Examining Expectations Among Polynesian Americans About Seeking Psychotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Research on culturally diverse clients has investigated expectations about psychotherapy and intention to seek counseling. However, few studies have investigated how these factors may be linked to specific client expectations, such as advice-seeking (the client expecting the therapist to give advice) and audience-seeking (the client expecting to lead the sessions) behaviors, particularly for U.S. racial-ethnic minority populations. METHODS: This study used a survey to investigate 593 Polynesian Americans' gender and ethnic preferences for therapists, as well as the mediating effects of advice- and audience-seeking behaviors and their associations with intention to seek counseling and expectations about psychotherapy. RESULTS: Results indicated that audience-seeking behavior mediated the association between expectations about the psychotherapy process and intention to seek counseling for psychological and interpersonal concerns and between expectations about psychotherapy outcomes and intention to seek counseling for academic concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Culturally competent counseling for Polynesian Americans, a fast-growing yet understudied population in the United States, is needed, particularly by psychotherapists working with these individuals. Expectations about the process of therapy, such as audience-seeking behavior, may be important to consider in working with this population.

Survey of Intern Year Experiences for Those Going into Interventional Radiology: Comparing Surgery, Medicine and Transitional Year Internships.

SURGERY, INTERNAL MEDICINE, OR TRANSITION YEAR FOR INTERNS GOING INTO INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY: Comparison of intern year specialty in regards to preparation for interventional radiology (IR) with results and analysis of the resident, fellow, and student (RFS) survey of trainees. PURPOSE: Evaluate trainee experiences regarding internship variables with respect to IR preparedness. MATERIALS: A questionnaire created by members of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) RFS IR Residency Training Committee was distributed to RFS members at SIR 2017 conference and via an online survey. The anonymous survey consisted of Likert scale, dichotomous questions, and free response questions. Results were analyzed utilizing a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), calculation of mean, standard deviation (SD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 112 residents completed the survey (47 Surgery, 33 Medicine, 29 Transitional Year [TY]), and 3 nontraditional internships categorized as other (2 Pediatric, and 1 Neurosurgery). The average procedures performed as intern were; Surgery: 51-75, Medicine: 0-25, TY: 25-50, Other: 25-50. Trainees who completed a surgical internship reported an overall higher comfort level with procedures (Mean: 4.23, SD: 0.81, CI: 0.21, p < 0.00001) compared to medicine interns (2.84, SD: 1.42, CI: 0.48), and TY interns (3.03, SD: 1.48, CI: 0.55). There was no statistical difference between subgroups when comparing; months of night float, maximum consecutive hours worked, ancillary work, etc. Preliminary surgery residents reported a higher quality preparation for IR in their programs (4.3, SD: 0.93, CI: 0.27, p < 0.01) in comparison to Medicine (3.4, SD: 1.1, CI: 0.4), and TY residents (3.6, SD: 1.2, CI: 0.46). Ninety-four percent of surgery residents would choose to repeat a surgery internship. TY residents were next likely to choose the same type of internship at 83%, while the remaining 17% would choose to do surgery year. Medicine residents were least likely to choose medicine again, 23/33 (70%). Surgery, TY, and then medicine residents would choose the same program again (83%, 79%, 75%, respectively). CONCLUSION: In alignment with SIR recommendations, the general consensus of trainees surveyed support that a preliminary surgery internship provides the greatest preparation for IR training. Surgical internships provided the greatest opportunity to perform procedures, corresponding with greater comfort levels, and self-reported better preparedness for future training in IR.

Sticking with it: Psychotherapy outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder in a university counseling center setting.

Young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience high rates of comorbid mental health concerns in addition to distress arising from the core symptoms of autism. Many adults with ASD seek psychological treatment in outpatient facilities in their communities that are not specifically geared toward individuals with ASD. However, few studies have looked at the effectiveness of standard psychotherapeutic care in adults with ASD. This study aimed to discover how individuals with ASD fare in psychotherapy within a college counseling setting, compared to their neurotypical peers. Clients with ASD (n = 76) or possible ASD (n = 91) were retrospectively identified from counseling center case notes. Data from the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ) were retrieved for each therapy session as a measure of client distress. Clients with ASD showed no difference in level of distress at intake compared to their neurotypical peers (n = 21,546), and improved about the same amount from pre- to post-treatment. However, students with ASD stayed in treatment for significantly more sessions than neurotypical clients, and took significantly longer to achieve maximum improvement on OQ reports. Results are discussed with implications for university and other community based treatment settings. Autism Res 2017, 10: 2048-2055. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: This study aimed to discover how individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) fare in psychotherapy within a university counseling setting, compared to their neurotypical peers. Clients with ASD showed no difference in level of distress at intake compared to their neurotypical peers, and improved about the same amount from pre- to post-treatment. However, students with ASD stayed in treatment for significantly more sessions than neurotypical clients, and took significantly longer to achieve maximum improvement on Outcome Questionnaire-45 reports.