Self-efficacy for recovery from a lapse after smoking cessation.

Self-efficacy for avoiding any lapse after smoking cessation has often been found to predict maintaining abstinence. The authors measured recent ex-smokers' self-efficacy for recovery of abstinence (SER) after an initial lapse by using the articulated thoughts during simulated situations (G. C. Davison et al, 1983) paradigm. Ss with moderate SER maintained abstinence nonsignificantly longer than did those with high SER, significantly longer than those with low SER. This result is consistent with A. Bandura's (1986) hypothesis that SER should be high enough that ex-smokers do not become hopeless if a lapse occurs, yet not so high that they are tempted to experiment with smoking. The discussion focuses on measurement and conceptualization of SER, in particular its distinctiveness from response–outcome expectations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Normative values for the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Fear Questionnaire, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory.

Community norms are reported for the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; A. T. Beck, N. Epstein, G. Brown, & R. A. Steer, 1988), Fear Questionnaire (FQ; I. M. Marks & A. Mathews, 1979), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; T. J. Meyer, M. L. Miller, R. L. Metzger, & T. D. Borkovec, 1990), and Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI; S. M. Turner, D. C. Beidel, C. V. Dancu, & M. A. Stanley, 1989). The demographic profile of the samples closely matched the 1990 U.S. national census. On the SPAI, women scored higher than men on the Agoraphobia subscale, and the lowest income group scored higher than higher income participants on the Difference and Social Phobia subscales. Participants under 45 years of age exceeded those aged 45–65 on the BAI, the PSWQ, and FQ Social Phobia, Blood/Injury, and Total Phobia scores. Percentile scores are provided for all measures, as well as discussion of their usefulness for assessing clinical significance of therapy outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on stepped care models in psychotherapy.

Not all patients need the same type and intensity of intervention. Some may be helped greatly by reading a self-help book, watching an instructional video, or using a computer program. Others could benefit from a brief psychoeducational group conducted by a paraprofessional, and still others may require long-term individual treatment from a highly trained professional therapist with specialized expertise. In an environment of limited resources, it makes sense to provide all the time, expertise, and individual attention a patient needs, but not more. Stepped care models represent attempts to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of decisions about allocation of resources in therapy. This article introduces a special section addressing these resource allocation issues in the context of prevalent disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, eating disorders, and alcohol dependence) for which empirically supported psychosocial treatments are available. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Healthy Dose of Criticism for Randomized Trials: Comment on Westen, Novotny, and Thompson-Brenner (2004).

D. Westen, C. M. Novotny, and H. Thompson-Brenner (2004; see record 2004-15935-005) identified many important concerns in their critique of methods typically used in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapy outcome and by extension in methods of identifying empirically supported therapies (ESTs). Some of the concerns would be mitigated if empirical support of treatments were assessed multidimensionally (separating favorability of results from definitiveness of research methods used) and continuously rather than categorically. Other concerns can and should be addressed within the existing framework of RCTs and ESTs, including consideration of inclusion criteria other than a single Axis I condition, experimental evaluation of some of the procedural assumptions codified in psychotherapy manuals, and far more detailed reporting of RCT results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Articulated thoughts and endorsement procedures for cognitive assessment in the prediction of smoking relapse.

Hypothesized advantages of the articulated thoughts during simulated situations (ATSS [G. C. Davison et al; see PA, Vol 70:1572]) paradigm for assessment of cognitions were tested in a prospective study of smoking relapse. Cognitions in high-risk situations were assessed shortly after smoking cessation among 100 Ss. Consistent with G. A. Marlatt's (1985) model, Ss who abstained continuously for 3 mo. had shown higher self-efficacy, more use of cognitive coping tactics, and more negative expectations for the effects of smoking. Cognitions did not predict 12-mo abstinence nor recovery from an initial lapse. ATSS appeared effective in priming stress-related cognitions but did not exceed questionnaire measures in predictive validity. Exploratory analysis suggested that the methods could be combined to yield more useful data. The "metatrait" concept is discussed as a framework for research on combining cognitive assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sampling of empirically supported psychological treatments from health psychology: Smoking, chronic pain, cancer, and bulimia nervosa.

Interventions in health psychology and behavioral medicine represent an integral area of research for the development of psychological therapies to enhance health behaviors, manage symptoms and sequelae of disease, treat psychological symptoms and disorders, prolong survival in the face of a life-threatening illness, and improve quality of life. A sampling of interventions in health psychology and behavioral medicine is offered that meet the criteria for empirically supported treatments for smoking cessation, chronic pain, cancer, and bulimia nervosa. Evidence for empirically supported treatments is identified, along with promising interventions that do not yet meet the criteria as outlined by D. L. Chambless and S. D. Hollon (1998). Evidence for the effectiveness and clinical significance of these interventions is reviewed, and issues in this area of research are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An appraisal of rational-emotive therapy.

Albert Ellis's rational-emotive therapy (RET) is scrutinized on several conceptual and empirical grounds, including its reliance on constructive assessment and its ethical stance. Its professional impact thus far exceeds its scientific status. Opinion varies on how even to define irrational beliefs; 1 consequence is problems in assessing them. Meta-analytic reviews provide support for the general utility of RET, but more qualitative reviews question both the internal and external validity of much of the published research. Lacking are process studies that can shed light on the mechanisms of therapeutic change, a situation likely due to the complexity of RET and to a lack of consensus as well about its very definition. Perhaps more progress can be achieved by forsaking studies of RET as a package and shifting instead to an examination of specific therapeutic tactics in particular circumstances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bleeding due to needle biopsy: effect of venopirin in an animal model and implications for humans

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to address the effect of platelet dysfunction on bleeding associated with percutaneous needle biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With use of an established animal model, 199 biopsies were performed on the livers of 13 anesthetized pigs (95 on control animals, 104 on venopirin-treated animals). The needles used were 16-22-gauge Chiba type, 18-gauge Tru-Cut, and 18-gauge Menghini. The biopsies were performed under direct vision at laparotomy with consistent technique. Blood loss was measured, and the results were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student t test and the Turkey test, after logarithmic transformation of the data. RESULTS: A substantial increase in blood loss resulting from the biopsy procedures was demonstrated in the animals with platelet dysfunction. This was much greater than the effect of either needle size or prothrombin time prolongation previously reported by the authors. CONCLUSION: Platelet function may be an important factor in determining the risk of bleeding due to percutaneous needle biopsy.     

How do you know an act when you see one? A response to Devins (1992).

Applying the distinction between self-efficacy and outcome expectations to achieve an unambiguous classification of any given belief seems more difficult than G. M. Devins (see record 1992-24877-001) indicates. The authors note the persistence of confusion about this distinction and hypothesize that its source is the difficulty of devising a generally applicable procedure for discriminating acts from nonacts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)