Online Newsletter Committed to Excellence in the Fields of Mental Health, Addiction, Counseling, Social Work, and Nursing
Showing posts with label ethics ceus for social workers ASW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ethics ceus for social workers ASW. Show all posts
March 11, 2012
NIH-funded study defines treatment window for HIV-positive children infected at birth
HIV-positive children older than 1 year who were treated after showing moderate HIV-related symptoms did not experience greater cognitive or behavior problems compared to peers treated when signs of their infection were still mild, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. But both groups of HIV-positive children lagged behind HIV-negative children in these areas, suggesting that the first year of life may present a critical treatment window for minimizing impairments in brain development due to HIV ceus for social workers
“Especially in children, we must always weigh the benefits of early treatment for HIV infection against the risks, which can range from long-term toxicity or drug resistance to scarcity of the supply of medications in regions with limited health care resources,” noted Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of NIH. “Knowing the parameters of appropriate care can assist providers in making difficult treatment decisions for this vulnerable population.”
As part of the NIH-funded Pediatric Randomized Early vs. Deferred Initiation in Cambodia and Thailand (PREDICT) trial, researchers assessed 284 HIV-positive children ages 1-12 who had mildly weakened immune systems but no severe symptoms of HIV infection. The children were randomly assigned to receive treatment immediately or to have treatment deferred until they began to show moderate signs of HIV-related illness.
At follow-up almost 3 years later, very few children in either group had progressed to AIDS. Children who received deferred treatment performed as well as those treated immediately on tests measuring intelligence, memory, and hand-eye coordination. However, both groups scored lower on these tests and had more behavior problems than HIV-negative children who took part in the PREDICT study. Though the study did not assess the children’s actual educational needs, the difference in test scores would place many HIV-positive children at a lower functional level than their HIV-negative peers, indicating they may need additional resources or special schooling.
“These findings suggest that the window of opportunity for avoiding neurocognitive deficits by treating HIV infection may only occur earlier, in infancy,” noted Pim Brouwers, Ph.D., who oversees NIMH-funded research on HIV/AIDS among children and adolescents and also served as a co-investigator on neurodevelopmental outcomes of the PREDICT study.
The results of the PREDICT study were presented at the 19th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. The PREDICT study was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, with further neurological analysis of the study participants supported by NIMH and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, all parts of NIH.
The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier for the PREDICT study is NCT00234091.
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The mission of the NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH website.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit the NIH website.
September 06, 2011
Autism Risk in Younger Siblings May be Higher Than Previously Thought
Autism Risk in Younger Siblings May be Higher Than Previously Thought
Parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face about a 19 percent chance that subsequent children will also develop ASD, according to a study partially funded by NIMH. This estimate is much higher than previous reports but may also be more accurate due to the study's size and design, according to the researchers. Their study was published August 15, 2011, online ahead of print in the journal Pediatrics ceus for social workers
Background
A few previous studies have explored the recurrence rate of ASD, or the likelihood of later-born siblings of children with ASD to also develop ASD. However, few studies addressed factors likely to influence risk estimates, such as:
Stoppage—the tendency for families to choose not to have more children after one child is diagnosed with ASD. Such families would not be included in research on ASD recurrence.
Overreporting—an error that can occur when researchers rely solely on parent reports or health records, which have been shown to inflate estimates.
Ascertainment bias—an example is overselection, which can occur when parents with one child who has ASD pay very close attention to a later child's development. They may be more likely to take part in ASD recurrence studies than other parents.
Taking a different approach, Sally Ozonoff, Ph.D., of the University of California-Davis, and colleagues evaluated data on 664 infants who were tested at 12 sites across the United States and Canada. All sites were members of the Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC), an international network supported by the U.S. advocacy group Autism Speaks. All BSRC members contribute data to a centralized database that allows infant-sibling researchers to pool data across many sites and answer questions that require very large and geographically diverse samples to address.
The average age of the infant participants at the start of the study was 8 months, an age when signs of ASD are not usually present; two-thirds of the total study population were enrolled before age 6 months. All had at least one older sibling diagnosed with ASD, which was confirmed by a consortium doctor. The participants were themselves assessed for ASD multiple times in their first three years of life.
Results of the Study
Out of the total study sample, 18.7 percent of participants were diagnosed with ASD by age 3. Boys were nearly three times as likely as girls to be diagnosed with ASD. Participants who had more than one older sibling with ASD were about twice as likely to also be diagnosed with ASD, compared to participants who had only one older sibling with ASD.
Unlike some previous studies, the gender or IQ of the older sibling with ASD did not affect the later sibling's risk in the present study.
Significance
The findings indicate that ASD recurrence is 18 percent or higher, compared to 3-14 percent estimated in earlier studies. The researchers note that their study's size and design minimized the effects of stoppage, overreporting, and ascertainment bias.
Despite the strengths of their study, the researchers emphasize that recurrence estimates cannot provide information on an individual's risk. They highlight the need for careful and extensive counseling and thorough genetic work-ups for concerned parents, as well as close monitoring, especially of high-risk children, and prompt referrals for intervention by primary care providers.
What’s Next
According to the researchers, larger, population-based studies that include families of children with ASD who are not listed in the Baby Siblings Research Consortium may help to further refine recurrence estimates. Future studies will examine DNA collected from participants to examine genetic factors that may be associated with recurrence.
Reference
Ozonoff S, Young GS, Carter A, Messinger D, Yirmiya N, Zwaigenbaum L, Bryson S, Carver LJ, Constantino JN, Dobkins K, Hutman T, Iverson JM, Landa R, Rogers SJ, Sigman M, Stone WL. Recurrence Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study. Pediatrics. 2011 Aug 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 21844053.
June 29, 2011
Support Program Can Help Caregivers Cope with Relative’s Mental Illness
A free, nationally available program can significantly improve a family's ability to cope with an ill relative's mental disorder, according to an NIMH-funded study published June 2011 in Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association.
Background
The Family-to-Family (FTF) education and support program is a free, 12-week course offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). FTF is offered throughout the United States, in two Canadian provinces and in three regions in Mexico. With more than 3,500 volunteer teachers, it is supported by local donations or municipal funds. Since 1991, 250,000 family members have participated in the program. It is the most widely available education and support program for family members of individuals with mental illnesses.
Two previous studies suggested that FTF reduces caregivers' stress and helps them gain a sense of empowerment over their situation. For this most recent evaluation of the program, Lisa Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Maryland, and colleagues aimed to determine its effectiveness using a randomized controlled trial. Half of the 318 participants were assigned to the program immediately after enrolling in the study, while the other half were waitlisted for the program for at least three months (control condition). Those who were waitlisted were free to seek assistance from other sources.
Participants were interviewed at the beginning of the three-month program and again three months later. They were asked about their problem-solving and coping skills, their overall distress level and worries about their ill relative's situation. They were also asked about their sense of empowerment to manage challenges within the family, the mental health system, and the community. They were also tested regarding their factual knowledge about mental illness.
Results of the Study
Compared to the waitlisted control group, FTF participants showed significantly greater improvements in coping with their ill relative's condition by learning more about the illness and gaining a sense of empowerment in the family, service system and community. FTF participants also showed increased acceptance of their family member's illness as well as improved problem-solving skills, compared to those who were waitlisted. Results also suggested that FTF participants' overall sense of emotional distress eased.
Significance
The researchers concluded that FTF effectively enhances coping skills among families of people with mental illness. These results echo those found in the previous qualitative studies. The researchers suggest the program can positively influence how family members solve problems and "navigate emotional difficulties" surrounding their loved one's illness.
What's Next
Additional research is needed to conclusively determine if the positive effects of FTF can improve the outcomes of the individuals with mental illness for whom the family members were taking the class.
Citation
Dixon LB, Lucksted A, Medoff DR, Burland J, Stewart B, Lehman AF, Fang LJ, Sturm V, Brown C, Murray-Swank A. Outcomes of a randomized study of a peer-taught family-to-family education program for mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 2011 June. 62(6):591-597.
CEUs for Social Workers
May 31, 2011
Earthquakes and Mental Health
Impact on Children and Families
Because earthquakes are unexpected and can be very destructive, being in one can be terrifying. People fear they will be injured or killed. They may be separated from family, with hours passing before knowing if their loved ones are safe. They may see collapsed buildings or other destruction and experience the horror of seeing severely injured people or even dead bodies. As they assess the damage, people may find that a relative or close friend has been killed or that their home has been destroyed. Earthquakes are particularly difficult physically and emotionally for people who are disabled or have special needs ceus for social workers
In the aftermath, people may continue to encounter sights, sounds, smells, sensations, and inner feelings that remind them-even years after-of the earthquake. These traumatic reminders can bring on distressing mental images, thoughts, and emotional/physical reactions. Common reminders include aftershocks, cracks in the wall, rumbling noises, destroyed buildings, smells of fire and smoke, the place where they experienced the earthquake, seeing people with disabilities, funerals, anniversaries of the date, and television or radio news about earthquakes.
An earthquake may serve as a reminder of prior trauma and loss, making the current reactions even worse. Post-earthquake problems with living conditions, food, water, electricity, transportation, school, work, and daily routines may make living very difficult for weeks or even months. Efforts to contend with these adversities may significantly reduce a person's coping and emotional resources, and in turn interfere with their ability to recover
Post-earthquake studies of children and adults from around the world have found that:
•Those with the most severe earthquake-related experiences and losses have the most severe and persistent posttraumatic stress and grief reactions.
•There can be widespread separation-anxiety in children and adolescents following the event.
•Depression, associated with posttraumatic stress reactions and disruption to living circumstances, often occurs after major earthquakes.
•Ongoing problems may include: marital discord; substance abuse; delinquent, aggressive or withdrawn behavior; and complaints about physical health, including headaches, stomachaches, rapid heartbeat, tightness in the chest, and appetite and digestive problems.
•Children and adolescents lose trust in the safety and security of the world, and in the ability of adults to protect them.
•Specialized trauma- or grief-focused mental health services can help children and adolescents recover from the psychological consequences of an earthquake.
Recovery: After an Earthquake
Most families will recover over time, particularly with the support of family, friends, and organizations. The length of recovery will depend, in part, upon how frightening the earthquake was, whether evacuation from home was necessary, and the extent of the damage and loss. Some families will be able to return to their normal routines rather quickly, while others will have to contend with repairing damage to their home and possessions, finding medical care, and facing financial hardship. Some families will have lost a loved one or a pet. Others will need to deal with school closings or changes in school schedules.
