Amy Jane Griffiths, Diana Baker, John Brady, Kelly Kennedy, Anaiza Valladolid, Rachel Wiegand and Raquel Delgado
This paper describes a case study of a developmental program evaluation on the Autism Community Toolkit, a collaborative skills training program for parents and school…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper describes a case study of a developmental program evaluation on the Autism Community Toolkit, a collaborative skills training program for parents and school professionals. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the training on participants’ knowledge, competence and perceived collaboration; and potential improvements to the training program.
Design/methodology/approach
The program included multiple training sessions for families and school professionals, designed to educate participants on autism, evidence-based interventions and to increase home-school communication and collaboration. Data collection methods included pre- and post-measures and feedback forms.
Findings
Results indicated that the training program was beneficial for participants overall. Pre- and posttest measures indicated growth in knowledge and competency in autism interventions. While there were no statistically significant differences in the quantitative measure of collaboration, qualitative results suggest that participants reported increased collaboration posttraining.
Practical implications
Overall, the training program was effective, and the ongoing implementation assessment was conducive to continuous improvement. The authors also discuss difficulties with implementation and recommendations for future intervention implementation.
Originality/value
This case study provides practical information about creating, evaluating and improving a unique intervention designed to support school–home collaboration.
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Gautam Gulati, Brendan D. Kelly, Conor O’Neill, Paul O’Connell, Sally Linehan, Eimear Spain, David Meagher and Colum P. Dunne
The assessment and management of prisoners on hunger strikes in a custodial setting is complex. There is limited clinical guidance available for psychiatrists to draw upon in such…
Abstract
Purpose
The assessment and management of prisoners on hunger strikes in a custodial setting is complex. There is limited clinical guidance available for psychiatrists to draw upon in such cases. The purpose of this paper is to develop a management algorithm through expert elicitation to inform the psychiatric care of prisoners on a hunger strike.
Design/methodology/approach
A Delphi method was used to elicit views from Irish forensic psychiatrists, a legal expert and an expert in ethics using a structured questionnaire. Themes were extracted from the results of the questionnaire to propose a management algorithm. A consensus was reached on management considerations.
Findings
Five consultant forensic psychiatrists, a legal expert and an expert on psychiatric ethics (n=7) consented to participation, with a subsequent response rate of 71.4 per cent. Consensus was achieved on a proposed management algorithm. Assessment for mental disorder, capacity to refuse food and motivation for food refusal are seen as key psychiatric tasks. The need to work closely with the prison general practitioner and the value of multidisciplinary working and legal advice are described. Relevant aspects of law included mental health, criminal law (insanity) and capacity legislation.
Originality/value
This study outlines a management algorithm for the psychiatric assessment and management of prisoners on a hunger strike, a subject about which there is limited guidance to date. Although written from an Irish perspective, this study outlines key considerations for psychiatrists in keeping with international guidance and therefore may be generalisable to other jurisdictions.
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Previous research has found that people who use anabolic androgenic steroids (hereafter ‘steroids’) typically describe these drugs as safe. However, research exploring the inside…
Abstract
Previous research has found that people who use anabolic androgenic steroids (hereafter ‘steroids’) typically describe these drugs as safe. However, research exploring the inside perspective on steroid risk has focussed on steroids in general, and failed to examine how particular steroids are viewed and experienced. During my online ethnographic research in bodybuilding communities, I found discussion of one particular steroid said to cause significant physical, psychological, social and sexual harm: trenbolone. Trenbolone is a veterinary drug used to increase muscle in beef cattle that has been found to have neurodegenerative and genotoxic effects on animals. It has been used by bodybuilders since the 1980s, and recent research has found it to be one of the most popular steroids used by bodybuilders. If trenbolone is described by bodybuilders as causing significant harm, why do so many bodybuilders use it? This chapter attempts to answer this question through a description of bodybuilder folk models of trenbolone risk. Using a social life of drugs approach it describes: (1) the effects of trenbolone; (2) how these effects are given meaning as either harms or benefits, and then weighed against each other; (3) how the risks of trenbolone are reduced through harm reduction strategies and (4) the role of online communities in negotiations of trenbolone risk. Trenbolone was found to occupy a mythical status in bodybuilding communities, in part because of the conflicted relationship bodybuilders have with the drug. This conflicted relationship illustrates the inherent ambivalence of drugs, which are always both remedy and poison.
