The theory of Rational Addiction

The Theory of Rational Addictions, by Gary Becker & Kevin Murphy (1988), was a rational choice model that became a standard tool for economists modeling addictive behavior. The approach differs from other theories of addiction by modeling addictive behavior as the gradual implementation of a rational, forward‐looking plan, where consumption at any point in time is partly motivated by the immediate payoff of consumption and partly by the effects this consumption has on the individual in the future. This makes addictive behavior a subset of rational behavior, requiring no more specific government policies or attention than any other consumption choice. Later work by economists extended the theory in different ways, allowing it to match an increasing number of consumption patterns, and searched for ways to test the forward‐looking assumption in different types of market data. While the work was successful as a contribution to rational choice theory, with possible statistical applications, there are several reasons to dismiss its usefulness as an explanation of real‐world addictive behavior and its ability to assess the welfare effects of addictions.     

农村青少年不同时期家庭逆境与精神病理症状的关联

目的探讨家庭逆境致精神病理症状结局的累积性与关键期效应,为预防与干预逆境伤害提供依据。方法2017年12月,采用方便抽样的方法选取安徽省阜阳地区2所农村学校的710名青少年。采用《童年期不良经历问卷》评估家庭逆境,《MacArthur健康与行为问卷》评价内化症状和外化症状。采用多元线性回归分析家庭逆境发生时间与数量和精神病理症状的关联。结果持续家庭逆境组与内化症状、外化症状增加均有相关性[β值(95%CI)分别为0.35(0.15~0.54),0.16(0.01~0.32)]。家庭逆境数量为2和≥3与内化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.20(0.04~0.36),0.42(0.24~0.60)]、外化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.14(0.01~0.26),0.23(0.09~0.37)]增加有关。在仅童年期家庭逆境中,家庭逆境数量为2和≥3的内化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.23(0.06~0.41),0.34(0.11~0.58)]、外化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.17(0.02~0.31),0.21(0.02~0.39)]的风险增高。在持续家庭逆境组中,逆境数量≥3与内化症状、外化症状相关[(β值(95%CI)分别为0.56(0.31~0.82),0.24(0.02~0.45)]。仅青春期家庭逆境与精神病理症状无关。结论家庭逆境的多次发生可增加精神病理症状风险,童年期可能是家庭逆境致精神病理症状的关键期。     

The Web of Internet Dependency: Search Results for the Mental Health Professional

Some researchers speculate that as many as 10% of users worldwide suffer from “problematic” use of the internet, possibly stemming from an internet dependency. Research is in its early stages, making it an uncertain issue for mental health professionals. This paper provides: (1) a critical review of research on problematic internet use for the mental health and addictions professional; and (2) practical implications, including suggestions on treatment and prevention, given its uncertain clinical classification.     

性服务工作者性病和艾滋病的干预研究

目的 了解性工作者的性病/艾滋病知识、态度、信念、行为等现状,积极探索对该人群进行预防性病、艾滋病及行为干预的有效办法,为今后在更大范围的高危人群中进行干预提供科学依据.方法 成立专职高危干预队伍,设计借鉴其他地区经验,深入目标人群进行系列外展服务,利用干预前后封闭式调查问卷评价干预效果.结果 发放干预前后问卷各522份,收回前后有效问卷387份.通过外展服务,娱乐场所从业人员对性病史滋病预防知识知晓率明显提高,对安全套及安全性行为预防性病艾滋病的传播的信念和态度有明显转变.结论 对娱乐场所从业人群开展系列专业外展服务可以提高该人群的防病意识,提升对性病史滋痛的知晓率,是高危人群干预的有效方法.     

Learning to Observe Relationships and Coping

Milieu relationships provide the critical background presence to staff's attempts to motivate, regulate, and teach patients how to cope with stress. Forging a connection with hospitalized children and adolescents demands attention to how they respond to adults and engage with staff around milieu expectations. Assessment guides that deal with these issues are presented. Important aspects of children's relatedness are presented in the context of their working models of adults and the influence of these representations on their response to staff. Coping skills are explained with particular emphasis on behavioral coping strategies. Tied to the assessment process are interventions that emphasize staff's role in helping patients manage strong affects and avoid the use of nonproductive behavior regulation strategies.     

Overview: Beyond guidelines and guidance—psychosocial perspectives on treatment interventions for young people with substance problems in the United Kingdom

Over the last two decades there has been accumulating evidence that both psychosocial and pharmacological treatment interventions can effect change in substance-misusing adults. Thus, treatment interventions implemented for young people with substance problems largely draw on the adult addiction experience and that of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology. As young people with problematic drug use have different treatment needs, and require different interventions and services to those of adults, results of adult studies cannot necessarily be directly extrapolated to young people.

Over the last five years evidence has been rapidly mounting that treatment may potentially work in young people, but as yet it is not as extensive as that for adults. The interventions that appear most fruitful are those based on learning theory, e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy and family therapy. Outcome studies in young people demonstrate substantial variability in substance use and misuse following treatment. From the UK perspective, the evidence is almost entirely USA based, and these evaluations of non-UK treatment programmes for young people cannot be simply transferred or transported to UK healthcare settings. This has significant implications for practice and policy.

At this stage, 'guidelines' or 'guidance' that is available is either not directed at young people and/or is largely gleaned from the USA literature. In addition, it does not adequately capture the complexity of cases at front-line specialist settings. The management of young substance misusers in the UK is, in the main, 'beyond guidelines and guidance'.

The restricted treatment service network for young people in the UK makes the potential for undertaking studies on treatment effectiveness extremely limited, but because there is evidence of a growing number of young people requiring treatment, such specialist drug services require evaluation. Serious consideration of the establishment and funding of evaluation of treatment interventions to be delivered to young substance misusers in the UK is urgently needed.     

黔东少数民族儿童行为问题与父母教养方式研究

目的探讨西部少数民族儿童行为问题及其与父母养育方式的关系,为少数民族地区开展心理健康教育提供理论依据。方法采用Achenbach儿童行为量表(CBCL)和儿童抚养行为问卷(CRPR)对415名苗族、土家族和侗族儿童进行调查。结果行为问题检出率为29.63%,其中男童为29.94%,女童为29.25%。男童检出率较高的因子为强迫、抑郁、交往不良、分裂样,女童检出率较高的因子为抑郁、分裂样强迫、多动。男童行为问题的绝大多数因子与父母的拒绝、惩罚定向呈显著的正相关,女童行为问题的多数因子与父母的拒绝呈显著正相关。结论黔东地区少数民族儿童行为问题显著高于全国水平,父母教养方式影响儿童的行为问题。