Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Petrie, Keith; Chamberlain, Kerry

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.485pmid: N/A

Hopelessness has been identified as the major variable linking depression to suicidal intent. M. M. Linehan and S. L. Nielsen found that the Hopelessness Scale was strongly contaminated with social desirability. Results from 54 attempted-suicide patients (mean age 26.9 yrs) show that hopelessness was a key variable in predicting suicidal behavior and ideation. Social desirability had no influence on hopelessness, and it is concluded that the Hopelessness Scale is appropriate for use in suicide assessment. (16 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.485pmid: N/A

Hopelessness has been identified as the major variable linking depression to suicidal intent. M. M. Linehan and S. L. Nielsen found that the Hopelessness Scale was strongly contaminated with social desirability. Results from 54 attempted-suicide patients (mean age 26.9 yrs) show that hopelessness was a key variable in predicting suicidal behavior and ideation. Social desirability had no influence on hopelessness, and it is concluded that the Hopelessness Scale is appropriate for use in suicide assessment. (16 ref)

Malloy, Paul F.; Fairbank, John A.; Keane, Terence M.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.488pmid: N/A

There appears to be a high incidence of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans, yet there is little available information on the reliability and validity of any approach to the assessment of these combat-related stress disorders. The present study was designed to determine if responses to the presentation of mild combat stimuli would distinguish the following 3 carefully matched groups of veterans (N = 30): (a) veterans (mean age 35 yrs) with an exclusive diagnosis of PTSD, (b) inpatients (mean age 36 yrs) on a psychiatry ward who clearly did not have PTSD, and (c) Vietnam veterans (mean age 35 yrs) with combat experience who were well-adjusted at the time of the study. Behavioral, physiological, and self-report measures of anxiety obtained through this laboratory-based assessment clearly distinguished the PTSD Ss from the remaining 2 groups. The utility of this tripartite assessment approach for the reliable identification of PTSD secondary to combat is discussed. (13 ref)

Malloy, Paul F.; Fairbank, John A.; Keane, Terence M.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.488pmid: N/A

There appears to be a high incidence of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans, yet there is little available information on the reliability and validity of any approach to the assessment of these combat-related stress disorders. The present study was designed to determine if responses to the presentation of mild combat stimuli would distinguish the following 3 carefully matched groups of veterans (N = 30): (a) veterans (mean age 35 yrs) with an exclusive diagnosis of PTSD, (b) inpatients (mean age 36 yrs) on a psychiatry ward who clearly did not have PTSD, and (c) Vietnam veterans (mean age 35 yrs) with combat experience who were well-adjusted at the time of the study. Behavioral, physiological, and self-report measures of anxiety obtained through this laboratory-based assessment clearly distinguished the PTSD Ss from the remaining 2 groups. The utility of this tripartite assessment approach for the reliable identification of PTSD secondary to combat is discussed. (13 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.495pmid: N/A

Compared 4 relaxation treatments––progressive relaxation, progressive relaxation without tension release, imagery with tension release, and imagery without tension release––for sleep onset insomnia with a waiting-list control (no treatment). Analysis of data from 44 19–71 yr old insomniacs recruited from the community showed all treatment conditions to be superior to no treatment in reducing latency of sleep onset and ratings of fatigue. The presence of muscle-tension release was unrelated to outcome. There was a nonsignificant trend for visual imagery treatments to be superior to somatic-focusing treatments in reducing sleep onset latencies. Treatments using visual focusing were superior to somatic-focusing treatments in reducing the number of nocturnal awakenings. At 6 mo follow-up, only the imagery treatments showed significant improvement over pretreatment levels on latency of sleep onset. Visual-focusing treatments produced significantly greater reductions in sleep onset latency at follow-up than did the somatic-focusing treatments. (20 ref)

Woolfolk, Robert L.; McNulty, Terrence F.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.495pmid: N/A

Compared 4 relaxation treatments––progressive relaxation, progressive relaxation without tension release, imagery with tension release, and imagery without tension release––for sleep onset insomnia with a waiting-list control (no treatment). Analysis of data from 44 19–71 yr old insomniacs recruited from the community showed all treatment conditions to be superior to no treatment in reducing latency of sleep onset and ratings of fatigue. The presence of muscle-tension release was unrelated to outcome. There was a nonsignificant trend for visual imagery treatments to be superior to somatic-focusing treatments in reducing sleep onset latencies. Treatments using visual focusing were superior to somatic-focusing treatments in reducing the number of nocturnal awakenings. At 6 mo follow-up, only the imagery treatments showed significant improvement over pretreatment levels on latency of sleep onset. Visual-focusing treatments produced significantly greater reductions in sleep onset latency at follow-up than did the somatic-focusing treatments. (20 ref)

Kazdin, Alan E.; French, Nancy H.; Unis, Alan S.; Esveldt-Dawson, Karen; Sherick, Rosanna B.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.504pmid: N/A

The Hoplessness Scale for Children was developed and administered to 66 8–13 yr old children along with the Children's Depression Inventory, Bellevue Index of Depression, Depression Symptom Checklist, and the Self-Esteem Inventory. As predicted, Ss who scored high on the Hopelessness Scale showed significantly more severe depression and lower self-esteem than those who scored low on the scale. Ss who evinced suicidal attempt or ideation, independently assessed at intake diagnosis, showed greater hopelessness than Ss with no such intent. Suicidal intent was more consistently correlated with hopelessness than with depression, a finding parallel to results obtained with adults. Overall, findings suggest that negative expectations toward oneself and the future can be assessed in children and are related both to depression and suicidal intent. (26 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.51.4.504pmid: N/A

The Hoplessness Scale for Children was developed and administered to 66 8–13 yr old children along with the Children's Depression Inventory, Bellevue Index of Depression, Depression Symptom Checklist, and the Self-Esteem Inventory. As predicted, Ss who scored high on the Hopelessness Scale showed significantly more severe depression and lower self-esteem than those who scored low on the scale. Ss who evinced suicidal attempt or ideation, independently assessed at intake diagnosis, showed greater hopelessness than Ss with no such intent. Suicidal intent was more consistently correlated with hopelessness than with depression, a finding parallel to results obtained with adults. Overall, findings suggest that negative expectations toward oneself and the future can be assessed in children and are related both to depression and suicidal intent. (26 ref)