Relationship qualities and low perceived social self-efficacy might be associated with early adolescents’depression symptoms and with later gender differences in depression prevalence. Gender comparisons in the means, and associations with depression symptoms of self-rated intimate support, conflict, intimate support self-efficacy, and conflict management self-efficacy were examined for predominantly White community-recruited 12-year-olds (114 boys, 109 girls). Perceived low parental intimate support, high conflict with parents, and lower perceived self-efficacy (both types) were related to depression symptoms. Girls reported greater best friend intimate support and less conflict, greater self-efficacy (both types), and stronger conflict-depression associations than did boys. For boys, but not for girls, conflict management self-efficacy contributed unique variance to depression after intimate support and conflict were controlled. Incidentally, sons of fathers with more education reported more paternal intimate support than did sons of less educated fathers; daughters showed the opposite pattern, which generates questions for further research.

Combined homicide-suicides have been classified based on the psychopathology of the perpetrator and the nature of the relationship between perpetrator and victim(s). To further understand the nature of this tragic phenomenon and to test the validity and practicality of a previously suggested classification system, investigators systematically collected data on all combined homicide-suicide events that occurred in Galveston County, Texas over a continuous 18-year period (n = 20). The most common psychopathological finding for perpetrators was high serum alcohol levels that suggested intoxication. Most combined homicide-suicides fell into one of the relational categories and most of these, as predicted, were of the consortial type, possessive subtype. As expected, due to the small sample size, the less common types of combined homicide-suicide were not represented in this sample.

This report presents outcome data collected for a three-year period from a maximum-security forensic psychiatric program. Admission and discharge variables, restraint/seclusion, and client abuse/neglect data are presented from a one-year period that preceded the advent of the Behavior Management Treatment Program's (BMTP's) Social Learning Diagnostic Program to two years after implementing the Social Learning Diagnostic Program. Significant overall progress and improvement was observed in all variables analyzed after instituting a social learning program paradigm. This report provides a brief summary of the BMTP's Social Learning Diagnostic Program along with a discussion of the role played by Dangerousness Management Plans in the treatment of patients within the social learning milieu. Additionally the patient population served, and the rationale for implementation of a program based in social learning theory, are discussed.