bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social support and stress: The role of social comparison and social exchange processes
Authors: Buunk Bram P. , Hoorens Vera
Published: July 2011

This paper first presents four different conceptualizations of social support: social integration, satisfying relationships, perceived helpfulness and enacted support. Then, classic and contemporary social comparison theory and social exchange theory are analysed as they are two theoretical perspectives that are particularly useful in understanding social support. These perspectives are employed to explain three seemingly paradoxical phenomena in the domain of social support: (1) the fact that support sometimes has negative effects; (2) the fact that the occurrence of stress itself can sometimes decrease the availability of support resources; and (3) the phenomenon that people believe that they give more support than they receive, and that there is more support available for them than for others.
The reduction of aggression in people with learning difficulties: A review of psychological methods
Authors: Whitaker Simon
Published: July 2011

The literature on the reduction of aggression in people with learning difficulties is reviewed. The methods of reducing aggression identified were predominantly evaluated in staffed settings and with target behaviours more frequent than once a day. This contrasts with the findings of a recent survey that found the majority of aggressive individuals to live in the community and show aggression less than once a day. It is argued that the reasons for this disparity are as follows. That it is easier to do a controlled study in staffed settings with high‐frequency aggression. That it is more difficult to do an analysis of the target behaviour if it is low frequency or if the subject is in the community; and that the methods that have been traditionally used to reduce aggression may not be effective with all subjects in all settings. It is suggested that it may be necessary to develop and evaluate a new technology for reducing aggression.
The Spot‐the‐Word test: A robust estimate of verbal intelligence based on lexical decision
Authors: Baddeley Alan , Emslie Hazel , Nimmo‐Smith Ian
Published: July 2011

The development of a test aimed at estimating premorbid intelligence is described. The test, Spot‐the‐Word, involves presenting the subject with pairs of items comprising one word and one non‐word, and requiring the subject to identify the word. Data show that performance correlates highly with verbal intelligence as estimated by Mill Hill Vocabulary score and by performance on the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Performance does not decline with age, in contrast to an associated test of verbal recognition memory. A second study attempted to test the effect of intellectual deterioration due to age on Spot‐the‐Word performance. Elderly subjects who had high vocabulary scores scored well on the Spot‐the‐Word regardless of whether fluid intelligence as measured by the AH4 test was well preserved, or was low, implying intellectual deterioration. A final study collected normative data on a sample of 224 subjects stratified by age and socio‐economic status, with each subject performing two parallel forms of the test, A and B, together with the NART. Correlation between the two forms was .884, while correlation with NART was .831 for Form A and .859 for Form B, suggesting adequate reliability and validity. It is concluded that the test provides a potentially useful additional method of estimating premorbid intelligence.
Understanding women's responses to treatment for cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia
Authors: Palmer A. G. , Tucker S. , Warren R. , Adams M.
Published: July 2011

Laser treatment is held to prevent the development of cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia, or CIN, into invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Recent work has found that such treatment represents a considerable emotional upset in the lives of many women. In this study, the impact of treatment was further investigated, using a control group to separate the effects of diagnosis from those of treatment. The main findings showed that the diagnosis of CIN is traumatic. Women experience high levels of intrusive thoughts and avoidance, and in response to perceived threats to their health, and existing beliefs about themselves, they also experience high levels of anger. An impact of treatment over and above that of diagnosis was not found. From the interview data, diagnosis has its traumatic impact through women's understanding of CIN's association with cervical cancer, a potentially life‐threatening disease. Interview data also suggest that body image and sexual relationships suffer following diagnosis because of CIN's postulated causal relationship to the sexually transmitted wart virus. Fear of the progression of CIN to cervical cancer is consistent with the medical model which provides the rationale for preventative laser treatment. It is speculated that once women are diagnosed as having CIN, the spectre of cancer is raised and their anxiety may be such that being monitored and not immediately treated may cause them great distress.
Prognostic utility of subcomponents of the borderline personality construct in bulimia nervosa
Authors: Steiger Howard , Leung Freedom , Thibaudeau Jean , Houle Lucie
Published: July 2011

We examined various components of the ‘borderline personality construct’ as predictors of initial response to treatment in 61 bulimic patients. At pre‐treatment, a ‘borderline/non‐borderline’ distinction was established using DSM III‐R criteria, and other components of ‘borderline’ pathology (‘borderline traits’, object‐relations disturbances, maladaptive defences and mood pathology) were assessed using self‐report. Self‐reported eating and psychiatric symptoms were obtained at initial and three‐month evaluations. Using hierarchical regression analyses, we controlled effects of initial eating and psychiatric symptoms, and then evaluated various measures of the borderline construct as predictors of later symptom severity. Categorical borderline PD diagnoses were linked to poorer response on eating attitudes and symptoms, and fine‐grained analyses indicated that this prognostic effect might be mediated by mood and object‐relations disturbances. Findings therefore seemed to isolate specific subcomponents of borderline personality pathology that predicted poorer response on eating symptoms.
A study of psychological well‐being among gay men using the GHQ‐30
Authors: Coyle Adrian
Published: July 2011

