bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Momentary Time Sampling and Partial Interval Recording: A Rejoinder to Adams (1991)
Authors: Harrop Alex , Murphy Maurice , Shelton Tony
Published: June 2009

Momentary time sampling (MTS) is an unbiased method of estimating the duration of time for which a behaviour occurs, unlike partial interval recording (PIR) which introduces bias. This lack of bias does not, however, permit the researcher to make the further assumption that MTS allows multiple behaviours to be monitored accurately or in a way that is sensitive to behaviour change. Further considerations of the use of MTS and PIR are discussed.
The Effect of Non-Contingent Exercise on Purposeless Wandering and Self-Injury in a Man with a Profound Learning Difficulty
Authors: Whitaker Simon , Saleem Amra
Published: June 2009

The introduction of a period of non-contingent exercise was found to have a differential effect on two challenging behaviours shown by a man with a profound learning disability. His rate of purposeless wandering was reduced, but initially there was an increase in his rate of self-injury. The implication of these results are considered with regard to the uses of ecological interventions.
Early Signs Monitoring Through a Period of Relapse in a Highly Symptomatic Chronic Schizophrenic Patient
Authors: King Charles , Shepherd Geoff
Published: June 2009

The Early Signs Scale (Birchwoodet al., 1989) for the monitoring of prodromal symptoms was used with a schizophrenic inpatient with severe residual psychotic symptoms. Marked changes in the scores were obtained in both self and observer reports during a period in which the patient was considered to “relapse”. The results suggest the possible wider applicability of the Early Signs Scale to patients who experience severe residual symptoms between relapse episodes.
Attitude Change and Behaviour Therapy in Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Two Case Reports
Authors: Newell Robert , Shrubb Stephen
Published: June 2009

Two patients with longstanding dysmorphic ideas and associated social avoidances refused exposure treatment. A role-play requiring them to research and debate beliefs contrary to their over-valued ideas effected attitude change and facilitated compliance with exposure treatment. In both patients, marked improvement in beliefs and avoidance occurred during treatment and was maintained at follow-up.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in an In-patient with Chronic Difficulties: A Case Report
Authors: Cooper Myra
Published: June 2009

It is not clear from the literature whether successful outcomes can be obtained with CBT in chronic, drug refractory patients who require admission to hospital and whose problems date back to childhood. Anecdotal evidence suggests that they can be treated with CBT (e.g. Beck and Freeman, 1990; Young, 1990). However, no detailed reports of successful treatment in this group have been published. The present report will describe the treatment and outcome of one patient, Alison, who was suffering from depression and who was treated with CBT. She had failed to respond to medication and required admission to hospital. She had chronic difficulties that dated back to childhood and had most of the features described by Scott (1992). Her treatment illustrates how the many different aspects of her complex problems could be examined and treated using CBT techniques as these provided a simple way of understanding and dealing with the difficulties she faced.
Images and Doubts in Intrusive Cognitive Activity
Authors: Freeston Mark H. , Ladouceur Robert , Letarte Hélène , Rhéaume Josée
Published: June 2009

Intrusive thoughts are variously reported as images, thoughts, doubts, impulses etc. Recent accounts of emotional processing make important distinctions between cognitive activity in verbal form and images. The comparison of verbal intrusions and images was made on archival data about intrusive cognitions from 628 university students. Images and doubts (a verbal form) occurring together were perceived as more difficult to dismiss than either images or doubts alone. In addition, images and doubts together were more frequent, more probable, and required more effort to counter than images alone. Likewise, images and doubts together and doubts alone were more worrisome and more frequently triggered by various stimuli than images alone. These results suggest that cognitive intrusions identified as a mixture of doubts and images are qualitatively different and more troublesome than those identified as either doubts or images. These findings are discussed in terms of current accounts of emotional processing.
A Review of the Applications of the REHAB Assessment System
Authors: Baker Roger , Hall John
Published: June 2009

In the last 10 years, as part of the push towards greater community provision of services for the psychiatrically disabled in the UK, assessment has assumed a prominent position. A variety of different assessment instruments have been employed, including assessment of patient attitudes and opinions, of the environment, social networks and basic living skills (Carson, 1991; TAPS, 1992). Amongst the differing assessment types, behaviour rating scales have a distinct contribution. They are particularly applicable to group settings such as hostels or hospital wards and have the advantage of being objective, behavioural, able to measure change in functioning over time or due to some intervention; and most importantly, they yield numerical scores which can be assessed against “hard data” in the form of norms or scores from other populations, especially those from other countries.
Treatment of Delayed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Sexual Abuse: A Case Example
Authors: Sharpe Louise , Tarrier Nicholas , Rotundo Nicolina
Published: June 2009

