Using videotape modeling to prepare children psychologically for surgery: Influence of parents and costs versus benefits of providing preparation services.

60 patients (aged 2–12 yrs) having 1st-time elective surgery participated in surgery preparation using videotape procedures. The research design included 2 viewing conditions (parent present or absent) and 3 treatment procedures (adult or peer-narrated videotape and control/no-videotape condition). Anxiety measures included a palmar sweat index, a hospital fears rating scale, an observer rating scale of anxiety, and a recovery index. Results suggest that Ss who viewed the videotape with their parent present exhibited less preoperative arousal compared to Ss who did not. The Ss using the videotape exhibited less arousal, less self-reported anxiety, and less behaviorally rated anxiety. In addition, parents who saw the tape or whose children viewed the videotape without them exhibited less arousal prior to the operation than parents who did not and whose children did not view the videotape preparation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of client preparation and problem severity on attitudes and expectations in child psychotherapy.

Assessed the effects of client preparation and problem severity on children's and parents' understanding, attitudes, and expectations of child psychotherapy. 38 children (aged 6–12 yrs) with 1 of their parents served as Ss. Half of the children and parents received preparation information, and the other half were not prepared. Following preparation vs no-preparation procedures, children and parents completed questionnaires assessing problem severity, knowledge of and attraction to therapy, and prognostic expectations. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist, and therapists rated problem severity and expectations for treatment outcome. Results indicate that preparation increased children's and parents' knowledge of therapy, attraction–receptivity to therapists and treatment, and expectations for therapy outcome. Children and parents were found to be quite attracted and receptive to psychotherapy and to have very positive expectations for treatment outcome. Findings indicate that therapists saw the children's problems as more severe and had lower prognostic expectations than did children and parents. No relation was found between problem severity and attraction–receptivity to treatment or expectations for treatment outcome. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of a client pretherapy orientation videotape.

Examined the effects of a videotaped psychotherapy orientation on clients' response to therapy, knowledge about therapy, utilization of services, and satisfaction with services and on therapist ratings of client attractiveness. 62 psychotherapy clients (mean age 29 yrs) at an urban community mental health center were randomly assigned to an oriented group, which viewed a pretherapy orientation videotape at admission, or to a control group. 14 therapists participated. The 11-min videotape described the relationship between client and therapist, encouraged clients to attend appointments, and stated that, although progress is rarely immediate, most clients find that therapy can lead to a reduction in anxiety and depression. Clients and therapists completed questionnaire and rating scales at intake and at 1-mo follow-up. It was found that oriented clients were able to understand and recall the information in the videotape, and the oriented group showed a greater decrease in self-reported symptoms than the control group after 1 mo. Client feedback regarding the videotape was favorable. In general, the 2 groups did not differ in their satisfaction with services, service utilization, or therapist ratings of client symptoms and functioning. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety, locus of control, type of preparatory information, and adjustment to dental surgery.

Evaluated the effects of 2 types of preparatory information (general, specific), given prior to dental surgery, on state anxiety and adjustment in the dental situation for 63 19-74 yr old dental patients who differed in locus of control orientation and generalized level of dental anxiety. N. L. Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale, administered an average of 24 days presurgery, predicted differential elevations in state anxiety in the dental situation. This finding is discussed in terms of the need to develop situation-specific trait anxiety measures for physical threat situations. Internal Ss viewing the specific information tape showed better adjustment during surgery than internals who viewed the general tape. The converse was true of external Ss, who responded more favorably to the general information tape. Findings are discussed in terms of the locus of control construct and are viewed as supporting the need for the development of differential treatment strategies for homogeneous patient groups. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Outcome effects of receiving a preferred, randomly assigned, or nonpreferred therapy.

32 snake-fearing undergraduates viewed a videotape of 4 therapists who described and illustrated their techniques for treating fear of snakes. The therapies were systematic desensitization, encounter, rational emotive, and a combination of modeling and behavioral rehearsal. After describing their liking or disliking of each of the therapies, 16 Ss were assigned a preferred therapy, and the other 16 were given a nonpreferred therapy. 16 control Ss who had not seen the videotape or indicated their therapy preferences were randomly assigned to the different therapies. Posttherapy measures indicated that the preferred therapy produced significantly (p     

Emotional impact of videotape and reenacted feedback on subjects with high and low defenses.

