Showing papers in "Journal of Clinical Psychology in 1997"
TL;DR: This study evaluated the fit of four competing models to data provided by a sample of 350 undergraduates and respecified the four-factor model as a single second-order BAI, and examined the relation of the BAI to several demographic variables.
Abstract: Several exploratory factor-analytic studies of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) have reported two, four, and five factors. This study evaluated the fit of four competing models to data provided by a sample of 350 undergraduates. Results of the initial confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) provided strong support for the fit of the four-factor oblique model. Next, we respecified the four-factor model as a single second-order BAI. Results showed that the second-order model also provided adequate fit to the data. Evidence also supported the psychometric indices of reliability and convergent validity. Finally, we examined the relation of the BAI to several demographic variables. Limitations of the study are discussed.
288 citations
TL;DR: The development of a new measure to assess guilt related to concern about harming others and predicted correlations with previously published measures of guilt and related affects, such as shame and depression, and with attributional style are described.
Abstract: We describe the development of a new measure to assess guilt related to concern about harming others. The two versions of the Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaire, a 45-item and 67-item version, include theoretically-based and clinically relevant categories of guilt: survivor guilt, separation/disloyalty guilt, omnipotent responsibility guilt, and self-hate guilt. Preliminary reliability and validity studies for both versions are presented, based on clinical and nonclinical samples of subjects. Subscales on both versions show good internal consistency; however, the second version, which expanded on the first, is more psychometrically sound overall. Both versions demonstrated predicted correlations with previously published measures of guilt and related affects, such as shame and depression, and with attributional style. Differences between clinical and nonclinical samples are reported and the relevance of survivor guilt and shame to psychopathology is noted.
165 citations
TL;DR: Scores on the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale are shown to be related positively to a number of factors associated with psychological health, and negatively with signs of psychological distress such as depression.
Abstract: Scores on the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS) are shown to be related positively to a number of factors associated with psychological health, such as optimism and self esteem, and negatively with signs of psychological distress such as depression Humor is a multidimensional construct that seems to be intimately related to quality of life
156 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that combat veterans with PTSD exhibit greater interpersonal violence than combat veterans without PTSD, and that there are multiple factors in this population which determine violent behavior.
Abstract: Two studies were conducted to investigate interpersonal violence in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In study one, combat veterans with PTSD reported significantly greater occurrence of violent behaviors over the past year (22 acts) versus combat veterans without PTSD (.2 acts). Combat exposure had an independent positive association with interpersonal violence. In study two, variables related to current interpersonal violent behavior in 118 PTSD combat veterans were evaluated. In rank order of importance, lower socioeconomic status, increased aggressive responding and increased PTSD severity were related to interpersonal violence. These results suggest that combat veterans with PTSD exhibit greater interpersonal violence than combat veterans without PTSD, and that there are multiple factors in this population which determine violent behavior.
154 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, 40 veterans with PTSD completed a novel measure of combat guilt and found that the severity of guilt regarding combat was positively correlated with the reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms of PTSD and a general measure of PTSD severity.
Abstract: Guilt regarding combat experiences is often considered an associated symptom of PTSD in military veterans. Little is known, however, about the role combat guilt plays in the development and maintenance of PTSD. Inadequate measurement of combat-related guilt may be one reason for this deficiency in the literature. In the present study, 40 veterans with PTSD completed a novel measure of combat guilt. Items on the scale assessed various types of guilt and shame concerning combat experiences (i.e., survival guilt, guilt over acts of omission and acts of commission, guilt about thoughts/feelings). Guilt was quite prevalent within this sample, and severity of guilt regarding combat was positively correlated with the reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms of PTSD and a general measure of PTSD severity. Implications of these findings and recommendations for the development of measures for combat-related guilt are discussed.
150 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of the strategies used to cope with real problems demonstrated that self-mutilators engage in more problem avoidance behaviors and the need to adopt a multidimensional approach to the investigation of coping.
