bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perfectionism and suicide potential
Authors: Hewitt Paul L. , Flett Gordon L. , Turnbull‐Donovan Wendy
Published: July 2011

The present study employed a multidimensional approach to examine the association between perfectionism and suicide threat. The present study also examined whether perfectionism variables predicted variance in suicide threat and suicide intention that is not accounted for by other well‐known predictors (i.e. depression and hopelessness). A sample of 87 psychiatric patients completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the MMPI Threat Suicide Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale assesses self‐oriented perfectionism, other‐oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism. The analyses revealed that socially prescribed perfectionism was the only perfectionism dimension correlated significantly with suicide threat and intent. Moreover, hierarchical regression analyses showed that socially prescribed perfectionism predicted variance in suicide scores that was not accounted for by depression or hopelessness. Overall, the findings suggest that suicide potential is associated with a dispositional tendency to perceive that other people are unrealistic in their expectations for the self. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention.
Short‐forms of the UK WAIS—R: Regression equations and their predictive validity in a general population sample
Authors: Crawford J. R. , Allan K. M. , Jack A. M.
Published: July 2011

A sample of 200 healthy subjects, representative of the adult UK population in terms of age, sex and social class distribution, were administered a full‐length WAIS—R (UK). Regression equations were built to predict full‐length IQ from a series of short‐forms. The short‐forms ranged from a two‐subtest version proposed by Silverstein (1982) to a seven‐subtest version proposed by Warrington, James & Maciejewski (1986). Regression equations, their standard errors of estimate and confidence intervals are presented as well as IQ conversion tables. The short‐forms are evaluated in terms of their validity in predicting full‐length IQ and in terms of their clinical utility. The advantages of regression‐based estimates of full‐length IQ over those derived from conventional prorating are discussed.
Symptom‐validity testing of feigned sensory or memory deficits: A further elaboration for subjects who understand the rationale
Authors: Cliffe Michael J.
Published: July 2011

Symptom‐validity testing has been used to detect feigning in patients claiming sensory and memory deficits. Such patients typically give significantly fewer correct responses on forced‐choice testing than would be expected by chance. Some subjects have been able to understand the rationale and respond at the chance level. Some have evaded detection by elaborations of the technique which seek evidence of non‐randomness in the sequence of correct and incorrect responses. This paper reports the stratagem used by one such subject and a further elaboration of the technique by which it was detected.
Personality disorders in panic with agoraphobia and major depression
Authors: Hoffart Asle , Martinsen Egil W.
Published: July 2011

Abstract— Abstract‐paranoid and avoidant personality disorders were more frequent in 31 comorbid patients who had both panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depression than in 38 panic disorder patients with agoraphobia and without major depression and in 46 major depressed patients without panic and/or agoraphobia.
Selective memory for sensory and affective information in chronic pain and depression
Authors: Edwards Lindsey , Pearce Shirley , Collett Beverly‐Jane , Pugh Robert
Published: July 2011

Mood congruity effects in induced mood states and affective disorders are well established. Recent evidence suggests that a similar process occurs in chronic pain patients, although the extent to which the memory bias is a consequence of the affective or sensory state of the subject in this group is unknown. In this study selective memory for sensory and affective pain‐related information was investigated in depressed and non‐depressed chronic pain patients and depressed psychiatric patients. A recall test comprising sensory, affective and neutral adjectives matched for frequency was followed by a recognition task, where the words of the recall test were randomized with an equal number of new adjectives matched for word type and frequency. Comparison of the three patient groups with normal controls revealed specific recall biases directly related to pain and depression in both chronic pain groups and the controls. Contrary to expectations, the depressed psychiatric patients failed to show a recall bias for affective adjectives: the possibility of cognitive avoidance as an explanation for this is discussed. Signal detection analysis of the recognition results suggested that selective memory in chronic pain and depression may to some extent be accounted for by differences in ‘true memory’, the contribution of response bias remaining less clear.
Early intervention in schizophrenia: Theoretical background and clinical strategies
Authors: Birchwood Max
Published: July 2011

Clinical observation and retrospective studies have provided considerable information as to the nature of decompensation into acute schizophrenic illness. These themes have been further developed in studies designed to reduce overall exposure to neuroleptics whilst maintaining adequate prophylaxis against relapse. This review extracts from the literature information which could be harnessed to prevent, abort or ameliorate florid schizophrenic relapse. Emphasis is laid upon the coordination of psychological and medical approaches, describing in some detail both the theoretical background and practical intervention strategies in development, and exploring their implications for the role of clinical psychologists.
Verbal Fluency: A NART‐based equation for the estimation of premorbid performance
Authors: Crawford J. R. , Moore J. W. , Cameron I. M.
Published: July 2011