Children's functioning and recovery will be influenced by how their parents and caregivers cope during and after the earthquake. Children often turn to adults for information, comfort, and help. Children do best when parents and teachers remain (or at least appear) calm, answer children's questions honestly, and respond as best they can to requests.
November 09, 2010
MFT Continuing Education, LCSW Continuing Education, LPC Continuing Education
Alabama
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Alaska
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Arizona
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Arkansas
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
California
Approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT), Marriage and Family Therapist Interns/Trainee (MFTI), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASW).
Approved by the California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors for licensed Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors (CADC I & II, CPS, CSS, CADCA)
Colorado
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Connecticut
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Delaware
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Meets qualifications in Rule 7.2.5 for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for further clarification)
Florida
Approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Georgia
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Hawaii
No continuing education requirements for license renewal for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Idaho
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Illinois
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Indiana
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Iowa
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Meets requirements stated in Rule 645-281.3 standards of the Iowa Administrative Rules (see state board for further clarification) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Kansas
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Kentucky
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Louisiana
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Maine
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Maryland
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Massachusetts
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Michigan
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
No continuing education requirements for license renewal for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Minnesota
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Check with board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Mississippi
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
Missouri
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Montana
Approved by the Montana Board of Social Work Examiners, Professional Counselors & Marriage and Family Therapists for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC), and licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Nebraska
Meets criteria of an approved continuing education program provider for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Nevada
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
New Hampshire
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
New Jersey
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not approved for Licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
New Mexico
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
New York
No continuing education requirements for license renewal for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
North Carolina
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
North Dakota
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
Ohio
Approved by the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board of Ohio for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Approved by the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board of Ohio for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Oklahoma
Approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Health - Professional Counselor Licensing Board for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Oregon
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Pennsylvania
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Rhode Island
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
South Carolina
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
South Dakota
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Tennessee
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Meets requirements stated in Rule 1365-01-.09 for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (see state board for further clarification)
Texas
Approved by the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Utah
Meets requirements stated in rule R156-60b-304 for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Meets requirements stated in rule R156-60c-304 for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Not pre-approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Vermont
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Meets requirements stated in rule 3.3 Formal Activities (2), 3.4(2)(3) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Virginia
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Washington
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
West Virginia
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) (check with state board for CE requirements)
No CE Provider status approval required for Category II (Individual Professional Activities) CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Wisconsin
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Wyoming
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
MFT Continuing Education
LCSW Continuing Education
LPC Continuing Education Units, Credits, Hours
Drug and Alchohol Counselor Continuing Education CEUs
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Alaska
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Arizona
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Arkansas
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
California
Approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT), Marriage and Family Therapist Interns/Trainee (MFTI), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) and Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASW).
Approved by the California Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors for licensed Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselors (CADC I & II, CPS, CSS, CADCA)
Colorado
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Connecticut
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Delaware
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Meets qualifications in Rule 7.2.5 for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for further clarification)
Florida
Approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Georgia
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Hawaii
No continuing education requirements for license renewal for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Idaho
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Illinois
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Indiana
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Iowa
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Meets requirements stated in Rule 645-281.3 standards of the Iowa Administrative Rules (see state board for further clarification) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Kansas
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Kentucky
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Louisiana
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Maine
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Maryland
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Massachusetts
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Check state board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Michigan
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
No continuing education requirements for license renewal for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Minnesota
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Check with board for approval requirements for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Mississippi
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
Missouri
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Montana
Approved by the Montana Board of Social Work Examiners, Professional Counselors & Marriage and Family Therapists for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC), and licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Nebraska
Meets criteria of an approved continuing education program provider for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Nevada
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
New Hampshire
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
New Jersey
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not approved for Licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
New Mexico
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
New York
No continuing education requirements for license renewal for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
North Carolina
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
North Dakota
No CE Provider status approval required for CE credit for licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
Ohio
Approved by the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board of Ohio for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Approved by the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board of Ohio for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Oklahoma
Approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Health - Professional Counselor Licensing Board for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Oregon
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Pennsylvania
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Rhode Island
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Not approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
South Carolina
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
South Dakota
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Tennessee
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Meets requirements stated in Rule 1365-01-.09 for CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (see state board for further clarification)
Texas
Approved by the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT)
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Utah
Meets requirements stated in rule R156-60b-304 for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Meets requirements stated in rule R156-60c-304 for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Not pre-approved for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Vermont
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Meets requirements stated in rule 3.3 Formal Activities (2), 3.4(2)(3) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (see state board for further clarification on CE requirements)
Virginia
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Accepts approval from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Washington
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
West Virginia
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) (check with state board for CE requirements)
No CE Provider status approval required for Category II (Individual Professional Activities) CE credit for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW)
Wisconsin
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Social Workers (LCSW, LSW), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
Wyoming
Accepts approval from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for licensed Mental Health Counselors (MHC)
Not pre-approved for licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, LMFT) and Social Workers (LCSW, LSW) (check with state board for CE requirements)
MFT Continuing Education
LCSW Continuing Education
LPC Continuing Education Units, Credits, Hours
Drug and Alchohol Counselor Continuing Education CEUs
May 21, 2010
Eating Disorders
EATING DISORDERS
What are eating disorders?
Who has eating disorders?
What are the symptoms of eating disorders?
What medical problems can arise as a result of eating disorders?
What is required for a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder?
How are eating disorders treated?
For a referral to the nearest therapist specializing in eating disorders
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders often are long-term illnesses that may require long-term treatment. In addition, eating disorders frequently occur with other mental disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders (NIMH, 2002). The earlier these disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the chances are for full recovery. This fact sheet identifies the common signs, symptoms, and treatment for three of the most common eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder (NIMH, 2002).
Back to Top
Who has eating disorders?
Research shows that more than 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25 (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 2003). However, increasing numbers of older women and men have these disorders. In addition, hundreds of thousands of boys are affected by these disorders (U.S. DHHS Office on Women's Health, 2000).
Back to Top
What are the symptoms of eating disorders?
Anorexia nervosa - People who have anorexia develop unusual eating habits such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing their food, and counting the calories of everything they eat. Also, they may exercise excessively.
Bulimia nervosa - People who have bulimia eat an excessive amount of food in a single episode and almost immediately make themselves vomit or use laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to get rid of the food in their bodies. This behavior often is referred to as the "binge/purge" cycle. Like people with anorexia, people with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight.
Binge-eating disorder - People with this recently recognized disorder have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not purge their bodies of food (NIMH, 2002). During these food binges, they often eat alone and very quickly, regardless of whether they feel hungry or full. They often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder occurs almost as often in men as in women (National Eating Disorders Association, 2002).
Back to Top
What medical problems can arise as a result of eating disorders?
Anorexia nervosa - Anorexia can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure, increasing the chance of heart failure. Those who use drugs to stimulate vomiting, bowel movements, or urination are also at high risk for heart failure. Starvation can also lead to heart failure, as well as damage the brain. Anorexia may also cause hair and nails to grow brittle. Skin may dry out, become yellow, and develop a covering of soft hair called lanugo. Mild anemia, swollen joints, reduced muscle mass, and light-headedness also commonly occur as a consequence of this eating disorder. Severe cases of anorexia can lead to brittle bones that break easily as a result of calcium loss.
Bulimia nervosa - The acid in vomit can wear down the outer layer of the teeth, inflame and damage the esophagus (a tube in the throat through which food passes to the stomach), and enlarge the glands near the cheeks (giving the appearance of swollen cheeks). Damage to the stomach can also occur from frequent vomiting. Irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and death can occur from chemical imbalances and the loss of important minerals such as potassium. Peptic ulcers, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which is a large gland that aids digestion), and long-term constipation are also consequences of bulimia.
Binge-eating disorder - Binge-eating disorder can cause high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Other effects of binge-eating disorder include fatigue, joint pain, Type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, and heart disease.
Back to Top
What is required for a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder?
Anorexia nervosa - Weighs at least 15 percent below what is considered normal for others of the same height and age; misses at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (if a female of childbearing age); has an intense fear of gaining weight; refuses to maintain the minimal normal body weight; and believes he or she is overweight though in reality is dangerously thin (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994; NIMH, 2002).
Bulimia nervosa - At least two binge/purge cycles a week, on average, for at least 3 months; lacks control over his or her eating behavior; and seems obsessed with his or her body shape and weight (APA, 1994; NIMH, 2002).
Binge-eating disorder - At least two binge-eating episodes a week, on average, for 6 months; and lacks control over his or her eating behavior (NIMH, 2002).
Back to Top
How are eating disorders treated?
Anorexia nervosa - The first goal for the treatment of anorexia is to ensure the person's physical health, which involves restoring a healthy weight (NIMH, 2002). Reaching this goal may require hospitalization. Once a person's physical condition is stable, treatment usually involves individual psychotherapy and family therapy during which parents help their child learn to eat again and maintain healthy eating habits on his or her own. Behavioral therapy also has been effective for helping a person return to healthy eating habits. Supportive group therapy may follow, and self-help groups within communities may provide ongoing support.
Bulimia nervosa - Unless malnutrition is severe, any substance abuse problems that may be present at the time the eating disorder is diagnosed are usually treated first. The next goal of treatment is to reduce or eliminate the person's binge eating and purging behavior (NIMH, 2002). Behavioral therapy has proven effective in achieving this goal. Psychotherapy has proven effective in helping to prevent the eating disorder from recurring and in addressing issues that led to the disorder. Studies have also found that Prozac, an antidepressant, may help people who do not respond to psychotherapy (APA, 2002). As with anorexia, family therapy is also recommended.
Binge-eating disorder - The goals and strategies for treating binge-eating disorder are similar to those for bulimia. Binge-eating disorder was recognized only recently as an eating disorder, and research is under way to study the effectiveness of different interventions (NIMH, 2002).
Back to Top
For a referral to the nearest therapist specializing in eating disorders, contact:
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
P.O. Box 7
Highland Park, IL 60035
Hotline: 1-847-831-3438
http://www.anad.org/
National Eating Disorders Association
Informational and Referral Program
603 Stewart Street, Suite 803
Seattle, WA 98101
1-800-931-2237
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Note: The above is a suggested resource. It is not meant to be a complete list.
What are eating disorders?
Who has eating disorders?
What are the symptoms of eating disorders?
What medical problems can arise as a result of eating disorders?
What is required for a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder?
How are eating disorders treated?
