Table 3

Responses to Survey Questions

Decision to terminate mother's parental rights
    Parental rights should not be terminated196 (65.3)
    Parental rights should be terminated.104 (34.7)
Should child be returned to her mother's home?
    She should be returned to her mother's home at this time60 (30.8)
    She should not be returned to her mother's home at this time135 (69.2)
Likelihood the child has a psychiatric disorder
    Unlikely100 (41.2)
    Likely143 (58.9)
Causal attribution for the child's psychiatric condition:
    The way the person was raised
        Unlikely78 (26.1)
        Likely221 (73.9)
    Stressful circumstances in the person's life
        Unlikely22 (7.3)
        Likely278 (92.7)
    A chemical imbalance in the brain
        Unlikely120 (40.1)
        Likely179 (59.9)
    A genetic or inherited problem
        Unlikely105 (35.4)
        Likely192 (64.7)
    The person's own bad character
        Unlikely213 (71.5)
        Likely85 (28.5)
Interventions child should undergo:
    Go to a general medical doctor
        No165 (55.4)
        Yes133 (44.6)
    Go to a psychiatrist
        No141 (47.3)
        Yes157 (52.7)
    Go to a therapist or counselor
        No54 (18.1)
        Yes245 (81.9)
    Be evaluated for prescription medication
        No182 (60.9)
        Yes117 (39.1)
    Be evaluated for admission to a mental hospital
        No271 (91.6)
        Yes25 (8.5)
Mental health treatment will improve situation
    Unlikely57 (19.1)
    Likely242 (80.9)
  • Data are presented as n (%). N = 300 subjects.