Faculty Bibliography

In experimental practice, odors are commonly applied to only one nostril for recordings of olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs), but the lateralization aspect of the OERP response is unclear regarding both stimulated nostril and cortical topography. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether stimulated-nostril side affects OERP amplitudes and latencies and whether these potentials indicate lateralization of brain response in healthy, right-handed, young adults. OERPs were recorded from nine electrode sites in response to monorhinal stimulation with amyl acetate in 28 participants. The results showed a general increase in amplitude from frontal to parietal electrode sites (in particular for N1/P3) and generally larger amplitudes on the left hemisphere and midline than on the right hemisphere. There was no main effect of stimulated-nostril side on amplitude. Interactions indicated that N1/P2 amplitude was larger for left- than right-nostril stimulation and larger on the left hemisphere and midline than on the right hemisphere in left-nostril stimulation. No main effect or interactions of stimulated-nostril side over latencies were found and no effects on latencies of sagittal or coronal sites. These findings suggest a general parietal, left-hemisphere predominance in response amplitude to odorous stimulation and imply that either the left or the right nostril may be sufficient for accurate assessment of OERP latency in right-handed, young adults.

This study examined the impact of a nine-month learning collaborative that was adapted from the Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model to improve mental health service use among urban youth and families who sought care at twelve participating mental health agencies between October 2004 and June 2005. A secondary analysis was conducted of data pertaining to: (a) initial show rates for first intake appointments for all new evaluations of children and adolescents and (b) attendance at any scheduled clinic appointment subsequent to the first kept intake appointment. During the course of the collaborative, an average increase of 14 percent in the rate of attendance at child mental health intake appointments (the equivalent of 448 more children attending) was evidenced. More modest gains in rates of ongoing involvement were noted. Collaborative learning environments can be useful for enhancing initial and continued attendance in mental health care for youth and their families, as well as being an effective method for disseminating engagement practices across agencies

Practitioners who work with children and adolescents endeavor to identify and, when possible, amend threats that jeopardize the child's well-being. Yet one major risk factorthat is often overlooked is maternal depression. This oversight is of great concern, considering that an extensive body of research indicates that children are adversely affected when their mother is depressed. For instance, infants of mothers who suffer from depressive disorders evidence neurochemical and physiological differences, lag behind developmentally, and exhibit greater behavioral difficulties, eating problems, and sleeping difficulties than children of mothers who are not ill. Moreover, older children and adolescents of depressed mothers fare no better, evidencing higher rates of mental illness and greater disturbances in their academic performance, behavior, and social interactions than children whose mothers are not depressed.

This study examines the relationship between urban parents'/caregivers' previous experiences obtaining mental health care for their children and their perceptions of barriers to their children's use of services in the future. Assessments of prior treatment outcome and aspects of relationships with former providers were linked to endorsements of doubt about the utility of treatment as a potential barrier to the children's use of services in the future and the number of barriers parents endorsed. Implications for urban child mental health service delivery are drawn.

BACKGROUND: South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago are disproportionately impacted by high rates of HIV/AIDS among adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The article describes the HIV crises in these countries; outlines a community participatory research framework to adapt and deliver family-based prevention; and presents preliminary data from intervention pilots in each setting. METHODS: Adapted interventions were piloted with N = 140 families in South Africa and N=16 families in Trinidad and Tobago to refine recruitment and retention efforts and to assess the adapted interventions' impact on family and risk-related constructs. RESULTS: Both settings reported promising results including high recruitment and retention and favourable pre to post changes in parent/youth frequency and comfort in talking about sensitive subjects, HIV transmission knowledge and attitudes about persons with HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSION: International HIV-prevention alliances are increasing. Such alliances are challenged by trust issues, power-differentials and ideological differences. Recommendations are provided on how some challenges can be overcome.

This study examined the associations between physical and psychological proximity to terrorist attacks and post-traumatic symptoms (PTS), depressive symptoms, and alcohol use among Israeli youth. Self-administered questionnaires were completed under anonymous conditions by 1,150 high and junior high school students (51.3% boys and 48.7% girls) in a town in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Standardized, validated scales were used to measure psychological symptoms and alcohol use. High levels of exposure to terrorism were reported. Physical and psychological proximity to terrorist attacks were associated with more PTS symptoms and alcohol consumption. Physical proximity was also associated with symptoms of depression. The implications of terror-associated early drinking for later alcohol problems should be explored.

Using findings from the formative evaluation of the adaptation of the Collaborative HIV/AIDS Adolescent Mental Health Programme (CHAMP) family-based intervention in South Africa, known as the 'AmaQhawe Family Project', the potential role of 'micro-media' using a cartoon narrative for promoting health-enhancing behaviour change is explored. In particular, the cartoon narrative was found to be a useful medium for informing the development and diffusion of health-enhancing social representations that shape the potential for health-related behaviour change.

This study uses qualitative data from individual interviews with low-income, African American women (n = 92) between 19 and 35 years of age who participated in 12 two-hour sessions of a family-focused HIV prevention intervention. The study explores influences on three domains. At the individual domain, development of personal attributes and the perceptions that program staff was fair toward racial minorities appear to influence participation. At the program domain, staff friendliness and monetary incentive also influenced participation. At the social domain, influence of friends and emotional support influenced participation. Training staff to confront racism and to develop a culturally competent and friendly environment has the potential to increase attendance among participants at high risk for HIV exposure.