Response to Knittle.

Responds to comments by K. P. Knittle (see record 2009-14439-017) on the authors' original article (see record 2007-06671-001) regarding the effect sizes they presented in their meta-analysis of psychological interventions for arthritis pain management. After conducting a re-analysis and reporting the results, the authors conclude that the findings still support their original conclusions with regard to the fact that psychosocial interventions can produce modest, but significant effects on pain that are within the range reported for other disease-related and chronic pain conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of medical and psychological tests.

Comments on the G. J. Meyer et al (see record 2001-00159-003) summary of evidence and issues associated with psychological assessment. H. N. Garb et al conclude that Meyer et al did not establish that psychological test validity is comparable to medical test validity. By focusing on meta-analyses, they ignored results for most medical tests and psychological test scores. Furthermore, although it may appear that they routinely summarized results from meta-analyses, in some cases they actually calculated their own effect sizes. For at least some studies, their effect sizes appear to be misleading, making their review of the literature difficult to interpret. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meta-analytic methods, the Rorschach, and the MMPI.

In response to concerns described by H. N. Garb et al(see record 2001-05665-003), the authors present the weighted and unweighted means and medians of the effect sizes obtained by J. B. Hiller et al (see record 1999-11130-005). These indices of central tendency are presented separately for MMPI and Rorschach effect sizes, both for all the studies in the meta-analysis and for a 10% trimmed sample designed to obtain more robust estimates of central tendency. The variability of these 4 indices is noticeably greater for the MMPI than for the Rorschach. Meta-analysts must compute, compare, and evaluate a variety of indices of central tendency, and they must examine the effects of moderator variables. The authors also comment briefly on the use of phi versus kappa, combining correlated effect sizes and possible hindsight biases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Decision rules for selecting effect sizes in meta-analysis: A review and reanalysis of psychotherapy outcome studies.

This study deals with some of the judgmental factors involved in selecting effect sizes from within the studies that enter a meta-analysis. Particular attention is paid to the conceptual redundancy rule that Smith, Glass, and Miller (1980) used in their study of the effectiveness of psychotherapy for deciding which effect sizes should and should not be counted in determining an overall effect size. Data from a random sample of 25 studies from Smith et al.'s (1980) population of psychotherapy outcome studies were first recoded and then reanalyzed meta-analytically. Using the conceptual redundancy rule, three coders independently coded effect sizes and identified more than twice as many of them per study as did Smith et al. Moreover, the treatment effect estimates associated with this larger sample of effects ranged between .30 and .50, about half the size claimed by Smith et al. Analyses of other rules for selecting effect sizes showed that average effect estimates also varied with these rules. Such results indicate that the average effect estimates derived from meta-analyses may depend heavily on judgmental factors that enter into how effect sizes are selected within each of the individual studies considered relevant to a meta-analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimizing the effects of stress management interventions in HIV.

Scott-Sheldon, Kalichman, Carey, and Fiedler (2008) present a thoughtful, important, and timely meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of stress management interventions in HIV. They differentiate controlled effect sizes across classes of acute outcomes including psychological distress, psychosocial processes, biological processes (immune status, viral, and hormonal) and fatigue. The authors join Scott-Sheldon et al., in considering future directions for this type of clinical psychosocial intervention research in HIV. Recommendations for addressing the high prevalence of psychosocial problems including diagnosable mental health disorders comorbid with HIV are presented. Suggestions for addressing medication adherence and accommodating interventions with concomitant substance use treatment are also considered. These recommendations are presented with an emphasis on expanding both the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in HIV. These recommendations are presented as realistic strategies for improving the modest treatment effect sizes for psychosocial outcomes and identifying meaningful effects on distal physiological outcomes associated with traditional stress management interventions in HIV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A cognitive-behavioral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Tested a cognitive-behavioral rheumatoid arthritis treatment designed to confer skills in managing stress, pain, and other symptoms of the disease. It was hypothesized that the treatment would reduce symptoms and possibly improve both immunologic competence and psychological functioning. 15 22–75 yr old women in the treatment group received instruction in self-relaxation, cognitive pain management, and goal setting. 15 similar controls received a widely available arthritis helpbook. Evidence of an enhancement of perceived self-efficacy, reduced pain and joint inflammation, and improved psychosocial functioning was found in the treated Ss based on their responses to an arthritis self-efficacy scale, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, a perceived stress scale (developed by S. Cohen et al, 1983), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Magnitude of improvements was correlated with degree of self-efficacy enhancement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment on Putnam, Adams, and Schneider, 'One day test-retest reliability of neuropsychological tests in a personal injury case."

