bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research findings on the nature of constructs in schizophrenics
Authors: Van den Bergh Omer , De Boeck Paul , Claeys Willem
Published: July 2011

Using a personal construct theory approach, Radley (1974) proposes a theoretical view about the nature and genesis of schizophrenic thought disorder. In this study, we replicate some results of previous studies on which Radley relies and we test some implications of his view. A test, consisting of the four possible combinations of elicited and supplied constructs and elicited and supplied elements was administered on a group of schizophrenics, part of them being thought disordered (TD), part of them being not thought disordered (NTD) at the moment of testing and on a matched group of normals. An additional test was administered in order to obtain a maldistribution score. Our findings confirm most of the characteristics of the TD and NTD phase in schizophrenics, as proposed by Radley and they suggest some additions to that view. Moreover, they call for some changes in the scoring system of the Grid Test for Schizophrenic Thought Disorder (Bannister & Fransella, 1967) by using the Element Consistency, Social Agreement and Maldistribution scores and Intensity and Differentiation scores of only the retest.
A further analysis of memory loss in dementia and depression in the elderly
Authors: Gibson Andrew J.
Published: July 2011

Groups of normal, depressed and dementing elderly subjects were investigated for their ability to remember serially presented words and pictures in an immediate free recall design. Both the clinical groups showed memory loss, the demented being the more severe. A qualitative analysis of serial position curves suggests that whilst in depression there is probably a suppression of otherwise normal memory processes in dementia there is a more fundamental breakdown in the process itself.
A psychophysical investigation of auditory functioning in schizophrenia
Authors: Collicutt J. R. , Hemsley D. R.
Published: July 2011

The present report is of the application of Treisman's (1964) model of perceptual functioning to the study of schizophrenic hallucinations. It was hypothesized that hallucinators would perform on an auditory threshold task as if possessing a perceptual system showing high levels of spontaneous neural activity (In). Three groups were compared on the Weber functions for pure tone intensity: schizophrenic hallucinators, old people and anxiety neurotics. From these functions, estimates of In were calculated using Barlow's (1957b) method. No group differences were found. An alternative explanation of schizophrenic hallucinations, in terms of increased responsiveness to normal levels of background sensory activity, is proposed.
Orienting responses to stimuli others fear
Authors: Kartsounis L. D. , Pickersgill Mary J.
Published: July 2011

Three experiments investigated the magnitudes and habituation rates of electrodermal orienting responses (ORs) to phobic or neutral words or phrases. The experimental ‘phobic’ material denoted objects or situations feared by members of a student population but of which the students selected as subjects reported no fear. In each experiment, two different groups of subjects were given 12 presentations of either a phobic or a neutral word or phrase. In the first experiment the results did not differentiate the groups. In the second experiment shocks were given to the subjects before the experiment and they were threatened with further shocks; the phobic stimuli then elicited larger responses (P<0·05) and took more trials to habituation (P<0·05). In the third experiment subjects heard pleasant music and were told they would hear it again. There were no significant differences in magnitudes of responses or trials to habituation. The range of potentially phobic stimuli capable of eliciting larger and more slowly habituating ORs is found to be greater than implied by Öhman. The concept of biological significance is thought to be still applicable but it is argued that its implications for the significance of particular events have to be learned. A state of arousal is necessary to elicit significantly larger responses and there is some evidence that the state must be appropriate rather than non‐specific.
‘Preparedness' and the development of aversive associations
Authors: Emerson Eric , Lucas Helen
Published: July 2011

The paper presents two studies investigating the role of the preparedness value of stimulus content in an aversive compound signal conditioning procedure. It was predicted that greater compound to component transfer would occur to ‘potentially phobic’ compared to ‘neutral’ stimulus components, and that responses to potentially phobic components would show a relatively greater resistance to extinction. Results from both studies failed to support these hypotheses thus questioning the generality of the previously demonstrated role of ‘preparedness’ in aversive associative processes.
Spirit possession and neuroticism in a West Indian Pentecostal community
Authors: Ward Colleen , Beaubrun Michael H.
Published: July 2011

The experiment is focused on the relationship between spirit possession and neuroticism as assessed by psychometric techniques. Twenty subjects who were regular members of a West Indian Pentecostal congregation were interviewed and tested with the EPI and the hysteria scale of the MMPI. Analysis of data indicated that the 10 subjects who were defined as spirit possessed scored significantly higher in both neuroticism (P<0·05) and hysteria (P<0·005) than did the control group. In light of these data and others it was suggested that possession constitutes a culture‐bound neurotic disorder.
Strategic and methodological aspects of behavioural medicine
Authors: Reading Anthony E.
Published: July 2011

