Although much recent research has focused on the gambling practices and psychosocial functioning of pathological gamblers, few investigations have examined the characteristics of professional gamblers. The current project sought to address this gap in the literature by conducting a quantitative comparison of professional and pathological gamblers. Pathological gamblers were recruited and balanced with professional gamblers on demographic variables and preferred gambling activity. A total of 22 professional gamblers and 13 pathological gamblers completed an extensive self-report battery including instruments assessing demographics, gambling behaviors and problems, other psychiatric disorders, current psychosocial functioning, recent stressful events, personality characteristics, and intelligence. Pathological and professional gamblers reported similar rates of gambling frequency and intensity and types of games played. Pathological gamblers endorsed poor psychosocial functioning, whereas professional gamblers reported a rate of psychiatric distress within a normative range. Pathological gamblers also reported lower gambling self-efficacy, greater impulsivity, and more past-year DSM-IV Axis I disorders than professional gamblers. The results of the present study shed light on the unique circumstances of professional gamblers, as well as underscore important differences between such individuals and pathological gamblers that could prove fruitful in future research and intervention and prevention efforts.
Objective: Investigation into models of integrated behavioral health primary care and innovative adaptations of these models can help address challenges associated with behavioral health service delivery. To date, few studies have examined access to pediatric behavioral health treatment in primary care, and no known studies have investigated access for pediatric patients in a hub-extension model. In this model, behavioral health providers receive referrals from both hub clinics (integrated sites in which behavioral health providers treat patients) and extension clinics (coordinated off-sites without behavioral health providers). Method: This study investigated differences in latency between referrals and intakes, scheduling rates, and intake show rates between patients from extension versus hub clinics using retrospective electronic medical record data from pediatric patients referred for behavioral health in primary care over an 8-month period. Results: During the time frame, 766 patient referrals were placed from 3 hub clinics and 6 extension clinics (483 hub; 283 extension). Of those referred, 98 patients never scheduled (36 hub; 62 extension). Patients were more likely to schedule intakes following referrals from hub clinics (92.3%) than extension clinics (78.1%). In addition, hub patients (M ϭ 14.2, SD ϭ 12.4) scheduled for sooner initial appointments than extension patients (M ϭ 25.0, SD ϭ 19.8). Hub clinic patients were 2.4 times more likely to cancel and 2.2 times more likely to not show than extension clinic patients. Conclusions: Although additional research on the hub-extension model of behavioral health implementation is needed, this study provides a preliminary examination into the innovative alteration of integrated care models. Implications for Impact StatementThis study is the first known examination of the hub-extension model of pediatric integrated primary care. Results indicated patients referred from hub clinics were more likely to be scheduled for an intake with shorter wait times. Hub clinic patients were also more likely to cancel or not show for intake appointments.
Current literature provides strong support for the relationship between perceived family conflict (i.e., disagreements, expressed anger, and/or aggression) and adolescent maladjustment (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and/or physiological symptoms). Moreover, research indicates that successful conflict resolution (i.e., "behaviors that regulate, reduce, or terminate conflicts," Davies & Cummings, 1994) decreases the adverse impact family conflict has on children. Many researchers have treated conflict resolution as a dichotomous variable (e.g., resolved or unresolved), but there may be different approaches to conflict resolution. Only one dimensional measure of conflict resolution has been developed in the literature, and it has only been used in a sample of young adults. Recent research has also underscored the importance of assessing conflict avoidance (i.e., indirect efforts to alter stressful situations). Unfortunately, there are limited studies on conflict avoidance and its impact on psychological adjustment, none of which use an adolescent sample. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine whether the relationship between conflict resolution, conflict avoidance, and adjustment would extend to adolescents using a dimensional measure of conflict resolution. Second, the current study aimed to develop and pilot a dimensional measure of conflict avoidance. One hundred two adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 were recruited from four parochial high schools in a large Midwestern city. The participants completed self-report measures regarding perceived family conflict, conflict resolution, avoidant behaviors, and psychological adjustment. Results paralleled the findings of previous research in a young adult sample regarding the impact of conflict resolution on adjustment. In addition, after considering perceived family conflict, the presence of conflict avoidance added significantly to the prediction of adolescents' psychological symptoms. These findings suggest that assessing for conflict avoidance in addition to family conflict and conflict resolution may have important implications for the screening and assessment of adolescent psychological health.
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