Roles for psychologists in emerging models of school-related health and mental health services.

Describes contributions of school, clinical, community, and health psychology to emerging school-based and school-linked health and mental health service delivery models. The author contends that these 4 areas integrate well to inform the development and targets of health service delivery approaches in and linked to the schools and to set the stage for defining the emerging and future roles of psychologists providing health and mental health care in these contexts. Emerging and future roles of psychologists as health care providers through schools include roles in development, implementation, and administration of these models, direct and indirect service provision, interfacing of health and educational outcomes, and applied research and evaluation activities. Implications for the education and training of current and future psychologists are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of psychology in the delivery of health services.

Considers whether psychology is both a health science and a health profession. The question is answered affirmatively. The pattern of psychological research in the health domain is analyzed. Current and evolving demands for psychological service in both preventive and treatment contexts are surveyed. Implications for training at both doctoral and subdoctoral levels are examined. (52 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Economics and mental health services.

J. A. Buck and R. Hirschman (see record 1980-26240-001) may have applied the tools of supply and demand analysis somewhat casually. The existence of sizable externalities, poor consumer information, and a maldistribution of services across the nation must be incorporated into the economic models that are applied to the mental health services system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A meaningful role for graduate students in disaster mental health services.

Describes the role of graduate students in providing disaster mental health services through a program with the American Red Cross (ARC). ARC Disaster Mental Health Services teams focus on the immediate emotional needs and possible posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with the shock of a natural disaster, including the needs and reactions of both victims and volunteers, especially the latter. The implementation of volunteer stress teams by the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, including 25 students and faculty, is also described. The teams were designed to help assess and limit the effects of acute and traumatic stress resulting from disaster flooding. Specific objectives included assisting local mental health and social service agencies, distributing information, providing support, and triaging victims needing professional mental health services and other flood recovery services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ecological constraints on mental health services.

Proposes 4 principles for community mental health programing that are consistent with an ecological thesis: (1) Assessment methods are focused on the total population rather than on those persons who presently receive a mental health service. (2) Mental health services are designed to reduce a high risk for community service. (3) Professional and research services are created as local community resources. "By initiating the informal coordination of current services, the community mental health program helps to create specific new community services as needed." (4) The program plans for change; this involves mobilizing anticipatory problem-solving resources not only for clients but for professionals as well. A "conception of community mental health work based upon the ecological thesis that adaptive programs change" is presented. (39 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An approach to cost accounting and cost effectiveness in the delivery of campus mental health services.

A cost accounting system developed at the University of Texas Counseling Center is described, and a rationale for developing cost accounting systems in mental health is provided. The system is placed in the context of an evaluation model that has evolved at the University's counseling center. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of self-help materials for anxiety and depression in mental health services: A national survey of psychologists in Norway.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 42(3) of Professional Psychology: Research and Practice (see record 2011-11548-002). The author's affiliations were listed incorrectly. The correct affiliations are in the correction.] How do psychologists in clinical practice perceive and use self-help materials for clients with anxiety and depression? The use of self-help materials with guidance from a therapist has been suggested as a way of meeting the increasing need for mental health services. The present study investigated factors relevant to the use of self-help materials for the treatment of anxiety and depression among psychologists employed in mental health services. Among 1863 eligible clinical psychologists in Norway, 815 (43.7%) participated in a national survey. A total of 93.5% of the participants had recommended self-help materials to clients, and approximately half (55.1%) had received requests from their clients regarding self-help materials. Self-help materials were recommended as an adjunct and not as an alternative to therapist contact by 73.0% of respondents, by 16.6% for relapse prevention, and by 1.2% to clients on a waiting list. Internet/computer-based programs were recommended by 2.2% of the participants. The practitioner's previous use of self-help materials to enhance his or her therapy skills and knowledge of self-help materials was related to use of self-help materials with clients. Psychologists working in child mental health services recommended self-help less often than those working in adult services. These results have implications for future efforts to disseminate effective self-help materials through increased attention toward self-help interventions in training and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

DRGs and the administration of mental health services.

Contends that if diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) were applied to cover mental health services, there is considerable doubt that they would adequately reimburse for costs. They also may undermine the quality of services and encourage managing for profitability rather than results. It is recommended that other funding patterns be sought and that the organization of mental health services and the treatment technology in use be improved. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experience with prospective payment in the Veterans Administration: Its impact on the delivery of mental health services.

Contends that the experience of the Veterans Administration in the use of prospective approaches that rely on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) to guide hospital budget development and control costs is instructive in the debate on bringing inpatient psychiatric services under the prospective payment system used in the Medicare program. It is suggested that comprehensive mental health benefits enable the system to respond flexibly to the major dislocations that can result from the use of a patient classification system such as the DRGs, which many feel is problematic for psychiatric patients. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The public's knowledge about psychologists and other mental health professionals.

