bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning theory and psychoanalysis
Authors: WOLF EUGENE
Published: July 2011

At a time when cybernetics has come to relate the behaviour of man to that of lifeless machines, we cannot possibly turn our backs on the model of something as close to man as is another mammal. The animal model is, however, a potentially double‐edged weapon. It can be a blessing to the extent to which we succeed in establishing all that man and animal have in common, but it can also prove to be a hindrance to the extent to which we fail to establish the relevant features in which the two differ at the same time.
The consultant and his roles*
Authors: COLES R. B. , BRIDGER H.
Published: July 2011

Physicians are some of them so pleasing, and conformable to the Humor of the Patient, as they presse not the true Cure of the Disease; And some other are so Regular, in proceeding according to Art, for the Disease, as they respect not sufficiently the Condition of the Patient. Take one of a Middle Temper; Or if it may not be found in one Man, combine two of either sort: and forget not to call, as well the best acquainted with your Body, as the best reputed for his Faculty. (From the essay ‘Of Regiment of Health’ by Francis Bacon.)
Film Review
Authors: ROSENFELD SARA
Published: July 2011

Young Children in Brief Separation: John, aged 17 months, for Nine Days in a Residential Nursery. A film by James and Joyce Robertson.
Personal constructs and child psychiatric diagnosis'A pilot study
Authors: Sperber Jonathan C.
Published: July 2011

Repertory grid technique is used to study the relationship between construing patients and friends by subjects ranking the same sets of constructs to both sets of elements. Nine subjects completed two repertory grids with (1) ‘patients’ as elements, and (2) ‘friends’ as elements. By using the measures of ‘Consistency’, and ‘Intensity’, which are explained, it is shown that subjects were as meaningfully able to construe ‘patients’ in terms of the ‘friends’ constructs, as they were in terms of the ‘patients‘ constructs. They were not as able to construe ‘friends’ in terms of ‘patient’ constructs as they were in terms of the ‘friends’ constructs. The significance of this is examined in relation to the use of a specialist language within child psychiatric diagnosis.
Hierarchies of personality deviance and personal illness
Authors: Foulds G. A. , Bedford A.
Published: July 2011

Three hundred and twenty‐five psychiatric patients were allocated to classes within the hierarchy of personal illness by means of the Delusions‐Symptoms‐States Inventory. They were then given the Personality Deviance Scales. The results showed that the classes ranked in the same hierarchical order as on the DSSI on extrapunitiveness and intropunitiveness, but not on dominance. Maladjustive personality deviance, as statistically defined, was 3 1/2 times as frequent among patients as among non‐patients.

Whereas symptom measures had previously been shown to change considerably after one month, personality measures did not. Longer follow‐up periods are needed before it can be decided whether personality measures contribute substantially to prediction of type of illness or whether they are determined, at least in part, by the type of illness. In the latter event, personality measures might still prove useful in providing a more fundamental estimate of long‐term clinical improvement than symptom measures alone if they were found to change more slowly or only with more intensive clinical effort.
Correlates of illness susceptibility
Authors: Tutone Robert M.
Published: July 2011

Previous research has indicated that cognitive‐emotional factors, psychosocial stress, and systemic activity play a role in the contraction and course of numerous diseases. The present study investigated the relative contributions of these variables. Fifty‐five male undergraduates were given questionnaires assessing general emotionality, and psychosocial stress and illness history over a four‐year period. Autonomic indices of pulse rate, respiration, peripheral circulation, and skin resistance were also obtained under conditions of rest and stress (threat of electric shock). Using number of past illnesses as the dependent variable, a stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed. Only amount of psychosocial stress and, related to it, number of different kinds of psychosocial stress yielded significant partial correlations. Results are discussed in relation to other research, with emphasis on the conceptual and methodological difficulties of assessing psychophysiological mediators of morbidity.
Thumbsucking and falling asleep
Authors: Ozturk Mualla , Ozturk Orhan M.
Published: July 2011

A review of the studies on the aetiology of habitual thumbsucking reveals either contradictory or inconclusive results. In this study carried out in Turkey, 50 thumbsuckers, 50 non‐thumbsuckers, 250 school children and 312 ‘problem’ children were investigated through interviews, questionnaires and other clinical techniques with their mothers. Among variables studied were aspects of feeding, onset and incidence of thumbsucking, strength of sucking drive, sex distribution, educational level and occupation of mothers, parental attitudes toward physical contact with children, mother‐child relationships, and particular forms of falling asleep. It was found that thumbsucking was aetiologically more related to ways of falling asleep than to other factors. An attempt was made to explain the social, psychological and physiological basis of the aetiological significance of the falling asleep‐stage in habitual thumbsucking.