Abstract: People who self-mutilate have been hypothesized to have deficient skills in coping and problem-solving that leave them vulnerable to the adoption of self-mutilation as a coping strategy. This hypothesis was tested using male incarcerated self-mutilators with comparisons being made with non-multilating, prisoner, and non-prisoner control groups. Examination of the inherent resources which enable an individual to effectively cope with stress demonstrated a depressed score for self-mutilators on the scale measuring self-worth and optimism about life. Assessment of the strategies used to cope with real problems demonstrated that self-mutilators engage in more problem avoidance behaviors. Self-mutilators also recorded less perceived control over problem-solving options. The results are discussed in terms of the effectiveness of self-mutilation as a coping strategy and the need to adopt a multidimensional approach to the investigation of coping.
135 citations
TL;DR: The most common two-point code type for men was 13/31, followed by 12/21 and 23/32, and the most common code types for women were 13/30, 12/20, or 23/31.
Abstract: This study reports base rates of MMPI-2 clinical scales. PTSD scales, and validity scales for 492 personal injury plaintiffs, 230 men and 262 women. Scales studied included L, F, K, F minus K, Ds-r, Fake Bad, Ego Strength, Back F. Total Obvious minus Subtle, VRIN, and TRIN. Forensic high points resembled outpatient profiles but not the MMPI-2 psychiatric sample and shared only code type 13/31 with the normative sample. The most common two-point code type for men was 13/31, followed by 12/21 and 23/32, and for women was 13/31, followed by 23/32 and 12/21. Fifty percent of the forensic sample were code type 13/31, 12/21, or 23/32. Validity measures suggested possible malingering on approximately 20 to 30% of the profiles but the majority of profiles were valid. Validity problems discussed include attorney coaching and the congruence of plaintiff personality characteristics with the demand characteristics of litigation. Examples of attorney coaching are provided. The modal plaintiff appears to be an unhappy somatizer involved in a social context which encourages rationalization, projection of blame, and complaining.
116 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that self-esteem and not optimism appears to be a reliable contributing factor to the differential susceptibility to depression in the early postpartum period.
Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the predictive utility of self-esteem and dispositional optimism to postpartum depression. Forty-five British women completed standard measures of self-esteem, optimism, and postpartum depression several weeks before childbirth. Depression was again measured at two and six weeks postpartum. Optimism was associated with less depressive symptoms during pregnancy and at two weeks postpartum, while self-esteem was associated with lower depression over all three administrations. After controlling for optimism and earlier levels of depressive symptoms, self-esteem remained associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms two weeks postpartum. This suggests that self-esteem and not optimism appears to be a reliable contributing factor to the differential susceptibility to depression in the early postpartum period.
113 citations
TL;DR: Preliminary evidence is provided for those characteristics which may be most problematic in the relationship between drug abusing mothers and their infants, especially in situations in which mother is responsible for providing structure.
Abstract: The early relationship of drug abusing mothers and their infants : An assessment at eight to twelve monts of age Ten mother-infant dyads in which the mother abused drugs during pregnancy were compared to 10 matched drug-free dyads using a short form of the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment to analyze videotaped mother-infant interactions. Interactions consisted of two five-minute segments : structured and unstructured play. Infants were 8-12 months of age. There was a consistent tendency for the drug abusing group mean scores to separate from the controls. Drug abusing dyads had significantly more (r = .71, Fisher's Exact Probability) ratings below 3.0 in the unstructured play situation for items that measured enthusiasm, responsivity to infant cues, and infant happiness. These categories provide preliminary evidence for those characteristics which may be most problematic in the relationship between drug abusing mothers and their infants, especially in situations in which mother is responsible for providing structure.
104 citations
TL;DR: A structural equation model including client perceptions of their drug related problems, peer deviance, and family dysfunction as influences upon the formation of therapeutic relationships during treatment and rearrests following treatment showed therapeutic relationships were positively associated with recognition of drugrelated problems and negatively related to rearrest.