Recent advances have been made in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cognitive behavioural techniques have been reported in controlled trials to be very effective in reducing arousal symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, such as sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. It remains unclear from the literature, however, how well these treatment modalities can alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder where the predominant clinical features are associated with depersonalization and dissociative states. Depersonalization is evident in a significant proportion of individuals presenting with PTSD and yet does not appear to be amenable to exposure based therapies. A case study presented suggests methods through which depersonalization may be addressed within the therapeutic context.
Effects of “Eye Movement Desensitization” on Emotional Processing in Normal Subjects
Authors: Merckelbach Harald , Hogervorst Eef , Kampman Mirjam , de Jongh Ad
Published: June 2009

A number of single case reports have made impressive claims for the efficacy of “eye movement desensitization” (EMD) in the treatment of traumatic memories. Many of these case reports claim that EMD reduces the unpleasant feelings associated with traumatic images. However, at present, there are no published controlled studies that provide evidence for these claims. The present experiment investigated whether EMD inhibits emotional responding during retrieval of aversive information. Normal Ss (N=40) were exposed to an aversive slide. During a next stage, half of the Ss underwent EMD while they rehearsed the slide information, whereas the other half underwent a control procedure (i.e., finger tapping) while rehearsing slide information. Before and after EMD or control intervention, heart rate and self-report data were obtained while Ss retrieved and visualized the aversive slide. No evidence was found to suggest that EMD inhibits emotional reactivity more than does finger tapping.
The Co-Author from Hell: A Case Study and Checklist
Authors: Atkinson Jacqueline M. , Coia Denise A.
Published: June 2009

This paper describes the problems of a dyadic relationship, that of co-authors, and the behaviours that contribute to breakdown. From this a checklist of behaviours is drawn up, to be used to investigate the “at risk” behaviours of potential co-authors.*
CBT in a Group Format for Bi-Polar Affective Disorder
Authors: Palmer Anne G. , Williams Helga , Adams Malcolm
Published: June 2009

The findings from this study indicate that group cognitive behavioural therapy combined with mood stabilizing medications was effective for some of the participants. Standard measures were used to monitor changes systematically and regularly. Self reports from participants suggested that they found the therapy useful and acceptable. The approach taken seems worth extending to a larger number of participants in a controlled trial, but meanwhile a detailed description of the treatment package is given, for wider dissemination of the methods.
Investigaton of Eye Movement Desensitization in Pain Clinic Patients
Authors: Hassard Alan
Published: June 2009

Twenty-seven pain clinic patients referred for psychological treatment received Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD) as a major part of their treatment. Their progress was monitored using generalized measures with a three month follow-up. All patients responded to EMD in the session. Subsequently, nineteen completed treatment of whom twelve were successful and seven clear failures. Seven dropped out before completing treatment and one result was not clear. Overall the group showed a large decrease in some, but not all, psychological measures. There was some return of symptoms in the group over the three month follow-up. Neural networks are identified as the probable source of theoretical explanations of this procedure.
The Role of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Scott Jan
Published: June 2009

There is increasing support for the use of systematic psychological interventions in combination with pharmacotherapy in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD). A “manualised” approach, such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), can be used to facilitate adjustment to the disorder, increase the acceptability of prescribed medications and reduce morbidity. This paper outlines psychosocial issues of relevance to individuals with BD and a model to engage individuals in therapy is described. A brief overview is given of some of the interventions that may help sufferers identify and control the acute symptoms of BD, reduce the risk of relapse and improve how they cope with the disorder and its treatment. The available outcome data on the use of CBT and the need for research are also noted.
A Psychophysiologically Controlled Exposure Treatment of Severe Body Image Distortion in Eating Disorders
Authors: Sales Pau Pérez , Sagardoy Rosa Calvo , Gila Teresa Ferrer
Published: June 2009

Although body image problems are a major prognostic factor in the course of eating disorders, its treatment has received little attention in the research literature. We present two psychophysiologically controlled cases of intensive exposure treatment with conflicting outcomes. Pre-post treatment assessments included measurements of body size estimation, body related avoidant attitudes and body dissatisfaction. In case 1, although dissatisfaction and avoidant attitudes decreased, body size overestimation remained basically unchanged. Case 2 did not improve. Psychophysiological recordings showed a covert avoidance of treatment stimuli. We discuss the pros and the cons of the treatment, and the implications for the use of exposure therapy in body image disorders.
The Use of ECT in Adolescents: A Reply to Jones and Baldwin
Authors: James Anthony C.
Published: June 2009

In reply to Jones and Baldwin's paper, the current practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is described with a retrospective case study. Particular reference is made to: indications, consent, immediate and longer term outcome. It is argued that the treatment is beneficial, but systematic audit is necessary.
Ect and Young Minds: Why Choose It?
Authors: Mann Judith
Published: June 2009

