Understanding the Distinctive Presentations of Therapist Countertransference with Cluster B Personality Disorders

Countertransference is one of several therapist variables that have been demonstrated to impact the quality of the therapeutic alliance. CT that is understood and managed by the therapist has the potential to serve as a tool in better understanding the patient, which puts the therapist in a better position to intervene therapeutically. CT that are emotionally charged can be more difficult to manage, and CT reactions tend to be especially emotionally intense when working with patients with Cluster B personality disorders (PDs). A better understanding of specific CT reactions to each Cluster B PD might aid in diagnosis and treatment and CT management, which may, in turn, contribute to more positive therapy outcomes. To date, no authors have specifically examined and compared the distinct CT presentations that are elicited from Cluster B personality diagnoses. The aim of this study was to examine whether the presentation of therapist CT differs systematically between Cluster B PD groups. A sample of psychologists and psychology trainees completed an online survey on their experience with a patient with a cluster B PD. Participants provided demographic information and completed the Level of Personality Functioning Scale to assess severity of the patient’s pathology as well as the Therapist Response Questionnaire to evaluate their CT response to the patient. ANOVAs revealed significant differences between PD groups on 3 of 8 TRQ CT variables and distinct CT presentations were identified for each PD group. Antisocial PD was associated with a low criticized/mistreated response; borderline PD was associated with a low disengaged, low criticized/mistreated, high parental/protective response; narcissistic PD was associated with a high disengaged, high criticized/mistreated, and low parental/protective response; and no associations were identified with histrionic PD. These results contribute to a developing framework of identifying specific CT associated with each Cluster B PD, which will be utilized to inform future treatment decisions and improve CT management on the part of the clinician

A Narrative Inquiry Into the Impact of Chronic Within-Year Teacher Turnover on Students

This dissertation explored the impact of chronic within-year teacher turnover through the narratives of students who have experienced it. A three-part series of interviews were used to capture these lived stories, in addition to artifact collection and creation, by focusing on the perceptions of events through time and the impact of said events on students’ beliefs and understandings of teacher-student relationships. Participants included three junior students who had experienced within-year teacher turnover chronically, with three instances or more in their school career. The data collected from these series of interviews and collection of artifacts were analyzed and restoryed alongside participants using the conventions of narrative inquiry. Rather than shared as one story in multiple parts, each participant’s story was shared individually, braided together through any commonalities of theme in order to better explore the impact of chronic within-year teacher turnover on students. Findings included that across these narratives all students experienced positive or negative emotions and that all participants experienced academic or relational challenges due to their encounters of within-year teacher turnover. The implications of this work attend to systems of support in the face of within-year teacher turnover and more generally to teacher-student relationships

Recurrent novae and Type Ia supernova progenitors

We investigated two types of stellar explosions, recurrent novae (RNe) and Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). SNe Ia are the most useful distance markers in astrophysics, but we do not know the identity of their progenitor systems. RNe are good progenitor candidates that consist of a white dwarf (WD) that accretes material from a companion star. The material builds on the surface of the WD until a runaway thermonuclear eruption is triggered, which ejects the accreted material and causes the system to brighten dramatically. We studied the demographics of the nova population and concluded that approximately 25% of classical novae are actually RNe for which only one eruption has been discovered. Importantly, this means that there are enough RNe in our galaxy to provide a significant fraction of the SNe Ia. We present a list of good RN candidates; for one such system, V2487 Ophiuchi, we sought and found a previous eruption in the astronomical plate archives. We examined two known RNe in detail. T Pyxidis has a unique shell; we used observations of the shell and central star to produce a new model for the long-term evolution of the system, which will never become a supernova. U Scorpii erupted in 2010 as predicted. We led a worldwide collaboration of astronomers that discovered the eruption and comprehensively observed it from start to finish. We discovered three new phenomena and were able to make the best-yet measurement of the amount of mass ejected during the eruption. We searched the centers of nearby SN Ia remnants looking for ex-companion stars left behind after the WD exploded centuries ago. For one remnant, SNR 0509-67.5, we can definitively state that there are no ex-companion stars in the center of the remnant and therefore the system must have consisted of two WDs that collided to form the SN Ia. The other nearby remnants have possible ex-companion stars; more observations are needed to determine which, if any, are the true ex-companions. Some large fraction of the SNe Ia must come from double-WD systems, but there is a possibility that RNe provide a significant fraction as well