There is currently an expanded interest amongst clinical psychologists in extending their clinical service to other medical specialties in addition to psychiatry. The present paper considers the strategic and methodological implications of this trend. It is suggested that the efficient use of limited resources demands an expanded role, which involves the evaluation of service‐related problems in addition to traditional casework. A further departure from the traditional role involves the development and refinement of measures of psychological state in clinical research trials. Examples of the way in which involvement may be exhibited on a methodological level are offered by considering psychological aspects of medication. In order to establish the clinical utility of such collaboration, it is necessary to provide biomedical personnel with empirical documentation of the benefits of attending to the psychological aspects of their clinical practice.
Changes in hostility during the course of hypomanic illness
Authors: Price John , O'Kearney Richard
Published: July 2011

Thirty patients with hypomania (or mania) were studied using the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire to establish by testing and retesting the same patients the changes that take place in hostility as a hypomanic illness remits. Highly significant decreases in total hostility, in extrapunitiveness, in criticism of others and in projected hostility were demonstrated. There was some evidence to suggest that acquiescent response set may be characteristic, not of the hypomanic state itself, but of individuals predisposed to develop such an illness. Hostility scores in recovered female hypomanics did not differ from those of control subjects once correction had been made for the effects of age and social class. As an exception to the rule, the case is described of a man with mild mental retardation where testing confirmed clinical and collateral observations of a massive increase in hostility on recovery from a hypomanic illness.
Vividness of memory imagery and self‐induced mood change
Authors: Richardson Alan , Taylor Colin C.
Published: July 2011

Previous research has shown that people who can voluntarily form vivid images are able to exert more control over some of their cognitive and affective functions than people who can voluntarily form only weak images. This study was designed to extend this line of research to the control of mood states. From a sample of first‐year psychology students four groups were formed: vivid imagery/elated, vivid imagery/depressed, weak imagery/elated, weak imagery/depressed. Mood change induction procedures were employed in an attempt to produce reversals in the initial mood states. It was found that greater changes occurred for the vivid imagers than for the weak imagers. These results were discussed in relation to the differential effectiveness of the mood induction procedures, the problem of measuring mood and the importance of taking into account individual differences in imagery abilities when planning imagery based treatment.
Voice analysis of the effects of benzodiazepine tranquillizers
Authors: Smith G. A.
Published: July 2011

The voice characteristics measured by the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE) were investigated in patients taking widely prescribed tranquillizers. It was found that not only was the PSE affected by medication, but that the effects were different for two different benzodiazepines. Implications for the PSE as a psychophysiological measure are discussed.
Observations on the Object Learning Test of the Kendrick Battery for the Detection of Dementia
Authors: Skelton‐Robinson M. , Telford R.
Published: July 2011

This paper examines some shortcomings in the design and validation of the Object Learning Test of the Kendrick Battery. Certain issues which are important to ensure standardized administration of the test have not been considered, and the scoring procedures penalize some correct responses. Line drawings on the cards are occasionally ambiguous, and some of the repeat drawings are reproduced with unnecessary alterations. The parallel forms of the test are not matched for word frequency of the names of the objects. Questions are raised concerning the cut‐off point for ascribing dementia and the statements of confidence in test diagnosis.
The effect of distraction on sensitivity to syntactic structure in schizophrenic and affective disorders
Authors: Oltmanns Thomas F.
Published: July 2011

This study was designed to determine whether the presence of a distracting message would interfere with schizophrenics' ability to utilize syntactic structure in processing information from a relevant sentence. Seventeen schizophrenics, 17 patients with affective disorders, and 16 normals were given a word recognition task in both the presence and absence of auditory distraction. None of the patients was hospitalized at the time of testing. Subjects listened to a sequence of sentences which consisted of two clauses. Immediately following each sentence, the subject heard a probe word and was required to indicate whether it had been part of the preceding sentence. In the neutral condition, the recognition latencies of subjects in all three groups were shorter if the word came just after, rather than just before, the clausal boundary of the preceding sentence. In the presence of a distracting message, the normals and affective patients continued to exhibit this same effect. The schizophrenics did not. The latency of their responses in the distractor condition was not influenced by the location of the target word relative to the clausal boundary. This result indicates that although schizophrenics are sensitive to syntactic structure, their ability to organize verbal messages into meaningful grammatical units may be relatively fragile and subject to disruption by auditory distraction.
An investigation of the construct validity of the Bannister‐Fransella Grid Test of Schizophrenic Thought Disorder
Authors: Stefan Charles , Malloy Paul
Published: July 2011

An attempt was made to demonstrate the construct validity of the Grid Test in a psychiatric population by showing that: (a) judgements of thought disorder based on the Grid Test were associated with judgements based on a clinical interview; (b) Grid Test scores were not associated with measures of other forms of psychopathology, intelligence, or memory. Results of a principal components factor analysis confirmed both hypotheses, supporting the validity of the Grid Test as a measure of thought disorder.
Dichotic monitoring and focused versus divided attention in schizophrenia
Authors: Allen H. A.
Published: July 2011

