Keith Brownlee

Concurrent and predictive validity of the psychopathy checklist: youth version across gender and ethnicity

The concurrent and predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) were examined across gender and ethnicity using multiple outcome measures on a community-based sample of 130 adjudicated youths. The PCL:YV demonstrated concurrent validity with externalizing behavior problems but, it is important to note, was also associated with internalizing measures of negative affect. With a mean follow-up period of 3 years, the PCL:YV was found to predict general and violent recidivism in male, Native Canadian, and Caucasian youths. However, the PCL:YV demonstrated weaker concurrent and predictive validity with girls and failed to predict nonviolent recidivism in all subgroups. Implications of the findings for clinical practice are discussed.

The ethics of non-sexual dual relationships: a dilemma for the rural mental health professional.

This paper reviews some of the issues that affect the rural mental health professional who wishes to maintain an ethical position with respect to non-sexual dual relationships. Although the ethical codes of professional regulating bodies provide general guidelines for professional conduct, they do not offer specific guidance for practical decision-making. Furthermore, there appear to be some contrasting opinions between the various ethical codes with respect to what would be considered unethical behavior in a non-sexual dual relationship. Alternative decision making models that may be of help to a rural practitioner for assessing the ethics of such a relationship are reviewed.This paper reviews some of the issues that affect the rural mental health professional who wishes to maintain an ethical position with respect to non-sexual dual relationships. Although the ethical codes of professional regulating bodies provide general guidelines for professional conduct, they do not offer specific guidance for practical decision-making. Furthermore, there appear to be some contrasting opinions between the various ethical codes with respect to what would be considered unethical behavior in a non-sexual dual relationship. Alternative decision making models that may be of help to a rural practitioner for assessing the ethics of such a relationship are reviewed.

Heterosexism among Social Work Students

It cannot be assumed that social workers are immune to the negative attitudes and beliefs towards gay men or lesbians that are prevalent in society. This study examined the prevalence of heterosexism among social work students at a single Canadian university. The attitudes of students at all levels of the undergraduate programme were examined. The study found a relatively low but significant prevalence of heterosexism among the students surveyed and that these attitudes did not seem to be moderated by exposure to social work courses. This is of concern as the extent of curriculum content on issues related to gay men and lesbians provided by Canadian schools of social work is often limited. Implications for curriculum design and teaching methods within social work are discussed.

The experiences of NICU nurses in caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Purpose: This study explored the experiences of NICU nurses in caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Design: A qualitative research approach was used with open-ended questions employing computer-assisted personal interviews. Sample: Fourteen NICU nurses employed in a regional hospital provided responses. Results: The nurses reflected a personal struggle between a desire to employ their technical and critical nursing skills and the need to provide expected maternal care to NAS infants. Other themes included frustration and burnout, challenges to values about parenting, and increased awareness of drug use in the community and at home. Discussion: The results suggest that nurses underrate the skill required to care for infants with NAS. The level of knowledge, patience, and commitment to these newborns should be reframed to increase job satisfaction, and education should be offered to nurses about women struggling with addictions.

The Deconstruction of Professional Knowledge: Accountability Without Authority

Many practitioners feel a growing despair over the foundations of their knowledge—over what it is they can claim to know—and how they are supposed to use this knowledge to help rather than disempower the people they serve. This paper argues that our accountability to the people we serve will come not from efforts to prove the authority of our knowledge, but from a more reflective and dialogic engagement with our knowledge, and with the people served through it—an engagement that seeks constantly to problematize our knowing, to probe and critique it, to trace its origins and assumptions, and explore its implications, to open it to inquiry and transformation.

Managing ethical considerations around dual relationships in small rural and remote Canadian communities

Ethical guidelines for social work generally recommend avoiding dual relationships whenever possible.This study explored perspectives from Canadian social workers in remote communities, where this may not be feasible. Dual relationships in these communities were identified as ubiquitous and inevitable. Formal decision models were often overlooked in favour of an ongoing evaluation of the therapeutic relationship, and self-care related to frequent exposure to dual and multiple relationships was identified as a concern. The role of formal education and training and professional guidelines are discussed.

A group for men who abuse their partners: participant perceptions of what was helpful

This exploratory study of 88 self-reports examined the subjective perceptions of men attending a group treatment program to address their violent and abusive behaviors. For the majority of participants, this was a positive experience, with education and self-control described as the most helpful learning experience. No clear themes emerged regarding negative experiences with the group.

Valuing interdependence An examination of Iraqi Canadian acculturation

English This study examined whether gender, ethnic group, age, years in Canada, level of education and country where educated influenced the acculturation process for Iraqi immigrants to Canada. For the 153 participants in this study, a continuing strong identification with traditional values was found to exist irrespective of differences in demographic factors. French La présente recherche s’intéresse à l’influence du genre, du groupe ethnique, de l’âge, du nombre d’années au Canada, du niveau de scolarisation et du pays dans lequel la scolarisation a été effectuée sur le processus d’acculturation vécu par les immigrants d’origine irakienne établis au Canada. Chez les 153 participants à l’étude, le maintien d’une forte identification aux valeurs traditionnelles se présente de façon indépendante des différences sociodémographiques. Spanish Se examina si el género, el grupo étnico, la edad, años en Canadá, nivel de educación, y país donde fueron educados influye en la aculturación de inmigrantes iraquíes en Canadá. Se halla que respecto a los 153 participantes en este estudio, la fuerte identificación con valores tradicionales continúa, independientemente de los factores demográficos.

Adolescents' Experiences of a Strengths-Based Treatment Program for Substance Abuse

Abstract Substance abuse is a growing issue among adolescents. While not every adolescent who struggles with this issue seeks treatment, those who do frequently fail to complete treatment or tend to relapse following treatment. To improve adolescent treatments for substance abuse issues it is important to understand adolescent experiences while in treatment, along with the factors that contribute to positive treatment outcomes. Qualitative methods were used to examine 52 post-treatment interviews conducted with adolescents following their completion of a five-week strengths-based residential program for substance use issues. The adolescent narratives were analyzed to answer three research questions: (1) what aspects of the treatment program were found to be most helpful by youth, (2) which specific strengths did youth identify to be the most helpful throughout the treatment process and in beginning to overcome their substance use issues, and (3) did youth begin to adopt strengths-based thinking strategies over the course of treatment? Results include descriptive answers to these questions based on common themes across participant responses. Implications for future research are discussed.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Cancer Patients and Their Families

Abstract Solution-focused brief therapy is proposed as a viable approach to working with families that are experiencing and dealing with the impact of cancer on their lives. The authors provide a brief outline of the structure of solution-focused work and a case example to illustrate some issues related to the model. They express caution about the use of the “miracle question” with cancer patients and their families and offer suggestions for reformulating or rewording the miracle question.