Perceptual consequences of an illness-concern induction and its relation to hypochondriacal tendencies.

This article examines the perceptual consequences of activating illness concern as a function of hypochondriacal tendencies. In 2 independent samples, hypochondriacal tendencies were associated with slower reaction times on a modified emotional Stroop task when the stimulus words were illness related, but only when illness concern was activated. Moreover, these findings emerged when hypochondriacal tendencies were defined as a sensitivity to bodily sensations. When defined as illness preoccupation and fear, hypochondriacal tendencies were associated with a generalized pattern of perseveration to all stimuli when health concern was activated. Finally, the results persisted even after statistically controlling for state anxiety. Findings are discussed within the context of an activation hypothesis and highlight the importance of the operational definition and assessment of hypochondriacal tendencies when examining perceptual biases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of hyperarousal in the manifestation of posttraumatic psychological distress following injury.

The authors examined the temporal relation among posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters, using data derived from a longitudinal study of survivors of orofacial injury (N = 264). They conducted cross-lagged panel analyses, with self-reported symptom data collected at 1, 6, and 12 months postinjury. Results demonstrate that hyperarousal was a potent predictor of subsequent symptoms of reexperiencing and avoidance as well as hyperarousal. By contrast, neither reexperiencing nor avoidance was significantly related to other symptom clusters other than themselves over time. These findings underscore the distinctive nature of hyperarousal in the manifestation of posttraumatic psychological distress over time. Implications for theory, clinical intervention, and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability and change in personality disorder symptomatology: Findings from a longitudinal study of HIV+ and HIV– men.

A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the stability of personality disorders (PDs) over a 2-year interval, as well as the association between change in PD symptomatology and change in psychological distress. Structured clinical interviews and questionnaires assessing PDs and psychological distress were administered to a community sample of 118 gay men (80 HIV seropositive men and 38 HIV seronegative men) at a baseline session and readministered 2 years later. Results indicated that PD symptom levels tended to be moderately stable, that PD diagnoses had low stability and that changes in PD symptom levels were associated with changing levels of psychological distress but not with progression of HIV infection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability and change in personality disorder symptomatology: findings from a longitudinal study of HIV+ and HIV- men

A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the stability of personality disorders (PDs) over a 2-year interval, as well as the association between change in PD symptomatology and change in psychological distress. Structured clinical interviews and questionnaires assessing PDs and psychological distress were administered to a community sample of 118 gay men (80 HIV seropositive men and 38 HIV seronegative men) at a baseline session and readministered 2 years later. Results indicated that PD symptom levels tended to be moderately stable, that PD diagnoses had low stability and that changes in PD symptom levels were associated with changing levels of psychological distress but not with progression of HIV infection.     

The medical context of hypochondriacal traits

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effects of two medical contexts on the relationship of hypochondriacal traits and their potential correlates. METHOD: Correlates of hypochondriacal traits were compared from a matched sample of fifty-five general medical inpatients with a sample of fifty-five medical inpatients referred for psychiatric evaluation. Patients completed questionnaires assessing emotional distress and health attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, and their attending physician completed ratings of the patient's illness and illness behavior. RESULTS: Patients referred for psychiatric consultation exhibited significantly higher levels of hypochondriacal illness presentation than the matched nonreferred sample. Moderated regression analyses revealed three trends regarding the interactive effects of group status on the relationship of hypochondriacal traits to their potential correlates: 1) presence of angry feelings and interpersonal friction was positively associated with hypochondriacal concerns for the psychiatric referred patients only, 2) the tendency to deny life stresses and attribute all problems to the effects of illness was positively associated with a misinterpretation of the severity of their illness and hypochondriacal illness presentation for the psychiatric referred patients, whereas this association was negative for the nonreferred medical patients, and 3) the association of reports of emotional distress symptoms with hypochondriacal illness preparation was negative for the psychiatric referred patients and positive for the nonreferred medical patients. CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest that hypochondriasis may not represent a uniform nosological disorder and that the context of its study can significantly influence etiologic findings.     

