Effectiveness of booster sessions in the maintenance and enhancement of treatment gains following assertion training.

46 unassertive Ss were randomly assigned to assertion training (AT) or waiting-list control conditions. Ss receiving AT showed significantly greater improvements from pretreatment to posttreatment on 8 out of 10 questionnaire measures of assertiveness and 3 out of 5 direct behavioral observation measures compared with the waiting-list group. 27 Ss who had completed the AT program were then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 booster conditions, namely, monthly AT boosters (ATB), monthly attention placebo boosters (APB) or no boosters (NB). At the 3-mo follow-up there was minimal difference between booster conditions. By the 6-mo follow-up the results favored the ATB condition. Although the APB procedure was effective in preventing the relapse shown by the NB Ss, the ATB group actually showed further improvements on some measures of assertiveness during the 6-mo follow-up period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist and group contact as variables in the behavioral treatment of obesity.

Randomly assigned 29 obese females (average age 48.7 yrs), to 1 of 3 experimental conditions: (a) a "standard" behavioral treatment (SBT) group emphasizing self-management techniques (Ss attended group therapy meetings weekly for 10 wks, then monthly for 6 mo and were given a weight control manual); (b) a group receiving the weight control manual via mail with little professional contact (MMC); and (c) a waiting list control condition. Results reveal a superiority of both treatment conditions over the control condition at posttreatment. SBT Ss did significantly better than MMC Ss at posttreatment but not at the 6-mo follow-up. Weight loss for MMC Ss was minimal. The use of "do-it-yourself" treatment manuals is challenged. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical application of a broad-spectrum behavioral approach to chronic smokers.

Assessed the clinical applicability of a broad-spectrum behavioral treatment (aversion, contractual management, booster sessions, group contact and support) previously reported by H. Lando (see record 1978-04050-001). The feasibility of reorienting nonabstinent Ss to maintained reduction was also assessed. 12 of 16 Ss who completed treatment were abstinent at a 6-mo follow-up (75%), and 2 others were smoking substantially less than at baseline. Results suggest that the previous findings are replicable and that this program can be applied on a self-supporting clinical basis. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maintenance strategies for the treatment of obesity: An evaluation of relapse prevention training and posttreatment contact by mail and telephone.

129 21–57 yr old moderately obese volunteers who averaged 57% over ideal weight were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 experimental conditions in a 3?×?2 factorial design. Three treatment conditions (nonbehavioral therapy, behavior therapy, or behavior therapy plus relapse prevention training) were crossed with 2 posttreatment conditions (posttreatment client–therapist contact by telephone and mail or no posttreatment contact). All treatments produced substantial initial weight losses, but Ss tended to regain weight during the follow-up period. Posttreatment client–therapist contact by mail and telephone significantly enhanced the maintenance of weight loss for groups that received nonbehavioral treatment or behavior therapy plus relapse prevention training, but it did not improve maintenance for groups that received behavior therapy only. At 12-mo follow-up, the only condition that maintained its mean posttreatment weight loss was the one that received behavior therapy plus relapse prevention training and posttreatment contact. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group vs individual cognitive behaviour therapy in panic disorder: An open clinical trial with a six month follow-up.

Compared the efficacy of group (CBTgr) and individual cognitive behavior therapy (CBTi) in the treatment of panic disorder with and without agoraphobia, in a 6 mo followup. 20 patients (aged 18–65 yrs) with panic disorder with and without agoraphobia were assigned to CBTgr and CBTi with weekly sessions for 12 or 14 wks. The CBTgr Ss were given additional 2 individual 1 hr sessions with the protocol being identical for both treatment modalities. Ss were administered a battery of tests within 10 days prior to the beginning of the treatment, at midpoint, within 10 days following treatment and monthly thereafter for the follow-up. Results indicate that both CBTgr and CBTi significantly reduced panic frequency at treatment end. However, a differential effect favoring CBTi over CBTgr was observed at the end of the follow-up phase with regards to symptoms other than panic, like generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multiple-component treatment approach to smoking reduction.