The target detection performance of normals, chronic schizophrenics with positive symptoms and those with negative symptoms was compared in focused and divided attention conditions. The focused condition involved the monitoring of one, and the divided condition the monitoring of both, of the dichotically presented word lists. The amount and rate of list presentations were held constant across the conditions in an attempt to separate attentional from difficulty and capacity factors. Results showed that while the overall performance of both schizophrenic groups was lower than that of the normals, their performance change from the focused to the divided attention condition did not differ from that of the normals. These results do not support a schizophrenic selective attention deficit hypothesis.
Improving environments for the mentally handicapped: A methodological note
Authors: Sturmey P. , Crisp A. G.
Published: July 2011

A recent report of a procedure to increase the level of activity of profoundly handicapped young adults is critically evaluated.
The functional asymmetry of negative and positive self‐statements
Authors: Safran Jeremy D.
Published: July 2011

Subjects were divided into high and low negative self‐statement and high and low positive self‐statement groups on the basis of the assertiveness self‐statement test (Schwartz & Gottman, 1976). High negative self‐statement subjects reported more anxiety during assertion role plays than did low negative self‐statement subjects and were rated by judges as exhibiting more non‐verbal anxiety and performing less assertively than low negative self‐statement subjects. Judges rated high positive self‐statement subjects as more irritable and brusque than low positive self‐statement subjects. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Reduction of self‐induced vomiting in a multiply handicapped girl by ‘lemon juice therapy’ and concomitant changes in social behaviour
Authors: Hogg James
Published: July 2011

Lemon juice contingently dispensed following self‐induced vomiting was found to effectively suppress this behaviour in a profoundly retarded multiply handicapped child. The programme was carried out by a teacher in the Special Care class of an ESN(S) school.
Satisfaction, compliance and communication
Authors: Ley Philip
Published: July 2011

The literature on communication, compliance, and patient satisfaction is selectively reviewed. As in earlier reviews, it is concluded that dissatisfaction with communication remains widespread, as does lack of compliance with medical advice. Related factors include poor transmission of information from patient to doctor, low understandability of communications addressed to the patient, and low levels of recall of information by patients. There does not appear to be any evidence that provision of additional information leads to adverse reactions by patients. Theoretical approaches to communication and compliance are described, and it is concluded that these should be used to direct future research.
Psychological group treatment of essential hypertension in general practice
Authors: Basler Heinz‐Dieter , Brinkmeier Ulrich , Buser Kurt , Haehn Klaus‐Dieter , Mölders‐Kober Regine
Published: July 2011

One hundred and seven obese patients with essential hypertension from eight general practices received one of the following psychological group therapy procedures: (1) modification of nutritional patterns; (2) modification of nutritional patterns plus self‐monitoring of blood pressure and training in social competence; (3) modification of nutritional patterns plus Jacobson's relaxation training; (4) information about the causes and consequences of high blood pressure. An approximately equal number of patients served as a waiting‐control group. All patients had received pharmacological treatment for at least a year. Each procedure was administered by a psychologist with groups of up to 15 patients in 12 weekly sessions. The blood pressure values measured before and after intervention showed a clear reduction; this fall is greatest when the initial values were high. Even when the magnitude of the initial values was statistically controlled there was a distinctly greater reduction in blood pressure in the treatment groups than in the waiting‐control group. No differential effect between the various therapy procedures could be demonstrated, however. The changes in general health behaviour of the treatment groups was statistically confirmed. In addition, there was a distinct reduction in body weight. Medication compliance also improved in the treatment groups. Since group procedures were accepted both by the doctors and the patients involved, they should be included to a great extent in the basic care of hypertensive patients in the future.
A behavioural perspective on chronic pain
Authors: Fordyce Wilbert E.
Published: July 2011

This review outlines a behavioural view of chronic pain, in which pain behaviours are considered as operants. This view is supported by experiments in which pain behaviour is shown to be under the influence of environmental factors. The number of exercises performed by pain patients working to tolerance tend to be in multiples of five, rather than following a chance distribution. The exercise deficit seen in pain patients under conditions where exercises are counted does not occur when feedback is removed, and under these circumstances pain patients do not differ from normals. Other studies show that tolerance can be increased by verbal reinforcement, and that pain ratings are influenced by the presence or absence of a patient's spouse. Implications of these findings for the maintenance or reduction of chronic pain are discussed.
The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and its correlates
Authors: Broadbent D. E. , Cooper P. F. , FitzGerald P. , Parkes K. R.
Published: July 2011

