Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.715pmid: N/A

The effectiveness of a parenting program with 394 Head Start mothers was examined. Nine Head Start centers were randomly assigned to either an experimental condition in which parents,teachers,and family service workers participated in the intervention or a control condition in which the regular Head Start program was offered. Mothers in the intervention group were observed at home to have significantly fewer critical remarks and commands,to use less harsh discipline,and to be more positive and competent in their parenting when compared with control mothers. Teachers reported that intervention mothers were more involved in their children's education and that their children were more socially competent. Intervention children were observed to exhibit significantly fewer conduct problems,less noncompliance,less negative affect,and more positive affect than control children. One year later most of the improvements were maintained.

Webster-Stratton, Carolyn

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.715pmid: N/A

The effectiveness of a parenting program with 394 Head Start mothers was examined. Nine Head Start centers were randomly assigned to either an experimental condition in which parents,teachers,and family service workers participated in the intervention or a control condition in which the regular Head Start program was offered. Mothers in the intervention group were observed at home to have significantly fewer critical remarks and commands,to use less harsh discipline,and to be more positive and competent in their parenting when compared with control mothers. Teachers reported that intervention mothers were more involved in their children's education and that their children were more socially competent. Intervention children were observed to exhibit significantly fewer conduct problems,less noncompliance,less negative affect,and more positive affect than control children. One year later most of the improvements were maintained.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.731pmid: N/A

Two studies compared marital communication behaviors of violent and nonviolent couples. In Study 1,violent distressed (VD) men reported more husband demand–wife withdraw than did nonviolent men. Distressed men reported less mutual constructive communication and more mutual blame and avoidance than did nondistressed men. Interactions of VD,violent nondistressed (VND),nonviolent distressed (NVD),and nonviolent nondistressed couples were coded in Study 2. VD spouses tended to engage in the most demand and withdraw and the least positive behavior; violent couples had the highest levels of contempt. On some codes,VND couples resembled NVD couples,suggesting that violence without distress may correlate differently with marital communication than violence in combination with distress and that severity of violence is important to consider.

Holtzworth-Munroe, Amy; Smutzler, Natalie; Stuart, Gregory L.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.731pmid: N/A

Two studies compared marital communication behaviors of violent and nonviolent couples. In Study 1,violent distressed (VD) men reported more husband demand–wife withdraw than did nonviolent men. Distressed men reported less mutual constructive communication and more mutual blame and avoidance than did nondistressed men. Interactions of VD,violent nondistressed (VND),nonviolent distressed (NVD),and nonviolent nondistressed couples were coded in Study 2. VD spouses tended to engage in the most demand and withdraw and the least positive behavior; violent couples had the highest levels of contempt. On some codes,VND couples resembled NVD couples,suggesting that violence without distress may correlate differently with marital communication than violence in combination with distress and that severity of violence is important to consider.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.744pmid: N/A

Although family members’ expressed emotion (EE) predicts patients’ elevated relapse rates in schizophrenia and mood disorders,little is known about the relationship between EE and relapse in alcoholism. For 86 alcoholic patients (78 men,8 women),the association between the spouse's EE and the alcoholic patient's subsequent relapse status in the 12 months after the couple began an outpatient behavioral marital therapy (BMT) program for alcoholism was examined. Alcoholic patients with high EE spouses,when compared with their counterparts with low EE spouses,were more likely to relapse,had a shorter time to relapse,and drank on a greater percentage of days in the 12 months after starting BMT. EE continued to be associated with relapse after patients’ age,education,and alcohol problem severity were taken into account. Greater use of Antabuse and more sessions of BMT were associated with reduced relapse for alcoholic patients with high EE spouses.

