A comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and relaxation training for the treatment of depression in adolescents.

30 moderately depressed high school students were randomly assigned to either cognitive-behavioral treatment, relaxation training, or a wait-list control condition. Treatment Ss met in small groups for 10 50-min sessions over 5 wks in a high school setting. Outcome measures included a modified Beck Depression Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The cognitive-behavioral and relaxation training groups were superior to the wait-list control group in the reduction of depressive symptoms at both posttest and 5-wk follow-up assessments. There was no significant difference between active treatments in their effectiveness for reducing depression. Ss in the cognitive-behavioral and relaxation training conditions went from moderate levels of depression at pretest to nondepressed levels at posttest, and they maintained these levels at follow-up. Improvements in anxiety and academic self-concept were also demonstrated by the active treatments. Findings demonstrate that these short-term group-administered therapies are effective in significantly decreasing depression in adolescents. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Weight gain through self-control procedures.

21 underweight (at least 10%) undergraduates were assigned to either a self-reinforcement condition, a self-punishment condition, or to a discussion-reflection control condition. Ss received 1 weekly treatment session over a 5-wk period. Following treatment, the self-reinforcement groups gained significantly more pounds (kilograms) than either the self-punishment or the control group. This effect was maintained at a 12-wk follow-up. The punishment and control groups did not differ significantly at posttest or at follow-up. Similar results were obtained when percentage of weight change was analyzed, with the treatment effect significant at follow-up. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modification of smoking behavior with an aversion-desensitization procedure.

Conducted a study with 7 male and 14 female volunteer college students and staff members with a mean cigarette consumption of more than 2 packs daily. Ss were given Lanyon's Psychological Screening Inventory and MMPI subscales to screen for psychiatric difficulty and dishonesty in self-report. Ss then received 10 hr. of group treatment of covert sensitization followed either by systematic desensitization to the discomfort associated with not smoking or by general group discussion. A refundable $20 deposit eliminated attrition. Both treatments resulted in greater than 50% decrease in smoking. At a 13-wk follow-up, both groups were tending toward their pretreatment smoking rate, although Ss given desensitization were still smoking significantly less than originally. A bimodal split in the effectiveness of treatment for this group suggests the need for further study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive-behavioral prevention of adolescent pregnancy.

Assigned 36 high school sophomores to a no-training control condition or to a small group training condition in which Ss received contraceptive information, steps for solving problems, and practice in communicating decisions about sexual behavior. Compared with controls, trained Ss had more positive posttest scores on measures of sexual knowledge, interpersonal problem solving, and in vivo performance. At a 6-mo follow-up, Ss who participated in training groups had better attitudes toward family planning and were practicing more effective contraception than were controls. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Component analysis of cognitive skill training for the enhancement of hypnotic susceptibility.

Compared 4 treatments to enhance the hypnotic responsiveness of 60 undergraduates (aged 18–34 yrs) who pretested as low in hypnotic suceptibility on the Carleton University Responsiveness to Suggestion Scale. Complete skill training included information aimed at encouraging (1) positive attitudes, (2) the use of imagery strategies, and (3) an interpretation of hypnotic behavior as active responding. Partial training included only Components 1 and 2. Both training packages enhanced attitudes toward hypnosis to an equivalent degree. However, complete training was much more effective than either partial training or no treatment at enhancing behavioral and subjective responding on 2 different posttest scales of hypnotic susceptibility. More than half of the Ss who received complete training, but none of the partial training or control Ss, scored in the high-susceptibility range on both posttests. Ss explicitly instructed to fake hypnosis and those in the complete skill-training treatment exhibited significantly different patterns of posttest responding. Findings support social-psychological perspectives that emphasize the importance of contextual factors in hypnotic responding. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of desensitization treatment on core-condition training.

Tested the prediction that training for helping skills when paired with desensitization treatment will improve significantly the posttest ratings of the trainee's helping function. 2 groups of 9 male and 7 female adult trainees each were matched systematically and trained over a 6-wk period to function in a helping role. Ss received preliminary training in empathy, respect, concreteness, and genuineness. Following preliminary training, the experimental group received 1 wk. of desensitization treatment; the control group did not. Both the control and experimental Ss proceeded to a 6-wk advanced training in empathy, respect, concreteness, and genuineness. Results of pre- and posttest ratings on measures of helping skills in the preliminary and advanced training indicate a significant training effect was obtained for both groups. Desensitization treatment was a significant source of variance for the experimental Ss in training (p     

Attitudinal outcomes of the Life Planning Workshop.

