bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Processing of phobic stimuli
Authors: Watts Fraser N. , Trezise Lorna , Sharrock Robert
Published: July 2011

The hypothesis tested in the present experiments is that phobics show poor focused attention for phobic stimuli. A test of the hypothesis was undertaken using spider phobics' performance in a recognition memory task involving dead spiders as an index of processing. The first experiment confirmed the hypothesis of poorer processing of spider stimuli in phobics, but only for big spiders on a post hoc division of spider stimuli. These were interpreted as being the more arousing. There was also a tendency for desensitization to improve spider recognition. The second experiment investigated recognition memory under ‘ ordinary’ and ‘ elaborated’ processing conditions, but the hypothesis of poorer spider recognition in phobics was confirmed only in a post hoc correlational analysis for the elaborated processing condition. The hypothesis is related to findings that long‐term benefit from exposure treatments is facilitated by focused attention.
Therapist's and client's perceptions in behaviour therapy: The development and cross‐cultural analysis of an assessment instrument
Authors: Bennun Ian , Hahlweg Kurt , Schindler Ludwig , Langlotz Maren
Published: July 2011

This paper describes the use of a scale to assess the therapist's perception of the client and the client's perception of the therapist within behaviour therapy. A factor analysis revealed specific therapist and client factors which describe aspects of each participant's activity within sessions. The results suggest that the therapist's interpersonal manner is important in treatment and that attention should be given to this in training behaviour therapists.
The Pain Behaviour Checklist: Factor analysis and validation
Authors: Anciano Damien
Published: July 2011

A factor analysis was performed on Philips & Hunter's (1981) Pain Behaviour Checklist for headache sufferers. Three intuitively meaningful factors emerged. All were similarly associated with overall intensity; pain severity does not determine type of pain behaviour. Differences in pain behaviour emerged between migraine and tension headache groups.
Reversals, delinquency and disruption
Authors: Bowers A. J.
Published: July 2011

The tendency to operate in the telic rather than the paratelic state was examined in three groups of adolescent boys. Those in the first group had a record of criminal behaviour, the second group consisted of subjects whose school behaviour was regarded by teachers as disruptive and a third group acted as controls. Scores and subscores on the Telic Dominance Scale were analysed, revealing a generally greater tendency for the delinquent group to operate in the paratelic state, whilst disruptive subjects themselves showed lower telic dominance than the controls. The implications of these results for popular explanation as well as intervention are discussed.
Calculating reliability measures for ordinal data
Authors: Gamsu C. V.
Published: July 2011

Establishing the reliability of measures taken by judges is important in both clinical and research work. Calculating the statistic of choice, the kappa coefficient, unfortunately is not a particularly quick and simple procedure. Two much‐needed practical tools have been developed to overcome these difficulties: a comprehensive and easily understood guide to the manual calculation of the most complex form of the kappa coefficient, weighted kappa for ordinal data, has been written; and a computer program to run under CP/M, PC‐DOS and MS‐DOS has been developed. With simple modification the program will also run on a Sinclair Spectrum home computer.
A controlled trial of treatments for generalized anxiety
Authors: Lindsay William R. , Gamsu Charlotte V. , McLaughlin Eamon , Hood Eileen M. , Espie Colin A.
Published: July 2011

Treatments for chronic anxiety have received considerable interest recently. Firstly, there is a body of research which has shown problems of dependence and habituation in the long‐term use of anti‐anxiety drugs. A second development is that of psychological treatments for anxiety. Because of the problems involved in the use of benzodiazepines, it is important to determine whether or not psychological treatments are a reasonable alternative when treating chronic anxiety. This study was designed to test the relative effectiveness of cognitive‐behavioural therapy, anxiety management training and treatment by benzodiazepines against a waiting list control. Measures were taken on both the process and outcome of treatment. The most immediate and greatest improvements in anxiety were seen in the group receiving drugs. However, these improvements reduced as the trial progressed and were minimal at the end of therapy. Both psychological treatment groups improved as the trial progressed with the most significant and consistent changes seen in the cognitive–behaviour therapy group. However, at follow‐up there was no difference between the two groups receiving psychological treatments. Because of their lack of sustained improvement, over half of the group receiving drugs refused to wait without treatment until the follow‐up assessment.
Client—therapist congruence of expectations over the course of therapy
Authors: Benbenishty Rami , Schul Yaacov
Published: July 2011

