Using "mark sense" for ratings and personal data collection.

The use of IBM "mark sense" cards for data collection, followed by standard machine handling of the punched cards, is described in connection with the analysis of hospital admissions data, correctional school data, ratings analysis, and similar applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Presterilization interviewing: An evaluation.

The role of interviewing in diffusing possible harmful side effects of sterilization operations was evaluated in an acute general hospital. This hospital required an interview with a chaplain before either a vasectomy or a tubal-ligation operation. Two simultaneous field experiments were conducted with 50 vasectomy couples and 50 tubal-ligation couples. Couples applying for either operation were alternately assigned to either the interview or the control group. Questionnaires were mailed to all couples 6 mo after the operation. Results are based on the responses of 67 couples who followed through with the sterilization procedure. There were no significant differences between the interview and control groups. The vasectomy couples scored significantly higher than the tubal-ligation couples on 6 of 9 measures in the questionnaire. The wives in the vasectomy group had a significantly lower level than the wives in the tubal-ligation group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mixed-mode fracture: The four-point shear specimen

A four-point shear specimen capable of measuring the critical strain energy release rate G_c over a range of mode mixity ψ between pure opening and pure shear is described and analyzed, including an evaluation of possible measurement errors. Data have been obtained over the full mixity range for soda-lime glass and PMMA. The results are used in conjunction with literature data on other materials to present a scheme that classifies trends among different materials. Application of the method to bimaterial interfaces is also discussed.     

Direct patient computer interviewing.

Proposes that recent developments in direct computer interviewing of patients in clinical settings range from comprehensive behavioral and psychiatric assessment and diagnostic systems to special topic interviews (e.g., suicide risk, drug and alcohol use, sexual dysfunction). Early trials with computer-based psychotherapy have now been extended to cognitive therapy for depression and patient education. Advantages of computer interviewing include high patient acceptance, low costs for routine interviewing, and balance of structure and reliability with flexibility and individualized question flow. It is suggested that research in this area move from demonstration and feasibility studies to the impact of patient interviews on clinical and research systems and studies of the interview process itself. (56 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Engaging depressed patients in psychotherapy: Integrating techniques from motivational interviewing and ethnographic interviewing to improve treatment participation.

Treatment dropouts and high "no show" rates are vexing problems for practicing psychologists and the populations they serve. This article describes a one-session intervention based on principles derived from motivational interviewing and ethnographic interviewing designed to improve depressed patients' participation in subsequent psychiatric treatment. The authors explain the rationale for developing an engagement intervention, describe the intervention itself, and present case vignettes based on a pilot study evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of administering the intervention to depressed mothers whose children suffer from psychiatric illness. The article includes strategies that may be implemented in clinical practice to improve patients' participation in treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical judgment under varied informational conditions: Rorschach, personal data, and best guess.

Requested 105 psychological clinicians to make clinical judgments derived from Rorschach information and personal history data (RPD), personal history data alone (PD), or best guesses (BG) on diagnosis, anxiety, and intelligence. Compared with the BG group, the RPD group was significantly more accurate on anxiety and the PD group on diagnosis (p     

Motivational interviewing and the social context.

Comments on the article by Miller and Rose (see record 2009-13007-002). As Miller and Rose opened “the black box of treatment to examine linkages between processes of delivery and client outcomes” (p. 529) in motivational interviewing (MI), it is important that their model include factors from the social context that may explain conditions that enhance or diminish MI interventions. Aspects of the social context may serve as mediators or moderators of the relational (MI spirit) and technical (change talk) components in MI theory. In this comment, the author suggests the addition of social influence to their theoretical model. The author suggests that existing research on the role of significant others argues that the conceptual model should include a box for Social Influence as a hypothesized process variable that relates to “Client Preparatory Change Talk and Diminished Resistance” and “Commitment to Behavior Change” (see Figure 1, p. 530). In addition, a second new box, labeled Significant Other Training in MI, should be added in direct relationship to the new Social Influence variable. Further research is needed to explore these variables and their specific functions within the model. These additions to the theoretical model affirm the active components of MI and potentially extend the effects through positive social influence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivational interviewing in relational context.

Responds to M. Stanton's comments (see record 2010-08987-013) on the current author's original article (see record 2009-13007-002). One of the puzzles of motivational interviewing is why it works at all. How can it be that an individual interview or two yields change in a long-standing problem behavior even without any effort to alter social context? The time involved is such a tiny part of the person’s ongoing daily life. How does it work? That is a question that has fascinated us and that prompted our article (Miller & Rose, September 2009). The model we proposed is intentionally focused on individual intervention, for that is how motivational interviewing (MI) has been delivered and tested in most studies. The current science base is drawn primarily from MI interventions that do not include concerned significant others (CSOs). Of course it is possible for CSOs to be included in MI sessions. CSO involvement was an option within MI components of treatment in at least three multisite trials: the COMBINE study (Anton et al., 2006), the UK Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT Research Team, 2005), and Project MATCH (Babor & Del Boca, 2003). The primary purpose of the MATCH trial was to evaluate, as Stanton (2010) suggested, a range of factors that might mediate or moderate the relationship between treatments and behavior change (Babor & Del Boca, 2003). One of these factors was social context, or more specifically, the person’s level of social support for drinking versus sobriety. A wide variety of external factors might mediate or moderate the efficacy of MI (or of any psychotherapy). Our article focused on the therapeutic interaction, not on a comprehensive model of all that influences behavior change. The domain of “social context” encompasses a broad range of factors (such as employment, family history, peer influence, and religious involvement), and any number of other components might also be considered in predicting substance use outcomes (e.g., age, conceptual level, severity of dependence, comorbidity). The model that we proposed (Miller & Rose, 2009) was focused on interpersonal and intrapersonal factors involved when a therapist interacts with an individual client. MI as an individual intervention has been found to be efficacious across a broad range of problem areas. As the processes and efficacy of MI become better understood, it will also be possible to explore how these operate within the person’s ongoing social context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diagnostic interviewing with drug abusers.

