Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services
Vol. 47 No. 7 July 2009
Loss of a Companion Animal: Understanding and Helping the Bereaved
Anne Durkin, PhD, RN
ABSTRACT
Pet owners may face numerous animal losses in a lifetime. Grief following
pet loss is often misunderstood and devalued. Nurses are likely to encounter
patients and families mourning the loss of a companion animal. This article
outlines the grief process and offers practical suggestions for assisting those
who are bereaved.
AUTHOR
Dr. Durkin is Associate Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University, Hamden,
Connecticut.
The author discloses that she has no significant financial interests in any
product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity,
including research support.
The author gratefully acknowledges Wallace Sife, PhD, and John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., for granting permission to include a summarized version of Dr.
Sife’s published stages of grief in this article. The author also
acknowledges her beloved canine companion, Meghan (the Shetland Sheepdog
pictured on page 26). The grief that followed Meghan’s death inspired the
writing of this article.
Address correspondence to Anne Durkin, PhD, RN, Associate Professor of
Nursing, Quinnipiac University, EC-NRS, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT
06518; e-mail: anne.durkin@quinnipiac.edu.
doi:10.3928/02793695-20090527-02
Computer-Assisted CBT for Depression and Anxiety: Increasing Accessibility
to Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment
Cynthia Stuhlmiller, DNSc, MS, RN; and Barry Tolchard, PhD, MS, RN
ABSTRACT
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective nonpharmacological
treatment for almost all mental disorders, especially anxiety and depression.
The treatment is time limited, encourages self-help skills, is problem focused,
is inductive, and requires that individuals develop and practice skills in
their own environment through homework. However, most of those with mental
health issues are unable to seek help because of factors related to treatment
availability, accessibility, and cost. CBT is well suited to computerization
and is easy to teach to nurses. In this article we describe outcome studies of
computer-assisted CBT (cCBT), outline the current technologies available,
discuss concerns and resistance associated with computerized therapy, and
consider the role of nurses in using cCBT.
AUTHORS
Dr. Stuhlmiller is Professor, School of Social Work, and Affiliate Graduate
Faculty, School of Medicine, Office of Public Health Studies, University of
Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Dr. Tolchard is Senior Lecturer, University
of Essex, School of Health and Human Sciences, Colchester, United Kingdom.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in
any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this
activity, including research support.
The authors acknowledge Isaac M. Marks, Emeritus Professor, Institute of
Psychiatry, King’s College London, for his ongoing support and guidance in
extending his pioneering work.
Address correspondence to Cynthia Stuhlmiller, DNSc, MS, RN, Professor,
School of Social Work, and Affiliate Graduate Faculty, School of Medicine,
Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii Manoa, 1960 East-West
Road, Biomed D204, Honolulu, HI 96822; e-mail: cstu@hawaii.edu.
doi:10.3928/02793695-20090527-01
Consumer-Operated Self-Help Centers: Environment, Empowerment, and
Satisfaction
P>Margaret Swarbrick, PhD, OTR, CPRP; Lisa T. Schmidt, PhD; and Carlos W.
Pratt, PhD, CPRP
ABSTRACT
Consumer-operated self-help centers were designed to provide social
environments that promote participant empowerment and satisfaction. This
exploratory, descriptive study examined how variance in empowerment and
satisfaction scores could be explained by participants’ perceptions of the
social environment factors (relationship, personal growth, and systems
maintenance and change) and quantity of participation. Participants (N =
144) involved in consumer-operated self-help centers completed a four-part,
161-item survey designed to capture perceptions of satisfaction, empowerment,
social environment factors, quantity of center participation, and demographic
data. Significant relationships were found between participant satisfaction and
the three social environment factors. Findings also indicated that participant
empowerment was related to quantity of self-help center involvement. From these
exploratory analyses, recommendations are made on how to improve consumer-run
self-help center operations.
AUTHORS
Dr. Swarbrick is Assistant Professor, University of Medicine and Dentistry
of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, Department of Psychiatric
Rehabilitation, Newark, and Director, Collaborative Support Programs of New
Jersey, Institute for Wellness and Recovery Initiatives, Freehold, New Jersey;
Dr. Schmidt is Associate Director and Clinical Assistant Professor, Drexel
University, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Behavioral Health
Counseling, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Dr. Pratt is Professor and Director
of Graduate Education in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, Department of
Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, Scotch Plains, New
Jersey.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in
any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this
activity, including research support.
Address correspondence to Margaret Swarbrick, PhD, OTR, CPRP, Director,
Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Institute for Wellness and
Recovery Initiatives, 8 Spring Street, Freehold, NJ 07728; e-mail:
pswarbrick@cspnj.org.
doi:10.3928/02793695-20090527-03
