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PCOM Psychology Dissertations

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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Investigation Of Anger-Management Techniques For Essential Hypertension Patients, Karyne B. Wilner Jan 2004

Investigation Of Anger-Management Techniques For Essential Hypertension Patients, Karyne B. Wilner

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The hypotheses that when cognitive-behavior interventions for anger-management are introduced to an essential hypertension (EH) patient with clinically significant levels of anger in an eight-session therapy protocol, blood pressure (BP) measures will decrease, coping mechanisms will be enhanced, and behavior associated with anger will be transformed from the inhibition of it or the aggressive expression of it to a more rational and reasoned communications approach, demonstrated by scores falling between the 25th and 75th percentile on the State-Trait Anger Inventory-2 [STAXI-2] (Spielberger, 1999) were supported in this case study. The research findings were that a male, EH patient improved his …


Attributional Style And Sleep Disturbance In Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Marian Bova Jan 2004

Attributional Style And Sleep Disturbance In Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Marian Bova

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study investigated attributional style, i.e., locus of control, stability, and globality, as well as other causes of sleep disturbance in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The causes of sleep disturbance which were studied included restlessness/agitation, mental overactivity, consequences of poor sleep, and lack of sleep readiness. A case-control group design (N = 100) compared combat veterans who had PTSD (n = 50) with a group of similar-aged men who did not have PTSD (n 50). SPSS 10.0 was used to conduct all analyses. MANOVAs (a= .05) were used to analyze results. Findings suggested that combat veterans with …


Feasibility Study Of A Cognitive Behavioral Smoking Cessation Intervention For Adolescent Males In Residential Treatment, Flora Casallas Jan 2004

Feasibility Study Of A Cognitive Behavioral Smoking Cessation Intervention For Adolescent Males In Residential Treatment, Flora Casallas

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study examined the effectiveness of a modified, empirically-based smoking cessation intervention, originally designed for teenagers in public school settings, but applied to actively smoking adolescents in residential treatment. The cognitive-behavioral intervention, developed by the American Lung Association (ALA, 2001) and researchers at West Virginia University, called Not-On-Tobacco (N-O-T), provides a total-health approach to helping teenagers quit smoking or to reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. The 10-session intervention was delivered over five consecutive weeks to eight adolescent males ranging in age 13 to 16 and in grades 8 to 10, living in a residential treatment community (RTC) located …


Anxiety Sensitivity : Validity Of The Anxiety Sensitivity Profile On A Clinical Sample, Sharon V. Elwell Jan 2004

Anxiety Sensitivity : Validity Of The Anxiety Sensitivity Profile On A Clinical Sample, Sharon V. Elwell

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The psychometric properties of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) have been criticized. Although it has been the gold standard in research and assessment, its reliability (i.e., internal consistency) has been questioned. There are doubts about its ability to identify accurately the underlying factors for anxiety sensitivity. To provide a more accurate description of the anxiety sensitivity construct, Taylor and Cox (1998) developed the Anxiety Sensitivity Profile (ASP) and performed analyses based on a sample of 349 university students. The current study utilized a clinical sample to test the hypotheses that the ASP would have convergent validity with the ASI and …


Role Of Motivation To Change On Treatment Outcome In Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa , Darlene Davis Link Jan 2004

Role Of Motivation To Change On Treatment Outcome In Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa , Darlene Davis Link

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study investigated motivation to change as a factor in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa. This study was conducted at The Renfrew Center with 44 adults diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa who were entering their inpatient program. The participants were evaluated at intake and discharge on variables of motivation to change, eating disordered symptom severity, weight change, and compliance with treatment. As predicted, results revealed significant negative correlations between the patient's level of readiness to change at admission and perfectionism, distrust of others and their severity of anorexic symptoms at discharge. In addition, the results confirmed that the patient's level …


Analysis Of Demographic Variables And Levels Of Stress In Law Enforcement Officers, Kathleen M. Jansen Jan 2004

Analysis Of Demographic Variables And Levels Of Stress In Law Enforcement Officers, Kathleen M. Jansen

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Employment in a law enforcement profession exposes an individual to potential stressors not experienced in most other professions. Sporadic efforts have been made to design stress management programs to assist officers in coping with the demands of their jobs. Much of the previous research on law enforcement stress has focused on examining the effectiveness of various coping skills; however, the training has focused on teaching a healthy lifestyle. This study seeks to add to the existing research by examining what elements of the job are perceived as the most stressful and what demographic variables, if any, may influence an individual's …


Psychologists' Skepticism And Knowledge About Dissociative Identity Disorders In Adolescents, Nancy E. Madden Jan 2004