This study uses the 30‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐30) to examine the psychological well‐being of 140 gay men from the London area. These men exhibited a level of psychological well‐being comparable to that shown by single men from the general population in a study by Cox et al. (1987) and higher than that of divorced/separated and widowed men. This finding suggests that homosexuality per se is not inimical with psychological well‐being.
The right‐ear advantage in schizophrenia
Authors: Shukla Veena , Behere Prakash B. , Mandal Manas K.
Published: July 2011

Schizophrenics, patients with affective disorder and normal controls were tested on a verbal dichotic listening task at three time periods, 0–2, 4–6 and 14–16 weeks. Schizophrenics had non‐significant ear difference during the acute state of illness (0–2 weeks) and the normal right‐ear advantage emerged when acuteness subsided (14–16 weeks).
The relationship between secretory immunity, mood and life‐events
Authors: Evans Phil , Bristow Matthew , Hucklebridge Frank , Clow Angela , Walters Nick
Published: July 2011

Twelve subjects volunteered to take part in a short trial involving daily life‐event and mood recording over a period of up to two weeks. On each day subjects also provided timed saliva samples. Aggregated data across the trial period revealed that unstimulated secretion rate of secretory immunoglobulin A from whole saliva correlated strongly and significantly with net desirable event reporting, defined as a subject's tendency to report relatively frequent desirable events and relatively infrequent undesirable events. Correlations with positive and negative mood were insignificant, although the pattern of results was in line with hypotheses. Within‐subject analyses revealed a totally contrary pattern of results. In particular, negative mood was significantly associated with higher sIgA secretion rate. Analyses involving total sIgA concentration paralleled those using secretion rate. Results are discussed in relation to psychoneuroimmunological models of illness vulnerability, particularly upper respiratory infection, and previous findings in regard to secretory immunity.
A comparison of health beliefs and behaviours of clients of orthodox and complementary medicine
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Bhagrath Ravi
Published: July 2011

This study sought to compare and contrast the beliefs and expectations of two groups – the one choosing to visit an orthodox medical general practitioner and the other a complementary medicine homeopath. Eighty patients from each group were compared and were found not to be significantly different in sex, level of education, marital status, religious or political affiliation. They completed a fairly lengthy questionnaire which examined health consciousness, perceived health risks, illness prevention, general health beliefs, treatment preference, medical history, mental health and health locus of control. Compared to patients of orthodox medicine, homeopathic patients claimed to (a) take less notice of popular health care recommendations; (b) believe in numerous ‘healthy life‐style’ methods of preventing illness; (c) trust more in their chosen primary health professional (and to try other complementary medical practices); and (d) be dissatisfied with orthodox medicine and believe in potential self‐control over health. Results were not dissimilar to previous studies (Furnham & Smith, 1988) but limitations of this particular study were considered.
Primary hypothyroidism: A case for vigilance in the psychological treatment of depression
Authors: Tallis Frank
Published: July 2011

Primary hypothyroidism is a relatively common endocrine disorder that develops insidiously and can mimic depression. Between 8 and 14 per cent of patients diagnosed as depressed may have some degree of hypothyroidism. It is recommended that clinical psychologists equip themselves with sufficient knowledge to recognize the disorder. Primary hypothyroidism is described with respect to its causes, course, investigation and treatment. Suggestions are made to help psychologists determine whether a medical referral is appropriate.
Interrogative suggestibility, confabulation, and acquiescence in people with mild learning disabilities (mental handicap): Implications for reliability during police interrogations
Authors: Clare I. C. H. , Gudjonsson G. H.
Published: July 2011

In order to assess a criminal suspect's ability to make a reliable statement, performance on three measures—interrogative suggestibility, confabulation and acquiescence—may be used. This paper presents preliminary data on these measures for people with mild learning disabilities (Full Scale IQ [FSIQ]: 57–75). It was found that they were more suggestible than their average ability counterparts (FSIQ: 83–111) because they were much more susceptible to ‘leading questions’. They also confabulated more and were more acquiescent. Overall, the data emphasized their potential vulnerability to giving erroneous testimony during interrogations.
First impressions count: A controlled investigation of social skill following closed head injury
Authors: Spence Sharon E. , Godfrey Hamish P. D. , Knight Robert G. , Bishara Samir N.
Published: July 2011

This study examined social skills in 14 closed head injured (CHI) patients who were assessed at four months post‐injury and compared with 19 orthopaedic control (OC) patients. Social skills deficits were found to be more common in the CHI patients, of whom over half were classified as socially unskilled. CHI patients displayed poorer social skills in the earlier (but not later) part of an extended social interaction, indicating that they make a poor first impression. It is suggested that poor initial impression formation skills may be one reason why CHI patients fail to establish and maintain friendships. Implications of these findings for patient management are discussed.