Compared the effectiveness of a package treatment program to reduce cigarette smoking with a single treatment condition (rapid smoking), a nonspecific treatment condition, and an untreated control condition. 60 volunteer smokers (mean age 29.4 yrs) participated. Following the treatment and posttesting sessions, another factor was introduced. One third of the Ss in each of the 3 treatment conditions were randomly assigned to specific booster (e.g., additional rapid-smoking) sessions, nonspecific booster sessions, or no booster sessions. Since the principal issue in the treatment of smoking is the maintenance rather than the induction of change, emphasis was placed on follow-up smoking levels 3 and 6 mo after the termination of treatment. The package condition produced substantially higher abstinence rates (45%) and lower percentages of baseline smoking (41%) after 6 mo than the other treatment and control conditions. No reliable effects due to booster sessions were found. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implosive therapy treatment of emotionally disturbed retardates.

Investigated the effectiveness of implosive therapy with institutionalized emotionally disturbed retardates (mean CA, 21 yrs; mean IQ, 70.3). 24 Ss, matched according to age, sex, race, and IQ, were randomly assigned to 1 treatment and 2 control groups. The treatment group received 10 sessions of implosive therapy. The control groups consisted of a no-treatment control and a group that received 10 sessions of pseudotreatment-oriented discussions. All Ss were maintained on psychiatric medication and participated in the regular hospital activities. The Ss were assessed behaviorally, subjectively, and clinically prior to, at the midpoint, at completion of the experimental conditions, and at a 6-wk follow-up. Following treatment, Ss in the implosive therapy group showed significantly more improvement across all indices than those who received the pseudotherapy-oriented and no-treatment control conditions. Although the implosive therapy group continued to show the most pronounced gains at follow-up, their superiority over the control groups was considerably less than when observed immediately after treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Successful treatment of smokers with a broad-spectrum behavioral approach.

Compared a broad-spectrum treatment (aversion, contractual management, booster sessions, group contact, and support) against a control limited to 1 wk of aversive conditioning (satiation). 16 males and 18 females (mean age 31.2 yrs) served as Ss. Results indicate a dramatic treatment effect, with 76% of experimental Ss (as compared to 35% of controls) remaining abstinent at a 6-mo follow-up. These findings suggest that a clinically effective program may have been established. Further research is needed both to isolate the effective components of treatment and to assess the possible application of similar broad-spectrum approaches to large numbers of smokers in clinical settings. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Utilization of adverse rapid smoking in groups: Efficacy of treatment and maintenance procedures.

18 Ss who had been smoking for an average of 18.5 yrs and were currently smoking an average of 23.6 cigarettes/day participated in a smoking-reduction program that attempted to assess the initial effectiveness of a rapid-smoking procedure administered to groups. Efficacy of maintenance was investigated through the use of a control procedure and 2 presumed maintenance-enhancing strategies: in vivo booster sessions and telephone booster sessions. Results indicate that although 90% of all Ss were abstinent after treatment, booster sessions had no significant effect on maintenance of treatment gains. Within-group analyses showed that although both experimental groups significantly relapsed between posttreatment and the 3-mo follow-up, control Ss did not. Results are discussed in terms of self-set and the attribution of behavior change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of a self-control manual, rapid smoking, and amount of therapist contact on smoking reduction.

Evaluated a self-help treatment manual consisting of stimulus control, rapid smoking, and coping relaxation techniques. 69 Ss, average age 32.6 yrs, who smoked at least 20 cigarettes/day were randomly assigned to (a) a self-help manual with minimal (2 sessions) therapist contact, (b) a self-help manual with high (7 sessions) therapist contact, (c) a high-therapist-contact rapid smoking condition, or to (d) a high-therapist-contact normal-paced smoking condition. Results indicate that while the overall program was moderately effective, groups did not differ on percentage of baseline smoking or on number of Ss abstinent at posttreatment or 3-mo or 6-mo follow-up. Informant reports of Ss' smoking behavior and carbon monoxide analyses of expired air samples confirmed these findings. Ss in the minimal contact condition generally followed through on their programs, required less therapist time, and were at least as successful as those in other groups in terms of long-term results. Implications for self-help manuals for smoking reduction are discussed. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response-acquisition and cognitive self-statement modification approaches to dating-skills training.