For a referral to the nearest therapist specializing in eating disorders
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders often are long-term illnesses that may require long-term treatment. In addition, eating disorders frequently occur with other mental disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders (NIMH, 2002). The earlier these disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the chances are for full recovery. This fact sheet identifies the common signs, symptoms, and treatment for three of the most common eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder (NIMH, 2002).
Back to Top
Who has eating disorders?
Research shows that more than 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25 (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 2003). However, increasing numbers of older women and men have these disorders. In addition, hundreds of thousands of boys are affected by these disorders (U.S. DHHS Office on Women's Health, 2000).
Back to Top
What are the symptoms of eating disorders?
Anorexia nervosa - People who have anorexia develop unusual eating habits such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing their food, and counting the calories of everything they eat. Also, they may exercise excessively.
Bulimia nervosa - People who have bulimia eat an excessive amount of food in a single episode and almost immediately make themselves vomit or use laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to get rid of the food in their bodies. This behavior often is referred to as the "binge/purge" cycle. Like people with anorexia, people with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight.
Binge-eating disorder - People with this recently recognized disorder have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not purge their bodies of food (NIMH, 2002). During these food binges, they often eat alone and very quickly, regardless of whether they feel hungry or full. They often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder occurs almost as often in men as in women (National Eating Disorders Association, 2002).
Back to Top
What medical problems can arise as a result of eating disorders?
Anorexia nervosa - Anorexia can slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure, increasing the chance of heart failure. Those who use drugs to stimulate vomiting, bowel movements, or urination are also at high risk for heart failure. Starvation can also lead to heart failure, as well as damage the brain. Anorexia may also cause hair and nails to grow brittle. Skin may dry out, become yellow, and develop a covering of soft hair called lanugo. Mild anemia, swollen joints, reduced muscle mass, and light-headedness also commonly occur as a consequence of this eating disorder. Severe cases of anorexia can lead to brittle bones that break easily as a result of calcium loss.
Bulimia nervosa - The acid in vomit can wear down the outer layer of the teeth, inflame and damage the esophagus (a tube in the throat through which food passes to the stomach), and enlarge the glands near the cheeks (giving the appearance of swollen cheeks). Damage to the stomach can also occur from frequent vomiting. Irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and death can occur from chemical imbalances and the loss of important minerals such as potassium. Peptic ulcers, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which is a large gland that aids digestion), and long-term constipation are also consequences of bulimia.
Binge-eating disorder - Binge-eating disorder can cause high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Other effects of binge-eating disorder include fatigue, joint pain, Type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, and heart disease.
Back to Top
What is required for a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder?
Anorexia nervosa - Weighs at least 15 percent below what is considered normal for others of the same height and age; misses at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (if a female of childbearing age); has an intense fear of gaining weight; refuses to maintain the minimal normal body weight; and believes he or she is overweight though in reality is dangerously thin (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994; NIMH, 2002).
Bulimia nervosa - At least two binge/purge cycles a week, on average, for at least 3 months; lacks control over his or her eating behavior; and seems obsessed with his or her body shape and weight (APA, 1994; NIMH, 2002).
Binge-eating disorder - At least two binge-eating episodes a week, on average, for 6 months; and lacks control over his or her eating behavior (NIMH, 2002).
Back to Top
How are eating disorders treated?
Anorexia nervosa - The first goal for the treatment of anorexia is to ensure the person's physical health, which involves restoring a healthy weight (NIMH, 2002). Reaching this goal may require hospitalization. Once a person's physical condition is stable, treatment usually involves individual psychotherapy and family therapy during which parents help their child learn to eat again and maintain healthy eating habits on his or her own. Behavioral therapy also has been effective for helping a person return to healthy eating habits. Supportive group therapy may follow, and self-help groups within communities may provide ongoing support.
Bulimia nervosa - Unless malnutrition is severe, any substance abuse problems that may be present at the time the eating disorder is diagnosed are usually treated first. The next goal of treatment is to reduce or eliminate the person's binge eating and purging behavior (NIMH, 2002). Behavioral therapy has proven effective in achieving this goal. Psychotherapy has proven effective in helping to prevent the eating disorder from recurring and in addressing issues that led to the disorder. Studies have also found that Prozac, an antidepressant, may help people who do not respond to psychotherapy (APA, 2002). As with anorexia, family therapy is also recommended.
Binge-eating disorder - The goals and strategies for treating binge-eating disorder are similar to those for bulimia. Binge-eating disorder was recognized only recently as an eating disorder, and research is under way to study the effectiveness of different interventions (NIMH, 2002).
Back to Top
For a referral to the nearest therapist specializing in eating disorders, contact:
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
P.O. Box 7
Highland Park, IL 60035
Hotline: 1-847-831-3438
http://www.anad.org/
National Eating Disorders Association
Informational and Referral Program
603 Stewart Street, Suite 803
Seattle, WA 98101
1-800-931-2237
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Note: The above is a suggested resource. It is not meant to be a complete list.
April 19, 2010
Disaster Reactions of Potential Risk Groups
Training Manual
for Mental Health and Human Service Workers
in Major Disasters
SECTION 3
Disaster Reactions of Potential Risk Groups
Although there are many feelings and reactions people share in common following a disaster, there are also expressions that are more specifically influenced by the survivor's age, cultural and ethnic background, socioeconomic status, pre-existing physical, and psychosocial vulnerabilities. Disaster mental health workers are better prepared to design effective interventions when they have an understanding of how demographic and health factors interact with disaster stress.
This section describes groups commonly found within communities following a disaster and provides suggestions for disaster mental health interventions. Common issues, concerns, and reactions are also briefly presented in this section.
Common Needs and Reactions
First is a review of some thoughts, feelings, and behaviors common to all who experience a disaster:
Concern for basic survival
Grief over loss of loved ones and loss of valued and meaningful possessions
Fear and anxiety about personal safety and the physical safety of loved ones
Sleep disturbances, often including nightmares and imagery from the disaster
Concerns about relocation and related isolation or crowded living conditions
Need to talk about events and feelings associated with the disaster, often repeatedly
Need to feel one is a part of the community and its disaster recovery efforts
Potential Risk Groups
Each disaster-affected community has its own demographic composition, prior history with disasters or other traumatic events, and cultural representation. When disaster program planners review the groups impacted by a disaster in their community, consideration should be given to the following, as well as additional groups unique to the locale:
Age groups
Cultural and ethnic groups
Socioeconomic groups
People with serious and persistent mental illness
Human service and disaster relief workers
The majority of survivors are resilient and with time can integrate their disaster experiences and losses and move on. However, survivors who have significant concurrent psychosocial, health, or financial problems are at greater risk for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms or an exacerbation of their pre-existing condition. When survivors have personally sustained severe disaster losses (e.g., death of a loved one, devastation of home and community), their reactions are more intensely expressed and over a longer period of time (Solomon & Green, 1992). This section includes a brief overview for each group. The disaster reactions described normally resolve over time with sufficient support and physical recovery. References for more detailed information are provided.
Age Groups
Each stage of life is accompanied by special challenges in coping with the aftermath of a disaster and age-related vulnerabilities to disaster stress. For children, their age and development determine their capacity cognitively to understand what is occurring around them and to regulate their emotional reactions. Children are more vulnerable to difficulty when they have experienced other life stresses in the year preceding the disaster, such as a divorce, a move, or the death of a family member or pet (Vogel & Vernberg, 1993). For adults, stress associated with family and home disruption, financial setbacks, and work overload predominate. For older adults, concerns regarding health, financial stability, and living independently become primary.
The age groups considered in this section are:
Preschool (ages 1-5)
Childhood (ages 6-11)
Pre-adolescence and Adolescence (ages 12-18)
Adults
Older Adults
Reactions and problems vary depending upon the phase of the post-disaster period. Some of the problems discussed appear immediately; many appear months later.
Preschool (ages 1-5)
Small children view their world from the perspectives of predictability, stability, and the availability of dependable caretakers. Disruption in any of these domains causes distress. Preschool age children often feel powerlessness and fear in the face of a disaster, especially if they are separated from parents. Because of their age and small size, they are unable to protect themselves or others. As a result, they may feel considerable anxiety and insecurity.
In the preschool years, children generally lack the verbal and conceptual skills necessary to understand and cope effectively with sudden unexpected stress. They typically look to parents and older siblings as behavior models, as well as for comfort and stability. Research has shown that children's reactions are more related to how their family or caregiver is coping than the actual objective characteristics of the disaster itself (Green et al., 1991).
Children who have lost one or both parents are especially in need. Loss of a relative, a playmate, or a pet is also a disturbing event for children. They will need opportunities to express their grief. One of the major fears of childhood is abandonment, so children need frequent reassurance they will be cared for.
Preschoolers express their upset through regressive behaviors such as thumb sucking, bed-wetting, clinging to their parents, a return of fear of the dark, or not wanting to sleep alone. They often have sleep problems and frightening dreams. These problems are best understood as normal expressions of anxiety about the disruption of their familiar routines and previously secure worlds.
In the natural course of events, small children will try to resolve traumatic experiences by reliving them in their play activities. They may reenact the earthquake, flood, or tornado repeatedly. Children should be encouraged to verbalize their questions, feelings, and misunderstandings about the disaster so that adults can listen and explain. Relief of disaster fears and anxiety is attained through reestablishing the child's sense of security. Frequent verbal reassurance, physical comforting, more frequent attention, comforting bedtime rituals, and mealtime routines are helpful. As much as possible, young children should stay with people with whom they feel most familiar.
Childhood (ages 6 - 11)
School age children are developing the cognitive capacity to understand the dangers to family and environment inherent in disasters. They are more able to understand the disaster event and the mitigating role of disaster preparedness. This awareness can also contribute to preoccupation with weather and disasters, and fears about family members being killed or injured. School age children have a great need to understand what has happened and the concrete steps that they can take for protection and preparedness in the future.
Children often have special bonds with playmates or pets. When the disaster causes loss of significant others due to death or relocation, the child may grieve deeply. They experience the full range of human emotions, but may not have the words or means to express their internal experience. Adults can assist children to express these powerful emotions through talking, play, art, and age-appropriate recovery or preparedness activities.
School age children also manifest their anxiety through regressive behavior. Returning to behavior appropriate for a younger age is trying for parents, but serves an initially functional purpose for the child. These behaviors include: irritability, whining, clinging, fighting with friends and siblings, competing with younger siblings for parents' attention, or refusing to go to school. Bedtime and sleep problems are common due to nightmares and fearfulness about sleeping alone or in the dark.
