An experimental investigation of the cognitive vulnerability to depression

The present study employed an experimental design, to examine the role of metacognitive processing in the prevention of relapse to depression. Eighty remitted depressed participants were randomly allocated to receive training in the metacognitive style of rumination, distraction, acceptance or no training control prior to a negative mood induction. Rumination prolonged the intensity of the negative mood consistent with no training, whereas both distraction and acceptance reduced the intensity of the negative mood. Changes in attitudes were only found in the acceptance condition, as participants in this condition reduced negative attitudes towards negative experiences. These results are consistent with information processing theory, and imply that acceptance-based preventative interventions may operate by both reducing the intensity of sad moods and altering one's attitudes towards temporary moments of sadness.     

Interruption of behavior,inescapable shock,and experimental neurosis: A neurophysiologic analysis

Experiments reported in the literature involving interruption of behavior and leading to symptoms of anxiety in conditioned rats are analyzed from the neurophysiologic point of view and compared with the effects of inescapable electric shocks in dogs. It is suggested that anxiety and neurotic behavior (failure to attempt to escape from shock) are accompanied by a state of high ergotropic excitation which leads to a “spilling over” of ergotropic discharges into the trophotropic system. The resulting simultaneous ergotropic and trophotropic discharges impinging on the cerebral cortex are thought to induce abnormal emotions and behavior. Normal behavior is restored by reducing excessive ergotropic activity and re-establishing reciprocal relations between the ergotropic and trophotropic systems. In 1965 I presented a theory of anxiety based on a physiologic analysis of various forms of experimental and clinical neuroses in terms of the activities of, and the mutual relations existing between, the trophotropic and ergotropic systems (Gellhorn, 1965; Gellhorn and Loofbourrow, 1963). In the meantime the work of Mandleret al. (Mandler, 1964; Mandler and Watson, 1966), who emphasized that anxiety is produced through interruption of behavior, came to my attention. These investigations pose two questions:

1. 1.
   Is the interpretation of anxiety presented in my earlier study applicable to Mandler's experiments and kindred observations?     
   
   

On the adolescent neurosis

The author discusses the lifelong impact of adolescence in shaping the adult psyche. Some patients may appear to be as influenced by conflicts of adolescence and the individual solutions arrived at during this period as they are by conflicts and solutions of the oedipal phase, the author maintains. The subphases of early, middle, and late adolescence are discussed both in terms of a review of the psychoanalytic literature and of representative works of literary fiction. Illustrative clinical vignettes are presented as well.     

Behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive neurosis

Three chronic and severe obsessive-compulsive neurotics were treated with behavioral intervention strategies and psychotropic medication. The effects of treatment were evaluated in three separate experiments with single case experimental designs. The results suggest that response prevention was effective in reducing ritualistic behavior while the effects of flooding and antidepressant medication added little to outcome. The results also suggest that strategies aimed only at reducing compulsive behavior per se are insufficient in eliminating other associated difficulties (e.g., depressive symptoms, interpersonal problems) and that a comprehensive approach to treatment is needed.     

Advertising,perversions, neurosis

Abstract

This paper discusses the influence of advertising on today's social pathologies. Everywhere, advertising images invite people to enjoy unlimited pleasures. “No limits” orders the advertising master to the consumers and admirers of Nike. “Be a tiger” says another advertisement. The author believes that contemporary society is perverted by the orders of the advertising master, whom individuals gently obey, just as a hysterical woman lets her perverse master instrumentalize her.

Kehl MR. Werbung, Perversionen, HysterieDiese Arbeit diskutiert den Einfluß von Werbung auf die heutigen sozialen Pathologien. Überall laden Werbe-Bilder die Menschen zu unbegrenzten Vergnügungen ein. “Ohne Grenzen” fordern die Werbe-Meister von den Verbrauchern und Bewunderern von Nike.

“Sei ein Tiger”, sagt eine andere Werbung. Der Autor ist der Auffassung, daß die heutige Gesellschaft durch die Anweisungen der Werbe-Chefs pervertiert ist, dem die Menschen sachte gehorchen, wie eine hysterische Frau sich von ihrem perversen Meister instrumentalisieren läßt.

Kehl M.R. Publicidad, perversiones, histeria.Este trabajo discute la influencia de la publicidad en las patologías actuales. En todas partes las imágenes de publicidad invitan a la gente a conseguir placeres ilimitados. “Sin limites”, ordena la publicidad a los consumidores y admiradores de Nike. “Sé un tigre”, dice otro anuncio. El autor piensa que la sociedad contemporánea está pervertida por las ordenes de la publicidad maestra, que los individuos obedecen poco a poco, como una mujer histérica permite a su perversión maestra instrumentalizarla.