Elise E. Labbé

Magnetic resonance imaging scanning procedures: Development of phobic response during scan and at one-month follow-up

Between 5 and 10% of patients attempting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan become claustrophobic during the procedure. There has been a paucity of reported research in this area. This study was designed to investigate MRI-related phobia and identify risk factors for claustrophobia development. There were 108 subjects who had never had a scan, 57 males and 51 females, ranging in age from 19 to 72 years (mean age of 43 years). Subjects were evaluated before and after the scan and contacted for 1-month follow-up. Major findings included the following: (1) prescan report of pain was significantly correlated with stopping the scan, (2) prescan Fear Survey Schedule scores correlated significantly with reported claustrophic feelings after the scan, and (3) stopping the scan correlated significantly with follow-up report of an increase in claustrophobic feelings. Conclusions were that prescan pain and fear assessment may help predict, and allow intervention in, phobic response during and after the MRI scan. Implications for referring physicians and MRI technicians are discussed.

Treatment of Childhood Migraine With Autogenic Training and Skin Temperature Biofeedback: A Component Analysis

Using a controlled group outcome design, skin temperature biofeedback with autogenic training and autogenic training only was compared to a waiting list as a treatment for childhood headache. Thirty children with migraine headaches, ages 7 to 18 years were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions. Statistical analyses of headache activity indicated that children in the treatment groups improved in headache frequency and duration but not intensity as compared to the waiting list control group. These findings were consistent through a 6 month follow‐up. In terms of clinical improvement, 80% of the biofeedback group, 50% of the autogenics group, and none of the waiting list control group were symptom‐free. These findings were discussed in relation to past childhood headache studies and implications for current treatment of children with headaches.

Psychosocial Factors and Prediction of Headaches in College Adults

The current study evaluated psychosocial variables that may contribute to the experience of headache in college adults. One hundred ninety‐nine participants, 103 women and 96 men, completed head pain logs for 4 weeks after completing measures assessing psychosocial variables. Multiple regression analyses indicated that level of emotional functioning, perception of stress, and gender were predictive of future headache frequency, intensity, and duration. Family history and health habits did not predict headache activity. These findings are consistent with research investigating psychosocial variables and headache activity.

AEROBIC EXERCISE IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENTS

A small group of psychiatrically institutionalized adolescents (16 boys, 11 girls) were assigned to a three-day-per-week running/aerobic exercise program or a regular physical activity class. The complete program continued over 9 weeks, with 11 subjects remaining throughout the program. Dependent measures of body-mass index, timed performance on a one-mile run, resting, exercise, and recovery heart rates, and measures of depression, mood-states, and self-efficacy were assessed pre-, mid-, and post-9-wk. treatment and at a 4-wk. follow-up. Improvements in depression, anxiety, hostility, confused thinking, and fatigue were shown in treated girls, with increases in vigor and self-efficacy for all treated subjects.

Behavioral treatment of elective mutism: A review of the literature

Abstract This paper reviews the behavioral treatment literature concerning elective mutism. Reluctant speech is differentiated from and compared to elective mutism. Twentynine studies were reviewed in terms of treatment strategy, experimental design and clinical outcome. It was concluded that behavioral interventions have advanced the area, but that more rigorous research using single-case methodology is now needed. In order to guide future research, a recommended teratment strategy was offered.

Effects of consistent aerobic exercise on the psychological functioning of women.

Effects of consistent aerobic exercise on depression, anxiety, and health locus of control for a group of nonclinical inactive women were investigated. Type A and Type H (hard-driving) behavioral styles were evaluated to determine whether these traits were related to exercise improvement. 26 women were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (n = 10) or exercise with cognitive strategy instructions (n = 16). All subjects increased distance run in 12-min. run test from pre-to posttest. Women improved in depression and trait anxiety. Depression was significantly correlated with body mass index at end of program. Posttest state-anxiety was significantly correlated with 6-wk. follow-up of exercise frequency. No significant difference in pre- and posttest health locus of control was found. Type H scores were significantly correlated with number of exercise sessions attended. Consistent aerobic exercise had a positive effect on psychological functioning, and some characteristics may affect exercise improvement.

Evaluating the Interplay Between Spirituality, Personality and Stress

Spirituality and the big five personality traits may be risk or protective factors for coping with stress. We hypothesized young adults who reported higher spirituality ratings would demonstrate lower sympathetic nervous system arousal and better emotional coping when exposed to a laboratory stressor compared to those who rated themselves lower in spirituality. We also compared spirituality groups on trait anger, neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and openness to experience. Eighty participants completed trait-state anger, personality and spirituality questionnaires and were grouped into low, average and high spirituality. Participants’ physiological responses were monitored before and during a stressful event. Significant differences were found between low, average and high spirituality groups’ respiration rate and emotional response to the stressor. Significant differences were also found between spirituality groups in extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, trait anger and neuroticism. Females reported higher levels of spirituality and conscientiousness than males.

Compensation and non-compensation chronic pain patients compared for DSM-III operational diagnoses.

&NA; Two hundred and eighty‐three mixed chronic pain patients, consecutive admissions, were diagnostically evaluated as per DSM‐III, Axis I, Axis II or personality type psychiatric operational criteria. Controlling for primary organic treatment diagnosis, age and race, statistical comparisons were made between male compensation patients (n = 93) and male non‐compensation patients (n = 23) and between female compensation patients (n = 38) and female non‐compensation patients (n = 28) for all DSM‐III diagnoses. Male compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for these diagnostic groups: conversion disorder (somatosensory type); combined personality disorders; and passive‐aggressive personality disorder. Male non‐compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for these diagnostic groups: no diagnosis on Axis I; combined personality types; and compulsive personality type. Female compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for conversion disorder (somatosensory) only. Female non‐compensation patients were significantly overrepresented for generalized anxiety disorder and combined anxiety syndromes. Compensation chronic pain patients may be at risk for some psychiatric disorders not previously identified: conversion disorder (somatosensory), and personality disorders.

Self-Efficacy and Anxiety and Their Relationship to Training and Race Performance:

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of task-specific and general measures of physical self-efficacy in a competitive sports setting and how these measures relate to anxiety and actual running performance. 47 members of a running club and 16 members of a university track team completed measures assessing general and task-specific self-efficacy, anxiety, and training experience and were asked to run in three running events. Associations among these variables and running performance, examined by correlational and regression analyses, indicated that race finishing time was significantly related to a number of training variables, predicted performance, and measures of self-efficacy; however, state and trait anxiety were not significantly related to pace of race. Results suggest that a task-specific measure of self-efficacy is the better predictor of performance in a race than a general measure of self-efficacy.

COGNITIVE STRATEGIES AND PERSONALITY VARIABLES IN ADHERENCE TO EXERCISE

Variables associated with adherence to a 6-wk. jogging program were examined in a group of 26 sedentary women, who received instruction and reinforcement for their efforts: one group of 16 received instruction in cognitive self-statements; the other group of 10 did not. Measures included a battery of psychological questionnaires, percentage of body fat, weight, height, and distance run in a 12-min. test. Subjects maintained logs in which they recorded frequency and duration of exercise. Follow-up data were collected at 6-wk. and 6-mo. postprogram. Initial compliance was related to scores on the Self-motivation Inventory, the Type H (Hard-driving) scale of the Jenkins Activity Survey, and the State Anxiety Scale. At 6-mo. follow-up, none of the measures were significantly correlated with exercise frequency.