A group of 40 high and low defensive college students were given reenacted videotape and videotape feedback of an earlier stressful interview. Defensiveness was based upon the L and K scores from the MMPI. The stress interview was reenacted by having an actor or actress portray the earlier interview performance. The Ss rated the emotional impact of the experience 5 times during the feedback interview and again at its conclusion. All Ss had more negative feelings when viewing actor/actress self-portrayals. Low defensive Ss viewed both themselves and the actor/actress portrayals more negatively than did high defensive Ss. Many of the low defensive Ss still had negative feelings after viewing themselves, whereas none of the high defensive Ss did. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Test anxiety, academic performance, and cognitive appraisals.

Investigated the impact of test anxiety on test performance and the cognitive appraisals of test-anxious students. To overcome limitations of previous research, state and dispositional measures of test anxiety were used over repeated performance trials. 62 Ss who were enrolled in an undergraduate statistics course that required multiple examinations were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and served as Ss. Ss' expectations, thoughts, and performance were assessed at each of the 4 examination occasions. Results indicate that test anxiety was related to poor test performance both early and late in the term. When state anxiety levels were controlled for, the test anxiety–test performance relation was apparent only during the later stages of the course. The pattern of Ss' anxiety and appraisals suggests that test-anxious Ss experienced most doubt and concern early in the term. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of participant modeling on information acquisition and skill utilization.

Assessed the contribution of active participant modeling in coping skills training by evaluating 2 critical process variables: the retention of information about the threatening events and how to cope with them, and the visceral component of imaginal rehearsal. 38 8–13 yr old children, highly fearful of dentists (the Dental subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule), were shown a videotape of 2 children practicing controlled respiration and imagery techniques while undergoing dental treatment. The participant modeling group was encouraged to practice these as they watched the film, whereas the symbolic modeling group was told that this might help them during their own dental treatment, which immediately followed videotape preparation. Ss who had the active participant instructions obtained more information from the videotape, reported greater reduction in dental anxiety, and showed lower respiratory rates as they watched the videotape. They reported greater use of imagery techniques and enhanced self-control. The degree of disruptiveness was significantly lower during subsequent actual dental treatment in Ss from the active practice group. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adult development, self-contexting, and psychotherapy with older adults.

Measured the effect of "self-contexting" on brief dynamic therapy with 15 50–81 yr olds, and 10 20–40 yr olds. Self-contexting is defined as the individual's explicit self-awareness within a larger context, relative to other individuals; it is hypothesized to occur in mid-life. The major presenting problems of Ss were anxiety or depression, the majority of which were situational, although most cases had significant contributing characterological dimensions. Evaluators other than the therapist rated psychotherapeutic outcomes, and a psycholinguistic measure of self-contexting was used to score the 1st 1,000 words of patient discourse. Correlations were calculated for the older and younger groups separately. Results show that a change in self-contexting phrases correlated positively and significantly with psychotherapy outcome in the older but not the younger Ss. Findings confirm an age-specific correlation between a hypothesized development of middle and later life and psychotherapy outcome in older adults. (51 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A randomized controlled outcome and follow-up study of Mann's time-limited psychotherapy.

Thirty-three patients were assessed for suitability for time-limited psychotherapy (TLP). A battery of outcome measures was composed of Ss self-report measurements and objective judgments by external ("masked") raters. Ss were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which received TLP immediately, or the control group, whose TLP was delayed for 3 months. Ss were evaluated on outcome measures at TLP termination and again at 6 and 12 months after termination. Significant improvement was observed in the experimental group after TLP, but the control Ss did not show any systematic changes after waiting. However, after TLP, the control Ss improved significantly. The gains achieved after therapy were stable in both groups after 6- and 12-month follow-ups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of diazepam and methylphenidate on the electrodermal detection of guilty knowledge.