Close others of CHI patients reported higher levels of mood disturbance. Higher levels of close other hostility were associated with social skills deficits in CHI patients.
Effect of rational and irrational statements on intensity and ‘inappropriateness' of emotional distress and irrational beliefs in psychotherapy patients
Authors: Cramer Duncan , Kupshik Gary
Published: July 2011

Ellis's rational–emotive theory postulates that since irrational statements augment emotional distress, replacing irrational with rational statements should lessen distress. This hypothesis was tested in the initial stages of psychotherapy by having 13 and 14 clinical out‐patients respectively repeat for one minute either rational or irrational statements about their major presenting psychological problem. The distinction by Ellis & Harper (1975) that ‘inappropriate’ emotions differ qualitatively from ‘appropriate’ emotions was also examined. Although the experimental intervention had no effect on a post‐test measure of irrational beliefs, patients repeating rational statements had significantly lower appropriate and inappropriate negative emotions at post‐test, suggesting that inappropriate emotions do not differ qualitatively from appropriate emotions and that making rational statements may lower emotional distress in patients. Patients reiterating irrational statements showed no change in emotions, implying that these kinds of irrational cognitions may have already been present.
The Herald of Free Enterprise disaster: Measuring post‐traumatic symptoms 30 months on
Authors: Joseph Steve , Yule William , Williams Ruth , Hodgkinson Peter
Published: July 2011

The aim of the present study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Impact of Events Scale. Evidence is presented that the scale is composed of two major factors tapping intrusion and avoidance which are associated with greater psychological distress.
Sequential Cotard and Capgras delusions
Authors: Wright Simon , Young Andrew W. , Hellawell Deborah J.
Published: July 2011

We report sequential Cotard and Capgras delusions in the same patient, KH, and offer a simple hypothesis to account for this link. The Cotard delusion occurred when KH was depressed and the Capgras delusion arose in the context of persecutory delusions. We suggest that the Cotard and Capgras delusions reflect different interpretations of similar anomalous experiences, and that the persecutory delusions and suspiciousness that are often noted in Capgras cases contribute to the patients' mistaking a change in themselves for a change in others (‘they are impostors’), whereas people who are depressed exaggerate the negative effects of the same change whilst correctly attributing it to themselves (‘I am dead’). This explains why there might be an underlying similarity between delusions which are phenomenally distinct.
Sexual abuse and body‐image distortion in the eating disorders
Authors: Waller Glenn , Hamilton Kate , Rose Nicola , Sumra Jaspreet , Baldwin Gillian
Published: July 2011

It has been suggested that there is a link between sexual abuse and bodily self‐deprecation in women with eating disorders. In order to test that model, this study considers whether reported sexual abuse is associated with body‐image distortion in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. There was no association with the reported presence of a history of abuse. However, the nature of any abuse was important. In particular, women who reported more recent abuse had a substantially greater level of body‐size overestimation. The clinical implications of this finding are discussed.
Therapist treatment fidelity in prescriptive vs. exploratory psychotherapy
Authors: Startup Mike , Shapiro David A.
Published: July 2011

Therapist fidelity to the manuals for prescriptive and exploratory psychotherapies was assessed via the Sheffield Psychotherapy Rating Scale. Ratings on 220 sessions drawn from the Second Sheffield Psychotherapy Project showed adequate interrater reliabilities within and between treatments. Discriminant analysis showed that the treatments could be differentiated almost perfectly even though the same five therapists delivered both of them. Relationship enhancing skills, measured by a facilitative conditions scale, were held constant across treatments and contributed nothing to the discriminant function. There was no evidence that adherence varied with the severity of the clients' symptoms and only very limited evidence that it varied with the duration of treatment, despite there being adequate statistical power to detect small effects. Small variations in adherence with the stage of treatment were found but only for sessions of prescriptive therapy.
Sociotropy, autonomy and personal memories in depression
Authors: Moore Richard G. , Blackburn Ivy‐Marie
Published: July 2011

Recent research suggesting an association of sociotropy and autonomy with vulnerability to depression in response to different types of event remains to be integrated with the cognitive model. This study investigated the relationship of sociotropy and autonomy to specific cognitive processes in a sample of 20 unipolar depressed patients. In the autobiographical memory paradigm used, the hypothesis that sociotropy would be associated with faster recall of sociotropic negative memories was supported. No support was found for the predicted relationship of autonomy with speed of recall of autonomous memories. The implications of the results for cognitive vulnerability to specific events are discussed and recommendations for replication stressed.
An analysis of labels for people with learning disabilities
Authors: Hastings Richard P. , Sonuga‐Barke Edmund J. S. , Remington Bob
Published: July 2011