In an article in Psychological Assessment, S. H. Putnam et al (see record 1993-04124-001) presented a case study in which retesting by separate examiners over a brief time period yielded consistent results. Although Putnam et al raised a number of points that deserve attention, some of their suggestions about the relevance of their case to legal assessments seem to extend well beyond what their data and methodology justify, and they misrepresented D. Faust and J. Ziskin's (see record 1989-11643-001) views on psychology and law. The author discusses limits of the case study method and clarifies his views on the use of psychological evidence in the courtroom. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological interventions for arthritis pain management in adults: A meta-analysis.

Context: The psychosocial impact of arthritis can be profound. There is growing interest in psychosocial interventions for managing pain and disability in arthritis patients. Objective: This meta-analysis reports on the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for arthritis pain and disability. Data Sources: Articles evaluating psychosocial interventions for arthritis were identified through Cochrane Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid PsycINFO data sources. Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials testing the efficacy of psychosocial interventions in arthritis pain management were reviewed. Data Extraction: Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials were analyzed. Pain intensity was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included psychological, physical, and biological functioning. Data Synthesis: An overall effect size of 0.177 (95% CI = 0.256-0.094) indicated that patients receiving psychosocial interventions reported significantly lower pain than patients in control conditions (combined p = .01). Meta-analyses also supported the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for the secondary outcomes. Conclusions: These findings indicate that psychosocial interventions may have significant effects on pain and other outcomes in arthritis patients. Ample evidence for the additional benefit of such interventions over and above that of standard medical care was found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The validity and appropriateness of methods, analyses, and conclusions in Rind et al. (1998): A rebuttal of victimological critique from Ondersma et al. (2001) and Dallam et al. (2001).

The authors respond to 2 victimological critiques of their 1998 meta-analysis on child sexual abuse (CSA). S. J. Dallam et al. (see record 2001-05308-002) (2001) claimed that B. Rind, P. Tromovitch, and R. Bauserman (see record 1998-04232-002) (1998) committed numerous methodological and statistical errors, and often miscoded and misinterpreted data. The authors show all these claims to be invalid. To the contrary, they demonstrate frequent bias in Dallam et al.'s criticisms. S. J. Ondersma et al. (see record 2001-05308-001) (2001) claimed that Rind et al.'s study is part of a backlash against psychotherapists, that its suggestions regarding CSA definitions were extrascientific, and that the moral standard is needed to understand CSA scientifically. The authors show their suggestions to have been scientific and argue that it is Ondersma et al.'s issue-framing and moral standard that are extrascientific. This reply supports the original methods, analyses, recommendations, and conclusions of Rind et al. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internet–depression link?

Comments on the article by R. Kraut et al (see record 1998-10886-001) regarding links between Internet use and depression. Rierdan expresses conceptual and analytic concerns about whether Kraut et al actually assessed depression in their study or whether they found a relationship between Internet use and "depression" as they assessed it. The author expresses concern regarding the range of scores for Kraut et al study participants on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and argues that the most valid interpretation of the scores is that the Ss in this study had low levels of distress. As a group, they were not depressed before or after the study. The author raises a second analytic issue regarding analytic techniques, arguing that effect sizes for the group were actually very small. The author suggests that the finding of an association between Internet use and distress has few implications for public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reply to comments on Lipsey and Wilson (1993).

