Reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury in women with borderline personality disorder

Self-reported reasons for suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury were examined using the Parasuicide History Interview within a sample of chronically suicidal women meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (N = 75). Overall, reasons given for suicide attempts differed from reasons for nonsuicidal self-injury. Nonsuicidal acts were more often reported as intended to express anger, punish oneself, generate normal feelings, and distract oneself, whereas suicide attempts were more often reported as intended to make others better off. Almost all participants reported that both types of parasuicide were intended to relieve negative emotions. It is likely that suicidal and nonsuicidal parasuicide have multiple intents and functions.     

Disappearance elicited by contrast decrements

The observation that physically present visual stimuli can sometimes disappear from consciousness has intrigued vision scientists for centuries. Two situations are known to cause such disappearance: stationary peripheral images and images (centrally or peripherally viewed) masked by abrupt contrast increments of stimuli in adjacent retinal areas. Both of these situations require near-image stabilization on the retina. Here, we describe a third way to remove stimuli from conscious awareness. It involves contrast decrements (CDs) of nearly stabilized images in the periphery. Unlike the Troxler effect, with sufficient CD, complete disappearance can be achieved almost instantaneously without significant adaptation periods. Unlike traditional masking effects, CD disappearance does not result in an after-image at or near the locus of stimulation. We report the results of four experiments in which some of the characteristics of this newly discovered phenomenon were examined. The results indicate that CDs produced by changes in the luminance of the target (see Experiment 2) or by changes in background luminance (see Experiment 3) result in an immediate loss of sensitivity to stimuli that would take much longer to fade with Troxler-like adaptation (see Experiment 1). However, the duration of such loss of sensitivity (approximately 2 sec) is comparable for the two paradigms. The frequency of disappearance increased with greater contour eccentricity, but disappearance duration remained fairly constant.     

CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, CULTURE, AND COPING: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF LATINAS

The purpose of this study was to articulate a model of how Latinas cope with childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and the ways in which personal and cultural variables influence their coping strategies. Nine women who identified as Latina and as survivors of CSA participated in an in-depth interview. The data were analyzed using a grounded theory methodology. Results suggested that participants' coping efforts were influenced by a variety of cultural factors and that they engaged in a wide range of coping behaviors, all of which served two main functions: (1) seeking relief from negative emotions and (2) protecting one's self from further abuse.     

Skills Practice in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Women Meeting Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based practice for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and suicidal behavior that has been replicated with a variety of populations. Patients’ practice of behavioral skills taught in the group skills training component of DBT may be partly responsible for the positive treatment outcomes according to the skills deficit model of BPD that underlies DBT. This study was designed to examine the type and frequency of skills practiced by DBT patients. Participants were 49 women, who met criteria for BPD and current and chronic suicidal behavior, receiving 1 year of standard DBT as part of a clinical trial. Skills were recorded on the daily diary cards completed by participants each week and reviewed by their individual therapists. Results indicated that the majority of participants reported practicing skills most days throughout treatment. Crisis survival and mindfulness skills were practiced most frequently in our sample. Hierarchical linear modeling demonstrated that skills practice increased as a function of time in therapy. Directions for future research are discussed.     

Examining the relation between PTSD and insomnia on aggression

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and poor sleep have been identified as potential causals factor in aggression, violence, and impulsive behavior. Given the high cost of aggression to society and public health, identifying modifiable factors related to aggression, such as insomnia, may guide treatment strategies to help decrease aggression. Participants were 143 Veterans seeking treatment for PTSD at a VA outpatient PTSD clinic. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relation between PTSD and insomnia on aggression. Results from bivariate analyses indicated that while both PTSD and insomnia severity were associated with higher aggression scores independently, when PTSD and insomnia were examined together, PTSD severity was the only significant predictor of aggression. Interaction effects yielded nonsignificant results suggesting that poor sleep did not moderate the PTSD and aggression relation. Results suggest that addressing PTSD symptoms as a first treatment target may be more important for decreasing risk for aggression than targeting insomnia. More research is needed to understand whether treating PTSD and insomnia reduces aggression in Veterans.     

Effects of Self-graphing on Written Expression of Fourth Grade Students with High-Incidence Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of self-graphing on the writing of 3 fourth grade students with high-incidence disabilities. Measures of written expression included total number of words written and number of correct word sequences. During intervention, students self-graphed their total number of words written in response to a timed story starter. A functional relationship was found between the self-graphing intervention and the total words written and number of correct word sequences. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.     

Visual Attention to Antismoking PSAs: Smoking Cues Versus Other Attention‐Grabbing Features

This study examines how addicted smokers attend visually to smoking‐related public service announcements (PSAs) in adults smokers. Smokers' onscreen visual fixation is an indicator of cognitive resources allocated to visual attention. Characteristic of individuals with addictive tendencies, smokers are expected to be appetitively activated by images of their addiction—specifically smoking cues. At the same time, these cues are embedded in messages that associate avoidance responses with these appetitive cues, potentially inducing avoidance of PSA processing. Findings suggest that segments of PSAs that contain smoking cues are processed similarly to segments that contain complex stimuli (operationalized in this case as high in information introduced) and that visual attention is aligned with smoking cues on the screen.