Three training programs for girl-shy males were designed using an empirically derived domain of problem situations from shy males and response alternatives from a "competent" population. The effectiveness of a response-acquisition treatment was compared with a cognitive self-statement modification treatment, a combination of these 2 treatments, and a waiting-list control group (no treatment). Two enhanced-treatment groups were used to control for the longer time of the combined-treatment group. 61 college men replying to the program announcement were randomly assigned to 1 of the 6 groups. Assessment included in vivo measures made by women phoned by the Ss, questionnaire measures, and ratings of role-play performance in taped, laboratory, problem situations. A 6-mo follow-up assessment was also included. Results indicate that Ss trained in cognitive self-statement modification showed significantly better performance in role-play situations for which they were not trained, made significantly more phone calls, and made a significantly better impression on the women than Ss in other groups. These effects were generally maintained at follow-up, and the cognitive self-statement groups' performance on the role-play measures improved from posttreatment to follow-up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing academic achievement by reinforcing direct academic performance and/or facilitative nonacademic responses.

Compared the effects of 3 intervention procedures in increasing academic achievement and levels of appropriate behavior for children with relatively low rates of appropriate behavior. Three groups of 16 Ss each were selected in pairs from regular primary-grade classrooms and 1 child from each pair was randomly assigned to the experimental group. Experimental Ss received treatment in an experimental class setting, while control Ss remained in the regular classroom. Group 1 Ss were reinforced for behaviors facilitative of academic performance, Group 2 for correct academic performance, and Group 3 for both. No significant treatment differences were found. However, there was a significant experimental-control group difference, favoring experimentals, for reading achievement, math achievement, and level of appropriate behavior. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enhancing the efficacy of behavior therapy for obesity: Effects of aerobic exercise and a multicomponent maintenance program.

Tested whether the efficacy of behavior therapy for obesity might be improved by the programmatic additions of an aerobic exercise regimen during treatment and a multicomponent maintenance program following treatment. 14 male and 76 female obese 22–60 yr olds were randomly assigned to 2 treatment conditions (behavior therapy or behavior therapy plus aerobic exercise) and 2 posttreatment conditions (no further contact or a multicomponent maintenance program). The exercise regimen consisted of 80 min/week of brisk walking or stationary cycling. The maintenance program included therapist contact by telephone and mail and peer self-help group meetings. At posttreatment, Ss in the behavior therapy plus aerobic exercise condition lost significantly more weight than those who received behavior therapy only. Over an 18-mo follow-up period, maintenance program participants demonstrated significantly better weight-loss progress than Ss in the no-further-contact condition. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of reciprocal inhibition, psychotherapy, and waiting list control for phobic children.

Randomly assigned 67 phobic 6-15 yr. olds to a 2 * 3 factorial, repeated-measures, covariate design which included 2 male therapists and 3 time-limited treatments: reciprocal inhibition, psychotherapy, and waiting list control. Following 24 sessions or 3-mo wait and at 6-wk follow-up, Ss were reassessed by an independent evaluator and by parents. Results indicate a significant effect due to time and S's age. Clinical evaluation, using initial scores as the covariate, showed no effects of treatment or therapist. Parents reported treatment effects for both target fear and general fear behavior. Therapies were equally efficient, and all treatment effects were achieved with Ss aged 6-10. (48 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive-behavioral self-control therapy for children: A components analysis.

27 non-self-controlled 8–12 yr olds (as measured by the Self-Control Rating Scale) were randomly assigned to a cognitive-behavioral treatment, a behavioral treatment, or an attention-control condition. Ss were administered the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Matching Familiar Figures Test, Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and Wide Range Achievement Test. All Ss received 12 sessions of individual therapist contact focusing on psychoeducational, play, and interpersonal tasks and situations, with the cognitive-behavioral treatment including self-instructional training via modeling and behavioral contingencies and the behavioral treatment involving modeling and contingencies. The cognitive-behavioral intervention improved teachers' blind ratings of self-control, and both the cognitive-behavioral and behavioral treatments improved teachers' blind ratings of hyperactivity. Several performance measures (cognitive style, academic achievement) showed improvements for the cognitive-behavioral and behavioral conditions, whereas only the cognitive-behavioral treatment improved children's self-concept. Normative comparisons and 10-wk follow-up provided additional support for the efficacy of the cognitive-behavioral treatment; 1-yr follow-up did not show significant differences across conditions. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short-term small group intervention for college freshmen.

