International Applied Military Psychology Symposium (IAMPS) 2013

Bern, Switzerland, May 27–31, 2013
This year's theme: preparing for future wars—the role of psychology

It is my great pleasure to invite you to join us at IAMPS 2013 to be held in Bern, Switzerland, May 27-31, 2013. The nature of armed conflict definitely has changed, and with it the nature of victory and military success. These tasks demand a modern soldier whose skills and competences go beyond the requirements that his or her colleague had to meet in times past. In particular, the significance of the human dimension in 21st-century warfare has increased, and it may be as decisive a factor in the success of contemporary military operations as kinetic based factors were in conflicts of the previous century. Accordingly, the role of psychology and psychologists, respectively, has gained significant importance. Therefore, the symposium will be a platform for presentations and discussions regarding the relevance of psychological knowledge and insights in current and future armed conflicts.

As the chairman of IAMPS 2013 I would be very much pleased if you could come to Switzerland this spring and contribute to an inspiring conference of high standing. Therefore, we cordially invite you to submit proposals for paper presentations and posters. Contributions from both scientists and practitioners are very welcome as well as contributions that connect a scientific and a practitioner perspective.

Please note the following deadlines:

• Submission of proposals for paper presentations and posters until April 30, 2013.
• Early registration and payment until March 15, 2013.
• Regular registration and payment from March 16, 2013, until May 20, 2013.
• On-site registration and payment from May 27, 2013, until May 28, 2013.

See the IAMPS website for registration and paper submissions.

Sincerely, 
Hubert Annen, PhD
Head of Military Psychology and Military Pedagogy Studies
Swiss Military Academy at ETH Zurich

Special issue on psychological responses to challenges faced by military personnel and their families

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice will publish a special issue on recent challenges, treatment, and practice issues related to military personnel and their families.

A growing number of military personnel and their families are reporting emotional problems resulting from deployment stress. Serious barriers to accessing quality mental health care for military personnel and their families are prevalent. Stigma and negative attitudes within the military about obtaining mental health treatment often prevent those in need of care from seeking it. Children of military families also suffer from the stressors associated with deployment.

We would especially welcome manuscripts addressing issues including, but not limited to, psychological assessment and interventions of military personnel and their social network; psychological and social challenges faced by military personnel and their families; posttraumatic stress disorder and other trauma issues and treatment; reintegration to family life, college, employment, and communities after deployment; relational and family issues and conflicts; and psychological stresses and problems with depression, suicide, and isolation and alcohol and other substance use and addictions.

Although manuscripts that place an emphasis on empirical research are especially encouraged, we also would welcome articles on these topics that place an emphasis on theoretical approaches as well as an examination of the extant literature in the field. Finally, descriptions of innovative approaches are also welcome. Regardless of the type of article, all articles for the special issue will be expected to have practice implications to the clinical setting. Manuscripts need to be submitted electronically through the manuscript submission portal at the journal's website.

Manuscripts should be sent to the attention of Connie S. Chan, PhD, associate editor. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2013.

APA 2013 Convention travel awards for early career professionals

The Committee on Early Career Psychologists is pleased to announce the travel award program for early career members from all areas of psychology (education, practice, public interest, and science) to attend the 2013 APA Annual Convention in Honolulu, July 31–Aug. 4, at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Twenty award recipients will receive $1,000 to be applied toward their 2013 APA Convention expenses. The program is designed to encourage attendance and increase representation of early career members at this year’s APA Convention.

Criteria for applying are as follows: an APA early career member (within seven years receipt of his or her doctorate) and a first-time convention attendee. Preference will be given to those whose primary work is in basic psychological science or those who will be presenting at the 2013 APA Convention. The submission package must include the following information:

1. Brief statement (maximum one page) about your interest in attending the convention and how you will use this award to support your attendance. Please highlight any significant achievements in your career as well as any leadership positions you have held as an early career psychologist (within APA or other related scholarly or professional organizations, such as state and local psychological associations) and indicate how you believe you would benefit from attending the convention. Also, please include in your statement if your primary work is in basic psychological science, if the 2013 convention will be your first APA convention, and if you will be receiving other funding to help cover your expenses.

