Relationship between WAIS-R and wide range achievement test in a sample of mixed patients

Correlations between the WAIS-R Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs, WAIS-R subtest scaled scores, and Wide Range Achievement Test Reading, Spelling, and Arithmetic standard scores were computed for a sample of 60 patients at a V.A. medical center who were referred for routine psychological evaluation. The Full Scale IQ and Verbal IQ yielded large correlations with the three achievement area standard scores (rs of .60 to .76). However, Performance IQs correlated moderately with reading and spelling scores (rs of .41 and .42), but a larger correlation obtained with arithmetic scores (r = .66). The results support the concurrent validity of the WAIS-R.     

Mental-task instructions and optokinetic nystagmus to the left and right

The frequency of elicited optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) in both directions was studied in subjects instructed to perform mental tasks thought to be asociated primarily with either the right or left hemisphere or a combination of both. A negative relationship between OKN frequency and right-hemisphere activity was more strongly confirmed than the alternative hypotheses that OKN frequency would be negatively related to the total amount of inner processing or to the amount of visualization required by a task. A significantly higher frequency of OKN was elicited (in nonmyopic subjects) when the stripes were moving in the direction contralateral to the hemisphere presumably involved in the instructed mental task. Subjects showing higher rates of right lateral eye shift (in an interview situation) made greater adjustments in OKN frequency according to the nature of the mental task.     

Type A behavior pattern, inhibited power motivation, and activity inhibition

The constructs of the Type A behavior pattern and the Inhibited Power Motive Syndrome (IPMS) have many features in common. The empirical relation between the two constructs was investigated in this study with 45 employed, male medical and surgical patients. Four different measures of the Type A pattern were examined. Results showed that, of the four measures, the Structured Interview and the Hostility Scale were related significantly to the IPMS. Systolic blood pressure reactivity was also related significantly to the IPMS. These relations could be ascribed largely to activity inhibition alone. The contribution of activity inhibition to an understanding of the biological and psychological substrates of the Type A behavior pattern is discussed.     

Principled Autonomy and Plagiarism

Every semester, professors in every discipline are burdened with the task of checking for plagiarized papers. Since plagiarism has become rampant in the university, it can be argued that devoting time to checking for plagiarism is nothing more than a fool’s errand. Students will continue to plagiarize regardless of the consequences. In this paper, I will argue that professors do have a categorically binding obligation to confirm whether papers have been plagiarized. I will use Onora O'Neill’s account of “principled autonomy” as the foundation for my argument. Moral agents can only act on principles that can be adopted by all. Dishonesty cannot be adopted since honesty would cease to exist. Furthermore, failing to check for plagiarized papers is a failure to treat all students and professors and ends-in-themselves.     

Transdiagnostic group CBT for anxiety disorders: the unified protocol in mental health services

Comorbidity among the anxiety disorders is common and may negatively impact treatment outcome. Potentially, transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT) deal more effectively with comorbidity than standard CBT. The present study tested the effectiveness of The Unified Protocol (UP) applied to Mental Health Services. Pre-post-treatment effects were examined for psychiatric outpatients with anxiety disorders receiving UP treatment in groups. Forty-seven patients (mean-age = 34.1 (SD = 9.92), 77% females) with a principal diagnosis of anxiety were included. We found significant and clinically meaningful changes in the primary outcomes Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S; d = 1.36), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HARS; d = .71), and WHO-5 Well-being Index (WHO-5; d = .54). Also, comorbid depressive symptoms and levels of positive and negative affect changed significantly after treatment. Patients with high levels of comorbidity profited as much as patients with less comorbidity; however, these patients had higher scores after treatment due to higher symptom burden at onset. Patients with comorbid depression profited more from treatment than patients without comorbid depression. The treatment effects found in the present study correspond to treatment effects of other TCBT studies, other UP group studies, and effectiveness studies on standard CBT for outpatients. The results indicate that the UP can be successfully applied to a MHS group setting, demonstrating positive effects on anxiety and depressive symptoms for even highly comorbid cases.