Curtis D. Booraem

Adult Psychopathology on the MMPI and Dysfunctional Families of Origin

Adults who were raised in dysfunctional families demonstrate psychopathology on the MMPI. 396 (140 men, 256 women) adult clients (mean age = 35 yr.) from dysfunctional families who were seeking treatment at a university counseling center were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Analysis showed significantly elevated scores on F, Total Pathology, Depression, Psychopathic Deviance, Psychasthenia, Schizophrenia, and Social Introversion scales by these subjects from families with a history of physical, sexual, emotional abuse, or alcoholism. This study contributes to the growing body of empirical research on the relationship between dysfunctional families of origin and adult psychopathology.

Positive and Negative Contrast in Successive Nondifferential Conditioning: A New Approach to Between-Subjects Methodology

Summary Three groups of rats were trained to asymptote and then extinguished in a straight runway in order to have equivalent learning prior to a successive nondifferential conditioning experiment. The groups were then retrained under high, medium, and low reinforcement conditions for 18 trials. Finally all Ss were observed for 18 more trials under the medium reinforcement condition. Significant positive and negative contrast effects were found in mean runway speeds. The findings support the hypothesis that previous negative findings with respect to positive contrast are due to research designs that define positive contrast as a response above the organisms physiological maximum response possibility.

Combined Medical and Psychological Treatment of Postchemotherapy Nausea and Vomiting: A Case Study:

The current case study illustrates the innovative potential of combined medical and psychological treatment of postchemotherapy nausea and vomiting for cancer patients. A 58-yr.-old male patient diagnosed with leukemia and on a weekly cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) treatment protocol, experienced violent vomiting episodes approximately 3 hr. after each injection. Emesis was so severe that the patient considered terminating treatment. Control was attempted with antiemetics (Compazine, Reglan), an antianxiety agent (Valium), an hypnotic (Dalmane), canabinol, hypnosis, and relaxation training without success. A re-examination of these strategies employing experimental rigor and data-responsive experimental designs indicated how success can be achieved without the necessity of new interventions. The patient experienced complete emetic relief and at 3-yr. follow-up remained symptom-free.