Habit reversal as a treatment for chronic skin picking in typically developing adult male siblings.

In this study, habit reversal was evaluated as a treatment for skin picking in typically developing adult male siblings using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design. Results showed socially valid decreases in reported picking as a result of treatment.     

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: The Truth Behind the Allegations

In response to several pejorative statements about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a recent issue of Psychotherapy (Silverman, 1999), a point by point counter argument to these criticisms are presented. Among other contentions, Silverman (1999) disparaged empirically validated methods as being simplistic and scientifically impoverished. The validity of these statements are challenged and empirical evidence is presented to support each counter argument. The efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for a broad range of disturbances and presenting problems is presented. The future of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other empirically validated protocols are discussed, as well as recommendations for their use.     

Residual Geriatric Depression Symptoms: A Place for Psychotherapy

Geriatric depression is a relatively commonly occurring mental disorder. A subpopulation of depressed older adults are those who have engaged in or completed pharmacotherapy, yet continue to experience depressive symptoms. We review the prevalence, psychosocial effects, and treatment of residual symptoms of depression in older adults. Data from previous studies conducted by our group are presented to support our contention that residual symptoms of geriatric depression are treatable through psychosocial means.     

Anxiety Disorders Among Older Primary Care Patients

Data from the 1997 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) were accessed to obtain information about naturalistic patterns of recognition, service utilization, and treatment for late-life anxiety in primary care. The NAMCS is a national probability sample survey of office visits to non-Federal, U.S. physicians engaged in patient care. The survey was conducted by the Division of Health Care Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data are now in the public domain. For the current report, all cases indicating office visits for patients age 60 and older were selected (n = 7,687). Anxiety disorders were assigned for 1.3% (n = 99) of these visits, with anxiety disorder NOS the most frequent diagnosis. For 20.2% of these visits (n = 20), a coexistent depressive disorder also was diagnosed. Depression without coexistent anxiety was diagnosed for 2.3% of all visits (n = 176). These figures suggest that late-life anxiety may often go unrecognized and may be more difficult to detect than depression. Nevertheless, other data indicate that appropriate pharmacological treatment and mental health services or referrals are often provided when anxiety or depression is recognized. However, visits wherein these disorders are recognized require increased physician time, and significant proportions of patients in some groups may still not receive appropriate mental health care. Results are discussed in terms of the nature of usual care for late-life anxiety and the needs for future research.     

Predicting Treatment Response in Older Adults with Insomnia

This study examined potential predictors of treatment outcome in late-life insomnia. Fifty-four older adults with chronic insomnia were treated with cognitive–behavior therapy (CBT), pharmacotherapy (PCT), or combined CBT plus PCT. Pretreatment characteristics such as demographic, clinical, psychometric, and sleep variables were examined as correlates or potential predictors of treatment response. Treatment response was defined by posttreatment sleep efficiency as measured subjectively by daily sleep diary and objectively by polysomnography. The results indicate that age, insomnia duration, medical illness, and previous use of sleep medications can moderate subjective or objective treatment outcome or both of these in late-life insomnia. However, there are no reliable predictors of outcome across all treatment and assessment modalities. The implications of these findings for the treatment of insomnia in older adults seen in primary care settings are discussed.     

The Epistemology of Communitarian Bioethics:Traditions in the Public Debates

I consider the problem liberalism poses for bioethics.Liberalism is a view that advocates that the state remain neutralto views of the good life. This view is sometimes supported by askeptical moral epistemology that tends to propel liberalismtoward libertarianism. I argue that the possibilities for sharedagreement on moral matters are more promising than is sometimesappreciated by such a view of liberalism. Using two examples ofpublic debates of moral issues, I show that commonly sharedintuitions may ground moral principles even if they may be givendifferent weight by persons of different moral and religioustraditions. Nevertheless, the fact that the intuition andprinciple is widely shared may be sufficient to chart somedirections for public policy or cooperative action even if theydo not lead to complete agreement. As a result, I argue that aliberal communitarianism that presupposes a fairly minimalistepistemology is a legitimate approach to achieving sharedagreement in a pluralistic society.     

Clinical interventions and prevention for Asian American children and families: Current status and needed research

The current status of clinical interventions and prevention for Asian American children and/or adolescents and their families was assessed through a review of the literature on conceptual frameworks, cultural variables and related issues, and empirical studies. Five proposed approaches to treatment or prevention were examined. Some factors that might account for the slow progress of treatment research in this area were also discussed. These included conceptual and methodological issues; the paucity of data on psychopathology in this population; their low service-utilization rates; and societal images, values, and needs. Some needed directions for future research are suggested.     

疾病治疗与康复的自我效能模式及其意义

自我效能是指个体对其在特定情境中成功地完成某种活动的能力预期。患者的自我效能预期能以直接或间接的方式影响其行为表现和生理机能,从而影响到疾病治疗与康复效果。患者自我效能的形成与发展既受各种效能信息的影响,也受个体认知加工方式的影响。根据患者自我效能的形成与作用模式,可以采取不同的措施来提高患者的自我效能预期,发挥它在疾病治疗与康复中的作用。     

非酒精性脂肪肝的治疗策略

非酒精性脂肪肝是一种无过量饮酒史,与遗传-环境-代谢应激相关性疾病,导致肝相关性患病率和病死率升高的主要原因之一。非酒精性脂肪肝的发病机制尚未完全明确,也无疗效理想的治疗药物。治疗策略主要是减肥,合理控制血糖和血脂并去除其他引起肝病的病因,酌情选用相关药物辅助治疗。     

小儿重症肺炎的诊治策略

肺炎是儿童常见的呼吸道疾病,小儿重症肺炎及其导致的并发症特别全身炎症反应综合征和多脏器功能衰竭是严重威胁儿童健康和生命的重要原因。随着基础医学和临床医学的发展,人们的认识逐渐深入,防治水平也取得重要进展。但病原学的变迁,不恰当的临床监测和干预仍然影响着人们对该病的正确认识和处理。运用哲学的辩证思维来探讨小儿重症肺炎诊治中的若干问题,将为儿科临床工作提供新的指导。