The influence of task paradigm on motor imagery ability in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have difficulty imagining movements such that they conform to the customary temporal constraints of real performance. We examined whether this ability is influenced by the choice of task used to elicit motor imagery (MI). Performance of typically developing (TD) (n = 30) and children with DCD (n = 30) was compared on two tasks: the Visually Guided Pointing Task (VGPT) and the Computerized Virtual Radial Fitts Task (C-VRFT). Since the VGPT places higher demands on executive functions like working memory but requires less spatial planning, we reasoned that the C-VRFT would provide a purer measure of motor imagery (or simulation). Based on our earlier work, we predicted that imagery deficits in DCD would more likely manifest on the C-VRFT. Results showed high correlations between tasks in terms of executed and imagined movement time suggest that both tasks measure MI ability. However, group differences were more pronounced in the imagined condition of the radial Fitts’ task. Taken together, the more spatially complex C-VRFT appears to be a more sensitive measure of motor imagery, better discriminating between DCD and TD. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.     

Predicting Perceived Risk of Crime: a Multilevel Study

With a sample of Italians selected from 71 Italian counties (N = 1,868), we performed two multilevel analyses aimed at predicting the perceived risk of crime at local (i.e., in the participants' county of residence) and at societal (i.e., in the context of Italian society) levels. A significant proportion of the variation in local risk perception was at the county level. The following individual variables predicted higher levels of this variable: indirect victimization, the perception of social and physical disorder, being a woman, being poorly educated, and being an older person. Among the ecological predictors, the crime rate and unemployment rate predicted higher levels of local crime risk perception, while the immigrant rate did not. Perceived risk of crime at the societal level did not show significant variation at the county level. Education, being a man, trusting people, and adhesion to post‐materialistic values predicted lower levels of societal crime risk perception, while number of sons/daughters and exposure to television news increased it. The limitations and possible development of this study are discussed.     

Suppression of Chronic High Frequency Spitting in a Multiply Handicapped and Mentally Retarded Adolescent

Excessive drooling and spitting are maladaptive behaviors often encountered among severely developmentally delayed children. In the present study a blind, deaf and retarded adolescent exhibited an extremely high rate of spitting which had resisted numerous classroom intervention efforts by teachers using punishment techniques. His recalcitrant spitting was eliminated with a behavioral intervention consisting of positive reinforcement for not spitting and facial screening for spitting. Experimental control was demonstrated using a multiple baseline across situations and within subject reversal design. The treatment package successfully eliminated the child's chronic spitting. Teacher reports one year later indicated the results maintained across time and spitting was no longer a problem. Social and academic implications of modifying such behaviors are discussed.     

CBT for Children and Adolescents With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders,edited by A. Scarpa,S. Williams White, & T. Attwood

ABSTRACT

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a manualized behavioral intervention originally developed by Eyberg (1988 Eyberg, S. (1988). Parent-child interaction therapy: Integration of traditional and behavioral concerns. Child &; Family Behavior Therapy, 10(1), 33–46. doi:10.1300/j019v10n01_04[Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]) to address disruptive behaviors in young children. Although previous research findings support the contention that components of PCIT would positively impact communication, behavior, and adaptive skills (Howard, Sparkman, Cohen, Green, &; Stanislaw, 2005; Lovaas, 1987 Lovaas, O. I. (1987). Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55(1), 3–9. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.55.1.3[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; Remington et al., 2007 Remington, B., Hastings, R. P., Kovshoff, H., Degli Espinosa, F., Jahr, E., Brown, T., &; Ward, N. (2007). Early intensive behavioral intervention: Outcomes for children with autism and their parents after two years. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 112(6), 418–438. doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2007)112[418:eibiof]2.0.co;2[Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]) in children with developmental disabilities, few studies are shown in the literature. In a modified version of PCIT, caregivers completed two phases of intervention with their child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). During the Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) phase, caregivers were taught to conduct mand training, follow-their child’s lead, provide attention for their child’s positive behaviors, and ignore their child’s negative behaviors. During the Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI) phase, caregivers were taught to give effective commands and follow through with demands. The goal of the current study was to determine whether children’s production of vocalizations increased after participation in a modified PCIT program. Data from two participants diagnosed with autism were included in the study. Outcomes of these two case studies show that both children displayed an increase in the total number of vocalizations emitted in the posttreatment observation relative to baseline. Additionally, caregivers of both participants displayed an increased number of positive behaviors in the posttreatment observation relative to baseline.     

