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Purpose: This systematic review aimed to assess (1) the level of comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol misuse reported in research studies since 2007 and (2) any associations found between specific PTSD symptom clusters and alcohol misuse. Methods: A literature search was carried out to capture any papers published from 2007 to the end of July 2012. Six hundred and twenty abstracts were identified and reviewed, and 42 papers were included in the final review after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The prevalence of comorbid alcohol misuse in those with PTSD ranged from 9.8 to 61.3 %. The prevalence of comorbid PTSD in those with alcohol misuse ranged from 2.0 to 63.0 %, and the majority of prevalence rates were over 10.0 %. Almost all of the odds ratios representing the strength of association between the conditions across a variety of populations were significant, and those ranged from 1.1 to 4.87. Of the different PTSD symptom clusters, this review found most evidence for associations between alcohol misuse and both avoidance/numbing symptoms and hyperarousal symptoms. Conclusions: Given that comorbidity appears to be common, the evidence from this systematic review supports the use of routine screening for comorbidity in populations who are known to have PTSD or alcohol misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Diarrhoea and vomiting (D & V) was common in military personnel during deployment to the initial phases of the Iraq war. D & V is an established risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study examined the prevalence of IBS in a military sample with a history of deployment to Iraq and the association between D & V and common mental disorder (CMD) with IBS. Methods: The study used data from a two-phase cohort study of military/personnel. The sample was restricted to individuals who had been deployed to Iraq before phase 1 of the study and who had completed the self-report D & V question. A measure of probable IBS was derived at both phases of the study based on self-reported symptoms in the previous month. CMD was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results: Fifty-nine percent of the sample reported a D & V event and 6.6 % met the criteria for probable IBS at phase 1. Reporting D & V, thinking one might be killed on deployment, poor physical health and CMD were associated with probable IBS at phase 1. CMD at phase 1 was strongly associated with chronic symptoms of IBS. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of D & V during deployment to the early stages of the Iraq war, yet the prevalence of probable IBS on return from deployment was relatively low. D & V was strongly associated with IBS after deployment, and CMD was a risk factor for chronic symptoms of IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the prevalence, severity and remission of desire for hastened death (DHD) in a UK representative sample of patients with advanced disease receiving palliative care and to examine the associations of desire for death. Design A cross-sectional survey with 4-week follow-up. Setting St Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham, South London, which is a large hospice with homecare, outpatient and inpatient facilities serving five London boroughs. Participants 300 patients newly referred to the hospice for palliative care. Main outcome measures The Desire for Death Rating Scale (DDRS). Results At T1 33/300 (11%) reported DHD and 11/300 (3.7%) had more serious or pervasive DHD. Of those who expressed DHD at T1 and were interviewed at both time points, 35% no longer reported these thoughts. Of those who reported no DHD at T1, 8% reported DHD at T2. The majority of those who had more severe DHD at T1 had a reduced DHD score by T2. Factors associated with T1 DHD included presence of non-malignant disease, depression, more severe physical symptoms, hopelessness and perceived loss of dignity. Conclusions The prevalence of DHD was at the lower end of that seen in previous studies using similar samples. More severe DHD was uncommon and for most part remitted to some extent during the study. The provision of symptom control and timely detection and intervention for depression coupled with a focus on optimising function, instilling hope and preserving dignity are likely to contribute to alleviation of DHD in patients with advanced illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore views and experiences of community midwives delivering postnatal care. A descriptive qualitative study design undertaking focus groups with community midwives and community midwifery team leaders. All focus groups were carried out in community midwifery care settings, across four hospitals in two NHS organisations, April to June 2018 in the West Midlands, UK. 47 midwives: 34 community midwives and 13 community midwifery team leaders took part in 7 focus groups. Inductive framework analysis of data led to the development of themes and sub-themes relating to factors influencing discharge from hospital, strategies to address increases in discharge and the broader challenges to providing care. Conditions on the postnatal ward and women's experiences of care in the hospital were factors influencing timing of discharge from hospital that resulted in community midwives managing women and babies with more complex needs. In order to manage increased workloads, there was growing but varied use of flexible approaches to providing care such as telephone consultations, postnatal clinics, and maternity support workers. In a context of short postnatal hospital stays, community midwives appear to be responding to women's needs and service pressures in the postnatal period. Wider implementation of specific strategies to organise and deliver support to women and babies may further improve care and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the continued growth of qualitative research methodology, the demand for large-scale quasi-experimental studies, and a renewed interest in mixed methodologies, there is concern regarding methods courses taught in schools or colleges of education in the United States. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of current methods course requirements in doctoral programs and explore the balance among qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods course requirements and dissertation policies and procedures. A purposeful sample (n = 100) of schools of education was collected from across the nation. The findings indicate that, overall, there is large variability in the number of students accepted into education doctoral programs as well as the number who graduate from the programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accreditation is a mark of distinction indicating that an institution has met high standards set by the profession, and an increasingly important feature of the accreditation process in higher education is ‘outcomes assessment.’ This article presents two rubrics for evaluating the quality of an institution's outcomes assessment system. One rubric is for rating the overall quality of an academic program's outcomes assessment system, and the other is for evaluating its student assessment component in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a comparison of two approaches to mentoring—the traditional model and a relatively new ‘synergistic’ or co-mentoring model—a new formal mentoring program for faculty in the School of Education at the University of Colorado at Denver, based on the synergistic approach, is described. First-year program evaluation data revealed a number of benefits for both mentors and mentees, especially many collaborative research efforts and scholarly products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the statistical techniques used in the 'Journal of Educational Psychology.' Tabulation of statistical techniques as to level of coursework; Concerns on the appropriateness of statistical techniques used in the journal; Percentage of inter-rater reliability.

The statistical techniques used in American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) research articles between 1979 and 1983 were coded by (a) type of technique, and (b) "major" or "minor" importance for comprehending the research findings. Twenty-seven types of technique were identified and further classified as "basic," "intermediate," or "advanced" level, in terms of typical statistics course progression. Of the "major" techniques, 33%, 37%, and 17% were basic, intermediate, and advanced level,, respectively. A review of statistics texts currently in use revert led that basic texts predominate and that the content coverage in both the basic-and intermediate-level texts generally matched well the techniques found in the AERJ articles. The findings suggest that students with both a basic-and intermediate-level knowledge of statistics would understand most of the techniques encountered in AERJ. Other topics addressed included an examination of trends in use of statistical techniques over time, and a comparison of AERJ techniques with those used in a sample of Journal of Educational Psychology (JEP) articles for the same time period. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

While research and policy trends have been moving toward serving a broader range of younger handicapped children in public schools and integrated settings, little information has been available regarding the perceptions of local special education administrators regarding these issues. This study surveyed the views of local special education directors in terms of which populations and ages should be served, in what settings, and for what purposes. The findings indicate that administrators see an emerging role for the public schools, are willing to serve a broader range of young handicapped children, and see the need for far more integrated settings for such children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study in which qualitative/quasi-experimental methods were used to describe the school factors associated with inclusive science instruction, and to evaluate the classroom achievement of disabled students. Inforamtion on temporary discourse in special education; Research methods employed in this study; Statistical data gathered in this research; Results of this study.

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of microcomputer use on preschoolers' knowledge of pre-reading concepts, and on their attitudes toward the microcomputer. After stratification by age and sex, 77 preschoolers were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: (a) adult-assisted microcomputer instruction; (b) adult-unassisted microcomputer use; and (c) no microcomputer use (control condition). Children in the first two groups were given three 20-min, individual sessions on the micro-computer. The software programs used were designed to teach reading readiness concepts and were typical commercial programs available for this age group. A cognitive test was administered as a pretest and posttest, and an attitudinal interview was administered post-study only. The cognitive data were analyzed with a multi variate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). There were no significant treatment effects. The attitudinal data analysis revealed significantly greater interest in the microcomputer among the control-group children; however, that group's interest declined significantly after they were given post-study, 20-min orientations to the microcomputer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness is characterized by skills such as heightened awareness and acceptance of internal experiences, which may be helpful for people who have experienced trauma. The consistency and strength of the relationship between trait mindfulness and PTSD symptomology, however, is