There have been many changes in the terminology used to describe people with learning disabilities in recent years. One of the arguments for ‘new’ terms is their more positive connotations. This claim was investigated in a study in which sixth‐form pupils (age 16–19) completed semantic differentials for contemporary and older labels referring to learning disabilities. Apart from the label ‘exceptional’, all had very similar negative connotations. The problems arising from using denotative terms inaccurately in order to foster more positive images of individuals with learning disabilities are briefly discussed. Alternative ways of deciding between labels are suggested.
Anticipation of handling the dead: Effects of gender and experience
Authors: McCarroll James E. , Ursano Robert J. , Ventis W. Larry , Fullerton Carol S. , Oates Gary L. , Friedman Herbert , Shean Glenn D. , Wright Kathleen M.
Published: July 2011

In addition to the direct psychological effects of disaster stressors, anticipation of stress can itself be debilitating. We examined the relationship between the anticipated stress of handling the dead and gender and experience. Experienced persons had lower anticipated stress than inexperienced persons. Inexperienced females had higher anticipated stress than inexperienced males; experienced males and females did not differ. Results provide support for an ‘inoculation’ theory of stress buffering in disaster workers.
Expectations, experiences and satisfaction with labour
Authors: Slade P. , MacPherson S. A. , Hume A. , Maresh M.
Published: July 2011

Emotional, medical and control aspects of labour were explored in 81 primiparous women. Expectations were assessed antenatally and compared with postnatal reports of experiences. Expectations of positive emotions were significantly greater than experience while negative emotional expectations were paralleled by experience. There was a major discrepancy between expectations and experiences of the occurrence of interventions, with the proportion of women expecting interventions being greatly exceeded by those actually undergoing such experiences. In addition, expectations concerning personal control together with the use and efficacy of breathing and relaxation exercises in labour were elevated in relation to experience. Positive emotional expectations were strong predictors of positive emotional experiences and unrelated to negative emotional expectations. Expectations in general were positively related to experience but the strength of the association was weak.

Personal satisfaction (i.e. satisfaction with self) in labour was strongly associated with the ability to control panic and other aspects of personal control. The ability to control panic was mainly influenced by the use of exercises. Attenders and non‐attenders at antenatal preparation classes showed no significant differences in their experiences or personal satisfaction levels. Possible explanations for this absence of impact are discussed together with issues concerning the relevance of psychological theory to midwifery practice and the need for greater integration.
Are older adults less compliant with prescribed medication than younger adults?
Authors: Lorenc Louise , Branthwaite Alan
Published: July 2011

To compare compliance in older adults with that of younger people, two studies investigated general practice patients taking either a short course of antibiotics or long‐term medication. These studies examined the effects of age on compliance separately from other factors such as memory, domestic conditions, health beliefs, numbers of drugs being taken, etc.

The results indicate that seven variables were independently and significantly related to better compliance: accurate knowledge of regimen; belief in the importance of taking tablets exactly as prescribed; low resentment of time spent waiting to see the doctor; less fear of illness; ability to read the label on the bottle; understanding what the doctor has said; and living with a relative.

Age as such was not a factor affecting compliance. The results are discussed in terms of the potential influence of GPs in improving compliance in their patients.
Anticipatory nausea and vomiting: Are psychological factors adequately investigated?
Authors: Blasco Tomás
Published: July 2011

Current research on chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients is reviewed, and some hypotheses to explain why anticipatory and post‐chemotherapy nausea and vomiting appear are suggested. Methodological problems are also discussed. It is suggested that future research should focus on post‐chemotherapy nausea and emesis, rather than anticipatory nausea and emesis, in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the psychological factors involved in the development of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting.
Stimulus estimation and the overprediction of fear
Authors: Taylor Steven , Rachman S. J.
Published: July 2011

Overprediction of fear is the tendency to overestimate the amount of fear that one will experience in a subjectively threatening situation. Little is known about this bias, despite the important role it appears to play in producing phobic avoidance. The present study proposed a stimulus estimation hypothesis of overprediction, which states that overprediction of fear arises from the overprediction of the danger features of the feared stimulus and the underprediction of safety features. This model was supported by the results of structural equation modelling based on the responses of 224 snake‐fearful subjects exposed to a live harmless snake. The determinants of the stimulus estimation bias are considered and directions for further investigation are discussed.
Living with the opposite sex: The views of long‐stay psychiatric patients
Authors: Hingley Susan M. , Goodwin Anne M.
Published: July 2011