These findings now permit predictive longitudinal investigations to test this accuracy.
Systemic aspects of abstinence and addiction
Authors: Schwartzman John
Published: July 2011

An examination of the addict in his social context reveals that an important aspect of abstinence is the transform of the problem of addiction from an aspect of the social system to within the addict. The drug subculture, the addict's family, and a methadone clinic all covertly elicit and reinforce this transformation maintained by the myth that the addict is ‘out of control’.
Psychogenic vertigo within an anxiety frame of reference: An experimental study
Authors: Magnusson Per‐Åke , Nilsson Alf , Henriksson Nils‐Gunnar
Published: July 2011

The theoretical point of departure here was the assumption that a psychogenic vertigo patient displaces affect, or experience of anxiety to one of dizziness, the dizziness serving as an anxiety equivalent. This is seen to imply a change in the locus of experience from the me to the not‐me sphere. ‘Percept‐genetic’ techniques and a spiral after‐effect measurement were used to compare 23 patients with presumed psychogenic vertigo with a control group matched in sex, age, education and occupation. Results of the percept‐genetic techniques showed the patients to display stronger signs of affect anxiety than subjects in the control group. Also two main subgroups of patients were differentiated with the help of the descriptive instruments, one group with signs of a primitive‐hysteroid mode of functioning, the other with signs of an obsessive‐compulsive mode. For both subgroups the suggested displacement mechanism seemed to be functioning. Its apparent effect differed, however, for the two subgroups: in the ‘primitive‐hysteroid’ group the displacement mechanism was more effective. The ‘obsessive‐compulsive’ group showed stronger signs of affect anxiety, dizziness here being better characterized as a concomitant than as an equivalent of anxiety. Results of a follow‐up two years after the investigation also showed a poorer development of symptoms within the ‘obsessive‐compulsive’ group.
The differential diagnosis of homosexuality
Authors: Limentani A.
Published: July 2011

The treatment of homosexuality presents serious difficulties owing to its multifactorial aetiology and variety of psychopathological views. It is suggested that the combined use of psychiatric and psychoanalytic models can contribute to the establishment of a satisfactory differential diagnosis. Out of the innumerable clinical types seen in practice and described in the literature, three major groups can be isolated. The homosexuality which occurs on the background of hysterical, obsessional and other neurotic personality types and related psychiatric conditions, tends to be linked with latent heterosexuality and responds well to all forms of psychotherapy. On the other hand, true homosexuality is often the major presenting symptom of borderline states, narcissistic disorders, psychopathy and the schizo‐affective psychoses and carries an unfavourable prognosis with any form of treatment. Cases of actual bisexuality form the third group with its own specific psychopathology. The homosexual solution is seen as a defence and is regarded as a matter of survival for many individuals. It should be treated with the utmost caution by anyone who attempts to remove it.
Some findings concerning beliefs about alcoholism
Authors: Hoy Richard M.
Published: July 2011

The beliefs that alcoholics hold about alcoholism and themselves, and the beliefs that hospital staff and other personnel hold about alcoholism, were investigated using methods derived from the repertory grid, with anonymous facial photographs as elements. Data are presented as to the degree of association of various characteristics with alcoholism for the various groups. Differences between groups, and overall changes during group psychotherapy for patients were small. The relative contribution of personal and shared aspects of belief was measured. It was found that the agreement between groups was high and closely similar to that predictable from consistencies within groups. It is concluded that there may be a very general stereotype of alcoholism, consistent with a personality disorder concept which is implicitly held even in the face of nominal acceptance of other concepts. The self‐constructs of alcoholics were found to be complex. In a small follow‐up study of patients, there was found to be a relationship of poor outcome with tightness of construing for key constructs after psychotherapy. The implications of the findings are discussed briefly.
The relationship between impaired selective attention and severity of psychopathology in acute psychiatric patients
Authors: Bush Marshall
Published: July 2011

Thirty acute psychiatric patients were administered a battery of selective attention and cognitive ability measures to determine whether there is a differential deficit in filtering capacity with increasing degrees of psychopathology. Susceptibility to intrusions in the early stages of auditory selective attention was positively related to degree of disturbance, but not more so than were other cognitive disabilities. Slowness of information processing, rather than impaired selective attention, bore the strongest relationship to severity of disturbance and appeared to be the best index of general cognitive inefficiency. It was concluded that the defective filter theories of schizophrenic deficit hold little promise for explaining how psychopathology affects cognitive functioning across a continuum of levels of disturbance.
Personality correlates of study difficulty and academic performance in university students. II. Conscience and self‐esteem
Authors: Crown Sidney , Lucas C. J. , Stringer Peter , Supramanium S.
Published: July 2011

