Eric Seemann

Personality and psychological reactance: extending the nomological net

Psychological reactance is a construct that has potential wide ranging counseling implications. Recently, researchers have argued that reactance is characterological in nature and have attempted to delineate its nomological network. This study extends the nomological network of psychological reactance using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS). Personality type was found to be related to psychological reactance as measured by the TRS. The relationship between the TRS and MBTI, while significant, is complicated by a significant three-way interaction between Extraversion-Introversion, Intuition-Sensing and Thinking-Feeling. More specifically, thinkers consistently reported higher levels of psychological reactance than did Feelers, and intuitive-thinkers tended to report higher levels of psychological reactance than did sensing-thinkers.

Adolescents' Health Habits, Coping Styles and Self-Concept Are Predicted by Exposure to Interparental Conflict

Abstract We compared self-reported health habits, coping styles (CRI), and self-concept (MSCS) in late adolescents (17–19 year-olds) with high-and low-conflict family history. The data confirmed that high family conflict had a negative impact on a variety of health habits or related attitudes, including less sleep, and compromised well-being. Total self-concept scores were lower for high-conflict students as well as scores in the Family, Affective, and Competence subscales. High family conflict also fostered coping styles that were avoidant. The data lend support for biopsychosocial models that postulate family conflict produces stress which can, in turn, have a negative impact on health.

Sufentanil versus Fentanyl: Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction with Intrathecal Pain Management

Objectives:  This study compared fentanyl vs. sufentanil in intrathecal pain pumps. H1: both reduce patient subjective pain ratings. H2: sufentanil is more effective than fentanyl. H3: overall satisfaction with pain control is greater with sufentanil.

The Effects of Pre-treatment Depressive Symptoms on Quality of Life Across Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain

Recent studies suggest that chronic pain affects millions and carries significant physical, financial, and social burdens, and thus adversely affects quality of life (QOL). Cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain (CBTp) is a non-pharmacological treatment method which has been shown to reduce a sufferer’s experience of chronic pain and improve overall QOL. These and other studies also indicate that affective symptoms likely impact the effectiveness of CBTp. The current study focused on the effects of depressive symptoms on changes in QOL ratings across a 12-session CBT for chronic pain. Participants in this study (n = 313; mean age = 46.83 years, SD = 10.99, range = 19.1–79.9, 63.9% female, 83.9% Caucasian) were current patients of a mid-sized tertiary multidisciplinary outpatient chronic pain treatment facility. Progress through CBTp was assessed using QOL as a dependent variable and analyzed using RMANOVAs. All participants showed improvements in QOL ratings across the CBTp period, but greater improvements were seen in participants in the low depression category than in the high or moderate depression category. This study also confirms the clinical utility of the BDI-II with chronic pain patients.