Introduction to the special section on integrative approaches to source memory.

Source memory involves recognizing or recalling particular features that cause us to think of a mental experience as representing a particular past event. Research directed at understanding source memory comes from many domains, including cognitive-behavioral psychology, neuroscience, lifespan psychology, clinical psychology, and psychiatry. The authors believe that integrating multiple approaches to investigating source memory--most notably here, cognitive-behavioral and cognitive neuroscience--provides productive cross-fertilization of theory, methods, and analyses that in turn will yield unique constraints to our understanding of human memory. The investigations in this special section demonstrate the promise of such an integrative approach for advancing theories of source memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Behavioral approaches to cardiovascular disease.

Reviews the book, Behavioral approaches to cardiovascular disease by Richard S. Surwit, Redford B. Williams Jr., and David Shapiro (1982). The authors' stated purpose in this book is to provide a complete and critical review of the state of knowledge in cardiovascular behavioral medicine (as of 1982). The organization of this volume includes four introductory chapters on the conceptual bases of behavioral medicine, summaries of cardiovascular regulation and psychophysiology, and principles of conditioning as they pertain to modifying cardiovascular functions. The core of the book consists of the next four chapters on specific disorders: coronary heart disease, hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon, and migraine/vascular headache. A final chapter deals with selected clinical issues in the application of behavioral medicine technology. This book is generally clear and well-written, with a consistent style maintained throughout. The authors' message is presented in a manner that is likely to be accepted by physicians as well as psychologists. Unfortunately, the text occasionally presupposes a degree of knowledge of physiology and anatomy that some psychologists may lack (e.g., "attenuation of the baroreceptor-mediated inhibition of sympathetic outflow" —p. 27). This volume is likely to prove most useful to cardiovascular researchers and practitioners in cardiovascular rehabilitation programs or general medical hospitals who employ biofeedback, relaxation techniques, and life style modification procedures. Although it is no longer the "timely review" it was when first published, this book will remain a valuable reference work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An approach to the treatment of essential hypertension

The efficacy and side effects of the combined administration of propranolol and phenoxybenzamine were examined in 19 patients with moderate and moderately severe essential hypertension. By titrating the dosage of both drugs against pulse rate and blood pressure response, propranolol was given between 80 and 160 mg. and phenoxybenzamine between 20 and 50 mg. per day in divided doses. There was a substantial reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both recumbent and upright positions without orthostatic hypotension. Normal blood pressure (140/90 mm. Hg or less) or near normal (150/100 mm. Hg or less) was attained in 14 of the patients in the recumbent and 17 in the upright position. Pulse rate also decreased significantly, whereas body weight increased but not significantly so. Except for a reduction of ejaculation in three out of six male subjects, no symptomatic side effects were detected, and no changes in the liver or renal function or in blood count were observed. Despite the short duration of therapy, 3 to 10 weeks, this study clearly demonstrates that propranolol and phenoxybenzamine given together in individualized doses are very effective in lowering arterial blood pressure with minimal side effects.     

Multi-modal behavioral approach to the treatment and management of essential hypertension.

Explored the efficacy of a multimodal behavioral approach for the treatment and long-term management of essential hypertension in a 24-yr-old male. Generalization techniques and community measurements were integral components of treatment as well as data collection procedures. Blood pressure was brought within the normotensive range and stabilized without the use of anti-hypertensive medications. Normal readings were maintained throughout a 6-mo follow-up period. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lifestyle interventions in the treatment of childhood overweight: A meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials.

Context: Evaluating the efficacy of pediatric weight loss treatments is critical. Objective: This is the first meta-analysis of the efficacy of RCTs comparing pediatric lifestyle interventions to no-treatment or information/education-only controls. Data Sources: Medline, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Study Selection: Fourteen RCTs targetting change in weight status were eligible, yielding 19 effect sizes. Data Extraction: Standardized coding was used to extract information on design, participant characteristics, interventions, and results. Data Synthesis: For trials with no-treatment controls, the mean effect size was 0.75 (κ = 9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.52-0.98) at end of treatment and 0.60 (κ = 4, CI = 0.27-0.94) at follow-up. For trials with information/education-only controls, the mean ES was 0.48 (κ = 4, CI = 0.13-0.82) at end of treatment and 0.91 (κ = 2, CI = 0.32-1.50) at follow-up. No moderator effects were identified. Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions for pediatric overweight are efficacious in the short term with some evidence for extended persistence. Future research is required to identify moderators and mediators and to determine the optimal length and intensity of treatment required to produce enduring changes in weight status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psychoanalytic approaches to addiction.