Improving FASD Children’s Self-Regulation: Piloting Phase 1 of the GoFAR Intervention

ABSTRACT

The initial parent training component of GoFAR, an intervention designed to improve the self-regulation and adaptive living skills of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), was piloted in a small, randomized clinical trial of 28 participants assigned to either a time-lapsed control group or one of two parent training groups who differed on whether the child’s computerized instruction was congruent or incongruent with the parent instruction. Parental compliance and achievement of therapy goals were indicators of improvement in the child’s self-regulation skills. Children who received computerized instruction consistent with the parent training demonstrated greater self-regulation improvements than those receiving incongruent computerized instruction.     

The Good Behavior Game

The Good Behavior Game was implemented with four children attending a church-affiliated preschool in efforts to increase concurrent compliance and cooperation. Sessions were conducted individually with each child pair while in free play. The children were given various instructions by “Buddy Bear” (a puppet). Children were praised individually for compliant behavior while noncompliant and inappropriate behaviors were ignored. Further instances in which children complies (i.e., cooperation) were rewarded with tokens make of felt, shaped like happy faced or dinosaurs and placed on a large felt board. If the children earned their criterion levels of tokens, they received animal snacks. Improvements in compliance were noted, with generalization occurring across therapists but not settings. Factors influencing the results and implications of the findings are discussed.     

Motor vehicle accident trauma exposure: Personality profiles associated with posttraumatic diagnoses

Abstract

Personality profiles associated with diagnostically distinct posttraumatic responses were examined. Profiles were compared between three groups defined on the basis of posttraumatic diagnosis following motor vehicle accident (MVA) trauma exposure. The diagnostic groups were: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) without progression to PTSD, and subclinical responses. Participants were male and female community volunteers aged 18 to 77 (N = 83) who had all been exposed to an MVA meeting the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for a traumatic event. The Personality Assessment Inventory (Morey, 1991) was used to assess psychological variables in the framework of posttraumatic diagnostic groups. The PTSD group scored significantly higher than the ASD and subclinical groups on scales assessing somatic complaints, anxiety, anxiety related disorders, depression, non-psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, and negative relationships. The profile of the ASD group was characterized by self report of greater interpersonal warmth and a trend for greater egocentricity than the PTSD group. There were no significant differences in the personality profiles of the ASD and subclinical groups. The role of personality factors in posttraumatic adjustment is discussed in the context of previous literature.     

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Abusive Behavior

Summary

Research suggests that a subset of men who abuse their partners have characteristics associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has shown promise as a treatment for BPD, and thus may be useful for these men. This paper describes how DBT principles might be applied to address the problem of partner abuse, including discussion of why one might expect DBT to be a helpful treatment model for this population, and how implementation of the model might be designed.     

CBT and Behavioural Medicine: On Definitions,Applications and Practical Considerations

Abstract

In the late seventies, behavioural medicine was conceptualized as a promising area for the application of cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) to medical problems. Although many studies have been published in which CBT has been applied to somatic conditions, they do not always call it behavioural medicine. It is uncertain if the term “behavioural medicine” is the most appropriate to use in the future; its impact on medicine and psychology can be questioned. However, in this paper it is concluded that CBT has great potential in the treatment of somatic conditions. In addition, practical considerations when applying CBT in multidisciplinary somatic team situations are discussed. A combined “scientist-practitioner” role is seen as especially promising for the introduction of CBT in a context wider than isolated research studies.     

Influence of Cognitive Factors on Sexual Assault Recovery: Descriptive Review and Methodological Concerns

This article aims to verify whether the empirical data presented in the literature on sexually assaulted victims support the hypothesis advanced by various aetiological models, which is that cognitions play an important role in the development and maintenance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The first objective is to present state-of-the-art results on sexually assaulted victims' post-traumatic cognitions and their link to post-assault symptomatology. The second objective is to analyse the various methodological facets of those studies. Finally, paths for future studies are traced and recommendations are made.