Scales measuring self‐esteem and conscience have been included in a further study of work‐related symptoms in students. Two groups were tested: a group of patients attending the UCL Student Health Centre for psychological reasons, and a group of normal controls. Conscience and self‐esteem were inversely related to one another. Both tests were reliable and differentiated between the groups. The patients tend to have low self‐esteem, high conscience, and to score higher than controls both on neurotic symptoms as such as measured by a personality inventory (MHQ) and as assessed on work‐related symptoms measured by our study difficulty questionnaire (UCLSQ). In terms of academic performance, an interesting subgroup of students was delineated who are rated highly by their tutors but who appear subjectively troubled with phobic anxiety, low self‐esteem and a harsh conscience structure. The conscience and self‐esteem scales, in view of their brevity, acceptable reliability, and in terms of the relationships discussed in this paper, will be retained for further research.
Some psychological characteristics of patients with anorexia nervosa whose weight has been newly restored
Authors: Pillay M. , Crisp A. H.
Published: July 2011

A preliminary study has served to demonstrate that patients with primary anorexia nervosa whose weight has been newly restored to normal, and who are currently involved in individual and family psychotherapy, are significantly characterized by having very low self‐esteem, by being highly sensitive to social interactions and by being ‘obsessoid’. It is suggested that, in therapy, specific behavioural approaches to these problems may usefully complement other psychotherapeutic endeavours.
The melancholy marriage: An inquiry into the interaction of depression
Authors: Hinchliffe Mary K. , Vaughan Pamela W. , Hooper Douglas , Roberts F. John
Published: July 2011

In this domain we are aiming to measure the degree and quality of attentiveness or mutuality that marital partners show for each other in a relationship where constraints or limitations have been applied to the interacting system through the emergence of depressive symptoms in one or both partners. Raush, Barry, Hertel & Swain (1974) have formulated the interactive dynamics of a disturbed marital system and see contextual variables such as depressive behaviour as enhancing or diminishing the meaningful quality of communication between individuals.
The melancholy marriage: An inquiry into the interaction of depression.
Authors: Hinchliffe Mary K. , Hooper Douglas , Roberts F. John , Vaughan Pamela W.
Published: July 2011

Communication as we have defined it in a previous paper (Hooper, Roberts, Hinchliffe & Vaughan, 1977) consists of considerably more than the words which are spoken. The flow of speech is accompanied by many paralinguistic phenomena which both facilitate and inhibit the patterns of communication between people. Speech flow has always been one of the classical ways by which the depressed patient has been identified clinically. Along with the negative and self‐devaluing speech content (for which there is a good deal of evidence, e.g. Weintraub & Aronson, 1967) the speech flow of the depressed person has been thought of as considerably disrupted by long pauses and a low speech rate. Obviously, then, this domain of communication has been particularly important for the clinician in deciding whether or not the person in front of him is clinically depressed.
Identifying dimensions of perceived patient change: Some problems in the use of factor analysis
Authors: Kennard David
Published: July 2011

A study of change in a ‘therapeutic community’ admission unit is used to illustrate some of the problems associated with the use of factor analysis in evaluating therapeutic outcome. The paper describes the methodological steps involved in an attempt to identify the underlying dimensions of change which reflect how patients see themselves, and are seen by those most closely involved with them. The resulting dimensions, labelled ‘pleasantness’ and ‘illness’, are used to illustrate change at three levels: average direction, scatter, and individual cases.
Demoniacal possession and psychoanalytic theory
Authors: Taylor Graeme
Published: July 2011

Psychodynamic explanations of demoniacal possession have been based mainly on Freud's retrospective interpretation of the illness of Christoph Haitzman. Freud applied libido theory to his analysis of the case and this subsequently influenced the psychoanalytic theory of paranoid symptom formation and the psychoanalytic approach to the psychoses. Fairbairn, and later Guntrip, applied an object relations theory to the case and conceptualized demoniacal possession in terms of bad internalized objects. They used the example of Haitzman to illustrate an object relations approach to the understanding and treatment of severely disturbed patients. In this paper the psychoanalytic treatment of a case of demoniacal possession is described to indicate the multiple dynamic meanings which possession may have and to demonstrate the necessity for integrating and applying aspects of libido and object relations theories. Current trends in psychoanalysis are towards recognizing the psychotic core which is frequently masked by an apparently psychoneurotic illness so that analysis must reach beyond oedipal conflicts to the primitive internalized object relations. A psychoanalytic study of demoniacal possession contributes much to the understanding of such patients but particularly to the conceptualization of borderline and psychotic states. It is in the treatment of these patients that the role of the psychotherapist is more akin to that of the exorcist.
Frames of reference in psychoanalytic psychology
Authors: Sandler Joseph , Dare Christopher , Holder Alex
Published: July 2011

