Psychological factors in diabetes and its treatment.

Reviews the psychological factors of diabetes with respect to etiology, psychological impact and adjustment to the disease, family dynamics, and psychological programs to aid diabetes management. Stress appears to influence metabolism both directly and indirectly. Little evidence exists for a consistent pattern of traits that typifies diabetes or poor management of the disease. Several studies have shown diverse psychological problems related to diabetes, especially in the area of social problems and peer relationships among juveniles. A variety of psychological interventions may be helpful in the care of diabetes; however, none of these are conclusively useful. Research should clarify the role of stress and stress management and focus on psychological factors related to metabolic control. Treatment research needs careful specification of interventions and measurement of both behavioral and metabolic outcomes so that connections among them may be assessed. (97 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological aspects of multiple sclerosis

Since S. Rao's ["Neuropsychology of Multiple Sclerosis: A Critical Review," A Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, Vol. 85, pp. 503-542] (1986) seminal review, considerable research has been undertaken on the neuropsychological consequences of multiple sclerosis. This review incorporates the research literature of the last decade in presenting an overview of the current state of our knowledge concerning the etiology, course, symptoms, assessment, consequences, and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The concept of subcortical dementia is revisited in light of the most recent literature documenting the neuropsychological deficits in patients with MS. The view that cognitively heterogeneous patient groups may disguise more specific patterns of focal neuropsychological impairment is considered. A critical review of the recent literature is also presented, detailing the degree to which recent research has addressed the areas of research need identified by Rao in 1986. Given recent advances in our knowledge, the need for more attention to be directed toward the evaluation of rehabilitation and psychological intervention is highlighted.     

Biobehavioral outcomes following psychological interventions for cancer patients.

Psychological interventions for adult cancer patients have primarily focused on reducing stress and enhancing quality of life. However, there has been expanded focus on biobehavioral outcomes--health behaviors, compliance, biologic responses, and disease outcomes--consistent with the Biobehavioral Model of cancer stress and disease course. The author reviewed this expanded focus in quasiexperimental and experimental studies of psychological interventions, provided methodologic detail, summarized findings, and highlighted novel contributions. A final section discussed methodologic issues, research directions, and challenges for the coming decade. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diabetes and behavioral medicine: The second decade.

Diabetes management depends almost entirely on behavioral self-regulation. Behavioral scientists have continued a collaboration with other health systems researchers to develop a holistic approach to this disease. The authors summarized the literature in 4 major areas: self-management of diabetes, psychosocial adjustment and quality of life, neuropsychological impact, and psychobehavioral intervention development. Progress made in each of these areas over the past decade is highlighted, as are important issues that have not yet received sufficient scientific attention. Emerging areas likely to become central in behavioral research, such as diabetes prevention, are introduced. The future of behavioral medicine in diabetes is also discussed, including topics such as the changing role of psychologists in diabetes care, the urgent need for more and better intervention research, the growing importance of incorporating a health system-public health perspective, and obstacles to the integration of psychobehavioral approaches into routine health care delivery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress management interventions for HIV+ adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, 1989 to 2006.

Objective: Numerous studies document that stress accelerates disease processes in a variety of diseases including HIV. As a result, investigators have developed and evaluated interventions to reduce stress as a means to improve health among persons living with HIV. Therefore, the current meta-analysis examines the impact of stress-management interventions at improving psychological, immunological, hormonal, and other behavioral health outcomes among HIV= adults. Design: This meta-analytic review integrated the results of 35 randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of 46 separate stress management interventions for HIV+ adults (N = 3,077). Main Outcome Measures: Effect sizes were calculated for stress processes (coping and social support), psychological/psychosocial (anxiety, depression, distress, and quality of life), immunological (CD4+ counts and viral load), hormonal (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEA-S], cortisol/DHEA-S ratio, and testosterone) and other behavioral health outcomes (fatigue). Results: Compared to controls, stress-management interventions reduce anxiety, depression, distress, and fatigue and improve quality of life (d+s + 0.16 to 0.38). Stress-management interventions do not appear to improve CD4+ counts, viral load, or hormonal outcomes compared with controls. Conclusion: Overall, stress-management interventions for HIV+ adults significantly improve mental health and quality of life but do not alter immunological or hormonal processes. The absence of immunological or hormonal benefits may reflect the studies' limited assessment period (measured typically within 1-week postintervention), participants' advanced stage of HIV (HIV+ status known for an average of 5 years), and/or sample characteristics (predominately male and White participants). Future research might test these hypotheses and refine our understanding of stress processes and their amelioration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuropsychological assessment of the college football player

The application of neuropsychological assessment procedures to the evaluation of athletes has recently become an area of intense interest and debate and has led to the development of research initiatives at both the amateur and the professional level. However, to date, only a handful of research studies have been completed that have addressed the special issues that accompany the use of neuropsychological assessment instruments with athletes. This article reviews the past use of psychological testing in sports and presents a model of neuropsychological assessment that is currently being utilized in the National Football League. In addition, the extension of this approach to major college football is discussed and test-retest data from a sample presented to provide the basis for comparison of athletes who have suffered a concussion. Recommendations of a national panel of neuropsychologists who are involved in the evaluation of athletes are presented in hopes of encouraging new research initiatives in this area.     

