed to IPV. Significant interactions between gender and exposure to IPV were detected for early sex and early full-time work outcomes, such that the associations were stronger for females compared to males. Participants exposed to more frequent or more severe IPV in childhood were at even higher risk for experiencing precocious transitions. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals exposed to IPV in childhood are more likely to experience precocious transitions to adulthood. Findings highlight the need for interventions to mitigate adverse outcomes in adolescence for children exposed to IPV.

Relato de experiência da perda ambígua diante de um filho adolescente desaparecido / Case study of ambiguous loss front of a missing teenager son

A Teoria da Perda Ambígua (P.A) coloca que tal perda é uma das mais inquietantes, estressante e traumatizante diante das demais, não há confirmação, fechamento ou rituais de apoio e, portanto, não há uma resolução verdadeira. Este estudo objetivou verificar características da perda ambígua (de primeiro tipo) vivido por uma mãe de um adolescente desaparecido, caracterizada pela ausência física, mas sem comprovação de morte, e com uma presença psíquica permanente. Também investigou interligações das falas da genitora com resultados do Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar. Foi possível identificar baixo nível quanto ao suporte familiar em todos os fatores (afetivo-consistente, autonomia e adaptação familiar), bem como diversos fatores desta perda ambígua, concentrando-se em questões como a esperança e desesperança, presença e ausência, sendo estes, fatores essenciais para novos focos de intervenções transformadoras.(AU)

The Theory of Ambiguous Loss (AL) to put that is one of the most disturbing, stressful and traumatizing, in front of the others, aren`t confirmation, closing or supporting rituals, therefore, isn`t a true resolution, this study aimed to verify characteristics of ambiguous loss, (the first kind) Lived by a mother of a missing teenager, characterized by physical absence, but without comprovation of death, and with psychic presence continuous. Also investigated interrelationships between the speaker's giver and the results of the family Support Perception Inventory. was possible to identify low level of family support in all factors (affective-consistent, autonomy and family adaptation), as well as several factors of this ambiguous loss, focusing on issues such as hope and hopelessness, presence and absence, factors for new focuses of transformative interventions.(AU)

A arte da fuga: sobre a personalidade reativa e o tratamento psicanalí­tico de um adolescente em crise / The art of escape: on reactive personality and psychoanalytic treatment of an adolescent in crisis / El arte de la fuga: sobre la personalidad reactiva y el tratamiento psicoanalí­tico de un adolescente en crisis

Este trabalho apresenta uma discussão acerca de um caso clínico que interroga a ação do psicanalista perante o processo de crise de um adolescente em condição de abrigamento. O desdobramento do caso pôde, somente a posteriori, levar-nos ao estudo do funcionamento daquilo que Jacques Lacan, em seu seminário A Angústia (1962-1963), chamou de "personalidade reativa". Trata-se, segundo Lacan, não de uma espécie de sujeito, mas sim de uma zona de relação definida por ele como a do acting-out. William recorria exatamente a essa zona como único recurso diante do "não se pode dizer".

This paper presents a discussion about a clinical case that questions the psychoanalyst's action in the crisis process of an adolescent in shelter condition. Only later the case's development was able to lead us to the study of the functioning of what Jacques Lacan called "reactive personality" in his seminar Anxiety (1962-1963). According to Lacan, it is not a kind of subject, but a zone of relation defined by him as acting-out. That zone was the only resource that William had before the "cannot be said".

Este trabajo presenta una discusión acerca de un caso clínico que cuestiona la acción del psicoanalista ante el proceso de crisis de un adolescente en condición de refugio. El despliegue del caso pudo llevarnos, sólo a posteriori, al estudio del funcionamiento de lo que Jacques Lacan, en su seminario La angustia (1962-1963), llamó "personalidad reactiva". Según Lacan, no se trata de una especie de sujeto, sino de una zona de relación definida por él como acting-out. Esa zona era exactamente el único recurso que William poseía ante el "no se puede decir."

Trauma and homelessness in youth: Psychopathology and intervention.