A random sample of New London County, Connecticut, residents received a questionnaire about 9 mental health professions or professionals (MHPs): clergyperson, marriage and family counselor, nonpsychiatric physician, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, psychologist, psychotherapist, social worker, and telephone crisis counselor. Respondents defined each MHP and reported their satisfaction with treatment, which MHP they would recommend, their referral source(s), licensure requirements, and fees. A mixed-design ANOVA was computed, with comfortableness as the dependent variable; age, sex, saw an MHP, and education, the between-Ss variables; and the 9 MHPs, the within-Ss variable. A significant MHP effect showed that physicians were perceived as slightly more comfortable than were psychologists (nonsignificant), who, nevertheless, were perceived as exceeding all other trained MHPs in the comfortableness experienced by their clients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The changing role of psychologists in health maintenance organizations.

Discusses the functioning of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) with reference to characteristics that make them receptive to interdisciplinary programs involving psychologists. Interdisciplinary cooperation is considered in relation to status issues and the importance of consultation skills. Two HMO programs on smoking cessation and coping with chronic pain are described to illustrate the role of psychologists in the treatment of medical conditions in which behavior change is important. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implementation status of the APA guidelines for delivery of services by school psychologists.

Since the professional expertise and effort that went into the Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services, little has been done to systematically assess commitment to or implementation of the Guidelines. To provide this information for school psychology, we designed two national surveys of directors of school psychology services in public school systems and school psychology consultants in state departments of education. Among the respondents, there was generally strong support for the majority of the guidelines. However, there was some concern about those guidelines that recommend that the professional school psychologist provide supervision and direction to all school psychology service units and be responsible ultimately for all services. Obstacles to guideline implementation are catalogued, and recommendations for the revision of the Guidelines are made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A survey of psychologists at health maintenance organizations and community mental health centers.

Conducted a national survey of psychologists at health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and a comparison group of psychologists at community mental health centers. Activities and attitudes, and overall staffing patterns are examined. Recommendations are made for increasing the involvement of psychologists at HMOs. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New perspectives regarding positive mental health.

Critical comments regarding the terms "mental health" are indicated. "Needed is some rubric that at once retains the good will and enthusiastic participation of members of the mental health profession and their medical, health, and welfare colleagues, and yet effectively elicits the involvement of members of other social sciences, the humanities, education, religion, and philosophy—groups already committed to the exploration of new horizons and to guiding man toward the fulfillment of his aspirations." 4 areas of injury are noted "to illustrate some of the new perspectives for psychology in research and action regarding positive mental health or creative growth.… Greatly needed at this time are new conceptualizations that have compelling significance for all psychologist." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Delivery of mental health services in the changing health care system.

Comments on the anonymous article, "Hidden benefits of managed care" (see record 1995-33982-001), in which the author expresses concern that managed care organizations are making decisions on the basis of economics and not the well-being of the patient. B. Miller and L. Farber empathize with the author's concerns, but contend that, if structured properly, HMOs can become the vehicle for the reengineering of mental health services that will produce the best patient outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of psychology in the delivery of health services.

Comments on W. Schofield's (1969) statement that there are areas in health care delivery that have been untapped by psychologists. The National Center for Health Services Research and Development provides support in these areas of research. However, psychologists have failed to take advantage of these opportunities. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Opportunities in public policy to support infant and early childhood mental health: The role of psychologists and policymakers.

Infant and early childhood mental health practices can be supported by policies and professional standards of care that foster the healthy development of young children. Policies that support infants and toddlers include those that strengthen their families to provide a family environment that promotes mental wellness. Policy issues for infants, toddlers, and young children have come to the forefront of thinking as children need a “voice” to advocate for their support and care. This article (a) highlights several important policy areas that support the social–emotional development of very young children and (b) gives examples of current policy accomplishments and challenges. The article offers a policy agenda to promote the mental health of infants and young children and suggests ways that psychologists can engage with policymakers to promote policies that foster infant mental health, including contributing to the knowledge base that informs policy decisions, educating the public and policymakers about early childhood development and mental wellness, forming community partnerships to identify and address infant mental health risks, and participating in the development of policy recommendations that improve access to evidence-based practices in infant mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of carers in evaluating mental health services for older people

OBJECTIVES: To examine, using the published literature and local service experience, the contributions that carers can make to the development and evaluation of specialist mental health services for the elderly. METHODS: MEDLINE search for relevant papers about carers and the elderly, especially with mental disorders; review of recent experience of service planning, implementation and evaluation in the Cambridge area. RESULTS: Increased emphasis on the role of carers in recent literature, extending into acknowledgement of the carer perspective in official publications; few papers on the role of carers specifically in evaluating services, with only one study looking solely at an old age psychiatry service. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable scope for involving carers in the development and evaluation of services, though there are also some potential concerns, not least that carers and users may have different perspectives. These issues are discussed, along with possible future developments, such as the need for a standardized assessment of carer satisfaction.