Behavioral medicine approaches to gastrointestinal disorders.

Behavioral research in gastroenterology has grown exponentially over the last decade. Controlled studies demonstrate that psychotherapy, stress management, and hypnosis are effective for irritable bowel syndrome, and behavioral treatments are preferred over medical management for some types of fecal incontinence and vomiting. For peptic ulcer disease, interest in behavioral treatments has declined. However, a new syndrome, functional dyspepsia, is now recognized, in which ulcerlike symptoms occur without ulcer and frequently in association with psychological symptoms. For inflammatory bowel disease, stress management training has produced inconsistent outcomes. Newly recognized disorders for which behavioral treatments are needed include constipation associated with inability to relax the pelvic floor muscles during defecation, functional rectal pain (proctalgia), noncardiac chest pain, and aerophagia (excessive air swallowing). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral research in HIV/AIDS primary and secondary prevention: Recent advances and future directions.

Great advances have been made over the past decade in behavioral research on how to help persons avoid contracting HIV infections (primary prevention) and how to reduce or alleviate adverse consequences among persons who are living with HIV disease (secondary prevention). Within the primary prevention areas, research has shown the effectiveness of risk-reduction interventions undertaken with individuals, couples, small groups, communities, and at a social policy/structural level. Advances in HIV medical care have also created important new challenges and roles for behavioral scientists in the area of HIV secondary prevention. This article concludes by identifying key emerging issues in HIV behavioral research that will require attention in the years ahead. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress, social support and pregnancy outcome: a reassessment based on recent research

We present an assessment of studies published in the last decade that consider the relationship of stress and social support to preterm delivery or fetal growth retardation. Included in the review are all reports on the direct effects of stressors or psychological distress; the indirect effects of stressors or distress through health behaviours such as smoking; and the direct and buffering effects of social support. Although an important stimulus for recent stress research has been the attempt to explain racial and social class differences in birth outcome, the recent data show that stressful life events during pregnancy, though more common in disadvantaged groups, do not increase the risk of preterm birth. In contrast, intimate social support from a partner or family member appears to improve fetal growth, even for women with little life stress. Questions unanswered by the research to date are whether elevated levels of depressive symptoms affect pregnancy outcome, either directly or by encouraging negative health behaviours, and whether chronic (vs. acute) stressors are harmful. Additional research is also needed to determine whether psychosocial factors interact with specific clinical conditions to promote adverse pregnancy outcomes. Focusing on intimate support and how it benefits pregnancy outcome could lead to the design of more effective interventions.     

Acute and chronic pain in adults and children with cancer.

Reviews current research and clinical practice concerning pain experienced by cancer patients. Etiological subtypes of pain (disease related vs treatment related) are discussed, and an overview of assessment methodology for acute and chronic pain is presented. Also discussed are psychological interventions for pain in adult and pediatric cancer patients, including hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral therapy, biofeedback, relaxation, and operant conditioning. A review of the literature indicates a need for basic research, for controlled outcome studies of psychological interventions, and for education of health care professionals in the mechanisms and management of pain. Difficulties in conducting applied behavioral research in oncology units are noted, and the value of multidisciplinary collaboration is emphasized. (51 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral approaches to neuropsychological rehabilitation.

Behavioral approaches have been applied to a wide variety of behavioral and cognitive disturbances resulting from brain damage or disease. This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of the literature concerned with behavioral interventions in neuropsychological rehabilitation. The article examines 6 categories of target behavior: inappropriate social behavior, attention and motivation, unawareness of deficits, memory, language and speech, and motor disturbance. The efficacy of behavioral approaches for treatment of the neurologically impaired and implications for the future role of behavioral approaches in neuropsychological rehabilitation are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of psychological assessment.

Reviews the Handbook of Psychological Assessment (1984) by G. Goldstein and M. Hersen. The editors have put together and edited a compendium on psychological assessment that is well-balanced, up-to-date, and extremely informative. This book provides very broad coverage of psychological assessment and is a noteworthy contribution to the field of assessment. One must give the editors due credit for bringing together some excellent people in their respective fields and especially for their attention to the breadth of domains subsumed by psychological assessment and for incorporating these diverse fields into a meaningful whole. The Handbook consists of 21 chapters grouped into nine sections: introduction; psychometric foundations; assessment of intelligence; achievement, aptitude, and interest; neuropsychological assessment; interviewing; personality assessment; behavioral assessment; and assessment and intervention. By chapters, there is an equal balance of content specific to children as well as adults. This book is an excellent text for a graduate course in psychological assessment and is equally valuable and informative for psychologists, both academic and in practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological interventions with AIDS and HIV: Prevention and treatment.