Principles of diagnostic interviewing with adult male drug abusers are discussed in the light of changing concepts of addiction/dependency, confidentiality, and countertransference, and basic research relevant to each major content section is highlighted. A case example illustrates these ideas, and the article concludes with some practical recommendations for interviewing substance abusers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intake interviewing with suicidal patients: A systematic approach.

Assessment and management of suicidal patients is one of the most challenging and stressful tasks associated with the practice of psychology. This article provides information on how to conduct suicide assessment interviews and initial patient management within the context of an intake interview. A brief review of professional training issues and suicide risk factors precedes discussion of suicide assessment interviewing procedures. Strategies for evaluating depression, suicide ideation, suicide plan, self-control, and suicide intent are presented. General guidelines for initial management of and clinical decision making with suicidal patients are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivational interviewing for smoking cessation: A meta-analytic review.

Objective: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a treatment approach that has been widely examined as an intervention for tobacco dependence and is recommended in clinical practice guidelines. Previous reviews evaluating the efficacy of MI for smoking cessation noted effects that were modest in magnitude but included few studies. The current study is a comprehensive meta-analysis of MI for smoking cessation. Method: The meta-analysis included 31 controlled trials with an abstinence outcome variable. Studies with nonpregnant (N = 23) and pregnant samples (N = 8) were analyzed separately. Results: For nonpregnant samples, combined results suggest that MI significantly outperformed comparison conditions at long-term follow-up points (dc = .17). The magnitudes of this result represented a 2.3% difference in abstinence rates between MI and comparison groups. All analyses investigating the impact of moderating participant, intervention, and study design characteristics on outcome were nonsignificant, with the exception of studies including international, non-U.S. samples, which had larger effects overall. Several subgroups of studies had significant combined effect sizes, pointing to potentially promising applications of MI, including studies that had participants with young age, medical comorbidities, low tobacco dependence, and, consistent with clinical practice guidelines, low motivation or intent to quit. Effects were smaller among pregnant samples. In addition, significant combined effect sizes were observed among subgroups of studies that administered less than 1 hr of MI and among studies that reported high levels of treatment fidelity. Conclusions: The results are interpreted in light of other behavioral approaches to smoking cessation, and the public health implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivational interviewing with cocaine-dependent patients: A pilot study.

A brief motivational interviewing (MI) intervention was evaluated within the context of an outpatient, cocaine-detoxification program. MI was hypothesized to assist patients in completing the detoxification program and to improve outcomes during subsequent treatment. Participants (N = 105) were randomly assigned to MI or to detox-only conditions. Results indicated that although participants completed the detoxification program at equal rates, completers who received MI increased use of behavioral coping strategies and had fewer cocaine-positive urine samples on beginning the primary treatment. MI patients with lower initial motivation were more likely to complete detoxification. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivational interviewing in drug abuse services: A randomized trial.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a directive, client-centered brief intervention to elicit behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence. In this clinical trial, 152 outpatients and 56 inpatients entering public agencies for treatment of drug problems were randomly assigned to receive or not receive a single session of manual-guided MI. Drug use was assessed by self-report, urine toxicology, and collateral reports from significant others at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Contrary to prior reports, MI showed no effect on drug use outcomes when added to inpatient or outpatient treatment, although both groups showed substantial increases in abstinence from illicit drugs and alcohol. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beyond cognition: Broadening the emotional base of motivational interviewing.

Motivational interviewing (MI) techniques have been described in cognitive and behavioral terms, as means to positively resolve tension created by unresolved ambivalence about change. This view of motivation is consistent with a negative reinforcement model, in which behaviors are performed to escape from negative states. In contrast, the concept of positive reinforcement involves seeking positive states through behaviors that lead toward more satisfying conditions. From this perspective, motivation involves a desire to experience positive emotions. This paper focuses on the potential role that emotions may play in MI, particularly positive emotions. The authors posit that MI elicits positive emotions of interest, hope, contentment and inspiration by inviting clients to envision a better future, to remember past successes, and to gain confidence in their abilities to improve their lives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Einstellung Test and performance in factual interviewing.

The Einstellung (three-pitcher) test is used as a predictive measure of interviewer's performance in large scale, factual interviewing. The patterns of answers were classified according to the whole test as situational and non-situational, and the latter divided into large repertoire and small repertoire. On four criteria of interviewer performance, the non-situational is superior to the situational interviewer, and the large repertoire to the small repertoire interviewer. It is suggested that the test be interpreted as a measure of a general approach to new problems in the face of learned solutions rather than a measure of structural rigidity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a theory of motivational interviewing.

The widely disseminated clinical method of motivational interviewing (MI) arose through a convergence of science and practice. Beyond a large base of clinical trials, advances have been made toward “looking under the hood” of MI to understand the underlying mechanisms by which it affects behavior change. Such specification of outcome-relevant aspects of practice is vital to theory development and can inform both treatment delivery and clinical training. An emergent theory of MI is proposed that emphasizes two specific active components: a relational component focused on empathy and the interpersonal spirit of MI, and a technical component involving the differential evocation and reinforcement of client change talk. A resulting causal chain model links therapist training, therapist and client responses during treatment sessions, and posttreatment outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)