Psychologists' Skepticism And Knowledge About Dissociative Identity Disorders In Adolescents, Nancy E. Madden

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Professional skepticism about DID and lack of knowledge about DID has been documented in the adult literature on dissociative pathology (Hayes and Mitchell, 1994). Although 100% of adult DID cases are thought to have originated in childhood as sequelae of trauma, to date no studies about professional skepticism of and knowledge about DID have been done with psychologists who specialize in assessing children and adolescents. This study was designed to investigate the beliefs about DID and knowledge of DID that has been garnered by psychologists who specialize in assessing and treating adolescents. This study consisted of a convenience sample of …


Relationship Between Cognitive Distortions And Psychological Disorders Across Diagnostic Axes, Bradley Michael Rosenfield Jan 2004

Relationship Between Cognitive Distortions And Psychological Disorders Across Diagnostic Axes, Bradley Michael Rosenfield

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was twofold: First, the study sought to determine whether or not cognitive distortions correlated with the number and severity of psychological disorders across diagnostic axes. Second, the study endeavored to assess further the validity and reliability of a promising new self-report measure, The Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD), by correlating this instrument with clinical diagnoses as determined by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III. The sample was selected from a heterogeneous adult outpatient population. Participants meeting inclusion criteria presented for psychological treatment or assessment. Excluded were participants who had less than an eighth grade education, or …


Relationship Between Self-Reported Weight Management And Perceived Norms Of Weight Management In Scholastic Wrestlers, Sara J. Camaerei Jan 2004

Relationship Between Self-Reported Weight Management And Perceived Norms Of Weight Management In Scholastic Wrestlers, Sara J. Camaerei

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Wrestling is unique in that it is the only sport that requires opponents to be matched by weight. Because two athletes at an almost equal weight compete against each other, wrestlers participate at the lowest weight class possible, which frequently leads wrestlers to engage in unhealthy and dangerous weight loss practices. Social norms theory suggests that much of an individual's behavior is influenced by perceptions of how members of a social group think and act. If these perceptions are inaccurate, and over-estimates of the unhealthy behaviors of others occur, an individual is likely to engage in such behaviors himself. One …


Caregivers' Relationship Satisfaction And Perception Of Competency As Predictors Of Quality Of Life For Als Patients , Jessica Stewart Allen Jan 2004

Caregivers' Relationship Satisfaction And Perception Of Competency As Predictors Of Quality Of Life For Als Patients , Jessica Stewart Allen

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

In addition to the physiological impact of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), patients and spousal caregivers experience significant emotional and psychological reactions to the disease and its course. As there is no effective treatment and no cure for this debilitating, fatal neuromuscular disease, treatment should include psychological interventions to improve patients' disease experience. External factors impacting psychological well-being of patients must be identified to allow for effective and relevant intervention. The current study examined the relationships between level of care provided to patients, caregivers' relationship satisfaction, and caregivers' perceived competence, and whether these factors predict patient quality of life (QOL). It …


Management Of Agitation In Individuals With Dementia: An Animal-Assisted Therapy Approach, Karen L. Tanner Jan 2003

Management Of Agitation In Individuals With Dementia: An Animal-Assisted Therapy Approach, Karen L. Tanner

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Dementia is not a natural and normal part of aging, but rather a symptom of a disease process. Most individuals with dementia experience emotional distress or behavioral problems best summed up by the term agitation. Approximately 90% of individuals with dementing illnesses demonstrate problem behaviors ranging from repetitive verbalizations and wandering to verbal and physical aggression toward self or others. Each evening thousands of older adults in the community and in institutions become agitated, restless, and confused and begin to wander about or scream. This phenomenon is referred to as sundown syndrome, since it occurs in the evening hours after …


Normative Study Of The Mahan And Ditomasso Anger Scale, Roger Oliver Beardmore Jan 2003

Normative Study Of The Mahan And Ditomasso Anger Scale, Roger Oliver Beardmore

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study proposed to advance the treatment of anger disorders by exploring the psychometric properties of the MAD-AS scale, an anger assessment tool. Research sought to build on prior investigation of the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the MAD-AS in an inpatient setting by examining this measure using outpatient subjects. Several important findings were obtained in this study. Research results suggest that the MAD-AS represents a significant improvement over some existing anger measures in terms of its brevity, its ease of administration, and its standardization of scoring. The MAD-AS appears to possess sound psychometric properties in terms of …


