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This chapter focuses on the contribution of psychological science to the improvement of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) procedures and police officers’ skills when responding to intimate partner violence (IPV). Specifically, a review of the most important violence risk factors and evidence based risk assessment tools is presented, along with the necessary safety planning and risk management procedure. Moreover, the chapter covers strategies and skills that help police officers’ in communicating effectively with IPV victims. The authors reflect on the consequences of exposure to IPV on child wellbeing and development and state that this is another facet of the problem that needs attention when responding to this crime. After presenting a study on the perceptions of victims, police officers and experts about the competencies needed when responding to IPV, the results show that LEAs need to invest more time in police training and education. The authors conclude that incorporating more psychological research in police training schemes will help in achieving more effective and coordinated responses to IPV.

This chapter uses findings from the Foul Play Project (FPP) to analyze which factors may facilitate or limit law enforcement interagency cooperation in cases involving deaths and possible foul play. The FPP is based on a random sample of 5,366 cases involving possible foul play that were reported in the media. Factors that may influence law enforcement interagency cooperation include the characteristics of the death incidents; victims’ behaviors, characteristics of the victims’ family members, and type of crimes involved.

Maritime piracy (MP) refers to robbery, plundering, kidnapping, and related crimes that are perpetrated at sea or around coastal and territorial waters. Agents who do not have a commission from a sovereign country commit these crimes. MP is a controversial term. One problem has to do with the site of the crime. According to Article 101 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, piracy is committed on the high seas (Mo 2002). However, 72% of MP attacks occur while the vessel is berthed or anchored in port (Dillon 2000, June 22).

In this chapter, the results of the Foul Play Project (FPP) are used to investigate the various conditions that increase the risk of drug misuse and outcomes such as drug overdoses (DODs) and drug poisonings. This analysis investigates the ways in which law enforcement professionals respond to DODs and other drug- and alcohol- related behaviors as involving foul play. The traumatic and stigmatizing effects of drug misuse and DODs on victims and their families and communities are presented. The adverse social, educational, and occupational consequences of drug misuse and DODs and financial costs are evaluated. FPP results are based on a random sample of 5,366 cases involving possible foul play that were reported in the media.

In this chapter, the Missing Person Project (MPP) findings are used to investigate the characteristics and motivation of persons who make false claims and carry out hoaxes about kidnappings and missing persons. This chapter examines the ways in which police respond to the uncertainties and complexities of these possible false reports and hoaxes. This analysis examines the process by which various conditions may influence the process in which law enforcement personnel, judges, family members, community residents and others respond to the uncertainties and complexities of these false claims. The traumatic and stigmatizing effects of these false kidnapping and missing person police reports and hoaxes are investigated.

“Carjacking is defined as completed or attempted robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger to the victim. It differs from other motor vehicle theft because the victim is present and the offender uses or threatens to use force” (Klaus 2004). Carjacking may include other offenses such as kidnapping, robbery, rape, and homicide. Other types of motor vehicles are also hijacked. For example, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an ambulance was reportedly hijacked with a sleeping ambulance worker inside (Associated Press, 2014, February 8).

Background: Several studies have established an association between diabetic neuropathy and depressive symptoms. There is a link between depression and peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients, suggesting an increased likelihood that diabetic patients will experience depressive symptoms related to lower-extremity peripheral neuropathy and arthritis during middle age and later life. The goal of this investigation was to determine whether there are age differences between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients regarding their feelings of hopelessness and toe pain. Methods: A large population-based sample of 32,006 adults from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey was analyzed with multivariate statistical procedures. We performed χ2 and correlation procedures to test the null hypothesis that there are no age or sex differences between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients in their reporting of feelings of hopelessness and toe pain symptoms in the previous 12 months. Results: There were significant differences between age and sex groups of insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients in reporting feelings of hopelessness and toe pain symptoms, rejecting the null hypothesis. Correlational analysis conducted between the variables of hopelessness and toe pain yielded significant correlations in insulin-dependent (r = .28; P = .0009; α = .05), and non-insulin-dependent (r = 0.19; P = .001; α = .05) women older than 61 years, concluding that diabetic women are more likely to experience hopelessness and toe pain in that age group regardless of insulin status. Conclusions: Clinicians should incorporate depression and toe pain symptoms into their assessment and treatment, especially in diabetic women older than 61 years. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(6): 445–451, 2010)

