Trevor P. Crowe

Fish oil supplementation in the treatment of major depression: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Dietary deficiencies in essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from fish are associated with depression and some fish oils may have therapeutic benefits. We aimed to determine whether taking tuna fish oil confers any additional benefit to conventional outpatient treatment for major depression. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled four-month trial comparing tuna fish oil versus placebo was conducted on 83 outpatients with major depression. Despite large reductions in depression there were no significant differences at any assessment time point between patients receiving fish oil compared to placebo. Red blood cell incorporation of fatty acids indicated good compliance with oil supplementation, although this sample was not initially deficient in omega-3s. This particular dose and type of fish oil conferred no additional benefit to conventional treatment of depression in this sample. Future studies could target participants with pre-existing omega-3 deficiency and appraise alternate enriched types and higher doses of omega-3 supplementation.

The role of the coach in facilitating positive youth development: Moving from theory to practice

Sport is suggested as a potentially important and sufficient path for positive youth development. However, how this responsibility is translated by coaching practitioners is not understood. This research investigated whether coaching practitioners desire outcomes for their adolescent athletes that reach beyond on-field success, and incorporate constructs that are associated with positive youth development. Twenty-two participation coaches for adolescent athletes participated in semi-structured interviews. Results suggest that coaches see themselves as responsible for facilitating eight interrelated and interdependent themes that are consistent with the positive youth development literature: competence, confidence, connection, character, life skills, climate, positive affect and, positive psychological capacities.

The relationship between coach leadership, the coach–athlete relationship, team success, and the positive developmental experiences of adolescent soccer players

Background: The goals of participation youth sports are primarily concerned with the facilitation of positive youth development as opposed to outright success. Consequently, there are strong theoretical and empirical links between sports coaching and athlete development. Transformational leadership behaviours, in particular, have been theoretically linked to positive developmental outcomes within a youth sport context, while the coach–athlete relationship is a key tool used by coaches who aim to teach life skills to young athletes. Outright team success has also been shown to correlate with important developmental variables such as a mastery climate and athlete perception of youth sports coaches. Aims: The purpose of this study was to test the relationship between coach transformational leadership behaviours, the perceived quality of the coach–athlete relationship, team success, and the positive developmental experiences of adolescent soccer players. Method: Cross-sectional data were taken from 455 adolescent athletes aged between 11 and 18 years. Each participant was competing in a local soccer competition that is classified as a participation sport. Thus, the theoretical focus is on developmental and skill gains. Each participant completed the Differentiated Transformational Leadership Inventory for Youth Sport, the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire, and the Youth Experience Survey for Sport. Team success was measured by the total number of competition points accumulated during the season. Findings: The results show that coach transformational leadership behaviour and the coach–athlete relationship have a moderate positive correlation with developmental experiences. Team success has no relationship with overall developmental experiences. The best predictor of developmental experiences is a combination of coach transformational leadership behaviour and the quality of the coach–athlete relationship. The most influential leadership behaviours are individual consideration, intellectual stimulation, and appropriate role modelling. Discussion: Transformational leadership and the quality of the coach–athlete relationship may work synergistically to influence positive athlete outcomes within youth sports. Importantly, coaches who practise within the youth sport context are able to facilitate positive developmental outcomes from both team success and team failure by taking advantage of naturally occurring teachable moments. The best way to take advantage of these may be to engage in intellectual stimulation, individual consideration, and positive role modelling, in addition to facilitating positive, developmentally appropriate coach–athlete relationships. Future coach education programmes should incorporate relevant interpersonal and intrapersonal skills that allow youth sports coaches to engage in these behaviours. Longitudinal work is needed in order to make causal inferences between transformational leadership behaviour, the quality of the coach–athlete relationship, and positive youth development through sports.

The application of coach leadership models to coaching practice: Current state and future directions

The purpose of this concept/review article is to critically discuss the application of sports coaching leadership models to coaching practice. The focus of the discussion will be on the coherence and impact of the numerous models in the current literature, and the accumulated impact that they have on practitioners. This discussion will be framed in current conceptions of sports coaching and expected athlete outcomes. This article can serve an important role in the continuing dialogue about the essence of sports leadership; particularly in relation to how it is defined, how it is measured, and how the leadership literature can be applied in the field.