Abstract: Treatment efforts appear to be effective in reducing crime among drug using individuals, but components of the treatment process associated with client improvement need to be identified. Furthermore, these elements of treatment may play an intermediate role in the connection between client background characteristics and later criminal activity. The current study examines a structural equation model including client perceptions of their drug related problems, peer deviance, and family dysfunction as influences upon the formation of therapeutic relationships during treatment and rearrests following treatment. Results showed therapeutic relationships were positively associated with recognition of drug related problems and negatively related to rearrest. Peer deviance also was positively related to rearrest.
84 citations
TL;DR: This study investigated the factor structure of the expanded Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) on a sample of severe mentally ill homeless individuals and confirmed the typical five factor solution found in previous studies with the original BPRS.
Abstract: This study investigated the factor structure of the expanded Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) on a sample of severe mentally ill homeless individuals. A confirmatory factor analysis using the Oblique Multiple Group method supported the typical five factor solution found in previous studies with the original BPRS. The five factors were labeled Thinking Disorder, Withdrawal, Anxiety-Depression, Hostility-Suspicion, and Activity. Alpha coefficients for four of the scales ranged from .73 to .81; however, the alpha coefficient for the Hostility-Suspicion scale was only .49. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 53: 451–454, 1997.
TL;DR: STM and LTM suffice to explain the structure of the VLMT, and the proposed structural equations model can be used to estimate STM andLTM capacity from VL MT data.
Abstract: The Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) is widely used in scientific research as well as in clinical practice. But there exists little research on the structure of the AVLT. We investigated the structure of a German version of the AVLT and VLMT, in 232 patients of a psychiatric clinic and in 872 patients of an epileptologic clinic. First we stated a theoretical LISREL model relating the observed variables of the VLMT to short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) as latent variables. Then we estimated the postulated LISREL model in the two samples. The proposed model showed excellent fit in both samples, and there were no significant deviations between the estimated and the observed covariance matrices. Thus, STM and LTM suffice to explain the structure of the VLMT, and the proposed structural equations model can be used to estimate STM and LTM capacity from VLMT data.
TL;DR: Verbal, physical, and sexual child abuse were all associated with an increased risk of later date abuse or psychological problems, and abuse by a date was also associated with psychological problems.
Abstract: Data on child abuse, date abuse and psychological problems were gathered from the same participants, 133 female undergraduates, in order to better examine possible relationships among the variables. Verbal abuse in childhood or on dates was examined as well as physical and sexual abuse. Factors influencing whether people remain in or leave abusive relationships were examined, along with possible mediators of the relationships between child abuse, date abuse, and psychological problems. Verbal, physical, and sexual child abuse were all associated with an increased risk of later date abuse or psychological problems. Abuse by a date was also associated with psychological problems. Low self-esteem and anger may have played mediating roles.
TL;DR: Adult college students completed multidimensional measures of perfectionism and behavioral rigidity and indicated that attitude flexibility and motor-cognitive rigidity were significant predictors of self-oriented perfectionism, while attitude-flexibility alone was the significant predictor of socially-prescribed perfectionism.
Abstract: Adult college students (N = 108; M age = 24.3 years old) completed multidimensional measures of perfectionism (self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially-prescribed perfectionism) and behavioral rigidity (attitudinal flexibility, psychomotor speed, and motor-cognitive rigidity). Attitudinal flexibility was negatively related to all three forms of perfectionism, and motor-cognitive rigidity was positively related to self-oriented perfectionism. Multiple regression analyses indicated that attitude flexibility and motor-cognitive rigidity were significant predictors of self-oriented perfectionism, while attitude-flexibility alone was the significant predictor of socially-prescribed perfectionism. No measure of rigidity was a significant predictor of other-oriented perfectionism. Thus, dimensions of perfectionism may be predicted with different measures of cognitive-behavioral rigidity. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: In order to generate current norms for the elderly and aid in interpreting their performance, the COWAT was administered to a group of community-dwelling elderly persons.
