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The emotional lives and difficulties of people with learning disabilities are much neglected. This paper reviews accounts of research and therapy and makes an assessment of the current state of knowledge. Very little research actually exists when compared to the non-learning disabled, and so, studies of psychotherapy, child development, parent-infant bonding, psychological assessment and emotional disturbance in people with learning disability are examined. The review finds that there is evidence to suggest the presence of a significantly higher level of emotional developmental problems and disturbance in people with learning disability. This problem requires multidisciplinary attention if progress in improving quality of life is to be maintained.

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This is an investigation into the personality and cognitive-epistemological traits of psychotherapists from two major psychotherapeutic orientations. The purpose is to examine whether there are distinctive trait patterns associated with each orientation. Two hundred and forty-seven psychotherapists from the psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioural orientations completed standardized personality and epistemological trait inventories. The results reveal significant differences on these measures between the two orientation groups, and suggest that different patterns of personality and cognitive-epistemological traits are associated with practitioners from these two orientations. These trait findings are summarized into two comparative descriptions, which illustrate their differences.

A previous study found that 86 per cent of employees (n = 111) who experience stress in the workplace and sought help from their workplace counselling schemes (Employee Assistance Programmes) had serious mental health problems, but the low participation rate (24 per cent) restricted generalizability and the measure used [General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12)] did not allow diagnosis. The present study (n = 58) improved the participation rate to 35 per cent and used a different version of the original measure (GHQ‐28) that allowed diagnostic differentiation as well as validation of the original findings. This new study found almost exactly the same high levels of mental health problems existed (86 per cent) in employees who remained at their work and that participants had higher rates of anxiety than depression. This finding is at variance with the usual co‐morbid presentation of anxiety and depression found in community based mental health services and suggests that depression may be an important differentiating factor between those who can remain at work and use counselling and those who cannot. There are implications for those who provide mental health services. The results of this study further reinforce the suggestion that workplace stress may be yet another name for common mental health problems that require professional help and treatment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Progress in understanding and developing effective responses to work-related stress has been elusive, patchy, and inconsistent. The reasons for this are reviewed, and the inadequacy of traditional stress management techniques and organisational interventions to tackle it are examined. Although necessary, clinical responses to distressed individuals and organisations in isolation can never deal effectively with the overall increasing levels of stress found. Neither can attempts to 'fit' individuals to cope with ever more demanding work patterns and practices. The reviewed evidence suggests that an integrated approach that acknowledges how social, economic, political, and organisational factors impact on individual needs and values is needed. This integrated approach is described, with its required input from communities and politicians, as well as occupational health specialists. The article concludes that work-related stress is the result of complex psychosocial interactions that simply cannot be effectively understood or treated by any one professional group or theoretical approach.

This represents a first effort in evaluating Latino mothers' perceptions of infants' healthy growth and use growth charts as a potential tool that can help prevent excess weight gain in early infancy.

M e n t a l h e a l t h p r o b l e m s a n d B r i t i s h w o r k e r s: a s u r v e y o f m e n t a l h e Summary This study assesses levels of psychological disturbance in employees who attend counselling schemes provided by their employer through Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs). Over two-thirds (33) of the organizations covered by a major United Kingdom EAP provider allowed their employees to be surveyed. A standardized and well-respected screening test aimed at detecting psychiatric disorders in the community (General Health Questionnaire) was given to employees when they visited counsellors.Steps were taken to ensure confidentiality and anonymity. One hundred and eleven of 466 (24 per cent) employees receiving counselling returned questionnaires and the results show 86.6 per cent of these experienced significantly high levels of psychiatric problems. Findings suggest that a significant proportion of employees who experience stress in the workplace and consequently attend their employer's EAP may have serious mental health symptoms, and that employers are providing a service for those in genuine psychological need. The study also raises the possibility that when some employees complain of 'stress' in the workplace, they may in fact be experiencing significant mental health problems, particularly anxiety and depression, requiring professional assistance.