Evolving Formulations:sharing complex information with clients

Psychological formulations are central to cognitive behavioural approaches. The use of such formulations presents a number of difficulties when working with clients with psychotic problems. Despite this, sophisticated psychological formulations can be collaboratively developed with psychotic clients. This paper presents one method of developing such formulations through an evolutionary process. Early in the therapeutic process, simple formulations involving straightforward theoretical models are presented, which are systematically elaborated as therapy proceeds. This involves developing, collaboratively with clients, successive layers of formulation. Each of these layers builds on and incorporates the previous one, yet involves an incremental increase in complexity, depth and informational content. The evolutionary process is illustrated with a case example

The Iron K Line Profile of IRAS 18325-5926

IRAS 18325-5926 is an X-ray bright, Compton-thin, type-2 Seyfert galaxy and it was the first Seyfert 2 in which the presence of a broad Fe K-alpha emission line was claimed. However, although the structure of the Fe line appears broad, there is tentative evidence that it may comprise multiple lines. Nevertheless, previous analyses have only consisted of fitting standalone broad components to the Fe K band. Here, we have analyzed all available X-ray CCD data from Suzaku, XMM-Newton and ASCA to fully investigate the nature of the emission complex by testing broad-band physical models and alternative hypotheses. We find that both a model consisting of broad, blurred reflection from an ionized accretion disc and a model consisting of cold, neutral reflection plus narrow emission lines from highly-ionized photoionized gas (log \xi = 3.5) offer statistically comparable fits to the data although the true reality of the Fe line cannot currently be determined with existing data. However, it is hoped that better quality data and improved photon statistics in the Fe K band will allow a more robust distinction between models to be made.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS; 13 pages; 10 figures; 2 table

Group CBT for people with schizophrenia

Individual cognitive behavioural interventions for psychosis are rapidly developing and are being shown to be effective. This paper examines the application of these interventions on a group basis. The nature of the group, treatment outcome and potential benefits of using this format are described. After the group intervention, all patients were less depressed, most had higher self-esteem and greater knowledge of schizophrenia, and half the group felt better able to cope with their symptoms. Patients reported feeling less isolated and two of the four group members stated a preference for group over individual treatment

The impact of beliefs about mental health problems and coping on outcome in schizophrenia.

Background. Using the theoretical framework of the Self Regulation Model (SRM), many studies have demonstrated that beliefs individuals hold about their physical health problems are important in predicting health outcomes. This study tested the SRM in the context of a mental health problem, schizophrenia. Method. One hundred and twenty-four people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed on measures of symptom severity, beliefs about their mental health problems, coping and appraisal of outcome at two time points, 6 months apart. Results. Using multivariate analyses and controlling for severity of symptoms, beliefs about mental health were found to be significant predictors of outcome. Beliefs about greater negative consequences were the strongest and most consistent predictors of a poorer outcome in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Conclusions. These results suggest that the SRM is a promising model for mental health problems and may highlight important areas for development in clinical, and especially psychosocial interventions

Protecting the property of the mentally ill: the judicial solution in nineteenth century lunacy law

Author's post-print draft. Final version published by Cambridge University Press; available online at http://journals.cambridge.org/The modern legal framework for the protection of the mentally ill was conceived and developed in the nineteenth century. A substantial growth in the numbers of the mentally ill revealed an absence of effective and accessible legal protection for the property of patients with small estates. This challenge was met through the retention and reform of the ancient jurisdiction of the Lord Chancellor in the Lunacy Court as the sole instrument of protection. The judicial solution was adopted in preference to bureaucratic regulation, despite the strong forces of state intervention and the reform of the legal system and its processes

Black consciousness on trial: The BPC/SASO trial, 1974-1976

African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented August 1990On 25 September 1974, the South African Students' Organisation and the Black People's Convention held two rallies to celebrate independence in Mozambique. Within two weeks, 29 black consciousness leaders were in detention, as the state prepared for a major trial of the black consciousness movement which would see nine leaders of BFC and SASO facing conspiracy charges under the terrorism act. The state sought to put on trial the actions and ideas of the movement since its foundation, in order to portray it as a revolutionary movement led by self-conscious conspirators. In the state’s view, the black consciousness movement sought to go one stage further than the ANC or PAC had. If they had failed, it was because they had reverted to guerrilla movements without preparing the people for mass revolution: it was this that black consciousness would build. The state thus charged the accused with a conspiracy to bring about revolutionary change and/or the promotion of racial hostility. A second count charged seven of them with organizing the rallies with intent to promote racial hostility. These two counts were mutually reinforcing: the rallies were the confrontational fruition of the conspiracy; the conspiracy explained what the rallies were all about. The conspiracy was to be found primarily in the rhetoric of the organisations, its publications calling on even children to "talk, eat, live, cry and play the struggle for liberation," its language talking of ‘infiltration’. The conspiracy was to be inferred from the "cumulative effects" of the actions and words of the groups, seen "in conjunction with the nature and activities of the organisations.