Reviews the book, Psychoanalytic approaches to addiction edited by Angela Smaldino (see record 1991-98128-000). Contrary to what one might read into its title, the book is only partially about alcohol and other drugs AOD addiction. Three of its seven chapters address other types of addiction: destructive relationships, love, and food. The implication is that similarities among the various addictions will serve to illustrate a common unconscious motivation of "the addictive personality" revealed by psychoanalysis. Nowhere in the book, however, is this explicitly stated. The chapters are as the beads of an unlinked chain. They are as a series of associations in a patient's stream of consciousness, each one rich in detail, captivating, and insightful, but as yet without the analyst's interpretation as to how they are linked. The daunting task of that interpretation is left to the reader. This book is a valiant effort to move the psychoanalytic field in the direction of accommodating to the needs of an important patient population. It is not a primer to be taken as a directive, but a useful tool that the more sophisticated reader may employ as an impetus to stimulate further thinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transdiagnostic approaches to the treatment of anxiety disorders: A quantitative review.

Transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral group treatments for anxiety, treatments that are designed to be applicable to diagnostically mixed groups of anxiety disorder clients, have been garnering interest in recent years. At least 7 independent research teams have developed transdiagnostic anxiety treatment protocols and reported preliminary outcomes data. In this review, we outline the basic theoretical rationale underlying transdiagnostic models of anxiety and review each of the treatment protocols that have been reported to date. Finally, the efficacy of these treatments is examined using meta-analytic methods. Results indicated that overall, transdiagnostic treatments are associated with a very large pre- to posttreatment effect size, and stable maintenance of gains through follow-up. Recommendations for transdiagnostic treatment implementation are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of two attitudinal approaches to delegation.

2 cases were worked through in a multiple role-playing procedure under a "limited delegation" condition (leader made decision and led discussion of it) and a "full delegation" condition (leader accepted group's decision). "In terms of solution quality, acceptance and satisfaction of superiors and subordinates, the full delegation procedure consistently yielded the more satisfactory results… . The results are interpreted to mean that attitudes of supervision toward the delegation process may be an important factor in the solution of certain management problems." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological Stress Tasks in the Prediction of Blood Pressure Level and Need for Antihypertensive Medication: 9-12 Years of Follow-Up.

Increased blood pressure (BP) reactivity to subtypes of psychological stimuli may differentially predict the development of future BP elevation or hypertension. The authors present the 9-12-year follow-up results of 82 (86%) of 95 male participants with different BP levels. They were healthy, untreated, and age-matched volunteers from a routine health checkup carried out on all 35-, 40-, and 45-year-olds from a medium-sized city. Intra-arterial systolic blood pressure (SBP) during the psychological tasks improved the prediction of future casual SBP and noninvasive 24-hr ambulatory SBP compared with predictions from casual diagnostic measurements. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was very useful when added to casual DBP in predicting the need for antihypertensive medication. Reactivity to active tasks especially predicts the need for antihypertensive medication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do behavioral responses mediate or moderate the relation between cardiovascular reactivity to stress and parental history of hypertension?

To examine whether differences in behavioral responses to stress mediated or moderated the relation between cardiovascular response to stress and parental history of hypertension, 64 healthy undergraduates--16 men with hypertensive parents (PH+), 16 men without hypertensive parents (PH-), 16 PH+ women, and 16 PH- women--participated in a mental arithmetic task, mirror tracing task, and 2 interpersonal role plays. PH+ participants exhibited higher resting heart rates than PH - participants and higher resting systolic blood pressures (SBPs) than PH- women. PH+ participants exhibited greater SBP responses to tasks and engaged in more negative verbal and nonverbal behavior across tasks than PH- counterparts. Differences in behavioral responding neither mediated nor moderated the observed relation between parental history status and SBP response to stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More than child's play: Variable- and pattern-centered approaches for examining effects of sports participation on youth development.

The authors used data from Grades 5 through 7 of the longitudinal 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development to assess relations among sports participation, other out-of-school-time (OST) activities, and indicators of youth development. They used a mixture of variable- and pattern-centered analyses aimed at disentangling different features of participation (i.e., intensity, breadth). The benefits of sports participation were found to depend, in part, on specific combinations of multiple activities in which youths participated along with sports. In particular, participation in a combination of sports and youth development programs was related to positive youth development and youth contribution, even after controlling for the total time youths spent in OST activities and their sports participation duration. Adolescents' total time spent participating in OST activities, duration of participation in sports, and activity participation pattern each explained a unique part of the variance in some of the indicators of youth functioning. These findings suggest the need for future research to simultaneously assess multiple indices of OST activity participation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological approaches to the treatment of asthma.

Outcome literature on psychological treatment for asthma covers psychoeducational self-management programs, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, and family therapy. Psychoeducational approaches now being standardized in a national program are cost-effective. They produce improved adjustment, increased medication compliance, greater perceived self-competence in managing symptoms, and decreased use of medical services. Significant effects have been found for relaxation therapy, although it is not clear whether the effectiveness depends on whole-body relaxation or specifically facial- or respiratory-muscle relaxation. Family therapy is helpful to some asthmatics. Active components in these methods remain to be identified as do the populations whom they can best serve. Biofeedback for respiratory resistance, trachea sounds, and vagal tone shows promise but has not been given adequate clinical testing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment adherence in rehabilitation: The role of treatment accommodation.

