William McConnell

A model of the net effect of job loss on violence

The authors extend frustration-aggression theory to hypothesize that increasing frequency of layoffs has countervailing influences on violence depending on how many people lose jobs compared to how many fear job loss. The authors offer a model that estimates the net effect of these processes on the incidence of violence in a community. The model specifies a parabolic function in which small increases in layoffs are associated with increased incidence of violence, but large increases are associated with reduced incidence. The model was tested with time-series methods by using weekly data from San Francisco. The independent variable was initial claims for unemployment compensation; the dependent variable was civil commitments for behavior that is dangerous to others. The model fit the data for both men and women. Implications of the model for economic policy and the provision of preventive services are discussed.

A confirmatory factor analysis of the BASIS-32 in racial and ethnic samples

The present study performed confirmatory factor analysis across major racial and ethnic groups of the BASIS-32, a measure of functional status of persons receiving mental health treatment and suitable for routine assessment mental health care. The purpose was to perform a preliminary investigation of cross-cultural equivalence in a county-level mental health program in a major metropolitan area. The results indicated a factor structure similar to that reported in the literature, and they suggested acceptable levels of agreement in structure between racial and ethnic minority groups and whites. The study revealed little reason to believe that the BASIS-32 varied in underlying structure across racial and ethnic boundaries, although further research is indicated.

The California adult performance outcome survey: Preliminary evidence on reliability and validity

Recent legislation in California mandated the development of an outcome measure suitable for measuring changes in quality of life associated with treatment in the public mental health system. The measure, known as the California Adult Performance Outcome Survey (CAPOS), relies on clinician and client reports of objective and subjective indicators of quality of life. The present study sought to determine whether the clinician-administered CAPOS would agree with that administered by trained research assistants, and whether the CAPOS would agree with an established quality of life measure. A sample of sixty-four severely mentally ill subjects were assessed by their regular mental health provider using the CAPOS. One week later they were assessed by a trained research assistant using the CAPOS and Lehmans Quality of Life Interview (QOLI). For most outcome domains, the CAPOS exhibited moderate to excellent agreement across occasions and raters. Correlations with the QOLI indicated a good degree of overlap among corresponding domains. Outcome measurement procedures for routine use in clinical settings are in their infancy. The CAPOS appears promising in this role because of its brevity, ease of administration, and adequate interrater reliability. The CAPOS affords state and local mental health authorities with an efficient means of tracking key quality of life indicators within the public mental health system.

Measuring Community Preferences for Public Mental Health Services: Pilot Test of a Mail Survey Method

This study tested the feasibility of a simple mail survey approach to measuring community preferences for mental health services. A 38 item survey detected statistically significant differences in preferences for four central goals, finding that community members most value Focus on the Severely Mentally III, followed by Community Safety and Environment, Service Quality and Original Community Mental Health Goals. Some procedural problems were encountered that reduced the response rates, however, the study yielded information that suggests improved procedures for future surveys. Simple mail surveys appear to offer a potentially affordable, efficient way to assess community service priorities.

A time-series test of the quarantine theory of involuntary commitment

Persons believed to be mentally ill and imminently violent are often subjected to coerced treatment. Among the justifications for this practice is the argument that removing such people from the community is analogous to quarantine. We test the quarantine theory using daily data from San Francisco. Results suggest that the incidence of coerced treatment of males is inversely related to assaults and batteries by males one day later. The finding implies that persons who are involuntarily committed are at elevated risk of violent behavior. The implications of the findings for the prevention of assaultive behavior are briefly described.

Effect of Racial and Ethnic Composition of Neighborhoods in San Francisco on Rates of Mental Health-Related 911 Calls

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the association between the racial and ethnic residential composition of San Francisco neighborhoods and the rate of mental health-related 911 calls. METHODS A total of 1,341,608 emergency calls (28,197 calls related to mental health) to San Franciscos 911 system were made from January 2001 through June 2003. Police sector data in the call records were overlaid onto U.S. census tracts to estimate sector demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the association between the percentage of black, Asian, Latino, and white residents and rates of mental health-related calls. RESULTS A one-point increase in a sectors percentage of black residents was associated with a lower rate of mental health-related calls (incidence rate ratio=.99, p<.05). A sectors percentage of Asian and Latino residents had no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS The observed relationship between the percentage of black residents and mental health-related calls is not consistent with known emergency mental health service utilization patterns.

Enhancing program review for evaluation and management.

Program review has not received the attention it warrants as a program evaluation tool despite its wide use for evaluation and management purposes. The use of the program review will probably endure on the strength of its face validity and irrespective of other developments in the field of program evaluation. Evaluators should realize this and, accordingly, attempt to improve its effectiveness. This paper presents one organizations approach to achieving this objective through the explication of development principles, implementation guidelines and review items. This paper also discusses benefits that can be expected from a systematic development of this tool and presents various research directions and potentials in this area.

Practicing What You Preach

as a separate area of professional activity. This search for identity has been accompanied by a number of events which often occur when a new field is developing. These have included debates about standards of practice and the proper scope of the field, the appearance of new books and journals, and the start of professional associations. One significant occurrence in the last few years has been a substantial increase in the