Raymond M. Scurfield

Measuring Exposure to Racism: Development and Validation of a Race-Related Stressor Scale (RRSS) for Asian American Vietnam Veterans

This article describes the development and validation of the Race-Related Stressor Scale (RRSS), a questionnaire that assesses exposure to race-related stressors in the military and war zone. Validated on a sample of 300 Asian American Vietnam veterans, the RRSS has high internal consistency and adequate temporal stability. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that exposure to race-related stressors accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and general psychiatric symptoms, over and above (by 20% and 19%, respectively) that accounted for by combat exposure and military rank. The RRSS appears to be a psychometrically sound measure of exposure to race-related stressors for this population. Race-related stressors as measured by the RRSS appear to contribute uniquely and substantially to PTSD symptoms and generalized psychiatric distress.

Racism, trauma and positive aspects of exposure to race-related experiences: Assessment and treatment implications.

ABSTRACT Ex po sure to race-re lated ex pe ri ences, such as race-hate as sault and dis crim i nation, are not rou tinely and sys tern at i cally ad dressed in as sess ment and treat ment in ter ventions or in so cial work prac tice formulations. A psychodynamic, ethnocultural, and strengths-ori ented conceptual framework is presented to describe exposure to stressful, traumatic, and positive race-re lated experiences. Criteria are identified for con ducting an in quiry about race-re lated ex pe ri ences to help as sess pos-si ble en vi ron men tal stress ors re lated to pre senting symp toms of Adjustment, Acute Stress or Post-Trau matic Stress Dis or ders. Also, there is an identification of obstacles and factors to consider when in ter viewing about ex po sure to race-re lated ex pe ri ences, and aspe cific in ter view format to guide sys tern atic in quiry about such ex po sure. Finally, sa lient im pli cations for as sess ment, treat ment and re search are de scribed.

THREE POST-VIETNAM "RAP/THERAPY" GROUPS: AN ANALYSIS

An analysis is presented of the content and process over a one years period of time of 81 sessions with three therapy groups of help-seeking Vietnam theater veterans. Data were collected concerning the frequency and content of the symptoms and issues that were discussed, the frequency and relationship of the discussion of current life issues versus Vietnam and pre- and post-Vietnam life issues, the predominant therapeutic themes that emerged in the groups, and the kinds of therapy interventions provided. Implications are discussed regarding the DSM-III inclusionary symptom criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder, and the structure and format to facilitate a combined “rap” and “therapy” group process with Vietnam veterans.

Post-Katrina Storm Disorder and Recovery in Mississippi More Than 2 Years Later

This commentary describes a Katrina survivor and providers dual perspective 2 years post—Hurricane Katrina. Highlights of the impact on individual, family, community, and regional levels and on social, economic, and mental health levels are identified. This includes discussion of “post-Katrina storm disorder,” the plight of the poor and near-poor and immigrants, a cognitive reframing intervention for disaster relief agency workers, helpful clinical strategies, impact on religious and spiritual beliefs, and a modified “six stages of disaster recovery.” Finally, positive developments are elaborated concerning changes in personal priorities, life in a FEMA trailer, metamorphosis of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast campus, the role of volunteers, and resident self-help and personal life commitments.

Post-Katrina Aftermath and Helpful Interventions on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

This article is a personal reflective account that describes the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the major university on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding communities. There is discussion of how a resident social work instructor constructed a multifaceted postdisaster response, coordinating, networking, and providing housing assistance and educational and clinical activities. Specific and practical educational, psycho-educational, and clinical interventions that proved most helpful are described. There also is discussion comparing postwar adjustment with post-Katrina adjustment, the nexus between post-Katrina responses, the Iraq War, and national policy, and posttraumatic growth at both individual and community levels. Language: en

Continuing psychological aftermath of 9/11: a POPPA experience and critical incident stress debriefing revisited

Volunteer clinical experiences as part of the New York Police Department’s Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance (POPPA) program are described in providing critical incident stress debriefings (CISD) to NYC emergency rescue personnel. Also, there is a discussion of distinctive aspects of September 11th that both characterize and confound a successful post-9/11 recovery, to include the intertwining of personal and national reactions to global terrorism and socio-political forces. Such factors, along with concerns about the efficacy of “one-shot clinical interventions,” form the rationale for a “Phase 2 CISD intervention model” that is described.

An Integrated Approach to Case Services and Social Reform

The framework of an integrated approach to case services and social reform is presented. Issues of the primacy of the worker-client relationship and the necessity for engaging in selected covert social reform activities vis a vis the employing agency in order to be able to provide meaningful service are discussed.