Reuben J. Silver

Practicing professional psychology

The practice of professional psychology generally has consisted of assessment and intervention. This article describes the functioning of one practitioners activities. For assessment, the model described emphasizes point predictions and actuarial approaches whenever those are available. The discussion includes descriptions of specialization and expansion of practice areas, as well as the need for involvement in advocacy activities and professional associations.

MMPI correlates of affective disorders

Compared 24 unipolar depressives with 24 chronic intermittent depressives on the MMPI. The mean profiles did not differ significantly. However, an MMPI clinician was able to sort the profiles, at an above-chance level, into two groups. The rules for such classification are stated. The results are contrasted with the findings of significant differences between unipolar and bipolar depressives. The hypothesis is offered that unipolar and chronic depressives may not differ on severity of symptomatology.

A History of the Association of Medical School Psychologists

While psychologists have been active faculty members in medical schools for over 85 years, they lacked organization on the national level until 1981. This history traces the background of psychologys involvement in medical schools, landmark events that affected the discipline, and progress since formal organization has occurred.

Brief dynamic psychotherapy: A critical look at the state of the art

SummaryA review is presented of brief dynamic psychotherapy, with special emphasis on the work of Sifneos, Malan, and Mann. The techniques involved in the process are examined. Despite beliefs to the contrary, it seems possible to make use of transference, especially the transference/parent link. It is also evident that Sifneos and Malan aim at selecting patients in whom they discern oedipal issues. Selection criteria are discussed, though evidence for either reliability or validity of these criteria is lacking. Adequacy of brief dynamic psycotherapy remains unestablished. Critics notwithstanding, there has been no adequate test of the models discussed. The elements of the appropriate study are outlined.

Ethics in psychiatry: A view from the clinic

Decisions and interventions made in the course of psychiatric practice often have important ethical dimensions. Issues such as: 1) confidentiality, 2) freedom of information, 3) the duty to warn, 4) double agentry, 5) the patients rights to treatment, and 6) to refuse treatment are often identified in the context of inpatient psychiatry. In the practice of ambulatory psychiatry these issues are more easily ignored and therefore less frequently considered. The authors present six cases seen in an outpatient clinic of a community mental health program which illustrate ethical dilemmas in the six areas listed above. Questions raised by the cases and the clinics interventions are discussed. Consequences for the patients and the clinic of the ethical decisions made in these are explored.