Editor's comment.The spring issue of the Journal has a distinctly applied practice perspective. The first article by Babin and Gross examines a difficult issue in rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. practice; how to evaluate whether a client is malingering Malingering DefinitionIn the context of medicine, malingering is the act of intentionally feigning or exaggerating physical or psychological symptoms for personal gain. or suffering from a conversion (somatoform) disorder. This is a complex, perplexing per·plex tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es 1. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make confusedly intricate; complicate. but crucial issue that the authors examine from an applied practice perspective. The article by Martz, Roessler and Livneh investigated a potentially important question related to the psychosocial rehabilitation of individuals with diabetes; do short-term psychological reactions to insulin reactions predict long-term adaptations to the disease. Some parallels were identified. While Tourette's syndrome Tou·rette's syndrome or Tou·rette syndrome n. A severe neurological disorder characterized by multiple facial and other body tics, usually beginning in childhood or adolescence and often accompanied by grunts and compulsive utterances, as of is a condition known to most rehabilitation professionals, rehabilitation practice and procedures related to this condition have received little attention. Dr. Hendren's investigation is an attempt to remedy this situation by providing practical, applied suggestions for working individuals who have this condition. Similarly, post-polio syndrome post-po·li·o syndrome n. A condition occurring most often in individuals who contracted severe cases of polio before age 10 and characterized by fatigue, exhaustion, muscle weakness, painful joints, and occasionally difficult breathing. is a chronic and complex process that affects a population who often thought they were "stable" related to the limitations of polio. This has not been the case for many individuals who had polio and this article by Gordon and Feldman examines the medical, psychosocial and vocational aspects of the changes and accommodations that may be needed. They also discuss suggestions for rehabilitation practice and services. The article by Patterson looked at Internet use by public vocational rehabilitation Noun 1. vocational rehabilitation - providing training in a specific trade with the aim of gaining employment rehabilitation - the restoration of someone to a useful place in society agencies. Interestingly, she found that while Internet and intranet use tended to increase job satisfaction and sense of belongness to the organization, counselors may not be using the applications as much as administration believes they are. The final article by Lemaire, Mallik and Stoll describes a model program designed to reach and rehabilitate re·ha·bil·i·tate v. 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education. 2. To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity. high-risk youth with learning and psychiatric disabilities. Data from the first year indicate initial success, but the authors suggest that much more research in this area is needed. I hope you will find the articles as interesting and informative as I did. I want to thank the authors for their contributions to the issue. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion