 
Welcome to another edition of the disability e-news.
We’ve had some great progress since the last edition of the e-news. I’m particularly pleased with today’s launch of the Liveable Housing Design standards – a leap forward for the rights ot people with disabilities in the place it matters most: their own homes. The aim is eventually for adaptable design to be incorporated into every new house – so that people with disabilities don’t have to spend a fortune adapting houses to suit their needs. A little bit of extra expense at the design stage saves a lot of money down the track.
You will find more information about Liveable Housing Design below, not to mention some other good news and achievements from the last month.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the e-news!
Regards,
Bill.
Â
Liveable Housing Design standards
This morning we launched the first ever Liveable Housing Design standards in Australia, a voluntary standard that will encourage people to build homes that can be adapted to meet their needs throughout their lifetime.
And the Gillard Labor Government putting $1 million forward to promote Liveable Housing with the property and construction sectors.
This is a great leap forward and a fantastic example of what can be achieved when government, industry and people with disabilities all work together.
The launch also received some good media coverage, including reports in the Sydney Morning HeraldDaily Telegraph. and the
National Disability Awards – we need your help!
We need your help to get as many nominations for the National Disability Awards as possible before the 23 July deadline!
Nominations are open to people with disability who have contributed to their community, those who have helped improve the lives of people with disability, and people with disability or their carers who have overcome adversity to achieve personal goals.
Last year’s awards recognised the commitment of some great advocates and fighters for people with disability. It’d be great to see all disability organisations make at least one nomination for someone they believe has made a real difference.
The fight for equal rights and fair treatment for people with disability is carried out every day by thousands of Australians who deserve recognition through these Awards.
Award recipients will be announced at a gala dinner held at the Great Hall in Parliament House, Canberra on 23 November 2010.
All Australians can nominate someone they know in one of the six Award categories.
- Minister’s Lifelong Achievement Award
- Young Disability Challenge Award
- Business Award
- Local Government Award
- Social Inclusion Award
- Accessible Housing Award
Â
National Consultation Process on UN Convention on Disability Rights
In 2008 the Australian Government signed up to the UN Convention on the rights of people with disability. As part of this we are required to report every four years on the progress we’re making in promoting those rights.
A draft report has been released and is open for comment from the community.
Â
ADE Funding
Australian Disability Enterprises have expressed concern since the Federal Budget was handed down in May about the lack of a funding increase for them in 2010/2011. I have held several meetings with ADE representatives and I have some great news to announce. ADEs will get an extra $4.5 million in 2010/2011, bringing their total Government funding to more than $204 million. We have also introduce a red-tape reduction trial, which means that ADEs will need to spend less time undertaking assessments of workers.
Â
Latest media releases
- $640,000 for inquiry into national disability care and support
- $1.4 million to help deliver print material to people with disability
- $700,000 for Barkuma disability enterprise building upgrade
- Government releases website accessibility national transition strategy
- New tax laws, to help people with severe disabilities, their families and carers, pass through Parliament
- $3 million Innovation Fund boost for disability employment
Latest speeches & transcripts
 
Hi,
Thousands of children with autism are suffering from mental health problems. Needlessly.
Please take a minute to email your MP and help us to change this.Â
Children with autism can have good mental health just as anyone else can, yet too many children with autism are being let down by a mental health system that fails to understand this: we are campaigning to change this.Â
It’s been a month since we launched our You Need To Know campaign which is calling on the Government and NHS to provide better mental health services for children with autism. Thousands of supporters have already added their names to the petition and over a third of MPs have pledged support for the campaign as a result. Please take a minute to email your MP today. The more MPs we can get to support our campaign, the more likely it is that the Government will make this a real priority.Â
There are also lots of other ways that you can get involved in our campaign. Nominating a Happiness Hero, anyone who has helped promote the mental and emotional wellbeing of a child with autism, is great a way to help us show how better understanding of autism can help thousands of children with autism. You can also download our parents’ guide and other resources here and find about the wide range of support and services for people living with autism here.
Â
Thank you for your support.
Mark Lever
Chief Executive
Families need to know that they are not alone – that we are here to help them every step of the way. We provide a range of support and services around the country for people living with autism, many funded by voluntary donations. To see what’s available for you, including information and support for people affected by the issues raised by the You Need To Know campaign, please visit our website.