This paper describes a questionnaire measure of self‐reported failures in perception, memory, and motor function. Responses to all questions tend to be positively correlated, and the whole questionnaire correlates with other recent measures of self‐reported deficit in memory, absent‐mindedness, or slips of action. The questionnaire is however only weakly correlated with indices of social desirability set or of neuroticism. It is significantly correlated with ratings of the respondent by his or her spouse, and accordingly does have some external significance rather than purely private opinion of the self. The score is reasonably stable over long periods, to about the same extent as traditional measures of trait rather than state. Furthermore, it has not thus far been found to change in persons exposed to life‐stresses. However, it does frequently correlate with the number of current psychiatric symptoms reported by the same person on the MHQ; and in one study it has been found that CFQ predicts subsequent MHQ in persons who work at a stressful job in the interval. It does not do so in those who work in a less stressful environment. The most plausible view is that cognitive failure makes a person vulnerable to showing bad effects of stress, rather than itself resulting from stress.
Cognitive and social skills correlates of social anxiety
Authors: Halford K. , Foddy M.
Published: July 2011

In order to assess the factors which influence the occurrence of social anxiety, 45 subjects (25 male and 20 female) were divided into high, moderate and low social anxiety groups on the basis of a self‐report inventory. Their performance in a series of simulated social interactions was assessed on self‐report measures of anxiety and social skill, cognitive self‐statements and judge ratings of overt behaviours. Results obtained indicated differences across the anxiety groups on each of these sets of variables. This was interpreted as being consistent with a view that both cognitive and behavioural variables influence social anxiety.
Psychological and social aspects of induced abortion
Authors: Handy Jocelyn A.
Published: July 2011

The literature concerning psychosocial aspects of induced abortion is reviewed. Key areas discussed are: the legal context of abortion in Britain, psychological characteristics of abortion‐seekers, pre‐ and post‐abortion contraceptive use, pre‐ and post‐abortion counselling, the actual abortion and the effects of termination versus refused abortion. Women seeking termination are found to demonstrate more psychological disturbance than other women, however this is probably temporary and related to the short‐term stresses of abortion. Inadequate contraception is frequent prior to abortion but improves afterwards. Few women find the decision to terminate easy and most welcome opportunities for non‐judgemental counselling. Although some women experience adverse psychological sequelae after abortion the great majority do not. In contrast, refused abortion often results in psychological distress for the mother and an impoverished environment for the ensuing offspring.
Why assess the aged? A clinical psychologist's view
Authors: Kendrick Don C.
Published: July 2011

Four major areas of research: the early detection of Alzheimer's disease; the psychological side‐effects of anticholinergic drugs; the significance of late onset depression; and the relationship between physical activity, ageing and cognitive status, are discussed with reference to the problem of improving the quality of life in the aged. The four areas of research are unified by discussing two aspects of information processing: speed of performance and memory. The significance of and need for the assessment of cognitive status in the elderly are also discussed, as well as the notion that tests for the elderly should fit into their ecology.
Psychometrics and neurological models: A reply to Dr Rabbitt
Authors: Kendrick Don C.
Published: July 2011

The criticisms made by Rabbitt (1982) concerning psychometrics and neurological models are considered. It is proposed that Kendrick uses a functional model rather than a neurological one.
Sex‐related patterns of worry in secondary school pupils
Authors: Simon A. , Ward L. O.
Published: July 2011

This investigation sought data concerning sex differences in the worry patterns of children. The sample comprised 182 comprehensive school pupils, 91 boys and 91 girls, between the ages of 12 years 1 month and 13 years 7 months. The Simon‐Ward Worry Survey (1976) was administered in order to ascertain the frequency and intensity of worry experienced in the following areas; family, school, economic, social, personal adequacy, health, imagination and animals. Both in the frequency and intensity of worry girls scored higher than boys in the areas of family, social and imagination, but no significant differences occurred for personal adequacy, health, animal or economic factors. For both sexes the category order, from highest to lowest, was the same — family, social, school, imagination, personal adequacy, health, economic and animals.
Locus of control and maintenance of behavioural therapy skills
Authors: Craigs A. R. , Howie P. M.
Published: July 2011

Thirty stutterers were treated in an intensive behavioural therapy programme in which speech and behavioural skills are taught. Treatment was shown to be effective in the long term in eliminating most stuttering behaviour. The effect of therapy on the stutterer's long‐term perceptions of self‐control was investigated. Those clients who attributed positive treatment effects to their own efforts or control also maintained their improvement in the behaviours acquired during therapy. Further planned research is needed to clarify whether attributions of self‐control contribute to the client's ability to maintain therapy skills.
Food additives and hyperactive children: A critique of Conners
Authors: Rippere Vicky
Published: July 2011