Examining Obesity Issues

This policy brief examines the problems related to over-consumption, excess, and obesity in Missouri. The topic is analyzed, and policy recommendations are explained

State Trends in Premiums and Deductibles, 2003-2010: The Need for Action to Address Rising Costs

Examines the rise in employer-based insurance premiums and deductibles and as a percentage of median household income. Projects average family coverage premiums in 2020 if federal health reform is not implemented and historical rates of increase continue

Redirected Mindset: A Guide to a More Holistic Practice in Physical Rehabilitation

Problem: Current practice is that the occupational therapists’ identity has become rooted in the practice setting they are working in versus the core values and beliefs of the profession. Despite the core values and beliefs of the profession, occupational therapists have pigeon-holed themselves as physical or mental health practitioners (Terry & Westcott, 2012). This results in restricted assessments and interventions that are not holistic and often not occupation based (Terry & Westcott, 2012). “Occupational therapy practitioners need to have an understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychosocial aspects of recovery from physical disability to address potential obstacles to their patient’s holistic well-being” (Tully, 2019). Methods: A literature review was conducted on: 1) the historical changes of occupational therapy to current day, 2) current occupational therapy trends, 3) returning to the holistic roots and 4) reimbursement. Concepts from Malcolm Knowles Andragogy and information from the literature review were used to guide the development of the product. Conclusion: This scholarly project focuses on the role of occupational therapists working with individuals who have physical disabilities. This is the area, in particular, where occupational therapists may be struggling to meet the psychosocial needs of their clients. Within the physical dysfunction setting, having a holistic viewpoint of the patient is important to be able to address all aspects of the person to provide the most client centered care. The final project is a guide developed for occupational therapists that are practicing in physical disability settings. We believe that the application of this guide can contribute to the professional development needed to address mental health practices within physical disability settings. This could result in an improved therapy outcome and increase therapeutic relationships with clients

Lipid Accumulation by Rhodococcus Rhodochrous

Oleaginous microbes can accumulate over 20% of their cell dry weight as lipids that are stored as intracellular energy reserves. The characterization of other oleaginous bacteria creates opportunities for the development of alternative feedstocks and technologies. Rhodococcus rhodochrous is a gram-positive bacterium known for its biodegradation capabilities, but little is known about its ability to accumulate lipids. As R. rhodochrous is capable of degrading hydrocarbon gasses and other aromatics, this study aims to investigate any associated lipid production during the conversion of waste and nontraditional carbon sources, such as model lignocellulosic inhibitors. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant and renewable organic material in the world and is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which can be pretreated to release sugars from the complex, and often recalcitrant, lignin polymer for microbial fermentation. R. rhodochrous was cultivated with various carbon sources, including glucose, xylose, acetic acid, furfural, phenol, vanillic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, and propane. The results suggest that R. rhodochrous can survive in the presence of these compounds, achieving almost 7g/L cell dry weight after 168 hours and still accumulate up to 40-50% of cell dry weight as lipid in glucose supplemented media. Furthermore, the aromatic compounds are undetected after 48 hours indicating that R. rhodochrous was able to tolerate these compounds and accumulate lipids. Fatty acid methyl ester profiles show a prevalence of palmitic and oleic methyl esters. Overall, these studies are contributing to a better understanding and characterization of another oleaginous Rhodococcus species, Rhodococcus rhodochrous