Comprehensive evaluation of the risks and benefits of applying ECT to young minds would probably not support the practise. This paper explores why some practitioners continue to choose ECT over viable alternative interventions, and argues for improved safeguards against unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments. Ethical decision making must look beyond rapidity of treatment effects, and consider the pros and cons of all available treatments.
The Effect of Stimulation on Stereotyped Behaviour of a Woman with a Profound Learning Disability
Authors: Fallon John , Whitaker Simon
Published: June 2009

The introduction of two sessions a day on two days a week of cognitive and physical stimulation was found to reduce the stereotypic behaviour of a woman with a profound learning disability. The effect was shown to last for several hours with indications that it may have lasted several weeks.
Treating Spider Phobics with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: A Controlled Study
Authors: Muris Peter , Merckelbach Harald
Published: June 2009

The present study examined the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in the treatment of a specific phobia. Twenty-four spider phobic subjects were randomly assigned to either (1) an EMDR group (n=8), (2) an imaginal exposure group (n=8), or (3) a control group (n=8). Both the EMDR and the imaginal exposure group underwent a one-hour treatment. The control group initially received no treatment, and waited for one hour. Next, all groups received exposure in vivo. Treatment outcome was evaluated with a standardized Behavioural Avoidance Test (BAT). No evidence was found for EMDR being more effective than imaginal exposure or waiting list control. In fact, only exposure in vivo therapy resulted in significant improvement on the BAT.
Validity and Factor Structure of the Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts Checklist
Authors: Bouvard Martine , Cottraux Jean , Mollard Evelyne , Arthus Muriel , Lachance Stella , Guerin Jeanine , Sauteraud Alain , Yao Sai-Nan
Published: June 2009

The Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts Checklist (OCTC; Bouvard, Mollard, Cottraux, & Guerin 1989) is a 28 item questionnaire. Patients rate their degree of disturbance of the past week on a 5-point scale. The validation study and factor analysis of the OCTC is presented. Three groups were compared: patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorders (n = 122), patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia (n = 61) and a control group (n = 80). The three groups were comparable in age and sex. Obsessive compulsive patients scored significantly higher than both agoraphobic patients and control subjects. Spearman rank correlations were used to compute convergent validity in a sub-group of obsessive compulsive patients (n = 96). The Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts Checklist correlated positively with the Compulsive Activity Checklist (rho =. 62; p <. 0001). The total score was also positively correlated with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS total scale: rho =. 42; p <. 0001; YBOCS obsession scale: rho =. 40; p <. 0001; YBOCS compulsion scale: rho. 37; p =. 0002). The factor structure was studied both on the sample which included agoraphobic patients and controls (n = 141) and on the obsessive compulsive patients only (n = 122). In both analyses, three identical factors were found:
– factor 1: checking/perfectionism-orderliness
– factor 2: responsibility/dread of harming others
– factor 3: washing/contamination.
Results support the validity and the internal consistency of the Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts Checklist. The factor analysis indicates that the OCTC is a three dimensional scale, reflecting a pathological need to check, a pathological sense of responsibility and a pathological need to wash, probably due to distorted thoughts about perfectionism and orderliness, an excessive need for control and fear of contamination.
A Specialist Unit for Difficult to Manage Patients: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Cooper Myra , Holly Patsy , Hampson Simon
Published: June 2009

Preliminary findings are reported from a specialist unit for difficult to manage patients (those patients who have severe behavioural problems in addition to a mental illness). Staff attitudes and residents' psychiatric and social needs were assessed after the unit had been open for just over a year. The effect on residents' behaviour and symptoms over the course of that year was also evaluated. Findings showed that staff attitudes were resident orientated and that interactions between staff and residents and of staff with each other were almost always positive. These findings compared favourably with data collected on three other continuing care units in the same Trust and with data from previously published studies. The Cardinal Needs Schedule, a recent adaptation of the MRC Needs for Care Assessment Schedule, appeared to be a useful way of identifying unmet needs of the residents and gaps in service provision. Over the course of the year, behaviour in one third of the residents improved sufficiently for them to be considered suitable for potential discharge into community based accommodation. Implications of the findings for specialist units for difficult to manage patients are discussed, together with suggestions for further research.
Rumination and the Enhancement of Fear: Some Laboratory Findings
Authors: Davey Graham C. L.
Published: June 2009