Youth runaway behavior and homelessness (RHY) in the U.S. is increasingly common, with prevalence estimated at 1-1.7 million youth. RHY have multiple, overlapping problems often including poor physical and mental health, frequent street victimization, and histories of physical and sexual abuse. Further, current street victimization interacts with childhood abuse to produce complex, unique presentations of traumatic symptoms and related disorders in runaway and homeless youth. This review paper explores (1) the role of childhood trauma in the genesis of runaway and homeless behavior, and (2) how childhood trauma interacts with street victimization to create vulnerability to psychopathology. In response to the trauma needs of RHY, we conducted a systematic review of the state of the current literature on trauma-informed interventions for RHY. We conclude that the field currently lacks empirically validated trauma interventions in RHY. However, theoretically plausible frameworks do exist and could be the basis for future research and intervention development.

Terapia Comportamental Infantil na relação mãe e filho ante o luto materno - um relato de caso / Child Behavior therapy in the mother-child relationship towards the mother's mourning - a case report

Participou do processo terapêutico um menino de seis anos, que foi trazido à clínica por sua mãe. A principal queixa estava relacionada com as perguntas que o menino fazia sobre a forma como o pai morreu. O pai suicidou-se quando o cliente tinha dois anos de idade após um longo período de adoecimento. As perguntas do cliente sobre como o pai havia falecido foram relatadas pela mãe como fonte de angústia para ela, pois não sabia se deveria contar. Com isso, o objetivo terapêutico principal foi ampliar o conhecimento que o cliente tinha acerca do pai. Também foram planejadas sessões de intervenção com a mãe. O conteúdo das perguntas sobre o pai e as respostas da mãe foram tomadas como as medidas comportamentais observadas. No total foram realizadas 25 sessões, sendo 12 com a criança e 13 com a mãe. Foi observado que o conteúdo das perguntas do menino mudou de foco durante o processo terapêutico. Concluiu-se que as perguntas iniciais do cliente em relação a morte do pai eram mantidas pela falta de informações sobre ele em decorrência da apresentação de um comportamento de esquiva da mãe quando o cliente solicitava tais informações.(AU)

Participated in the therapeutic process a six-year-old male child, who was brought to the clinic by his mother. The main complaint was related to the boy's questions about how his father died. The father committed suicide when the boy was two years old due to a long period of illness. The client's questions about how the father had died were reported by the mother as a source of distress for her, as she did not know if she should tell him. With this, the main therapeutic goal was to increase the client's knowledge about the father. Mother intervention sessions were also planned. The content of the questions about the father and the responses of the mother was taken as the behavioral measures observed. Overall 25 sessions were held, 12 with the child and 13 with the mother. It was observed that the content of the boy's questions shifted focus during the therapeutic process. It was concluded that the client's initial questions regarding the father's death were maintained by the lack of information about him as a result of the mother's evasive behavior when the client requested such information.(AU)

Prevalence and Correlates of Sex Exchange Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults.

The present study examines prevalence and correlates of exchanging sex for drugs, money, food shelter, or other favors (sex exchange) among a nationally representative sample of youth and young adults. Adolescents and young adults (n = 11,620, 53% female, 47% male) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used for the current sample. Participants completed in-home interviews at both waves. Results revealed that sex exchange was reported by 4.9% (n = 569) of the population in wave 2 or wave 3, and 4.6% (n = 26) of those who exchanged sex did so at both waves. More males reported exchanging sex than females (n = 332 versus n = 237). Respondents who reported child sexual abuse were more likely to exchange sex (95% CI 2.51-4.28, p < .05) than respondents who reported any other form of child abuse. Both males and females who engaged in sex exchange were at greater risk for sexually transmitted infections; however, the odds of ever exchanging sex were highest among males who ever had gonorrhea (OR = 6.2; 95% CI 3.75-10.3). Although sex exchange has been studied extensively among homeless and runaway youth, the current study reveals sex exchange also occurs in the general population.