Effects of postassault exposure to attack-similar stimuli on long-term recovery of victims.

Recent studies have suggested a classical conditioning explanation for the "core of distress" symptom reported by rape victims that reportedly persists well after most other symptoms have subsided. The current study tested an extension of this theory to the long-term reactions of victims of domestic assault and nondomestic assault in addition to victims of rape. Level of long-term psychological distress was found to be strongly related to level of victim exposure to stimuli in the absence of a subsequent attack; long-term distress level was found to be unrelated to short-term distress level when controlling for level of exposure to attack-similar stimuli. Results suggest the tenability of a classical conditioning model of long-term psychological distress experienced by victims of the types of assault studied, thus highlighting the importance of situational variables in the recovery process. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social class, psychological disorder, and the nature of the psychopathologic indicator.

Evaluated the nature and degree of differences between 3 measures of clinical status often used as primary indicators of psychological disorder: (a) a general severity score, combining information on both numbers of symptoms and intensity of distress; (b) a symptom distress score, reflecting only intensity of distress; and (c) a pure enumerative indicator, reflecting only numbers of symptoms. The indicators were contrasted within the context of patient social class, since previous work has shown it to be an important influence in determining symptom patterns. A strong inverse relationship has been repeatedly demonstrated between social class and psychological disorder. Data from previous studies of 1,104 anxious neurotic outpatients were used, and measurement was done in terms of the 5 primary symptom dimensions and the total pathology score of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. Results confirm the traditional inverse relationship between social class and psychological disorder but demonstrate that it was conditional in nature. Only when disorder was defined in terms of an indicator based to some degree on numbers of symptoms, and only on the symptom dimensions of somatization and anxiety, did the traditional pattern clearly emerge. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of posttraumatic distress 1 year after exposure to community violence: The importance of acute symptom severity.

In this longitudinal study of 333 primarily male, Hispanic survivors of community violence, the authors investigated the effects of 4 categories of risk factors on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity: demographic characteristics, pretraumatic psychological factors, characteristics of the trauma, and reactions to the trauma. Replicating past research, exemplars from all 4 categories predicted PTSD symptom severity at 12-month follow-up. Acute symptom severity, measured approximately 5 days posttrauma, accounted for the largest proportion of variance among all the predictors included. No other predictors remained significant after 5-day distress was included in the model. These findings suggest that the effects of several purported risk factors for chronic posttraumatic distress may already be reflected in acute distress following trauma exposure. These results bear on current conceptions of the fundamental nature of PTSD and suggest that initial distress during the immediate aftermath of the trauma may be an important target for intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships of self-esteem and efficacy to psychological distress in mothers of children with chronic physical illnesses.

This study examined relationships of children's illness-related functional limitations and 2 maternal psychological resources, self-esteem and efficacy, to symptoms of psychological distress in 365 urban mothers of 5- to 9-year-old children with diverse chronic illnesses. Multiple regression controlling for sociodemographic variables indicated that presence of functional limitations in the child and lower resources each were associated with higher maternal scores on a psychological symptom scale. Self-esteem had a main effect on maternal distress; however, a significant Efficacy?×?Functional Status interaction term suggested that mothers experienced greater distress when their children had illness-related functional limitations and maternal efficacy was low. Interventions aimed at enhancing maternal psychological resources may reduce the likelihood of distress in mothers of children with chronic illness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parental involvement, psychological distress, and sleep: A preliminary examination in sleep-disturbed adolescents with a history of substance abuse.