Sometimes children's behavior can be "super good" at home, because they are afraid of further burdening their parents or causing more family disruption. They may show disaster stress at school through concentration problems, a decline in academic performance, aggression toward classmates, or withdrawal from social interactions. Some children may have somatic reactions and seek attention from the school nurse for stomach aches, headaches, nausea, or other complaints.
Pre-adolescence and Adolescence (ages 12 - 18)
This age group has a great need to appear competent to the world around them, especially to their family and friends. They struggle with the conflicts inherent in moving toward independence from parents on the one hand and the desire to maintain the dependence of childhood on the other. Approval and acceptance from friends are of paramount importance. Adolescents need to feel that their anxieties and fears are both appropriate and shared by their peers.
Disaster stress may be internalized and expressed through psychosomatic symptoms such as, gastrointestinal distress, headaches, skin problems, or vague aches and pains. Sleep problems such as insomnia, night terrors, or sleeping excessively may signal internal upset. Adolescents may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with their anxiety and loss.
Social or school problems may also occur. Acting out or rebellious behavior may involve fighting with others, stealing, or power struggles with parents. Other adolescents may express their distress through withdrawal from friends and family and avoidance of previously enjoyed activities. School performance may decline. When the disaster causes major destruction of home and community, an older adolescent may postpone the developmental step of moving away from home.
Adults
Adults are focused on family, home, jobs, and financial security. Many are involved with caring for elderly parents as well. Pre-disaster life often involves maintaining a precarious balance between competing demands. Following a disaster, this balance is lost with the introduction of the enormous time, financial, physical, and emotional demands of recovery. Children in the family are in special need of attention and familiar routines, yet parents do not have enough hours in the day to accomplish all that is before them.
Over time, this stress overload can be manifested through physical symptoms of headaches, increased blood pressure, ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disorders. Somatic reactions are especially present in those who are less able to experience and express their emotions directly. Cultural, gender-based, or psychological factors may interfere with emotional expression and seeking social support.
Emotional reactions often oscillate between numbness and intense expression. Anxiety and depression are common, as adults grapple with both anxiety about future threats and grief about the loss of home, lifestyle, or community. Anger and frustration about relief efforts abound, sometimes reflecting a displacement of the "less rational" anger that the disaster happened to them and was out of their control.
Older Adults
In the normal course of life, older adults typically have coped with losses prior to the disaster. They may have successfully adjusted to losses of employment, family, home, loved ones, or physical capabilities. For some, coping with these prior losses has strengthened resilience. For others, the prior losses may have worn down the individual's reserves and the disaster is an overwhelming blow (Norris et al., 1994). As a result of the disaster, irreplaceable possessions such as photographs or mementos passed on through generations may be destroyed. Pets or gardens developed over years may be lost. Mental health workers must recognize the special meaning of these losses, if they are to assist with grieving.
Older adults living on limited incomes tend to reside in dwellings that are susceptible to disaster hazards due to the location and age of the buildings. Because of financial limitations and age, they may not be able to afford the repairs to their homes. Leaving familiar surroundings is especially difficult for those who experience deficits in hearing, vision, or memory, because they rely on known environmental cues to continue living independently.
Many older adults fear that if their diminished physical or cognitive abilities are revealed, they risk loss of independence or being institutionalized. As a result, they may under report the full extent of their problems and needs. They may continue living in damaged or unsanitary conditions, because they do not have the physical strength, stamina, or cognitive organizational ability to undertake disaster clean up. Disaster mental health workers must carefully assess the range and full extent of problems in living faced by the older survivor. Often, concrete practical assistance for recovery, stabilization, and engagement with appropriate resources allows the older adult to continue living independently.
A larger proportion of older persons, as compared with younger age groups, have chronic illnesses that may worsen with the stress of a disaster, particularly when recovery extends over months. They are more likely to be taking medications that need to be replaced quickly following a disaster. While older adults may be in more need of multiple services for recovery, they are often especially reluctant to accept help and what they perceive as "handouts." Disaster mental health programs can more quickly gain acceptance when they work closely with known, trusted organizations and employ older adults as outreach workers.
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions
Age Groups
Behavioral Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Intervention Options
PRESCHOOL
(1 - 5)
Resumption of bed-wetting, thumb sucking
Clinging to parents
Fears of the dark
Avoidance of sleeping alone
Increased crying
Loss of appetite
Stomach aches
Nausea
Sleep problems, nightmares
Speech difficulties
Tics
Anxiety
Fear
Irritability
Angry outbursts
Sadness
Withdrawal
Give verbal assurance and physical comfort
Provide comforting bedtime routines
Avoid unnecessary separations
Permit child to sleep in parents' room temporarily
Encourage expression regarding losses (i.e., deaths, pets, toys)
Monitor media exposure to disaster trauma
Encourage expression through play activities
CHILDHOOD
(6 - 11)
Decline in school performance
Aggressive behavior at home or school
Hyperactive or silly behavior
Whining, clinging, acting like a younger child
Increased competition with younger siblings for parents' attention
Change in appetite
Headaches
Stomach aches
Sleep disturbances, nightmares
School avoidance
Withdrawal from friends, familiar activities
Angry outbursts
Obsessive preoccupation with disaster, safety
Give additional attention and consideration
Relax expectations of performance at home and at school temporarily
Set gentle but firm limits for acting out behavior
Provide structured but undemanding home chores and rehabilitation activities
Encourage verbal and play expression of thoughts and feelings
Listen to the child's repeated retelling of disaster event
Involve the child in preparation of family emergency kit, home drills
Rehearse safety measures for future disasters
Develop school disaster program for peer support, expressive activities, education on disasters, preparedness planning, identifying at-risk children
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions (Continued)
Age Groups
Behavioral Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
PRE-ADOLESCENCE AND ADOLESCENCE
(12 - 18)
Decline in academic performance
Rebellion at home or school
Decline in previous responsible behavior
Agitation or decrease in energy level, apathy
Delinquent behavior
Social withdrawal
Appetite changes
Headaches
Gastrointestinal problems
Skin eruptions
Complaints of vague aches and pains
Sleep disorders
Loss of interest in peer social activities, hobbies, recreation
Sadness or depression
Resistance to authority
Feelings of inadequacy and helplessness
Give additional attention and consideration
Relax expectations of performance at home and school temporarily
Encourage discussion of disaster experiences with peers, significant adults
Avoid insistence on discussion of feelings with parents
Encourage physical activities
Rehearse family safety measures for future disasters
Encourage resumption of social activities, athletics, clubs, etc.
Encourage participation in community rehabilitation and reclamation work
Develop school programs for peer support and debriefing, preparedness planning, volunteer community recovery, identifying at-risk teens
ADULTS
Sleep problems
Avoidance of reminders
Excessive activity level
Crying easily
Increased conflicts with family
Hypervigilance
Isolation, withdrawal
Fatigue, exhaustion
Gastrointestinal distress
Appetite change
Somatic complaints
Worsening of chronic conditions
Depression, sadness
Irritability, anger
Anxiety, fear
Despair, hopelessness
Guilt, self doubt
Mood swings
Provide supportive listening and opportunity to talk in detail about disaster experiences
Assist with prioritizing and problem-solving
Offer assistance for family members to facilitate communication and effective functioning
Assess and refer when indicated
Provide information on disaster stress and coping, children's reactions and families
Provide information on referral resources
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions (Continued)
Age Groups
Behavioral Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Intervention Options
OLDER ADULTS
Withdrawal and isolation
Reluctance to leave home
Mobility limitations
Relocation adjustment problems
Worsening of chronic illnesses
Sleep disorders
Memory problems
Somatic symptoms
More susceptible to hypo- and hyperthermia
Physical and sensory limitations (sight, hearing) interfere with recovery
Depression
Despair about losses
Apathy
Confusion, disorientation
Suspicion
Agitation, anger
Fears of institutionalization
Anxiety with unfamiliar surroundings
Embarrassment about receiving "hand outs"
Provide strong and persistent verbal reassurance
Provide orienting information
Use multiple assessment methods as problems may be under reported (e.g., repeat observations, geriatric screening questions, discussion with family)
Provide assistance with recovery of possessions
Assist in obtaining medical and financial assistance
Assist in reestablishing familial and social contacts
Give special attention to suitable residential relocation
Encourage discussion of disaster losses and expression of emotions
Provide and facilitate referrals for disaster assistance
Engage providers of transportation, chore services, meals programs, home health, and home visits as needed
Cultural and Ethnic Groups
Disaster mental health programs must respond specifically and sensitively to the various cultural groups affected by a disaster. In many disasters, ethnic and racial minority groups may be especially hard hit because of socioeconomic conditions that force the community to live in housing that is particularly vulnerable. Language barriers, suspicion of governmental programs due to prior experiences, rejection of outside interference or assistance, and differing cultural values often contribute to disaster outreach programs' difficulty in establishing access and acceptance. Communities that take pride in their self-reliance are reluctant to seek or accept help, especially from mental health workers.
Cultural sensitivity is conveyed when disaster information and application procedures are translated into primary spoken languages and available in non-written forms. Intense emotions are typically experienced and expressed in a person's language of origin, so outreach teams that include bilingual, bicultural staff, and translators are able to interact more effectively with disaster survivors. Whenever possible, it is preferable to work with trained translators rather than family members, especially children, because of privacy concerns regarding mental health issues and the importance of preserving family roles.
Cultural groups have considerable variation regarding views on loss, death, home, spiritual practices, use of particular words, grieving, celebrating, mental health, and helping. The role of the family, who is included in the family, and who makes decisions also varies. Elders and extended family play a significant role in some cultures, whereas isolated nuclear families are the decision-makers in others.
It is essential that disaster mental health workers learn about the cultural norms, traditions, local history, and community politics from leaders and social service workers indigenous to the groups they are serving. Program outreach workers and mental health staff are most effective when they are bilingual and bicultural. During the program development phase, establishing working relationships with trusted organizations, service providers, and community leaders is helpful. Being respectful, nonjudgmental, well informed, and following through on stated plans dependably are especially important for outreach workers.
Socioeconomic Groups
Many affluent, middle to upper middle class people live with a sense of security and see themselves as invulnerable to the devastation and tragedy associated with disasters. Because of their financial resources and life situations, they may have been protected from crises in the past, and have purchased insurance for "protection" in the future. They are more accustomed to planning and controlling life events, rather than unexpected overwhelming events controlling them. Shock, disbelief, self blame, and anger predominate in the hours and days following a major disaster, as the reality of losses, danger, and the work that lies ahead begins to sink in.