Food Additives and Hyperactive Children (Conners, 1980) is the first book‐length attempt to evaluate Feingold's additive and salicylate‐free Kaiser‐Permenente diet for the treatment of hyperactive children, and as such it requires critical scrutiny. The studies reported in the book appear to be open to criticism from a number of points of view. It is argued that the studies as reported do not constitute a methodologically adequate test of Feingold's hypothesis that many hyperactive children are hypersensitive to artificial colours and flavours and other chemical additives and naturally occurring substances in foods and that it is thus premature to reject the hypothesis on the grounds presented here. It is argued, further, that Feingold's approach to the environmental aetiology of childhood hyperactivity is too limited and may for this reason lead to a failure to discover and eliminate other possible environmental causes of this increasingly prevalent condition.
Sensory and social reinforcement of head‐turning in a profoundly retarded multiply handicapped child
Authors: Hogg James
Published: July 2011

Head‐turning by a nine‐year‐old multiply handicapped profoundly retarded child (highest item passed on the Mental Scale of the Bayley Infant development test: 2·6 months; highest item passed on Motor Scale of Infant development test: 0· month) was reinforced by a variety of potential reinforcers: auditory; vibratory; social; visual. In addition various elicitation and shaping procedures were employed. Relative to base‐line performance only visual reinforcement produced a substantial increase in head‐turning. This finding is discussed in terms of the compatibility of operant and reinforcer and is related to the recent literature on constraints and predispositions in learning. The extent to which visual reinforcement also had eliciting effects is considered and further experimental controls and operations described.
Behavioural‐communications treatment of marital interaction: Negative behaviours
Authors: Bornstein Philip H. , Hickey J. Scott , Schulein Michael J. , Fox Steven G. , Scolatti Michael J.
Published: July 2011

The present investigation assessed the effectiveness of a behavioural‐communications marital intervention package focused solely upon negative behaviours. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated via two independent, within‐subject multiple base‐line designs. Four target behaviours, selected on the basis of clinical and laboratory assessment, were sequentially and cumulatively introduced over the course of an eight‐week treatment programme. Multimodal assessment techniques included self‐report, spouse‐report, and direct observations of laboratory‐based interactions. While slight differences occurred between measurement systems, all results attested to the efficacy of the therapeutic package. One‐year follow‐up data continued to indicate maintenance of treatment gains over time. These findings were discussed with regard to decelerative targets of intervention, and recommendations were made for continued investigations in the area.
Hopelessness and depression
Authors: Nekanda‐Trepka C. J. S. , Bishop S. , Blackburn I. M.
Published: July 2011

It has been proposed that suicidal wishes in depressed patients can be reduced by modifying hopelessness (Beck et al., 1979). Hopelessness, as measured by Beck's Hopelessness Scale, has been shown to correlate strongly with suicidal indices in clinical groups. However, normative data from depressed patients are lacking. Moreover, it has yet to be shown that hopeless individuals manifest the specific cognitive distortions on which cognitive therapy focuses. Eighty‐six newly referred patients with primary depression completed the Hopelessness Scale. Results indicate that pessimism is common among depressed patients, although there can be considerable individual differences. Factor analysis revealed five cognitive factors which need replication from larger studies. In a second study, 20 depressed patients were interviewed to assess the significance of different levels of hopelessness. Greater hopelessness was associated both with an increase in suicidal wishes and with more negative expectations about real‐life problems. These findings emphasize the importance of hopelessness in depressed suicidal patients, and provide indirect support for the intervention proposals advanced by cognitive theorists.
Syndrome analysis in clinical neuropsychology
Authors: McFarland K.
Published: July 2011

The application of syndrome analysis in clinical practice has tended to rely on rather qualitative diagnoses by the neuropsychologist. The present paper proposes the use of a decision theory method which enables a systematic approach to be made to neuropsychological diagnosis. It is argued that the proposed method not only aids diagnostic decision making but also enables probabilities to be associated with particular prognostic statements. In this way the method is useful for guiding testing procedures and optimizing treatment programmes for particular patients.
Engagement and depressive symptoms in a community sample of elderly people
Authors: Davies Ann D. M. , Gledhill K. J.
Published: July 2011

Fifty‐three elderly women attending a day centre were interviewed and observed to examine hypotheses about depressive symptoms and behaviour. Observers were blind to interview findings. The Geriatric Mental Status Schedule (GMS) and Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist (MAACL) provided information on current symptoms and mood. Time‐sampling was used to assess clients' level and type of engagement.