Assumptions tend to be made about the value of long‐stay psychiatric patients living on mixed‐sex wards. In this study the views of 71 patients living on single‐sex continuing care wards were elicited using a six‐item structured interview. The data were analysed by quantitative and qualitative methods. The results show that the majority of patients preferred single‐sex living. The benefits and problems of surveys with this population are discussed as well as the implications for decisions about the structure and quality of care.
Assessing cognitive estimation
Authors: O'Carroll Ronan , Egan Vincent , MacKenzie Donald M.
Published: July 2011

The Cognitive Estimation Test (CET) was devised in an attempt to quantify the tendency observed in patients with frontal lobe lesions to produce bizarre estimations in response to fairly simple questions, despite performing normally on standard intelligence tests. Several studies have been published where CET performance in patient groups has been examined. However, there is a paucity of adequate normative data. In the present study, representative normative data are provided from 150 healthy controls. CET performance was found to be moderately related to general intellectual ability, with females performing more poorly than males. The scale was examined psychometrically, and was found to be factorially impure, with poor internal reliability but adequate inter‐rater reliability. Further revision of the CET is required in order to render it a psychometrically acceptable instrument.
Spinal cord injury: A search for determinants of depression two years after the event
Authors: Craig Ashley R. , Hancock Karen M. , Dickson Hugh G.
Published: July 2011

A prospective longitudinal study employing repeated measures was used to isolate factors which might predispose a person to depression two years after sustaining spinal cord injury (SCI). Thirty‐one subjects who suffered acute spinal injuries resulting in permanent loss of movement, and who had no head injuries or any preexisting psychopathology, were at least 17 years of age, and who were able to speak English, participated in the study. Using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as a measure of depression, a regression analysis demonstrated that the experience of pain two years post‐injury and feeling out of control of one's life prior to hospital discharge were predictive of depression two years post‐injury. No demographic variables or injury characteristics such as level of lesion or completeness of lesion were related to long‐term depression. Pain management and rehabilitation techniques that enhance the individual's belief of control over their lives are therefore recommended as interventions that could act to reduce depression in the long term in persons with spinal cord injury.
The inter‐rater reliability of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (Form 2)
Authors: Clare Isabel C. H. , Gudjonsson Gisli H. , Rutter Susan C. , Cross Philippa
Published: July 2011

The Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS) is widely used, particularly in the preparation of court reports, to derive information on the memory, suggestibility and confabulation of criminal suspects, victims and witnesses. The inter‐rater reliability of all these measures was assessed by three raters, using the data of 101 subjects who were tested on the parallel form of the scale (GSS2). The intra‐class correlation coefficients for all the memory and suggestibility measures were both very high (.951‐.996) and highly significant (p < .001 for all measures), indicating a high level of inter‐rater reliability. In contrast, whilst still highly significant (p < .001), the correlations for confabulation on immediate and delayed recall were much lower (.724 and .803, respectively). Guidelines are provided to refine the scoring of memory and suggestibility and to clarify the definition of confabulation.
Identification of subtypes of problem drinkers based on neuropsychological performance
Authors: Alderdice F. A. , McGuinness C. , Brown K.
Published: July 2011

The key issue addressed in this paper is: Can specific subtypes of drinkers be identified on the basis of their neuropsychological performance? A multivariate model of neuropsychological deficits related to alcohol abuse was proposed and cluster analysis was used to see if subtypes could be identified which matched those indicated in the multivariate model. A neuropsychological cognitive assessment battery was given to a wide variety of drinkers (N = 88). Factor analysis yielded scores on four factors which formed the basis for the cluster analysis. Seven stable clusters were identified based on cognitive performance alone. Additionally, clusters were significantly differentiated by age, IQ, education, number of units of alcohol consumed on a heavy drinking day, nutritional status, stress and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Lie score. The seven clusters were eventually profiled as healthy males, healthy females, males with stress‐related deficits, females with stress‐related deficits, mildly impaired males, deficits related to liver dysfunction and mild alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome. The clusters successfully mapped onto the proposed model reinforcing the need for a multivariate approach to the study of neuropsychological deficits in problem drinkers.
The dentist's attitudes and their interaction with patient involvement in oral hygiene compliance
Authors: Sandell Rolf , Camner Lars G. , Sarhed Gun
Published: July 2011

The influence on patient compliance of the dentist's attitudes to his or her job and to his or her patient was studied in a sample of 82 patients. The dentist's attitudes were assessed at the beginning of dental treatment. Treatment consisted of cleaning, depuration and motivation. At follow‐up examination after six months, attendance at follow‐up and the development of plaque, calculus and gingivitis were significantly predicted by the dentist's attitudes. A causal model, which also included factors of patient involvement, was developed. The compliance‐producing factors were, primarily, the establishment of sympathy and an informal relationship between dentist and patient. The patient's habit of regularly making visits to a dentist, in a complex way, also contributed to compliance.
Why do patients turn to complementary medicine? An empirical study
Authors: Vincent Charles , Furnham Adrian
Published: July 2011

Over 250 patients from three complementary medicine practices—acupuncture, osteopathy and homoeopathy‐completed a questionnaire rating 20 potential reasons for seeking complementary treatment. The reasons that were most strongly endorsed were ‘because I value the emphasis on treating the whole person’; ‘because I believe complementary therapy will be more effective for my problem than orthodox medicine’; ‘because I believe that complementary medicine will enable me to take a more active part in maintaining my health’; and ‘because orthodox treatment was not effective for my particular problem’.