Chapter 9 provides an overview of health problems facing runaway and homeless young people. Youth who are on the streets often have difficulty accessing health care and have an increased probability of developing mental, physical health, and social difficulties. Runaway young people may have an increased probability of suffering from problems such as pneumonia, scabies, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder, prostitution, and substance use. This chapter discusses the factors that increase the likelihood that homeless and runaway young people will develop health problems. This chapter evaluates the degree to which homeless and runaway young people who are victims of human trafficking or engage in other risky behaviors such as survival sex may have a higher probability of suffering victimization and poor health outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immune virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Moreover, this chapter assesses the degree to which runaway and homeless youth who lack shelter and access to healthy food may face a greater likelihood of having food insecurity and related health problems. This chapter assesses the extent to which runaway and homeless youth suffer impaired functioning as a result of their health difficulties. In this chapter, the health status and level of impairment of adults who were former runaways are presented.

The computerized student-patient encounter log system represents a considerable improvement in terms of efficiency and accuracy over traditional paper-based student-patient encounter reporting systems. The computerized log not only facilitates faculty monitoring of students’ assessment and management of health problems at geographically disparate locations but also provides a rich resource of data for enhancing clinical teaching and learning experiences. However, little is known about podiatric medical students’ experiences with Web-based computerized student-patient encounter log systems. The findings reported in this article suggest that the computerized student-patient encounter log was considered to be useful and effective by most of the podiatric medical students surveyed and represents an improvement over traditional paper-based recording systems. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(6): 556–563, 2005)

Between 10 and 15% of children and teens are overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control, “overweight” is defined as at or above the 95th percentile on the CDC’s body mass index (BMI) for age growth charts.

In 2007, about 2 million children under 15 years of age were living with HIV/AIDS around the world (UNAIDS, July 2008). Innovations in treatment have increased the life expectancy of children with HIV and enhanced their quality of life (QOL) (Burns et al., 2008). Sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest number of children under 15 with 1 million, followed by South/Southeast Asia with 140,000, and Latin America with 44,000. In North America, 4,400 children under 15 were living with HIV/AIDS in 2007. Minority children are disproportionately affected by the condition. New drug treatments and voluntary testing have helped to reduce the mortality rate.

Sensory integration dysfunction (SID) (also known as regulatory sensory processing disorder, sensory processing dysfunction, or sensory processing dysfunction) is a neurological disorder that involves impairment in processing data from the different senses (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the vestibular system (movement), and proprioception (body awareness).

Depression in children and adolescents is not only widely recognized as a significant public health concern, but the prevalence rates are increasing. As with adult depression, there are numerous possible symptoms, including the cardinal symptoms of depressed mood and loss of pleasure in usual and customary activities (anhedonia). Sleep problems, appetite or weight changes, decreased motivation, and interference with memory and concentration may also be present. Other common symptoms include feelings of guilt or worthlessness, diminished ability to make decisions, and psychomotor agitation or retardation. Furthermore, depression in children and adolescents is typically associated with social withdrawal, interpersonal problems, decreased school performance, and increased school attendance issues. Depression also increases the risk of suicide in children and adolescents (Bhatia and Bhatia, 2007). Suicidal thoughts, ideation, rumination, plans, and attempts may be present, depending on the depth of the depression. Moreover, depression is linked to impairment in social and family functioning. There is also substantial comorbidity between depression and other psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety disorders and substance use and abuse.

Health-care access, utilization, quality, and expenditures have changed for children and youth in recent decades. In the USA, Simpson et al. (2004) used the 1996–2001 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1995–2000) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization project, and the National Medical Expenditure Survey (1987) to evaluate trends in insurance coverage, health-care utilization, perceived quality of care, and costs for children and youth. The authors discovered that since 1987, health care for children and youth has changed substantially, especially between 1987 and 1996. Their results showed that insurance coverage has improved, care has shifted from hospital to ambulatory settings, hospital use has declined, and the costs related to the care of children and youth as a percentage of the total health-care costs have declined.