Hi,
Thousands of children with autism are suffering from mental health problems. Needlessly.
Please take a minute to email your MP and help us to change this.Â
Children with autism can have good mental health just as anyone else can, yet too many children with autism are being let down by a mental health system that fails to understand this: we are campaigning to change this.Â
It’s been a month since we launched our You Need To Know campaign which is calling on the Government and NHS to provide better mental health services for children with autism. Thousands of supporters have already added their names to the petition and over a third of MPs have pledged support for the campaign as a result. Please take a minute to email your MP today. The more MPs we can get to support our campaign, the more likely it is that the Government will make this a real priority.Â
There are also lots of other ways that you can get involved in our campaign. Nominating a Happiness Hero, anyone who has helped promote the mental and emotional wellbeing of a child with autism, is great a way to help us show how better understanding of autism can help thousands of children with autism. You can also download our parents’ guide and other resources here and find about the wide range of support and services for people living with autism here.
Â
Thank you for your support.
Mark Lever
Chief Executive
Families need to know that they are not alone – that we are here to help them every step of the way. We provide a range of support and services around the country for people living with autism, many funded by voluntary donations. To see what’s available for you, including information and support for people affected by the issues raised by the You Need To Know campaign, please visit our website.
 
How to Ask for What You Want: a Fable and a Story
The Fable
A traveler walked alone down a country road on a cloudy day, wearing an old cloak. The Sun and the North wind decided to have a contest to see who could remove it.
“This will be easy,” the North wind said. He sent a powerful blast of cold air toward the traveler, who only pulled his cloak tighter. The North wind tried again and again, blowing so hard that birds were pushed from their paths, and leaves scattered from the trees. The shivering traveler hunched against the wind and held onto his cloak.
“Let me try,” said the Sun, as he moved from behind the clouds. As he gently poured his warmth on the traveler, the traveler opened his coat and within minutes took it off. (Aesop)
The Story
When I first saw a couple I’ll call Rachel and Jim, they were ready to divorce. Tension was high in the room as they talked.
“He doesn’t listen,” Rachel said, her voice filled with frustration. “He never listens. I try and try and I just can’t get through. It’s like he’s locked away someplace and I don’t have the key. What’s the matter with him? What’s the matter with me?”
Jim stared out the window. When I asked what it was like for him to hear this, he said, “I’m used to it. I never get it right and I get tired of trying. It’s like she has a scorecard and I come up short every time. I can’t do any more.”
hey were caught in a negative cycle, where each person’s reaction helped keep it going. After I understood how each of them felt, I helped them see how they were stuck in that cycle. When Rachel felt frustrated, she was also lonely and wanted to feel close. But instead she complained.
When Jim heard her complaints, he shut down. Underneath he was lonely too. But he saw how arguments pushed them apart, and tried hard to keep things calm. His quiet made Rachel more frustrated, and Rachel’s complaints made him more quiet. Underneath they both felt very alone.
Read More …Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=38468&cn=289
Relationships and the Silent Treatment
One of our readers E. Mailed a question about a friend who uses the “silent treatment.” The reader wanted to understand what this was all about. Here is a continued and longer explanation of the answer already provided.
Does your husband, wife or intimate partner use the silent treatment when upset about something? The silent treatment is one of the most damaging relationship problems. Why is this? What is it?
The silent treatment or “stonewalling” refers to someone who is letting you know that something is wrong without telling you why. If you ask if anything is wrong, you are met with silence. There is no explanation, no response of any kind, only stony silence.
Too many people, within the context of their intimate relationship, seem to believe that their partner can read their mind. In other words, there is an incorrect notion that you should know why he or she is upset. Most often, the recipient of the silence is left with feelings of confusion and exasperation as they try to resolve the problem. However, how can someone resolve a problem when they do not know what is wrong?
Read More:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=38823&cn=289
Is Romantic Rejection A Specific Form Of Addiction?
Article Date: 08 Jul 2010 – 0:00 PDT
The pain and anguish of rejection by a romantic partner may be the result of activity in parts of the brain associated with motivation, reward and addiction cravings, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology.
