Dynamical patterns in clapping behavior.

A nonlinear dynamics framework that has been applied successfully to several laboratory idealizations of rhythmic behaviors was applied to a more naturally occurring behavior, clapping. Inertial loading of limbs and frequency of oscillation were manipulated. Displacement of relative phase from perfectly in phase and the variability of relative phase, both of which are used as indexes of coordination dynamics, increased with greater inertial imbalance between limbs. Increasing frequency exaggerated these effects. These hallmark properties of coupled oscillator dynamics appeared whether or not the hands contacted, albeit with the latter condition revealing a significant asymmetry in the dynamics. Results highlight the generality of the coupled oscillator regime in interlimb coordination as well as its appropriateness for characterizing behaviors that involve contact of limb surfaces and suggest one way in which perceptual information may tune the dynamical regime. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Instructional desensitization: A semantic behavior treatment of anxiety disorder.

Explored the efficacy of instructional desensitization (ID) in the treatment of public speaking anxiety, using 30 speech-anxious undergraduates as Ss. Three self-report measures of confidence, affect, and anxiousness were completed by Ss, and 20 behavioral manifestations of anxiety were observed during Ss' delivery of a 4-min speech. Ss were randomly assigned to ID, placebo, or waiting list groups. Ss in the placebo group were led to believe that they were receiving a new form of therapy. Results show that ID Ss showed a significant decrement in their anxiety reactions as measured by objective and subjective anxiety measures. A significant anxiety decrement was also found in placebo Ss. However, self-report gains were not verified by objective observations. It is concluded that ID is a new semantic behavior therapy intervention that may have beneficial effects in the treatment of a broad variety of anxiety disorders. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bipolar II disorder: course and suicidal behavior

A significant number of acute non A to E hepatitis cases are reported in Thailand every year, and the etiologies of these cases are unknown. Members of the herpesviridae family have been reported to cause either a self limited or fatal hepatitis in a small proportion of patients in other parts of the world. To determine whether herpesviruses may play a role in acute non A to E hepatitis, sera from 32 acute hepatitis patients without markers for acute hepatitis A to E virus infection were examined for IgM to herpesvirus type 2 (HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using commercially available assays. IgM to HSV-2 was detected in four sera, IgM to CMV was detected in one serum, and IgM to EBV was detected in one serum. All of the acute non A to E hepatitis patients recovered and none had underlying conditions associated with impaired immunity. These results suggest that herpesviruses should be considered in the differential diagnosis for Thai patients with hepatitis.     

On the logic of logical form: A criticism of Tryon's models of behavior disorder.

Comments on the model of behavior disorder of W. W. Tryon (see record 1977-04654-001), agreeing that a systematic examination of the binary combinations of P. J. Woods's (see record 1975-00351-001) taxonomic classes of operant conditioning is of potential profit. However, Tryon has leapt from this beginning far too rapidly into models of behavior disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis using mixed-effects modeling.

Objective: At present, the most frequently investigated psychosocial intervention for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the efficacy and long-term effectiveness of DBT. Method: Systematic bibliographic research was undertaken to find relevant literature from online databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, PsychSpider, Medline). We excluded studies in which patients with diagnoses other than BPD were treated, the treatment did not comprise all components specified in the DBT manual or in the suggestions for inpatient DBT programs, patients failed to be diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the intervention group comprised fewer than 10 patients. Using a mixed-effect hierarchical modeling approach, we calculated global effect sizes and effect sizes for suicidal and self-injurious behaviors. Results: Calculations of postintervention global effect sizes were based on 16 studies. Of these, 8 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 8 were neither randomized nor controlled (nRCT). The dropout rate was 27.3% pre- to posttreatment. A moderate global effect and a moderate effect size for suicidal and self-injurious behaviors were found, when including a moderator for RCTs with borderline-specific treatments. There was no evidence for the influence of other moderators (e.g., quality of studies, setting, duration of intervention). A small impairment was shown from posttreatment to follow-up, including 5 RCTs only. Conclusions: Future research should compare DBT with other active borderline-specific treatments that have also demonstrated their efficacy using several long-term follow-up assessment points. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of alprazolam and behavior therapy in treatment of panic disorder.

The results of a clinical outcome study (N?=?57) comparing behavior therapy directed at panic disorder (panic control treatment [PCT]) with alprazolam were reported. These conditions were compared with a medication placebo and a waiting-list control group. Patterns of results on measures of panic attacks, generalized anxiety, and global clinical ratings reveal that PCT was significantly more effective than placebo and waiting-list conditions on most measures. The alprazolam group differed significantly from neither PCT nor placebo. The percentage of clients completing the study who were free of panic attacks following PCT was 87%, compared with 50% for alprazolam, 36% for placebo, and 33% for the waiting-list group. Since alprazolam may work more quickly than PCT but may also interfere with the effects of behavioral treatment, these data suggest a series of studies on the feasibility of integrating these treatments and on the precise patterns and mechanisms of action of various successful treatment approaches to panic disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental disorder and violent behavior: Perceptions and evidence.

Throughout history and in all known societies, people have believed that mental disorder and violence were somehow related. The consensus of modern scholarly opinion, however, has been that no such relationship exists. Recent epidemiological studies cast doubt on this no-relationship position. Evidence now indicates that mental disorder may be a consistent, albeit modest, risk factor for the occurrence of violence. Denying that mental disorder and violence may be in any way associated is disingenuous and ultimately counterproductive. Dire implications for mental patient advocacy, for mental health law, and for the provision of mental health treatment need not follow from candidly acknowledging the possibility of a limited connection between disorder and violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Models of behavior disorder: A formal analysis based on Woods's Taxonomy of Instrumental Conditioning.

Discusses the issue of formal analysis of operations in psychology. A total of 120 conditioning paradigms are derived from P. J. Woods's (see record 1975-00351-001) "Taxonomy of Instrumental Conditioning," of which 64 are predicted to produce behavior disorder and 32 are predicted to produce no behavior disorder. The remaining 24 are either redundant or "degenerate" paradigms. Eight paradigms producing behavior disorder are selected for review because they represent simple symmetrical formal relationships and have been more widely investigated. Among the phenomena covered are "superstitious" behavior, learned helplessness, experimental neurosis, anaclitic depression as a result of maternal separation, and physiological disturbances such as ulceration. In addition to systematizing animal models of behavior disorder, it is argued that respondent conditioning is a special case in which 2 operant paradigms are programmed simultaneously. The possibility of using the present analysis for behavioral diagnosis, treatment selection, and considering ethical issues is also discussed. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)