This article reviews the extent of health-care students’ computer literacy and presents the results of a survey of podiatric medical students’ computer literacy. The results of this survey indicate that podiatric medical students are more likely than other health-care students to rate their computer literacy as good or very good. There was no gender difference in this self-reported computer knowledge. The implications for designing and using Web-based instructional materials and technology for podiatric medical students are discussed. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(4): 375–381, 2004)

Although studies have documented that domestic abuse is widely prevalent, many clinicians do not screen their male patients for violence. Physicians and other health care providers have an ethical duty to diagnose and treat domestic violence, including domestic violence offenders, and may be required to report suspected partner abuse under various state mandatory domestic violence reporting statutes (Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association, 1992) (See Chapter 8-The Police and Courts).

When dealing with abused pregnant patients, practitioners should be aware of the patient’s psychological reaction to partner violence and realize that the patient may be suffering from depression and anxiety (Austin, 2003; Campbell, et al., 1996). (See Chapter 5-Psychosocial Effects of Violence and Chapter 7-Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal Outcomes). Clinicians therefore should assess and treat abused women for depression and anxiety throughout the pregnancy and during the postpartum period. When the victim would be in immediate danger if she returned home, the clinician should consider hospitalizing her overnight in order to help her develop a long-term safety plan.

Efforts have been underway to help pediatricians, nurses, and other health care providers better understand the relationship between partner abuse and child abuse. With this information, practitioners will be better able to assess and manage child abuse in the context of partner violence.

It is not surprising that the victims of partner abuse have high rates of hospitalization and usage of emergency medical services as well as increasing numbers of visits to shelters, mental health facilities, social services workers, and nursing professionals (Humphreys, Parker, and Campbell, 2001; Liebschutz, Mulvey, and Samet, 1997; Sansone, Wiederman, and Sanson, 1997).

In this chapter, the impact of partner violence on maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes are presented.

Universal screening for intimate partner violence is an important policy that is becoming prevalent among professionals and organizations today (Campbell, 2001). Universal or routine screening refers to a health care system policy of screening all females for evidence of intimate partner violence. This process is essential to the implementation of the laws mandating the reporting of abuse (See Chapter 8-The Police and Courts).

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in World Wide Web–based teaching and learning materials; however, present-day systems for recording student-patient interactions have trailed behind other academic areas in the appropriate use of technology. This article reviews the implementation of an innovative Web-based computerized student-patient log. This system represents considerable improvement in terms of efficiency and accuracy over traditional paper-based reporting systems. It facilitates faculty tracking of students’ clinical experiences at geographically disparate locations and allows gaps in student knowledge to be more easily identified. Moreover, the Web-based system has the added advantage of making students responsible for their own learning, providing them with a sense of ownership of the data collected. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 93(2): 150-156, 2003)

In a pilot study, the authors distributed a brief questionnaire dealing with psychosocial concerns to 200 students awaiting treatment in the student health service at a large urban university. They hypothesized that a questionnaire administered immediately before students visited the physician or family nurse practitioner would encourage the students to discuss problems such as anxiety and depression during the medical session. Using the questionnaire, they found, led to the practitioner's discovery of a condition requiring treatment or explaining a problem the student had not discussed in previous visits. Such a questionnaire, the authors suggest, could be a valuable means for identifying psychosocial concerns significant enough to require treatment or further evaluation.

Objective: The study investigates the degree to which pregnancy is related to partner stalking and violence. Facilitating factors associated with domestic violence also are evaluated. Methods: A random sample of 519 newly filed domestic restraining orders was used. Logistic regression and χ 2 were used to test the null hypothesis that there are no significant relationships between pregnancy and domestic violence and stalking. Correlates of domestic violence during pregnancy also were analyzed. Results: With regard to violence, the null hypothesis was rejected; for stalking, however, the null hypothesis was accepted. Conclusion: Partner violence, but not stalking, is positively related to pregnancy. Family stress and multiple, closely spaced pregnancies are possible correlates of domestic violence during pregnancy.

As osteopathic medical educators look for ways to enhance their training programs in a fiscally responsible manner, previously underused training methods deserve a second look. This article presents four ways that patients can serve as teachers and evaluators of residents' and students' clinical skills.