We remarked in an earlier paper (Sandler, Dare & Holder, 1972) that ‘Towards the end of the second phase certain inconsistencies began to be apparent in Freud's view of the mental apparatus and its functioning'. These inconsistencies, which rendered the use of the topographical model difficult and limited its clinical application, will be discussed below under several different headings. They have been devised with the advantages of the hindsight afforded by the development of psychoanalysis over more than half a century since the structural model was introduced (Freud, 1923). While limitations of the topographical model are pointed out in this paper, we would like to underline the fact that the model was not completely replaced by the structural model of the third phase of psychoanalysis. It has continued to be applied where appropriate or convenient.
Assessing the psychological effects of an exercise training programme for patients following myocardial infarction: A pilot study
Authors: Prosser Glyn , Carson Peter , Gelson Alan , Tucker Helen , Neophytou Mike , Phillips Rosalind , Simpson Terry
Published: July 2011

During a study investigating physiological and other effects of an exercise programme for coronary patients, a questionnaire was administered. Preliminary analysis had suggested some improvement in the patients' morale, but in view of the possible relevance of a number of psychological variables it was decided to carry out further analysis on the available data. The coefficient of discrimination was computed for 32 patients. For 19 patients correlations were computed between scores on subjective fitness, symptoms, anxiety, interest in sex, if at work, age, weight, and workload achieved at a given heart rate. The questionnaire appeared to have satisfactorily high internal and external validity. Patients with a high ‘morale’ score tended to achieve a greater increase in workload over the course. Although cause and effect cannot be unequivocally assigned, the association is felt to be important, and research is continuing.
The reactions to child‐bearing and early maternal experience of women with differing marital relationships
Authors: Westbrook Mary T.
Published: July 2011

The type of marital relationships of 200 women was significantly associated with their attitudes toward child‐bearing and their affective reactions, as measured by the application of twelve content analysis scales to their retrospective accounts of a child‐bearing year. Positive marital relationships were linked with calmer reactions. Self‐oriented relationships were characterized by mutilation anxiety. In ambivalent and negative relationships early separation anxiety and hostility occurred but only the negative group continued in crisis after birth. Women with positive and ambivalent relationships expressed greater maternal warmth.
Psychoneurotic profiles in the adult population
Authors: Crisp A. H. , Ralph P. C. , McGuinness B. , Harris G.
Published: July 2011

Self‐reported psychoneurotic characteristics and aspects of affective status have been examined within the adult population of a market town and the surrounding rural community using a standardized instrument. Features of anxiety in particular are more common amongst females than males, peaking in the third, fourth (phobic avoidance behaviour being also especially evident at this time) and fifth decades of life. Many of the characteristics are also importantly related to age in both sexes and to social class. Some are widespread within the population and probably reflect more enduring personality traits. Others are less common, more age specific (e.g. early adult life, middle age, the menopause in females; the involutional period in males) and are probably more often construed by the individuals concerned and by others as ‘illness’.

The similarity of the relevant segment of the present profiles to those previously obtained from a suburban population aged 40–65 years is noteworthy. The most likely interpretation is that the measuring instrument is reliable and that the reporting behaviour of psychoneurotic and effective characteristics and morbidity is identical in both populations.
Mourning and the prevention of melancholia
Authors: Raphael Beverley
Published: July 2011

Freud suggested that a high level of ambivalence in the previous relationship between the bereaved and the deceased was likely to complicate the process of mourning, perhaps leading to melancholia. Within a study testing the effectiveness of preventive intervention, a subgroup of recently bereaved widows (n = 22) were rated as having had a highly ambivalent marital relationship with their spouses. Psychotherapeutic intervention to promote the resolution of the ambivalence within the mourning process was given to a randomly selected group of these women during the first three months following the husbands' deaths. All subjects were followed up independently by questionnaire 13 months after the death. Intervention subjects (n = 12) showed significantly better general health and a lower level of depressive illness than controls (n = 10).
Psychological construing and thought disorder: Another test of the ‘difficulty’ hypothesis
Authors: McPherson F. M. , Armstrong Jennifer , Heather B. B.
Published: July 2011

Two versions of the grid test of thought disorder were derived which used similar elements, and were of equal difficulty, but one of which employed psychological, and the other non‐psychological, constructs. They were administered to thought‐disordered schizophrenic patients and to psychiatric and normal controls. On one measure (consistency), although not on the other (intensity), the results strongly supported the hypothesis that thought‐disordered patients are maximally disordered in the area of psychological construing. The results support those of an earlier study (McPherson et al. 1975) and are compatible with those theories which postulate a role for social factors in the aetiology of thought disorder.
Objective constructs and cognitive structure
Authors: Stringer Peter , Terry Paul
Published: July 2011

Some relations between objective content and concrete structure in cognitive systems are examined in repertory grids completed by 58 individuals. Predictions that systems with objective content would show less discrimination, differentiation and integration were unconfirmed, results tending in the opposite direction to that hypothesized. There was a similar outcome for six measures of cognitive style as dependent variables. It is suggested that objective‐subjective constructs and their concrete‐abstract use should be further investigated with the expectation of finding more complex relations in individuals' cognitive systems.
Mystical experience, spiritual knowledge, and a contemporary ecstatic religion
Authors: Buckley Peter , Galanter Marc
Published: July 2011

A contemporary ‘enthusiastic’ religion, the Divine Light Mission (DLM), was studied by the authors in an attempt to elucidate some of the psychological factors underlying the burgeoning appeal of this charismatic religious sect for American youth. The DLM is constituted of followers of the Guru Maharaji, an Indian who first came to the United States in 1972 at the age of 14.