The study’s findings could have implications for understanding why feelings related to romantic rejection can be hard to control, and may provide insight into extreme behaviors associated with rejection, such as stalking, homicide and suicide – behaviors that occur across many cultures throughout the world.Â
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193961.php
Â
Dating: Some Self-Esteem Savers
Sometimes one person may feel a connection when the other does not. Sometimes we come across potential partners who are super-sexy, successful and have that “catch me if you can†attitude. They’re not worth running after if they won’t run right after you too.
Dating is hard. But I think the key to positive dating is to attempt to remain objective as possible. I know this is nearly impossible for some and I am guilty of it. Many of us have hopes and ideas of that perfect person crossing our path and leading us into at least a long, comfortable relationship, if not marriage.
With that said, I have decided to write about some ways to save your self-esteem while dating.
Read More …Â http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/07/08/dating-some-self-esteem-savers/
New Test Predicts Chance of Relationship Breakup
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on July 8, 2010
Researchers have developed a new method to assess whether a romantic relationship is going to fall apart.
The technique uses automatic word associations to find out what people really think about their partners.
The activity determines if individuals find it easier to link words referring to their partner to words with pleasant or unpleasant meanings.
According to background information in the article, research on relationship success has mainly focused on how the people in the relationship feel about each other. And this is usually done by the obvious route: asking them.
“But the difficulty with that is, that assumes that they know themselves how happy they are, and that’s not always the case,†says Ronald D. Rogge, of the University of Rochester.
“To make things worse, a lot of people don’t want to tell you if they’re starting to feel less happy in their relationship.â€
So he and his colleagues Soonhee Lee and Harry T. Reis turned to a technique often used to assess racism and bias, other feelings people have trouble admitting to themselves and to researchers.
The 222 volunteers in their study were all involved in a romantic relationship.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/08/new-test-predicts-chance-of-relationship-breakup/15418.html
Â
Biological Clock Stimulates Women’s Sexual Drive
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on July 8, 2010
As a sign of the times, women often delay child bearing until their 30s and 40s. Then, perhaps in a race against time, women engage in a variety of sexual activities including one-night stands and adventurous bedroom behavior.
In a paper published in the July edition of Personality and Individual Differences, University of Texas psychology graduate students Judith Easton, Jaime Confer and Cari Goetz, and David Buss, professor of psychology, found that women age 27-45 have a heightened sex drive in response to their dwindling fertility.
In the study the researchers split 827 women into three groups: high fertility (ages 18-26), low fertility (ages 27-45), and menopausal (ages 46 and up). The respondents answered an online questionnaire about their sexual attitudes and behavior.
Compared with the other groups, women with low fertility were more likely to experience:
- Frequent sexual fantasies
- Thoughts about sexual activities
- More intense sexual fantasies than their younger counterparts
- A more active sex life and willingness to have a one-night stand
- A willingness to have casual sex
Contrary to their predictions, the researchers found that when comparing low and high fertility women who were in relationships, the older, less fertile group did not fantasize more about someone other than their current romantic partners.
Instead they fantasized equally about their significant others and other romantic partners.
Read More:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/08/biological-clock-stimulates-womens-sexual-drive/15416.html
 Â
The Bond of Shared Solitude
A few years ago, facing a book deadline, I drove to the Cuyamaca mountains. My friends, Jim and Anne Hubbell, had invited me to house sit a magical little Hobbit house on their property, and I planned to spend a whole week there, alone. I realize taking work on a retreat is a contradiction, but even with work at hand, solitude is elevating. I had done this once before, spending a week in a bunkhouse made from an abandoned railroad car in Mesa Grande, had worked during the heat of the day and then wandered at dusk through the hills.
Read More:Â http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/people-in-nature/201007/the-bond-shared-solitude
Â
Getting Better With Age: Friendships, Family Relationships
Article Date: 29 Jun 2010 – 0:00 PDT
Part of what makes those relationships so golden during the golden years is that people of all ages are more likely to forgive and respect one’s elders, according to research from Purdue University.