This paper describes some of the ways in which ruminative rehearsal and repetitive processing of phobic events may maintain or enhance anxious responding. It focuses on laboratory studies of repetitive rehearsal of potential phobic outcomes and repetitive processing of interoceptive cues. Rehearsal of threatening outcomes whilst in anxious mood has been shown to result in a short term enhancement and resistance to extinction of phobic responses. Increased attention to and discrimination of bodily cues (interoception) has also been shown to result in enhanced phobic responding and increased resistance to extinction. This latter finding appears to result from interoception (1) inflating the threatening nature of the outcome, and (2) leading the individual to reject contradictory information from other sources.
Healing Psychology's Own Motivational Conflicts: A Comment on Miller's “Ethics of Motivational Intervention”
Authors: Seager Martin
Published: June 2009

In an earlier edition of this journal (vol. 22, 111–123) William R. Miller persuasively defends his motivational interviewing approach (Miller, 1983) against the claim that it is “manipulative”, at least in the pejorative sense of that term. This critique of Miller's methods and his response to it is explored as a new manifestation of a longstanding conflict between (cognitive) behaviourism and psychoanalysis, a conflict that seems to lie at the very heart of psychological science, restricting the professional development of us all. It is argued that our own discipline could benefit from some form of motivational intervention to enable cognitive-behaviourists and psychodynamicists to communicate genuinely and more fully with each other. Some suggestions for steps in this direction are provided.
The Generalisation of Cognitive Behavioural Marital Therapy in Behavioural, Cognitive and Physiological Domains
Authors: Kelly Adrian B. , Halford W. Kim
Published: June 2009

The limited effectiveness of cognitive behavioural marital therapy (CBMT) for some couples may be due to a failure to achieve generalized changes in behavioural, cognitive or physiological responses during marital interaction. In the present study an intra-subject replication design across five maritally distressed couples assessed changes associated with CMBT in behaviour, cognitions, and physiological arousal during marital communication. These response domains were assessed weekly in both clinic and home settings. Introduction of CBMT was associated with clear reductions in behavioural negativity in both settings for all couples, some variable cognitive changes across couples and settings, but no consistent change in physiological arousal across couples or settings. Physiological responding was asynchronous with behaviour and cognition. Further research is needed on the significance of physiological arousal in marital distress, and the importance of changes in physiological responding during marital interaction to marital therapy outcome.
A Support Group for Breast Cancer Patients: Development of a Cognitive-Behavioural Approach
Authors: Watson Maggie , Fenlon Debbie , McVey Gillian , Fernandez-Marcos Maria
Published: June 2009

Cognitive behavioural therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression in cancer patients when provided within the context of individual sessions. We describe the application of a cognitive behavioural model to a group therapy context. This represents a novel approach to the psychological treatment of cancer patients. Fourteen breast cancer patients attending the Royal Marsden Hospital were included in an assessment of treatment outcome pre-and post-group therapy. Outcome was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale and a study-specific visual analog measure relating to perceived efficacy of the therapeutic techniques. Rationale and organization of group therapy is described along with the preliminary pilot study results.
Evaluating a Behaviourally Based Parent Training Group: Outcomes for Parents, Children and Health Visitors
Authors: Hutchings Judy
Published: June 2009

Seven mothers, identified by their health visitor as having conduct disordered pre-school children, participated in a behaviourally based parent training group. Two health visitors and a child care social worker also attended the group. The group members were taught skills in behaviour observation, reinforcement and goal setting. The results showed that the health visitors were able to identify children with conduct disorders and that the mothers of most of the children were themselves experiencing mental health difficulties. Participation in the group led to improvements for both the children and their mothers. The mothers found the group a satisfactory treatment method and the health visitors and social worker developed skills in the behavioural management of conduct disorders. The findings are considered in relation to the three components of the Welsh Strategic Intent and Direction for the NHS (health gain, people centred and resource effective).
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Depressed Children: Children's and Therapists' Impressions
Authors: Feehan Catherine J. , Vostanis Panos
Published: June 2009

A randomized trial was conducted of cognitive-behavioural therapy and a non-focused intervention for children and adolescents aged 8–16 years with depression (N = 57) referred to four child and adolescent psychiatry units. Children in both groups showed similar rates of recovery from depression at the end of treatment (cognitive-behavioural therapy: 87% recovery rate; non-focused intervention: 75% recovery rate). This paper addresses the question of how cognitive-behavioural therapy was perceived and used by depressed young sters in clinical settings (N=29). Only seven children (24%) kept a diary for all nine sessions of the CBT programme. Children who had been rated as compliant with CBT tasks were more likely to recover at the end of treatment. Analysis of the content of each cognitive-behavioural session has shown that all children received advice on self-monitoring, positive self-statementing, and social problem-solving, but only 50% actually received advice on cognitive restructuring, since this was scheduled late in the treatment package and most children had recovered by this stage. Children, parents and therapists had a high degree of agreement on the helpfulness of CBT. Children identified several helpful CBT elements, the majority being related to social problem-solving. The treatment programme was explained to parents, who did not actively participate in treatment, but they helped to plan suitable rewards for their children. Recommendations are made for the future use of CBT with referred young people with depressive disorders.
Parent Training by Telephone: A Partial Replication!
Authors: Sutton Carole
Published: June 2009