Abstract: The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a measure of a person's ability to make verbal associations to specified letters (i.e., C, F, and L). This measure is a useful component of a neuropsychological battery as it is able to detect changes in word association fluency often found with various disorders. In order to generate current norms for the elderly and aid in interpreting their performance, the COWAT was administered to a group of community-dwelling elderly persons. Information regarding total numbers of words produced as well as frequency of perseverations, breaking set, using the same word stem, and using a proper noun is provided.
TL;DR: Forty children of 28 fathers who are Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and no consistent MMPI profile patterns emerged within or across the two groups.
Abstract: Forty children of 28 fathers who are Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Each of the fathers had at least one elevated clinical scale. Fathers averaged eight elevated clinical scales, and compared to more recent norms, fathers averaged seven elevated clinical scales. Seventy-eight percent of the children had at least one clinically elevated scale (averaging three elevated clinical scales). Compared to contemporary normal adolescents and adults, 65% of children had at least one clinically elevated scale (still averaging three elevated clinical scales). No consistent MMPI profile patterns emerged within or across the two groups. No gender differences were detected among child MMPI profiles. Forty percent of the children reported illegal drug use, and 35% reported behavior problems. Fifteen percent of children reported previous violent behavior. Eighty-three percent of the children reported elevated Cook-Medley hostility scores as compared to an age-matched national normative sample. Children with higher PK scores were also significantly more likely to report higher Cook-Medley hostility scores. Forty-five percent of children reported significant elevations on the PTSD/PK subscales.
TL;DR: Women with premenstrual irritability had greater anxiety about pregnancy and delivery, were more reluctant to accept mother roles, and felt their babies were more vulnerable.
Abstract: To investigate the relationship between premenstrual mood changes and maternal mental health in the perinatal period, a prospective questionnaire survey of 1,329 women was carried out. Women with a premenstrual mood changes (irritability) before pregnancy showed significantly higher Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores than those without it, throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period (6 time points: early, middle, and late pregnancy, 5 days, 1 month, and 6 months after childbirth). In addition, women with premenstrual irritability had greater anxiety about pregnancy and delivery, were more reluctant to accept mother roles, and felt their babies (fetuses or neonates) were more vulnerable. These findings suggest that premenstrual mood change is correlated with unstable mental health throughout the perinatal period.
TL;DR: Results suggest that the modified Stroop task is a sensitive measure that may have value in assessing transmission of war experiences from parents to children.
Abstract: Intergenerational transmission of war experiences was assessed using a modified Stroop task. Adult children of war veterans and those of nonveterans named the colors in which war related words were printed. They also named the colors of neutral, positive, and OCD related words in addition to color naming a series of zeros contained on a control card. All participants completed the MMPI-II PTSD Scale, the Impact of Event Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. A statistically significant difference between the children of veterans and nonveterans was found only on the Stroop card containing war related words. Results suggest that the modified Stroop task is a sensitive measure that may have value in assessing transmission of war experiences from parents to children.
TL;DR: The group of adolescent transsexuals was found to be intermediate between adolescent psychiatric patients and nonpatients for extent of perceptual inaccuracy.
Abstract: Adolescent transsexuals were compared with adolescent psychiatric out-patients and first-year university students to determine the extent to which other psychopathology is a necessary condition for the development of transsexualism. Three areas of psychological functioning associated with fundamental psychological disturbances - perceptual inaccuracy, disorders of thought and negative self-image - were assessed by means of the Rorschach Comprehensive System. The group of adolescent transsexuals was found to be intermediate between adolescent psychiatric patients and nonpatients for extent of perceptual inaccuracy. They did not differ significantly from nonpatients with regard to thinking disturbances and negative self-image. The psychiatric patients included significantly more individuals characterized by negative self image than the other groups. The results support the idea that mayor psychopathology is not required for the development of transsexualism.
TL;DR: Dissociation was found to be predicted by some aspects of alexithymia but not by affective fluency, and the data are interpreted in terms of asymmetry of dissociative processes.