“Older adults report better marriages, more supportive friendships and less conflict with children and siblings,” said Karen Fingerman, the Berner-Hanley Professor in Gerontology, Developmental and Family Studies. “While physical and cognitive abilities decline with age, relationships improve. So what is so special about old age? We found that the perception of limited time, willingness to forgive, aging stereotypes and attitudes of respect all play a part. But it’s more than just about how younger people treat an older person, it’s about how people interact.”Â
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193112.php
 
How to Ask for What You Want: a Fable and a Story
The Fable
A traveler walked alone down a country road on a cloudy day, wearing an old cloak. The Sun and the North wind decided to have a contest to see who could remove it.
“This will be easy,” the North wind said. He sent a powerful blast of cold air toward the traveler, who only pulled his cloak tighter. The North wind tried again and again, blowing so hard that birds were pushed from their paths, and leaves scattered from the trees. The shivering traveler hunched against the wind and held onto his cloak.
“Let me try,” said the Sun, as he moved from behind the clouds. As he gently poured his warmth on the traveler, the traveler opened his coat and within minutes took it off. (Aesop)
The Story
When I first saw a couple I’ll call Rachel and Jim, they were ready to divorce. Tension was high in the room as they talked.
“He doesn’t listen,” Rachel said, her voice filled with frustration. “He never listens. I try and try and I just can’t get through. It’s like he’s locked away someplace and I don’t have the key. What’s the matter with him? What’s the matter with me?”
Jim stared out the window. When I asked what it was like for him to hear this, he said, “I’m used to it. I never get it right and I get tired of trying. It’s like she has a scorecard and I come up short every time. I can’t do any more.”
They were caught in a negative cycle, where each person’s reaction helped keep it going. After I understood how each of them felt, I helped them see how they were stuck in that cycle. When Rachel felt frustrated, she was also lonely and wanted to feel close. But instead she complained.
When Jim heard her complaints, he shut down. Underneath he was lonely too. But he saw how arguments pushed them apart, and tried hard to keep things calm. His quiet made Rachel more frustrated, and Rachel’s complaints made him more quiet. Underneath they both felt very alone.
Read More …Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=38468&cn=289
Relationships and the Silent Treatment
One of our readers E. Mailed a question about a friend who uses the “silent treatment.” The reader wanted to understand what this was all about. Here is a continued and longer explanation of the answer already provided.
Does your husband, wife or intimate partner use the silent treatment when upset about something? The silent treatment is one of the most damaging relationship problems. Why is this? What is it?
The silent treatment or “stonewalling” refers to someone who is letting you know that something is wrong without telling you why. If you ask if anything is wrong, you are met with silence. There is no explanation, no response of any kind, only stony silence.
Too many people, within the context of their intimate relationship, seem to believe that their partner can read their mind. In other words, there is an incorrect notion that you should know why he or she is upset. Most often, the recipient of the silence is left with feelings of confusion and exasperation as they try to resolve the problem. However, how can someone resolve a problem when they do not know what is wrong?
Read More:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=38823&cn=289
Is Romantic Rejection A Specific Form Of Addiction?
Article Date: 08 Jul 2010 – 0:00 PDT
The pain and anguish of rejection by a romantic partner may be the result of activity in parts of the brain associated with motivation, reward and addiction cravings, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology.
The study’s findings could have implications for understanding why feelings related to romantic rejection can be hard to control, and may provide insight into extreme behaviors associated with rejection, such as stalking, homicide and suicide – behaviors that occur across many cultures throughout the world.
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193961.php
Dating: Some Self-Esteem Savers
Sometimes one person may feel a connection when the other does not. Sometimes we come across potential partners who are super-sexy, successful and have that “catch me if you can†attitude. They’re not worth running after if they won’t run right after you too.
Dating is hard. But I think the key to positive dating is to attempt to remain objective as possible. I know this is nearly impossible for some and I am guilty of it. Many of us have hopes and ideas of that perfect person crossing our path and leading us into at least a long, comfortable relationship, if not marriage.
With that said, I have decided to write about some ways to save your self-esteem while dating.
Read More …Â http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/07/08/dating-some-self-esteem-savers/
New Test Predicts Chance of Relationship Breakup
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on July 8, 2010
Researchers have developed a new method to assess whether a romantic relationship is going to fall apart.
The technique uses automatic word associations to find out what people really think about their partners.
The activity determines if individuals find it easier to link words referring to their partner to words with pleasant or unpleasant meanings.
