Psychological symptoms of counseling center clients.

Abstract

This study provides descriptive data concerning type and severity of psychological symptoms of counseling center clients. Of 1,928 university students counseled during a 1-year period, 1,589 (82.4%) completed the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) at the time of initial contact. Women (n = 1,004) reported more severe symptomatology than did men (« = 585). On the basis of adolescent norms, which suggested less psychopathology than did adult norms, at least one fourth of all clients obtained scores indicating the presence of a psychiatric disorder. Among clients seeking help for personal problems (n = 500 women and 236 men), more than one third showed signs of psychiatric illness. The data show the need for crisis intervention skills and psychiatric consultation services for university counselors.

Increasing Severity of Presenting Problems in College Counseling Centers: A Closer Look

“…It is interesting to note that the percentage of students considered to be psychologically disturbed in the Johnson et al (1989) study decreased to about one fourth of the sample when compared with adolescent nonpatient rather than adult norms. This finding provides additional support for the point made earlier in this article, that is, that certain types of problems can be viewed as more developmental rather than pathological in nature when age is accounted for.…”

“…Thus, there is research evidence to suggest that serious forms of psychopathology are not uncommon in counseling center clients. For example, in a sample of 1,589 students who entered counseling during a l-year period, Johnson et. al.…”

“…Early studies (e.g., Smith, Hansell, & English, 1963) as well as more recent ones (e.g., Johnson, Ellison, & Heikkinen, 1989) have shown that a substantial number of college students manifest diagnosable psychiatric disorders. But is there empirical evidence to show that more severe problems are on the rise in college counseling?…”

Changes in counseling center client problems across 13 years.

“…In addition, 6 -8 years is a relatively short time in which to look for long-term changes in client problems. Other researchers have found high overall scores in client distress at intake (Todd, Dean, & McKenna, 1997;Johnson, Ellison, & Heikkinen, 1989). Relatively high overall distress levels at intake may have differed from the therapists' perceptions of severity and client problems over the course of therapy.…”

Thinking Outside the Box: Psychological Needs of Art Students Compared With Traditional Students

“…In her literature review, Waddell (1998) found either no link or an unclear link between creativity and psychopathology in 20 of the 29 studies reviewed. Similarly, other studies have found that students at traditional colleges and universities also have distress scores that approach those of psychiatric outpatient clients (Gitlin & McGuff, 1995;Heppner et al, 1994;Johnson, Ellison, & Heikkinen, 1989), suggesting that the psychological distress of art-student counseling-center clients is no more severe than the distress of nonartist students seeking counseling. Despite similarities in reported psychological symptoms, the study did find that student artists experience more perceived stress than traditional students.…”