60 19–28 yr old male undergraduates were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups in an investigation of the effects of antianxiety (diazepam) and stimulant (methylphenidate) drugs on polygraphic interrogation. Ss assigned to the 3 guilty groups watched a videotape depicting the burglary of an apartment through the eyes of the thief. Each S was asked to imagine that it was he who was committing the crime and was given instructions to encourage his becoming absorbed in the videotape. Ss were given either diazepam, methylphenidate, or placebo capsules before a polygraph examination. Control Ss viewed a videotape depicting scenes from the interior of another apartment (no crime was committed) before being given a polygraph examination. Results show that drug status did not affect the validity of the polygraph examination. Ss who remembered more facts scored significantly more in the guilt direction. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-administered relaxation training and money deposits in the treatment of recurrent anxiety.

Evaluated 2 self-administered relaxation manuals and a money deposit in the treatment of recurrent, nonphobic anxiety in 61 18–44 yr old Ss from a college population. Ss were randomly assigned to a self-monitoring-only control group or 1 of 4 active treatment conditions. Ss in active conditions received a progressive relaxation manual or a manual that called for the client to devise his or her own relaxation method and were assigned to deposit or nondeposit conditions. Improvement did not differ for the 2 relaxation procedures, but relaxation training groups improved significantly more than self-monitoring-only Ss on both self-report questionnaires and self-monitored measures of anxiety. The deposit did not produce greater amounts of relaxation practice or adherence to the program, although Ss in this condition reported being more relaxed in practice sessions and improved more on 2 pre–post measures of anxiety (including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). Ss' locus of control scores (Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale) were significantly related to a number of practice, adherence, and outcome variables, but Ss' ratings of the likelihood that they would practice and benefit from the program proved to be as good predictors. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of pretherapy videotape preparation on child therapy outcomes.

We assessed the effects of preparation on mothers' and children's (aged 8–16 yrs) knowledge and evaluations of outcome of child psychotherapy in an outpatient setting. 49 families were randomly assigned to a control or an experimental group. Knowledge of therapy was assessed before the 1st therapy session. Problem severity was assessed with global and target symptom scales before the 1st session and after the 4th session by parents and children. Results indicated that prepared Ss evinced greater knowledge (p?p?     

Effects of marathon group therapy on trait and state anxiety.

Administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to 84 institutionalized female narcotic drug addicts (mean age 25.6 yrs). Ss then participated in marathon-directive, marathon-nondirective, or no-therapy (control) groups. Combining all groups of Ss, State Anxiety (A-State) declined significantly from pretherapy to posttherapy, with the 2 therapy groups showing a far greater decline than the control group. Trait Anxiety (A-Trait) was unchanged from pre- to posttherapy when the scores for all groups were combined. Ss receiving nondirective therapy declined in A-Trait, directive therapy Ss increased, and control Ss showed virtually no change in A-Trait. Results support C. D. Spielberger's notion that trait anxiety reflects a dispositional tendency to respond with anxiety in ego-threat situations and suggest that personality trait measures may be more relevant outcome indicators than measures of transitory mood states in marathon therapy research. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adjustment to the stress of simulated captivity: Effects of emotion-focused versus problem-focused preparation on hostages differing in locus of control.

Instructed 57 Ss about to be exposed to a simulated abduction and 4 days of captivity in either problem- or emotion-focused coping techniques, or gave them a control orientation presentation. Retrospective self-report data obtained on the Ways of Coping Checklist indicated that Ss tended to use coping processes consistent with the type of prestress preparation they had received. Dramatic fluctuations in State Anxiety scores over the course of captivity indicated that the simulation was perceived to be highly stressful. Ss given emotion-focused preparation reported the lowest anxiety and emotional distress levels and were rated as exhibiting the lowest levels of behavioral disturbance during captivity. Externals engaged in more emotion-focused coping than internals, but externals given problem-focused preparation responded the most poorly of all subgroups on all response measures. Overall, locus of control differences were of secondary impact in influencing anxiety and adjustment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Change in obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders following time-limited supportive-expressive therapy.