Flight response of the barber surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855 (Teleostei: Acanthuridae), to spearfisher presence

When confronted by predators, prey need to make an economic decision between continuing their current activity or flee. Flight Initiation Distance (FID), the distance at which an organism begins to flee an approaching threat, has been used to indicate an animal's fearfulness level and a way to examine factors influencing escape decisions. Here we investigated how the FID of the barber surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus, responds to the presence of spearfishers in a fishing site in northeast Brazil. Specifically, we examined whether the FID was influenced by body and group size; by the heterogeneity of species in groups formation; and the distance to shelter. Significant differences in FID were observed with increasing body size. We found no significant relationship of FID with size or group formation, neither with distance to shelter. Preferences in forming groups with A. bahianus were seen among some species, and a higher FID was associated with less sheltered substrates. Results obtained here support theories suggesting that spearfishers do influence fish behavior. We highlight that future research should focus on the indirect impacts of spearfishing on the structure of marine communities, emphasizing the anti-predator behaviour of juvenile and adult target fishes.

Ao serem confrontadas por predadores, as presas precisam tomar decisões econômicas, escolhendo entre continuar com sua atividade atual ou fugir. Distância Inicial de Fuga (DIF), a distância à qual um organismo começa a fugir de uma ameaça que se aproxima, tem sido utilizada para indicar o nível de medo do animal e um modo para se examinar fatores que influenciam nas decisões de fuga. Aqui nós investigamos como a DIF do peixe cirurgião, Acanthurus bahianus , responde à presença de pescadores subaquáticos em uma tradicional área de pesca no nordeste do Brasil. Especificamente, investigamos se a DIF foi influenciada pelo tamanho do corpo e do grupo; pela heterogeneidade das espécies na formação de grupos; e pela distância para refúgio. Diferenças significativas na DIF foram observadas com o aumento no tamanho do corpo. Nós não encontramos nenhuma relação significativa da DIF com o tamanho ou formação do grupo, nem com a distância para refúgio. Preferências na formação de grupos com A. bahianus foram observadas entre algumas espécies,e maiores DIF foram associadas com substratos menos abrigados. Resultados obtidos aqui suportam teorias sugerindo que pescadores subaquáticos influenciam no comportamento dos peixes. Nós destacamos que pesquisas futuras devem focar nos impactos indiretos da pesca subaquática na estrutura das comunidades marinhas, enfatizando o comportamento anti-predador de peixes juvenis e adultos alvo da pesca.

The effect of victimization, mental health, and protective factors on crime and illicit drug use among homeless young adults.

Although research has found high rates of child maltreatment, widespread victimization, and other negative outcomes among homeless youth and young adults, resiliency among this population has largely been understudied. Specifically, a gap remains in terms of how protective factors such as self-efficacy, low deviant beliefs, and religiosity operate among homeless youth and young adults. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between various forms of victimization, mental health, and protective factors with property and violent crime and illicit drug use among homeless young adults. Results from regression analyses indicate that running away from home more frequently, experiencing more physical victimization on the street, higher levels of self-efficacy, and more deviant beliefs were associated with greater property crime. Significant correlates of violent crime included being male, running away from home more frequently, greater sexual and physical victimization on the street, higher levels of self-efficacy, and more deviant beliefs. Finally, being male, running away more frequently from home, greater child physical abuse and partner victimization, and more deviant beliefs were all associated with greater illicit drug use. Self-efficacy was positively related to both property and violent crime, suggesting that it may not operate for homeless young adults in the same manner as it does for normative populations.

Nonlinear dynamics of runaways among children and adolescents: disruptive disorder or step toward a suicide attempt?

The aim of this study is to analyze the decision-making process whereby susceptible adolescents end up choosing the option to run away or attempt suicide. Our basic hypothesis is that this transition is largely based on cooperative mechanisms. The runaway state is regarded as a potential precursor of the suicidal one. A mathematical model incorporating these processes is developed from which the time evolution and the values of the susceptible, runaway and suicidal populations are evaluated in terms of a number of key parameters. It is shown that for appropriate ranges of parameter values the interactions present in the system eventually end up counteracting both runaway and suicidal attempts. Quantitatively this is shown by the existence of stable solutions of the model equations in which the populations of both suicidal and runaway individuals end up being zero, although in some cases a significant temporary enhancement can take place. But as the parameters are varied beyond these ranges the system starts sustaining non-trivial stable states, in which the populations of suicidals or runaways are maintained at non-zero levels. This hints at prevention strategies and crisis management such as separation from the environment and specific treatment different from those dispending traditional adolescent psychiatric units.