The role of symptom distress and goal attainment in promoting the psychological recovery in consumers within enduring mental illness

Background: Conceptualizations of recovery involve more than just symptom amelioration and include the development of hope, meaning and self-identity. Goal attainment increases wellbeing within non-clinical samples and mental health consumers report its facilitative value for psychological recovery. There is a lack of empirical data regarding the impact of goal progress/attainment on mental health outcome for consumers with enduring mental illness. Aims: (i) To examine whether baseline measures of symptoms, functioning and recovery are associated with greater goal progress, and (ii) to examine the impact of goal attainment on improvements in mental health outcome. Method: Seventy-one consumers with enduring mental illness who were receiving case-management support from mental health services in eastern Australia participated in the study. Level of attainment for case-management goals was examined against mental health outcome measures for the corresponding goal-setting period. Results: Path modelling indicated that goal attainment mediated the relationship between baseline (pre-goal setting) levels of symptom distress and progress on recovery constructs; hope, self-confidence, sense of purpose and positive identity. Conclusions: When symptoms are perceived as less distressing consumers are better able to progress toward their case-management goals, which in turn promotes aspects of psychological recovery.

Screening for mental disorder comorbidity in Australian alcohol and other drug residential treatment settings

There has been much international impetus to address the importance of identifying and treating clients experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental disorder in treatment settings. Gaps in the literature still exist after a decade of research into this area. There is little research on the prevalence of co-occurring mental disorders (CODs) in the residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment modality. In this study, the mental disorder status of 278 participants resident in AOD treatment settings across Australia was estimated using the Addiction Severity Index-Self Report (J.S. Cacciola, A. Pecoraro, & A.I. Alterman, 2008) and the Mental Health Screening Form III (J.F.X. Carroll & J.J. McGinley, 2001). The estimated rate of diagnosable Axis I mental disorder comorbidity varied from 64% to 71% depending upon which cutoff score was used with the MHSF-III. Missing data emerged as a major limitation of the self-report version of the Addiction Severity Index psychiatric composite score in this population.

Collaborative goal technology: theory and practice.

Goal striving promotes hope and enhances motivation, which is important for psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery. The Collaborative Goal Technology (CGT) is a new goal striving intervention that is used to support the autonomy and recovery processes of the person with a psychiatric disability. The CGT protocol and its utility are outlined. Theory and research from goal striving, motivation and mental health recovery domains that informed the development of CGT are described. A case example is also provided.

Challenges in implementing evidence-based practice into mental health services.

This paper highlights challenges in implementing mental health policy at a service delivery level. It describes an attempt to foster greater application of recovery-orientated principles and practices within mental health services. Notwithstanding a highly supportive policy environment, strong support from service administrators, and an enthusiastic staff response to training, application of the training and support tools was weaker than anticipated. This paper evaluates the dissemination trial against key elements to promote sustained adoption of innovations. Organisational and procedural changes are required before mental health policies are systematically implemented in practice.

Increasing the Effectiveness of Formal Coach Education: Evidence of a Parallel Process

The purpose of this study was to use the results of an exploratory case study to discuss the design and delivery of formal coach education pathways. Nine coaches completed qualitative and quantitative feedback on a formal transformational leadership training program. The theme that was consistently being presented by coaches was the need for learning to be situated within practical demonstrations and discussions where the coach learner and coach educator work collaboratively to facilitate understanding of the applications of program content to coaching practice. These results have been discussed in the light of the parallel processes that are evident in coach education. The relationship dynamics between athlete and coach are paralleled in the relationship between coach learner and coach educator. Formalising the parallel process in coach education is put forward as a conceptually sound approach to facilitate reflection in coaching practitioners through the use of practical demonstrations.

Change in working alliance and recovery in severe mental illness: An exploratory study

Background Consumer-defined recovery from schizophrenia spectrum disorders and other recurring psychotic illnesses (“serious mental illness”, “SMI”) emphasize re-establishment of a personally meaningful life. The working alliance (“the alliance”) is highlighted as important in facilitating recovery, however there is little empirical evidence concerning the relationship between the alliance and recovery in populations with SMI. Aims The aim is to explore the relationship between the alliance and recovery over time in a sample with SMI. Method Sixty-one individuals with SMI receiving case management support from mental health services in Australia were recruited by their mental health workers and completed measures of working alliance and recovery. Measures were collected by the workers during regular counselling sessions on two separate occasions. The average time between measurement times was 6 months apart. Results Multiple regression analyses indicated that changes in the alliance predicted recovery, but changes in recovery also predicted the alliance. No definitive conclusions regarding the causal direction of the relationship between the alliance and recovery could be drawn. Conclusions The results provide preliminary evidence that improvement in the alliance positively influences gains in recovery and that gains in recovery also facilitate stronger alliance in SMI. These findings support an emphasis on the alliance.