Browsing by Author "Theron, Francois"

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    An exploratory study of the psychosocial needs of homosexual AIDS patients
    (1989) Karp, Licia Blyth; Theron, Francois
    The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is primarily a sexually transmitted disease. The majority of those infected in the First World are homosexual and bisexual men, and intravenous drug users. The study combined a literature review and a case example to explore psychosocial needs of homosexual AIDS patients with a view to presenting recommendations for mental health practitioners to help alleviate the psychosocial trauma of these patients and their significant others. The literature review focussed on the psychosocial experiences of homosexual AIDS patients; their losses, reactions of their significant others; their emotional reactions to medical treatment, and, psychosocial treatment issues and approaches. The case example was a twenty-nine- year old hospitalized homosexual male. Information was received from the patient's befriender, his lover and from the patient himself. The reactions and experiences of this patient were concomitant with many of those discussed in the literature review, namely: The patient suffered major losses: employment, income, house and household possessions as well as social status, with the primary psychosocial effect of loss of independence and control. The patient also experienced some isolation and rejection from some friends, family and hospital staff, and geographical isolation for a period of time from his lover and family. He displayed anger and denial - aspects of his personality which were evident prior to his diagnosis but exacerbated by his illness.
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    Marriage in the eighties : with particular regard to the prevalence and effect of brief or sustained infidelity and the challenge it poses for the clinical social worker
    (1987) Ress, Evelyn; Theron, Francois
    In the modern western world, infidelity or deviation from the monogamous sexually constrained 'till death do us part' marriage is often judged as unhappy, deviant or placing the marriage on the verge of divorce. Marriage areas for is a highly complex relationship, with multiple potential conflict. Contemporary marriage falls prey to dissatisfaction aAd stress far more than marriages of years gone by, where roles were traditionally more clearly defined and expectations were unchallenged. This paper serves to focus on the institution of marriage in western society and the changing face of marriage in contemporary society. Today there by married are many problems and difficulties experienced couples and not least of all, that of the extramarital affair. Treatment for the problem of infidelity proves an increasing challenge for clincians today. Methods and difficulties in this regard will be discussed. Five case studies from the writer's private practice case load will be presented to augment the preceding theoretical discussion. In describing the nature of the cases, highlights will be made of the salient variations in circumstances, treatment and outcome.
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    Permanency planning and long-term foster-care : a guideline for practice
    (1988) Scholtz, Megan Lynn; Theron, Francois
    Many children are unable to remain in the care of their biological families, and often the only solution is to commit them to long-term foster-care in order to ensure their emotional, physical and social well-being. Children in long-term foster-care in South Africa are subject to impermanence in their living arrangements. Long-term foster-care, in reality, is for an unlimited time-period, during which the biological family can at any time rehabilitate itself and petition the court for the return of the child. This is further exacerbated by childcare legislation which does not provide for legal guardianship in foster-care through termination of parental rights and reconstruction services to natural parents. At present, the move in childcare practice is to institute permanency planning philosophy and tennets for children placed in foster-care in order for them to experience stability and continuity of relationships and family life. The move to implement permanency planning in foster-care is new in South Africa and is not supported through South African research and legislative procedures. There is a definite need for the development of a guideline which will exclude natural parents from resuming the care of their placed child, thereby advocating foster care as the next option of permanency for a child, given the situation where adoption is not a feasible alternative. This guideline can hopefully be utilised to gather data motivating for legal guardianship in foster care, through termination of parental rights, thereby assuring the long-term foster child of permanency in his living arrangements.
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    The role of the clinical social worker in a treatment and rehabilitation programme for schizophrenic patients and their families
    (1988) Wessels, Margaretha J; Theron, Francois
    Continued study towards understanding schizophrenia and the impairments it can cause, is regarded as essential in the meaningful fulfilment of the educative and diagnostic contributions which the social worker can make in a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation programme (involving patients and their families). The first section of this descriptive dissertation focuses on aspects like terminology, definition, and the most recent diagnostic criteria, in an endeavour to contribute theoretically towards understanding the illness. The complexity of the diagnostic process is emphasized, and the recent revision of the criteria (1987) is seen as indicative of continuous efforts towards improved diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Previous studies, improved pharmacology and more sophisticated neurophysiological examining led to a change in focus with regard to aetiology and the development of the vulnerability-stress-coping-competence model which brought new hope with regard to outcome of treatment. Section Two highlights several interventions which the clinical social worker can undertake as psychotherapist, group and family therapist, as well as educator on primary, secondary and tertiary levels, from this model and within the psycho-educative perspective. The Neuro B programme, Stikland Hospital, Bellville, is described in section Three, as an example of a presently operating, comprehensive programme where these interventions can be holistically implemented. Particulars about 56 patients who have been involved in the programme are highlighted in Section Four, while Section Five deals with the opinions of former patients and their families concerning involvement in the programme - elicited by two sets of questionnaires. The final chapter focuses on a summary of the dissertation, conclusions and implications for practice.
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    Sekere aspekte van dwelmmisbruik onder jeugdiges in die Kaapse Skiereiland met verwysing na die voorkomende rol van SANRA en die geaffilieerde Dwelm Aksie Komitees
    (1987) Swart, Corrie Hendrien; Theron, Francois
    'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om die redes vir dwelmmisbruik onder jeugdiges na te vors. Dit blyk dat daar nie 'n eenvoudige verklaring is vir die verskynsel nie en dat vele faktore 'n rol speel. Hierdie faktore is verder in wisselwerking met mekaar. Daar word toenemend aandag gegee aan die voorkoms van die probleem onder jeugdiges. SANRA en die geaffilieerde Dwelm Aksie Komitees lewer insette ten opsigte van primere en sekondere voorkoming. Navorsing ten opsigte van die voorkoms van die probleem is nodig op plaaslike, sowel as nasionale vlak. Dwelmmisbruik is 'n verskynsel wat nie oor nag ontwikkel het nie en langtermyn gekoordineerde voorkomingspogings is nodig om dit effektief te bekamp.
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    Sexual stereotyping and role transition in the family
    (1988) Alberts, Anne-Louise; Theron, Francois
    The family in Western society is increasingly perceived as threatened by a myriad of socio-cultural changes, and statistics suggest that family breakdown is cause for major concern to clinical practitioners working with families. This study attempts to examine the issue of female role transition within the family with a view to understanding the dynamics of conflict and breakdown which are generated by departure from the female role stereotype. A cross-disciplinary review of the literature has sought to place the discussion of case-study material within a broad psycho-social context. The emphasis throughout is on the interplay between the complex macro variables and the intra-psychic functioning of individual clients. Five case histories are used to identify the etiological and diagnostic features which interact within the family as a sub-system. Concluding discussion offers a psychodynamic interpretation of the case material.