Abstract: This study is one of a series exploring the potential of affective variables as predictors of dissociative tendencies. Some clinicians have observed that traumatized children who develop a dissociative coping style also tend to fail to discriminate emotions by verbal means. The study therefore investigated a relationship between dissociation and alexithymia. Undergraduate psychology students were individually tested for dissociative tendencies, alexithymic characteristics, and ability to generate the names of emotions. Dissociation was found to be predicted by some aspects of alexithymia but not by affective fluency. The data are interpreted in terms of the concept of asymmetry of dissociative processes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: Clinicians are advised to be aware of the potential implications for physical health and interpersonal functioning, and to incorporate anger management strategies into treatment plans for combat veterans with PTSD.
Abstract: The interrelationship between the theoretically related constructs of anger and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was examined in a group of 42 combat veterans with PTSD using a multimeasure assessment strategy. Scores on several anger measures were found to be quite high in this sample and were significantly correlated with PTSD symptomatology. Furthermore, anger measures were found to be related to employment status independent of PTSD severity, but were not related to disability compensation-seeking status. Clinicians are advised to be aware of the potential implications for physical health and interpersonal functioning, and to incorporate anger management strategies into treatment plans for this population.
TL;DR: Controlling for alcoholism severity, Pearson Product Moment Correlations demonstrated that the severity of alexithymia was significantly correlated with dysphoria and affect intolerance, as well as with certain interpersonal difficulties resulting from these affective disturbances.
Abstract: The present study attempts to validate earlier findings of a positive relationship between the severity of alexithymia and symptoms of affect pathology among alcoholics. One hundred adult male outpatient alcoholics were given instruments to assess alexithymia and symptoms of affect pathology. Controlling for alcoholism severity, Pearson Product Moment Correlations demonstrated that the severity of alexithymia was significantly correlated with dysphoria and affect intolerance, as well as with certain interpersonal difficulties resulting from these affective disturbances. Such findings support the usefulness of the alexithymia construct in the understanding and treatment of affect pathology and its consequences among alcoholics.
TL;DR: Occasional and moderate AA attendance appear to be associated with better outcomes than nonattendance, but frequent participation was not associated with additional improvement.
Abstract: The purpose of this project was to identify the outcomes associated with frequent, moderate, occasional, and nonparticipation in Alcoholics Anonymous by male alcohol dependents during the first month after treatment. Informants reported nonparticipants consumed far more alcohol during a 48 week followup than moderate or occasional participants. Moderate and occasional participants were rated as abstinent more often than nonparticipants. Nonparticipants were also reported jailed more often than participants. All other consumption and quality of life comparisons between the groups were nonsignificant. Occasional and moderate AA attendance appear to be associated with better outcomes than nonattendance, but frequent participation was not associated with additional improvement.
TL;DR: Methodological shortcomings in research preclude confidence in studies allegedly supporting a causal link between chronic low-dose solvent exposure and lasting neurobehavioral deficits, and the implications for characterizing the state of organic solvent research are discussed.
Abstract: The health effects of long-term, low-level exposure to organic solvents have been studied for many years. While the volume of literature is great, definitive conclusions regarding chronic neurobehavioral effects of environmental exposure are premature. Methodological shortcomings in research preclude confidence in studies allegedly supporting a causal link between chronic low-dose solvent exposure and lasting neurobehavioral deficits. In this article, the shortcomings reviewed include selection bias in recruitment of research subjects, overreliance on subjective recall in determining levels and duration of exposure, between-study variability in kinds of solvents examined, variability in tests selected to assess neurobehavioral functioning, and diversity in reported findings. The implications of these for characterizing the state of organic solvent research are discussed.
TL;DR: The Structured Interview for Competency and Incompetency Assessment Testing and Ranking Inventory (SICIATRI) is a structured interview guide to assess the competency for giving informed consent to treatment among psychiatric and medical patients.
