Rosemary L. Farmer

Student Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Psychotropic Drugs

Abstract Expanding social work roles in medication management and psychoeducation, especially in mental health, clearly require that students possess an enlarged knowledge base and a set of enlightened attitudes regarding psychotropic medications and their use. This article reports the results of a survey that investigated the knowledge of and attitudes toward psychotropic medications among a population of social work students. If the survey results were scored like a school exam, then the average student surveyed scored a “C !.” The article also suggests that both personal and professional experiences in the mental health field apparently influence knowledge of and attitudes toward psychotropic drugs. It is recommended that social work course content be expanded to include relevant information on psychotropic drugs.

Ethical Dilemmas of Practicing Social Workers Around Psychiatric Medication: Results of a National Study

Abstract It is acknowledged that social workers in mental health and other settings routinely experience client-related ethical dilemmas. Further, there is wide recognition of the potential impact of ethical dilemmas on social work practice with clients who use psychotropic medication. Little is know empirically, however, about the experiences of practitioners with these dilemmas. This article describes the results of a national survey of practicing social workers regarding the nature of ethical dilemmas they face related to their work with clients on medication issues. The results make it clear that social workers regularly confront a variety of ethical dilemmas in this type of practice. Many of these dilemmas are related to ambiguities around the knowledge base of practice, appropriate roles of providers, and basic personal and professional values. The authors present implications of these findings for social work practice and further research.

Clinical HBSE Concentration: A Transactional Model.

This article specifies a transactional model for adequately addressing underconcentration on key areas in advanced clinical HBSE courses. The author discusses the underconcentration, particularly in social work’s understanding of the biological and spiritual aspects of human beings. The author also distinguishes the transactional model from other reductionist or interactionist models of human behavior, and addresses ways to implement the model in the classroom.

Justice, hesitancy and the in‐between

Shows that the post‐modern perspective has valuable implications for managing organizational and other change. In arguing for this claim, explains the starting point ‐ that post‐modernism is philosophical scepticism. Analyses the meaning of Derrida’s post‐modern view of justice, and explains why it is consistent with scepticism. Indicates that this view opposes domination and privileges hesitancy in imposing solutions. Discusses the nature and some uses of what is described as the “in‐between”. Post‐modern scepticism, justice as hesitation and acting in the in‐between are shown to constitute a post‐modern perspective which opens up prospects and vistas in an age where non‐hierarchical and multicultural interactions are useful. Opposing domination, for instance, translates into liberating previously marginalized voices, like those of subordinates, women, minorities, the sexually policed and the economically dominated.

Interface Between Psychotropic Medications, Neurobiology, and Mental Illnesses

The interface between psychotropic medication, neurobiology, and mental illnesses should be more adequately recognized by clinical and other social workers. This article argues for this claim by examining its consistency with current policies of the National Institute of Mental Health and by discussing understandings about the relationship between neurobiology and mental illness and medication.