Examined the impact of the Life Planning Workshop (i.e., a developmental outreach program designed to assist individuals with personal, social, and vocational planning for the future) on attitudes toward future planning and the self-actualizing attitudes of feeling reactivity and self-regard. It was hypothesized that (a) workshop participants would demonstrate significant gains in all 3 areas when compared to controls and that these gains would endure over a follow-up period and (b) Ss who participated in small groups generating high levels of verbal interaction would show greater attitudinal change than members of groups producing low levels of interaction. An original instrument and 2 subscales of the Personal Orientation Inventory were administered to 42 17–34 yr old Ss randomly assigned to either a pre–post or post–follow-up condition. Tape recordings were made for analysis of verbal interaction. Results show significantly higher means for experimental Ss on measures of positive attitudes toward future planning and feeling reactivity; these gains endured over a mean follow-up period of 3 wks. No significant differences in self-regard were found, nor were there significant attitudinal changes associated with verbal interaction level. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of meditation-relaxation on anxiety and depression in a geriatric population.

36 female volunteers (aged 63–79 yrs) participated in a 20-wk study on the effects of meditation-relaxation on symptoms of anxiety and depression. 83% of the Ss were widows and were selected because of complaints of anxiety, nervousness, tension, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, and somatic complaints. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: relaxation-meditation, relaxation-meditation with a 10-wk follow-up consisting of instructions to practice on a daily basis using relaxation-meditation tapes, and a pseudo-relaxation control group. The treatment groups received 1 wk of baseline evaluation, 10 wks of 30-min training sessions, and a 10-wk follow-up, with taped relaxation sessions for the 2nd group. The control group followed an identical schedule for 10 wks but did not participate in the follow-up. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Self-Rating Depression Scale were administered prior to treatment, at the end of training, and at the end of the follow-up period. In comparison to the control group, the treatment groups manifested a significant pre–posttreatment decrement for both state and trait anxiety. The practice group continued to show a decrement in state anxiety, while the no-practice group exhibited a return toward baseline levels. However, trait anxiety continued to decrease for both groups. When questions that correlated highly with anxiety and somatic symptoms were removed and analyzed separately, a significant pre- to posttreatment decrement in depression was noted. (58 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group psychotherapy with mastectomy patients.

Compared 20 women who participated in 10 weekly sessions of group psychotherapy with 20 women placed on a waiting list after they had mastectomies. Ss were matched on age (33–65 yrs old), marital status, time since surgery, prognosis, and SES. A structured, scaled interview was used to assess maladjustment, and 2 inventories were used to assess therapy outcome; all Ss were administered all measures before the treatment program began, when it finished 10 wks later, and 4 wks after the end of treatment. Results show that over the course of the therapy period, both groups showed changes in a positive direction; however, Ss in the treatment group showed significantly greater improvement. In the 4-wk follow-up period Ss in the treatment group continued to show significant positive change. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Presence versus absence of others: The effect on verbally expressed attitudes toward the disabled.

Tested the hypothesis that individuals express more favorable attitudes toward the disabled when in the presence of others than when alone. 36 students in a graduate rehabilitation course completed a 7-point rating scale pretest concerning 5 rehabilitation concepts, and adjective pairs were developed following the semantic differential model of C. E. Osgood et al (1957). Ss then viewed a film about meeting a blind person, following which they heard a presentation by and interacted with a blind model. Ss were randomly assigned to either individual or group conditions. Individual Ss again completed the 7-point rating scale in isolation. Ss in the groups discussed the film and the presentation together for 15 min before completing the posttest. All Ss were retested at 30-day follow-up. Results fail to reveal differences between conditions; however, Ss in both conditions demonstrated a significant shift in their attitudes toward blind persons. It is suggested that while the presence or absence of others did not contribute to an attitude change, the specificity of the attitude change strategy may bring about attitude change. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Homeostatic reconditioning in stress-related disorders: A preliminary study of migraine headaches.