The study explores the congruence in role expectations of therapists and clients, and tests whether expectations tend to get similar over the course of therapy. Similarity in expectations was examined both on the group level (therapists vs. clients) and on the dyad level. Role expectations of therapists and clients in a university counselling centre in Israel were compared. Two subsamples were studied: 66 therapy sessions which were first meetings, and 81 sessions at various points over the course of therapy (median = 9 months in therapy). Both therapists and clients in therapy dyads filled in the ‘ expectation part’ of the Role Expectation and Preference Questionnaire’ to describe their role expectations regarding the approaching session. The main findings were that there were discrepancies in expectations between therapists and clients, especially with regard to therapists' behaviours. There was no increase in similarity of expectations over the course of therapy. The similarity on the dyad level, on the other hand, was low in first sessions but became higher in subsequent ones. The implications for pre‐therapy training and for future research are discussed.
Attentional resources and hemispheric functional asymmetry in schizophrenia
Authors: George Leonard , Neufeld Richard W. J.
Published: July 2011

Inconsistent findings within certain areas of schizophrenia research — processing of verbal and pictorial stimuli, and hemispheric functional asymmetry – suggest the importance of examining the attentional resources associated with the cerebral hemispheres among schizophrenics. A cognitive task battery was developed which assessed the functioning of the left and right hemispheres under varying attentional loads. This battery was administered to paranoid and non‐paranoid schizophrenics, and three control groups. Error rate and response latencies were monitored. It was found that the schizophrenics, particularly the non‐paranoids, displayed evidence of a generalized decrease in available resources across attentional pools. In addition, response latencies were indicative of a complex interaction involving loads and visual field of stimulus presentation, which differed across schizophrenic subtypes. These lateralized effects among the schizophrenics did not interact with the differential sensitivity of the hemispheres to stimulus characteristics.
Expectancy and outcome in prescriptive vs. exploratory psychotherapy
Authors: Morrison Leslie A. , Shapiro David A.
Published: July 2011

Client ratings of the credibility of prescriptive and exploratory therapies were compared, and correlated with clinical improvement. Both expectancies and outcomes favoured prescriptive therapy in the first, but not the second, period of a cross‐over design, and modest correlations were obtained between credibility and improvement. Regression analysis suggested that the impact of expectancy on outcome was secondary to the treatment effect rather than its cause.
Performance of normal adults on the Matching Familiar Figures Test
Authors: van den Broek M. D. , Bradshaw C. M. , Szabadi E.
Published: July 2011

Seventy‐seven subjects underwent the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Mean latency to the first response (L) and square‐root‐transformed error score (T) on the MFFT were normally distributed in the sample. T was correlated positively with age and negatively with IQ; L was not significantly correlated with either. Orthogonal ‘ impulsiveness’ (I) and ‘ efficiency’ (E) indices were derived from the standard scores for L (zL) and T (zT) using the formulae I = zT – zE, and E = – (zT + zL). The interpretation of I and E, and the potential usefulness of the MFFT as a neuropsychological test, are discussed.
The Rust Inventory of Schizoid Cognitions (RISC): A psychometric measure of psychoticism in the normal population
Authors: Rust John
Published: July 2011

The Rust Inventory of Schizoid Cognitions (RISC) is a new, psychometrically constructed, cognitively based, short questionnaire of psychoticism. It differs from previous scales in having been developed and standardized with special attention to normal distribution in the general population, using cognitive theory to generate the relevant test specification. The scale has good reliability and validity, and can clearly discriminate acute schizophrenics from normals. Although containing no obviously extreme items, its cumulative effect may be used to assess the prevalence of bizarre and eccentric thought patterns in psychiatric patients, and as an estimate of psychotic risk in the general population.
Hysteria: Its nature and explanation
Authors: Miller Edgar
Published: July 2011

Hysteria is a concept that has led to much confusion and controversy. It is argued that a phenomenon exists which needs to be explained. The main contemporary approaches to hysteria are considered and all are shown to have serious weaknesses. It is argued that the illness behaviour/sick role model does have at least heuristic value in that it leads to asking a rather different set of questions about hysteria which should prove more amenable to experimental investigation. It also avoids the logical difficulties inherent in most of the alternative theories.
Return of fear: Perceived skill and heart‐rate responsivity
Authors: Craske M. G. , Rachman S. J.
Published: July 2011

The hypothesis that high heart rate and low perceived skill would be associated with greater return of fear than low heart rate and high perceived skill was investigated in a group of 63 anxious musical performers. Musicians were taught progressive muscle relaxation and attention‐focusing skills over the course of four weekly sessions. Return of subjective fear was assessed between training programme sessions and at a three‐month follow‐up assessment. Performance quality ratings served as the behavioural measure, anticipatory heart rate as the physiological measure, and subjective units of distress scales as the subjective measure.