Factores asociados al abandono temprano del tratamiento de trastornos por uso de sustancias en una institución de Medellín, Colombia / Factors Associated With the Temporary Abandonment of Treatment for Disorders Due to Substance Abuse in an Institution in Medellin, Colombia

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de abandono temprano del tratamiento y los factores asociados a este entre los pacientes atendidos en 2012 en un Centro de Atención de Drogodependencias de Medellín. Métodos: Estudio de casos y controles. Los casos fueron los sujetos que abandonaron prematuramente el programa y los controles, quienes lo completaron. Se compararon ambos grupos en factores sociodemográficos, relacionados con el patrón de uso de sustancias, las comorbilidades y la decisión de ingreso al tratamiento. Resultados: La frecuencia de abandono temprano del programa fue del 59%, pero una alta proporción de este abandono (47,5%) ocurrió en la transición de una etapa del programa a otra. Las variables asociadas con el abandono temprano fueron: trastorno psicótico (odds ratio [OR] = 0,32; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%], 0,11-0,91), trastorno bipolar (OR = 0,31; IC95%, 0,12-0,77), heroína como principal sustancia problema en comparación con alcohol (OR =6,68; IC95%, 1,52-29,4), toma de decisión del tratamiento por un familiar en comparación con la personal (OR = 3,02; IC95%, 1,28-7,17) y tratamientos previos (OR = 1,87; IC95%, 1,02-3,44). Conclusiones: La frecuencia de abandono temprano del tratamiento hallada en este estudio es similar a la reportada en otros. Se encontraron factores asociados al abandono que se puede tener en cuenta al planear estrategias para mejorar los resultados del programa.

Objective: To determine the frequency and factors associated withtreatment drop-out in patients from a Substance User Treatment Center in Medellín, Colombia. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, with patients with an early treatment dropout as cases, and patients who completed the treatment as controls. Demographic data, substance use pattern, concomitant diseases, and the decision to initiate treatment were compared between cases and controls. Results: The frequency of early drop-out was 59%, but a high proportion of this drop-out (47.5%) occurred in the transition period between the program stages. The variables associated with drop-out were: psychotic disorder (OR=0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.91), bipolar disorder (OR=0.31; 95% CI, 0.12-0.77), heroin as the principal substance compared to alcohol (OR=6.68; 95% CI, 1.52-29.4), decision to initiate the treatment by the family compared to personal decision (OR=3.02; 95% CI, 1.28-7.17), and previous treatments (OR=1.87; 95% CI, 1.02-3.44). Conclusions: The drop-out frequency is similar to those reported in other studies. Associated factors were found, which could be considered in order to plan strategies to improve the program results.

Two-year predictors of runaway and homeless episodes following shelter services among substance abusing adolescents.

Given high levels of health and psychological costs associated with the family disruption of homelessness, identifying predictors of runaway and homeless episodes is an important goal. The current study followed 179 substance abusing, shelter-recruited adolescents who participated in a randomized clinical trial. Predictors of runaway and homeless episodes were examined over a two year period. Results from the hierarchical linear modeling analysis showed that family cohesion and substance use, but not family conflict or depressive symptoms, delinquency, or school enrollment predicted future runaway and homeless episodes. Findings suggest that increasing family support, care and connection and reducing substance use are important targets of intervention efforts in preventing future runaway and homeless episodes amongst a high risk sample of adolescents.

It's called "Going out to play": a video diary study of Hmong girls' perspectives on running away.