A sample of 142 subjects free of neurological or psychiatric disorder were administered the National Adult Reading Test (NART) and a verbal fluency (VF) test. A highly significant correlation between the NART and VF was obtained indicating that premorbid ability should be taken into account when interpreting VF performance. A regression equation was built to estimate premorbid performance on VF from the NART. A highly significant difference between predicted and obtained VF was obtained in a sample of neurological patients (N = 38). For ease of use, a table converting NART errors to predicted VF scores is presented.
Predictors of outcome in the treatment of bulimia nervosa
Authors: Baell Wendy K. , Wertheim Eleanor H.
Published: July 2011

Outcome predictors of a cognitive behavioural group treatment for bulimia nervosa were examined. Pre‐treatment self‐esteem, binge frequency and ineffectiveness, but not duration of disorder, significantly predicted outcome on at least one measure (binge frequency or overall eating pathology) at post‐treatment and/or three‐month follow‐up. The results are related to previous studies and to theories of maintenance of the disorder.
Factor structure of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – revised (WAIS–R): A clinical sample
Authors: Burgess Adrian , Flint Janis , Adshead Heidi
Published: July 2011

Factor analysis was performed on a heterogeneous clinical sample of neurological patients. Both a two‐ and a three‐factor model were extracted. The two‐factor solution corresponded to Wechsler's categorization of verbal and performance subtests. The three‐factor solution suggested a verbal comprehension factor, a perceptual organization and a third factor with highest loadings on digit span, arithmetic and digit symbol. Both models were consistent with factor models obtained from the standardization sample. As has previously been reported in neurologically impaired samples, the third factor was relatively more prominent than in the standardization sample. This study provides further evidence for the robustness of the WAIS–R factor structure across different populations and gives good support for the use of the WAIS–R in British clinical samples.
Post‐traumatic stress disorders and European war veterans
Authors: Ørner Roderick J.
Published: July 2011

After tracing the history of PTSD as a diagnosis and exemplifying its use among non‐European war veteran groups, this review article documents the size and characteristics of European war veteran populations and the known psychological, social and medical sequelae of war experience since 1918. Models of psychopathology vary markedly over time and between countries. Treatment practices owe more to sociopolitical and military expediency than systematic assessment of European veterans' needs and treatment outcomes. PTSD has not yet attained the pivotal status it enjoys in studies of American war veterans. Reasons for this are offered along with a proposal that recent European studies rightly highlight a broad spectrum of post‐war adjustment difficulties in which PTSD emerges as a process phenomenon with implications for prognosis and future care planning.
Patterns of service for the long‐term mentally ill in Europe
Authors: Rowland L. A. , Zeelan J. , Waismann L. C.
Published: July 2011

Mental health services are organized and financed in very different ways across Europe; nevertheless there are a number of common trends and issues. In this paper we deal with some of those issues which influence the quality of services to those with long‐term and severe mental health problems and disabilities. The most obvious trend has been the rundown of psychiatric beds particularly in the large mental hospitals and this in its turn has given rise to the problem of providing alternative services. Throughout Europe people are striving, with mixed success, to establish new services that are community orientated, provide reasonable levels of clinical care with some continuity and coordination, and ensure that the individuals served have appropriate accommodation and day‐time activities. While there are some excellent services, there are even more services throughout Europe struggling to solve common problems. We have tried to draw some lessons from their efforts.
Conditioning of drug‐induced immunomodulation in human volunteers: A European Collaborative Study
Authors: Kirschbaum C. , Jabaaij L. , Buske‐Kirschbaum A. , Hennig J. , Blom M. , Dorst K. , Bauch J. , DiPauli R. , Schmitz G. , Ballieux R. , Hellhammer D.
Published: July 2011

Although several studies on conditioning of the immune system in animals have been published, no comparable data on human research have been available in the past. The present paper presents results of conditioning studies in volunteers performed in two research centres, namely the University of Trier (Germany) and the University of Utrecht (The Netherlands). After administration of a neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus: CS), subjects were injected with epinephrine (unconditioned stimulus) for three or four days (depending on study). Subcutaneous injection of epinephrine caused a rapid enhancement of the activity of natural killer cells (NKCA) in venous blood, which was chosen as the unconditioned response. On the test trial, when saline instead of epinephrine was injected, the Trier group found a conditional enhancement of NKCA. No changes in NKCA were found in the control subjects, who received saline injections on all days along with the CS. The Utrecht group tried to replicate these results using a slightly different design. After obtaining non‐confirmative results, the Utrecht experimenters tried to parallel the experimental settings of the Trier group as closely as possible. However, once again they failed to replicate the results of the Trier group. Possible reasons for the different results obtained in the two research groups are discussed.
Health beliefs, locus of control, emotional control and women's cancer screening behaviour
Authors: Murray Michael , McMillan Carol
Published: July 2011