Four classification groups (high heart rate, low perceived skill; high heart rate, high perceived skill; low heart rate, low perceived skill; and low heart rate, high perceived skill) were formed on the basis of median splits of heart rate and perceived skill pre‐assessment levels. Each group demonstrated subjective fear reduction, while heart rate reduced in the high heart‐rate subjects, and performance quality improved overall at post‐assessment. Follow‐up return of fear was apparent in high heart‐rate subjects, regardless of their perceived skill status. High heart‐rate subjects reported more anxious thoughts than did low heart‐rate subjects. Perceived skill was not clearly associated with return of fear. Post‐hoc comparisons indicated that subjects who demonstrated follow‐up return of fear had higher heart rate, lower perceived skill, more anxious thoughts, less performance skill and fewer performances over the follow‐up interval than subjects who did not demonstrate a return of fear. However, initial heart rate was the only significant predictor of follow‐up fear levels.
The development of a comprehensive headache diary ‐ verbal descriptor scales
Authors: Anciano Damien
Published: July 2011

A headache diary was developed to allow the ongoing assessment of subjective and behavioural components of headache pain. A modified version of Philips & Hunter's (1981) pain behaviour checklist which assesses three types of pain behaviour was incorporated for the latter. A scale based on pain descriptors was developed for the subjective component. This scale was factor analysed to reveal five aspects of headache pain, two reactive and three sensory. When the descriptors were scaled it was found that the amount of pain represented by some words was significantly greater in headache than non‐headache subjects. Within each descriptor factor, the words do not appear to vary in intensity, with the exception of one reactive factor which appears to reflect overall evaluation of pain. Internal validity of the diary was investigated showing distinctive patterns of association between the subjective factors, pain behaviour, and pain intensity. External validity was assessed by the use of the diary in an intervention study and in delineating differences between migraine and tension headache groups.
Dependency, self‐criticism and depressive attributional style
Authors: Brewin Chris R. , Furnham Adrian
Published: July 2011

It has been proposed that dependency and self‐criticism are independent forms of depressive experience. This study was designed to investigate whether one or both experiences are associated with a depressive attributional style. Internal and global attributions for hypothetical negative outcomes were found to be associated with both dependency and self‐criticism, but neither of these aspects of depression were related to attributions for positive outcomes.
The Parental Bonding Instrument: Factorial structure
Authors: Kazarian Shahe S. , Baker Brian , Helmes Edward
Published: July 2011

The Parental Bonding Instrument was administered to 49 schizophrenic out‐patients attending a depot injection clinic. Subjects were instructed to rate each of their parents as they remembered them in their first 16 years. Principal components analyses followed by orthogonal varimax rotations were performed separately for mothers and fathers. The results suggested that the instrument is measuring two dimensions of parental characteristics; namely, care and overprotection. The findings lend further support to the internal structure of the instrument. The implications of the results for the prediction of relapse in schizophrenics and the expressed emotion construct are discussed.
Purpose in Life Test assessment using latent variable methods
Authors: Harlow Lisa L. , Newcomb Michael D. , Bentler P. M.
Published: July 2011

A psychometric assessment was conducted on a slightly revised version of the Purpose in Life Test (PIL‐R). Factor analyses revealed a large general factor plus four primary factors comprising lack of purpose in life, positive sense of purpose, motivation for meaning, and existential confusion. Validity models showed that the PIL‐R was positively related to a construct of happiness and was negatively related to suicidality and meaninglessness. Reliability estimates ranged from 0·78 to 0·86. The revised version can be presented compactly and may be less confusing to subjects than the original PIL.
Social adjustment and interaction after severe head injury: II. Rationale and bases for intervention
Authors: Johnson David A. , Newton Annette
Published: July 2011

Social anxiety, social performance and self‐esteem are suggested to be important factors in the social adjustment of severely head‐injured patients. The present study attempted to remediate some of these deficits in social interaction and adjustment by adopting theoretical models of the development of self‐understanding, and of the general process of recovery from head injury, together with the application of existing methodology from social skills training. Reassessment after one year of group treatment did not show any statistically significant results, but some important individual changes in social performance and social anxiety were found. Reasons for the apparent failure to change are discussed, with recommendations for more intensive treatment and refinement of measures.
Does the National Adult Reading Test hold in dementia?
Authors: O'Carroll R. E. , Baikie E. M. , Whittick J. E.
Published: July 2011

Thirty elderly subjects with a clinical diagnosis of dementia were assessed using a neuropsychological test battery and were retested one year later. No significant deterioration in performance on the National Adult Reading Test (NART) was observed. A significant deterioration was noted in performance on the Mill Hill Vocabulary Scale synonym section (MHVS). Expected significant decrements in Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly (CAPE) Information/Orientation and Physical disability scales were observed. The data provide supportive evidence for the view that performance on the NART remains relatively unaffected by the dementing process.
The hopelessness theory of depression: Attributional aspects
Authors: Alloy Lauren B. , Abramson Lyn Y. , Metalsky Gerald I. , Hartlage Shirley
Published: July 2011