18 19–55 yr old migraine headache patients were assigned to a group that learned (1) to raise finger temperature, via visual biofeedback, after neutral imaginal experiences or (2) to raise finger temperature after stressful imaginal experiences. At the completion of training, Ss participated in an outcome session without feedback. Laboratory training, combined with home practice using the same respective imaginal experiences, resulted in Ss' being able, with on-task concentration, to raise finger temperature without feedback and also resulted in significant clinical reductions in headache activity. Improvement was more marked at 4-wk follow-up. Ss trained in vascular recovery after stress showed more improvement than did other Ss. Overall, the Ss who showed the most reliable vascular recovery conditioning effects were those whose migraine prodromal symptomatology was not an accurate predictor of headache or absence of headache. The significance of what is called homeostatic reconditioning, after stress, in stress-related disorders, rather than the "aspirin" approach of many biofeedback treatments, is discussed. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research on a workshop to reduce the effects of sexism and sex role socialization on women's career planning.

Assessed the effects of a 4-wk workshop designed to enhance the awareness of 60 college women about sex role and career factors and to expand their sex role attitudes and self-concepts. During the workshop, portions of a 28-min videotape were presented to Ss and discussed each wk in small groups. The videotape presentation is a direct application of a model depicting factors affecting both sex role socialization and career decision-making processes. Treatment effects were assessed by means of 5 career and sex-role instruments in a pretest/posttest control-group design. Results indicate that treatment Ss spent more time thinking about their career planning, described themselves as being more "masculine," and reported investigative, social, and enterprising careers as being more appropriate career choices than control Ss. The workshop appears to have expanded Ss' "masculine" sex role self-concepts and changed their attitudes about the appropriateness of 2 stereotypic masculine career areas (investigative and enterprising). (59 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of consciousness-raising groups on measures of feminism, self-esteem, and social desirability.

34 female undergraduates in 2 consciousness-raising groups were objectively assessed to determine whether changes relating to self-reported profeminist attitudes and behaviors and relating to self-esteem and social desirability would occur. 22 Ss were randomly assigned to either a 16-hr marathon group format or a 2-hr, 8-wk time-spaced group format. 12 additional Ss who took objective measures at the same time as 1 of the 2 groups acted as no-treatment controls. All experimental Ss significantly shifted toward more self-reported profeminist attitudes and behaviors both at posttesting and at follow-up. Two personality measures did not reveal any lasting changes. When compared with each other, Ss in the 2 time formats did not evidence any significant differences. When compared with control Ss, time-spaced Ss reported significantly more profeminist behavioral changes and an increase in self-esteem. Marathon Ss were significantly different from controls on a profeminist attitude measure (Attitudes Toward Women Scale). The purpose for which consciousness-raising groups have been formed was empirically supported by desired changes reported by Ss in relation to more profeminist attitudes and behaviors. Whether participation in consciousness-raising groups produces increases in self-esteem and decreases in the need for social approval is in need of further assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rapid smoking and self-control in the modification of smoking behavior.

Investigated the efficacy of combining rapid smoking aversion and training in self-control skills for maintaining nonsmoking. 50 habitual smokers (26 males, 24 females; mean age 33 yrs) were assigned to a 3-wk treatment program emphasizing rapid smoking plus self-control, rapid smoking plus filler discussion, normal-paced (placebo) smoking plus self-control, or the placebo smoking procedure plus filler discussion. At the 13-wk follow-up, the performance of the combined rapid smoking plus self-control program was not superior to rapid smoking plus discussion. In fact, Ss in the combined program performed worse (had a higher mean smoking rate and a smaller percentage of abstinence) at both treatment termination and follow-up. Self-control did improve performance in placebo smoking Ss. Differences associated with self-control were not statistically significant. Rapid smoking was found to be significantly more effective than the placebo smoking when data from non-married treatment pairs were considered. Possible explanations for the negative impact of self-control on rapid smoking are outlined. Locus of control scores and extended experimenter–S contact after termination were not related to treatment performance. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Level of initial attitude, active rehearsal, and instructional set as factors in attitude change.