Community Integration And Normalization, Janice Eileen Cunningham Jan 2003

Community Integration And Normalization, Janice Eileen Cunningham

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Utilizing archived data for 650 individuals, psychosocial variables were examined to elucidate the effect of deinstitutionalization on success of community integration. Deinstitutionalization has been blamed for a host of societal ills including the burgeoning homeless population and for overcrowding in prisons. Many claim that deinstitutionalization has failed and that the chronically severely mentally ill have not become part of their communities. Utilizing extant data on consumers released from Pennsylvania state hospitals as part of a unique initiative, the psychosocial variables of age, race, gender, length of institutionalization, placement following hospitalization and diagnosis were correlated with homelessness, incarceration, or whereabouts known …


Retrospective Investigation Of One-Time Presenters Versus Repeat Presenters To Urban And Suburban Psychiatric Emergency Services : Cross-Sectional And Clinical Characteristics, April J. Hansen Jan 2003

Retrospective Investigation Of One-Time Presenters Versus Repeat Presenters To Urban And Suburban Psychiatric Emergency Services : Cross-Sectional And Clinical Characteristics, April J. Hansen

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study retrospectively reviewed 765 patients who presented within a one-year period at either a suburban, urban, or both suburban and urban psychiatric emergency services (PES). Demographic and clinical characteristics were examined. Particular focus included characteristics of children/adolescents and older adults, as well as the relationship between substance misuse and PES presenters. Adults presenting to PES more than three times were more likely to have a chronic mental illness, personality disorder, history of psychiatric treatment, and a history of noncompliance with treatment than those who presented three times or less. Significant differences were found between urban and suburban PESs, in …


Predictors Of Large Women's Satisfaction With Health Care, Virginia M. Koutsouros Jan 2003

Predictors Of Large Women's Satisfaction With Health Care, Virginia M. Koutsouros

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This cross-sectional observational study identifies specific predictors of large women's satisfaction with health care and participation in preventive care as measured by pelvic screening examinations. A total of 87 large adult women completed a survey, including measures of self-objectification, affective experience, satisfaction with health care, and health care locus of control. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze results. The hypotheses of this study were as follows: (1) BMI, self-objectification, negative affect and locus of control will predict satisfaction with medical care; (2) pelvic screening examinations and patient satisfaction with medical care will be positively related (3) self-objectification and negative …


Different Forms Of Abuse In The Eating Disorders: Impact On Schema-Level Cognitions, Christine C. Ganis Jan 2003

Different Forms Of Abuse In The Eating Disorders: Impact On Schema-Level Cognitions, Christine C. Ganis

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Cognitive theory suggests that traumatic experiences impact on psychopathology via the development of unconditional negative cognitions (core beliefs or schema). This study examined the links between types of childhood trauma and core beliefs in an eating-disordered population. Chart reviews were conducted for 91 eating-disordered women in treatment. Each woman was asked about a history of 4 types of trauma, and completed a standardized measure of core beliefs. This study failed to find links between those women who reported childhood trauma and their core beliefs. Regression analysis predicted 4 schema (Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Vulnerability to Harm and Subjugation) that were associated …


Evaluation Of The Maudsley Addiction Profile (Map) For Use With An American Substance Abuse Population, Hannelore T. Barbieri Jan 2003

Evaluation Of The Maudsley Addiction Profile (Map) For Use With An American Substance Abuse Population, Hannelore T. Barbieri

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Multi-dimensional instruments in the addiction field developed in the United States as well as in other countries are limited. The Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP), a brief, multi-dimensional instrument developed in the United Kingdom (UK), is designed to assess the treatment outcome of individuals with alcohol and/or drug (AOD) problems and associated issues. This measure consists of sixty items across the domains of substance use, health risk, physical/ psychological health and personal/social functioning. The MAP, which has been validated on British as well as on several European samples of substance abusers, has been suggested for further validation. The current study was …


Patients Presenting For Psychiatric Emergency Services : Clinical Characteristics, Psychosocial Stressors And Disposition, Kristen Maura Cirelli Jan 2003

Patients Presenting For Psychiatric Emergency Services : Clinical Characteristics, Psychosocial Stressors And Disposition, Kristen Maura Cirelli

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of 600 individuals who presented to two Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) located in one county of southern New Jersey. A retrospective chart analysis investigated demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables that describe the PES presenter. It also examined how these variables differ between the urban and suburban sites, and how they affected the disposition decision. Because there is a paucity of information investigating the role that psychosocial stressors play, there was specific focus on psychosocial stressors as defined by Axis IV of the multiaxial system outlined in the American Psychiatric Association's …


Understanding Countertransference With Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder : An Exploratory Quantitative Investigation, Michelle Saxen Hunt Jan 2003