Five factors were identified, in order of importance: a positive valuation of complementary treatment, the ineffectiveness of orthodox treatment for their complaint, concern about the adverse effects of orthodox medicine, concerns about communication with doctors and, of less importance, the availability of complementary medicine. Groups were compared, using analysis of covariance to control for demographic differences between the three patient groups.

Osteopathy patients' reasons indicated they were least concerned about the side effects of orthodox medicine and most influenced by the availability of osteopathy for their complaints. Homoeopathy patients were most strongly influenced by the ineffectiveness of orthodox medicine for their complaints, a fact which was largely accounted for by the chronicity of their complaints. Results are discussed in terms of the limited research in this area. Future studies should separate the reasons for beginning complementary treatment from the reasons for continuing it. It is possible, for instance, that the failure of orthodox medicine is the strongest motive for seeking complementary treatment but that, once treatment has been experienced, other more positive factors become more important.
Causal attributions for criminal offending and sexual arousal: Comparison of child sex offenders with other offenders
Authors: McKay Meryl M. , Chapman James W. , Long Nigel R.
Published: July 2011

Causal attributions for their offending, and for sexual arousal and sexual behaviour, were investigated for 50 males convicted of child sex offences. These attributions were compared with those obtained from 150 males convicted of one of three other criminal offences: rape, property offences and violent offences against persons. In semi‐structured interviews, the Offence and Sexual Arousal and Behaviour Attribution Questionnaires were administered. Offenders offered causal attributions for their offending and for their sexual arousal, and they rated these causes on attribution dimensions. Results showed that child sex offenders attributed both their offending and their sexual arousal to internal, stable and uncontrollable causes. Rapists and property offenders attributed their offending behaviour to external, stable and uncontrollable causes; and violent offenders to internal, stable and uncontrollable causes. In contrast to child sex offenders, the other three groups all attributed their sexual arousal and sexual behaviour to external, unstable and controllable causes. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention programmes.
The factor structure of ‘schizotypal‘ traits: A large replication study
Authors: Claridge G. , McCreery C. , Mason O. , Bentall R. , Boyle G. , Slade P. , Popplewell D.
Published: July 2011

The heterogeneity of schizotypal traits, suggested in previous research, was further investigated in a sample of subjects (N = 1095) administered a composite questionnaire consisting of a large number of published scales the majority of which were designed to measure psychotic characteristics. Factor analysis confirmed the four components previously indicated in our work with the same instrument; namely, ‘aberrant perceptions and beliefs’, ‘cognitive disorganization’, ‘introvertive anhedonia’ and ‘asocial behaviour’. This structure was maintained regardless of whether or not the analysis included scales from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, which might otherwise have been held to explain the variance. ‘Aberrant perceptions and beliefs’—reminiscent of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia was the strongest component; but, given the multidimensional nature of the data, together with the pattern of factor loadings and intercorrelations for the scales involved, it was concluded that the broader term ‘psychosis‐proneness’ or ‘psychoticism’ (in a non‐Eysenckian sense) might be a better descriptor of the clinical and personality domain sampled.
Post‐traumatic stress reactions in children: Gender differences in the incidence of trauma reactions at two years and examination of factors influencing adjustment
Authors: Curle C. E. , Williams C.
Published: July 2011

Although a number of studies have noted gender differences in post‐traumatic reactions, little has been written about the phenomena. This study examines the post‐traumatic reactions among 25 predominantly adolescent children, from a rural community college, two years after a non‐fatal school coach accident in the Austrian Alps. For the group as a whole psychological adjustment is good, but gender differences are noted with poorer adjustment for girls. Hospitalization was associated with worse outcome for both boys and girls. The gender differences noted are considered in the light of coping strategies chosen by the children.
Cognitive therapy for antisocial and borderline personality disorders: Single case study series
Authors: Davidson Kate M. , Tyrer Peter
Published: July 2011

Cognitive therapy for affective disorders has been recently adapted and developed for the treatment of personality disorders. In the present study, a specific and detailed cognitive therapy treatment manual for borderline and antisocial personality disorders was evaluated in a pilot study. The results of a single case series demonstrate that important clinical changes in dysfunctional behaviour and attitudes can be achieved with short‐term cognitive therapy in patients with antisocial and borderline personality disorders, although these were not, on the whole, statistically significant.
The California Card Sorting Test may dissociate verbal and non‐verbal concept formation abilities
Authors: Crouch John A. , Greve Kevin W. , Brooks Jill
Published: July 2011

