A Vitale

Facilitating Responding in Accordance with the Relational Frame of Comparison: Systematic Empirical Analyses

The current article examines patterns of adult responding to different types of more-than and less-than relations, as well as procedures for facilitating responding in accordance with these relations. Using parameters suggested in the three-term series literature, the more-than and less-than relations were separated into six distinct trial types. Systematic comparisons were then drawn between repeated test exposures, the provision of automated feedback, and the presentation of nonarbitrary trials. the results showed that feedback was the most effective intervention for facilitating responding to the target relations. When feedback and nonarbitrary trials were combined, their impact was only marginally better than either intervention alone. These findings are discussed in terms of relational frame theory and interventions for remediating deficits in derived relational responding.

Facilitating Responding in Accordance with the Relational Frame of Comparison II: Methodological Analyses.

The current article examined patterns of adult responding to arbitrary more-than and less-than relations across a range of real-world tasks. Previous research had reported weak performances on specific types of comparative relations presented in an automated task but also demonstrated that these could be significantly improved with feedback and nonarbitrary trial presentations. The current research sought to replicate these findings and explore the remediation of relational responding in more real-world tasks. The findings demonstrated that weaknesses in comparative relations were also recorded on these tasks, but feedback and nonarbitrary trials were equally effective in this context. The implications of the research for the further development of interventions for remediating deficits in relational responding are discussed.

Promoting male refugees’ mental health after they have been granted leave to remain (refugee status)

Abstract There is existing evidence that suggests that refugees’ mental health is often impaired by pre-migratory stress, by their experience of being asylum seekers and also by their resettlement adversities; however, little is known about the specific mental health issues of male refugees. The current research is set in this context and it aims to explore multiple levels of stress that male refugees experience after they have been granted Leave to Remain (refugee status) in the U.K. A total of nine male refugees took part in the study; they were interviewed individually and the interview transcripts were analysed by the use of Thematic Analysis. The overall findings indicated that being granted Leave to Remain worsened participants’ mental health, as they had to face new challenges such as seeking employment and accommodation, as well as their general struggle to settle in the U.K. Participants indicated that the type of support available to them was quite poor. These findings are relevant in order to support specific intervention strategies to promote male refugees’ mental health.

Conducting individual semi-structured interviews with male refugees on their mental health and integration

Our Research Methods Case Study aims to provide an insight on how to conduct semi-structured interviews with male refugees on their mental health and integration in the host country. Our starting point was that the literature in this field focuses mostly on refugees as a broad category and/or on refugee women and children, there is rather little information on male refugees’ mental health. As with other refugee populations, male refugees have been exposed to multiple pre-and post-migratory traumatic episodes; it was therefore essential for us to be aware and respectful of their situation. We also knew refugees find hard to talk to individuals who are considered to be in a position of authority, including researchers, and this also had to be considered in our study. We both have experience of working with vulnerable populations and we know that listening empathetically to participants’ stories can lead to vicarious trauma so we both had a designated person to talk to after conducting the interviews. For this case study, we describe our rationale for using qualitative research with male refugees, how we designed and conducted the in-depth semi-structured interviews, the process of getting the ethical approval/consent and how we analyzed and made sense of the data. Our aim is to provide an insight into how to conduct research with this population to gain rich data that can help to understand and support them.

Irish General Practitioner referrals to psychological therapies

OBJECTIVE General Medical Practitioners play a crucial role in the detection and referral of mental health problems in primary care. This study describes the referral patterns of Irish General Practitioners (GPs) to psychological therapies and profiles the range of psychological therapies available. METHOD A 21-item study-specific questionnaire exploring referral processes to psychological therapies was sent to all GPs listed by the Irish College of General Practitioners in one county in Ireland. A 19-item questionnaire exploring details of psychological therapies offered and referral pathways was sent to members of psychological therapy accrediting bodies in the same county. RESULTS Of 97 GP respondents (33% response rate), their estimation of the percentage of their patients who have presenting or underlying mental health issues averaged 22%. When asked to indicate which psychological therapies they consider for referrals, psychiatric referrals was the most frequent referral option (94%), followed by Counsellors (69%), Clinical psychologist (60%) and Psychotherapists (30%). GPs indicated they had some or very little knowledge of specific psychological therapies. Of 129 psychological therapists (45% response rate), self-referral and GP referral were their main referral pathways; 80% worked in private practice; highest qualification level was Undergraduate/Higher Diploma (66%), Master Level (39%) and Doctoral Level (5%). CONCLUSION GPs refer patients presenting with mental health problems to psychiatrists with significantly lower percentages referring to other types of psychological therapists. Findings demonstrate that there is a need for greater education and information-sharing between GPs and providers of accredited psychological therapies to increase knowledge on specific therapies and their evidence base.

Exploring risk factors affecting the mental health of refugee women living with HIV

Little is known about how the intersection of being a forced migrant and living with HIV can contribute to the development or exacerbation of pre-existing mental conditions. This study is set in this context and it aims to explore specific risk factors affecting the mental health of refugee women living with HIV. A total of eight refugee women living with HIV took part in the study; they were individually interviewed, and their transcripts were thematically analyzed. The overall findings indicated that participants’ mental health was impaired by multiple stressors associated with their conditions, such as racial discrimination, HIV-related stigma, including from health professionals, loneliness, and resettlement adversities. These all represent threats to public health, as they discourage individuals from engaging with adequate health/mental health services. Despite their situation, participants had not received psychological interventions and their healthcare was reduced to managing the physical symptoms of HIV. Participants indicated their need to take part in group interventions that could promote their mental health and social recovery. These findings are relevant to raising awareness about the specific risk factors affecting refugee women living with HIV and to provide evidence for public health interventions based on this specific population’s need.