A total of 20 children under 14 years of age who were admitted to a hospital following suicide attempts were compared with 50 psychiatrically ill, nonsuicidal inpatients of similar age. Suicidal behavior was associated with the male sex, personal experiences of significant loss, academic underachievement, marital disintegration among parents, and…

Examines the impact of a handicapped child on sibling adjustment. While it is a mistake to assume siblings are always adversely affected, counselors should be aware of signs of sibling maladjustment including anger, guilt, and assuming too much responsibility. Communication and parent attitudes are important variables. (JAC)

Describes the State of Mind (SOM) Questionnaire, which measures severity and change of clinical state in anorexia nervosa. A study of 42 anorexia patients and 4 control groups showed a strong correlation between depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and the Anorexia Scale, which comprise the SOM. (JAC)

William Rhodes reviews 1975 predictions about the future development of the mental health system, along with his current (1982) opinions about the predictions. (SEW)

Physical, cognitive, and social-emotional symptoms of autism are described, along with possible causes of the condition and treatments. A "theraplay" physical education program in Newark, Delaware, is discussed, where physical activities such as rhythm, body awareness, perceptual motor development, and swimming are used to engage…

Investigated whether classroom teachers could differentiate among educable mentally handicapped (EMH), learning disabled (LD), and emotionally handicapped (EH) students based on perceptions of classroom behavior patterns. Ratings from classroom behavior inventory scales revealed that EMH students were distinguished by low intelligence, creativity,…

Problems in providing educational services that comply with P.L. 94-142, the Education For All Handicapped Children Act, to children in psychiatric hospitals center on least restrictive environment, treatment coordination, and individuaized education programs (IEPs). Recommendations are made for IEP development, jurisdiction, procedures and…

Investigated the test performance of learning disabled and emotionally impaired children to aid in identification and differentiation of the two groups. A cut off score on the WISC-R, WRAT, and MPD was established that significantly separated the groups. The best predictors of achievement varied for the two groups. (JAC)

The psychoeducational model stresses the importance of psychic origins and meaning of behavior related to the student's relationships. The counselor client relationship is important in helping students cope with stress and peer relationships and gain self control. Intervention techniques of life space interviewing and reality interviewing are…

Although the behaviorally disordered pupil may be among the most difficult to successfully reintegrate into the regular classroom, procedures do exist for facilitating this process. There are three kinds of integration: temporal integration or time stipulations; instructional integration; and social integration which defines acceptance by…

PPVT and WISC-R scores were compared for students ranging in age from 6 to 16. In descending order, Pearson product correlations ranked best for the total sample, emotionally disabled, regular class, mentally retarded, and learning disabled. The PPCT overestimated ability. (Author)

In residential treatment programs, involving the parents in dealing with program "crises" allows one to see firsthand how the family interacts under conditions of stress and permits systematic interventions into this system. (Author)

This introductory article analyzes the challenges facing researchers as they respond to the ideas that guide family-centered services and incorporate these themes into research focused on improving services for children with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. The fit between traditional mental health research and family centered services…

Describes planning, implementation, and evaluation of an instructional unit that uses a direct instruction approach to teach the basics of American Sign Language to elementary-age students with serious emotional or behavior disorders. Figures list lesson topics and instructional objectives, provide a sample lesson plan and a story suitable for…