Standardized playroom measures as indices of hyperactivity

A group of 16 children from a normal community population was compared with two groups of 16 children referred for clinical evaluation of hyperactivity. These three groups were matched on age, sex, and race. One of the clinic groups was matched with the community sample on IQ and social class as well, while the children in the other clinic group were mentally retarded and of somewhat lower social class. All children were observed in a standardized playroom for two 15-minute sessions, one under free play instructions and the other under instructions restricting activity and toy-changing behavior. The two groups of children referred for evaluation of hyperactivity had significantly higher playroom activity scores than controls under both instructional conditions and significantly higher toy-change scores under restrictive instructions. Parental ratings of activity were also significantly higher in both clinic groups than in the community group. The mentally retarded clinic sample did not differ from the other clinic sample on any of the measures of activity or toy switching.A preliminary version of this article was presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois, August 30, 1975, as part of a Symposium on Hyperactive Children: Assessment, Treatment, and Outcome. This research was supported by U. S. Public Health Service, Maternal and Child Health Project No. 916 and by Grants HD-03110 and ES-01104.     

Homeostatic disruption and memory: effect of insulin administration in rats

The present study examined the effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on 24-h retention of passive avoidance in rats. In the initial experiment, rats received either insulin (50 U/kg) or saline injections 30 min prior to training and testing. Impairments in retention were observed when animals were trained with insulin and tested with saline. This anterograde memory loss was attenuated, however, when insulin was administered prior to both training and testing. A subsequent experiment further explored the disruptive effect of hypoglycemia on memory. Data from this study indicated that lower doses of insulin at training (5 and 10 U/rat) yielded impairments in 24-h retention of passive avoidance. It is concluded that disruption of glucoregulation can produce state-dependent anterograde memory losses in rats. Possible implications for the effects of hypoglycemia on cognitive functioning in humans are discussed.     

A comparison of multiple reinforcer assessments to identify the function of maladaptive behavior

Functional analysis results indicated that maladaptive behaviors displayed by a 25-year-old man with profound mental retardation were maintained by attention from caregivers and possibly, to a lesser degree, by access to tangible items. A concurrent-schedules procedure was then used to study the relative reinforcing value for maladaptive behavior of attention versus tangible items. Results of the concurrent-schedules assessment and subsequent functional communication training indicated that preference for attention versus access to a tangible object varied.     

The relationship of body image dissatisfaction to cigarette smoking in college students

This study examined the association of cigarette smoking status and body image dissatisfaction as measured by the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), in 1575 young adult college students, 18–24 years of age. Respondents were current cigarette smokers (N = 482) or never tobacco users (N = 1093). Smoking status was found to be significantly associated with 5 of the 10 MBSRQ subscales, with current smokers having lower scores on Fitness Orientation, Health Evaluation and Health Orientation (all p < 0.001) and higher scores on Appearance Orientation (p = 0.01) and Overweight Preoccupation (p = 0.03) compared with never tobacco users. Furthermore, among current smokers, a higher number of days smoked in the last 30 days were associated with lower scores on all MBSRQ subscales, except Self-Classified Weight. In terms of clinical implications, interventions for smoking cessation among college students might benefit from inclusion of components for addressing body image dissatisfaction and improving health beliefs.     

Use of newsletters to promote environmental political action: an experimental analysis

The managers of beach businesses were randomly assigned to receive no intervention or two newsletters per week for 6 weeks that presented economic consequences of damage to coastal water quality and how to contact politicians. The percentage of proenvironmental political contacts was significantly greater in the experimental (newsletter) group than in the control group. Logistical regression showed that contacts in the newsletter group were more than five times that of controls after adjusting for history of contacts and predisposition to take such action. Results suggest that the intervention can promote political action that could influence environmental policies and human health.     

Self-injurious behavior: gene-brain-behavior relationships

This paper summarizes a conference held at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on December 6-7, 1999, on self-injurious behavior [SIB] in developmental disabilities. Twenty-six of the top researchers in the U.S. from this field representing 13 different disciplines discussed environmental mechanisms, epidemiology, behavioral and pharmacological intervention strategies, neurochemical substrates, genetic syndromes in which SIB is a prominent behavioral phenotype, neurobiological and neurodevelopmental factors affecting SIB in humans as well as a variety of animal models of SIB. Findings over the last decade, especially new discoveries since 1995, were emphasized. SIB is a rapidly growing area of scientific interest to both basic and applied researchers. In many respects it is a model for the study of gene-brain-behavior relationships in developmental disabilities.     

Leading Equine-Assisted Mental Health Groups: An Exploratory Survey of Practitioner Characteristics,Practices, and Professional Development

This exploratory survey was an investigation of practitioner and practice characteristics of clinicians (N = 24) involved in the provision of equine-assisted mental health (EAMH) groups. We focused on practitioner education, credentialing, clinical experience, approach, and perceived self-efficacy, as well as specific group characteristics concerning type, duration, and clinical populations served. Results, limitations, and future directions are provided, with an overall aim of contributing to the development and progression of this increasingly used group approach.