Method. The study was conducted both by means of individual interviews of DLM members and through the administration of a questionnaire to 119 randomly selected converts.

Results. The modal respondent was a single white between 21 and 25 years of age, who had some college experience, had been a member for one to two years, and was living in communal residence with other members.

Mystical experiences, analogous to an acute circumscribed hallucinatory episode, were found to be a central factor in the conversion of some of the adherents to the DLM. These mystical experiences along with regularly practiced meditation appeared to be of considerable importance in reinforcing the belief system (especially the acquisition of ‘knowledge’ a state of communion with the ‘divine presence’) for members of the DLM.

Discussion. The psychology of mystical conversion experiences is reviewed and an explanation for the central importance of the ‘knowledge’ in the DLM is developed through the concept of affect functioning as cognition.

The relationship and similarity of the DLM to other ‘enthusiastic’ religions such as Pentecostalism and 17th century Quakerism is examined illustrating the persistent historical appeal of such inspirational sects.

The combination of a powerful group solidarity, the presence of a charismatic leader, and the occurrence of dramatic mystical conversion experiences are seen to be potent factors in providing this sect with its appeal for contemporary youth.
Validity studies on the Ryle Marital Patterns Test
Authors: Heins Terence J. , Yelland John H.
Published: July 2011

The case for a questionnaire for assessing marital interaction has been enhanced by recent research showing that patterns of marital interaction can indicate prognosis in schizophrenia, alcoholism, neurotic illnesses and depression. This paper reviews previous studies which have provided information on the validity of Ryle's Marital Patterns Test and presents additional data from Adelaide studies of psychiatric in‐patients and family planning clinic patients. The affection scales, especially affection received, have shown good agreement with external criteria in four studies. Problems with face validity and internal consistency suggest that three items should be excluded from scoring in the current affection scales. Future development of this type of questionnaire might expand the affection dimension to include more items on hostility and criticism. The utility of the domination scale is less certain because of the relativity of the concept and unsatisfactory agreement with external criteria of domination.
Changes in personal construing in three psychotherapy groups and a control group
Authors: Koch H. C. H.
Published: July 2011

Two repertory grids were administered at four‐weekly intervals to members of three psychotherapy groups and one waiting‐list control group. Individualized and general predictions of possible therapeutic change were made. More individualized than general predictions were confirmed, adding further support to the use of client‐centred outcome measures. The outcome data indicated significant improvement in each therapy group. Process results were consonant with Yalom's (1970) curative factors of universality, modelling and family re‐enactment and Malan's (1979) resolution of triangle of person. Finally, a model for further evaluation of group psychotherapy is outlined developing personal construct methodology within a group setting.
The representation of transference through serial grids: A methodological study
Authors: Ben‐Tovim David I. , Greenup Juliet
Published: July 2011

During a patient's psychotherapy serial grids were collected so that aspects of ‘transference’ defined as the interrelationships of dyadic elements such as ‘me now with the therapist’, ‘me with father when I was a child’ could be measured. By forming composite grids of the same two elements from each testing occasion, changes could be traced over time. Content analysis of tape‐recordings of the sessions showed that changes on the grid measures could be related to the therapist's interventions. The correlations obtained suggest a process of delayed reconceptualization by the subject.
Locus of control and cognitive behaviour therapy with mastectomy patients: A pilot study
Authors: Tarrier Nicholas , Maguire Peter , Kincey John
Published: July 2011

A cognitive behaviour therapy programme was designed for use with mastectomy patients, and a pilot study performed to test the efficacy of the programme. This article reports the locus of control data collected during the pilot study and the relationship between these data and the clinical assessment measures. Lower chance scores at pre‐treatment are associated with greater clinical improvement as predicted. Surprisingly, however, there is an increase in chance scores over treatment although this disappears at follow‐up. Patients who also received medication scored higher on internal control than those who did not. These results are discussed and it was concluded that antidepressant medication may assist the cognitive therapy programme.
Projective identification: The container and reverie as concepts in applied psychoanalysis
Authors: GoldS Stanley
Published: July 2011

