Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Dykens, Elisabeth M.; Gerrard, Meg

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.283pmid: N/A

Binge/purgers who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(3rd ed.) criteria for bulimia were compared with two nonbulimic groups drawn from the same subject pool. One group consisted of women who reported feeling dissatisfied with their weight and engaged in repeated dieting attempts but not bulimic behavior. The second comparison group consisted of women who reported feeling satisfied with their weight and not dieting within the last year. Study 1 revealed that whereas all subjects scored in the normal range, the bulimics scored significantly higher than the two comparison groups on a number of clinical scales. Also, the bulimics and repeat dieters reported lower self-esteem than did the nondieting group. The major discriminating variables, psychopathic deviance, mania, and physical self-esteem, separated all three groups and accounted for 78% of the explained variance. Study 2 confirmed the importance of physical self-esteem and psychopathic deviance in differentiating between groups. This study also extended the findings of Study 1 by revealing that bulimics engaged in sexual activities and in the adolescent acting-out behaviors of drug and alcohol use more frequently, and at an earlier age, than did the two comparison groups. The data from both studies are discussed in terms of their implications for therapeutic interventions and further research.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.283pmid: N/A

Binge/purgers who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(3rd ed.) criteria for bulimia were compared with two nonbulimic groups drawn from the same subject pool. One group consisted of women who reported feeling dissatisfied with their weight and engaged in repeated dieting attempts but not bulimic behavior. The second comparison group consisted of women who reported feeling satisfied with their weight and not dieting within the last year. Study 1 revealed that whereas all subjects scored in the normal range, the bulimics scored significantly higher than the two comparison groups on a number of clinical scales. Also, the bulimics and repeat dieters reported lower self-esteem than did the nondieting group. The major discriminating variables, psychopathic deviance, mania, and physical self-esteem, separated all three groups and accounted for 78% of the explained variance. Study 2 confirmed the importance of physical self-esteem and psychopathic deviance in differentiating between groups. This study also extended the findings of Study 1 by revealing that bulimics engaged in sexual activities and in the adolescent acting-out behaviors of drug and alcohol use more frequently, and at an earlier age, than did the two comparison groups. The data from both studies are discussed in terms of their implications for therapeutic interventions and further research.

Labouvie, Erich W.; McGee, Connell R.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.289pmid: N/A

Longitudinal data from a randomly selected and fairly representative sample of adolescents observed at the ages of 12 and 15, 15 and 18, and 18 and 21 were aggregated to investigate the relation of personality to use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and cocaine. Analyses of variance were used to compare light, moderate, and heavy users and to identify both safe and risky personality characteristics. The proposed interpretation of the findings suggests that a net surplus of two or more safe attributes is as effective in preventing heavy use as is a surplus of two or more risky attributes in promoting heavy use.

Morokoff, Patricia J.; LoPiccolo, Joseph

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.294pmid: N/A

This study compared a 4-session minimal therapist contact (MTC) program for treatment of lifelong global orgasmic dysfunction in women to a 15-session full therapist contact (FTC) program. Fourteen couples were treated in the MTC format, 29 couples in the FTC format. All spouses completed multiple dependent measures at intake, pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. Both programs were effective in producing female orgasm in masturbation, but the MTC program resulted in more frequent orgasms with vibrator stimulation. The programs were comparably effective in producing orgasm with the spouse both by manual stimulation and intercourse. Other aspects of the sexual relationship were evaluated, and both programs resulted in improvements. In addition, the programs were effective in improving satisfaction with the sexual relationship and, for women in the MTC treatment, happiness in marriage. It is concluded that for this sexual dysfunction, therapist contact time can be greatly reduced without loss of effectiveness.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.301pmid: N/A

The validity of the Adolescent Problems Inventory (API), a measure of social competence in situations related to antisocial behavior in adolescence, was investigated in a sample of 60 incarcerated male juvenile delinquents. Criterion variables included historical and current behavioral indices of antisocial and disruptive behavior. Statistical analyses revealed no significant relationships in the expected direction between the API and the criteria in either the full sample of subjects or in the black or white subsamples. These results challenge the validity of the API within these populations. Recommendations for a more refined assessment of social skills in juvenile delinquents are made.