The relationships between family environment and psychological distress and between psychological distress and sleep disturbance in adolescents are well established. However, less is known about the influence of family environment on sleep disturbance. The authors' goal is to examine the effects of parental involvement on psychological distress and sleep disturbance in 34 adolescents with a history of substance abuse. Linear regression techniques and confidence intervals were used to test the significance of mediation analyses. Lower levels of parental involvement were associated with higher levels of psychological distress, and higher levels of psychological distress were associated with lower sleep efficiency and more time spent in bed. Follow-up analyses found that higher levels of parental involvement were associated with earlier morning arising times, when controlling for psychological distress. These data indicate that psychological distress is important to consider when examining the relationship between parental involvement and sleep in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of emotional dysregulation in perfectionism and psychological distress.

Data from a sample of university students (N = 349) were used to test a model in which emotional dysregulation (a composite of emotional reactivity and splitting) was expected to account for the effect of perfectionism on general psychological distress. Significant positive effects were observed between maladaptive perfectionism and distress, whereas significant inverse effects were found for adaptive perfectionism. Structural equations analyses revealed support for a possibly mediational role of emotional dysregulation. Future research suggestions as well as counseling recommendations are proposed that target emotional regulatory features of the client with perfectionistic tendencies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term outcome of trauma in adults: the psychological impact of a fatal bus accident

The psychological impact of trauma on 36 parents and spouses was examined 1 year (1989), 3 years (1991), and 5 years (1993) after a fatal school bus accident in Western Norway in 1988. The course and outcome of posttraumatic symptoms (Impact of Event Scale [IES]) and symptoms of general psychological distress (SCL-90) were examined in relation to type of trauma (loss vs. no loss) and prior exposure to trauma. A large proportion of the sample reported high levels of symptoms on SCL-90 and IES (Intrusion). No associations were observed between type of trauma and any of the symptom measures. Prior exposure to trauma did not affect the scores on IES but was associated with a sustained vulnerability for general psychological distress (SCL-90). Different trajectories of the symptoms indicate that two psychological processes may be involved in long-term adjustment to trauma.     

The prospective relationship of interpersonal forgiveness and psychological distress symptoms among college women.

Forgiveness has frequently been theorized to be related to decreased psychological distress, and longitudinal survey research is important for the examination of this relationship. The prospective relation of forgiveness to psychological distress symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) at a later time point (an average of 36 weeks later) was examined in a sample of 182 female undergraduate students. Through use of structural equation modeling, it was observed that offense-specific (as compared with dispositional) forgiveness toward an offender of a self-identified interpersonal transgression was significantly negatively related to psychological distress symptoms at Time 2, above and beyond the impact of symptom levels at Time 1. Perceived severity and time since the offense at Time 1 were examined as possible moderators of this relationship; time since offense was found to moderate the relationship between forgiveness and change in psychological distress symptoms between Time 1 and Time 2. Implications for acceptance-based interventions and prevention of psychopathology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Caregiver burden in partners of Vietnam War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Caregiver burden in 58 partners of Vietnam War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was examined. The relationship between patient PTSD severity and caregiver burden, as well as the effect of several caregiver and patient variables on caregiver psychological status, was evaluated twice, an average of 8 months apart. Patient symptom severity was positively correlated with caregiver burden. Time 1 cross-sectional analysis indicated that greater caregiver burden was associated with greater caregiver psychological distress, dysphoria, and anxiety. Patient symptom severity also contributed to caregiver psychological distress; financial stress contributed to caregiver dysphoria and trait anxiety. Time 2 cross-sectional analyses essentially replicated the Time 1 findings. A third set of analyses examining change scores indicated that changes in caregiver burden for individuals in the sample positively predicted individual changes in caregiver psychological distress, dysphoria, and state anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abstract versus concrete goals: Personal striving level, physical illness, and psychological well-being.