2. If you are presenting at the 2013 APA Convention, please include an abstract of your presentation along with the title and the names of co-presenters.

3. Include your curriculum vitae (the year you were awarded a doctorate in psychology should be clearly stated).

Electronic submission instructions: Please submit all materials in a single Word document. Put your name and the name of the award in the subject line (e.g., Jane Smith, Early Career Travel Award). The deadline for submission of materials is March 1, 2013, 11:59 p.m. (EST). Email all materials to Sonja Wiggins. Award winners will be notified in April 2013 and will be acknowledged during the Early Career Social Hour sponsored by the Committee on Early Career Psychologists at the APA Convention on Friday, Aug. 2, 2013.

Virtual reality and biofeedback to improve behavioral health clinical research

Approved for continuing education in psychology (CEP) credit

The APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology approved a preconvention workshop sponsored by Div. 19. The title of this workshop is “Virtual Reality and Biofeedback to Improve Behavioral Health Clinical Research,” and it will be presented by Melba C. Stetz, PhD, Raymond A. Folen, PhD, Chelsea L. Sousa, MS, and Chris M. Enomoto, MBA, all from the Department of Psychology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu. This preconvention workshop will be held on Tuesday, July 30, in Honolulu.

Psychologists must not only choose the right psychological techniques but also the right technology in help their clients. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a technique often employed by psychologists to help clients manage their stressors. Similarly, virtual reality (VR) can help the CBT’s imagery process by assisting in the reproduction of images (e.g., beach scene or a stressor) in a gradual manner while in a controlled environment. The addition of biofeedback systems to address and manage physiological reactions (e.g., respiration, heart rate variability) has also proven efficacy and is well-received by many clients. Drawing from the fields of psychology, traditional/nontraditional medicine, and engineering and related fields, this program aims to share with the audience some of the history, current research, and practice knowledge that inform the applications of technology in psychological settings.

Learning objectives:

1. To share highlights in the history of psychological research studies that incorporate technology.
2. To identify the technology (hardware systems and software programs) that is used the most during psychological sessions.
3. To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the integration of technology in psychological research and clinical sessions.
4. To review ethical considerations and potential adverse events related to this modality (e.g., cybersickness).

Graduate students—apply now for an American Psychological Association (APA) Convention student travel award

The APA Science Directorate is pleased to sponsor its annual travel award competition for graduate students of psychology who will present research at the APA Convention. This year’s convention will be held July 31–Aug. 4, in Honolulu.

Graduate students who are the first author of a poster or talk are eligible to apply for one of this year’s grants of $300 each. Applicants should submit an application form, cover letter, research summary, Curriculum Vitae, and paper/poster acceptance notice.

The deadline for applications to arrive at APA is April 1.

Applications must be mailed. Up to three students from each department of psychology in the United States and Canada may submit applications. If more than three students from a department wish to apply for travel awards, the department must perform an initial screening and forward only three applications. Students enrolled at universities outside of the United States or Canada who will travel to the APA Convention are eligible to apply for grants from the APA International Office but may not apply for this student travel award.
 
For more information about the APA Convention Student Travel Awards, please visit the awards information page or email the Science Directorate.

APA seeks applicants for graduate student public interest policy internships for 2013–14

APA’s Public Interest Government Relations Office (PI-GRO) is seeking two graduate student interns for the 2013–14 academic year. Graduate student interns will gain firsthand knowledge of the ways in which psychological research can inform public policy and the roles psychology can play in its formulation and implementation. The graduate student intern will spend one year working with PI-GRO staff to influence legislative and regulatory activities impacting populations and issues, such as aging; children, youths, and families; disabilities; ethnic minorities; individuals with HIV/AIDS; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; military, veterans and their families; socioeconomic status; and women; as well as social concerns (e.g., media; trauma, violence and abuse). The intern’s activities include participating in legislative and advocacy work, such as assisting in the preparation of testimony and briefing papers and attending congressional hearings and coalition meetings. Applications are due on March 22, 2013.