Replies to comments by H. J. Eysenck, D. Sohn, and H. Cooper et al (see PA, Vol 82:22192, 22208, and 22189, respectively) regarding Lipsey and Wilson's (see record 1994-18340-001) meta-analysis of meta-analyses. Both Sohn and Eysenck seem to be concerned with how theory is developed, but they may be confused about the role of meta-analysis in that process. It is argued that the purpose of meta-analysis is to develop generalizations about research findings across different studies. The extension of the analysis by Cooper et al reminds researchers that meta-analysis can be subject to error and bias. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing reliability: Critical corrections for a critical examination of the Rorschach Comprehensive System.

J. M. Wood et al (see records 84-17678 and 84-17679) argued that the Rorschach Comprehensive System (CS) lacked many essential pieces of reliability data and that the available evidence indicated that scoring reliability may be little better than chance. Contrary to their assertions, the author suggests why rater agreement should focus on responses rather than summary scores, how field reliability moves away from testing CS scoring principles, and how no psychometric distinction exists between a percentage correct and a percentage agreement index. Also, after reviewing problematic qualities of kappa, a meta-analysis of published data is presented indicating that the CS has excellent chance-corrected interrater reliability (Estimated κ, M?=?.86, range?=?.72–.96). Finally, the author notes that Wood et al ignored at least 17 CS studies of test-retest reliability that contain many of the important data they said were missing. The author concluded that Wood et al's erroneous assertions about the more elementary topic of reliability make suspect their assertions about the more complex topic of validity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex with children is abuse: Comment on Rind, Tromovitch, and Bauserman (1998).

Comments on the article by B. Rind, P. Tromovitch and R. Bauserman (see record 1998-04232-002) which reported a meta-analysis of the relation between sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence and psychological functioning among college students. Sever aspects of their work have proven highly controversial, including their assertion that the relation between child sexual abuse and adjustment is quite small and their questioning of whether child sexual abuse should be labeled abuse in scientific inquiry. In this commentary, the authors summarize the controversy that has ensued, place it in a historical context, discuss the limitations of B. Rind et al.'s findings, and critique the manner in which those findings are presented. The authors also argue for the appropriateness of the term abuse and for scientific terminology that reflects rather than contradicts consensual public morality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Constraining accommodative homunculi in evolutionary explorations of jealousy: A reply to Barrett et al. (2006).

This article responds to a critique by H. C. Barrett, D. A. Frederick, M. G. Haselton, and R. Kurzban (see record 2006-10940-009), wherein it is argued that manipulations of cognitive constraints cannot be used to test general evolutionary hypotheses regarding the architecture of mind. In making this argument, Barrett et al. focus on what they believe to be faulty logic in D. DeSteno, M. Y. Bartlett, J. Braverman, and P. Salovey's (see record 2002-18731-006) use of such techniques to examine proposed sex differences in jealousy. In presenting their argument, however, Barrett et al. appear to disregard central findings presented in DeSteno et al. (2002) and, in so doing, fail to grasp the interrelations among findings that might readily address their concerns. Here, the authors present arguments for why and when manipulations of cognitive resources may prove useful in investigating evolved psychological mechanisms and, in so doing, situate their use within the ongoing debate concerning evolved sex differences in jealousy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Comparative practice of psychological assessment by clinical psychologists": Reply.

Replies to comments by J. Hunsley (see record 83:28521) on the original article by C. E. Watkins et al (see record 1995-23048-001) on the practice of psychological assessment by clinical psychologists. While Watkins et al feel that Hunsley raises some valid points, they contend that he goes too far in referring to their conclusions as inaccurate, not warranted, and as having effects that could be unfortunate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In Response to "Hypnotic Enhancement of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions for Pain: An Analogue Treatment Study".