2experiments are reported in which Ss having extremely favorable, favorable, and neutral attitudes toward the church were induced to read an antichurch essay to 6 listeners of their choice outside the laboratory. ? of the Ss in each predisposition group were told that their own attitudes might be influenced as a result of the experience. Both those Ss who were "favorable" toward the church and those who were "neutral" became significantly less prochurch as measured by posttesting with the attitude scale. The extremely prochurch Ss were not significantly influenced by this mode of persuasion. Instructional set did not produce any significant differences in susceptibility of Ss in any of the groups to the compliance experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group treatment with divorced women using cognitive-behavioral and supportive-insight methods.

Examined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and supportive-insight group therapy with 46 women (aged 23–36 yrs) who had been divorced between 8 mo and 1? yrs. 12 clients were assigned to the cognitive-behavioral group; 12 were assigned to a supportive-insight group; and 22 Ss were assigned to 2 control groups. Differences between pre- and posttest, and pretest and follow-up scores on measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory, Lubin Depression Checklist), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory), and neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Inventory) were taken. When compared with the control groups on the posttest, both cognitive-behavioral and supportive-insight treatments were more effective on most criteria. At the 4-mo follow-up, cognitive-behavioral counseling continued to be beneficial, whereas the supportive-insight approach was consistently less effective. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Covert sensitization in the treatment of obesity.

1 group of 6 overweight undergraduates received 6 sessions of covert sensitization. A 2nd similar group received 6 sessions of a realistic attention-control condition, while a 3rd group served as nontreated controls. At the end of treatment, covert sensitization Ss reporting the greatest reaction to the imagined scene showed greater weight loss than the attention-control and control groups. At a 6-wk follow-up, the treatment effect including all covert sensitization Ss was highly significant. Self-report measures indicate that covert sensitization Ss perceived their treatment positively and were highly motivated. Anxiety reduction and weight loss were found to be uncorrelated. Results offer considerable support for the efficacy of covert sensitization in the treatment of obesity. (29 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Forgiveness as a psychotherapeutic goal with elderly females.

A psychotherapeutic intervention with forgiveness as the goal was implemented with 24 elderly women (mean age 74.5 yrs). The client's goal was to forgive one person who had inflicted considerable psychological hurt, as judged by the client. The Ss were randomly assigned to a forgiveness condition and a control group. The forgiveness group followed a treatment model based on R. D. Enright et al (1991). Dependent variables included 2 forgiveness scales, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventories, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Following the 8-wk intervention, the experimental group showed significantly higher forgiveness profiles at posttest compared with the control group. Both groups significantly decreased from pretest to posttest on psychological depression and trait anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual characteristics and children's learning in large-group and small-group approaches.

Investigated aptitude–treatment interactions (ATI) in 100 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade students learning in large-group and small-group teaching approaches. Each of 2 elementary teachers taught a 2-wk fractions unit to 2 classes of randomly assigned Ss. Each class received only 1 approach. Students completed aptitude measures (Raven Progressive Matrices and Sequential Test of Educational Progress, Series II) at the beginning of the study and achievement, attitude, and retention measures (including the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire, the Math Anxiety Scale, and a test of attitudes towards math) at the end. Regression analyses showed significant ATI for preference for approach and for ability. Students who initially preferred small groups actually did worse in that approach than in the large-group approach. High-ability Ss and low-ability Ss did better and had more positive attitudes in the small-group and large-group approaches, respectively. High-ability Ss benefited by "teaching" their peers in the small group. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A self-control behavior therapy program for depression.

A behavior therapy program based on a self-control model of depression was evaluated against a nonspecific group therapy condition and a waiting list control group, 28 depressed volunteer female Ss ages 18–48 were administered a psychological test battery including the Beck Depression Inventory and the MMPI and randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 experimental conditions. The experimental therapy procedure consisted of a 6-wk group treatment program that sequentially focused on modifying self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-control skills. In each phase specific self-control principles were discussed in conjunction with behavioral homework assignments involving activity schedules. The self-control therapy Ss showed significantly greater reduction in depression on self-report and behavioral measures. Self-control Ss also showed greater improvement in overall pathology on the MMPI. There was some evidence that self-control Ss improved on specific measures of self-control behavior. A 6-wk follow-up generally confirmed maintenance of improvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)