99 freshmen were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment conditions or to a control condition. Ss were given questionnaires designed to assess social life satisfaction, social anxiety, and self-esteem. One treatment condition focused on the universality of social adjustment stress among freshmen, whereas no such emphasis was made in the "regular" condition. Half the sample was designated as particularly vulnerable to transition stress on the basis of Ss' concern about their social adjustment. The effect of group participation differed as a function of Ss' vulnerability. The social adjustment of vulnerable Ss was significantly enhanced by group participation, whereas nonvulnerable Ss were unaffected. No differences were found between universality-focused and regular groups. Results demonstrate the value of a small group experience in facilitating the transition to college of vulnerable freshmen. (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implosive therapy treatment of heroin addicts during methadone detoxification.

Examined the effectiveness of implosive therapy with heroin addicts during detoxification from methadone. 24 Ss with comparable histories of heroin addicition and similar maintenance levels of methadone were assigned to an implosive therapy, eclectic counseling, or control group. The 2 treatment groups received 12 sessions of implosive therapy or eclectic counseling and were followed for a subsequent 6-wk period. The implosive therapy Ss were the only ones to reduce significantly their methadone level during treatment and the follow-up period. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Randomized trial of brief motivational treatments for pathological gamblers: More is not necessarily better.

The efficacy of brief treatments for media-recruited pathological gamblers was tested in a randomized clinical trial design (N = 314). Two self-directed motivational interventions were compared with a 6-week waiting list control and a workbook only control. Brief motivational treatment involved a telephone motivational interview and a mailed self-help workbook. Brief motivational booster treatment involved a telephone motivational interview, a workbook, and 6 booster telephone calls over a 9-month period. Primary outcomes were gambling frequency and dollar losses. As hypothesized, brief and brief booster treatment participants reported less gambling at 6 weeks than those assigned to the control groups. Brief and brief booster treatment participants gambled significantly less often over the first 6 months of the follow-up than workbook only participants. However, the workbook only participants were as likely to have significantly reduced their losses over the year and to have not met criteria for pathological gambling. Contrary to the hypothesis, participants in the brief booster treatment group showed no greater improvement than brief treatment participants. These results provide further support for the value of brief motivational treatments for pathological gambling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior therapy for obesity: A comparative investigation of long-term efficacy.

Both individual and group behavior therapies were compared to a stringent social pressure program in the treatment of 72 obese females (mean age, 41.5 yrs) with a long-standing history of obesity (mean, 15.9 yrs) and inability to lose weight or maintain a weight loss. Following an 8-wk treatment phase, half of each treatment condition received 4 additional booster sessions and the remaining half simply reported for regularly scheduled follow-up weigh-ins at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo, respectively. Both behavioral treatments were significantly superior to the social-pressure therapy at posttreatment. However, whereas the 2 group treatments resulted in successful maintenance of treatment-produced weight reduction, Ss treated with individual behavior therapy showed substantial relapse at long-term follow-up. It is hypothesized that initial treatment success and subsequent maintenance of weight loss are governed by partially different processes. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improving the social status of mainstreamed retarded children.

37 mainstreamed educable mentally retarded (EMR) children in Grades 3, 4, and 5 were randomly assigned to a control group or to an experimental treatment given during regular class activities for the purpose of improving their social status among nonretarded classmates. On the average, Ss were 8–20 mo older than their normal classmates. Each experimental S worked in a small cooperative group with 4–6 nonretarded classmates on highly structured, manipulative tasks using multimedia materials. The treatment was provided in 2 cycles which lasted a total of 8 wks. Sociometric tests were given before and after treatment to pupils in classes with experimental and control EMR Ss. By 2–4 wks following completion of treatment, nonretarded Ss' social acceptance of their experimental peers improved significantly more than that of control Ss. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)