Habeas corpus, imperial rendition, and the rule of law

In the decades which followed the publication of AV Dicey’s Law of the Constitution, most English lawyers felt confident that the rights and liberties of Englishmen were protected by a rule of law, which was secured through ancient common law remedies such as the writ of habeas corpus. In their view, this ensured that no political activists would be detained without trial, unless there were particular emergencies which allowed the writ’s suspension, in order to protect the very rule of law. At the same time that these arguments were being made, however, detention without trial became an increasingly routine feature of colonial governance. This article examines the attempts used by political detainees from different parts of the empire to challenge their rendition and detention, and explores what the judicial response tells us about perceptions of the rule of law in the era when Dicey’s work was establishing itself as the classic text of constitutional law. Focusing on a number of key cases, it examines how courts examined two central issues in habeas corpus cases. The first concerns the legality of the detention. In discussing this issue, courts were presented with rival approaches to the rule of law, one which was more ‘formalist’ (asking whether the legislative instrument ordering the detention had a valid pedigree derived from the sovereign legislature), and another which was more ‘substantive’ (invoking a notion of fundamental rights). The second concerns the question of control, and explores the response of the courts to challenges to the writ by defendants who argued that they no longer had control over the detainee

Special Urban Research Projects: Discussion

This work on urban research strategies in Egypt is the product of several factors. First of all is the challenge, excitement, diversity and stimulation of living in Egyptian cities, Cairo above all. Not only are Egyptian cities rooted in deep antiquity, but they have the richly stratified layers of a host of great civilizations. Modern urban Egypt is immeasurably complex in its own right, but its quite astounding past only adds to its wonderment. Thus, the chief inspiration for this publication is the wealthy cultural and historical context in which these scholars were assembled and where they sought to interpret a range of adjustments and reacdons to modern urban life. The second factor is found in the intellectual fecundity and the traditions of the Social Research Center (SRC) at the American University in Cairo which has, for three decades, been at the epicenter of social investigation and evaluation in Egyptian society. Its contribution is truly without adequate definition in terms of published works, academic interaction, research and development. The SRC represents the intellectual birthplace of a host of Egyptian, American and other foreign scholars who have come to study Egypt. The creation of the Urban Development Unit in 1982 as a section of the SRC has underscored the pioneering on another area of specialized research in Egypt. The workshop held on 6-7 June 1982 on Strategies for Urban Research in the 1980s\u27 was sponsored by this new unit of the SRC. The third factor which made the workshop possible was represented in the unpaid, voluntary contributions of time and effort of the assembled participants and contributors and especially of the Workshop Preparatory Committee, composed mainly but not exclusively of the following: Mark Kennedy, Ibrahim Omar, Madiha Al-Safty, Marina Ottaway, Barbara Ibrahim, Nick Hopkins, Saneya Saleh, Assad Nadim, Soha Abdel Kader, Tim Sullivan and myself. Finally, the pleasant atmosphere, ample luncheons and refreshments, secretarial support and other details. of the workshop\u27s inf ras true ture were sustained through the generosity of the Cairo office of the Ford Foundation and its Director, John Gerhart. Here, appreciation for all of the above is very gratefully recorded. Some of the participants were invited only to enjoy the academic interaction and to enrich the base of discussion with comments from their own pertinent experiences. Others were invited to prepare papers for the workshop. As far as possible, the papers were reproduced and circulated before and during the workshop to make a qualitative contribution to the depth and intensity of the discussion which followed each group of papers. For various reasons, all of the papers originally presented are not published here but certain among them were selected and edited for this special publication. Also, while the discussions followed each unit of grouped papers, the versions presented here are really a distillation of this stimulating dialogue. Special mention needs to be made to the Editorial Board of CAIRO PAPERS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE at the American University in Cairo which has been willing to publish these papers as Volume 6, Number 2 of this journal. Since the decision was made, I have been asked to join the Editorial Board and have benefitted from the collegial criticisms and general support of the Board. In this context, particular note is due for the contribution of Mahmoud Abdel-Fadil. His workshop paper was actually a condensed version of a larger work on the same topic which Md already been submitted to CAIRO PAPERS for publication. Since the study of the urban informal sector was so strongly featured in the workshop discussions, the Editorial Board concluded and Dr. Abdel-Fadil agreed that hie paper would be best published in its entirety in this publication. I believe that we all benefit from his flexibility and understanding. The other papers represent on-going research and/or were specially prepared for the workshop. Finally, acknowledgement of the critical secretarial support for this publication is very gratefully offered to Hekmat. Wasef, Yvonne Shunbo, Mona Tawfik, Brenda Carpenter and Joan Bickelhaupt who helped with some of the transcriptions of the taped discussion.https://fount.aucegypt.edu/faculty_book_chapters/1860/thumbnail.jp