O'Farrell, Timothy J.; Hooley, Jill; Fals-Stewart, William; Cutter, Henry S. G.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.744pmid: N/A

Although family members’ expressed emotion (EE) predicts patients’ elevated relapse rates in schizophrenia and mood disorders,little is known about the relationship between EE and relapse in alcoholism. For 86 alcoholic patients (78 men,8 women),the association between the spouse's EE and the alcoholic patient's subsequent relapse status in the 12 months after the couple began an outpatient behavioral marital therapy (BMT) program for alcoholism was examined. Alcoholic patients with high EE spouses,when compared with their counterparts with low EE spouses,were more likely to relapse,had a shorter time to relapse,and drank on a greater percentage of days in the 12 months after starting BMT. EE continued to be associated with relapse after patients’ age,education,and alcohol problem severity were taken into account. Greater use of Antabuse and more sessions of BMT were associated with reduced relapse for alcoholic patients with high EE spouses.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.753pmid: N/A

There is a lack of psychoeducational programs for married couples who,although subjectively concerned about their marriages,do not seek marital therapy. In this study,the efficacy of a cognitive–behavioral program delivered on a weekend by 2 trainers for groups of 4 couples was investigated. Couples (n= 67) were recruited by newspaper announcements,then randomly assigned to the intervention program or a waiting-list control group. The program consisted of communication and problem-solving training,couples’ discussions to clarify their relationship expectations,and exercises to enhance their sensual or sexual relationship. At postassessment,intervention couples emitted more positive verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors during a conflict discussion task than did control couples,who reported significantly more relationship problem areas and displayed more negative communication behaviors. At the 1-year follow-up,intervention couples reported fewer problem areas in comparison with preassessment.

Kaiser, Andrea; Hahlweg, Kurt; Fehm-Wolfsdorf, Gabriele; Groth, Thomas

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.753pmid: N/A

There is a lack of psychoeducational programs for married couples who,although subjectively concerned about their marriages,do not seek marital therapy. In this study,the efficacy of a cognitive–behavioral program delivered on a weekend by 2 trainers for groups of 4 couples was investigated. Couples (n= 67) were recruited by newspaper announcements,then randomly assigned to the intervention program or a waiting-list control group. The program consisted of communication and problem-solving training,couples’ discussions to clarify their relationship expectations,and exercises to enhance their sensual or sexual relationship. At postassessment,intervention couples emitted more positive verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors during a conflict discussion task than did control couples,who reported significantly more relationship problem areas and displayed more negative communication behaviors. At the 1-year follow-up,intervention couples reported fewer problem areas in comparison with preassessment.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.761pmid: N/A

This study examined whether voucher delivery arrangements affect treatment outcome. First,90 cocaine-dependent adults were randomly assigned to behavioral counseling or counseling plus vouchers for cocaine-free urine samples. The value of each voucher was low at the beginning but increased as the patient progressed (Voucher Schedule 1). Voucher Schedule 1 produced no improvements relative to counseling only. Next,23 patients received vouchers on either Voucher Schedule 1 or Voucher Schedule 2. Voucher Schedule 2 began with high voucher values,but requirements for earning vouchers increased as the patient progressed. Average durations of cocaine abstinence were 6.9 weeks on Voucher Schedule 2 versus 2.0 weeks on Voucher Schedule 1 (p= .02). This confirms that vouchers can assist in initiating abstinence and that voucher delivery arrangements are critical.

Kirby, Kimberly C.; Marlowe, Douglas B.; Festinger, David S.; Lamb, R. J.; Platt, Jerome J.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.5.761pmid: N/A

This study examined whether voucher delivery arrangements affect treatment outcome. First,90 cocaine-dependent adults were randomly assigned to behavioral counseling or counseling plus vouchers for cocaine-free urine samples. The value of each voucher was low at the beginning but increased as the patient progressed (Voucher Schedule 1). Voucher Schedule 1 produced no improvements relative to counseling only. Next,23 patients received vouchers on either Voucher Schedule 1 or Voucher Schedule 2. Voucher Schedule 2 began with high voucher values,but requirements for earning vouchers increased as the patient progressed. Average durations of cocaine abstinence were 6.9 weeks on Voucher Schedule 2 versus 2.0 weeks on Voucher Schedule 1 (p= .02). This confirms that vouchers can assist in initiating abstinence and that voucher delivery arrangements are critical.