For more information on the internship and application materials, please visit the public policy internship page.

Call for nominations

The Nominations and Elections Committee for the Society for Military Psychology is actively soliciting nominations for the 2013 election for (a) president-elect, (b) treasurer, (c) secretary, and (d) member-at-large.

PRESIDENT ELECT—The president-elect chairs the Nominations and Elections Committee and oversees the nomination and election process for elected positions within the Executive Committee, and he/she fulfills the duties of the president in the case of absence, death, incapacity, or resignation. The term of the president-elect shall be one year, after which he/she shall serve one year as president and 1 year as immediate past president.

TREASURER—The treasurer has custody of all funds and properties of the division, collects any special dues or assessments that may be voted in accordance with the bylaws, makes disbursements as authorized by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee, and serves as a member of the Executive Committee for a period of three years.

SECRETARY—The secretary is responsible for keeping records of all meetings of the division, issuing calls and notices of meetings and of nominations of officers, and corresponding with individuals who request information about the division and its functions; he/she serves as a member of the Executive Committee for a period of three years.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE—Members-at-large shall represent constituents within the division, act as spokespersons on behalf of these constituents, and perform such duties as may properly be assigned to them by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee of the division; he/she serves as a member of the Executive Committee for a period of three years.

In addition to the duties briefly described above, persons elected to these positions are expected to attend Executive Committee meetings. The Executive Committee meets each year during the APA Annual Convention. A second Executive Committee meeting is typically held in early March; this midyear meeting has usually been held in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Interested individuals should send nominations via email to the chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee, Kathryn Lindsey, no later than March 15, 2013. Self-nominations are welcomed! 

Tripler’s department of psychology gets award for customer satisfaction

The Army Provider Level Satisfaction Survey (APLSS) award is a commanding general-initiated customer service initiative. Awards are crystal apples to display in clinics. Three crystal apples are presented quarterly to clinics with the highest combined patient satisfaction scores on the following two survey questions (size based on volume of return):
1. Q13—Courtesy and helpfulness of the staff during this visit.
2. Q15—Cleanliness of the facility you visited.

The winners for 1st Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 (October–December 2012) were as follows:
1. Dermatology (large clinic).
2. Pulmonary (medium clinic).
3. Psychology (small clinic).

The award reads: “Psychology Clinic, OTSG AMEDD Provider Satisfaction OCT–DEC 2012, Staff Courtesy, Helpfulness and Cleanliness of the Facility.”

In the photo above, General Dennis Doyle, commanding general of the Tripler Army Medical Center, gave this award to the Department of Psychology’s representatives: LTC Melba C. Stetz, PhD (Chief, Research Psychology) and Raymond A. Folen, PhD (chief, Department of Psychology).

 

Military Psychology is now published by APA

Ms. Sokol-Chang of the APA Journals Department recently confirmed that Military Psychology is now published by APA! Published bimonthly, the journal publishes behavioral science research articles having military applications in the areas of clinical and health psychology, training and human factors, manpower and personnel, social and organizational systems, and testing and measurement. Let’s send our manuscripts to Dr. Armando X. Estrada (Editor).

Div. 19 members will continue to receive the journal as part of their membership. Articles published in Military Psychology will also be available through PsycARTICLES, the most used full-text database in psychology and one of the most popular databases in all scholarly disciplines and fields. PsycARTICLES is available to a global audience of nearly 3,200 institutions and 60 million potential users.

All new and previously published Military Psychology issues are available online to subscribers. Prospectie contributors and subscribers can learn more by visiting the same website.

We look forward to your submissions!