NCJ Number
48410
Date Published
Unknown
Length
261 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY REVIEWS AND COMPARES THE VARIOUS THEORIES OF CRISIS INTERVENTION, EXAMINES THEIR USE IN SELECTED PROBLEMS, AND DEVELOPS A GENERAL CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK. IT FINDS THAT MUCH THEORY HAS NEVER BEEN WELL TESTED.
Abstract
THE FIRST PART OF THIS STUDY IS A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON THE VARIOUS THEORIES THROUGH DECEMBER 1972. A SERIES OF CHAPTERS EXAMINES THE THEORIES OF: ERICH LINDEMANN AND GERALD CAPLAN, LYDIA RAPOPORT, HAROLD J. PARAD, GERALD F. JACOBSEN, DONNA C. AGUILERA, AND A NUMBER OF LESSER KNOWN WRITERS. FOR EACH THEORY THE PAPER DISCUSSES THE CRISIS CONCEPTUALIZATION, THE TREATMENT CONCEPTUALIZATION, THE RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER THEORIES, EMPIRICAL VALIDATION, AND UNRESOLVED ISSUES AND PROBLEMS. THE SECOND PART OF THE STUDY EXAMINES PRACTICAL AREAS OF CRISIS INTERVENTION, INCLUDING THE SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FAMILY SERVICES, HOSPITALS, SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINES, PASTORAL INTERVENTION, SCHOOL CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND MANAGERIAL CRISIS INTERVENTION. A COMPARISON OF CRISIS INTERVENTION AND PLANNED SHORT-TERM TREATMENT (TASK-CENTERED CASEWORK) FINDS THAT SHORT-TERM TREATMENT CAN BE ADAPTED TO MORE SITUATIONS THAN CAN CRISIS INTERVENTION BUT THAT WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING A CRISIS REACTION, CRISIS INTERVENTION IS THE TREATMENT OF CHOICE. THE STUDY FINDS THAT MOST CRISIS PRACTITIONERS ARE VAGUE IN THEIR CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF TREATMENT MODELS AND THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS FIELD IS FOR THEORISTS AND PRACTITIONERS TO EXAMINE MORE CLOSELY THE PROCESS FROM INITIAL CONTACT THROUGH TERMINATION. AS THIS REFINEMENT TAKES PLACE, CRISIS INTERVENTION WILL MORE READILY BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE TREATMENT OF CHOICE IN APPROPRIATE SITUATIONS. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)