According to background information in the article, research on relationship success has mainly focused on how the people in the relationship feel about each other. And this is usually done by the obvious route: asking them.
“But the difficulty with that is, that assumes that they know themselves how happy they are, and that’s not always the case,†says Ronald D. Rogge, of the University of Rochester.
“To make things worse, a lot of people don’t want to tell you if they’re starting to feel less happy in their relationship.”
So he and his colleagues Soonhee Lee and Harry T. Reis turned to a technique often used to assess racism and bias, other feelings people have trouble admitting to themselves and to researchers.
The 222 volunteers in their study were all involved in a romantic relationship.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/08/new-test-predicts-chance-of-relationship-breakup/15418.html
Biological Clock Stimulates Women’s Sexual Drive
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on July 8, 2010
As a sign of the times, women often delay child bearing until their 30s and 40s. Then, perhaps in a race against time, women engage in a variety of sexual activities including one-night stands and adventurous bedroom behavior.
In a paper published in the July edition of Personality and Individual Differences, University of Texas psychology graduate students Judith Easton, Jaime Confer and Cari Goetz, and David Buss, professor of psychology, found that women age 27-45 have a heightened sex drive in response to their dwindling fertility.
In the study the researchers split 827 women into three groups: high fertility (ages 18-26), low fertility (ages 27-45), and menopausal (ages 46 and up). The respondents answered an online questionnaire about their sexual attitudes and behavior.
Compared with the other groups, women with low fertility were more likely to experience:
- *Frequent sexual fantasies
- *Thoughts about sexual activities
- *More intense sexual fantasies than their younger counterparts
- *A more active sex life and willingness to have a one-night stand
- *A willingness to have casual sex
Contrary to their predictions, the researchers found that when comparing low and high fertility women who were in relationships, the older, less fertile group did not fantasize more about someone other than their current romantic partners.
Instead they fantasized equally about their significant others and other romantic partners.
Read More:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/08/biological-clock-stimulates-womens-sexual-drive/15416.html
The Bond of Shared Solitude
A few years ago, facing a book deadline, I drove to the Cuyamaca mountains. My friends, Jim and Anne Hubbell, had invited me to house sit a magical little Hobbit house on their property, and I planned to spend a whole week there, alone. I realize taking work on a retreat is a contradiction, but even with work at hand, solitude is elevating. I had done this once before, spending a week in a bunkhouse made from an abandoned railroad car in Mesa Grande, had worked during the heat of the day and then wandered at dusk through the hills.
Read More:Â http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/people-in-nature/201007/the-bond-shared-solitude
Getting Better With Age: Friendships, Family Relationships
Article Date: 29 Jun 2010 – 0:00 PDT
Part of what makes those relationships so golden during the golden years is that people of all ages are more likely to forgive and respect one’s elders, according to research from Purdue University.
“Older adults report better marriages, more supportive friendships and less conflict with children and siblings,” said Karen Fingerman, the Berner-Hanley Professor in Gerontology, Developmental and Family Studies. “While physical and cognitive abilities decline with age, relationships improve. So what is so special about old age? We found that the perception of limited time, willingness to forgive, aging stereotypes and attitudes of respect all play a part. But it’s more than just about how younger people treat an older person, it’s about how people interact.”
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193112.php
 
Article Date: 06 Jul 2010 – 12:00 PDT
We know that people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia also suffer from depression. Some studies have shown that people with a history of major depression are twice as likely as others to eventually develop dementia. However, nobody really knows whether depression is a symptom of dementia or a potential cause of it.
Scientists from Rush University Medical Center tracked the symptoms of depression during the transition from no cognitive impairment and discovered that depressive symptoms showed little change during the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. You can read about this study in the July 6thNeurology, an American Academy of Neurology publication. edition of the peer-reviewed medical journal
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193951.php
Â
Article Date: 06 Jul 2010 – 12:00 PDT
We know that people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia also suffer from depression. Some studies have shown that people with a history of major depression are twice as likely as others to eventually develop dementia. However, nobody really knows whether depression is a symptom of dementia or a potential cause of it.
Scientists from Rush University Medical Center tracked the symptoms of depression during the transition from no cognitive impairment and discovered that depressive symptoms showed little change during the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. You can read about this study in the July 6thNeurology, an American Academy of Neurology publication. edition of the peer-reviewed medical journal
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193951.php
 
ScienceDaily (July 8, 2010) — Social competence and behavior problems that are evident at kindergarten and first grade are known to be strong predictors of a child’s academic and social functioning. However, findings reported in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggest that psychosocial risk factors can be identified even earlier and can be observed during the transition from preschool to formal schooling.
The article titled “Prevalence of DSM-IV Disorder in a Representative, Healthy Birth Cohort at School Entry: Sociodemographic Risks and Social Adaptation” Dr. Alice S. Carter and colleagues report on 1,329 healthy children born between July 1995 and September 1997 in the New Haven-Meriden Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area of the 1990 Census. The researchers sought to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the early elementary school years and to examine the relationship between the sociodemographic and psychosocial risk factors and these disorders.
The study sample was ascertained through birth records, and represents one of the first longitudinal studies to evaluate psychopathology in children within the United States as they negotiate the transition to school. One parent from each family of a subsample of 442 enriched for child psychopathology was interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Version IV (DISC IV) to determine the diagnosis. Parents were surveyed about sociodemographic factors, such as parental age and education, and poverty as well as psychosocial characteristics. Both parents and teachers of the children were surveyed about social competence.
Dr. Carter and colleagues report that as children transition to formal schooling, approximately one in five (21.6%) will have a psychiatric disorder with impairment. The findings confirm that the prevalence of psychopathology during the transition to school age is not dissimilar to that documented for preschool-aged children.
In addition, the risk of comorbidity (the risk of two or more disorders of any type) was 5.8%. Within the study cohort, the prevalence of externalizing disorders was 13.8% and 11.1% for internalizing disorders. Of those individuals who had more than one disorder, more than 60% had both an externalizing and an internalizing disorder.
In the article, the researchers report, “Sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates included persistent poverty beginning in early childhood, limited parental education, low family expressiveness, stressful life events, and violence exposure. Finally, diagnostic status was significantly associated with poorer social competence and family burden.”
An accompanying editorial by Dr. Neil W. Boris of Tulane University can be found in the same issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. About the study, Dr. Boris states, “More than anything, Carter et al. remind us that young children are at significant risk for psychopathology just like older children. As children transition to school age, be on the lookout for problems.”
Commenting on the potential impact of their findings, Carter and colleagues observe, “Epidemological data on prevalence and risk co-incidence with disorders during the transition to school can and should inform conversations about psychosocial school readiness, early intervention, and prevention programming.”
Screening for psychopathology at the transition to school age is warranted and based on the impairment data of affected children early intervention seems appropriate. Cater and colleagues further state that, “intervention should also take into account the social context, not only within the school setting but also with respect to risk factors in the home and broader community.”
 
Journal References:
- Carter et al. Prevalence of DSM-IV Disorder in a Representative, Healthy Birth Cohort at School Entry : Sociodemographic Risks and Social Adaptation. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2010; 49 (7): 686 DOI: 10.1097/00004583-201007000-00009
- Boris NW. Minding the Transition to School. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2010;49:635-636
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100708104318.htm
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ScienceDaily (July 8, 2010) — Social competence and behavior problems that are evident at kindergarten and first grade are known to be strong predictors of a child’s academic and social functioning. However, findings reported in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggest that psychosocial risk factors can be identified even earlier and can be observed during the transition from preschool to formal schooling.
Â
The article titled “Prevalence of DSM-IV Disorder in a Representative, Healthy Birth Cohort at School Entry: Sociodemographic Risks and Social Adaptation” Dr. Alice S. Carter and colleagues report on 1,329 healthy children born between July 1995 and September 1997 in the New Haven-Meriden Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area of the 1990 Census. The researchers sought to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the early elementary school years and to examine the relationship between the sociodemographic and psychosocial risk factors and these disorders.
Â
The study sample was ascertained through birth records, and represents one of the first longitudinal studies to evaluate psychopathology in children within the United States as they negotiate the transition to school. One parent from each family of a subsample of 442 enriched for child psychopathology was interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Version IV (DISC IV) to determine the diagnosis. Parents were surveyed about sociodemographic factors, such as parental age and education, and poverty as well as psychosocial characteristics. Both parents and teachers of the children were surveyed about social competence.