Improvements in women's cancer‐screening behaviours can lead to a reduction in the incidence of breast and cervical cancer. This paper considers the utility of three social psychological models as predictors of such behaviours. Almost 400 women throughout Northern Ireland completed a questionnaire designed to measure the extent of their cancer‐screening behaviour, their health beliefs about cancer, their health locus of control and their emotional control. It was found that several components of the health belief model and of locus of control were predictors of the behaviours. The most important predictor of breast self‐examination was confidence in how to practise BSE while the most important predictor of attendance for cervical smears was lack of fear of the consequences of the investigation. The findings are discussed with reference to attempts to promote these practices.
Dieting, dietary restraint and cognitive performance
Authors: Rogers Peter J. , Green Michael W.
Published: July 2011

In a volunteer sample of female undergraduates, concerns about eating, body weight and body shape were found to increase with the level of self‐reported dietary restraint. These concerns were greatest, however, in a subsample of subjects who were currently dieting to lose weight, and greater than in equally restrained but non‐dieting subjects. Furthermore, the dieting subjects performed less well on a demanding cognitive task than the non‐dieting subjects. These results show that it is important to distinguish between dietary restraint and actual dieting behaviour. They also highlight the need for further research to examine the effects of dieting on cognitive functioning.
Defence and safety: Their function in social behaviour and psychopathology
Authors: Gilbert Paul
Published: July 2011

This paper suggests that our intuitive use and understanding of the concepts defence and safety can be opened up to more systematic study and theory. This may provide a powerful framework for biopsychosocial approaches in clinical psychology. Defence and safety can be seen as two fundamental, evolutionary adaptive, information‐organizing systems. The operation of these two systems has major effects on biological patterns, social behaviour, relationships and the maturation of self‐constructs. It is suggested that many forms of psychopathology represent the activation of evolved, defensive strategies. This paper explores the organization and operation of these two systems and attempts to integrate data from neuropsychological work with ideas from evolutionary theory and social psychology on the effects of threat sensitivity and defensiveness, and safety. It is suggested that interpersonal threats are the most common sources of human defensive behaviour and these are often about separation–rejection or power and subordination. In the latter part of the paper discussion will be on the way people try to create safe environments by putting others down, or by submitting to more powerful others.
Dissociating single cases in neuropsychology*
Authors: Miller Edgar
Published: July 2011

Monte Shapiro had a marked and very varied influence on clinical psychology. His contributions included the advocacy of single‐case experimentation, some elegant neuropsychological investigations and the presentation of carefully thought‐out views on a number of logical and methodological issues. This paper attempts to follow these three strands by considering some recent neuropsychological research based on the detailed investigation of single cases. In particular, the methodology used to lead to some provocative and potentially exciting findings is examined and it is argued that the methodology is less able to bear the interpretations offered than has hitherto been assumed. Possible ways of developing the methodology and making it more robust are indicated.
Italian community norms for the Brief Symptom Inventory in the elderly
Authors: De Leo Diego , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Rozzini Renzo , Trabucchi Marco
Published: July 2011

Italian community norms for the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) in the elderly are presented on 462 subjects. Means do not substantially differ from previously published US norms for the elderly. Higher scores were found in women and in subjects with social or distressing somatic conditions.
Establishing a dry run: A case study in securing bladder control
Authors: Butler Richard J.
Published: July 2011

Relapse following treatment with an enuresis alarm is not uncommon with nocturnal enuresis (Bollard, 1982). This paper illustrates how one boy struggled to reduce dependence on the alarm and how visualization finally provided the means whereby awareness of bladder signals was achieved.
Test—retest reliability of the Middlesex Assessment of Mental State (MEAMS): A preliminary investigation in people with probable dementia
Authors: Powell Theresa , Brooker Dawn J. R. , Papadopolous Andrew
Published: July 2011

Relative and absolute test—retest reliability of the MEAMS was examined in 12 subjects with probable dementia and 12 matched controls. Relative reliability was good. Measures of absolute reliability showed scores changing by up to 3 points over an interval of a week. A version effect was found to be in evidence.
Post‐traumatic stress disorder following medical events
Authors: Shalev Arieh Y. , Schreiber Shaul , Galai Tamar , Melmed Raphael N.
Published: July 2011

Four patients developed characteristic symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder following medical and surgical events. Post‐traumatic symptomatology was associated with poor recovery, a tendency to avoid further medical treatment and life‐threatening behaviour. The authors provide clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of PTSD among patients whose medical conditions or treatment are highly stressful and discuss the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of specific mental disorders among the medically ill.
Preliminary evaluation of a Low‐Cost VideoConferencing (LCVC) system for remote cognitive testing of adult psychiatric patients
Authors: Ball Christopher J. , Scott Nichola , McLaren Paul M. , Watson J. P.
Published: July 2011