This study derives from an earlier one (Sutton, 1992) which examined the efficacy of training parents to manage difficult pre-school children via four methods: group, home visit, telephone, and waiting list/delayed intervention control. It is a replication of the telephone method of training; the author has never met any of the parents or children involved. Twenty-three children, seventeen boys and six girls, participated; of these one was aged 8, two were 7, one was 6, two 5 and the rest were under 5. They were randomly allocated to an immediate intervention group and a waiting list/delayed intervention control group.
Worry as an Inhibitor of Dietary Restraint
Authors: Scattolon Yvette S. , Nicki Richard M.
Published: June 2009

Previous researchers have identified disinhibiting agents of restrained eating such as the ingestion of preloads, alcohol consumption, and negative affect. This study investigated worry as a purely cognitive inhibitor of dietary restraint. Seventy-five subjects who were screened as being high worriers and high restrainers were randomly assigned to three groups: eating-related worry; social-evaluative/school-related worry; non-worry. Subjects were induced to either worry or to think pleasant thoughts, and then take part in a bogus taste-test. Food consumption in worry-prone, chronic dieters was found to be triggered more by social-evaluative/school-related worries than by eating-related worries, or pleasant thoughts. Chronic dieting and worrying were found to be substantially related to measures of bulimic tendencies and trait anxiety, respectively. These findings may be germane to behaviour change programmes pertaining to bulimia.
Differential Effects of Worry and Imagery After Exposure to a Stressful Stimulus: A Pilot Study
Authors: Butler Gillian , Wells Adrian , Dewick Hilary
Published: June 2009

Imagery appears to be associated with higher levels of anxiety than does worry. Borkovec has argued that worry could be a way of avoiding distressing imagery and the associated affect. Thus worry could suppress emotional activation, interfere with emotional processing, and contribute to the maintenance of anxiety. This hypothesis suggests that short and long-term effects of worrying after experiencing a distressing stimulus should differ from the effects of engaging in imagery. In the short term, imagery should maintain anxiety while worry should not do so, or should do so less. In the longer term, worry should be a less successful way of reducing anxiety associated with the stimulus than imagery, and should be followed by a greater number of intrusive cognitions (indicating the relative failure of emotional processing). These predictions were tested by asking subjects to worry, engage in imagery or “settle down” after watching a distressing video. The results were broadly consistent with the hypothesis. Other interpretations are also considered.
Cognitive Factors in the Maintenance of Injection Phobia
Authors: White Craig , Sellwood William
Published: June 2009

Injection phobia is a “specific phobia” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) in which affected individuals display an atypical physiological response pattern resulting in vasovagal hypotensive fainting on prolonged exposure. Between 50–60% of people with injection phobia report a history of fainting when confronted with their phobic situation. Applied tension has been demonstrated to be an effective therapeutic intervention for blood phobia in which similar vasovagal responses occur (Öst, Fellenius and Stelner, 1991). It has been shown that cognitive factors can prevent engagement with the treatment of phobic disorders. A case meeting DSM-IV criteria for specific phobia, blood-injection-injury type (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) is described. It illustrates that cognitive factors may prevent full compliance with applied tension and that behavioural experimentation is a useful strategy for dealing with such phenomena.
The Accuracy of Autobiographical Memory: A Replication of Barclay & Wellman (1986)
Authors: Merckelbach Harald , Wessel Ineke , Horselenberg Robert
Published: June 2009

Ten volunteers kept written records of self-selected, daily events for a one-week period. After four months, they were given a surprise recognition test. This test consisted of original memories and several types of foils. In line with previous findings of Barclay and Wellman, it was found that acceptance of foils as one's own memories is a relatively common phenomenon. This suggests that pseudomemories may also occur in the absence of suggestions and repeated interviews and, more generally, that autobiographical memory is intrinsically unreliable.
Cognitive Theory in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa: A Review
Authors: Cooper Myra
Published: June 2009