Poor adherence to treatment in rehabilitation has historically been a costly and far-reaching problem. This article summarizes factors thought to affect adherence, including patient, treatment provider, environmental, and treatment characteristics. A model of adherence is proposed that emphasizes treatment characteristics. The concepts of treatment accommodation and research acceptability are introduced. Finally, steps are proposed to help clinicians design and implement treatment plans that facilitate treatment adherence in rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Psyche and the literary muses: The contribution of literary content to scientific psychology (Linguistic approaches to literature 7).

Reviews the book, Psyche and the literary muses: The contribution of literary content to scientific psychology (Linguistic approaches to literature 7) by Martin S. Lindauer (see record 2009-03997-000). Lindauer has examined an area that is seldom researched; he found a gap in the psychology of the arts and explored it. He is at his best describing the arts, psychology, and the relation between the two. He is also in his element describing different methods of analyzing the arts. In the first two parts of the book, Lindauer writes compellingly about the important role the arts play in people’s lives, outlines the affinities between psychology and the arts, and affirms the necessity of studying the arts. He also positions the psychology of the arts within psychology and illustrates what the arts have to offer psychology, namely highlighting new topics of research, exposing neglected areas of study, and challenging existing conclusions. Lindauer describes the scientific approach to literature in the third and fourth parts of the book. He first posits that generalization is a goal in psychology, but that it is also important to capture people’s subjective experiences. In the final part of the book, Lindauer summarizes the issues and states that a scientific approach to literature would “open the eyes of scholars” in the humanities and help them escape “provincialism, parochialism, and isolation.” The reviewer notes a number of criticisms about the book, including its readability (e.g., confusing structure, repetition), Lindauer's use of brief literary forms (e.g., quotations), and his failure to provide the larger picture in some of his studies. Despite excellent ideas and intentions, to study quotations instead of literature is ultimately missing the point. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hostility explains some of the discrepancy between daytime ambulatory and clinic blood pressure.

The authors examined whether hostility explained the discrepancy commonly observed between clinic and daytime ambulatory blood pressures, Daytime ambulatory blood pressure (DABP) was assessed every 45 min over 6 days in healthy adults ( N=120). After controlling for demographic variables, time-varying covariates such as position and activity level, and clinic blood pressure (CBP), the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale was significantly associated with daytime ambulatory diastolic blood pressure. No support was obtained for mediation by psychological factors. Discrepancies between DABP and CBP may be due, in part, to differences in the degree to which these 2 types of measures are associated with individual differences in hostility. These results suggest that the addition of hostility to CBP may improve its predictive power. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A longitudinal study of pain sensitivity and blood pressure in adolescent boys: Results from a 5-year follow-up.

A growing literature has observed a significant reduction in pain sensitivity among hypertensive animals and humans. It is uncertain whether a reduced sensitivity to pain can be observed in normotensive individuals who go on to develop high blood pressure. Blood pressure (BP) was reassessed in one hundred fifteen 19-year-old boys initially tested at age 14, when they were also presented with a pain stimulus (mechanical finger pressure). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that information regarding pain tolerance improved prediction of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure beyond that afforded by differences in BP at age 14, parental history of hypertension, and body mass index. These analyses suggest that pain sensitivity may be associated with physiological processes involved in the development of sustained high blood pressure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of universal, indicated, and combined cognitive-behavioral approaches to the prevention of depression among adolescents.

A cluster, stratified randomized design was used to evaluate the impact of universal, indicated, and combined universal plus indicated cognitive- behavioral approaches to the prevention of depression among 13- to 15-year-olds initially reporting elevated symptoms of depression. None of the intervention approaches differed significantly from a no-intervention condition or from each other on changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, externalizing problems, coping skills, and social adjustment. All high-symptom students, irrespective of condition, showed a significant decline in depressive symptoms and improvement in emotional well-being over time although they still demonstrated elevated levels of psychopathology compared with the general population of peers at 12-month follow-up. There were also no significant intervention effects for the universal intervention in comparison with no intervention for the total sample of students in those conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Classical and operant factors in the treatment of a school phobia.

To the best of our knowledge, this report is the 1st to recognize the advantages of employing both classical and operant conditioning procedures in the treatment of a neurotic case. A model which appeared to have heuristic value was developed: When avoidance behavior is motivated by high levels of anxiety, classical counterconditioning techniques are called for; when anxiety is minimal, and avoidance behavior is seemingly maintained by various secondary reinforcers, operant strategies should be applied. Furthermore, this paper indicates that the practice of interchanging therapists not only failed to disrupt or impede therapeutic progress but had certain distinct advantages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)