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Background and Aims The relationship between violence and problem gambling in general population samples is under-researched and requires further attention to inform treatment and prevention efforts. We investigated the relationship between gambling problems and violence among men and sought to determine if the link can be accounted for by mental disorders, alcohol and drug dependence and impulsivity. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting A UK representative general population survey conducted in 2009. Participants A total of 3025 UK men aged 18-64 years. Measurements Binary logistic regression was used to examine relationships. Outcome measures included gambling behaviour and self-reports of violence. Covariates included alcohol and drug dependence, mental illness, impulsivity and socio-demography. Findings Problem gambling and probable pathological gambling were associated with increased odds of the perpetration of violence [adjusted odd ratios (AOR) = 3.09, confidence interval (CI) = 1.90-5.00 and 4.09, CI = 2.76-6.30, respectively] and a range of other behaviours, such as using a weapon (AORs = 4.93, CI = 2.52-9.63 and 6.33, CI = 3.52-11.38) and the perpetration of intimate partner violence (AOR = 9.80, CI =2.45-39.04). The results were attenuated when adjusted for comorbid mental illness and impulsivity, but remained statistically significant. Alcohol and drug dependence had the most impact; relationships were most attenuated when they added into the models, with the latter having the largest effect. Conclusions Among men in the United Kingdom, self-reports of problem/pathological gambling remain predictive of a range of measures of violent behaviour after adjusting for alcohol and drug dependence, comorbid mental disorder and impulsivity; of the covariates, alcohol and drug dependence have the greatest effect in attenuating the gambling-violence association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Evaluation of psychotherapy impact and effect has advanced substantially in the last half century. The development of reliable standardised measures has been especially important. However, several issues remain controversial. One such issue is the extent to which standardised measures adequately capture change and their integration with normal clinical practice. A second is how to deal with the not uncommon situation where one outcome measure indicates change and another does not. Finally, researchers are often confronted with cases where standardised measures are used, but some participants quit therapy without completing them. Aim In this study, we present and discuss an outcome assessment method developed in the context of a naturalistic, mixed-methods study of 22 treatments of psychosomatic patients. Methodology This multimodal, multi-informant method involved a thorough and individualised analysis of transcripts, questionnaires and other clinical data, the consideration of patient and therapist's opinions about outcome, and the use of clinical judgment to integrate different indicators and classify outcome, with the aid of two auditors reviewing the process. Findings Eight cases improved, six deteriorated, and eight did not change. Three case vignettes illustrate the application of the method, and some possible sources of bias of patient and therapist's opinion about outcome are identified. Implications Clinical judgment can help integrate results from standardised measures and other data sources into outcome assessment normally practised by clinicians. This method, besides its high cost in time and resources, can also be useful in research to rescue outcome assessment when collection of outcome measures fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Selection of candidates for clinical psychology programmes is arguably the most important decision made in determining the clinical psychology workforce. However, there are few models to inform the development of selection tools to support selection procedures. The study, using a factor analytic structure, has operationalised the model predicting applicants' capabilities. Method Eighty-eight clinical applicants for entry into a postgraduate clinical psychology programme were assessed on a series of tasks measuring eight capabilities: guided reflection, communication skills, ethical decision making, writing, conceptual reasoning, empathy, and awareness of mind and self-observation. Results Factor analysis revealed three capabilities: labelled 'awareness' accounting for 35.71% of variance; 'reflection' accounting for 20.56%; and ' reasoning' accounting for 18.24% of variance. Fourth year grade point average ( GPA) did not correlate with performance on any of the selection capabilities other than a weak correlation with performance on the ethics capability. Conclusions Eight selection capabilities are identified for the selection of candidates independent of GPA. While the model is tentative, it is hoped that the findings will stimulate the development and validation of assessment procedures with good predictive validity which will benefit the training of clinical psychologists and, ultimately, effective service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study related to the impact of cognitive remediation treatment on schizophrenics. It states that 70 patients in a day rehabilitation programme received either cognitive remediation or physical exercise and were evaluated for neurocognition and functional performance. It mentions that functional and neurocognitive outcomes were positive in schizophrenics who received cognitive remediation.

The treatment of people suffering from psychosomatic disorders poses important clinical challenges to psychoanalytic practice, including early abandonment, difficulties in engagement and superficial involvement in the treatment. The lack of systematic research on the subject suggests that a better understanding of the resistances and dynamics involved in such episodes is needed. Using supervision group to study treatments and inspired by action-research paradigm, this paper presents the results of an 18-month mixed-method qualitative clinical research on treating 22 cases. Thematic analysis revealed a frequent pattern of resistance to experience emotions that presented in two states: failure of repression (thin-skin) and massive repression (thick-skin). Narcissistic dynamics in the therapeutic relationship taking the form of ‘resistance to transference’ and a tendency to action were evident in both presentations. Symmetric and complementary counter-transference reactions, which compromised treatment, were also identified. Some technical implications are highlighted, such as the need to focus in the recovery of the patient's actual emotional experience and to understand such experience in the context of the ‘here and now’ of the therapeutic encounter. These findings suggest the need for a flexible approach to therapeutic work that moves between an ‘intrapsychic’ and a ‘relational’ focus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]