Â
Dr. Carter and colleagues report that as children transition to formal schooling, approximately one in five (21.6%) will have a psychiatric disorder with impairment. The findings confirm that the prevalence of psychopathology during the transition to school age is not dissimilar to that documented for preschool-aged children.
Â
In addition, the risk of comorbidity (the risk of two or more disorders of any type) was 5.8%. Within the study cohort, the prevalence of externalizing disorders was 13.8% and 11.1% for internalizing disorders. Of those individuals who had more than one disorder, more than 60% had both an externalizing and an internalizing disorder.
Â
In the article, the researchers report, “Sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates included persistent poverty beginning in early childhood, limited parental education, low family expressiveness, stressful life events, and violence exposure. Finally, diagnostic status was significantly associated with poorer social competence and family burden.”
Â
An accompanying editorial by Dr. Neil W. Boris of Tulane University can be found in the same issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. About the study, Dr. Boris states, “More than anything, Carter et al. remind us that young children are at significant risk for psychopathology just like older children. As children transition to school age, be on the lookout for problems.”
Â
Commenting on the potential impact of their findings, Carter and colleagues observe, “Epidemological data on prevalence and risk co-incidence with disorders during the transition to school can and should inform conversations about psychosocial school readiness, early intervention, and prevention programming.”
Â
Screening for psychopathology at the transition to school age is warranted and based on the impairment data of affected children early intervention seems appropriate. Cater and colleagues further state that, “intervention should also take into account the social context, not only within the school setting but also with respect to risk factors in the home and broader community.”
Â
Journal References:
- Carter et al. Prevalence of DSM-IV Disorder in a Representative, Healthy Birth Cohort at School Entry : Sociodemographic Risks and Social Adaptation. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2010; 49 (7): 686 DOI: 10.1097/00004583-201007000-00009
- Boris NW. Minding the Transition to School. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2010;49:635-636
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Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100708104318.htm
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Article Date: 08 Jul 2010 – 4:00 PDT
Researchers at the University of Granada have designed a new training program on specific self-efficacy for reducing stress in psychotic patients. When stress was reduced, patients reported an improvement in symptoms, which meant enhancement of their well-being and quality of life. Researchers proved that these patients can improve their quality of life through proper psychological intervention.
To carry out this study, the researchers tested a training program designed by themselves on 14 patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The evolution of patients was evaluated successively three and six months after implementation of the training program. The results were compared to those obtained by a control group that did not receive any training.
This program included 15 training sessions: firstly, patients were trained on general self-efficacy, and secondly on specific self-efficacy to acquire skills to deal with stress. The second training period included sessions to learn to deal with interpersonal difficulties (communication and social skills) and family conflicts, improve discipline with their biomedical/psychological treatments, cope with their symptoms and hallucinations, avoid negative thinking, and prevent and deal with daily stress.
This study was prepared by Maria Luisa Vázquez Pérez, from the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Pshychological Treatment of the University of Granada, and led by professors Juan F. Godoy GarcÃa y Débora Godoy Izquierdo.
Reduction of Psychotic Symptoms
After their participation in the training program, patients’ perception of their own specific self-efficacy increased – both their expectations regarding the results after the training, and its efficiency – to deal with stress, and a 171.8% percentage of change was observed. Additionally, a significant reduction in negative, affective, psychotic symptoms, disorientation and confusion was observed. A 171.8% increase of positive symptoms was found.
Further, most of patients reported high levels of wellness (A 22.6% difference between both groups was found, in favour of the group that participated in the training program), and they expressed their satisfaction at the changes attained thanks to the program.
Conversely, patients from the control group did not report any change in their perceived self-efficacy to deal with stress and their psychotic symptoms. Thus, they obtained lower scores than the intervention group in their levels of wellness, areas of change and general satisfaction. The same results were obtained in successive evaluations. Indeed, some improvements were recorded in patients having participated in the training sessions.
The research conducted by MarÃa Luisa Vázquez is pioneer in this field, since a training program on specific self-efficacy for coping with stress had never been designed or implemented before.