This paper discusses theoretical and clinical problems experienced in the assessment and treatment of two borderline patients admitted to a psychotherapeutic community. It is proposed that difficulties encountered were related first to the inability of the therapeutic couple (therapist and nurse) to develop a capacity for reverie and containment essential if pathological projections were to be detoxified and made available for reintrojection by the patient. Second, it is proposed that failure relates to the patients' difficulties in developing normal symbol formation with respect either to thought or behaviour, related retrospectively to excessive splitting and pathological projective identification and prospectively to an inability to experience whole object relationships. This in turn is linked to the patients' attack on those capacities which are present in the therapeutic couple.
Prolonged exposure to a war environment and its effects on the blood pressure of pregnant women
Authors: Rofe Yacov , Goldberg Joel
Published: July 2011

The present research examined the effects of living in an area which had been a target of terrorist activities for a long period, as well as the effects of war, on blood pressure of pregnant women. For this purpose, the blood pressures of 5804 Israeli pregnant women, who gave birth between July 1973 and June 1975 and who had lived in either high, medium or low military stress environments were compared. Blood pressures that were measured immediately before delivery were taken from the delivery record of the pregnant women in the hospital. Results showed that the women in the high stress environment displayed significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, both during the relatively calm period and the period of the Yom Kippur War, than women who lived in the low stress environment. Women who lived in the medium stress area were in between these two groups. War increased the blood pressure in all three environments, but the increase in blood pressure from the calm period to the war period was greater in the high and medium stress environments than in the low stress environment. Results further showed that the younger women displayed greater increase in the systolic blood pressure than the older women. This finding was attributed to the fact that the husbands of the younger women serve in the front lines to a greater extent, which probably induces a higher level of anxiety.
Correlates of changes in personal construing of members of two psychotherapy groups: Changes in affective expression
Authors: Koch H. C. H.
Published: July 2011

Changes in verbal affective expression within sessions of two psychotherapy groups run along group‐analytic lines were measured using the Process Affective Scoring System developed by Gibbard & Hartman (1973). Tape recordings of group sessions were rated by trained undergraduate students for presence or absence of verbal affect. Relationships between these changes and changes in personal construing were sought. Expression of hostility and affection were found to be good predictors of a successful outcome of therapy. Factors which might account for the unexplained variance of changes in outcome variables are put forward.
Factor analysis and reliability studies of the Crown‐Crisp Experiential Index (CCEI)
Authors: Alderman K. J. , Mackay C. J. , Lucas E. G. , Spry W. B. , Bell B.
Published: July 2011

Factor analysis of the Crown‐Crisp Experiential Index (CCEI) is described. Two groups took part in the study; one from a working population (n = 8292) and one from clients attending three Employment Rehabilitation Centres (n = 281). Comparison of the factors obtained from these two groups, and between these and the original CCEI subscales, are reported, together with estimates of reliability. Overall, the results point to the retention of the CCEI as a reliable instrument for measuring psychoneurotic illness.
Poetry as therapy
Authors: Morrice J. K. W.
Published: July 2011

In the practice of general psychiatry, art therapy in the form of painting is widely employed. Music and drama similarly provide regular treatment occasions. The use of poetry is less familiar and is little discussed in the literature. This paper reviews a therapeutic liaison, happening largely by chance, which depended almost exclusively upon an exchange of verse. The relationship between the processes of psychotherapy, on the one hand, and the writing and reading of poetry, on the other, is suggested and illustrated by the patient's writings. It may be that good poetry, like successful psychotherapy, arises from disturbed emotions only when they are given resolution and form. Exceptionally the two go hand‐in‐hand.
The reliability of a modified Helper Behaviour Rating System
Authors: Shapiro David A. , Barkham Michael , Irving D. Lynne
Published: July 2011

Response mode analysis seeks to classify the utterances of psychotherapists and others offering personal help, with respect to the interpersonal function of the utterance. It is applicable in diverse settings, and irrespective of the theoretical orientation of the helper or the researcher. The present study presents reliability data on a new such system of analysis, incorporating a novel mode, termed exploration. Intermediate between interpretation and reflection, this mode taps the theoretically important effort by the helper to construct a frame of reference shared with the client. Results indicated that the additional precision gained by the introduction of this new mode was not accompanied by any loss in reliability as compared with previous research. Overall, the system achieved acceptable reliability although the data cautioned against overinterpretation of the codings of individual response units.
Hoarding in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Frankenburg Frances R.
Published: July 2011

A case study of hoarding in a woman with anorexia nervosa is reported. Obsessional and borderline personality characteristics, exacerbated by starvation, may be determinants of hoarding in anorexia nervosa.
Psychological correlates of weight control among anorexia nervosa patients and normal girls
Authors: Huon Gail , Brown L. B.
Published: July 2011

A study is reported that compared the responses of anorexic patients with those of two groups of non‐patient adolescent girls formed by taking the most frequent and the least frequent weighers from a large sample of senior schoolgirls. Each subject completed a questionnaire which related to family conflict, self‐esteem, self‐presentation, behavioural control, and the criticism of eating.