Higher income families may never have received assistance from social service agencies before. Accepting clothing, food, money, or shelter can be difficult and sobering. While they may need emergency assistance initially, they often do have social, financial, family, or other resources that engage quickly and buffer the disaster's impact.
Affluent families typically rely on known professionals for their support-their family physician, minister, or psychotherapist. Disaster mental health programs focus on educating local health care professionals and religious leaders about disaster stress, because these providers are most likely to encounter upper class survivors in need. Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disaster: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician (CMHS, 1995) is an informative resource for training. Recovery programs can also coordinate disaster mental health counseling and support groups through these known and trusted entities.
In contrast, low-income survivors have fewer resources and greater pre-existing vulnerability when disaster strikes. While they may have developed more crisis survival skills than the more protected upper class individuals, they often lack the availability of support and housing from family and friends and do not have insurance coverage or monetary savings. Without these, the recovery process is even more arduous and prolonged, and sometimes impossible. Federal and State disaster assistance programs are designed to meet serious and urgent needs. The intent of these programs is not to replace all losses. Uninsured, poor families may have unmet needs and should be referred to non-profit disaster relief organizations and unmet needs committees. If they are renters, they may be faced with unaffordable increases in rent after landlords have invested money to repair their properties. They may be dislocated to temporary disaster housing that is undesirable and removed from their social supports. Relocation may make transportation and getting to appointments more difficult.
Faced with these multiple challenges and assistance that falls short of solving the problems before them, low-income disaster survivors can feel overwhelmed. For those with limited reading and writing abilities, obtaining accurate information and completing forms is difficult. Disaster mental health workers are most effective when they provide concrete problem-solving assistance that facilitates addressing priority needs. Workers must be knowledgeable about the full range of community resources available to people of limited economic means and actively engage this resource network with those in need.
People With Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
Clinical field experience has shown that disaster survivors with mental illness function fairly well following a disaster, if essential services have not been interrupted. People with mental illness have the same capacity to "rise to the occasion" and perform heroically as the general population during the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Many demonstrate an increased ability to handle this stress without an exacerbation of their mental illness, especially when they are able to maintain their medication regimens.
However, some survivors with mental illness have achieved only a tenuous balance before the disaster. The added stress of the disaster disrupts this balance; for some, additional mental health support services, medications, or hospitalization may be necessary to regain stability. For individuals diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), disaster stimuli (e.g., helicopters, sirens) may trigger an exacerbation due to associations with prior traumatic events.
Many people with mental illness are vulnerable to sudden changes in their environment and routines. Orienting to new organizations and systems for disaster relief assistance can be difficult. Program planners need to be aware of how disaster services are being perceived and build bridges that facilitate access and referrals where necessary. Disaster mental health services designed for the general population are equally beneficial for those with mental illness; disaster stress affects all groups. In addition, when case managers and community mental health counselors have a solid understanding of disaster mental health issues, they are able to better provide services to this population following a disaster. Responding to the Needs of People with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness in Times of Major Disaster provides a comprehensive discussion of planning, preparedness, and options for service delivery with this population (CMHS, 1996).
Human Service and Disaster Relief Workers
Workers in all phases of disaster relief, whether in law enforcement, local government, emergency response, or victim support, experience considerable demands to meet the needs of the survivors and the community. Typically, disaster workers are altruistic, compassionate, and dedicated people who occasionally have difficulty knowing when it is time to take a break from the operation. For many, the disaster response takes precedence over all other responsibilities and activities. The brochure, Prevention and Control of Stress Among Emergency Workers-A Pamphlet for Workers, is an excellent resource for both disaster relief workers and mental health providers (NIMH, 1987). This brochure highlights the importance of having a personal emergency preparedness plan, so that workers are assured that their families are safe while they devote themselves to disaster relief for the community.
Relief workers may witness human tragedy and serious physical injuries, depending on the nature of the disaster and their role. This contributes to the psychological impact of their work. In disasters in which there is a high level of exposure to human suffering, injuries, and fatalities, providing psychological support and interventions for workers is especially necessary. In addition, relief workers and first responders should be considered a target group for ongoing services during the course of the disaster mental health recovery program.
As some order returns to the community, many workers, particularly volunteers, return to their regular jobs. However, they may attempt to continue with their disaster work. Over time, the result of this overwork can be the "burn-out" syndrome. This state of exhaustion, irritability, and fatigue creeps up unrecognized and can markedly decrease the individual's effectiveness and capability. These workers may be avoiding problems at home by working constantly. Disaster mental health workers should be on the lookout for workers whose coping resources have eroded due to their personal vulnerabilities and seemingly unrelenting workload. The next section in this manual, "Stress Prevention and Management," offers suggestions for identifying, educating, and intervening with those who may be having stress reactions and difficulty coping.
References and Recommended Reading
Bolin, R. & Bolton, P. Race, Religion and Ethnicity in Disaster Recovery. Colorado: University of Colorado Institute of Behavioral Science, 1986.
Center for Mental Health Services. Manual for Child Health Workers in Major Disasters. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (ADM) 86-1070. (Rev. ed. in press.)
Center for Mental Health Services. Responding to the Needs of People with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness in Times of Major Disaster. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (SMA) 96-3077, 1996.
Center for Mental Health Services. Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disasters: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician. Washington, D.C.: US Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (SMA) 95-3022, 1995.
Gerrity, E. T. & Steinglass, P. Relocation stress following natural disasters. In: Ursano, R. J., McCaughey, B. G., & Fullerton, C. S. (Eds.). Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster: The Structure of Human Chaos. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Gist, R. & Lubin, B. (Eds.). Psychological Aspects of Disaster. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1989.
Green, B. L., Korol, M., Grace, M. C., Vary, M. G., Leonard, A. C., Gleser, G. C. & Smitson-Cohen, S. Children and disaster: Age, gender, and parental effects on PTSD symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 945-951, 1991.
Green, B. L. & Solomon, S. D. The mental health impact of natural and technological disasters. In Freedy, J. R. & Hobfoll (Eds.). Traumatic Stress: From Theory to Practice. New York: Plenum, 1995.
LaGreca, A. M., Vernberg, E. M., Silverman, W. K., Vogel, A. L. & Prinstein, M. J. Helping Children Prepare for and Cope with Natural Disasters: A Manual for Professionals Working with Elementary School Children. BellSouth Corporation, 1995. (To obtain copies: Contact Dr. La Greca, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL 33124.)
Mitchell, J. & Bray, G. Emergency Services Stress: Guidelines for Preserving the Health and Careers of Emergency Services Personnel. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1990.
National Institute of Mental Health. Prevention and Control of Stress Among Emergency Workers: A Pamphlet for Workers. Washington, D.C.: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (ADM) 90-1497, 1987.
Norris, F. H., Phifer, J. F. & Kaniasty, K. Individual and community reactions to the Kentucky floods: Findings from a longitudinal study of older adults. In: Ursano, R. J., McCaughey, B. G., & Fullerton, C. S. (Eds.). Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster: The Structure of Human Chaos. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Saylor, C. F. (Ed.). Children and Disasters. New York: Plenum Press, 1993.
Solomon, S. D. & Green, B. L. Mental health effects of natural and human-made disasters. PTSD Research Quarterly, 3 (1), 1-8, 1992.
Sue, D. W. & Sue, D. Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice. New York: Wiley, 1990.
Ursano, R. J., McCaughey, B. G., & Fullerton, C. S. (Eds.). Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster: The Structure of Human Chaos. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Action Plan of the Administration on Aging to Strengthen the Disaster Response Capacity to Serve Older People. Rockville, MD, 1994. Vogel, J. M. & Vernberg, E. M. Children's psychological responses to disasters. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22(4), 464-484, 1993.
for Mental Health and Human Service Workers
in Major Disasters
SECTION 3
Disaster Reactions of Potential Risk Groups
Although there are many feelings and reactions people share in common following a disaster, there are also expressions that are more specifically influenced by the survivor's age, cultural and ethnic background, socioeconomic status, pre-existing physical, and psychosocial vulnerabilities. Disaster mental health workers are better prepared to design effective interventions when they have an understanding of how demographic and health factors interact with disaster stress.
This section describes groups commonly found within communities following a disaster and provides suggestions for disaster mental health interventions. Common issues, concerns, and reactions are also briefly presented in this section.
Common Needs and Reactions
First is a review of some thoughts, feelings, and behaviors common to all who experience a disaster:
Concern for basic survival
Grief over loss of loved ones and loss of valued and meaningful possessions
Fear and anxiety about personal safety and the physical safety of loved ones
Sleep disturbances, often including nightmares and imagery from the disaster
Concerns about relocation and related isolation or crowded living conditions
Need to talk about events and feelings associated with the disaster, often repeatedly
Need to feel one is a part of the community and its disaster recovery efforts
Potential Risk Groups
Each disaster-affected community has its own demographic composition, prior history with disasters or other traumatic events, and cultural representation. When disaster program planners review the groups impacted by a disaster in their community, consideration should be given to the following, as well as additional groups unique to the locale:
Age groups
Cultural and ethnic groups
Socioeconomic groups
People with serious and persistent mental illness
Human service and disaster relief workers
The majority of survivors are resilient and with time can integrate their disaster experiences and losses and move on. However, survivors who have significant concurrent psychosocial, health, or financial problems are at greater risk for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms or an exacerbation of their pre-existing condition. When survivors have personally sustained severe disaster losses (e.g., death of a loved one, devastation of home and community), their reactions are more intensely expressed and over a longer period of time (Solomon & Green, 1992). This section includes a brief overview for each group. The disaster reactions described normally resolve over time with sufficient support and physical recovery. References for more detailed information are provided.
Age Groups
Each stage of life is accompanied by special challenges in coping with the aftermath of a disaster and age-related vulnerabilities to disaster stress. For children, their age and development determine their capacity cognitively to understand what is occurring around them and to regulate their emotional reactions. Children are more vulnerable to difficulty when they have experienced other life stresses in the year preceding the disaster, such as a divorce, a move, or the death of a family member or pet (Vogel & Vernberg, 1993). For adults, stress associated with family and home disruption, financial setbacks, and work overload predominate. For older adults, concerns regarding health, financial stability, and living independently become primary.
The age groups considered in this section are:
Preschool (ages 1-5)
Childhood (ages 6-11)
Pre-adolescence and Adolescence (ages 12-18)
Adults
Older Adults
Reactions and problems vary depending upon the phase of the post-disaster period. Some of the problems discussed appear immediately; many appear months later.