No significant relation was found between ‘disengagement’ (absence of engaged activity) and symptom level. Those clients reaching the Feighner criteria for depression did not differ from other clients either in level of ‘disengagement’ or in type of engaged activity. Within the whole sample ‘disengagement’ was related to age and to self‐reports of good health. ‘Onlooking’ was correlated with ‘recent loss of interest’ and ‘self‐blame’. Results are discussed in relation to behavioural formulations of depression and studies of engagement.
Keeping appointments with clinical psychologists
Authors: Weighill V. E. , Hodge J. , Peck D. F.
Published: July 2011

Over a six‐month period records were kept of appointment keeping by out‐patients attending clinical psychologists. Background information was recorded. Approximately 20 per cent of appointments were cancelled or broken, and in a further 6 per cent patients arrived late. Compliance was significantly but not strongly related to sex, social class, marital and family factors, transport, diagnosis and amount of previous attendance. Patients who missed the first appointment were very likely to miss the second. The results were consistent with previous findings and suggestions are made for further investigation.
Social skills and the perception of interaction episodes
Authors: Forgas Joseph P.
Published: July 2011

Accurate and well‐differentiated cognitive representations about the social world are an important prerequisite of skilled social behaviour. The aim of this study was to demonstrate empirically that a significant relationship exists between social skill and the way an actor perceives and interprets various interaction episodes. Based on a free‐response diary study, the most typical and common interaction episodes in a subcultural milieu were established. A second sample from the same milieu were asked (a) to indicate their perception of these episodes, and (b) to complete a battery of social skill assessment scales as well as personality scales. The episode judgements data were analysed using an Individual Differences Multidimensional Scaling (INDSCAL) procedure, identifying three episode dimensions (social anxiety, evaluation and perceived intensity). Subjects falling within the top and the bottom quartiles of the distribution on the social skills measures had significantly different cognitive representations about these episodes, with low skilled actors relying on the social anxiety dimension, and high skilled actors on the evaluation and intensity dimensions most heavily. The nature of these differences was further explicated by a canonical correlation analysis, showing that sex and personality variables were also related to episode cognition. The results are interpreted as indicating the important role episode representations play in social skills, and the implications of the findings for social skills assessment and therapy are discussed.
The Cognitive‐Somatic Anxiety Questionnaire (CSAQ): A factor analysis
Authors: Delmonte M. M. , Ryan G. M.
Published: July 2011

Current evidence indicates that anxiety responses may be multifaceted. To assess separately cognitive and somatic components of trait anxiety, Schwartz et al. (1978) devised the CSAQ, but provided no psychometric evidence that the CSAQ effectively differentiates between such dimensions. To explore the CSAQ's dimensional structure, responses from 100 subjects were factor analysed. Oblique rotation yielded a predominantly somatic, an exclusively cognitive and a minor somatic factor. Specification of two factors for rotation yielded an oblique pattern corresponding predominantly with the somatic and exclusively with most of the cognitive items of the CSAQ. These results are consistent with the Schwartz et al. multiprocess model.
A psychometric investigation of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control questionnaire
Authors: O'Looney Barbara A. , Barrett Paul T.
Published: July 2011

The validity of the alternate forms of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale and the underlying dimensionality of the three test scales were investigated using 70 male and 77 female British university students. A classical item analysis, principal component and image component factor analysis were undertaken. The results indicated that the alternate forms could be considered parallel. However, a sex difference appeared in the factor structure of the test such that the male sample yielded only two factors while the female sample yielded the three scale factors as expected.
Measuring Consistency with the Grid Test
Authors: Cyr J. J.
Published: July 2011

It is argued that the Consistency score derived from the Grid Test of Schizophrenic Thought Disorder is not the most sensitive index of stability between the identical grid forms in identifying the pattern of relations between constructs. The SASD score is proposed as an alternative to the Consistency score. The present study indicates that the SASD score is a more valid measure of the stability between the identical grid forms.
Stimulus integration in schizophrenia
Authors: Frith Christopher D. , Done D. John
Published: July 2011

Twenty‐four chronic institutionalized schizophrenics and 11 acute non‐institutionalized schizophrenics were compared with 20 controls (matched for age, sex and socio‐economic status) on a task normally eliciting stimulus integration (Garner, 1974). The subjects had to classify the widths of a sequence of rectangles into one of four categories while ignoring their height. Each response was timed. Although all the patients performed the task more slowly than their appropriate control group, the results showed that schizophrenic patients integrated these simple stimuli just as do normal subjects. Thus failure of simple stimulus integration is not a feature of schizophrenia.
Mea culpa? A study of the relationships among personality traits, life‐events and ascribed accident causation
Authors: Foreman Elaine Iljon , Ellis Hadyn D. , Beavan Diane
Published: July 2011