unknown. Studies were included in this review if they were published in an English language peer-reviewed journal, reported on a correlational relationship between validated measures of mindfulness and PTSD, and all participants were over the age of 18. A random effects meta-analysis showed that there was a robust, pooled relationship between total mindfulness and PTSD (r + = −0.39, 95% CI [-0.47 to −0.30]), based on 35 datasets with 13,370 participants, with low risk of publication bias. Sixteen articles reported on facets of mindfulness and PTSD symptomology [5,206 to 5,600 participants]: the strongest associations were with Act with Awareness (r + = −0.37) and Non-judge (r + = −0.37), followed by Describe (r + = −0.22) and Non-react (r + = −0.21). Observe was not significantly associated with PTSD symptoms. Results from this analysis suggest that people who are more mindful also report fewer symptoms of PTSD ; the strength of the relationship varies across mindfulness facets. There was high heterogeneity across studies. • A meta-analysis measured the relationship between trait mindfulness and PTSD symptoms. • Greater levels of trait mindfulness were associated with fewer symptoms of PTSD. • Facets of mindfulness had different relationships with PTSD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Indicators of socioeconomic status (SES), such as education and occupational grade, are known to be associated with alcohol use but this has not been examined among individuals with a mental health problem. This study developed latent classes of SES, their associations with alcohol use, and examined the indirect effect via social support and neighbourhood environment. Methods: A secondary analysis of the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey was conducted among participants with a mental health problem (N = 1,436). SES classes were determined using a range of indicators. Alcohol use was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Social support and neighbourhood neighbourhood environment were measured using validated questionnaires. A latent class analysis was conducted to develop SES classes. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations of SES and alcohol use. Structural equation models tested indirect effects via social support and neighbourhood environment. Results: A four-class model of SES was best-fitting; "economically inactive,GCSE-level and lower educated,social renters", "intermediate/routine occupation,GCSE-level educated,mixed owner/renters", "retired, no formal education,homeowners", and "professional occupation,degree-level educated,homeowners". Compared to "professional occupation,degree-level educated, homeowners", SES classes were more likely to be non-drinkers; odds were highest for "economically inactive,GCSE-level and lower educated,social renters" (OR = 4.96,95%CI 3.10–7.93). "Retired, no formal education,homeowners" were less likely to be hazardous drinkers (OR = 0.35,95%CI 0.20–0.59). Associations between "economically inactive,GCSE-level and lower educated,social renters" and "retired, no formal education,homeowners" and non- and harmful drinking via social support and neighbourhood environment were significant. Conclusions: In contrast to the alcohol harms paradox, among individuals with a mental health problem, lower SES groups were more likely to be non-drinkers while no associations with harmful drinking were found. There is also a need to examine the alcohol harms paradox in the context of the area in which they live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted mental health in the general population in Britain. Ethnic minority people suffered disproportionately, in terms of health and economic outcomes, which may contribute to poorer mental health. We compare the prevalence of depression and anxiety across 18 ethnic groups in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data (February–November 2021) from 12,161 participants aged 18–60 years old (N with data on outcomes = 11,540 for depression & 11,825 for anxiety), obtained from the Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS). Data were weighted to account for selection bias and coverage bias. Weighted regression models examined ethnic differences in depression (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7). Effect modification analyses explored whether ethnic differences in outcomes were consistent within age and sex sub-groups. Compared to White British people, greater odds of anxiety caseness (and greater anxiety symptoms) were observed for Arab (OR = 2.57; 95 % CI = 1.35–4.91), Mixed White and Black Caribbean (1.57; 1.07–2.30), any other Black (2.22, 1.28–3.87) and any other Mixed (1.58; 1.08–2.31) ethnic groups. Lower odds of depression caseness (and lower depressive symptoms) were identified for Chinese (0.63; 0.46–0.85), Black African (0.60; 0.46–0.79), and any other Asian (0.55; 0.42–0.72) ethnic groups. Cross-sectional data limits the opportunity to identify changes in ethnic inequalities in mental health over time. We have identified certain ethnic groups who may require more targeted mental health support to ensure equitable recovery post-pandemic. Despite finding lower levels of depression for some ethnic groups, approximately one third of people within each ethnic group met criteria for depression. • Cross-sectional analysis of the largest UK survey of ethnic minority people • Ethnic differences in depression and anxiety were compared against White British. • Arab and any other Black people had more than double the odds of reporting anxiety. • Mixed White and Black Caribbean and any other Mixed people also had greater odds. • Lower levels of depression observed for some ethnic minority groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Mental health outcomes at the end of the British involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts: a cohort study" which appeared in the October 8, 2018 issue.