Couples treatment for incest survivors.

Explores sexless marriages between female incest survivors and their heterosexual partners. The sexless marriage is a common manifestation of the incest survivor's difficulties with sexuality. Three couples are discussed who experienced a nearly complete breakdown in emotional and sexual intimacy that threatened to dissolve their relationships. Each couple was unwittingly engaged in an elaborate mutual reenactment of the survivor's incestuous relationships. In the reenactment, the survivor experienced her spouse simultaneously as the perpetrator and as her mother who did not know of the abuse and whom she felt she could not tell. Grounded in both object relations theory and trauma theory, the suggested treatment strategy rests on interpreting the central role of reenactment in the couple's relationship difficulties. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral observations of parenting in battered women.

The current study assessed observational data of parenting in 95 battered women and their school-aged children's behavioral adjustment and analyzed them within an ecological framework. Results indicated that maternal experience of psychological and physical abuse predicts maternal warmth, but not maternal authority-control, over and above ontogenic and exosystemic factors. In addition, maternal experience of psychological abuse and maternal authority-control predicted children's observed behavior, over and above child characteristics. An ecological framework for understanding the effects of domestic violence on parenting was supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression and maltreatment as predictors of social competence and social problem-solving skills in school-age children

Childhood depression and child maltreatment have been shown to be important predictors of childhood adjustment problems, including difficulties in the spheres of home, school, and peer relationships. In this study, depression and maltreatment were used to predict social competence and social problem-solving skills, as rated by self, parent, and teacher. The total sample contained 68 children (35 girls, 33 boys), most of whom were at high-risk either due to poverty, physical abuse and neglect (as determined by substantiated Protective Services reports), or exposure to negative life events. Hierarchical multivariate regression analyses were used to identify the contribution of depression and maltreatment to social competence and social problem-solving skills. Depression predicted parents' and teachers' ratings of social competence and parents' ratings of peer rejection. Additionally, depression predicted children's ratings of social competence and both measures of social problem-solving skills. Maltreatment predicted parents' and teachers' ratings of social competence. Gender predicted teachers' ratings of peer rejection and social competence. An additive effect of depression and maltreatment was found such that children who are depressed and maltreated have the lowest social competence as rated by parents and teachers. These children are, therefore, doubly at risk for problems in future relationships.     

Circadian profiles of cortisol, prolactin, and thyrotropin in seasonal affective disorder

To determine whether circadian profiles of various plasma hormones are abnormal in patients with winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD), we obtained 24-hour profiles of plasma cortisol, prolactin, and thyrotropin in subsets of a sample of 22 depressed patients with SAD on and off light therapy and in subsets of a sample of 24 normal controls. Cortisol levels did not differ between patients and controls, and levels in patients were not affected by light therapy. Prolactin levels were lower in patients than in controls throughout the day (p < 0.03) but were unaffected by light therapy. Independent of patient vs. control status, prolactin levels were higher in women than in men throughout the day (p < 0.003). Thyrotropin levels were no different in patients and controls, but levels in patients were lower following light therapy (p < 0.05).     

The impact of domestic violence on the maternal-child relationship and preschool-age children's functioning.

Although preschool-age children are at risk for witnessing domestic violence, the majority of research has focused on children ages 6 to 12 years. This study examines the mediating role of the mother-child relationship on preschool-age children's functioning in families experiencing domestic violence. Maternal report and behavioral observations of mother-child interactions were used to assess relationship quality. Participants consisted of 103 children and their mothers. The data fit the model well but indicated that some of the correlations were not in the expected direction. Although depressed mothers were struggling with parenting, other mothers appeared to be compensating for the violence by becoming more effective parents. Domestic violence negatively impacted children's behavior with their mothers in interactions but did not influence maternal report of problem behaviors, suggesting that the impact of domestic violence begins very early and in the realm of relationships rather than in mental health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Domestic violence, maternal parenting, maternal mental health, and infant externalizing behavior.

This study examined whether maternal functioning mediated the relationship between domestic violence (DV) and infant externalizing behavior. Participants were 203 mother-infant dyads. Support was found for a partially mediated model in which maternal functioning mediated the relationship between current DV and infant externalizing behaviors. Past DV was directly associated with infants' externalizing behavior. Results suggest the need for early intervention and prevention efforts for families living with DV. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment and treatment of couples with abusive male partners: Guidelines for Therapists.

The literature on domestic violence and couple's therapy currently offers few clear guidelines about assessment and treatment with couples with abusive male partners. This article addresses these gaps in the literature, attempts to integrate the divergent feminist, systems, psychodynamic, and behavioral perspectives on working with these couples, integrates an ecological perspective on violence into our framework, and finally, addresses process issues within the therapeutic relationship. Guidelines for assessment include written measures and interviews of each member of the couple separately as the first step in deciding whether or not to work with the couple, depending on the severity of the violence. Treatment should begin only when therapists have thoroughly assessed for violence in the relationship. Finally, it is critical that therapists pay attention to their attitudes and reactions to couples with abusive male partners, and honestly evaluate whether they feel comfortable and competent working with these couples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

XPS Structural Studies of Nano-composite Non-platinum Electrocatalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

The chemical structure of non-platinum electrocatalysts obtained from cobalt porphyrins (CoTMPP or CoTPP) by pyrolysis is investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The catalysts represent highly dispersed, self-supported nano-composites that demonstrate electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction and practically no activity in methanol electro-oxidation. High-resolution Co2p, C1s, N1s and O1s XPS spectra acquired from precursors and electrocatalysts pyrolyzed at various experimental conditions were curve-fit using (a) individual peaks of constrained width and shape as well as (b) experimentally obtained photopeaks from the precursor with additional peaks required for a complete curve fit. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) applied to quantitative results from the curve-fits of both types of spectra facilitates visualization and identification of the chemical species that are formed or destroyed, and simplifies evaluation of critical correlations. As a result of these studies it is established that the catalyst is a nano-composite of highly dispersed pyropolymer with some remaining N _x -centers inserted into a graphite-like matrix. Approximately 50% of the metal is distributed as Co²⁺, associated with N₄-centers. The remaining cobalt is present in crystallites of metallic Co. A thin layer of CoO coats these metallic cobalt phases. The developed methodology, described herein, combines model curve-fits and principal component analysis (PCA), resulting in a quantitative and unambiguous understanding of the chemical composition and structure of complex electrocatalysts.