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The successful development of innovative new CAD/CAM systems is critical to the future viability of many companies. CAD/CAM systems represent one of the fastest growing, highest…
Abstract
The successful development of innovative new CAD/CAM systems is critical to the future viability of many companies. CAD/CAM systems represent one of the fastest growing, highest potential, and riskiest new manufacturing technologies. Successful development and adoption requires much richer and more complex relationships between developing and adopting organisations and between managers in different functional areas and operations management. A framework is developed to identify and outline the implications of changing developer/adopter relationships for operations management, based on three interactive sub‐processes — the development, adoption and interfacing sub‐processes. Eight recommendations are made for operations managers to improve their involvement in developer/adopter relationships and so improve the success of CAD/CAM systems adoption.
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Strategists are supposed to be experts in prioritizing, planning, and putting things in perspective. But things go wrong. Projects take longer than expected. Fires flare up…
Abstract
Strategists are supposed to be experts in prioritizing, planning, and putting things in perspective. But things go wrong. Projects take longer than expected. Fires flare up. Projections fizzle. Suddenly there's too much to do. Everything is an emergency. All your previous plans are flashing “system overload.”
Gautam Gulati, Valerie Murphy, Ana Clarke, Kristin Delcellier, David Meagher, Harry Kennedy, Elizabeth Fistein, John Bogue and Colum P. Dunne
While individuals with an intellectual disability form a significant minority in the worldwide prison population, their healthcare needs require specialist attention. In Ireland…
Abstract
Purpose
While individuals with an intellectual disability form a significant minority in the worldwide prison population, their healthcare needs require specialist attention. In Ireland, services for prisoners with intellectual disabilities need development. However, there is little substantive data estimating the prevalence of intellectual disabilities within the Irish prison system. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors systematically review published data relating to the prevalence of intellectual disabilities in prisons in the Republic of Ireland. The authors searched four databases, governmental websites and corresponded with experts.
Findings
Little published data were elicited from searches except for one nationwide cross-sectional survey which reflected a higher prevalence than reported in international studies. Studies from forensic mental health populations are narrated to contextualise findings.
Originality/value
This study found that there is little data to accurately estimate the prevalence of intellectual disabilities in the Irish prison system and the limited data available suggests that this is likely to be higher than international estimates. The authors highlight the need for further research to accurately estimate prevalence in this jurisdiction, alongside the need to develop screening and care pathways for prisoners with an intellectual disability.
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A company's increasing global presence, unfortunately, seems to coincide with the increasingly vague role many foreign‐subsidiary managers get to play. Foreign‐subsidiary managers…
Abstract
A company's increasing global presence, unfortunately, seems to coincide with the increasingly vague role many foreign‐subsidiary managers get to play. Foreign‐subsidiary managers of global companies are losing authority and control over production decisions, which are being transferred to headquarters' product divisions, according to a report from the Conference Board in New York. In the past, these executives exercised considerable decision‐making autonomy over all operational activities.
This case report seeks to describe successful treatment of erotomania using cognitive behavioural psychotherapy in concert with community support providers applying similar…
Abstract
Purpose
This case report seeks to describe successful treatment of erotomania using cognitive behavioural psychotherapy in concert with community support providers applying similar psychotherapeutic approaches.
Design/methodology/approach
A case report is presented illustrating successful treatment of an individual with erotomania and intellectual disability. Pharmacotherapy assessment suggested its ineffectiveness and medicines were slowly reduced and discontinued. Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy provided a venue to discuss personal issues and work on solutions. The community support system was enlisted to approach the problem using two main psychotherapeutic strategies: eliminate social attention for the delusion; and increase social relationships.
Findings
Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy working in collaboration with the community support system resulted in great improvement. Within three years, the individual returned to previous functioning with no symptoms of the delusional disorder.
Originality/value
This case study illustrates the successful treatment of erotomania using cognitive behavioural psychotherapy and engaging the community support system in applying directed psychotherapeutic strategies. Erotomania occurs in people with intellectual disability and must be recognized and treated. Ineffective pharmacotherapy was successfully reduced and discontinued within the context of appropriate therapeutic supports.