Abstract: The Structured Interview for Competency and Incompetency Assessment Testing and Ranking Inventory (SICIATRI) is a structured interview guide to assess the competency for giving informed consent to treatment among psychiatric and medical patients The competency levels of 48 psychiatric and medical inpatients were assessed by SICIATRI A relatively high- inter-rater reliability of the SICIATRI items (over half of the items had kappa > or = 60) and concurrent validity (sensitivity = 83, specificity = 67 as measured against the global judgement of competency rating by the attending physician) were obtained In addition to its brevity (it takes about 20 minutes to complete), these findings may warrant application of this instrument in a clinical setting
TL;DR: A nationwide survey of accredited neuropsychologists in Australia was conducted by as mentioned in this paper to examine test use, where clinicians were asked to list the tests they give most often and the endorsement frequencies for tests.
Abstract: A nationwide survey of accredited neuropsychologists in Australia was conducted to examine test use. Clinicians were asked to list the tests they give most often. Results are expressed as endorsement frequencies for tests. Comparisons with international surveys of test use are provided. Suggestions for clinicians and others concerned with test use are included to demonstrate how survey results can be used to improve neuropsychological services.
TL;DR: As RCPM scores appear to be strongly associated with education, percentile norms for three educational levels are presented: low (0-9 years), middle (10-15 years) and high (16 years and more).
Abstract: Percentile age norms for ages 55 to 85 using overlapping intervals at specified age midpoints are presented for the sum scores of sections A and B of Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM). The representative age and gender stratified sample (N = 2,815) used is derived from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (the Netherlands). As RCPM scores appear to be strongly associated with education, percentile norms for three educational levels are presented: low (0-9 years), middle (10-15 years) and high (16 years and more).
TL;DR: Improvement appeared on only 4 of the 21 PTSD and physiological dependent variables studied, suggesting that the treatments were mildly therapeutic, but that the additions of training in deep breathing and thermal biofeedback did not produce improvement beyond that associated with simple instructions to relax in a comfortable chair.
Abstract: Ninety male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were administered relaxation instructions, relaxation instruction with deep breathing exercises, or relaxation instructions with deep breathing training and thermal biofeedback. Improvement appeared on only 4 of the 21 PTSD and physiological dependent variables studied. All 21 Treatment X Time interactions were nonsignificant. This suggests that the treatments were mildly therapeutic, but that the additions of training in deep breathing and thermal biofeedback did not produce improvement beyond that associated with simple instructions to relax in a comfortable chair. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 53: 917–923, 1997
TL;DR: It is proposed that there may be considerable variability in performance among bulimics and that by examining performance from this "sub-group" perspective may lead to a more analytic understanding of this eating disorder.
Abstract: Bulimic (n = 23) and control subjects (n = 28) were compared on four neuropsychological tests and several clinical variables. Between-group differences were observed on neuropsychological measures that reflected marked impulsivity and problem-solving deficits in the bulimics. Additional between-group comparisons, based on the variability of performance on the neuropsychological tests, revealed that bulimics were more variable than controls on approximately 50% of the tests given Performance variability on the remaining two tests was equal across the bulimic and control groups. This represents the first known application of this performance variability analysis in subjects with bulimia nervosa. It is proposed that there may be considerable variability in performance among bulimics and that by examining performance from this "sub-group" perspective may lead to a more analytic understanding of this eating disorder.
TL;DR: Results indicate that the screen items of some of the NCSE subtests produced a relatively high false negative rate, where the screen was passed, but the metric was failed.
Abstract: This study assessed the accuracy of the "screen" versus "metric" portions of eight subtests of the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE). As part of a routine hospital assessment, 95 male patients were administered both portions of the instrument regardless of outcome on the screen. Results indicate that the screen items of some of the NCSE subtests produced a relatively high false negative rate, where the screen was passed, but the metric was failed. It is recommended that all items of the subtests be administered to more fully assess each domain and, therefore, reduce the probability of overlooking significant deficits.