Preschool (ages 1-5)
Small children view their world from the perspectives of predictability, stability, and the availability of dependable caretakers. Disruption in any of these domains causes distress. Preschool age children often feel powerlessness and fear in the face of a disaster, especially if they are separated from parents. Because of their age and small size, they are unable to protect themselves or others. As a result, they may feel considerable anxiety and insecurity.
In the preschool years, children generally lack the verbal and conceptual skills necessary to understand and cope effectively with sudden unexpected stress. They typically look to parents and older siblings as behavior models, as well as for comfort and stability. Research has shown that children's reactions are more related to how their family or caregiver is coping than the actual objective characteristics of the disaster itself (Green et al., 1991).
Children who have lost one or both parents are especially in need. Loss of a relative, a playmate, or a pet is also a disturbing event for children. They will need opportunities to express their grief. One of the major fears of childhood is abandonment, so children need frequent reassurance they will be cared for.
Preschoolers express their upset through regressive behaviors such as thumb sucking, bed-wetting, clinging to their parents, a return of fear of the dark, or not wanting to sleep alone. They often have sleep problems and frightening dreams. These problems are best understood as normal expressions of anxiety about the disruption of their familiar routines and previously secure worlds.
In the natural course of events, small children will try to resolve traumatic experiences by reliving them in their play activities. They may reenact the earthquake, flood, or tornado repeatedly. Children should be encouraged to verbalize their questions, feelings, and misunderstandings about the disaster so that adults can listen and explain. Relief of disaster fears and anxiety is attained through reestablishing the child's sense of security. Frequent verbal reassurance, physical comforting, more frequent attention, comforting bedtime rituals, and mealtime routines are helpful. As much as possible, young children should stay with people with whom they feel most familiar.
Childhood (ages 6 - 11)
School age children are developing the cognitive capacity to understand the dangers to family and environment inherent in disasters. They are more able to understand the disaster event and the mitigating role of disaster preparedness. This awareness can also contribute to preoccupation with weather and disasters, and fears about family members being killed or injured. School age children have a great need to understand what has happened and the concrete steps that they can take for protection and preparedness in the future.
Children often have special bonds with playmates or pets. When the disaster causes loss of significant others due to death or relocation, the child may grieve deeply. They experience the full range of human emotions, but may not have the words or means to express their internal experience. Adults can assist children to express these powerful emotions through talking, play, art, and age-appropriate recovery or preparedness activities.
School age children also manifest their anxiety through regressive behavior. Returning to behavior appropriate for a younger age is trying for parents, but serves an initially functional purpose for the child. These behaviors include: irritability, whining, clinging, fighting with friends and siblings, competing with younger siblings for parents' attention, or refusing to go to school. Bedtime and sleep problems are common due to nightmares and fearfulness about sleeping alone or in the dark.
Sometimes children's behavior can be "super good" at home, because they are afraid of further burdening their parents or causing more family disruption. They may show disaster stress at school through concentration problems, a decline in academic performance, aggression toward classmates, or withdrawal from social interactions. Some children may have somatic reactions and seek attention from the school nurse for stomach aches, headaches, nausea, or other complaints.
Pre-adolescence and Adolescence (ages 12 - 18)
This age group has a great need to appear competent to the world around them, especially to their family and friends. They struggle with the conflicts inherent in moving toward independence from parents on the one hand and the desire to maintain the dependence of childhood on the other. Approval and acceptance from friends are of paramount importance. Adolescents need to feel that their anxieties and fears are both appropriate and shared by their peers.
Disaster stress may be internalized and expressed through psychosomatic symptoms such as, gastrointestinal distress, headaches, skin problems, or vague aches and pains. Sleep problems such as insomnia, night terrors, or sleeping excessively may signal internal upset. Adolescents may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with their anxiety and loss.
Social or school problems may also occur. Acting out or rebellious behavior may involve fighting with others, stealing, or power struggles with parents. Other adolescents may express their distress through withdrawal from friends and family and avoidance of previously enjoyed activities. School performance may decline. When the disaster causes major destruction of home and community, an older adolescent may postpone the developmental step of moving away from home.
Adults
Adults are focused on family, home, jobs, and financial security. Many are involved with caring for elderly parents as well. Pre-disaster life often involves maintaining a precarious balance between competing demands. Following a disaster, this balance is lost with the introduction of the enormous time, financial, physical, and emotional demands of recovery. Children in the family are in special need of attention and familiar routines, yet parents do not have enough hours in the day to accomplish all that is before them.
Over time, this stress overload can be manifested through physical symptoms of headaches, increased blood pressure, ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disorders. Somatic reactions are especially present in those who are less able to experience and express their emotions directly. Cultural, gender-based, or psychological factors may interfere with emotional expression and seeking social support.
Emotional reactions often oscillate between numbness and intense expression. Anxiety and depression are common, as adults grapple with both anxiety about future threats and grief about the loss of home, lifestyle, or community. Anger and frustration about relief efforts abound, sometimes reflecting a displacement of the "less rational" anger that the disaster happened to them and was out of their control.
Older Adults
In the normal course of life, older adults typically have coped with losses prior to the disaster. They may have successfully adjusted to losses of employment, family, home, loved ones, or physical capabilities. For some, coping with these prior losses has strengthened resilience. For others, the prior losses may have worn down the individual's reserves and the disaster is an overwhelming blow (Norris et al., 1994). As a result of the disaster, irreplaceable possessions such as photographs or mementos passed on through generations may be destroyed. Pets or gardens developed over years may be lost. Mental health workers must recognize the special meaning of these losses, if they are to assist with grieving.
Older adults living on limited incomes tend to reside in dwellings that are susceptible to disaster hazards due to the location and age of the buildings. Because of financial limitations and age, they may not be able to afford the repairs to their homes. Leaving familiar surroundings is especially difficult for those who experience deficits in hearing, vision, or memory, because they rely on known environmental cues to continue living independently.
Many older adults fear that if their diminished physical or cognitive abilities are revealed, they risk loss of independence or being institutionalized. As a result, they may under report the full extent of their problems and needs. They may continue living in damaged or unsanitary conditions, because they do not have the physical strength, stamina, or cognitive organizational ability to undertake disaster clean up. Disaster mental health workers must carefully assess the range and full extent of problems in living faced by the older survivor. Often, concrete practical assistance for recovery, stabilization, and engagement with appropriate resources allows the older adult to continue living independently.
A larger proportion of older persons, as compared with younger age groups, have chronic illnesses that may worsen with the stress of a disaster, particularly when recovery extends over months. They are more likely to be taking medications that need to be replaced quickly following a disaster. While older adults may be in more need of multiple services for recovery, they are often especially reluctant to accept help and what they perceive as "handouts." Disaster mental health programs can more quickly gain acceptance when they work closely with known, trusted organizations and employ older adults as outreach workers.
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions
Age Groups
Behavioral Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Intervention Options
PRESCHOOL
(1 - 5)
Resumption of bed-wetting, thumb sucking
Clinging to parents
Fears of the dark
Avoidance of sleeping alone
Increased crying
Loss of appetite
Stomach aches
Nausea
Sleep problems, nightmares
Speech difficulties
Tics
Anxiety
Fear
Irritability
Angry outbursts
Sadness
Withdrawal
Give verbal assurance and physical comfort
Provide comforting bedtime routines
Avoid unnecessary separations
Permit child to sleep in parents' room temporarily
Encourage expression regarding losses (i.e., deaths, pets, toys)
Monitor media exposure to disaster trauma
Encourage expression through play activities
CHILDHOOD
(6 - 11)
Decline in school performance
Aggressive behavior at home or school
Hyperactive or silly behavior
Whining, clinging, acting like a younger child
Increased competition with younger siblings for parents' attention
Change in appetite
Headaches
Stomach aches
Sleep disturbances, nightmares
School avoidance
Withdrawal from friends, familiar activities
Angry outbursts
Obsessive preoccupation with disaster, safety
Give additional attention and consideration
Relax expectations of performance at home and at school temporarily
Set gentle but firm limits for acting out behavior
Provide structured but undemanding home chores and rehabilitation activities
Encourage verbal and play expression of thoughts and feelings
Listen to the child's repeated retelling of disaster event
Involve the child in preparation of family emergency kit, home drills
Rehearse safety measures for future disasters
Develop school disaster program for peer support, expressive activities, education on disasters, preparedness planning, identifying at-risk children
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions (Continued)
Age Groups
Behavioral Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
PRE-ADOLESCENCE AND ADOLESCENCE
(12 - 18)
Decline in academic performance
Rebellion at home or school
Decline in previous responsible behavior
Agitation or decrease in energy level, apathy
Delinquent behavior
Social withdrawal
Appetite changes
Headaches
Gastrointestinal problems
Skin eruptions
Complaints of vague aches and pains
Sleep disorders
Loss of interest in peer social activities, hobbies, recreation
Sadness or depression
Resistance to authority
Feelings of inadequacy and helplessness
Give additional attention and consideration
Relax expectations of performance at home and school temporarily
Encourage discussion of disaster experiences with peers, significant adults
Avoid insistence on discussion of feelings with parents
Encourage physical activities
Rehearse family safety measures for future disasters
Encourage resumption of social activities, athletics, clubs, etc.