Mini‐Mental State Examination scores were compared in an adult psychiatric population when the test was performed face to face and over a Low‐Cost VideoConferencing System (LCVC). The minor changes to the instrument that are required to make it compatible with the LCVC are described. The high correlations achieved between the test scores in the two conditions suggests that this cognitive screening test may be reliably performed in this group of patients over the LCVC.
Utility of the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in neuropsychological assessment
Authors: van den Broek M. D. , Bradshaw C. M. , Szabadi E.
Published: July 2011

Nelson's (1976) Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MCST) was evaluated and the utility of the conventional criterion and new threshold scores for identifying patients with frontal lobe disorder assessed. Measures of perseveration and other indices of performance on the MCST were not found to discriminate between patients with frontal and non‐frontal lobe lesions, using either the conventional criterion or new threshold scores. In addition there were no significant differences between left‐ and right‐sided lesioned patients. However, the task was found to have high specificity (98.7 per cent) and good sensitivity (45.6 per cent) to lesions irrespective of site indicating that it may be a useful screening test. The present findings are consistent with recent research with the original Wisconsin Test, that suggests that card‐sorting performance may not be as differentially sensitive to frontal lobe disorder as has been thought hitherto.
A preliminary study of PTSD and grief among the children of Kuwait following the Gulf crisis
Authors: Nader Kathleen O. , Pynoos Robert S. , Fairbanks Lynn A. , Al‐Ajeel Manal , Al‐Asfour Abdulrahman
Published: July 2011

This preliminary study of Kuwaiti children confirms the significant impact of exposure to war atrocities on children. This pilot sampling provided evidence that: (1) many children who remained in Kuwait during the occupation had multiple war‐related exposures; (2) more than 70 per cent of the children reported moderate to severe post‐traumatic stress reactions; and (3) witnessing death or injury and the viewing of explicit graphic images of mutilation on television had measurable influence on severity of reaction. The highest mean Child Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (CPTSD‐RI) score was found for those children who reported hurting someone else. Older children had both greater exposure to atrocities and higher CPTSD‐RI scores. Findings suggest the need for public policy to minimize children's exposure to graphic depictions of war‐related injury, death and mutilation.
Life satisfaction and adjustment of children of alcoholics: The effects of parental drinking, family disorganization and survival roles
Authors: Braithwaite Valerie , Devine Cindy
Published: July 2011

The stress paradigm was used to investigate the extent to which parental alcohol dependency, family disorganization and Black's (1979) and Wegscheider's (1976) survival roles affected the adjustment of children of alcoholics (COAs). The study was cross‐sectional based on the responses of a non‐random community sample of 112 adolescents. The predictors of life satisfaction differed from the predictors of minor psychiatric symptoms. Parental alcohol dependency had no direct effect on minor psychiatric symptoms, with low family cohesiveness and intimacy being the major determinants of psychopathology. In contrast, parental alcohol dependency and family disharmony had an additive effect on level of life satisfaction. Family variables did not buffer children from the effects of alcohol once they recognized parental drinking as a problem. Nor did the survival roles protect children in any way. Indeed, the roles of the ‘lost’ child, the ‘acting‐out’ child, and the ‘clown’ were detrimental to well‐being.
Long‐term traumatic stress reactions in British Falklands War veterans
Authors: Ørner Roderick J. , Lynch Timothy , Seed Paul
Published: July 2011

This brief report summarizes the first available findings on long‐term traumatic stress syndromes among ex‐servicemen who are veterans of the Falklands War. The results reveal a correlation between physical injury during the War and posttraumatic stress disorder, indicating the need for a long‐term follow‐up survey incorporating treatment evaluations and welfare rights.
Contributions of psychology to diabetes management*
Authors: Bradley Clare
Published: July 2011

Three contributions of psychology to diabetes management are considered in some detail: (a) measurement of psychological outcomes and processes, (b) optimizing blood glucose monitoring and (c) stress management. Two further applications are introduced: (d) weight management and (e) psychological treatments for sexual dysfunction. Six further applications of psychology to diabetes care are mentioned. The psychosocial, physical health and economic gains expected to result from the contributions considered are specified.
The influence of mood on memories of parental rearing practices
Authors: Gerlsma Coby , Kramer Jeannet J. A. M. , Scholing Agnes , Emmelkamp Paul M. G.
Published: July 2011