Most neuropsychological measures of executive function provide only global indices of performance and are relatively insensitive to lateralized dysfunction. The present paper presents a right temporal lobectomy patient whose performance indicates that the California Card Sorting Test, a new measure of executive function, may dissociate verbal and non‐verbal concept formation abilities. This case highlights the potential research and clinical value of this test compared to that of existing tests of executive function.
A questionnaire for the measurement of paranoia/suspiciousness
Authors: Rawlings David , Freeman Justin L.
Published: July 2011

A 47‐item Paranoia/Suspiciousness Questionnaire was developed on a non‐psychiatric sample using modified items from several established scales of paranoia and related concepts. Factor analysis of the questionnaire identified five moderately correlated subscales labelled Interpersonal Suspiciousness/Hostility, Negative Mood/Withdrawal, Anger/Impulsiveness, Mistrust/Wariness and Perceived Hardship/Resentment. There were no significant differences between males and females on the questionnaire or any of the subscales. The full questionnaire and the subscales showed satisfactory internal consistency and test‐retest reliability. Further research is needed to establish the scale as a useful diagnostic tool.
Adaptation to cognitive deficit? An exploration of apparent dissociations between everyday memory and test performance late after stroke
Authors: Sunderland A. , Stewart F. M. , Sluman S. M.
Published: July 2011

It is widely believed that spontaneous improvements in functioning late after brain damage are due to processes of adaptation to permanent cognitive deficits. Reports of everyday memory and the pattern of performance on memory tests were investigated in 70 patients more than a year after a stroke. Contrary to the adaptation hypothesis, performance on simulations of everyday tasks (Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test) correlated strongly with performance on a test where there was little scope for compensatory strategies (forced‐choice recognition memory for words). In 12 cases, initial assessment with the EMQ20 questionnaire suggested few cognitive failures in everyday life despite poor test performance. However, where further investigation was possible, it seemed that unreliability of measures or subtle everyday effects of non‐verbal memory impairment could explain the apparent discrepancies. In addition, patients who did poorly on tests were not reported to make frequent use of memory aids. Adaptation to deficit does not therefore appear to be a major influence on everyday memory performance late after stroke, but it may have subtle effects or may be important in other areas of functioning. Implications for clinical memory assessment are discussed.
Early intervention in psychosis: Opportunities for secondary prevention
Authors: Jackson Chris , Birchwood Max
Published: July 2011

A description of an emerging paradigm is presented which places emphasis upon secondary prevention in psychosis. It is argued that the first two or three years following a first episode of psychosis is a crucial period for high‐quality psychosocial and biological interventions and a time slot which may influence recovery and long‐term outcome. Factors contributing to long‐term outcome as possible areas for secondary prevention are reviewed.
Ways of coping with psychological distress after trauma
Authors: Charlton P. F. C. , Thompson J. A.
Published: July 2011

One hundred and eight survivors of trauma attending a stress clinic were assessed on measures of coping, personality, control expectancies and psychological distress. The psychometric characteristics of these questionnaires are discussed, and the relationships between them investigated using correlational and regression techniques. Although cross‐sectional studies can only be indicative, it would appear that most coping strategies, and particularly escape‐avoidance, are consistently associated with high psychological distress, with the exception of positive reappraisal and distancing, which are the only strategies associated with better psychological outcome. It may be that deeply distressed survivors cannot find effective ways of obtaining relief, and therefore report many ways of trying to cope.
A comparison of the NART (restandardized) and the NART‐R (revised)
Authors: Mockler Darren , Riordan John , Sharma Tonmoy
Published: July 2011

The ability of the National Adult Reading Test (NART; Nelson & Willison, 1991) and the revised NART (NART‐R; Crawford, 1990) to estimate IQ was examined in a healthy sample (N = 47) using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐Revised (WAIS‐R) scores as the criterion. Mean estimated IQs from the NART‐R were not significantly different from the WAIS‐R Full Scale and Performance IQ, but the NART‐R significantly overestimated Verbal IQ by 2.5 points. Nelson & Willison's (1991) NART equations significantly overestimated Full Scale and Verbal IQ by 5.3 and 5.5 IQ points respectively. The NART‐R had significantly higher correlations with Full Scale and Verbal IQ than the NART.
The therapeutic effect of reactive self‐monitoring on the reduction of inappropriate social and stereotypic behaviours
Authors: Pope Sharon T. , Jones Robert S. P.
Published: July 2011