On the basis of their own reports, accident victims attending a casualty department were independently assigned either to a causal group (n = 25), i.e. apparently culpable in causing their accident, or a non‐causal group (n = 25). Comparisons were made between these two groups of patients on: (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) locus of control; (3) recent life‐events; and (4) cognitive failures. The groups differed only in their tendency to perceive locus of control as being internal (causal group) or external (non‐causal group).
Distractibility among paranoid and non‐paranoid schizophrenics using subtests matched for discriminating power
Authors: Finkelstein Richard J.
Published: July 2011

The performance of hospitalized schizophrenics broken down into paranoid and non‐paranoid subgroups was compared with that of two control groups on an auditory distraction test designed to rule out the confounding effect of differences between the distraction and non‐distraction subtests in discriminating power. The results supported the hypothesis of schizophrenic distractibility.
A study of collective disturbed behaviour among psychiatric patients
Authors: Trauer T.
Published: July 2011

An investigation was conducted over a 40‐week period in which staff completed weekly a list of 34 items representing aspects of disturbance for all patients in a modified therapeutic community comprising male and female wards. Four principal components accounted for about half the variance in both the men's and women's disturbance data. The first components in both groups represented general disturbance. Subsequent components in the men concerned rejection and withdrawal, nocturnal disturbance, and physical aggression, whilst among the women the later components reflected hysterical acting‐out, withdrawal and ‘opting out’, and self‐directed and indirect forms of aggression. There was only an insignificant relationship between the general disturbance levels in the two wards. A number of variables, including the level of disturbance predicted from the diagnostic composition of the ward, average length of stay, and numbers of patients in the wards were found to correlate with the weekly levels of disturbance. In the men's ward, a 12‐week cycle of general disturbance was found. An occasion of disruption to the routine of the unit (Christmas) was implicated in an episode of high disturbance.
The use of directed masturbation training in the treatment of primary anorgasmia
Authors: Nairne K. D. , Hemsley D. R.
Published: July 2011

This review evaluates the evidence for the effectiveness of the use of directed masturbation training in the treatment of primary anorgasmia. Various methodological problems are discussed but it is clear that some clients can be helped by this form of therapy. As yet it is unclear which clients are likely to benefit from such a programme or what are the most important factors influencing outcome. Some social and cultural implications, including issues relating to the role of the therapist, are briefly discussed.
Mood changes during pregnancy and after the birth of a child
Authors: Elliott S. A. , Rugg A. J. , Watson J. P. , Brough D. I.
Published: July 2011

This paper reports data obtained with five different measures of psychological change during a longitudinal study of 128 women in pregnancy and the first postnatal year. This group of women had relatively low levels of symptomatology and reported little dysfunction or distress. For the group as a whole, there were few significant changes over the course of pregnancy or over the course of the first postnatal year on the measures employed. In contrast, many scores exhibited significant change from late pregnancy to the puerperium. Without exception, the changes are in the direction of improved physical and psychological health after the birth, suggesting that most women feel better one month after the birth than one month before it. There were important differences between the patterns of change observed in individual women, confirming the fallacy of generalizing about childbearing women and emphasizing individual differences in response to this life‐event.
Imagery and verbal aspects of schizophrenic informational performance
Authors: George Leonard , Neufeld Richard W. J.
Published: July 2011

Imagery and verbal aspects of schizophrenic informational performance were examined. Pictorially and verbally presented pairs of items were compared with respect to both pronounceability of their names and their real‐life sizes. Results indicated slower stimulus encoding of pictorial than verbal stimulation among the schizophrenics, especially paranoids. On the other hand, comparison of item properties appeared intact regardless of stimulus‐presentation format. Non‐paranoids made fewer errors as size judgements became more difficult, suggesting protection against erroneously stating the presence of stimulus properties. Scores from a questionnaire directed toward habitual use of imagery and verbal processes indicated significantly greater preference for the latter among paranoids.
Psychological adjustment to coronary artery surgery
Authors: Ramshaw Jayne E. , Stanley Gordon
Published: July 2011

In a study of psychological adjustment to coronary artery bypass surgery 23 patients who underwent surgery were seen pre‐operatively, prior to discharge and one year after surgery. A comparison sample of 19 patients not tested pre‐surgically was contacted by postal questionnaire one year post‐operatively. An hierarchical grouping analysis carried out on seven outcome variables yielded a two‐group solution for the study sample and this was replicated in the comparison sample. Group 1 indicated change for the better and Group 2 change for the worse since surgery. Discriminant function analysis of 23 pre‐operative and operative variables for the first sample indicated ability to cope with stressful events and neuroticism were significant predictors of outcome. Patients in the comparison sample did not differ from the study sample in outcome measures, indicating no effect of assessment prior to operation for the study sample.
Determinants of performance on the Rey‐Osterrieth Complex Figure Test: An analysis, and a new technique for single‐case assessment
Authors: Bennett‐Levy Jamie
Published: July 2011