How do Hmong immigrant adolescent girls decide to run away, return home, leave again, or stay home? Video diaries by 11 sexually exploited runaway Hmong girls, ages 13-16, revealed four themes: "fighting restrictions," or resisting family and cultural expectations and desires to be like other American teens; "not running away, going out to play," which captured impulsive decision making; "unrestrained partying," which described runaway experiences but minimized the dangers faced; and "trying to change," or returning home because of family bonds and wanting to "be someone good." Given their limited ability to anticipate risks, interventions should focus on runaway prevention initiatives for Hmong families and teens.

The relationship between victimization and substance use among homeless and runaway female adolescents.

Each year, thousands of female adolescents run away from home due to sexual abuse, yet they continue to be victims of sexual assault once on the street. To date, few studies have examined how various forms of victimization are related to different types of substance use. The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between street exposure, childhood abuse, and different forms of street victimization with alcohol and marijuana use among 137 homeless and runaway female adolescents. Results from path analysis revealed that child sexual abuse was positively linked to trading sex and sexual and physical victimization. In addition, those who have traded sex experienced greater physical victimization, and who have spent more time away from home, used alcohol more frequently. Moreover, trading sex and experiencing more types of sexual victimization were positively linked to more frequent marijuana usage. Age, age at first run, longest time away from home, sexual abuse, and trading sex had significant indirect effects on alcohol and/or marijuana use. Together, these factors accounted for 27% of the variance in alcohol use and 37% of the variance in marijuana use.

The impact of running away on teen girls' sexual health.

This article reviews three recent studies investigating the impact of running away on adolescent females' sexual health. There are between 500,000 and 2.8 million runaway and homeless youth in the U.S. at any point in time, and adolescent females are at increased risk as compared to males. All three studies analyzed data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and each examined a different health risk related to runaways including sexual debut, sexual assault and pregnancy. These studies show how health risks are persistent even after adolescents return home to their primary residence.

The effects of conducting a functional analysis on problem behavior in other settings.

It has been suggested that reinforcing problem behavior during functional analyses (FAs) may be unethical (e.g., Carr, 1977), the implication being that doing so may result in an increase in problem behavior outside of FA sessions. The current study assessed whether conducting a FA resulted in increases in problem behavior outside of the FA setting for 4 participants. The rate of problem behavior was measured outside the FA setting prior to and during a FA. Idiosyncratic results suggest that problem behavior outside of the FA setting may increase, decrease, or be unaffected by conducting a FA.

Exploring the role of the internet in juvenile prostitution cases coming to the attention of law enforcement.

This exploratory analysis examines the role of the Internet in juvenile prostitution cases coming to the attention of law enforcement. The National Juvenile Prostitution Study (N-JPS) collected information from a national sample of law enforcement agencies about the characteristics of juvenile prostitution cases. In comparison to non-Internet juvenile prostitution cases, Internet juvenile prostitution cases involved younger juveniles and police were more likely to treat juveniles as victims rather than offenders. In addition, these cases were significantly more likely to involve a family or acquaintance exploiter. This analysis suggests that the role of the Internet may impact legal and social service response to juveniles involved in prostitution. In addition, it highlights the need for interventions that acknowledge the vulnerabilities of youth involved in this type of commercial sexual exploitation.

A prospective study of childhood and adolescent antecedents of homelessness among a community population of African Americans.

Much is known about contemporaneous correlates of homelessness from studies of homeless individuals. However, few studies have prospectively examined early antecedents and prevalence of homelessness in community populations. We use data from a 35-year study of a community population of African Americans to examine relationships between homelessness and prior structural, family, school, and behavioral influences. Nearly 22% of males and 16% of females reported homelessness between ages 15 and 42, providing a rare estimate within an African American urban community population. In bivariate analyses, lower school bonds, depressed mood, violent behavior, and running away in adolescence are predictive for both males and females. Teen parenting and angry mood are unique influences for females, while for males, poor first grade classroom conduct and adolescent substance use are unique risks. In multivariate analyses, poor classroom conduct and weaker school bonds predict homelessness among males, while teen parenting does so for females. Running away before age 15 is strongly predictive of later homelessness for both males and females. These results reveal the relative influence of multiple, interrelated early risks on homelessness and confirm our hypothesis that factors linked to other poor outcomes also relate to homelessness, underscoring another benefit to early prevention efforts.