This paper reviews cognitive theories of eating disorders as they are usually applied in treatment. More recent theoretical contributions and theory that is not widely applied are also reviewed. A set of hypotheses is derived from these theories and evidence for the validity of each hypothesis is discussed: this includes evidence from treatment studies, questionnaire studies and from experimental psychology. Following review of existing evidence, the paper summarizes the current status of cognitive theory in eating disorders. It then considers ways in which theory and research could be developed in order to improve and extend our understanding of cognitive content and processes in eating disorders. Limitations of existing models are highlighted and gaps in our knowledge, including knowledge of variables that typically have a central role in cognitive theory, are identified. Further strategies to test the validity of hypotheses derived from cognitive theory are suggested, together with strategies that might extend existing theory. It is concluded that much further research is needed, both to test the validity of existing theoretical contributions and to extend theory so that it will be more useful in clinical practice.
Cognitive Factors in Persistent versus Recovered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Physical or Sexual Assault: A Pilot Study
Authors: Dunmore Emma , Clark David M. , Ehlers Anke
Published: June 2009

Cognitive models have linked individual differences in the appraisal of traumatic events and their sequelae to the persistence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A pilot study investigated this proposal with victims of assault. Eleven assault victims suffering from persistent PTSD and 9 victims who had recovered from PTSD were interviewed retrospectively and compared on potentially relevant cognitive factors. Groups were comparable in terms of characteristics of the assault, gender, age, and initial PTSD severity. Participants with persistent PTSD were less likely than those who had recovered to have engaged in mental planning during the assault and more likely to have experienced mental defeat, and to indicate negative appraisals of their actions during the assault, of others' reactions after the assault, and of their initial PTSD symptoms. They were also more likely to indicate global negative beliefs concerning their perception of themselves, their world or their future. These cognitive factors may maintain PTSD symptoms either directly or by motivating the individual to engage in behaviour that prevents change.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Seven Cases Treated with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Authors: Brown Keith W. , McGoldrick Therese , Buchanan Robin
Published: June 2009

Body dysmorphic disorder is an illness of generally chronic course which can lead to significant impairment of social functioning, unnecessary plastic surgery and even suicide. It is little understood and treatment regimens have been of uncertain efficacy. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a newly developed psychotherapeutic procedure used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, grief reactions and generalized anxiety. In this paper we describe its use in seven consecutive cases of body dysmorphic disorder. Improvements were obtained in six of the seven patients, five of whom had a complete resolution of their symptoms.
Incentive to Suppress a Neutral Thought
Authors: Letarte Hélène , Ladouceur Robert , Freeston Mark , Rhéaume Josée
Published: June 2009

A suppression-mention task was used to evaluate the influence of increasing the incentive to suppress on subsequent enhancement and/or rebound effects. The experimental group suppressed neutral thoughts with a financial incentive for performance. A bogus pipeline was used to control for honesty. Two control groups, one with the bogus pipeline and one without, were asked to suppress the thought without the possibility of financial reward contingent on performance. Results showed that the group with a possible financial reward, although more successful in suppressing the thought, were still unable to suppress the thought. No enhancement or rebound effects were observed.
Cognitive Therapy in the Treatment of Non-Responders to Antidepressant Medication: A Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Moore Richard G. , Blackburn Ivy-Marie
Published: June 2009

In outpatients with recurrent major depression who failed to respond to acute treatment with antidepressant medication, this study compared the effects of follow-up treatment with cognitive therapy with those of follow-up treatment with medication. In the small number of patients treated, there were some indications of response to cognitive therapy. A greater number of patients responded at least partially to cognitive therapy according to one of the two response criteria, and mean scores on two measures of depression changed to a greater extent with cognitive therapy than with continued medication. Results are consistent with previous studies, but replication is required due to the small numbers involved. The potential implications for provision of treatment are discussed.
Attribution Therapy for Paranoid Delusions: A Case Study
Authors: Kinderman Peter , Bentall Richard P.
Published: June 2009

Paranoid delusions are associated with an abnormal attributional style that serves the function of preventing the activation of latent discrepancies between self-perceptions and self-ideals at the expense of contributing to the paranoid patient's negative perceptions of the intentions of others. In this case study we describe a therapeutic strategy designed to allow a patient suffering from persecutory delusions to re-attribute negative life experiences to situational causes rather than to a conspiracy directed towards himself. It was hypothesized that no resistance was encountered from the patiet because no attempt was made to re-attribute negative events to internal causes. A reduction in paranoid ideation, which was maintained at follow-up, was accompanied by changes on formal measures of attributions. The implications of these findings for cognitive models of paranoid ideation, and for the development of interventions for deluded patients are discussed.
Self-Monitoring, Competing Response and Response Cost in the Treatment of Trichotillomania: A Case Report
Authors: Rogers Paul , Darnley Simon
Published: June 2009

Self-monitoring, a competing response and response cost were used in the successful treatment of a 49 year old female patient with a 19 year history of trichotillomania. Self-monitoring and a competing response produced significant decreases in hair-pulling, but still continued as the patient found it pleasurable at times of stress. The addition of response cost procedures overcame this.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Unexplained Physical Symptoms: Process and Prognostic Factors
Authors: Speckens Anne E. M. , Spinhoven Philip , van Hemert Albert M. , Bolk Jan H. , Hawton Keith E.
Published: June 2009

