Carol P. Kaplan

Suicide Attempts by Adolescent Latinas: An Exploratory Study of Individual and Family Correlates

Epidemiological data show high rates of suicide attempts among adolescent Latinas. Few studies have addressed the psychosocial, cultural and family correlates of suicide attempts among this age group of a rapidly growing population. The authors studied 31 adolescent Hispanic females who were receiving mental health services; 14 girls had attempted suicide in the previous five years and 17 had never attempted suicide. The two groups of girls did not differ significantly with respect to demographic profiles, levels of depression, family type, acculturation, or self-esteem. However, as hypothesized, the mutuality between girls and their mothers was lower among suicide attempters. Maladaptive coping skills of withdrawal and wishful thinking were more commonly used by attempters, and non-attempters used emotional regulation and problem-solving more frequently. Findings are discussed within the context of the empirical and theoretical literature and implications for practice are considered.

Adults with Undiagnosed Learning Disabilities: Practice Considerations

For various reasons, many persons reach adulthood with undiagnosed learning disabilities and/or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Virtually no research has dealt with adults with undiagnosed homing disabilities, whose problem often goes unrecognized by therapists. Yet such disabilities may represent a core issue in treatment, even when patients present with other difficulties. The authors offer some initial thoughts on this important problem, along with two clinical vignettes.

An early example of brief strengths‐based practice: Bertha Reynolds at the National Maritime Union, 1943–1947

Abstract Bertha Reynolds, one of the foremothers of social casework, is known for her commitment to social justice and the struggles of poor and working people. Her ideas about brief strengths‐based practice, which she taught when she supervised social workers at the National Maritime Union between 1943 and 1947, are less well known. She presented these ideas with case examples in her book Social Work and Social Living, a work that includes a critique of society, social policies, and the social work profession. The author contends that Reynolds was ahead of her time in her conceptualization of brief treatment.

Diagnostic and treatment issues with childhood bipolar disorders

With biologically based mood disorders, early identification and treatment may prevent or ameliorate serious dysfunction in later life. Although there is less diagnostic certainty about early manifestations of bipolar disorder in children than about unipolar depression, certain potential indicators do appear in the literature. This article describes these indicators, and also presents the cases of two youngsters with bipolar disorders, discussing symptomatology and treatment issues with the children and their families.

Treatment of an acting-out adolescent girl : an interpersonal experience

The current emphasis on psychotherapy as an interpersonal or intersubjective experience is highly relevant to clinical work with adolescents. This paper presentes and discusses the treatment of an acting out adolescent girl from the perspective of the two-person relationship, emphasizing the interaction between the patients dynamics and the therapists responses.