Encourage participation in community rehabilitation and reclamation work
Develop school programs for peer support and debriefing, preparedness planning, volunteer community recovery, identifying at-risk teens
ADULTS
Sleep problems
Avoidance of reminders
Excessive activity level
Crying easily
Increased conflicts with family
Hypervigilance
Isolation, withdrawal
Fatigue, exhaustion
Gastrointestinal distress
Appetite change
Somatic complaints
Worsening of chronic conditions
Depression, sadness
Irritability, anger
Anxiety, fear
Despair, hopelessness
Guilt, self doubt
Mood swings
Provide supportive listening and opportunity to talk in detail about disaster experiences
Assist with prioritizing and problem-solving
Offer assistance for family members to facilitate communication and effective functioning
Assess and refer when indicated
Provide information on disaster stress and coping, children's reactions and families
Provide information on referral resources
Disaster Reactions and Intervention Suggestions (Continued)
Age Groups
Behavioral Symptoms
Physical Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Intervention Options
OLDER ADULTS
Withdrawal and isolation
Reluctance to leave home
Mobility limitations
Relocation adjustment problems
Worsening of chronic illnesses
Sleep disorders
Memory problems
Somatic symptoms
More susceptible to hypo- and hyperthermia
Physical and sensory limitations (sight, hearing) interfere with recovery
Depression
Despair about losses
Apathy
Confusion, disorientation
Suspicion
Agitation, anger
Fears of institutionalization
Anxiety with unfamiliar surroundings
Embarrassment about receiving "hand outs"
Provide strong and persistent verbal reassurance
Provide orienting information
Use multiple assessment methods as problems may be under reported (e.g., repeat observations, geriatric screening questions, discussion with family)
Provide assistance with recovery of possessions
Assist in obtaining medical and financial assistance
Assist in reestablishing familial and social contacts
Give special attention to suitable residential relocation
Encourage discussion of disaster losses and expression of emotions
Provide and facilitate referrals for disaster assistance
Engage providers of transportation, chore services, meals programs, home health, and home visits as needed
Cultural and Ethnic Groups
Disaster mental health programs must respond specifically and sensitively to the various cultural groups affected by a disaster. In many disasters, ethnic and racial minority groups may be especially hard hit because of socioeconomic conditions that force the community to live in housing that is particularly vulnerable. Language barriers, suspicion of governmental programs due to prior experiences, rejection of outside interference or assistance, and differing cultural values often contribute to disaster outreach programs' difficulty in establishing access and acceptance. Communities that take pride in their self-reliance are reluctant to seek or accept help, especially from mental health workers.
Cultural sensitivity is conveyed when disaster information and application procedures are translated into primary spoken languages and available in non-written forms. Intense emotions are typically experienced and expressed in a person's language of origin, so outreach teams that include bilingual, bicultural staff, and translators are able to interact more effectively with disaster survivors. Whenever possible, it is preferable to work with trained translators rather than family members, especially children, because of privacy concerns regarding mental health issues and the importance of preserving family roles.
Cultural groups have considerable variation regarding views on loss, death, home, spiritual practices, use of particular words, grieving, celebrating, mental health, and helping. The role of the family, who is included in the family, and who makes decisions also varies. Elders and extended family play a significant role in some cultures, whereas isolated nuclear families are the decision-makers in others.
It is essential that disaster mental health workers learn about the cultural norms, traditions, local history, and community politics from leaders and social service workers indigenous to the groups they are serving. Program outreach workers and mental health staff are most effective when they are bilingual and bicultural. During the program development phase, establishing working relationships with trusted organizations, service providers, and community leaders is helpful. Being respectful, nonjudgmental, well informed, and following through on stated plans dependably are especially important for outreach workers.
Socioeconomic Groups
Many affluent, middle to upper middle class people live with a sense of security and see themselves as invulnerable to the devastation and tragedy associated with disasters. Because of their financial resources and life situations, they may have been protected from crises in the past, and have purchased insurance for "protection" in the future. They are more accustomed to planning and controlling life events, rather than unexpected overwhelming events controlling them. Shock, disbelief, self blame, and anger predominate in the hours and days following a major disaster, as the reality of losses, danger, and the work that lies ahead begins to sink in.
Higher income families may never have received assistance from social service agencies before. Accepting clothing, food, money, or shelter can be difficult and sobering. While they may need emergency assistance initially, they often do have social, financial, family, or other resources that engage quickly and buffer the disaster's impact.
Affluent families typically rely on known professionals for their support-their family physician, minister, or psychotherapist. Disaster mental health programs focus on educating local health care professionals and religious leaders about disaster stress, because these providers are most likely to encounter upper class survivors in need. Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disaster: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician (CMHS, 1995) is an informative resource for training. Recovery programs can also coordinate disaster mental health counseling and support groups through these known and trusted entities.
In contrast, low-income survivors have fewer resources and greater pre-existing vulnerability when disaster strikes. While they may have developed more crisis survival skills than the more protected upper class individuals, they often lack the availability of support and housing from family and friends and do not have insurance coverage or monetary savings. Without these, the recovery process is even more arduous and prolonged, and sometimes impossible. Federal and State disaster assistance programs are designed to meet serious and urgent needs. The intent of these programs is not to replace all losses. Uninsured, poor families may have unmet needs and should be referred to non-profit disaster relief organizations and unmet needs committees. If they are renters, they may be faced with unaffordable increases in rent after landlords have invested money to repair their properties. They may be dislocated to temporary disaster housing that is undesirable and removed from their social supports. Relocation may make transportation and getting to appointments more difficult.
Faced with these multiple challenges and assistance that falls short of solving the problems before them, low-income disaster survivors can feel overwhelmed. For those with limited reading and writing abilities, obtaining accurate information and completing forms is difficult. Disaster mental health workers are most effective when they provide concrete problem-solving assistance that facilitates addressing priority needs. Workers must be knowledgeable about the full range of community resources available to people of limited economic means and actively engage this resource network with those in need.
People With Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
Clinical field experience has shown that disaster survivors with mental illness function fairly well following a disaster, if essential services have not been interrupted. People with mental illness have the same capacity to "rise to the occasion" and perform heroically as the general population during the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Many demonstrate an increased ability to handle this stress without an exacerbation of their mental illness, especially when they are able to maintain their medication regimens.
However, some survivors with mental illness have achieved only a tenuous balance before the disaster. The added stress of the disaster disrupts this balance; for some, additional mental health support services, medications, or hospitalization may be necessary to regain stability. For individuals diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), disaster stimuli (e.g., helicopters, sirens) may trigger an exacerbation due to associations with prior traumatic events.
Many people with mental illness are vulnerable to sudden changes in their environment and routines. Orienting to new organizations and systems for disaster relief assistance can be difficult. Program planners need to be aware of how disaster services are being perceived and build bridges that facilitate access and referrals where necessary. Disaster mental health services designed for the general population are equally beneficial for those with mental illness; disaster stress affects all groups. In addition, when case managers and community mental health counselors have a solid understanding of disaster mental health issues, they are able to better provide services to this population following a disaster. Responding to the Needs of People with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness in Times of Major Disaster provides a comprehensive discussion of planning, preparedness, and options for service delivery with this population (CMHS, 1996).
Human Service and Disaster Relief Workers
Workers in all phases of disaster relief, whether in law enforcement, local government, emergency response, or victim support, experience considerable demands to meet the needs of the survivors and the community. Typically, disaster workers are altruistic, compassionate, and dedicated people who occasionally have difficulty knowing when it is time to take a break from the operation. For many, the disaster response takes precedence over all other responsibilities and activities. The brochure, Prevention and Control of Stress Among Emergency Workers-A Pamphlet for Workers, is an excellent resource for both disaster relief workers and mental health providers (NIMH, 1987). This brochure highlights the importance of having a personal emergency preparedness plan, so that workers are assured that their families are safe while they devote themselves to disaster relief for the community.
Relief workers may witness human tragedy and serious physical injuries, depending on the nature of the disaster and their role. This contributes to the psychological impact of their work. In disasters in which there is a high level of exposure to human suffering, injuries, and fatalities, providing psychological support and interventions for workers is especially necessary. In addition, relief workers and first responders should be considered a target group for ongoing services during the course of the disaster mental health recovery program.
As some order returns to the community, many workers, particularly volunteers, return to their regular jobs. However, they may attempt to continue with their disaster work. Over time, the result of this overwork can be the "burn-out" syndrome. This state of exhaustion, irritability, and fatigue creeps up unrecognized and can markedly decrease the individual's effectiveness and capability. These workers may be avoiding problems at home by working constantly. Disaster mental health workers should be on the lookout for workers whose coping resources have eroded due to their personal vulnerabilities and seemingly unrelenting workload. The next section in this manual, "Stress Prevention and Management," offers suggestions for identifying, educating, and intervening with those who may be having stress reactions and difficulty coping.
References and Recommended Reading
Bolin, R. & Bolton, P. Race, Religion and Ethnicity in Disaster Recovery. Colorado: University of Colorado Institute of Behavioral Science, 1986.
Center for Mental Health Services. Manual for Child Health Workers in Major Disasters. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (ADM) 86-1070. (Rev. ed. in press.)
Center for Mental Health Services. Responding to the Needs of People with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness in Times of Major Disaster. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (SMA) 96-3077, 1996.
Center for Mental Health Services. Psychosocial Issues for Children and Families in Disasters: A Guide for the Primary Care Physician. Washington, D.C.: US Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (SMA) 95-3022, 1995.
Gerrity, E. T. & Steinglass, P. Relocation stress following natural disasters. In: Ursano, R. J., McCaughey, B. G., & Fullerton, C. S. (Eds.). Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster: The Structure of Human Chaos. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Gist, R. & Lubin, B. (Eds.). Psychological Aspects of Disaster. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1989.
Green, B. L., Korol, M., Grace, M. C., Vary, M. G., Leonard, A. C., Gleser, G. C. & Smitson-Cohen, S. Children and disaster: Age, gender, and parental effects on PTSD symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 945-951, 1991.
Green, B. L. & Solomon, S. D. The mental health impact of natural and technological disasters. In Freedy, J. R. & Hobfoll (Eds.). Traumatic Stress: From Theory to Practice. New York: Plenum, 1995.
LaGreca, A. M., Vernberg, E. M., Silverman, W. K., Vogel, A. L. & Prinstein, M. J. Helping Children Prepare for and Cope with Natural Disasters: A Manual for Professionals Working with Elementary School Children. BellSouth Corporation, 1995. (To obtain copies: Contact Dr. La Greca, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL 33124.)
Mitchell, J. & Bray, G. Emergency Services Stress: Guidelines for Preserving the Health and Careers of Emergency Services Personnel. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1990.
National Institute of Mental Health. Prevention and Control of Stress Among Emergency Workers: A Pamphlet for Workers. Washington, D.C.: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services; Publication No. (ADM) 90-1497, 1987.
Norris, F. H., Phifer, J. F. & Kaniasty, K. Individual and community reactions to the Kentucky floods: Findings from a longitudinal study of older adults. In: Ursano, R. J., McCaughey, B. G., & Fullerton, C. S. (Eds.). Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster: The Structure of Human Chaos. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Saylor, C. F. (Ed.). Children and Disasters. New York: Plenum Press, 1993.
Solomon, S. D. & Green, B. L. Mental health effects of natural and human-made disasters. PTSD Research Quarterly, 3 (1), 1-8, 1992.
Sue, D. W. & Sue, D. Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice. New York: Wiley, 1990.