Parental rearing styles are often found to be related to adult psychological disorders. In general, conclusions are based on the data of retrospective studies, in which patients' memories of their parents' behaviour are investigated. However, it has been widely recognized that memories may be sensitive to current mood states. The possible mood sensitivity of autobiographic memories is a powerful alternative explanation of the relationship commonly found between parental rearing styles and psychopathology, with implications for the hypothesis of early parenting as a vulnerability factor in the aetiology of such disorders. The present study examined whether memories of parental rearing styles are influenced by present mood. To this aim, both mood and memories of parental rearing styles were assessed on two occasions in a sample of 315 healthy subjects from the general community (Study 1) and in a group of 46 socially phobic patients (Study 2). Results showed that memories of early parenting remained quite stable, even in the face of significant and considerable changes in anxiety, depression, and hostility. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Anxiety and self‐esteem as a function of abstinence time among recovering addicts attending Narcotics Anonymous
Authors: Christo George , Sutton Stephen
Published: July 2011

Among 200 members of Narcotics Anonymous (NA), those who had been off drugs and in contact with NA for longer tended to have lower trait anxiety and higher self‐esteem scores, the relationship in each case being approximately linear. Those abstinent for longer than about three years had levels of anxiety and self‐esteem similar to those in a comparison group of 60 students.
The inter‐rater reliability of the Wechsler Memory Scale ‐ Revised Visual Memory test
Authors: O'Carroll R. E. , Badenoch L. D.
Published: July 2011

Nine clinical psychologists experienced in administering the Wechsler Memory Scale – Revised (WMS‐R), and nine inexperienced trainee clinical psychologists scored a videotape of 12 subjects completing the WMS‐R Visual Memory test. The subjects were selected to provide a wide range of visual memory scores. Data were analysed for the two subgroups of experienced and inexperienced raters and for the entire group of 18 raters. Inter‐rater reliability was extremely impressive in all three analyses, with Kendall's coefficient of concordance always exceeding .92, (p < .001). No significant difference emerged when experienced and inexperienced raters were compared. The results suggest that the WMS‐R visual memory test has acceptable inter‐rater reliability for both experienced and inexperienced raters. Recommendations are made regarding improving this reliability even further.
Assertiveness, submissive behaviour and social comparison
Authors: Gilbert Paul , Allan Steven
Published: July 2011

This paper explores the relationship between a new assertiveness measure (the Scale for Interpersonal Behaviour – SIB), social comparison and submissive behaviour. The paper investigates these measures in relation to the personality traits of neuroticism and introversion. Findings suggest: (a) that social comparison may be an important variable in assertiveness and submissive behaviour and shows a strong relationship to neuroticism and introversion; (b) that submissive behaviour is not the mirror opposite of assertive behaviour; and (c) submissive behaviour seems more strongly associated with introversion and neuroticism than assertive performance.
Explaining why negative events will happen to oneself: Parasuicides are pessimistic because they can't see any reason not to be
Authors: MacLeod Andrew K. , Tarbuck Andrew F.
Published: July 2011

Parasuicides (N =18) were compared with matched controls (N =18) on their subjective probability judgements for nine future, negative, self‐relevant events. Prior to the probability judgements, subjects were asked to think of reasons why the events would or would not happen. The ease with which they were able to think of reasons was assessed by time taken to think of the first reason, number of different reasons given in 90 seconds and a subjective rating of difficulty. Relative to controls, parasuicides judged negative events to be more likely. They also showed evidence of finding it more difficult to think of why those events might not happen, but were no different from controls in their ability to think of reasons why the events would happen. The effect of thinking of reasons against negative events happening was to reduce the pessimism of parasuicides. It is suggested that parasuicide subjects may not actively anticipate future negative outcomes, but when presented with the possibilities, they judge them to be likely because of an inability to think of positive aspects of themselves or their circumstances which would prevent those events happening.
The role of patient involvement in oral hygiene compliance
Authors: Camner Lars G. , Sandell Rolf , Sarhed Gun
Published: July 2011

Eighty‐two dental patients were interviewed at the beginning of treatment in order to assess a number of psychosocial variables relevant to the prediction of compliance with treatment recommendations. Treatment consisted of cleaning, depuration and motivation. The patients were followed up after six months by measuring the development of plaque, calculus and gingivitis. In support of our hypothesis, it was found that variables that were related to patient involvement contributed strongly to the prediction of the oral health variables. The patient's visiting habits and initial attitudes were of particular prognostic value. The results with a set of variables conceptually unrelated to patient involvement were mixed and generally not as positive. Attendance at follow‐up was predicted equally well by both kinds of variables, but generally not by the same variables as those that predicted oral health.
Ageing and the pursuit of slimness: Dietary restraint and weight satisfaction in elderly women
Authors: Hetherington Marion M. , Burnett Lesley
Published: July 2011