Comments that the article by Milling, Levine, and Meunier (2003; see record 2003-05896-014) regarding hypnotic analgesia overlooked important relevant research, including at least one study that challenges their conclusions. Milling and colleagues stated that they know of only three studies that compared the pain-reducing effects of cognitivebehavioral interventions with those that added the element of hypnosis. They further pointed out that they must examine whether their findings, "based on the analogue treatment of experimental pain, apply to the treatment of clinical pain" (Milling et al., 2003, p. 412). However, other researchers (Faymonville et al., 1995) have already compared the analgesic effects of a hypnotic and a nonhypnotic relaxation intervention in patients undergoing plastic surgery. The present author further asserts that the work of Faymonville et al., may actually be superior to the work of Milling and colleagues. It is also commented that there have also been other clinical studies in the medical literature and their omission from the article's literature review was "disappointing." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meta-analysis of psychological interventions for chronic low back pain.

The purpose of this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was to evaluate the efficacy of psychological interventions for adults with noncancerous chronic low back pain (CLBP). The authors updated and expanded upon prior meta-analyses by using broad definitions of CLBP and psychological intervention, a broad data search strategy, and state-of-the-art data analysis techniques. All relevant controlled clinical trials meeting the inclusion criteria were identified primarily through a computer-aided literature search. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and articles for inclusion criteria and extracted relevant data. Cohen's d effect sizes were calculated by using a random effects model. Outcomes included pain intensity, emotional functioning, physical functioning (pain interference or pain-specific disability, health-related quality of life), participant ratings of global improvement, health care utilization, health care provider visits, pain medications, and employment/disability compensation status. A total of 205 effect sizes from 22 studies were pooled in 34 analyses. Positive effects of psychological interventions, contrasted with various control groups, were noted for pain intensity, pain-related interference, health-related quality of life, and depression. Cognitive-behavioral and self-regulatory treatments were specifically found to be efficacious. Multidisciplinary approaches that included a psychological component, when compared with active control conditions, were also noted to have positive short-term effects on pain interference and positive long-term effects on return to work. The results demonstrated positive effects of psychological interventions for CLBP. The rigor of the methods used, as well as the results that reflect mild to moderate heterogeneity and minimal publication bias, suggest confidence in the conclusions of this review. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Considering phasic alerting in Alzheimer's disease: Comment on Tales et al. (2006).

A. Tales, R. J. Snowden, M. Brown, and G. Wilcock (2006; see record 2006-20657-014) have questioned the authors' view (see record 2004-12990-007) of a possible interdependence between attentional systems mediating exogenous spatial orienting and phasic alerting as well as the authors' suggestion that phasic alerting deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be influencing their performance on tests of spatial orienting. Consistent with this possibility, both laboratories have previously demonstrated increased spatial orienting and decreased phasic alerting in patients with AD. In Tales et al.'s current study, however, they have instead suggested that their results provide evidence for functional independence between these attentional systems in AD. In this commentary, the authors address the misinterpretations of their study and evaluate the degree to which Tales et al.'s study addresses the issues that they raise. Given Tales et al.'s difficulty performing analyses on response time data because of variance issues, the presence of a reduced (although not significant) alerting effect in Tales et al.'s AD group (consistent with the authors' previous findings), and a potential floor effect in their measure of alerting, the authors question the validity of Tales et al.'s conclusions and reaffirm their position that not considering interactions among attentional systems can lead to inaccurate characterizations of the mechanisms by which they operate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Consequences and causes of correlations in process dissociation.

In T. Curran and D. L. Hintzman's (see record 1995-42725-001) article, the authors explained how violations of the independence assumption could affect the process-dissociation procedure and presented evidence that was consistent with the hypothesized effects of independence violations. L. L. Jacoby, I. M. Begg, and J. R Toth (see record 84-21424) argued that independence violations could not account for Curran and Hintzman's results. In this reply, the current authors demonstrate that even moderate correlations between recollective and automatic word-stem completion can cause paradoxical dissociations like those the authors previously reported, and they explain how Jacoby et al came to their contrary conclusion. Second, the authors argue that discussion by Jacoby et al of process-dissociation "boundary conditions" is consistent with Curran and Hintzman's original claims. Finally, the authors discuss problems with the evidence for independence that Jacoby et al presented in their Table 1, including their questionable criteria for excluding experiments from the table and the fact that they did not consider statistical power. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)