Enriching Inclusive Learning: African Americans in Historic Costume

Educating students to embrace diversity and value all people is a core value of educators in family and consumer sciences (FCS). For instructors in FCS, integrating the contributions of African Americans--particularly in textiles and clothing--can be an inclusive learning opportunity. The authors compiled resources on African Americans and historic clothing by examining research published in books and articles indexed in JSTOR and America: History and Life . From these resources, themes emerged including slavery (particularly in 19th century), cultural traditions, entrepreneurs and designers, beauty and self-image, and headwear and hair. Using these themes, instructors might integrate the many contributions of African Americans into their instruction. Topics may include runaway slaves and their clothing, the origins of the headwrap, and history of the Harlem Renaissance. Integrating African American and other cultural groups in course content has a place in all FCS content areas and opens the door for reflecting and understanding the legacies of all people and cultures of the US

Parental Problem Drinking and Adolescent Substance Use: The Moderating Role of Sibling Relationships

Families are complex systems with each member influencing all others (Cox & Paley, 1997). Family factors like parental problem drinking have been consistently shown to predict a range of adverse adolescent adjustment outcomes, including alcohol and other substance use (Caspi et al., 2018; Park & Schepp, 2014). However, other family factors, such as sibling relationships, may serve as protective or additive risk factors in influencing adolescent behavior. Limited extant research has investigated the role of sibling relationship characteristics in the context of parental problem drinking (Rueter et al., 2015).Therefore, the current study examined if hostility and warmth in sibling relationships served as risk or protective factors in the relationship between maternal and paternal problem drinking and adolescents’alcohol and drug use.Data were drawn from the Adolescent Adjustment Project (Ohannessian, 2009), which survey adolescents from seven Mid-Atlantic State public high schools in Spring 2007 (Mage=16.08; SD=.69;55% female). Only adolescents who reported having a single sibling were included (N=373). Adolescents were asked how often in the last 6 months they (a) used marijuana, sedatives, stimulants, inhalants,hallucinogens, cocaine or crack, and opiates (drug use frequency) and (b) how much and how often theydrank beer, wine, and liquor (alcohol use quantity and frequency). The Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (Crews & Sher, 1992) measured adolescents’ perceptions of their mother’s and father’salcohol use problems. Scale items were summed such that greater scores represented greater maternal(MPD; α=.60) and paternal (PPD; α=.84) problem drinking. Finally, the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (Slomkowski et al., 2001) was used to assess adolescents’ perceptions of warmth (α=.89)and hostility (α=.87) with their sibling.Regression analyses were used examine associations between sibling relationship characteristics, parental problem drinking, and adolescents’ substance use. Separate models were conducted for MPD and PPD,and structural elements of sibling relationships were controlled (Table 1). Only PPD was positivelyassociated with adolescents’ alcohol use (Model-2). However, sibling hostility and MPD (Model-3) and sibling hostility and PPD (Model-4) were positively associated with drug use. Further, sibling hostility and PPD interacted to predict drug use (B=.14, phttps://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/urspsych/1002/thumbnail.jp

Pre-K and Charter Schools: Where State Policies Create Barriers

High quality charter schools and pre-K programs have shown tremendous potential to change the educational and life trajectories of low-income students. In combination, they could do even more to improve the odds for our nation's most vulnerable youngsters. But current policy and practice in many states limit the ability of charter schools to offer state-funded pre-K programs.Even though most states use a variety of providers to offer pre-K -- including public schools, Head Start programs, community-based child care centers, and for-profit and faith-based preschools -- charter schools are often not among them.In this report, the National Alliance teamed up with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute to analyze state pre-K and charter statutes, regulations, and agency policies in the 36 jurisdictions that had both charter schools and state-funded pre-K programs at the start of the 2014 -- 15 school year. This comprehensive study points to state policies that create restrictions for collaboration between charter schools and pre-K, and also offers policy recommendations at the federal and state levels to improve the climate for high-quality charter schools to offer pre-K