A MANOVA was performed, using scores for each variable and pairwise comparisons of the groups. Since the overall test was significant for comparisons between the patients and both of the non‐patient groups, follow‐up tests were carried out. These showed that the patients differed from the non‐patients on a 'global' measure that involved all of the variables except family conflict. Self‐esteem was the only single variable which produced significant differences between any of the groups, and distinguished the patients from the least frequently weighing group of non‐patients.
On the centenary of Charcot: Hysteria, suggestibility and hypnosis
Authors: Chertok Léon
Published: July 2011

In studying hysteria by means of hypnosis, Charcot placed emphasis on the psychological aetiology of the neuroses. Among his pupils, Freud alone grasped this epistemological turning‐point, from which he made his great discoveries. But hysteria and hypnosis still remain today largely unknown. We have not yet elucidated the ‘mysterious leap’ between the psychological and the somatic for the former, and between the relational and the instrumental for the latter.

While psychoanalysts have constantly concerned themselves with hysteria, they have shown a lack of interest in hypnosis after Freud abandoned its practice. According to Freud, thanks to transference, affect would be controlled by cognition, a viewpoint eminently suited to satisfy his rationalistic outlook. Affect, however, remains an unknown realm. The affective relationship has, at all events, acquired an ever‐increasing importance in psychoanalysis during the last few years, with the emphasis on the early mother‐child relationship.

The ‘affective locus’ remains the basic, as well as the most obscure, element in the hypno‐suggestive relationship. The behaviourist approach, which quantifies the ‘vertical’ dimension in depth, is a limited one. The study of the ‘horizontal’ dimension of subjective experience represents a new line of research, which may make it possible to distinguish different forms of hypnosis. The understanding of hypno‐suggestion may throw light on psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and the human sciences in general.
The continuum of pre‐ and post‐bereavement grieving
Authors: Bourke Michael P.
Published: July 2011

Morbid grief patterns are frequently recognized and intervention initiated only after death has taken place. However, where the eventuality of death is recognized, the relationships of the dying person should be examined rather than left to chance. Where necessary, intervention should appropriately begin prior to the event of death. The dying and the bereaved person should, to some extent, collaborate in the grieving process. A comparison is made with the perinatal period where the relationship to the foetus influences both the birth and the subsequent parent‐child bonding.
Social elements as mind
Authors: Harré Rom
Published: July 2011

The assumption that ‘mind’ is the product of individual development and that cognition and emotion must be sited in individual people has dominated psychology until recently. The new conception of a ‘social construction of mind’ is grounded in the idea that an interpersonal conversation is the fundamental psychological reality, and that individual minds are appropriations from it. Such a personal mind is created by making private what is originally and primarily public. This idea strikes at the Cartesian basis of both behaviourist and non‐behaviourist psychology, suggesting a more complex multidimensional set of polar oppositions for defining the problems of scientific psychology. For example, perhaps knowledge should be studied as a collective resource rather than as individual beliefs. There is evidence from anthropology that even that intimate form of cognitive organization we call the ‘self’ may have social origins in favoured grammatical models and so may be expected to differ from one linguistic culture to another.
Psychological construing and meaningfulness in schizophrenia
Authors: Kirk Joan W.
Published: July 2011

The ratings of schizophrenic and non‐schizophrenic in‐patients on a Semantic Differential were compared. Those schizophrenic patients who obtained low scores on a test of psychological construing (the Grid Test) made less use than other schizophrenics of extreme ratings on psychological scales on the Semantic Differential. The two groups of schizophrenics did not differ on their use of non‐psychological scales. This indicates that the psychological scales are relatively meaningless to this group of subjects. The findings may explain the presentation of symptoms in schizophrenic patients.
Maximizing scarce resources: Autogenic relaxation classes at a health centre
Authors: Medlik Lenka , Fursland Annie
Published: July 2011

The establishment of relaxation classes in a health centre is described from the point of view of a cost‐effective way of helping relatively large numbers of people with physical and psychological problems, with a minimum of professional time.
Personal assessments of life‐event stress and the near future onset of psychological symptoms
Authors: Byrne D. G.
Published: July 2011

This report presents data on prospective associations of life‐event measures with psychological symptoms. Two issues in particular are addressed, the one relating to the causal influence of life‐events on symptom onset, and the other to the role of personal interpretations of life‐event impact in this association. The latter issue derives from a consideration of the cognitive view of stress. Prospective associations did, indeed, emerge and were strongest where the individual was permitted to personally assess the impact of encountered life‐events. Temporal patterns of association varied with the kinds of symptoms (anxiety or depression) used as the dependent variable.
Factors influencing the regularity of meditation practice in a clinical population
Authors: Delmonte M. M.
Published: July 2011