Hunter, Ned; Kelley, Crystal K.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.301pmid: N/A

The validity of the Adolescent Problems Inventory (API), a measure of social competence in situations related to antisocial behavior in adolescence, was investigated in a sample of 60 incarcerated male juvenile delinquents. Criterion variables included historical and current behavioral indices of antisocial and disruptive behavior. Statistical analyses revealed no significant relationships in the expected direction between the API and the criteria in either the full sample of subjects or in the black or white subsamples. These results challenge the validity of the API within these populations. Recommendations for a more refined assessment of social skills in juvenile delinquents are made.

Davidson, Laura M.; Baum, Andrew

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.303pmid: N/A

The relationship between chronic stress and symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome was examined in people living within 5 miles (8 km) of the Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear power station. Residents of Frederick, Maryland, a town at least 80 miles (129 km) from TMI, were used as a control population. Chronic stress levels were evaluated using self-report, behavioral, and biochemical measures. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress were also measured. TMI-area residents experienced more symptoms of chronic stress as well as more symptoms of posttraumatic stress than the control group. Residents at TMI were particularly bothered by intrusive thoughts about the damaged reactor. There was a strong relationship between self-report, behavioral, and psychological measures of chronic stress and characteristics central to posttraumatic stress as defined by the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(American Psychiatric Association, 1980). Data provided evidence of substantive links between chronic stress and development of mild symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.309pmid: N/A

The present study (N= 247) assessed the impact of two major response style dimensions (self-deception and impression management) on the report of psychological and somatic symptoms. Self-deception was assessed with the Self-Deception Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Repression-Sensitization (R-S) scale. Impression management was assessed with the Other-Deception Questionnaire (ODQ). The study confirmed that response styles were more predictive of psychological than somatic symptoms. Nevertheless, the SDQ and R-S explained a surprising 13%–15% of the variance in physical symptom reports over and above the effects of impression management. Self-deceivers and repressors reported significantly fewer symptoms of both types. Although women reported more symptoms of both types, no significant sex differences were noted in the effects of response style on symptom reporting. Both anxiety and depression were associated with a high rate of physical symptoms, particularly among women.

Linden, Wolfgang; Paulhus, Delroy L.; Dobson, Keith S.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.309pmid: N/A

The present study (N= 247) assessed the impact of two major response style dimensions (self-deception and impression management) on the report of psychological and somatic symptoms. Self-deception was assessed with the Self-Deception Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Repression-Sensitization (R-S) scale. Impression management was assessed with the Other-Deception Questionnaire (ODQ). The study confirmed that response styles were more predictive of psychological than somatic symptoms. Nevertheless, the SDQ and R-S explained a surprising 13%–15% of the variance in physical symptom reports over and above the effects of impression management. Self-deceivers and repressors reported significantly fewer symptoms of both types. Although women reported more symptoms of both types, no significant sex differences were noted in the effects of response style on symptom reporting. Both anxiety and depression were associated with a high rate of physical symptoms, particularly among women.

Shrout, Patrick E.; Dohrenwend, Bruce P.; Levav, Itzhak

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.54.3.314pmid: N/A

To assess the prevalence of specific types of mental disorders in the general community it is desirable on grounds of both economy and validity of classification to employ a two-stage strategy. The first stage would be a screening questionnaire administered by nonclinicians, and the second stage would be a detailed diagnostic assessment by a clinician. In this report, a first-stage screening rule is developed to identify persons with one of four diverse disorders in Israel: schizophrenia, affective disorders, nonaffective neurotic disorders, and antisocial personality. The screen employs the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview (Dohrenwend, Shrout, Egri, & Mendelsohn, 1980). Logistic regression is used as the discriminant function model. The sample used to develop the discriminant rule consisted of four groups of patients from institutions and a selected group of Jerusalem residents judged to be well by mental health professionals.