Religiosity and emotional disturbance: A reply to Sharkey and Malony.

Comments that, in the article by P. W. Sharkey and H. N. Malony (see record 1987-22684-001) investigating religiosity and emotional disturbance, there are several flaws (2 of which are discussed) and hypothesizes that strong nonbelievers are likely to be more honest than strong believers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Religiosity and emotional disturbance": Reply.

In response to the criticism of A. Ellis (see record 1988-20829-001) on flaws in the study by P. W. Sharkey and the present author (see record 1987-22684-001) on religiosity and emotional disturbance, it is asserted that the Ss studied were clients in Ellis's counseling center; 2 parameters for future studies are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A group counseling emphasis at a university counseling center.

Describes a service delivery system with a group personal counseling emphasis, based on the authors' 2 yrs of experience at a university counseling center. The local background and rationale for this system are discussed, and the practical logistics, the operational policies, and the group ground rules are presented. Utilization data are summarized: 36% of all clients and 88% of clients with 8 or more sessions were group members; groups typically grew to 9 clients and had 60% attendance. Results for a self-report outcome survey of 128 students are exemplified by the 95.1% who reported some level of improvement and the 92.2% who rated their psychologist "very" to "exceptionally effective." (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting counseling center clients' response to counseling: A 1-year follow-up.

A follow-up survey mailed 10 months after termination to 542 clients who received counseling at a university counseling center resulted in 207 (43%) returned surveys. Of the 158 clients who received 1 or more sessions, 32% showed reliable improvement. Of the 106 who began in the dysfunctional range of scores on a computerized intake assessment (CASPER), 31% showed clinically significant (CS) change. Likelihood of CS change depended on the number of sessions received but not in a linear, "more is always better" fashion. Survival analysis indicated that 25% of clients who achieved CS change did so after receiving 8 sessions and that 50% did so after receiving 16 sessions. Likelihood of eventual reliable change within a given number of sessions depended on the precounseling configuration of some CASPER symptom dimensions, with higher Hyperactivated Attachment interpersonal problems associated with fewer sessions needed to achieve reliable change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The counseling center: A mirror of institutional size.

Investigated the relationship between counseling center orientation and size of institution in which the center is located. 19 census-type variables were subjected to principal components analysis, and 4 estimated factors scores were derived for a population of 157 counseling centers. Results indicate that institutional size predicts counseling center orientation but that a more qualitative evaluation of counseling centers requires other than census-type data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognition and affect in emotional disturbance.

The present author commends articles by R. S. Lazarus (see record 1984-30606-001) and R. B. Zajonc (see record 1984-30610-001) on the relationship between cognition and affect. Because the present author believes that the opposing conclusions of these articles might lead to confusion and dissension, he summarizes 6 hypotheses regarding the role of cognition as a prime factor not merely in the creation of emotion in general but as an exceptionally vital factor in the instigation, maintenance, and alleviation of emotional disturbances. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive complaints in closed-head injury: relationship to memory test performance and emotional disturbance

Self-appraisal of cognitive difficulties by a sample of 63 male patients with closed-head injury (CHI) was examined in relation to their performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale - Revised (WMS-R; Wechsler, 1987), WAIS-R Digit Span (Wechsler, 1981), and to their scores on MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) measures of anxiety and depression. In an initial step, the Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS; McNair & Kahn, 1983), consisting of 39 self-report items, was factor analyzed using a sample of 255 consecutive neuropsychological referrals with documented brain impairment. Seven orthogonal dimensions emerged: Attention and Concentration, Orientation and Memory, Praxis, Domestic Activities, Facial Recognition, Task Efficiency, and Errand and Name Recall. Within a sample subset consisting of 63 patients with CHI, subjective complaints on the CDS were predictive of WMS-R Logical Memory performance (r = -.51, p < .0005). In contrast, CDS scores were generally poor predictors of Digit Span and Visual Reproduction scores (rs < .31). Cognitive complaints were also associated with emotional distress on the MMPI-2. The CDS appears to be a useful measure of self-appraised cognitive difficulties in patients with CHI, and may assist in the assessment of their self-reflective insight.     

A more appropriate test of the Kuhnian displacement thesis.

