Word production deficits in schizophrenia

Fronto-cerebellar circuitry is implicated in word production. Data suggest that the cerebellum is involved in word search, whereas the prefrontal cortex underlies the selection of words from among competing alternatives. We explored the role of search and selection processes in word production deficits in schizophrenia patients. In Experiment 1, patients were impaired in a verb generation task under both high and low selection conditions but were more impaired in the high selection condition. In Experiment 2, when the difficulty level of search and selection conditions was equated in a word stem completion task, patients were only impaired in the search condition. Word search deficits underlie word production problems in schizophrenia, and may involve fronto-cerebellar dysfunction.     

The influence of sex, gender, self-discrepancies, and self-awareness on anger and verbal aggressiveness among U.S. college students

Among a sample of 445 U.S. college students, the authors examined the extent to which individual differences (e.g., sex, gender, self-discrepancies, self-awareness) explained anger tendencies and verbal aggressiveness. Regression analyses showed that (a) the tendency to repress anger (anger-in) was explained by masculinity, desire to be masculine, and public self-awareness, R2 = .19, F(11, 433) = 8.44, p < .001; (b) the tendency to express anger (anger-out) was explained by sex, masculinity, and public self-awareness, R2 = .17, F(11, 433) = 7.38, p < .001; and (c) willingness to be verbally aggressive was explained by sex, femininity, and private self-awareness, R2 = .32, F(11, 433) = 16.94, p < .001. In addition, different types of individual difference variables accounted for anger tendencies and verbal aggressiveness across sex and gender categories, suggesting that anger and verbal aggressiveness may be driven by different psychological processes across types of participants.     

Trainee therapists’ views on the alliance in psychotherapy and supervision: a longitudinal study

The shape of alliance in psychotherapy and supervision using growth curve modeling was examined for clinically inexperienced trainee therapists, who were engaged in long-term cognitive behavioral - or psychodynamic individual psychotherapy at a Psychology Clinic in Sweden. Trainee therapists rated their view of the alliance with their clients and their supervisors on the Working Alliance Inventory at five time points. The alliance to the client show a consistent, positive development throughout the therapy. The alliance to the supervisors show initially a decrease, followed by an increase, and then again, the rate of increase in the supervisory alliance ratings slowed down indicating a more complex view of the supervisory alliance compared to the view of the alliance in psychotherapy.     

Disturbed Children's and Adolescents' Comprehension of Psychological Mechanisms of Defense

This study examined the role of Piagetian logical and analytical reasoning in the comprehension of psychological defense mechanisms among 26 emotionally disturbed boys. Participants assigned to one of three Piagetian cognitive stages, listened to vignettes depicting defensive behaviors of various degrees of logical and structural complexity. Results indicated that, although both within- and between-group performances were at variance with theoretical expectations, consistent age trends in the comprehension of defense mechanisms were observed.     

Subject Matter Expert Judgments Regarding the Relative Importance of Competencies are not Useful for Choosing the Test Batteries that Best Predict Performance

Several recent articles have suggested that assessments of the relative importance of different abilities or competencies to a job have little bearing on the criterion‐related validity of these selection tests that measure those abilities. We hypothesize that selection test batteries chosen to maximize the judged importance of knowledge, skills, and abilities will not predict performance better than batteries of tests chosen at random. The results in two independent samples consistently show that the validity of test batteries chosen based on subject matter expert judgments of importance is not different from the validity of batteries of a comparable number of tests chosen at random from a set of intercorrelated tests, or even those chosen to provide the worst possible match between test content and job content.     

Parental Attitudes,Beliefs, and Perceptions about Genetic Testing for FAP and Colorectal Cancer Surveillance in Minors

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is the second most common hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome and confers a nearly 100% lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer. Understanding factors that facilitate and inhibit genetic testing and cancer surveillance in children who are members of families affected by FAP will better equip clinicians to clarify misunderstandings and facilitate appropriate care. The aims of this study were to examine parental attitudes and beliefs regarding endoscopic surveillance and genetic testing in minors at risk for developing FAP. This cross-sectional study includes analyses of qualitative and quantitative interview data collected from parents of children with or at risk for FAP. This report includes data from 28 parents with a total of 51 biological children between 10–17 years of age. The parents had a clinical and/or genetic diagnosis of FAP. Most commonly reported facilitators included provider recommendation (surveillance) and personalized medical management (genetic testing). Most commonly reported barriers included lack of provider recommendation (surveillance) and cost (genetic testing).     

Identity Processing Style and Depression: The Mediational Role of Experiential Avoidance and Self-Regulation

This study investigated the role experiential avoidance and self-regulation play in mediating relationships between stylistic differences in the way college students engage or attempt to evade the process of constructing a personal sense of identity and depressive symptoms. Two hundred seven 18- to 23-year-old undergraduate students completed measures of identity processing style, self-regulation, experiential avoidance, and depressive symptoms. Consistent with previous research, a diffuse-avoidant identity style was positively associated with depression, which was completely mediated by self-regulation and experiential avoidance. Contrary to prediction, an informational identity style was not directly related with experiential avoidance or depression. However, an informational style indirectly predicted low depressive symptoms via self-regulation. Unexpectedly, when the contribution of self-regulation was controlled, an informational style was positively associated with experiential avoidance, which indirectly predicted high depressive symptoms. The pattern of relationships was not moderated by the sex of the participants. Implications of the results for intervention programs and counseling practices that may enhance the mental health of college students are considered.     

Intensive cognitive behavioural group treatment for social phobia: a pilot study

The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of an intensive form of cognitive behavioural group treatment practised routinely in a psychiatric clinic. A total of 27 outpatients with social phobia of long duration were assigned to a 41-hour treatment administered over 2 periods of 3.5 and 4.5 days, 1 week apart. Four groups, each comprising 6-8 patients, participated in the study. All except 1 patient (26/27) completed the treatment and 20 patients participated in all follow-up sessions after 3, 6 and 12 months. Treatment significantly reduced fear and avoidance of social interaction and performance, anticipatory anxiety and symptoms' influence on daily life. Follow-up assessments indicated maintained or increased improvement from post-test to 1 year and large sensitivity to treatment at both post-test and 1 year. Of the patients in the study, 85% were taking a prescribed drug, and 70% had taken medication for at least 1 year before they entered the treatment. At 1-year follow-up 52% had discontinued medication.     

Risk Reduction Behaviors and Provider Communication Following Genetic Counseling and BRCA1 Mutation Testing in an African American Kindred

Little is known about the impact of cancer genetic counseling and testing on health behaviors in racial and ethnic subgroups. This prospective observational study examined use of risk reduction strategies following BRCA1 counseling and testing. Participants were female members of an African American kindred who received genetic education, counseling and testing (n = 40) and completed a 1-year follow-up interview. Mutation carriers were more likely to opt for breast (100%, 7/7) and ovarian (25%; 1 of 4) cancer surveillance than prophylactic surgery. Following genetic counseling, 71% (5/7) of the BRCA1 carriers who opted for surveillance reported having a mammogram within the year following receipt of their genetic test results. Ovarian cancer screening among mutation carriers increased from 0% at baseline to 25% (one of four) at 1 year. Compared to noncarriers (23%, 7/30), carriers (70%, 7/10) were more likely to discuss their BRCA1 test results with their primary health care providers. Surveillance for breast cancer was preferred to prophylactic surgery and chemoprevention as a way to reduce risk for these cancers. Our data indicate that patient-provider communication about BRCA1 test results is suboptimal.