Dieting and body dissatisfaction are highly prevalent amongst young women. In this study, dietary restraint, disinhibited eating, eating attitudes and body satisfaction were compared in elderly (ES) and young (YS) normal weight women. Dietary restraint and eating attitudes were similar across age groups. Differences between current body weight and desired body weight were equivalent for both age groups (ES, M = 10.8, SEM = 1.8 lb; YS, M = 11.3, SEM = 1.2 lb), although young women (Body Shape Questionnaire, BSQ, M = 78.5, SEM = 5.8) reported significantly greater dissatisfaction with their bodies than the elderly (BSQ, M = 61.7, SEM = 2.9). Of the elderly who had dieted, the majority had dieted five times or less, had started dieting between the ages of 40 and 50 years, and very few had dieted in their teens or twenties (< 8 per cent). Despite normal weight status, desire to lose weight and attempts to achieve this are experienced by young and old alike.
Effects of rehabilitation exercise programmes on anxiety and depression in coronary patients: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Kugler J. , Seelbach H. , Krüskemper G. M.
Published: July 2011

In coronary patients, emotional disturbances in the sense of increased anxiety and depression have often been documented. Over the last years, there has been a growing interest in the effects of exercise on emotion. This meta‐analysis, based on 13 to 15 studies on psychological effects of exercise programmes in coronary patients, showed a positive effect size both for anxiety (dmean = .3137) and depression (dmean = .4569). Nevertheless, these effect sizes have to be evaluated as less than medium by convention and in comparison to the effect size of psychotherapeutic interventions. The effect sizes on anxiety or depression were not related to methodological characteristics of the included studies, like duration of the exercise programme, time chosen for follow‐up, publication year or use of control groups. But there was a significantly negative correlation between sample size and effect size. This might indicate a potential publication bias in the sense that significant rather than non‐significant results may be published on small subject samples. We concluded that exercise programmes should not be considered the only treatment for emotional disturbances in coronary patients, but that they can be psychologically beneficial as an additional treatment component.
Epistemology and learning disabilities: Invited commentary on Hastings and Remington
Authors: Clegg J. A.
Published: July 2011

The effect on service provision of describing a variety of actions as challenging behaviour is discussed: it is suggested that studying stereotyped, aggressive and self‐injurious acts in their own right has yielded more useful psychological debate, and ignoring such conceptual thinking leads to implicit theorizing where assumptions go unquestioned.

Evidence for the relevance of staff actions on different topographies of client responses is critically reviewed, alongside discussion of the authors' rhetoric. The importance of adjusting language and frameworks to make room for alternative conceptualizations is discussed. The article concludes by recommending that research into staff attitudes and actions will be better served by reflexive methods and reporting which emphasize mutuality.
Staff behaviour and challenging behaviour: A reply to Clegg's commentary
Authors: Hastings Richard P. , Remington Bob
Published: July 2011

In her commentary on our integration of the literature on challenging behaviours and care staff behaviour (Hastings & Remington, 1994b), Clegg (1994) discussed three main issues. Firstly, she argued that a behaviour analytic approach to challenging behaviours is ‘deeply impoverished’. Secondly, she claimed that our analysis laid the blame for challenging behaviours on the shoulders of care staff. Finally, she presented our philosophical position as objectivist. In this paper, we reply to these comments by summarizing the richness and considerable potential of an approach to challenging behaviours based on behaviour analytic theory. This summary serves to clarify the fact that we consider care staff behaviour, including actions that may contribute to the development and maintenance of challenging behaviours, to be under the control of environmental contingencies and verbal rules that are part of the service environment. We also describe briefly the nature of our philosophical approach to psychological research and inquiry.
Movement, face processing and schizophrenia: Evidence of a differential deficit in expression analysis
Authors: Archer J. , Hay D. C. , Young A. W.
Published: July 2011

Three dynamic face‐processing tasks based on the Bruce & Young (1986) functional model of face processing were presented to 10 schizophrenic and 10 depressed inpatients and to 10 non‐patient subjects. Familiar face recognition, facial expression recognition and unfamiliar face matching were examined. Schizophrenic patients' performance was significantly poorer than that of depressed patients and non‐patient controls. Significantly lower scores were obtained on the facial expression recognition task than on the familiar face recognition task. There was a differential pattern of group performance on each of the three tasks: schizophrenic and depressed patients were as accurate as non‐patient controls on the familiar face recognition task, but significantly less accurate than non‐patient controls on the unfamiliar face‐matching task. Schizophrenic patients were significantly less accurate than depressed patients and non‐patient controls on the facial expression recognition task. The results are contrasted with an analogous static face‐processing study.
The effects of minor events, optimism and self‐esteem on health
Authors: Lyons Antonia , Chamberlain Kerry
Published: July 2011