Understanding Countertransference With Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder : An Exploratory Quantitative Investigation, Michelle Saxen Hunt

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study surveyed 58 psychologists regarding their countertransference (CT) behaviors, CT management ability, empathy, and working alliances when treating patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Common positive and negative CT behaviors were identified when treating their typical patient with BPD. As predicted, results yielded negative correlations between therapists' CT behaviors and their CT management ability, working alliance, and empathy, as well as a positive correlation between therapists' CT management and working alliance, linking CT management to positive treatment outcomes. Therapists' level of experience and theoretical orientation were also examined, finding no significant impact on CT behaviors, CT management, or …


Measuring Anger In A Prison Population Using The Anger Disorders Scale And The Personality Assessment Inventory, Michael R. Wydo Jan 2003

Measuring Anger In A Prison Population Using The Anger Disorders Scale And The Personality Assessment Inventory, Michael R. Wydo

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

In comparison with other emotions, such as anxiety and depression, the research literature on anger-related problems is lacking. Anger, and anger-related behaviors pose a critical problem to clinicians and researchers. The inability to identify and treat individuals with a propensity toward aggressive behavior is related to the insufficient empirical evidence defining anger as a diagnosable disorder. An ongoing argument has existed as to the causes and related concepts of anger and aggression. The present study validates a new assessment measure for anger and explores the correlation between prisoners' offense records and specific type of anger expression. The Anger Disorder Scale …


The Distress Thermometer: Validity In A General Cancer Population, Carole S. Moretz Jan 2002

The Distress Thermometer: Validity In A General Cancer Population, Carole S. Moretz

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This work reports on the psychometric properties of a new measure designed to screen for distress in large populations of cancer patients. The Distress Thermometer (Holland et al., 2000) was tested in a group of 239 heterogeneously diagnosed cancer patients. It was found to be internally consistent (a= 0.86) and to exhibit a reliable eight-factor solution. It displayed acceptable concurrent validity (p ≤ 0.0001) when compared to the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (deHaes et al., 1994), the Functional Living Index Cancer (Schipper et al., 1984) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis, 1993). It was also found to be a sensitive measure …


Psychometric Investigation Of The Validity And Reliability Of The Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised In A Sample Of Psychotic Outpatients, John James Blue Jan 2002

Psychometric Investigation Of The Validity And Reliability Of The Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised In A Sample Of Psychotic Outpatients, John James Blue

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Refractory auditory hallucinations are a continuing problem in the treatment of schizophrenic, schizoaffective and psychotically depressed patient populations as well as patients with psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified. To date, little is known about the assessment of such hallucinatory states. Currently there are only a few instruments designed to examine the characteristics of auditory hallucinations. The study examined the reliability and validity of the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised (BAVQ-R) in a sample of psychotic outpatients experiencing refractory auditory hallucinations. The present study consisted of 91 subjects; 57 men and 34 women selected from four separate community outpatient settings, who experienced …


Becoming Visible : A Qualitative Analysis Of Female To Male Transsexuals' Coming Out Experiences, Emily R. Chernicoff Jan 2002

Becoming Visible : A Qualitative Analysis Of Female To Male Transsexuals' Coming Out Experiences, Emily R. Chernicoff

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This research explores the coming-out processes of 11 transgendered individuals who underwent female-to-male sex reassignment. Its purpose is to expand upon the cultural literacy of clinicians called upon to support transgendered clients who present with the intent to transition. The thesis is predicated on the argument that the differently-gendered constitute an understudied and discrete cultural minority, similar to ethnic, racial and sexual minorities, for whom identity formation is similarly impacted by socio-cultural influences. Qualitative content analysis of transcribed semi-structured interviews was conducted. Phase analysis was found to parallel both Cass's 1979 stage-model theory of sexual minority identity formation, and Devor's …


Comprehensive Profile Of Adult Outpatient Psychotherapy Treatment Responders, Nonresponders, And Negative Responders In A Naturalistic Treatment Setting , Anya Genieser-Derosa Jan 2002

Comprehensive Profile Of Adult Outpatient Psychotherapy Treatment Responders, Nonresponders, And Negative Responders In A Naturalistic Treatment Setting , Anya Genieser-Derosa

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Since its inception, the effectiveness of psychotherapy as a treatment for psychological distress has been challenged vigorously. During the past 5 decades, increasingly sophisticated research studies have demonstrated psychotherapy effective in treating a variety ofpsychological disorders in the majority of individuals who avail themselves of treatment. Moreover, despite fierce competition among proponents of various psychotherapy models attempting to prove their model of choice most effective, research findings suggest the major models of psychotherapy are all equally effective in treating most individuals. Some have therefore shifted their research focus to determining the factors common to major psychotherapies that promote treatment success. …