In the decade since AIDS was first diagnosed, behavioral research has focused intensively on risk reduction change processes and, to a lesser extent, on mental health needs of persons with HIV conditions. Although research to date has yielded important findings for primary prevention efforts and has identified some psychological dimensions relevant to mental health interventions, there is a pressing need for much more systematic intervention outcome research in both the prevention/behavior change and emotional coping areas. Progress in these areas will be facilitated by better linkage of intervention approaches to behavioral theory; identification of intervention elements that produce HIV risk behavior change; evaluated field-testing of promising intervention models; continued focus on populations that remain at risk (such as gay men and iv drug users); and expansion of prevention efforts to urban, poor, and minority populations increasingly threatened as AIDS/HIV enters a "2nd wave." Although AIDS is still a relatively new problem, existing behavioral medicine conceptual models and intervention strategies can be adapted to meet the enormous challenges created by AIDS and HIV infection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primary prevention of catastrophic injury.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury and death until age 45 yrs. Efforts to prevent these injuries have largely followed the dictates of the public health movement focusing on interventions for entire communities or regulatory statutes. Individual interventions, more congruent with traditional psychological approaches, have been rare. This article argues that a blending of these 2 approaches is warranted. Evaluation of prevention programs should focus on multiple levels including the individual, the community, and regulatory processes. Identification of subgroups of adolescents and young adults with unique psychological and behavioral dispositions regarding injury must be paired with realistic interventions of adequate duration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The use of psychological and neuroendocrinological measurements in the study of stress.

Argues that stress is best measured by many measurements taken concurrently. The use of self-report, biochemical, behavioral, psychophysiological, and neuroendocrine measures is considered in detail. A multilevel research strategy, involving simultaneous assessment of psychological, behavioral, and physiological measurements is recommended in light of the "whole body" nature of the stress response. (99 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diabetes-specific social learning variables and self-care behaviors among persons with Type II diabetes.

Assessed the relationship between diabetes-specific social learning factors and diabetes self-care in 127 outpatients (age 40–88 yrs) with Type II diabetes. Predictor variables were collected within the categories of knowledge (e.g., behavioral demonstrations, pencil-and-paper tests), beliefs/expectations (e.g., self-efficacy, self-motivation), skills (e.g., problem-solving and refusal skills), and environmental support (e.g., barriers to adherence, family support). Multiple regression analyses revealed that social learning variables consistently improved the prediction of self-care beyond that attributable to demographic variables. However, the categories of social learning variables most closely related to self-care varied across 3 regimen areas (diet, exercise, and glucose testing). It is concluded that behavioral research on Type II diabetes should focus on ways to initiate and maintain lifestyle changes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Smoking cessation: Progress, priorities, and prospectus.

The authors review developments in understanding smoking cessation interventions over the past decade. Noteworthy is the unprecedented growth of research and knowledge that has left a deeper understanding of how best to use new and existing behavioral and pharmacologic tools and strategies to help smokers quit. The status of public-health-level interventions is evaluated, questions are raised concerning their efficacy, and suggestions are offered for further refinement of these intervention strategies. Development of cessation guidelines is reviewed, and the state of knowledge concerning behavioral and pharmacologic interventions is summarized. The authors also present agendas for behavioral and pharmacologic research related to smoking cessation and discuss individual difference factors among smokers that may prove to be important in designing new and refining existing treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coaching Clients to Take Psychological and Neuropsychological Tests: A Clash of Ethical Obligations.

The coaching of clients by attorneys on how to "beat" psychological tests in the context of personal injury or disability litigation poses a serious concern for the practice of psychological assessment. This article reviews the empirical literature with respect to the effects of coaching on psychological tests, discusses current ethical and legal standards relevant to coaching on psychological tests, and offers suggestions on how the field of assessment psychology might deal with this challenge. This review has important implications for all clinicians conducting psychological and neuropsychological assessments in forensic settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special issue on developments in psychological measurement and assessment.

This introduction to the special issue on developments in psychological measurement and assessment sets the special issue within a larger scientific and professional context and provides summaries of the 8 articles that make up the issue. The articles address (a) self-report personality and psychopathology assessment; (b) intensive, repeated, self-report measures used in naturalistic settings; (c) implicit measures of personality; (d) personality assessment and faking in personnel selection; (e) performance appraisals; (f) risk assessments; (g) intelligence and the assessment of intelligence; and (h) neuropsychological assessment. Together, these articles demonstrate the substantial progress being made in the research on psychological measurement and assessment and the solid foundation that this work provides for both psychological science and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)