Recent research shows upper respiratory infections (URIs) are influenced by minor daily events, especially those that are desirable and interpersonal in nature. The present study used a longer time frame, broader health measures and a between‐subjects design to examine this effect. It also predicted that optimism and self‐esteem would interact with minor events to affect health. One hundred and fifty participants provided information regarding minor events, disposition and physical health on two separate occasions. Results show that increases in both desirable and undesirable events (hassles and uplifts) affected URIs over a two‐week period. Interpersonal hassles interacted with optimism, having a greater impact on physical symptoms for optimists than for pessimists. Self‐esteem did not interact with minor events to affect health. These results extend previous findings to show that minor events affect URIs and not other health outcomes, and that this effect is apparent between subjects over a number of days. Further, the influence of interpersonal events on health appears to be moderated by optimism. It is concluded that consideration and integration of findings from studies with different methodologies will be beneficial in furthering our understanding of minor event effects on health.
Stress, arousal, Cortisol and secretory immunoglobulin A in students undergoing assessment
Authors: Evans Phil , Bristow Matthew , Hucklebridge Frank , Clow Angela , Pang Fung‐Yin
Published: July 2011

Cortisol, salivary immunoglobulin A, stress and arousal reports were measured in students undergoing academic assessment. In accordance with hypotheses, all measures were higher on the day of assessment than a week before, and were highest of all immediately after assessment.
Aversive stimulation by staff and violence by psychiatric patients
Authors: Whittington Richard , Wykes Til
Published: July 2011

This study investigated the frequency with which violence by psychiatric in‐patients was preceded by aversive interpersonal stimulation. The precursors of 63 assaults by psychiatric patients on nurses were studied using semi‐structured interviews conducted within 72 hours of the assault. Reliability data were collected from staff witnesses and assaultive patients in a subgroup of assaults. Eighty‐six per cent of the assaults were immediately preceded by the assaulted nurse having delivered an aversive stimulus to the patient, e.g. frustration, activity demand or physical contact. There were significant associations between diagnosis and the type of aversive stimulation which preceded assaults. Interpersonal factors and diagnosis therefore seem to play a significant role in most violence in psychiatric hospitals and only a minority of patients behave aggressively in the absence of aversive stimulation. An explanation of the link between psychosis and aggressive behaviour in terms of distorted social cognition is discussed.
The health beliefs and behaviours of orthodox and complementary medicine clients
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Kirkcaldy Bruce
Published: July 2011

This study examined different attitudes towards health and illness among an adult, working, German population. Two hundred and two subjects completed a questionnaire which assessed such beliefs as control over one's health; preventative and restorative measures in staying healthy; perceived efficacy of orthodox vs. complementary medical treatment; the underlying physiological or psychological bases of illnesses, and health consciousness. There was some evidence that females were more inclined to attend complementary forms of treatment, and that younger persons were more likely to consult an orthodox general practitioner, otherwise demographic variables were unrelated to preference for orthodox or complementary forms of treatment. Overall, the complementary medicine (CM) group compared to the general practitioner (GP) group were more critical and sceptical of the effectiveness of orthodox medicine; they felt their health could be improved; they were more loyal to their practitioner, and appeared to display more ecologically aware life‐styles. Thus clients who select complementary forms of treatment may do so less from disenchantment with, and bad experience of, orthodox medical techniques rather than from a deep‐seated belief in the effectiveness of complementary medicine.
A test of the hopelessness theory of depression in unemployed young adults
Authors: Lynd‐Stevenson Robert MacKay
Published: July 2011

Recent research has failed to support the prediction based on hopelessness theory that hopelessness mediates the full relationship between attributional style for negative outcomes and depression. A re‐examination of hopelessness theory, however, provides the hypothesis that a measure of hopelessness containing items directly relevant to an ongoing negative life‐event will mediate the full relationship between attributional style for negative outcomes and depression. Hopelessness theory was extended with a second hypothesis that attributional style for positive outcomes is involved in the aetiology of depression and that hopelessness also mediates the full relationship between attributional style for positive outcomes and depression. The third hypothesis was that a series of ‘background variables’ (e.g. age, sex) omitted in previous research would be implicated in the generation of depression. The three hypotheses were tested and supported with data collected from a sample of young unemployed adults. A further aspect of hopelessness theory overlooked in most research is an ability to account for reductions in depression associated with the cessation of a negative life‐event and occurrence of a positive life‐event. The hopelessness theory and the three hypotheses were again supported with data collected from individuals who were unemployed and others who had recently undergone the transition from unemployment to employment.
The Short NART: Utility in a memory disorders clinic
Authors: Bucks Romola S. , Scott Margaret I. , Pearsall Tonya , Ashworth Deborah L.
Published: July 2011