Concurrent Deficits In Behavior Inhibition, Non-Verbal Working Memory And Psychological Sense Of Time In Adhd, Roya D. Mccloskey Jan 2002

Concurrent Deficits In Behavior Inhibition, Non-Verbal Working Memory And Psychological Sense Of Time In Adhd, Roya D. Mccloskey

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

According to the Hybrid Model of Executive Function for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hyperactive and combined types, a delay in behavior inhibition causes secondary deficits in four executive function; non-verbal working memory, verbal working memory, reconstitution and self-regulation of affect/motivation/arousal. The deficit in non-verbal working memory causes a deficit in psychological sense of time, which in tum impairs self-regulation in those with ADHD. This single case study investigated concurrent deficits in behavior inhibition, non-verbal working memory and psychological sense of time in a 1O-year-old male with ADHD, combined type. Three interrelated components of behavior inhibition were measured by the …


Defining The Personality Characteristics Of Delinquent Adolescent Recividists, Barbara J. Sulik Jan 2002

Defining The Personality Characteristics Of Delinquent Adolescent Recividists, Barbara J. Sulik

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study was done to provide basic empirical data on the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory with the focus on establishing a personality profile for recidivistic juvenile offenders. The subjects of this study consisted of four groups of male and female adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 years. The control group (n = 50) consisted of adolescents not adjudicated either delinquent or dependent. The dependent group (n = 50) consisted of adolescents not adjudicated delinquent and fitting the diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder. The delinquent group (n = 50) consisted of adolescents that were diagnosed as conduct disordered and …


Comparison Of Self- And Significant Other-Rated Expression Of Anger Using The Mad-As And The So-Mad-As, Donna Marie Martin Jan 2002

Comparison Of Self- And Significant Other-Rated Expression Of Anger Using The Mad-As And The So-Mad-As, Donna Marie Martin

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study proposed to advance the treatment of anger disorders by exploring the psychometric properties of the MAD-AS scale, an anger assessment tool. Research sought to build on prior investigation of the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the MAD-AS in an inpatient setting by examining this measure using outpatient subjects. Several important findings were obtained in this study. Research results suggest that the MAD-AS represents a significant improvement over some existing anger measures in terms of its brevity, ease of administration, and standardization of scoring. The MAD-AS appears to possess sound psychometric properties in terms of its reliability …


Structured Multifaceted Cognitive Behaviorally Oriented Assessment And Treatment Of Nonadherence To Medical Advice : A Case Study, Cheryl A. Patchin Jan 2002

Structured Multifaceted Cognitive Behaviorally Oriented Assessment And Treatment Of Nonadherence To Medical Advice : A Case Study, Cheryl A. Patchin

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The incidence of nonadherence to medical advice is estimated to be as high as 98%, with a typical range of 30% to 60%. This case study focused on the assessment and treatment of a patient suffering from uncontrolled essential hypertension, who was inconsistent in her adherence to the prescribed medical regimen and who demonstrated a significant health risk as a result. From baseline (pretreatment) to termination (followup), the patient attended a total of 9 sessions over a 12-week period. Assessment involved clinical interviews and an original self-administered instrument, the Health Behavior Profiling Questionnaire (HBPQ). The HBPQ was designed to assess …


Adult Attachment Disturbances In Panic Disorder : A Comparison With Social Phobia And Specific Phobia , Jesus A. Salas Jan 2002

Adult Attachment Disturbances In Panic Disorder : A Comparison With Social Phobia And Specific Phobia , Jesus A. Salas

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The present study used attachment theory as a framework to explore the role of attachment related constructs as potential risk factors for panic disorder. A group of panic disordered participants were compared with a group of social phobics, a group of specific phobics (fearful flyers), and a group of nonclinical controls. The groups were compared on attachment dimensions, fear of emotions, fear of bodily changes, death attitudes, information processing style and self-efficacy. Results indicated that the panic disorder group and control group differed in a number ofways. Panic disordered participants evidenced higher levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance than …


Validity Of The Mizes Anorectic Cognitions Questionnaire-Revised With A Racially Mixed, Nonclinical Population Of 14- To 19-Year-Old Adolescents, Robert P. Guillard, Jr. Jan 2002

Validity Of The Mizes Anorectic Cognitions Questionnaire-Revised With A Racially Mixed, Nonclinical Population Of 14- To 19-Year-Old Adolescents, Robert P. Guillard, Jr.

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

No abstract provided.