The aims of this study were to examine the construct validity of a cognitive behavioural treatment model for medically unexplained physical symptoms and to examine potential predictors of treatment outcome. In concordance with the treatment model we used, the extent of hypochondriacal cognitions and psychological distress at baseline appeared to be associated. Change in hypochondriacal cognitions was related to change in psychological distress. The extent of hypochondriacal cognitions after treatment was predictive of the level of psychological distress at one year follow-up. The only baseline variable that predicted a negative treatment outcome was illness behaviour.
Does Cognitive Distraction Lead to Overeating in Restrained Eaters?
Authors: Boon Brigitte , Stroebe Wolfgang , Schut Henk , Jansen Anita
Published: June 2009

Restrained eaters have been found to overeat after various events or so-called disinhibitors, such as eating a preload or strong emotional states. Little research has focused on why such events lead to a break of the restrained eaters' control and to overeating. The present study examines the role of cognitive distraction as a possible mechanism underlying these effects. Two experiments were conducted, both designed to test hypotheses derived from Wegner's Ironic Process Theory and focusing on the behavioural consequences of cognitive control over eating. In both experiments subjects were tested in a 2 (restrained/unrestrained) by 2 (distraction/no distraction) design. The results do not confirm the prediction flowing from the Ironic Process Theory: cognitive distraction does not lead to overeating in restrained eaters. Implications of these findings for the Boundary Model are also discussed.
The Modification of Psychological Interventions for Persistent Auditory Hallucinations to an Islamic Culture
Authors: Wahass Saeed , Kent Gerry
Published: June 2009

Auditory hallucinations comprise the most common symptoms of schizophrenia. Although antipsychotic medications are helpful, in that they reduce symptoms and the likelihood of relapse, many patients do not benefit from their use. In recent years, psychological interventions have been developed in the West to help such patients. However, cross-cultural studies have shown that the nature and form of auditory hallucinations are affected by cultural differences, suggesting that a patient's cultural background needs to be considered when applying psychological methods. In this study, three schizophrenic patients from Saudi Arabia whose auditory hallucinations persisted despite the administration of antipsychotic medications were given a modified psychological intervention designed to alter the characteristics and content of their hallucinations. The modifications included an emphasis on Islamic doctrine and religion. Two patients benefited from the interventions. The third patient was reluctant to engage with the therapist, probably because the content of his voices was benign. The importance of such modifications when employing psychological intervention for patients from non-Western backgrounds is discussed.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in a Case of Organic Hallucinosis
Authors: Siddle Ronald , Turkington Douglas , Dudley Robert E. J.
Published: June 2009

This single case study investigates a woman with organic hallucinosis, who was assessed using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). She then received cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for 11 months. The CBT approach involved engaging the patient and specific symptom targeting. An individual formulation was developed, leading to schema focused intervention and relapse prevention. The subjects total CPRS scores and schizophrenia subscale scores were reduced dramatically.
Characterizations of stable model semantics for logic programs with arbitrary constraint atoms
Authors: SHEN YI-DONG , YOU JIA-HUAI , YUAN LI-YAN
Published: June 2009

This paper studies the stable model semantics of logic programs with (abstract) constraint atoms and their properties. We introduce a succinct abstract representation of these constraint atoms in which a constraint atom is represented compactly. We show two applications. First, under this representation of constraint atoms, we generalize the Gelfond–Lifschitz transformation and apply it to define stable models (also called answer sets) for logic programs with arbitrary constraint atoms. The resulting semantics turns out to coincide with the one defined by Son et al. (2007), which is based on a fixpoint approach. One advantage of our approach is that it can be applied, in a natural way, to define stable models for disjunctive logic programs with constraint atoms, which may appear in the disjunctive head as well as in the body of a rule. As a result, our approach to the stable model semantics for logic programs with constraint atoms generalizes a number of previous approaches. Second, we show that our abstract representation of constraint atoms provides a means to characterize dependencies of atoms in a program with constraint atoms, so that some standard characterizations and properties relying on these dependencies in the past for logic programs with ordinary atoms can be extended to logic programs with constraint atoms.
Enhancing Retirement Security Through the Tax Code: The Efficacy of Tax-Based Subsidies in Life Annuity Markets
Authors: GENTRY WILLIAM M. , ROTHSCHILD CASEY G.
Published: June 2009