Tests were administered to out‐patients before learning meditation. High pre‐test scores on sensitization, suggestibility, introversion, neuroticism and perceived symptomatology predicted a low practice frequency. Gender, expectations, credibility, locus of control and self‐esteem were unrelated to outcome. By two years, 54 per cent had stopped meditating. Meditation appeared to be more rewarding for subjects with milder complaints.
Interpersonal skills in behavioural psychotherapy: Clinical psychology trainees' attitudes
Authors: Kowalski Reinhard
Published: July 2011

During a behaviour therapy training workshop, 15 postgraduate clinical psychology trainees were asked to assign 27 interpersonal therapeutic skills either to themselves and/or to the ‘typical behaviour therapist’. The behaviour therapist's low ratings in therapeutic relationship skills is discussed, and the need for more research into the specific behavioural therapeutic relationship is emphasized.
Confusions in defining ‘A—B’ personality type: A rejoinder to Jenkins & Zyzanski
Authors: Ray John J.
Published: July 2011

Ray & Bozek (1980) suggested that the Jenkins Activity Survey or ‘JAS’ (for measuring A—B personality) contained items measuring three different qualities: dominance, achievement motivation and ‘freneticism’. Although freneticism was found to be only a minor component of the JAS, it seems to correspond most closely to what the JAS is said to be measuring.
Development and application of criteria for classes of psychotherapy based on patients' requests for service
Authors: Wood William D. , Swanson Donald A.
Published: July 2011

Discrepancy frequently exists between the perspectives of psychotherapists and their patients about what problems and which patients are suitable for psychotherapy and how psychotherapy should be conducted. Lazare et all's (1972, 1975a) negotiated ‘customer’ approach attempts to correct this deficiency by providing mental health services that more fully take into account the specific service requests of patients. Lazare's 14 identified services were applied to develop profiles of each of four service types, including two classes of psychotherapy. Applying the criteria developed, 52.6 per cent of patients evaluated could be classified into one of four classes of service. Only two patients presented a pattern of service requests consistent with a broadly defined supportive psychotherapy. The three largest patient groups were then compared with respect to several classes of variables. Major differences were found between the non‐psychotherapy group and the two psychotherapy groups, but not between the psychotherapy groups. Service requests of patients generally paralleled those perceived by the interviewers.
Pattern of discussion in traditional and novel ward‐round procedures*
Authors: Fewtrell W. D. , Toms D. A.
Published: July 2011

A novel ward‐round procedure was introduced on an acute psychiatric admissions ward. There was an equal balance in number of staff and patients attending the meetings simultaneously, and all team members participated in the interviewing and discussion. This was compared to the traditional type of ward‐round procedure in which one patient attends at any given time, and the consultant is the exclusive interviewer and director of team discussion. The content of negotiation in the traditional ward round was compared to that in the novel style of meeting and it was found that the novel format produced a swing away from medical and diagnostic issues to domestic and social matters.
Type A behaviour pattern, choice of active coping strategy and cardiovascular activity in relation to threat of shock
Authors: Evans Philip D. , Fearn Joan M.
Published: July 2011

Thirty‐three subjects were allowed to choose between actively monitoring a visual channel for warning of a possible aversive event, or passively watching a distracting visual channel. Subjects could switch between channels as little or as often as they wished. Heart‐rate was recorded throughout the experiment. In accordance with hypothesis, Type A subjects, as measured by the Framingham Scale, chose the active coping strategy more consistently than Type B subjects. Type A subjects also exhibited higher heart‐rate while anticipating the start of the experiment. The results are discussed with reference to the literature on Type A and controllability and on active coping and cardiovascular activity.
A personal construct study of depression
Authors: Sheehan Maureen J.
Published: July 2011

Twelve out‐patients with a ‘definite’ or ‘probable’ diagnosis of major depressive disorder were treated by the author using personal construct psychotherapy (Kelly, 1955). Changes in their construct systems were monitored at intervals during the course of therapy using traditional role construct repertory grids and ‘multiple perception of the self’ grids. The level of depression was measured on each occasion of testing using psychiatric and self‐rating depression scales. The most important findings were that high levels of depression were associated with low levels of ‘conflict’ and a cluster of variables to do with the construing of self, namely negative self‐construing, low self‐esteem and perceived self‐isolation. As the depression lifted during the course of psychotherapy, there was a significant increase in the amount of ‘conflict’ and in the level of self‐esteem, and a significant decrease in the level of self‐isolation. The fact that over time the ‘multiple perception of self’ grids changed significantly more than the grids concerned with the construing of the self and others is interpreted as further evidence of the crucial role that the self‐concept plays in depression.