In this article, we clarify, expand and revise the basic postulates of the hopelessness theory of depression (Abramson, Alloy & Metalsky, 1988a; Abramson, Metalsky & Alloy, 1987, 1988b; previously referred to as the reformulated helplessness theory of depression: Abramson, Seligman & Teasdale, 1978) and place the theory more explicitly in the context of work in descriptive psychiatry about the heterogeneity among the depressive disorders. We suggest that the hopelessness theory hypothesizes the existence in nature of an, as yet, unidentified subtype of depression’‐ ‘hopelessness depression’ ‐ defined, in part, by its cause. We then give a critique of work conducted to test the hopelessness theory and explicate the limitations in research strategy associated with this line of work. Our critique includes a logical analysis that deduces the conceptual and methodological inadequacies of the research strategies used to test the theory. Finally, we suggest more adequate research strategies for testing the hopelessness theory and discuss conceptual and assessment issues that will arise in conducting such tests with special emphasis on attributional styles.
Causal attributions of doctor and patients in a diabetes clinic
Authors: Gillespie C. R. , Bradley C.
Published: July 2011

This study investigated the level of congruence in causal attributions and diabetes‐specific perceived control between doctor and patients during routine diabetes clinic consultations. The effectiveness of a strategy for improving the congruence of doctor and patients' attributions was examined. Fifty‐four patients with poorly controlled insulin requiring diabetes mellitus were assigned to one of three forms of consultation: (1) routine consultation, (2) a consultation where doctor and patient explicitly negotiated and agreed the nature of the problem(s) to be discussed, (3) consultation as in (2) but doctor and patient negotiated and agreed not only the problems but also their causal attributions for the problems discussed. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that the experimental manipulations were successful in improving problem and attribution congruence across the groups. Predicted mismatches in perceived control between doctor and patient in Group I were demonstrated, and, as expected, were reduced in Groups II and III. The clinical implications of differing levels of congruence in attributions and perceived control were considered in analyses of glycaemic control and patients' satisfaction with their consultation.
Causal beliefs amongst families in therapy: Attributions at the group level
Authors: Munton Anthony G. , Antaki Charles
Published: July 2011

Whereas attribution has traditionally been regarded as an individual process, we argue that attributions can also be located at a group level. A study of the causal beliefs of 10 families undergoing family therapy is reported, which shows that attributional change can be identified as a family as well as an individual process. Families considered not to have ‘changed’ following therapy differed from the ‘changing’ families in attributing negative outcomes to more stable causes, but were similar in their increased use of internal attributions for other people's actions. This pattern is interpreted within family systems theory.
Client perceptions of significant events in prescriptive and exploratory periods of individual therapy
Authors: Llewelyn Susan P. , Elliott Robert , Shapiro David A. , Hardy Gillian , Firth‐Cozens Jenny
Published: July 2011

This study compared the impact of helpful and hindering events, as perceived by 40 clients, in two forms of psychotherapy: an exploratory, relationship‐oriented therapy, and a prescriptive, cognitive/behavioural therapy. All clients received eight sessions of each type of treatment in a crossover design. Events were obtained by self‐report both during and at the end of each period, and content analysed for type of therapeutic impact by three trained raters. Results showed that during treatment the most commonly occurring helpful impacts across both types of treatments were ‘problem solution’, ‘awareness’ and ‘reassurance’, while the most commonly occurring hindering impact was ‘unwanted thoughts’. Similar impacts were reported at the end of each period, with the addition of ‘personal contact’. In addition, it was found that ‘problem solution’ and ‘reassurance’ impacts were more commonly reported in prescriptive treatment, whereas ‘awareness’ and ‘personal contact’ impacts were more prevalent in exploratory treatment. Only the prevalence of ‘unwanted thoughts’ was correlated (negatively) with outcome. Some possible reasons for the lack of correlation between reported impacts and outcome are suggested.
Discrete dimensions in agoraphobia: A factor analytic study
Authors: Hamann Mary Sue , Mavissakalian Matig
Published: July 2011

One hundred and one patients meeting DSM‐III criteria for agoraphobia with panic rated their avoidance of 21 situations. Factor analysis of the ratings revealed five factors: two that were purely agoraphobic, involving travel or transportation and shopping; one that was agoraphobic but with social features; another that was agoraphobic with claustrophobic features; and a somewhat heterogeneous factor. The results were compared with an earlier analysis by Johnston, Johnston, Wilkes, Burns & Thorpe (1984) of ratings of the same situations and with the Fear Questionnaire of Marks & Mathews (1979).
Dementia and mental handicap: Emotional distress in carers
Authors: Whittick Janice E.
Published: July 2011

