The emergence of client-focused research has led to substantial change in the field of outcome assessment. Using the client's clinical characteristics to determine expected outcome, client monitoring assists clinicians in assessing the current treatment plan and client progress. The methodology has been shown to be effective in outpatient samples, by implementing change in real time for the benefit of the individual (Lambert, Harmon, Slade, Whipple, & Hawkins, 2005). Accordingly, the framework is an appropriate and important addition to the assessment of clinical practice.

Dissociative reactions during and subsequent to traumatic events are theorised to result in memory deficits for trauma-related information. This study investigated the interaction between induced amnesia and dissociative reactions. Participants (N = 29) were presented with a word list, a series of disfigured or neutral faces and a second word list, followed by free recall and recognition tasks. Participants presented with disfigured faces recalled fewer words from the postimage list in the free recall task than those presented with neutral faces; however, there were no between-group differences for recognition. No relationship was observed between dissociative tendencies and memory performance. Trait dissociation was unrelated to induced amnesia effects. Findings are interpreted in terms of impaired consolidation of information following encoding of distressing information. Implications of the results for the clinical management of traumatized individuals are considered.

In DSM-IV, problem gambling is associated with symptoms such as escape, denial, and chasing. However, these symptoms could actually be underlying coping strategies that contribute to the problems associated with gambling behaviour. To address relationships between coping strategies and gambling problems, 65 participants (37 males and 28 females) with a mean age of 37 completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and questionnaires addressing coping strategies, mood states, and dissociative experiences. Specific subscales addressing coping strategies relevant to DSM-IV symptoms were examined, namely Distancing, Escape-Avoidance and Confrontative Coping. Although fantasy and denial feature in the behaviours of problem gamblers, dissociative tendencies were only indirectly linked to problem gambling status. Instead, problem gambling status was related to depression and greater tendencies towards Confrontative Coping and Distancing. The present data demonstrates several distinct factors associated with gambling problems and suggests confrontation could have a role in problem gambling.

This study focuses on examining the efficacy of dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT) on female clients who meet the criteria of borderline personality disorder (BPD) within a community setting. A clinical sample of 11 women with BPD was provided with a 6-month DBT program that was collaboratively developed and delivered by Logan Women's Health service and Logan Central Adult Mental Health. Results indicate that DBT is an effective treatment for parasuicidal behaviour and decreased the frequency of medically severe suicide attempts. In addition, the duration of telephone contact, face-to-face contact and number and duration of hospital admissions decreased during the DBT program. The participants' psychological, social and occupational functioning improved. Of significance, depression levels also decreased on completion of the program. Future studies would benefit from a larger sample and a control group. This study demonstrates that DBT is an effective treatment for BPD clients within an Australian community setting and has many clinical benefits.

A within-participant multiple baseline experiment evaluated effects of in-home neurobehavioural interventions on functional behaviour of 3 persons with brain injury, and their spouses' burden of care. The 6-week individualised interventions included in-home and telephone consultations. Measures consisted of functional behaviour of the injured persons, spouses' burden of care using the QRS-SF at preand postintervention and at 1 month follow-up, and social validity. Results show interventions were efficacious in improving functional behaviour, but effects on burden of care and social validity were mixed. One caregiver who presented with high levels of burden at preintervention reported reduced burden, while the other 2 who presented with low to moderate burden reported no changes.