An analysis of sex differences in depression: The search continues.

Maintains that J. M. Stoppard's (see record 1989-29654-001) discussion of the adequacy of cognitive/behavioral theories for understanding depression in women (1) fails to adequately consider methodological issues in investigating sex differences in psychopathology and (2) misreads the cognitive/behavioral theories as having a stagnant, simplistic view of psychopathology. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of biofeedback for the regulation of pain: A critical review.

A review of the biofeedback literature for the regulation of pain indicates both conceptual and methodological problems. In particular, studies on the use of biofeedback for the treatment of tension and migraine headaches and chronic pain indicate that biofeedback was not found to be superior to less expensive, less instrument-oriented treatments such as relaxation and coping skills training. The relative absence of needed control comparisons is noted, and the need for caution in promoting biofeedback is stressed. Suggestions for future research are offered. (2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validational study of marital status and the self-report scale for process-reactive schizophrenia.

Obtained evidence for both predictive and construct validity for the self-report scale and marital status for 62 male schizophrenics. 6-mo, 1-yr, and 2-yr follow-ups indicated that the self-report scale and marital status were equally efficient in predicting length of hospitalization. The intercorrelations between the criterion measures indicate that length of present hospitalization is the best predictor of length and future hospitalization. A consistent finding for both male schizophrenics and normals was a significant relationship between level of cognitive ability and marital status. Married and divorced males, both schizophrenic and normal, performed on a superior level on the proverbs test and gave more common associations than single males. Possible factors contributing to the efficacy of marital status in predicting prognosis are discussed. (23 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of social reinforcement on the level of abstraction in schizophrenics.

This study was designed to investigate (1) the effects of the nature of contingent vs. noncontingent social reinforcement upon the level of abstraction in schizophrenics as measured on a proverbs task, (2) the generalization of this behavior to another verbal conceptual task administered under neutral conditions, and (3) the predictive and construct validity of the Ullmann-Giovannoni Process-Reactive Self-Report Scale. 64 male schizophrenics were assigned to 4 treatment groups: contingent positive, noncontingent positive, contingent negative, and control. The results indicated that only the contingent positive Ss significantly increased their level of performance on the proverbs task and showed generalization. The other 3 groups showed no significant differences. Validity evidence for the Process-Reactive Scale and marital status was obtained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training impulsive children to talk to themselves: A means of developing self-control.

Examined the efficacy of a cognitive self-instructional (SI) training procedure in altering the behavior of impulsive school children. Study I, with 15 2nd graders, employed an individual training procedure which required the impulsive child to talk to himself, initially overtly and then covertly, in an attempt to increase self-control. Results indicate that the SI group improved significantly relative to attentional and assessment control groups on the Porteus Maze Test, performance IQ on the WISC, and on a measure of cognitive impulsivity. The improved performance was evident in a 1-mo follow-up assessment. Study II, with 8 kindergartners and 7 1st graders, examined the efficacy of the components of the cognitive treatment procedure in altering the impulsive child's performance. Results indicate that cognitive modeling alone was sufficient to slow down the impulsive child's response time for initial selection, but only with the addition of SI training was there a significant decrease in errors. Treatment and research implications of modifying S's cognitions are discussed. (45 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive modification of test anxious college students.

Assigned 15 male and 6 female test anxious 17-25 yr. olds (1 high school student and 20 undergraduates) to a group cognitive modification treatment, group desensitization, or a waiting list control group. The cognitive modification group combined an insight-oriented therapy which was designed to make test anxious Ss aware of their anxiety-engendering thoughts with a modified desensitization procedure which employed (a) coping imagery on how to handle anxiety and (b) self-instructional training to attend to the task and not ruminate about oneself. Results indicate that the cognitive modification group was most effective in significantly reducing test anxiety as assessed by (a) test performance obtained in an analog test situation, (b) self-reports given immediately after posttreatment and later at a 1-mo follow-up, and (c) GPA. Following treatment, the test anxious Ss in the cognitive modification group did not differ from a group of 10 low test anxious Ss, and in fact the cognitive modification Ss reported a significant increase in facilitative anxiety. (63 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Theoretical and treatment implications of developmental research on verbal control of behavior.

The developmental research on verbal control of behavior, especially that conducted by the Soviet psychologists A. Luria (1959) and L. Vygotsky (1962), suggests a developmental progression by which the child's inner speech comes to assume a regulatory role. Results of a research program which included both naturalistic observational studies and experimental investigations fail to support Luria's age-related stages of development. However, the hypothetical developmental model offered by Vygotsky and Luria does provide a useful sequence which can be employed as a cognitive self-guidance treatment program. The theoretical and treatment implications of a research program on verbal control are examined. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group insight versus group desensitization in treating speech anxiety.

Compared 3 forms of group treatment for their relative therapeutic effectiveness in reducing speech anxiety: (a) desensitization, (b) insight, and (c) combined desensitization and insight. 53 18-26 yr. old volunteers were assigned to 9 groups including a discussion group (attention placebo) and a waiting list control group. Ss filled out several self-report measures (The Confidence of Speaking, Social Avoidance and Distress, and Fear of Negative Evaluation scales) and a speech anxiety questionnaire. Results indicate that the insight group was as effective as the desensitization group in significantly reducing speech anxiety over control group levels as assessed by behavioral, cognitive, and self-report measures given immediately after posttreatment and at a 3-mo follow-up. The desensitization group treatment appeared to be significantly more effective than insight treatment with Ss for whom speech anxiety was confined to formal speech situations; conversely, insight group treatment appeared to be significantly more effective with Ss who suffer anxiety in many varied social situations. (42 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changing conceptions of cognitive behavior modification: Retrospect and prospect.

A retrospective analysis of cognitive behavior modification reveals that 3 major metaphors have been offered to explain the role that cognitions play in behavior change. These metaphors include cognition as a form of conditioning, information processing, and, currently, narrative construction. The implications of using each of these metaphors are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)