A postal survey was conducted to examine levels of emotional distress in three groups of carers, namely, daughters caring for a dementing parent, mothers caring for a mentally handicapped child and mothers caring for a mentally handicapped adult. Daughters caring for a dementing parent reported significantly higher levels of distress than both groups of mothers. Emotional distress for all groups was higher than found in the general population, although this difference was only significant for the group of daughters and the mothers with a mentally handicapped child. Findings are discussed in relation to service provision and level of disability.
Differential effects of social skills training for two levels of Machiavellianism*
Authors: Angell Elaine F.
Published: July 2011

The personality trait Machiavellianism is related to social interaction. Its clinical relevance was studied with reference to the outcome of multi‐model social skills training for women. The null hypothesis received general support but the significant differences which did emerge favoured High Machs in terms of self‐reported assertiveness and anxiety.
The relationship between demographic variables and NART performance in normal subjects
Authors: Crawford J. R. , Stewart L. E. , Garthwaite P. H. , Parker D. M. , Besson J. A. O.
Published: July 2011

The relationship between NART performance and demographic variables was examined in a group of subjects free of neurologic or psychiatric disorder (n = 201). NART estimated IQ was significantly correlated with education, social class and age. The correlation between age and NART 1Q was no longer significant after partialling out either education or social class. There was no evidence of a curvilinear relationship between age and NART performance. There was no significant sex difference in NART performance. Nelson's (1982) report of a high split‐half reliability was confirmed.
Psychometric properties of the Pain Assessment Questionnaire
Authors: Sturmey P. , Newton T. , Ghadiali E. J.
Published: July 2011

The Pain Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) was administered to 58 health care professionals with a concurrent validation measure, the Knowledge of Behavioral Principles Questionnaire. The PAQ showed adequate internal consistency, concurrent and criterion group validities. Attempts to develop two parallel forms of the PAQ and replicate the factor structure reported by Saunders & Webster (1982) were unsuccessful.
The relationship of intelligence and memory to interrogative suggestibility: The importance of range effects
Authors: Gudjonsson Gisli H.
Published: July 2011

This paper looks at the relationship between intelligence, memory and interrogative suggestibility, particularly with reference to range effects. The subjects were 60 normal subjects and 100 forensic patients who had completed the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Clear range effects of IQ and memory were evident in their relationship with suggestibility.
Psychological predictors of future suicidal behaviour in hospitalized suicide attempters
Authors: Petrie Keith , Chamberlain Kerry , Clarke David
Published: July 2011

Rates of attempted suicide have increased in most Western countries over the past 20 years. This level of deliberate self‐harm is made more significant by the fact that a large proportion of attempted suicides will reattempt in the six months following their attempt and as a group they have a high risk of eventually killing themselves. While much of the research on prediction of suicidal behaviour has concentrated on demographic factors, little is known about the psychological variables that precede the suicidal act. This study examined 67 New Zealand suicide attempters on a range of psychological variables including self‐esteem, hopelessness, depression, cognitive rigidity and social skills. Subjects were followed up after six months to determine their level of suicidal behaviour and ideation. Results suggest hopelessness and self‐esteem are important indicators of future suicidal behaviour, with differential effects over short‐ and long‐term periods. The implications for psychological assessment and suicidal risk assignment are discussed.
Selective processing of food words in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Channon Shelley , Hemsley David , de Silva Padmal
Published: July 2011

The selective processing of food‐ and body size‐related information was investigated using a modified version of the Stroop task. Anorexic subjects were generally slower than controls in colour‐naming all words, and particularly slow with food‐related words. This interference effect appeared to operate maximally amongst subjects who fell into the higher end of the anorexic weight range. The findings appeared to be a reflection of current concerns with food and eating.
Caffeine reduction as an adjunct to anxiety management
Authors: Smith G. Alan
Published: July 2011

A reduction in tea and coffee drinking is popularly advocated for the relief of tension and anxiety symptoms, and it was decided to collect empirical data on this matter in the course of normal clinical practice. It was found that patients who made substantial reductions in caffeine drinking also made the greatest improvements in anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbance, headaches and abdominal symptoms. The methodology leaves an ambiguity in the interpretation of this result, but the data provide a useful basis for the design of further studies.
Inter‐rater reliability of the Rey figure copying test
Authors: Carr E. K. , Lincoln N. B.
Published: July 2011

To determine the inter‐rater reliability of scoring the Rey figure copying test, two raters independently scored copies of version B of the Rey figure completed by 17 non‐brain damaged general medical patients and 23 stroke patients. There was very high agreement between the total scores for each patient (ra = 0.99, P < 0.001) and there was agreement for all patients as to whether these scores were within the normal range. It is concluded that, though subjective, the standard system for scoring the Rey figure copying test can be reliable between raters.
The Spielberger Anger Expression Scale: Some psychometric data
Authors: Knight Robert G. , Chisholm Barbara J. , Paulin Judith M. , Waal‐Manning Hendrika J.
Published: July 2011

Some general population norms for the Spielberger, Johnson et al. (1984) Anger Expression Scale (AX) are reported for a sample of over 1000 adults tested in a general health survey of a New Zealand community. Factor analysis confirmed the independence of the Anger/In and Anger/Out subscales, and the measure was found to have satisfactory levels of reliability.
Double dissociation of frontal dysfunction in organic amnesia
Authors: Leng Nicholas R. C. , Parkin Alan J.
Published: July 2011

Subjects with either diencephalic or bilateral medial temporal lobe amnesia were examined on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Cognitive Estimation Test (CET). Alcoholic Korsakoff patients performed more poorly on the WCST but normally on the CET, whereas post‐encephalitic patients performed normally on the WCST but poorly on the CET. This double dissociation is interpreted as reflecting different patterns of frontal dysfunction in Korsakoff and post‐encephalitic amnesia.
Psychological problems in general practice patients: Two assumptions explored
Authors: Salmon Peter , Stanley Brian , Milne Derek
Published: July 2011

Research is needed into the scientific basis for psychologists' ‘specialist’ model of service to general practitioners. This study evaluated two predictions of this model: firstly, that patients with psychological problems can be identified reliably; secondly, that they tax GPs' resources and ability disproportionately. To test these, psychologists observed 448 GP consultations. The GP and psychologist independently rated the involvement of psychological factors; the GP recorded his satisfaction with, and the psychologist the duration of, the consultation. Patients completed scales of psychiatric and social dysfunction. Both predictions were confirmed. Agreement between GPs' and psychologists' ratings of the presence of psychological factors was higher than reported previously, and not explained by the small correlation of psychiatric morbidity with each. Problems identified by GPs as psychological were associated with longer, repeated and less satisfying consultations.
Factors of schizoid personality
Authors: Raine Adrian , Allbutt John
Published: July 2011

The increasing use of schizoid personality scales with normals has led to a number of validation studies, but to date there are no published analyses of the factorial structure of these scales. This study presents results of factor analyses of schizoid personality scales in an initial attempt to delincate their factorial structure. Questionnaires were administered to 114 male and female undergraduates and factor analysed using Varimax, Quartimax, and Oblique rotations. A two‐factor varimax solution yielded a first factor accounting for 49 per cent of total unrotated variance with high (0.70 to 0.91) loadings from Hallucinatory predisposition, Perceptual aberration, Schizophrenism, STA and STB scales, and was interpreted as reflecting a general factor of schizoid personality disorder. Psychoticism and Social anhedonia loaded on a second factor accounting for 20 per cent of the variance which was uncorrelated (r = 0.09) with factor 1. This factor solution was closely replicated using quartimax and oblimin rotation criteria. It is concluded that Social anhedonia and Psychoticism represent a separate dimension from other scales which reflect the more positive features of schizoid personality.
Perceived control of recovery from physical disability: Measurement and prediction
Authors: Partridge Cecily , Johnston Marie
Published: July 2011

Perceived personal control has been found to be predictive of desirable outcomes in a variety of health care settings. It was hypothesized that it would also explain some of the variance in adaptation to and coping with physical disability and would therefore be predictive of recovery. A Recovery Locus of Control scale (RLOC) was developed, independent judges agreeing on five internal and four external items. The scale was shown to have good internal consistency when used with adults recently disabled by a stroke or wrist fracture. Patients' RLOC was assessed at the start of rehabilitation and recovery from physical disability was monitored using measures appropriate for each clinical group. In both groups, greater internality was associated with faster recovery. Results are discussed with respect to the likely mediating factors and the role of health professionals in facilitating internality.
Retrieval from semantic memory using meaningful and meaningless constructs by depressed, stable bipolar and manic patients
Authors: Calev Avraham , Nigal Doron , Chazan Shella
Published: July 2011

Eleven depressed, 11 stable bipolar and six manic patients, 20 normals and eight late middle‐age normals were tested for speech production using a word‐fluency task. Fluency was prompted by either a letter (a relatively automatic task), or a semantic category (an effort‐demanding task). The results showed that depressed patients were more impaired in speech production than other patients when prompted by a semantic category than when prompted by a letter. A post boc matched‐tasks check suggested that this finding was not due to differences in discriminating power between the two word‐fluency tasks. Manic and stable bipolar patients did not differ in their speech production, although matched on age. The results suggest that depressives perform better on more automatic than on efort‐demanding tasks, and that manic and stable bipolar patients do not differ in speech production when experimentally imposed restrictions are present.
Mood state‐dependent retentio using identical or non‐identical mood inductions at learning and recall
Authors: Haaga David A. F.
Published: July 2011

The most directly relevant evidence in favour of mood state‐dependent retention (SDR) has confounded matching of mood at learning and recall with matching of mood‐induction procedure. In this study 157 college students participated in a two (same vs. different mood at learning and free recall of neutral words) by two (same vs. different type of mood induction at learning and recall) experiment. Recall did not significantly differ among the groups. Use of neutral material might have precluded finding effects of mood on memory, but neutral material is optimal for separating mood SDR from mood‐congruent retrieval.
The relationship between cognitive failure and self‐focused attention
Authors: Houston Diane M.
Published: July 2011

The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire and the Self‐Consciousness Scale were administered to a sample of undergraduate students. The Private Self‐Consciousness and Social Anxiety subscales were significantly correlated with CFQ, suggesting that dispositional self‐focused attention may be one underlying cause of cognitive failure. Similarities in the relation between CFQ, SCS and task performance are discussed.
Locus of control and combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder: The intervening role of battle intensity, threat appraisal and coping
Authors: Solomon Zahava , Mikulincer Mario , Benbenishty Rami
Published: July 2011

The study examined the role of control expectancies in the formation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Israeli soldiers combat stress reactions (battle shock) casualties of the Lebanon War (1982). A random sample of 104 soldiers who fought in the Lebanon War and were identified as combat stress reaction casualties were clinically interviewed and given a battery of self‐report questionnaires a year after their participation in combat. In general, the components of Lazarus' stress‐illness model were predictive of the severity of PTSD. Greater appraisal of threat, more negative emotions, and more emotion‐focused coping were all found to predict a larger number of PTSD symptoms. Path analyses were performed separately for soldiers who reported that they were under high battle intensity and those who were under relatively low battle intensity. For low battle intensity, externals suffered more PTSD than internals. This relationship was due mainly to the indirect effects of locus of control via threat appraisal. These significant relationships were not found when battle intensity was high. The implications of the findings for the study of combat stress reactions and for the stress‐illness model are discussed. The relative impact of generalized control expectancies and situational factors are examined for the various components of the model.
Education and self‐hypnosis in the management of low back pain: A component analysis
Authors: Spinhoven Philip , Linssen A. Corry G.
Published: July 2011

The aim of this study was to conduct a component analysis of a group programme for chronic low back pain patients. Forty‐five patients participated in the pain control course, consisting of education about pain and a training in self‐hypnosis. A pain diary was used as a measure of pain intensity, up‐time and use of pain medication. Psychoneuroticism and depression were assessed using the Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90). No evidence was found for a differential efficacy of education or self‐hypnosis on pain diary and SCL‐90 scores. On completion of the total treatment package, patients manifested statistically significant changes on all measures except reported pain intensity. It is suggested that the pain control course is a non‐invasive, inexpensive means of treatment which could be of some value in teaching even more severely disabled low back pain patients to cope more adequately with their pain problem. For this group of patients, a better adjustment to continuing pain may prove to be a more realistic therapy goal than pain reduction.
An abbreviated version of the Miller Behavioral Style Scale
Authors: Steptoe Andrew
Published: July 2011

The Miller Behavioral Style Scale is a measure of coping dispositions that has proved useful in clinical settings. However, it contains items out of the common run of everyday experience that some people find difficult to complete. This study involving student volunteers and patients with metastatic cancer indicates that elimination of these items does not seriously modify the pattern of individual differences shown with scores on the complete questionnaire.
Benzodiazepine research: Current findings and practical consequences
Authors: Hayward Peter , Wardle Jane , Higgitt Anna
Published: July 2011

The recent research literature on the effects of benzodiazepines is reviewed, with special emphasis on findings relevant for the practising clinician. The mode of action, patterns of use and abuse potential of benzodiazepines are discussed. The evidence on the risks of dependency and possible drawbacks of long‐term use are examined. The possible effects of benzodiazepine use on psychological treatments are also examined, and factors that should be considered while treating benzodiazepine users are discussed.
Do autistic children have obsessions and compulsions?
Authors: Baron‐Cohen Simon
Published: July 2011

Autistic children are frequently reported to show obsessions and compulsions. This terminology implies that such behaviours in autism are similar to those seen in obsessive—compulsive disorder. However, these autistic behaviours fail to satisfy the definitions of either obsessions or compulsions, because essential subjective data (relating to unwantedness, distress, resistance, senselessness and egodystonia) are not available in the case of autistic children. Recent cognitive evidence suggests that this is because autistic children are unable to contemplate or talk about their own mental states.

Because of this state of insufficient evidence, it is suggested that the terms obsession and compulsion should be used with considerable caution to describe autistic behaviours. In this paper, the more descriptive term ‘repetitive activities’ is used. To gain a better understanding of such repetitive activities in autism, functional analyses are needed. Examples of such analyses are discussed, and predictions from a social‐cognitive deficit theory of repetitive activities are specifically considered. The paper aims to encourage research into this neglected area.
Observing client—therapist interaction in behaviour therapy: Development and first application of an observational system
Authors: Schindler L. , Hohenberger‐Sieber E. , Hahlweg K.
Published: July 2011

A category system for coding the interaction in psychotherapy (CIP) is presented. Six therapists carried out 64 standardized intake sessions with clients presenting with chronic insomnia. The sessions were fully coded by three raters using the CIP. The 19 client categories as well as the 18 therapist categories showed sufficient reliability with kappa coefficients of 0.80 and 0.79 respectively. The frequencies of the client and the therapist categories of the first versus the second half of the interview were compared. Shifts in the behavioural patterns of therapists and clients during the course of the interviews are in accordance with the given rationale of the session. Correlations between the observational data and subjective ratings of the participants are further evidence for the utility of the CIP.
Reactivity of the measurement of cognitions associated with dental anxiety
Authors: Kent Gerry
Published: July 2011

There are several reasons to suppose that sampling the contents of consciousness can affect patients' mood. In an attempt to explore the effect on state anxiety of inquiring about cognitions associated with dental anxiety, 90 patients waiting to see a dentist were asked about the content of their ideation. One group was asked whether they had ever experienced any of a list of negative thoughts, a second group any listed positive thoughts and a third group any listed neutral thoughts. As measured by the PARQ, the emotional and cognitive components of state anxiety were higher in the positive and negative conditions relative to the neutral condition, perhaps because patients' attempts to distract themselves were overridden by the investigator's inquiries.
Recognition memory for words and faces in the very old
Authors: Diesfeldt Han , Vink Marja
Published: July 2011

The assessment of very elderly people is hindered by a scarcity of normative and reliability data for non‐verbal memory tests. We tested the suitability of Warrington's Recognition Memory Test (RMT) for use with the elderly. The RMT consists of verbal (Recognition Memory for Words, RMW) and non‐verbal (Recognition Memory for Faces, RMF) subtests. The facial recognition test was used in the standard format and a Dutch‐language version of the word recognition test was developed using low frequency (10 or less/million) monosyllabic words. Eighty‐nine subjects, varying in age from 69 to 93, were tested with the RMF. Means and SD are provided for three age groups (69–79, 80–84 and 85–93). Forty‐five consecutive subjects were tested both with the RMW and the RMF. Recognition memory for words was better than recognition memory for faces in this sample. Moderate correlations (0.30–0.48) were found between RMT and WAIS Vocabulary and Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices scores. Warrington's RMT was well tolerated, even by very elderly adults. The standardization data for the elderly over 70 add to the usefulness of this test of verbal and non‐verbal episodic memory.
Reducing stereotyped behaviour: A component analysis of the DRI schedule
Authors: Jones Robert S. P. , Baker L. J. V.
Published: July 2011

Three people with mental handicaps took part in a study which investigated the effects of various components of the DRI schedule on their levels of stereotyped behaviour. Three single‐case experiments were carried out each investigating a separate component. Results suggested that the reductive effects of DRI could not be attributed to either the density of reinforcement available or to the prompting component. The success of the schedule was primarily attributable to the non‐contingent interaction between the subject and the experimenter.
Assessing bulimics' dissatisfaction with their body
Authors: Huon G. F. , Brown L. B.
Published: July 2011

A Body Mapping Questionnaire and a Colour‐the‐Body Task were devised to assess the dissatisfaction that bulimics feel about their body, beyond their preoccupation with its weight. When 134 women, 67 diagnosed with bulimia nervosa and 67 non‐patient controls were matched for age, weight and height, the bulimics showed greater overall dislike for their body, and for about half of its specified parts.
The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test: Remembering a short route
Authors: Towle D. , Wilsher C. R.
Published: July 2011

The route recall task in the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test may be difficult to administer to immobile patients or to those being assessed at home. A comparison was made of 20 stroke patients' performance on this task when asked to walk the route around a room and when moving a small figure around a line drawing of a similar room. The results suggest the line drawing may be used in place of walking the route.
Consideration of pigeon‐holing and filtering as dysfunctional attention strategies in schizophrenia
Authors: Harris Anne E. , Benedict Ralph H. B. , Leek Marjorie R.
Published: July 2011

Difficulties in the use of both filtering and pigeon‐holing strategies have been suggested as partial explanations for the information processing deficits typically noted with schizophrenic subjects. The study reported here examined the operation of both of these attentional strategies in a group of schizophrenic subjects and in a group of psychiatric control subjects. Subjects were asked to identify a target syllable in the presence of several levels of competing speech. A sensory filter could be profitably invoked when the target and the competing speech were presented to separate ears. Pigeon‐holing was assumed to facilitate performance when both the target and the competition occurred in both ***cars. Results suggested that schizophrenic subjects are relatively efficient in using filtering strategies, but have more difficulty employing pigeon‐holing strategies to allocate efficiently attentional resources.