Examined the relation between personal striving level and psychological and physical well-being. Level refers to the degree of generality vs specificity of one's goal strivings. In 3 studies, 188 Ss generated lists of their personal strivings, which were then rated on specificity level. High-level striving was associated with more psychological distress, particularly depression. Low-level striving was related to higher levels of physical illness. Correlations between striving level and self-reported symptoms were generally not as strong as those between level and the more objective illness indicators. High-level strivings were seen as more difficult and requiring more effort than low-level strivings. Results are interpreted in terms of control theory, goal-setting theory, and the repressive personality style. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social desirability, psychological distress, and consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the strength of the relationship between social desirability, psychological distress, and consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment. More specifically, our goal was to assess whether socially desirable responding accounts for much more variance in reports of client satisfaction than in self-reports of psychological distress. The sample consisted of 82 clients in therapy at the Center for Eclectic Psychology, a clinic affiliated with a large francophone university. Subjects completed the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, the Symptom Checklist-10, and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Correlational analyses revealed that both consumer satisfaction reports and psychological distress scores were contaminated by socially desirable responding. These findings are discussed in terms of the validity of client satisfaction measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology following bone marrow transplantation for cancer.

This study examined the prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in 70 men and women treated with bone marrow transplantation for cancer. Findings indicated that number of symptoms present ranged from 0 to a possible high of 17 (M = 3.0, SD = 3.9). As predicted lower social support and higher avoidance coping I month pretransplant predicted greater PTS symptom severity an average of 7 months posttransplant. These variables remained significant predictors of symptom severity even after accounting for pretransplant levels of psychological distress. Addition analyses indicated the presence of a significant interaction between social support and avoidance coping with patients high in avoidance coping and low in social support reporting the most severe symptoms. These findings identify patients at risk for psychological disturbance posttransplant and can serve guide future intervention efforts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Project Genesis: Assessing the Efficacy of Problem-Solving Therapy for Distressed Adult Cancer Patients.

The efficacy of problem-solving therapy (PST) to reduce psychological distress was assessed among a sample of 132 adult cancer patients. A second condition provided PST for both the patient and a significant other. At posttreatment, all participants receiving PST fared significantly better than waiting list control patients. Further, improvements in problem solving were found to correlate significantly with improvements in psychological distress and overall quality of life. No differences in symptom reduction were identified between the 2 treatment protocols. At a 6-month follow-up, however, patients who received PST along with their significant other reported lower levels of psychological distress as compared with members of the PST-alone condition on approximately half of the outcome measures. These effects were further maintained 1-year posttreatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation of racial identity attitudes to self-actualization and affective states of Black students.

The relation between racial identity attitudes derived from W. E. Cross's (1971) model of psychological nigrescence, or Black self-actualization, and various affective states hypothesized to be relevant to the racial identification process, were investigated through multiple regression analysis. Cross proposed a model of how a person converts from Negro to Black, a process consisting of 5 distinct psychological stages characterized by different racial identity attitudes. Ss were 166 Black university students, who completed the Personal Orientation Inventory, a racial attitude scale, the SCL-90, and a personal-data information sheet. Both pro-White–anti-Black (preencounter) and pro-Black–anti-White (immersion) attitudes were associated with greater personal distress, as indicated by negative relations between these attitudes and mentally healthy self-actualizing tendencies and by positive relations to feelings of inferiority, anxiety, and hostility. Awakening Black identity (encounter attitudes) was positively related to self-actualization tendencies and negatively related to feelings of inferiority and anxiety. The possibility that cognitive and affective components of racial identity attitudes may evolve via different models is explored. Recommendations for delivery of psychological services to Black populations are discussed. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Community Violence, Family Conflict, and Preschoolers' Socioemotional Functioning.

This study examined the relations among family conflict, community violence, and young children's socioemotional functioning and explored how children's social cognition and mothers' psychological functioning may mediate the outcomes associated with this exposure. Mothers of 431 Head Start preschoolers completed questionnaires about their family demography, exposure to community violence, family conflict, and children's distress symptoms. Children were administered a social cognition assessment, and teachers rated their behavior. Results showed that mothers' reports of children's co-witnessing of community violence were positively associated with police department crime rates, children's distress symptoms, and teachers' ratings of aggression. A path analysis revealed that children's social awareness and mothers' depressive symptoms partially mediated the effects of community violence and family conflict on outcomes for children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)