24 patients with avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) and 14 patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD; all Ss 20–65 yrs old) were assigned to 52 sessions of time-limited Supportive-Expressive dynamic psychotherapy. At intake, most Ss had least 1 concurrent depressive and/or anxiety disorder. OCPD Ss lost their personality disorder diagnoses significantly faster than did AVPD Ss. By the end of treatment, 39% of AVPD Ss still retained their diagnosis while only 15% of OCPD did so. Using hierarchical linear modeling, both patient groups improved significantly across time on measures of personality disorders, depression, anxiety, general functioning, and interpersonal problems. OCPD Ss remained in treatment significantly longer and tended to improve more than did AVPD Ss. Alliance ratings from both Ss and therapists increased significantly over time, expect for those OCPD Ss who remained constant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Randomized trial of two parent-training programs for families with conduct-disordered children.

Assigned mothers (mean age 30 yrs) of 35 3–8 yr old conduct-disordered children to 1 of 3 groups. Group 1 was a waiting list control; Group 2 had 9 wks of individual therapy; and Group 3 had 9 wks of therapist-led group therapy based on a standardized videotape modeling program. Ss and their children were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 1 yr later using home visits, twice per week telephone reports, and questionnaires. Results show that 1-mo after treatment Ss in Groups 2 and 3 showed significant attitudinal and behavioral improvements that were maintained at 1-yr follow-up. Children of Ss in these groups showed reduction in child noncompliance and deviant behavior that continued in reduction at 1-yr follow-up. It is concluded that although both treatments offered equivalent and sustained improvements, the therapeutic efficiency of the videotape modeling group format was more cost-effective. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparing lower-class patients for group psychotherapy: Development and evaluation of a role-induction film.

Considers that although a preliminary "role-induction" interview with a psychotherapist provides some remedy for lower-class patients' poor performance in psychotherapy, a more economical and widely available procedure is needed. A role-induction film (Turning Point) addressed specifically to lower-class patients was developed, and its effects were systematically studied under field conditions. Each of 4 experienced psychotherapists treated 3 groups of lower-income, community agency patients (N = 122) in a 12-wk program. The 1st group viewed Turning Point prior to therapy, the 2nd had a role-induction interview with a psychiatrist, and the 3rd viewed a control film. There was consistent evidence from postinduction, in-therapy, and outcome measures that the 2 role-induction procedures facilitated a more favorable therapy experience (p     

The enhancing effects of anxiety on arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women.

Effects of anxiety on sexual arousal were examined to determine if sexually dysfunctional and functional women exhibit different patterns of physiological and subjective response. 32 Ss viewed 2 videotape conditions: an anxiety-evoking and neutral-control preexposure stimulus, each paired with a sexual arousal-evoking stimulus. Anxiety preexposure enhanced the rate and magnitude of genital arousal for both dysfunctional and functional Ss in relation to the neutral condition. Despite increased genital responses, both groups reported less subjective sexual arousal after anxiety preexposure. Functional Ss exhibited greater physiological but not subjective arousal than dysfunctional Ss in both conditions. Results are discussed in terms of desynchronous patterns of sexual response, mechanisms by which sympathetic activation enhances sexual arousal, and implications for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of varied physician affect on recall, anxiety, and perceptions in women at risk for breast cancer: An analogue study.

Evaluated the effect of varied physician affect on recall, anxiety, and perceptions in a simulated tense and ambiguous medical situation. 40 women (aged 19–54 yrs) at risk for breast cancer viewed videotapes of an oncologist presenting (with either worried or nonworried affect) mammogram results. Although the mammogram results and the oncologists were the same in both presentations, analyses indicated that, compared with Ss receiving results from a nonworried physician, Ss receiving the results from a worried physician recalled significantly less information, perceived the clinical situation as significantly more severe, reported significantly higher levels of state anxiety, and had significantly higher pulse rates. Physician affect appears to play a critical role in patient reaction to medical information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)