The effect of self‐monitoring on the reduction of inappropriate social and stereotypic behaviour was investigated. Participants were three men and two women with mild to moderate learning disabilities. A multiple baseline design across participants was used. Participants were taught to monitor and record the frequency of their inappropriate behaviours. No extrinsic reinforcement was used throughout the study. Assessments of language ability and functional significance of behaviours were made. Significant reductions in target behaviours for all participants were observed. The findings suggest that individuals with learning disabilities have the potential to use self‐regulatory procedures to control their behaviour with a minimum of external intervention. The implications of language development and functional covariation of behaviours are discussed.
WAIS‐R short‐forms: Criterion validity in healthy and clinical samples
Authors: Crawford J. R. , Mychalkiw B. , Johnson D. A. , Moore J. W.
Published: July 2011

Regression equations developed by Crawford, Allan & Jack (1992) to estimate full‐length WAIS‐R IQs from seven short‐forms were evaluated in healthy (N = 153) and neurological (N = 471) cross‐validation samples. In the healthy sample the correlations between the short‐forms and full‐length IQs did not differ significantly from those obtained by Crawford et al. (1992). In the neurological sample the six‐and seven‐subtest short‐forms, proposed by Crawford et al. (1992) and Warrington, James & Maciejewski (1986) respectively, differed from the other short‐forms in that they had significantly higher criterion validity coefficients and did not systematically under‐ or overestimate IQs.
Reports of dieting among children: Effects of interview style and approach to information collection
Authors: Huon Gail F. , Godden Vanessa M. , Brown Laurence B.
Published: July 2011

Recent reports have suggested that worrying about getting fat, and restrictive eating practices have been identified among pre‐pubescent girls. This study sought to examine the extent to which interviewing styles and question or response types would differentially affect such reports about dieting among 40 third‐ and 40 sixth‐grade girls. When these girls were asked if they had dieted, or if they intended to go on a diet in the future, the information‐eliciting strategies interacted in different ways for the younger and older girls. As an external validation of their body‐related attitudes, a second aim was to replicate Huon, Morris & Brown's (1990) body size preference study with children. Few girls identified the very thin body as their ‘ideal’, and their choices were not consistent with the claim that they might be dissatisfied with their body.
Generalized and event‐specific hopelessness: Salvaging the mediation hypothesis of the hopelessness theory
Authors: Lynd‐Stevenson Robert M.
Published: July 2011

Present research provides little support for the prediction central to hopelessness theory that hopelessness mediates the full relationship between vulnerability factors (e.g. stressful life‐events, attributional style) and depression. Indeed, contrary to hopelessness theory, an accumulating body of research indicates that hopelessness moderates the relationship between vulnerability factors and depression. The proposal in the present study was that the type of hopelessness typically measured in the research literature has trait‐like characteristics and cannot be used to test the mediation hypothesis. The prediction was that hopelessness would operate as a mediator and not a moderator if items in a measure of generalized hopelessness were reworded to measure event‐specific hopelessness. A sample of 153 unemployed people completed measures of attributional style for positive and negative outcomes, stress associated with being unemployed, job hopelessness, and depressive symptoms. The results supported the hypothesis that event‐specific hopelessness mediates, but does not moderate, the relationship between vulnerability factors and depression. Implications for hopelessness theory and future research are discussed.
On predicting improvement and relapse in generalized anxiety disorder following psychotherapy
Authors: Durham Robert C. , Allan Thérèse , Hackett Christine A.
Published: July 2011

This paper concerns an investigation of outcome predictors in a clinical trial of psychological therapies for generalized anxiety disorder. A variety of information of potential predictive value was obtained at three stages of patient contact: the initial referral, a screening interview and early sessions of therapy. Three measures of the clinical significance of change over a 12‐month follow‐up period were used to construct a composite measure which categorized outcome in terms of sustained improvement, relapse and no consistent change. Logistic regression was used to examine the validity of predictors identified in previous research and the relative importance of data obtained from the three different stages. Seventy‐one per cent of patients were correctly classified as improved or not from initial data with a significant increase in accuracy with information from the screening interview (77 per cent) and early sessions (82 per cent). Patients who relapsed or not were predicted with considerable accuracy from initial data (90 per cent) and there was no significant increase in predictive power with additional information. The most powerful and robust predictors were: type of treatment received, marital status, marital tension and complexity of clinical presentation in terms of axis 1 co‐morbidity. A conceptual framework for prediction is outlined.
The experience of caring for former long‐stay psychiatric patients
Authors: McGilloway Sinead , Donnelly Michael , Mays Nicholas
Published: July 2011

This study investigated the experiences and the mental health status of the informal carers (usually relatives) of 38 former long‐stay psychiatric patients. According to the GHQ‐12, 45 per cent of carers were classified as minor psychiatric ‘cases’. Women were significantly more likely than men to experience poor mental health. Most carers reported personal and social restrictions, but cases were significantly more likely than non‐cases to report personal, physical and financial burden.