How to reach people who do not want to be reached: psychosocial counseling for school-dropouts in vocational training

Emerging adulthood without vocational training concerns young people from difficult social backgrounds who are often not adequately reached by therapeutic help. Difficult and traumatic experiences with therapeutic institutions are common to many of these young people in addition to a long lasting, unsatisfying patient-career. Without professional support from the therapeutic field, vocational qualification measures often cannot meet the needs of young people with inner conflicts. A counseling center for people with mental health problems was set up in 2010 as a link between professional support and a therapeutic setting. This article critically examines the importance of counseling for improving the personal situation of participants in vocational qualification measures on a descriptive level. We take a perspective on identity development and defense mechanisms in the thought of Vaillant and Erikson. Both theories focus on the social embeddedness of psychological processes. This theoretical background helps to understand young peoples’ situations and difficulties. The unique setting of the counseling center that aims to match the particular needs of these young people is presented. Thus a low-threshold, destigmatising and flexible setting should provide better access to psychosocial support for participants in vocational qualification measures. Opportunities and limits of the concept are discussed

Adolescent Alexithymia Research: Indigenous Sample Compared to Hispanic Sample in Southern Chile

Abstract Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) adolescent research became increasingly popular. We found no data examining two different ethnical adolescent groups sharing comparable environment. Furthermore, there are no indications that TAS-20 has ever been used in Chile. We conducted a transcultural comparison investigating the influence of ethnicity, gender and age on a low socioeconomic teenage population. Additionally, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed. In this cohort study (n = 225), 95 indigenous students were compared to the Hispanic control group of 130 participants. We found proper replicability and internal reliability of TAS-20 and the threefactor solution for our sample. We measured high alexithymia rates and significant differences between the ethnicities and genders but there was no influence of age. Although factor 3 (EOT) was inconsistent to some degree, TAS-20 resulted to be an appropriate measure for Chilean adolescents. Indigenous ethnicity, gender, low socioeconomic status, and power distance in a rural environment contribute to high alexithymia

Worse glycemic control, higher rates of diabetic ketoacidosis, and more hospitalizations in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders

The aim of the study was to explore the metabolic characteristics and outcome parameters in youth with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders. HbA1c levels, rates of severe hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and hospital admission in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and an anxiety disorder from 431 diabetes-care-centers participating in the nationwide German/Austrian/Swiss/Luxembourgian diabetes survey DPV were analyzed and compared with youth without anxiety disorders. Children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders (n = 1325) had significantly higher HbA1c (8.5% vs. 8.2%), higher rates of DKA (4.2 vs. 2.5 per 100 patient-years), and higher hospital admission rates (63.6 vs. 40.0 per 100 patient-years) than youth without anxiety disorders (all p < 0.001). Rates of severe hypoglycemia did not differ. Individuals with anxiety disorders other than needle phobia (n = 771) had higher rates of DKA compared to those without anxiety disorders (4.2 vs. 2.5 per 100 patient-years, p = 0.003) whereas the rate of DKA in individuals with needle phobia (n = 555) was not significantly different compared to those without anxiety disorders. Children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety disorders other than needle phobia had higher hospitalization rates (73.7 vs. 51.4 per 100 patient-years) and more inpatient days (13.2 vs. 10.1 days) compared to those with needle phobia (all p < 0.001). Children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders had worse glycemic control, higher rates of DKA, and more hospitalizations compared to those without anxiety disorders. Because of the considerable consequences, clinicians should screen for comorbid anxiety disorders in youth with type 1 diabetes

Multidimensional assessment of infant, parent and staff outcomes during a family centered care enhancement project in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit:study protocol of a longitudinal cohort study

Background: The therapeutic advances and progress in the care for preterm infants have enabled the regular survival of very immature infants. However, the high burden of lifelong sequelae following premature delivery constitutes an ongoing challenge. Regardless of premature delivery, parental mental health and a healthy parent–child relationship were identified as essential prerogatives for normal infant development. Family centered care (FCC) supports preterm infants and their families by respecting the particular developmental, social and emotional needs in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Due to the large variations in concepts and goals of different FCC initiatives, scientific data on the benefits of FCC for the infant and family outcome are sparse and its effects on the clinical team need to be elaborated. Methods: This prospective single centre longitudinal cohort study enrols preterm infants ≤ 32 + 0 weeks of gestation and/or birthweight ≤ 1500 g and their parents at the neonatal department of the Giessen University Hospital, Giessen, Germany. Following a baseline period, the rollout of additional FCC elements is executed following a stepwise 6-months approach that covers the NICU environment, staff training, parental education and psychosocial support for parents. Recruitment is scheduled over a 5.5. year period from October 2020 to March 2026. The primary outcome is corrected gestational age at discharge. Secondary infant outcomes include neonatal morbidities, growth, and psychomotor development up to 24 months. Parental outcome measures are directed towards parental skills and satisfaction, parent-infant-interaction and mental health. Staff issues are elaborated with particular focus on the item workplace satisfaction. Quality improvement steps are monitored using the Plan- Do- Study- Act cycle method and outcome measures cover the infant, the parents and the medical team. The parallel data collection enables to study the interrelation between these three important areas of research. Sample size calculation was based on the primary outcome. Discussion: It is scientifically impossible to allocate improvements in outcome measures to individual enhancement steps of FCC that constitutes a continuous change in NICU culture and attitudes covering diverse areas of change. Therefore, our trial is designed to allocate childhood, parental and staff outcome measures during the stepwise changes introduced by a FCC intervention program. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, trial registration number NCT05286983, date of registration 03/18/2022, retrospectively registered, http://clinicaltrials.gov .</p

The Fear of Terror - Data from German Representative Surveys Before and After September 11

Studies of American citizens showed that after the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, a substantial proportion of the population in Manhattan, New York, and elsewhere, suffered from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. They had to deal with massive panic attacks, flashbacks, and signs of depression. This study investigated major German representative surveys of effects caused by the acts of terror. We found that the surveys revealed that the attacks had a strong influence on general well-being in children and on anxiety levels in both adults and children. Alongside the dramatic, anxiety-producing effects of the attacks, the data also showed a tendency towards growing prejudices against Jews and Moslems, but not against foreigners in general. The terror attacks in America produced striking effects and growing anxieties in German citizens. We also discuss mechanisms of climate change towards authoritarian positions from a perspective of social psychology

Editorial: New ideas in psychology for clinical settings 2022

In the realm of clinical psychology, the quest for innovative and effective approaches is unending. The Research Topic “New ideas in psychology for clinical settings 2022” of Frontiers in Psychology stands as a testament to this ongoing journey. The papers on this Research Topic not only illuminate diverse aspects of psychological research and practice but also converge on a pivotal theme: the need for a more individualized, context- specific, and systemic approach to mental health care. In this editorial, we delve into each contribution, unraveling how they collectively chart a course toward a more nuanced understanding and treatment of psychological disorders