Beardsall & Brayne (1990) have introduced a method for estimating full‐length National Adult Reading Test (NART) scores using the scores on the first half of the test only. They suggest that this is appropriate for subjects who are of low reading ability and might otherwise find testing distressing. Crawford, Parker, Allan, Jack & Morrison (1991) have subsequently explored the accuracy with which Short NART predicted full NART scores and in addition WAIS IQ scores in a large cross‐validation sample. They concluded that the Short NART could be used with modest confidence when estimating premorbid IQ. However, when applied to 202 consecutive referrals to this Memory Disorders Clinic, the accuracy with which the Short NART predicted full NART error scores was less satisfactory. Results indicated that discrepancies between Short NART and full NART error scores were outside the bounds of both clinical and statistical acceptability. Examination of these results revealed that one possible source of difficulty lay in variation in the accuracy with which words are pronounced. It is concluded that, despite the appeal of a shortened version of the NART to estimate premorbid IQ, without further modification its use in clinical practice cannot be recommended.
Hunger, caloric preloading and the selective processing of food and body shape words
Authors: Green Michael W. , Elliman Nicola A. , Rogers Peter J.
Published: July 2011

Fifty‐three female subjects performed a modified Stroop colour‐naming task 30 minutes after consuming a high‐calorie preload, a low‐calorie preload or water. Half of the subjects were 18 hours food deprived prior to testing. Food restriction and the caloric density of the preload had no effect on the colour‐naming of food‐related words. However, impairments in the colour‐naming of food‐related words did vary according to the subjects' self‐reported hunger level. This relationship between hunger and colour‐naming impairment was not linear, with the most hungry subjects displaying the smallest impairment in the colour naming of food words. The results are interpreted in terms of recent thought on the relationship between attentional processing and fear arousal.
Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis: Reports of patients and relatives
Authors: Richardson John T. E.
Published: July 2011

This paper reports the results of a questionnaire survey on problems in everyday memory that involved 115 community‐based patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their carers or close relatives. Cluster analyses of their responses enabled the patients to be classified as cither ‘impaired’ or ‘unimpaired’, though the salient items differed between the reports of the patients and the relatives. Both the self‐reports and the relatives' reports indicated that roughly 10 per cent of the patients were impaired, a much lower estimate than that which was previously suggested based upon psychometric testing. It is concluded that neuropsychological assessment may underestimate the capacity of MS patients in their daily activities.
Development of a stress scale for mental health professionals
Authors: Cushway Delia , Tyler Patrick A. , Nolan Peter
Published: July 2011

This paper describes the development of the Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale (MHPSS): a self‐report method of identifying sources of stress for mental health professionals. The 42‐item scale, which includes seven subscales, was administered to 154 clinical psychologists and 111 mental health nurses. The MHPSS was found to have good internal consistency (alpha = .87 for clinical psychologists; alpha = .94 for mental health nurses). The preliminary evidence suggests that the concurrent validity of the MHPSS is good. The expected relationships between the scale and between the criterion measures— General Health Questionnaire, a symptom check list, job satisfaction, self‐reported stress level and quality of social support—were demonstrated. The results also provide evidence for the discriminant validity of the subscales to measure different aspects of the stress experience. The MHPSS was shown to discriminate between two groups of health professionals who might be expected to differ in their sources of stress. For clinical psychologists the most important source of stress was ‘professional self‐doubt’ whereas the major source of stress for mental health nurses was found to be the difficulty of handling potentially violent or difficult patients in the context of scarce staff resources. For both groups, however, ‘home‐work conflict’ was the subscalc most strongly and consistently associated with mental health outcome. It is concluded that the preliminary evidence regarding the utility of the MHPSS is encouraging, although further data are clearly needed.
Cognitive therapy of dissociative symptoms associated with trauma
Authors: Kennerley Helen
Published: July 2011

The presentation of dissociative symptoms is not uncommon in clinical settings, particularly when the client has suffered trauma. The phenomenon of dissociation ranges from benign incidents, such as daydreaming, to potentially life‐threatening experiences when it precipitates self‐harm. Its presentation may be subtle, belying the distress which it can provoke. Cognitive therapists are well equipped to help clients formulate a working conceptualization of the dissociative episode and to develop a range of coping skills to manage and overcome the experience. This paper discusses practical ways in which the cognitive therapist can use standard and schema‐focused cognitive therapy to help clients to better deal with the distressing aspects of dissociation.
The influence of psychiatric hospital and community residence labels on social rejection of the mentally ill
Authors: Ingamells Sally , Goodwin Anne M. , John Carolyn
Published: July 2011

In order to identify some of the variables influencing public level of acceptance and attitudes towards people with a mental illness, a social distance scale accompanying a case vignette was sent to 488 postal respondents. The vignette contained systematically varied residence labels (psychiatric hospital/community) and behaviours (disturbed/control). There was a 43 per cent response rate. The results showed that social rejection was influenced by the behaviour described in the vignette, the respondents' judgement about the behaviour, and the respondents' previous contact with people with mental illness. The given residence label had an impact on only one component of social rejection and only for those presented with the control vignette. The findings are discussed in relation to current community care policies.