George A. Gaither

The Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale: Reliablity and Validity Within a Heterosexual College Student Sample

The Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS; Kalichman & Rompa, 1995) is a measure of the propensity to seek out novel or risky sexual stimulation. This measure has been consistently related to HIV-risk behavior in several different samples of gay men and with behavioral correlates of sexual permissiveness in college students. Five hundred twenty-eight college students completed the SSSS and several other sexuality and personality measures. The results reveal significant gender differences on the SSSS and similar (although stronger among women) patterns of significant correlations with sexually permissive characteristics and behaviors. Furthermore, SSSS scores were more highly correlated with sexual measures, whereas a more general measure of sensation seeking was more highly correlated with general personality measures. We discuss implications for use of the SSSS by sexuality educators and sex therapists.

Borderline personality and psychotropic medication prescription in an outpatient psychiatry clinic

Borderline personality is a complex disorder and pharmacological intervention is typically focused on target symptoms. Previous studies indicate that patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are prescribed a greater number of psychotropic medications than those without BPD. However, these studies were self-report in design and/or preceded the use of newer psychotropic medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In this study, we explored among 280 psychiatric outpatients the relationships between an axis II diagnosis of BPD and the number of axis I diagnoses, psychotropic medications, and psychotherapy sessions. Compared to those with other types of personality disorders (n=128) or no personality disorder at all (n=91), those with BPD (n=61) were diagnosed with significantly more axis I disorders, prescribed significantly more psychotropic medications, and attended significantly more psychotherapy sessions. These findings suggest that: (1) BPD patients will probably be prescribed more psychotropic medications than other psychiatric outpatients, and (2) in addition to psychotropic medication prescription, there may be additional variables (e.g., psychotherapy sessions) that make a meaningful contribution to the overall healthcare utilization among those with BPD.

The relationships among childhood abuse, borderline personality, and self-harm behavior in psychiatric inpatients.

The current study was undertaken to explore the relationships among childhood abuse subtypes (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; witnessing violence), three diagnostic screenings for borderline personality disorder (BPD), and self-harm behavior. Psychiatric inpatients (N = 77) were evaluated for childhood abuse histories through a survey. Participants also underwent assessment for BPD using a self-report measure, clinical diagnosis, and a DSM-IV checklist. Finally, each was assessed for self-harm behavior using the 22-item Self-Harm Inventory (SHI). Compared with non-abused participants, those with abuse histories (with the exception of witnessing violence) had a significantly greater number of BPD confirmations (i.e., self-report, clinical diagnosis, DSM-IV checklist) as well as self-harm behaviors. When examining the total number of endorsed abuse subtypes, there was a significant correlation with the number of self-harm behaviors, but not the number of BPD diagnoses. Among psychiatric inpatients, childhood abuse demonstrates a complex relationship to BPD diagnoses and self-harm behavior.

The effect of stimulus content on volunteering for sexual interest research among college students

Much of the literature on volunteer bias in sexual interest research has been limited to either identifying variables on which volunteers differ from nonvolunteers or examining how the intrusiveness of the meaurement device affects volunteer rates. The present study was designed to examine whether stimulus content would affect volunteer rates and volunteer/non‐volunteer differences in a large sample of college students (206 men and 358 women). The study also sought to determine whether such findings could also apply to research that recruits from exclusively heterosexual samples. Students completed questionnaires in small groups and were asked whether they would be willing to volunteer for studies that would involve viewing and rating five different types of sexually explicit images (nude men, nude women, heterosexual behavior, male homosexual behavior, and female homosexual behavior). Results indicate that men and women differed in the types of images that they would volunteer to view, based upon the content of the images. Furthermore, volunteers for each type of image reported significantly greater self‐monitoring as well as sexual and general sensation seeking than did nonvolunteers, while differences on other measures were less consistent. Discussion is given to specific ways in which the findings and gen‐eralizability of sexual interest study results can be affected.

Diagnostic approaches to borderline personality and their relationship to self-harm behavior