The aim of the study was to identify factors determining performance on the Rey‐Osterrieth Complex Figure Test in a normal population, in terms of accuracy of initial copy and delayed recall. Both immediate copy and delayed recall were related to age, and especially to the strategy adopted at the initial copy. A regression equation was derived whereby delayed recall could be predicted from the strategy adopted at the initial copy and the subject's age. This should prove useful in the analysis of Rey‐Osterrieth performance in individual cases.
Cumulative scales for the measurement of agoraphobia
Authors: Johnston Marie , Johnston Derek W. , Wilkes Helen , Burns Laurence E. , Thorpe Geoffrey L.
Published: July 2011

The questionnaire responses of 559 agoraphobic subjects were analysed to see whether there was a shared hierarchical pattern of fear and avoidance. The items were divided on the basis of a principal component analysis into 13 loading on an Agoraphobia factor and eight on a Claustrophobia factor. When analysed with Guttman Scaling Analysis valid cumulative scales were found for each factor. These scales were replicated in three independent cohorts of subjects and met the most stringent scaling requirements. The scales produced three valid scores of severity for each individual, the first describing exactly which Agoraphobic items the subject avoids, the second describing Agoraphobic items feared and the third Claustrophobic items avoided. Since it is possible to deduce the current pattern of fear and avoidance from the scores, they can be used to summarize the clinical state of an individual client or for making precise descriptive comparisons between agoraphobics. The scales also indicate that agoraphobics do not develop their own unique set of difficulties from the possible pool of problems, but acquire an ordered set of difficulties, the order being shared by other agoraphobics.
Selective memory effects in agoraphobic patients
Authors: Nunn Jean D. , Stevenson Rosemary J. , Whalan Graham
Published: July 2011

Two experiments tested the view that agoraphobic patients would show superior recall for phobic‐related material relative to neutral material. In Expt 1, subjects were required to recall a series of five passages; three contained potentially phobic information and two contained neutral information. The results showed that phobic patients recalled more propositions from the phobic passages than did controls. In Expt 2, subjects completed four study‐test trials with a list of 20 words: 10 phobic words and 10 neutral words. The results showed that the patients recalled more phobic than neutral words while the reverse was the case for controls. The results are discussed in terms of the cognitive organization of phobic patients and are related to Beck & Rush's proposal that phobics have a cognitive organization of situations labelled as dangerous. The possible sources of these selective memory effects are also considered.
The Stress Response Rating Scale: A clinician's measure for rating the response to serious life‐events
Authors: Weiss Daniel S. , Horowitz Mardi J. , Wilner Nancy
Published: July 2011

The impact of a serious life‐event on an individual's psychological well‐being has long been appreciated, but not until recently has it become the subject of more thorough and careful research. Clinical, field, and experimental studies of the effects of potentially distressing life‐events have suggested the presence of two primary modes of response: episodes of denial and numbing, oscillating with periods of intrusive thoughts, images, and pangs of emotion. Although self‐report measures are available for determining the degree of distress experienced in each of these modes of response, there is no measure that can be used by a clinical observer to assess these same phenomena. We offer the Stress Response Rating Scale (SRRS) as such a measure, and present empirical data to support its reliability and validity. In addition, we present some initial normative data, a discussion of issues encountered in developing the scale, and potential difficulties that may be encountered in its use.
Hyperactivity, drugs and attention deficit
Authors: Pozzi M. , Hartley L.
Published: July 2011

Thirty‐two hyperactive children who were under imipramine or methylphenidate medication took part in the experiment. The children were asked to learn a set of paired associate pictures containing a salient, central, figure and a secondary figure below. Free recall of all pictures was scored both immediately and seven days later. The children were subdivided into four groups according to the classical state‐dependent learning paradigm. Group 1 was withdrawn from medication on both trials, groups 2 and 3 were withdrawn from medication on the first or second trial and group 4 received medication on both trials. No drug effects were found in immediate total recall. Delayed free recall was improved when original learning was under the drug state. This result was related to the proposal that arousing words are better remembered in delayed recall. Delayed recall of the secondary stimuli was particularly improved by the drugs during learning. Drug state dependency of the children's memory was also shown.
Illusory correlations in paranoid and non‐paranoid schizophrenia
Authors: Brennan J. H. , Hemsley D. R.
Published: July 2011

Paranoid schizophrenics, non‐paranoid schizophrenics and normals were assessed on tasks designed to demonstrate their tendency to perceive illusory correlations. It was hypothesized that paranoids would show stronger illusory correlations than normals due to the predominance of their schemata when processing information, and that non‐paranoids would show weaker correlations than normals because of their impaired ability to establish conceptual categories. Results were broadly consistent with predictions.