The under-development of existing annuity markets coupled with the secular trend away from traditional pensions towards defined contribution accounts in the U.S. raises significant concerns about the adequacy of retirement income for future retirees. We develop dynamic programming techniques to evaluate the efficacy of policies designed to address this concern by encouraging annuitization. Our analysis suggests that policies providing monetary incentives through the tax code can indeed significantly enhance annuitization among retirees: our central estimates suggest that tax-exemption based policies which have been recently proposed in Congress have the potential to increase annuitization by as much as $50,000 for each retired household, at a relatively modest revenue cost to the government. Similar sized policies based instead on refundable tax credits may be more desirable from both efficiency and distributional perspectives.
Alternative risk-based levies in the pension protection fund for multi-employee schemes
Authors: LIU WEIXI , TONKS IAN
Published: June 2009

This paper estimates the risks of financial distress in UK universities, and uses these estimates to examine the basis of the annual levies paid to the UK's Pension Protection Fund by the Universities Superannuation Scheme, a multi-employer scheme covering 391 universities and related institutions. The paper compares the payments between the two alternative participating arrangements for multi-employer pension schemes to the PPF, namely last-man-standing and segmented levies. Using an Ohlson (1980) logit model to predict the financial distress risk for HE institutions, we find that financially distressed institutions are smaller, with higher leverage and lower earnings. By comparing the implied financial distress probabilities from the PPF risk-based levy using USS accounts with the simulated probabilities using our logit model, we estimate whether USS levies are fairly priced. Our estimates suggest that in 2006/07 USS member institutions appeared to be paying less than the fair risk-based levy. However, this is because during the initial phase of the PPF the risk-based levies were much lower as a proportion of the total levy than the intended steady-state values. The implication is that if USS had paid the same total levy but where the risk-based component was four fifths of the total, then USS would have been paying substantially more than its fair risk-based levy. In addition, by looking at the distributions of individual university risk-based levies under a segmented PPF arrangement, we find evidence of significant cross-subsidies under the current last-man-standing levy between participating USS institutions.
Structure and Future of the BABP
Authors: Marks Isaac
Published: June 2009

The BABP was founded in 1972 as an interdisciplinary Association to advance the theory and practice of behavioural psychotherapy in a wide variety of settings. Its membership includes nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and teachers.3 The Association has lost no time in getting off the ground. The BABP was responsible for organisation of the successful conference of the European Association of Behaviour Therapy in Heathrow in July, 1974, and for its own annual conference in Leicester in April 1973, including a special national conference which it sponsored on The Psychiatric Nurse as Therapist; proceedings of the latter were published as a Special Supplement to the Nursing Times in 1973 and were distributed to members. The BABP has also sponsored many workshops and meetings round the county, and its members have been represented to the Department of Health and Social Security on two issues of major importance viz. the possible registation of psychotherapists (a questionnaire and agenda of a meeting are enclosed with this newsletter) and the ethics of behavioural treatments.
Modelling
Authors: Marzillier John
Published: June 2009

The large number of recent reviews testify to the importance of modelling in the experimental and clinical literature on behaviour modification (Bandura, 1969, 1971; Flanders, 1968; Goldstein, 1973; Rachman, 1972, 1975).The initial resurgence of interest has been, without doubt, largely due to Bandura's experimental investigations of imitation learning, and his assignment of modelling to a central role in his social learning theory (Bandura, 1971). He and his colleagues have demonstrated the importance of modelling in such diverse areas as aggression, anxiety-reduction, self-control and the acquisition of moral judgements. In very recent years there has been a veritable explosion of studies with direct or indirect relevance to a clinical population. This is exemplified in the two reviews conducted by Rachman. Prior to 1972, seventeen experimental investigations had appeared. In the next two years a further twenty-six studies were reported (Rachman, 1972, 1975).
Research Design and Clinical Practice in Behaviour Therapy
Authors: Mathews Andrew
Published: June 2009

Clinicians faced with the problem of finding the most effective treatment of individual patients often express disappointment and frustration when turning to the research literature for guidance. Treatments and measures reported are often standardised, may be carried out for a fixed period irrespective of response, and use atypical - even ‘analogue’ populations, while variables of most clinical interest - such as individual differences - are symbolically relegated to the error term of the ANOVA. One reaction to this is to dismiss the experimental method as irrelevant to clinical problems, usually in favour of intuition in one guise or another, as a more satisfying and creative activity. It is unfortunately true that rigorous experiment is no guarantee of rapid success in generating valid theory or successful application in the clinic - however it is the only available route to cumulative progress. To utilise it most effectively requires both awareness of relevant clinical questions by the research worker, and willingness to utilise experimental or ‘quasi-experimental’ (Campbell & Stanley, 1966) methods on the part of the clinician, rather than to retreat to the non-experimental and untestable position of the pre-scientific psychotherapists.