Ursano, R. J., McCaughey, B. G., & Fullerton, C. S. (Eds.). Individual and Community Responses to Trauma and Disaster: The Structure of Human Chaos. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Action Plan of the Administration on Aging to Strengthen the Disaster Response Capacity to Serve Older People. Rockville, MD, 1994. Vogel, J. M. & Vernberg, E. M. Children's psychological responses to disasters. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22(4), 464-484, 1993.
March 13, 2010
Mental Illnesses are Real, Disabling Conditions Affecting All Populations, Regardless of Race or Ethnicity
Mental Illnesses are Real, Disabling Conditions Affecting All Populations, Regardless of Race or Ethnicity
Major mental disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and panic disorder are found world-wide, across all racial and ethnic groups. They have been found across the globe, wherever researchers have surveyed. In the United States, the overall annual prevalence of mental disorders is about 21 percent of adults and children (DHHS, 1999). This Supplement finds that, based on the available evidence, the prevalence of mental disorders for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States is similar to that for whites.
This general finding about similarities in overall prevalence applies to minorities living in the community.2 It does not apply to those individuals in vulnerable, high-need subgroups such as persons who are homeless, incarcerated, or institutionalized. People in these groups have higher rates of mental disorders (Koegel et al., 1988; Vernez et al., 1988; Breakey et al., 1989; Teplin, 1990). Further, the rates of mental disorders are not sufficiently studied in many smaller racial and ethnic groups — most notably American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islander groups
— to permit firm conclusions about overall prevalence within those populations.
This Supplement pays special attention to vulnerable, high-need populations in which minorities are over-represented. Although individuals in these groups are known to have a high-need for mental health care, they often do not receive adequate services. This represents a critical public health concern, and this Supplement identifies as a course of action the need for earlier identification and care for these individuals within a coordinated and comprehensive service delivery system.
Striking Disparities in Mental Health Care Are Found for Racial and Ethnic Minorities
This Supplement documents the existence of several disparities affecting mental health care of racial and ethnic minorities compared with whites:
Minorities have less access to, and availability of, mental health services.
Minorities are less likely to receive needed mental health services.
Minorities in treatment often receive a poorer quality of mental health care.
Minorities are underrepresented in mental health research.
The recognition of these disparities brings hope that they can be seriously addressed and remedied. This Supplement offers guidance on future courses of action to eliminate these disparities and to ensure equality in access, utilization, and outcomes of mental health care.
More is known about the disparities than the reasons behind them. A constellation of barriers deters minorities from reaching treatment. Many of these barriers operate for all Americans: cost, fragmentation of services, lack of availability of services, and societal stigma toward mental illness (DHHS, 1999). But additional barriers deter racial and ethnic minorities; mistrust and fear of treatment, racism and discrimination, and differences in language and communication. The ability for consumers3 and providers to communicate with one another is essential for all aspects of health care, yet it carries special significance in the area of mental health because mental disorders affect thoughts, moods, and the highest integrative aspects of behavior. The diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders greatly depend on verbal communication and trust between patient and clinician. More broadly, mental health care disparities may also stem from minorities’ historical and present day struggles with racism and discrimination, which affect their mental health and contribute to their lower economic, social, and political status. The cumulative weight and interplay of all barriers to care, not any single one alone, is likely responsible for mental health disparities.
Disparities Impose a Greater Disability Burden on Minorities
This Supplement finds that racial and ethnic minorities collectively experience a greater disability burden from mental illness than do whites. This higher level of burden stems from minorities receiving less care and poorer quality of care, rather than from their illnesses being inherently more severe or prevalent in the community.
This finding draws on several lines of evidence. First, mental disorders are highly disabling for all the world's populations (Murray & Lopez, 1996; Druss et al., 2000). Second, minorities are less likely than whites to receive needed services and more likely to receive poor quality of care. By not receiving effective treatment, they have greater levels of disability in terms of lost workdays and limitations in daily activities. Further, minorities are overrepresented among the Nation’s most vulnerable populations, which have higher rates of mental disorders and more barriers to care. Taken together, these disparate lines of evidence support the finding that minorities suffer a disproportionately high disability burden from unmet mental health needs.
The greater disability burden is of grave concern to public health, and it has very real consequences. Ethnic and racial minorities do not yet completely share in the hope afforded by remarkable scientific advances in understanding and treating mental disorders. Because of disparities in mental health services, a disproportionate number of minorities with mental illnesses do not fully benefit from, or contribute to, the opportunities and prosperity of our society. This preventable disability from mental illness exacts a high societal toll and affects all Americans. Most troubling of all, the burden for minorities is growing. They are becoming more populous, all the while experiencing continuing inequality of income and economic opportunity. Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States face a social and economic environment of inequality that includes greater exposure to racism and discrimination, violence, and poverty, all of which take a toll on mental health.
Major mental disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and panic disorder are found world-wide, across all racial and ethnic groups. They have been found across the globe, wherever researchers have surveyed. In the United States, the overall annual prevalence of mental disorders is about 21 percent of adults and children (DHHS, 1999). This Supplement finds that, based on the available evidence, the prevalence of mental disorders for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States is similar to that for whites.
This general finding about similarities in overall prevalence applies to minorities living in the community.2 It does not apply to those individuals in vulnerable, high-need subgroups such as persons who are homeless, incarcerated, or institutionalized. People in these groups have higher rates of mental disorders (Koegel et al., 1988; Vernez et al., 1988; Breakey et al., 1989; Teplin, 1990). Further, the rates of mental disorders are not sufficiently studied in many smaller racial and ethnic groups — most notably American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islander groups
— to permit firm conclusions about overall prevalence within those populations.
This Supplement pays special attention to vulnerable, high-need populations in which minorities are over-represented. Although individuals in these groups are known to have a high-need for mental health care, they often do not receive adequate services. This represents a critical public health concern, and this Supplement identifies as a course of action the need for earlier identification and care for these individuals within a coordinated and comprehensive service delivery system.
Striking Disparities in Mental Health Care Are Found for Racial and Ethnic Minorities
This Supplement documents the existence of several disparities affecting mental health care of racial and ethnic minorities compared with whites:
Minorities have less access to, and availability of, mental health services.
Minorities are less likely to receive needed mental health services.
Minorities in treatment often receive a poorer quality of mental health care.
Minorities are underrepresented in mental health research.
The recognition of these disparities brings hope that they can be seriously addressed and remedied. This Supplement offers guidance on future courses of action to eliminate these disparities and to ensure equality in access, utilization, and outcomes of mental health care.
More is known about the disparities than the reasons behind them. A constellation of barriers deters minorities from reaching treatment. Many of these barriers operate for all Americans: cost, fragmentation of services, lack of availability of services, and societal stigma toward mental illness (DHHS, 1999). But additional barriers deter racial and ethnic minorities; mistrust and fear of treatment, racism and discrimination, and differences in language and communication. The ability for consumers3 and providers to communicate with one another is essential for all aspects of health care, yet it carries special significance in the area of mental health because mental disorders affect thoughts, moods, and the highest integrative aspects of behavior. The diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders greatly depend on verbal communication and trust between patient and clinician. More broadly, mental health care disparities may also stem from minorities’ historical and present day struggles with racism and discrimination, which affect their mental health and contribute to their lower economic, social, and political status. The cumulative weight and interplay of all barriers to care, not any single one alone, is likely responsible for mental health disparities.
Disparities Impose a Greater Disability Burden on Minorities
This Supplement finds that racial and ethnic minorities collectively experience a greater disability burden from mental illness than do whites. This higher level of burden stems from minorities receiving less care and poorer quality of care, rather than from their illnesses being inherently more severe or prevalent in the community.
This finding draws on several lines of evidence. First, mental disorders are highly disabling for all the world's populations (Murray & Lopez, 1996; Druss et al., 2000). Second, minorities are less likely than whites to receive needed services and more likely to receive poor quality of care. By not receiving effective treatment, they have greater levels of disability in terms of lost workdays and limitations in daily activities. Further, minorities are overrepresented among the Nation’s most vulnerable populations, which have higher rates of mental disorders and more barriers to care. Taken together, these disparate lines of evidence support the finding that minorities suffer a disproportionately high disability burden from unmet mental health needs.
The greater disability burden is of grave concern to public health, and it has very real consequences. Ethnic and racial minorities do not yet completely share in the hope afforded by remarkable scientific advances in understanding and treating mental disorders. Because of disparities in mental health services, a disproportionate number of minorities with mental illnesses do not fully benefit from, or contribute to, the opportunities and prosperity of our society. This preventable disability from mental illness exacts a high societal toll and affects all Americans. Most troubling of all, the burden for minorities is growing. They are becoming more populous, all the while experiencing continuing inequality of income and economic opportunity. Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States face a social and economic environment of inequality that includes greater exposure to racism and discrimination, violence, and poverty, all of which take a toll on mental health.
January 26, 2010
CEU Ethics
CEU Ethics: Ethics Online CEU Course
Click here for full text
Ethics CEUs for Social Workers
Ethics CEUs for Counselors
Ethics CEUs for MFTs
Social Work CEU Ethics
Also See CAMFT Revised Ethical Standards Available on the CAMFT website
Law and Ethics (10 hours)
Description
This course is designed to help you:
Identify scope of practice issues and definitions
Increase familiarity with the characteristics of unprofessional conduct, negligence, and standard of care
Explore the legal issues of privilege, confidentiality, treatment of minors, record retention/storage, termination, informed consent, malpractice, and sex with clients.
Increase familiarity with HIPAA and third party reimbursement
Explore professional ethics information including CAMFT and NASW Ethical Standards.
Board/state approvals Professions
State Licensing Authority CADC I CADC II CADCA CCPS CCS CSWI LCSW LMFT LPC MFTI MHC
California California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Click here for full text
Ethics CEUs for Social Workers
Ethics CEUs for Counselors
Ethics CEUs for MFTs
Social Work CEU Ethics
Also See CAMFT Revised Ethical Standards Available on the CAMFT website
Law and Ethics (10 hours)
Description
This course is designed to help you:
Identify scope of practice issues and definitions
Increase familiarity with the characteristics of unprofessional conduct, negligence, and standard of care
Explore the legal issues of privilege, confidentiality, treatment of minors, record retention/storage, termination, informed consent, malpractice, and sex with clients.
Increase familiarity with HIPAA and third party reimbursement
Explore professional ethics information including CAMFT and NASW Ethical Standards.
Board/state approvals Professions
State Licensing Authority CADC I CADC II CADCA CCPS CCS CSWI LCSW LMFT LPC MFTI MHC
California California Board of Behavioral Sciences
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