Lawrence J. Siegel

Posttraumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents: a review and analysis.

Only recently has the mental health community recognized the applicability of diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents, including a consideration of specific age-related features. This paper provides a current review of the literature on PTSD pertaining to children and adolescents. Following a discussion of issues on diagnostic criteria and assessment of this affective disorder in this population, there is an overview of the existing literature on prevalence, comorbidity, risk factors, parental and family factors, and issues of gender and age of onset. The remainder of the paper focuses on the range of traumatic stressors in children and adolescents that can result in PTSD, including natural or human disasters, war and violence, chronic or life-threatening medical conditions, community violence and the witnessing of traumatic events, and physical and/or sexual abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence. Throughout the paper, there is an emphasis on the importance of considering developmental factors. Finally, implications of the existing literature for future areas of research are addressed.

Doctoral Clinical Geropsychology Training in a Primary Care Setting.

Abstract Most older adults diagnosed with a mental disorder receive treatment in primary care settings that lack personnel skilled in geropsychological diagnosis and treatment. The Ferkauf Older Adult Program of Yeshiva University endeavors to bridge this gap by providing training in geriatric psychology, through coursework and diverse clinical practica, to clinical psychology doctoral students within a large urban professional psychology program. In an innovative effort to provide the most disadvantaged elderly with comprehensive mental health treatment and maximize trainee exposure to an interdisciplinary treatment model, the program also pairs selected doctoral psychology trainees with medical residents to optimize integrated mental health service delivery for primary care elderly. The program has the following core objectives: (1) Infuse the mental health and aging knowledge base into the regular graduate curriculum; (2) Provide interdisciplinary training in geropsychological diagnostic and consultative services within an urban primary care setting; (3) Provide interdisciplinary training in the practice of psychological and neuropsychological evaluation of elderly; (4) Provide training in geropsychological psychotherapeutic intervention, including individual, couples/family, and brief/psycho-educational therapies with outpatient older adults. These objectives are achieved by pooling the resources of a graduate school of psychology, a local public hospital, and an academic medical center to achieve educational and clinical service goals.

Doctoral Gero-Psychology Training in Primary Care: Preliminary Findings from a Clinical Training Project

This article provides descriptive information and preliminary program evaluation data regarding a University based doctoral training program with a special focus on gero-psychology training in a primary care setting. The program sought to combine the resources of a University, an urban public hospital, and an academic medical center to develop geropsychology didactic and clinical training experiences, and specifically direct services to minority elders. Preliminary program findings suggest that educational and service objectives may be simultaneously achieved. A relatively modest increment in didactic training resulted in measurable gains in knowledge and interest. While the integration of geropsychology into primary care medicine presents some formidable challenges, preliminary data suggest great potential for further expansion of training and geropsychological services in primary care to meet the burgeoning mental health needs of older adults.