Contrasting cognitive deficits in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder versus reading disability.

Compared 2 common and sometimes comorbid developmental disorders, reading disability (RD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in 2 cognitive domains, phonological processes (PPs) and executive functions (EFs). Ss were 70 boys of early school age, studied by means of a 2 (RD vs no RD)?×?2 (ADHD vs no ADHD)?×?2 (domain type) mixed-model design. The 2 RD groups (RD-only and RD plus ADHD) were significantly impaired compared with both the control and ADHD-only groups on a PP composite score but performed normally on the EF composite score. The ADHD-only group had an opposite profile and was significantly different from both RD groups and from controls on the EF composite score. Thus, there was a double-dissociation between the RD-only and ADHD-only groups. The comorbid group resembled the RD-only group, consistent with the hypothesis that their ADHD symptoms are secondary to RD. These results provide evidence for the separability of PPs from EFs, as well as 1 explanation for the comorbidity between RD and ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Feeding conditions alter the demand for phencyclidine and ethanol: A behavioral analysis.

This experiment examined the effects of feeding conditions on orally self-administered phencyclidine (PCP) or ethanol in rhesus monkeys using a behavioral≡oral economic analysis. Drug intake was measured as a function of drug cost, which was varied by changes in the fixed ratio (FR) schedule. The monkeys were trained to respond for PCP (0.25 mg/ml) or ethanol (8% wt/vol) with concurrent water available under FR 4-128 schedules. As the FR increased. drug intake decreased in a positively decelerating manner. Results suggest that food deprivation increased the reinforcement value of the drugs as well as significantly increasing consumption of both PCP and ethanol. In addition, ethanol and PCP deliveries showed proportionally greater increases due to food deprivation as FR increased. Together, these results suggest that food deprivation increases the reinforcing efficacy of drugs and this eifect is enhanced as the cost (FR) of the drug increases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coaching at the top.

Presents a systems-oriented approach to the leadership development of top-level executives. A structured program is described that is designed to have a positive impact at the organizational level through focused work with the individual client. Leadership effectiveness is seen as strongly influenced by the individual's past, personal life, and work environment. Comprehensive information gathered from the client's work life and personal life increases understanding of behaviors that influence performance, and thereby fosters change. Development is perceived from a holistic point of view, with benefits to the organization accruing through increased effectiveness in any areas of the client's life. A case example (of a 40-yr-old male) is given to illustrate how this approach is put into effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of attributional retraining on the career beliefs and career exploration behavior of college students.

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of attributional retraining as a career counseling technique for college students. Participants who received the attributional retraining treatment viewed an 8-min videotape designed to foster internal, controllable, and unstable attributions for career decision making. Participants in the control groups viewed a similar videotape that lacked any reference to career-related attributions. Results revealed that participants who received attributional retraining exhibited significant changes in career beliefs and attributional style and engaged in significantly more career exploration behavior than the participants in the control groups. An evaluation of attributional retraining as a career-counseling technique for college students is provided, and ideas for further research are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Issue Evolution: A New Perspective on Presidential Debates

Issues may endure from campaign to campaign but their relation to the substantive areas of controversy may vary.     

Individual differences in response to the behavioral treatment of Raynaud's disease.

30 23–54 yr old female patients with idiopathic Raynaud's disease were subjected to 1 of 4 behavioral treatments designed to facilitate digital vasodilation. The Ss were administered the Psychological Screening Inventory prior to treatment. All treatment conditions demonstrated significant improvement in digital skin temperature assessed during a cold stress test administered both before and after treatment. Ss with low scores on the Alienation scale of the Psychological Screening Inventory demonstrated significantly more improvement than Ss with high scores. In addition, older Ss responded better than younger Ss to these behavioral treatments. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality, negative social interactions, and depressive symptoms.

Examined the associations among the frequency of negative social interactions, personality traits, and depressive symptoms in university students. 176 Ss completed measures of negative social interactions, sociotropy, autonomy, perfectionism, and depressive symptoms. It was found in the total sample that higher depression symptoms scores were correlated significantly with the frequency of negative social interactions, sociotropy, autonomy, and socially prescribed perfectionism. Additional results indicate that the frequency of negative social interactions accounted for unique variance in depressive symptoms over and above the variance predicted by personality traits, but it did not interact with these personality traits to predict unique variance in depressive symptoms. It was also found that the reported frequency of negative social interactions was correlated positively with socially prescribed perfectionism, sociotropy, and autonomy, especially among women. The current findings are discussed in terms of their implications for specific vulnerability and stress generation models of personality, life events, and depressive symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A chemiluminescence technique for studying dynamic behavior of trace element species in environmental systems

The technique of chemiluminescence (CL) has been used to study the kinetics of association of aqueous chromium(III) with iron oxide for Cr(III) concentrations in the ppb range. The results have been compared with atomic absorption experiments for Cr(III) concentrations in the ppm range. Further, the CL technique has been used to study the kinetics of reaction of Cr(III) with citrate ion. The results in the latter case are in reasonable accord with literature results obtained by conventional means. This suggests the potential for application of CL to environmental dynamic studies.     

Hypnotic memory enhancement of witnesses: Does it work?

Hypnosis is currently being used extensively by the police and other investigative agencies to "refresh" the memory of witnesses to a crime. The present author reviews the literature and discusses the issue of whether hypnosis can in fact enhance memory. In contrast to the myriad of anecdotal reports extolling the virtues of hypnosis for this purpose, controlled laboratory studies have consistently failed to demonstrate any hypnotic memory improvement. Although the relevancy of these laboratory studies may be questioned because they used verbal, frequently nonmeaningful stimuli in a low arousal environment, several recent studies that have used more forensically relevant, arousal-provoking stimuli persist in showing no hypnosis advantage. Since there is no clear documentation that hypnosis can improve memory, and since the courts have become increasingly reluctant to accept the testimony of witnesses who have undergone hypnosis because of the problem of suggestibility, several nonhypnotic procedures of memory enhancement are considered. (62 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personal reflections on physically disabled women and dependency.

Discusses the double burden of dependency for disabled women who not only meet society's traditional sex role expectations by being economically and emotionally dependent but who also are, as a result of their disability, physically dependent. Components of the disabled role, reinforced by the expectations of the female role, are highlighted and the depression and negative feelings of self-worth of disabled women are underscored. Political action, such as participation in the disabled rights movement is considered to be one way for disabled women to attain a sense of competence, control, and meaning. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)