Evaluated the conclusion of P. C. Friman et al (see record 1993-39713-001) that cognitive psychology has not displaced behavioral psychology and psychoanalysis as the dominant paradigm in psychology. The frequency with which 4 preeminent general publications in psychology cited articles published in the 4 leading journals in cognitive psychology, in behavioral psychology, and in psychoanalysis between 1977 and 1992 was examined. In contrast to the findings of Friman et al, results suggest that cognitive psychology is flourishing while the other 2 schools are languishing in comparison. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

College counseling center internships: Clarifying the issues.

Clarifies the following issues raised by F. J. Dorn (1984) in an article about college and university counseling centers: (1) differentiation between year-long (12 mo) and American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited internships, and (2) understanding of the current (1979) APA Criteria for Accreditation. It is argued that in any discussion of nonapproved programs, it is essential to differentiate between non-approved programs that are psychology programs vs programs in other fields (i.e., counseling). (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Persons with emotional disturbance and mental retardation.

In response to discussion by S. Reiss et al (see record 1982-30849-001) about sources of information on the prevalence of emotional problems among retarded people, the present author describes a study of 27,385 Ss with developmental disabilities that looks at dual diagnoses (psychiatric impairment and developmental disability) in relation to age, intellectual level, and residential setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A psychometric analysis of a college counseling center intake checklist.

A psychometric analysis was conducted on a university counseling center intake problem checklist. Results indicated adequate internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 5 factors that were congruent with those in a replication data set: Psychological Disorders, Interpersonal Concerns, Career/Academic, Family, and Acting Out. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a hierarchical solution with these five 1st-order factors and a 2nd-order factor labeled Distress. Cluster analysis suggested 5 client profiles, with implications for treatment planning and outreach efforts. Cluster 1 described a low distress group. Cluster 2 seemed to represent moderate distress. Cluster 3 displayed elevations on all factors except Acting Out. Cluster 4 had elevations on all factors, with extreme elevation on Acting Out. Cluster 5 described clients with a Career/Academic focus. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A controlled study of variables related to counseling center use.

Investigated the utility of several variables in discriminating between students who sought help at a university counseling center (seekers) and those who did not (nonseekers), when level of personal adjustment was controlled. Interactions between Ss' level of personal adjustment and help-seeking status were also examined. 40 female undergraduates who reported no previous history of formal counseling or psychotherapy were administered several tests including the College Maladjustment Scale. Three variables—alternate sources of help, counseling usefulness, and perceived severity of help-seeker pathology—significantly discriminated seeker from nonseeker Ss. It is suggested that level of Ss' adjustment is an important variable to control in research on the decision to seek help. Attitudinal variables were not powerful predictors of help-seeking behavior. Implications for the delivery of mental health services on the university campus are discussed. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Passages: Career ladders for college counseling center psychologists.

Uses the stages of adult development set forth by G. Sheehy (1976) as a model for analyzing the careers of counseling psychologists. The careers of counseling center personnel are traced from graduate school days to the period Sheehy refers to as resignation or renewal, and the following conclusions are made: (a) The counseling center career ladder is short, forcing many psychologists in their early 30's into other job avenues; (b) the flexibility provided by counseling center positions is a 2-edged sword, producing disadvantages in later career stages; (c) reward systems should be developed to keep competent therapists in the counseling center; (d) administrative training should be provided during graduate school for future counseling psychologists; and (e) renewal alternatives need to be developed for burned-out counselors and counseling center directors in the midlife transition. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of study counseling and desensitization in alleviating test anxiety: A two-year follow-up.

Asked 46 participants in a program comparing study counseling and desensitization for reducing test anxiety to evaluate the effects of each procedure 2 yrs after termination of treatment. Ss who had been assigned to active psychotherapeutic conditions (including a placebo) maintained positive attitudes toward their respective treatments. A significantly larger proportion of Ss in the treatment groups showed individually significant improvement in grades during the 1st follow-up semester. Ss in both the treatment and control conditions achieved significantly better grades and reduced self-reported anxiety by semester of graduation, obscuring treatment effects reported originally. Results suggest that the deleterious effects of test anxiety may be alleviated by entry into courses which minimize formal test evaluations and by the easing of general grading standards which has occurred over the past several years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)