OBJECT: This study was designed to explore the relationship, if any, between diagnostic approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the extent of self-harm behavior among psychiatric inpatients. METHOD: Newly admitted psychiatric inpatients (N =77) were evaluated for BPD using a self-report measure, clinical diagnosis, and a DSM-IV checklist. All participants were assessed for self-harm behavior using the 22-item Self-Harm Inventory (SHI). RESULTS: Participants with a clinical diagnosis of BPD showed the highest prevalence of, and most potentially lethal, types of self-harm behavior, followed by those diagnosed as BPD by the DSM-IV checklist, and then by self-report measure. Participants diagnosed as BPD on all three measures showed the highest mean number of self-harm and potentially lethal behavior types. Prevalence and potential lethality decreased successively among those who were diagnosed as BPD on two measures versus one measure versus no diagnosis of BPD. CONCLUSION: Self-harm behavior appears to be a clinically concordant behavior type among the diagnostic approaches to BPD used in this study. Clinical diagnosis appears most sensitive to self-harm behavior, compared with self-report and DSM-IV checklist.OBJECT: This study was designed to explore the relationship, if any, between diagnostic approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the extent of self-harm behavior among psychiatric inpatients. METHOD: Newly admitted psychiatric inpatients (N =77) were evaluated for BPD using a self-report measure, clinical diagnosis, and a DSM-IV checklist. All participants were assessed for self-harm behavior using the 22-item Self-Harm Inventory (SHI). RESULTS: Participants with a clinical diagnosis of BPD showed the highest prevalence of, and most potentially lethal, types of self-harm behavior, followed by those diagnosed as BPD by the DSM-IV checklist, and then by self-report measure. Participants diagnosed as BPD on all three measures showed the highest mean number of self-harm and potentially lethal behavior types. Prevalence and potential lethality decreased successively among those who were diagnosed as BPD on two measures versus one measure versus no diagnosis of BPD. CONCLUSION: Self-harm behavior a...

Psychometrics and Comparison of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory and the Sexual Compulsivity Scale in a Male College Student Sample

The current study examined and compared the psychometric properties of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory in male college students. Participants included 334 male undergraduate students enrolled in Introductory Psychology courses. Zero-order correlation analyses were conducted and statistically compared to identify sexual behaviors and constructs significantly and differentially related to scores on the CSBI and SCS. Examination of the results suggests both of the compulsivity scales have good evidence for reliability and validity in a male college student sample, but may measure somewhat different aspects of compulsivity. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Multiple psychiatric diagnoses and self-harm behavior

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine among psychiatric inpatients (N=110) the relationship, if any, between the number of Axis I diagnoses and the number of self-harm behaviors (SHBs). We also wished to explore the role of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in mediating this possible relationship. Method We examined discharge diagnoses in relationship to scores on the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) for all participants as well as by BPD status. Results For the entire sample, there was a significant correlation between the number of Axis I disorders and the number of SHBs [Spearmans rho(110)=0.21, p=0.03]. When examining this relationship in terms of BPD status, there were no significant between-group differences in the number of Axis I diagnoses. While patients diagnosed with BPD endorsed significantly more SHBs (M=9.53, SD=3.89) than nonBPD patients (M=5.32, SD=3.89), there was only a significant correlation between the number of Axis I disorders and SHB for the nonBPD, but not the BPD subsample. Conclusions Among psychiatric inpatients, there is a relationship between the number of Axis I diagnoses and the number of SHBs.

Childhood trauma and adult somatic preoccupation by body area among women in an internal medicine setting: a pilot study

Objective: This study was designed to explore the relationship between three types of abuse in childhood and their relationship to somatic preoccupation, in general and by body area, in adulthood. Method: Eighty-five women in an internal medicine clinic completed self-report measures of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse as well as the Bradford Somatic Inventory. Results: Using simple correlations, all three types of abuse were positively related to current somatic preoccupation. Using multiple regression analysis that included demographic variables (education and age) and the three forms of childhood abuse, only the demographic variables and sexual abuse were uniquely predictive of somatic preoccupation. To determine the relationship between childhood abuse and somatic symptoms based on body area (head, chest, stomach, throat) and fatigue, a series of multiple regression analyses were performed. The chest and throat areas were significant, but no abuse variable was uniquely predictive. Conclusions: Among females in adulthood, all studied forms of abuse in childhood appear to contribute to general somatic preoccupation, as well as specific somatic symptoms in the chest and throat areas. Sexual abuse, specifically, is a unique predictor for general somatic preoccupation, but not necessarily specific body areas.

Concerns about Career Stigma by Military Parents of Children with Psychiatric Illness

Stigma is known to have deleterious effects on individuals with psychiatric disorders as well as their family members. In this study, we examined stigma with regard to career concerns among active duty members of the Air Force with children who have psychiatric disorders. Albeit a weak relationship, a bivariate correlation confirmed a significant relationship between the childs mental health utilization (i.e., severity of illness) and participants concerns about the potential effects on their military (r = 0.423, p < 0.01), as well as civilian (r = 0.353, p < 0.01), careers. These findings indicate that among military members with children who have psychiatric disorders, illness severity significantly relates to concerns about the impact of stigma on careers, particularly military careers.

Multiple Types of Childhood Trauma and Borderline Personality Symptomatology Among a Sample of Diabetic Patients

Trauma in childhood appears to demonstrate a correlation with borderline personality in adulthood, suggesting that this is one of possibly several contributory variables to the disorder. However, these correlations have only been studied in psychiatric populations. In the following study, the authors examined among diabetics (N = 35) four childhood trauma variables (i.e., sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; the witnessing of violence) and their relationship to responses on two self-report measures for borderline personality symptomatology (i.e., the borderline personality scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 and the Self-Harm Inventory). The number of self-reported abuses in childhood demonstrated robust correlations with both measures of borderline personality symptomatology. When comparing group differences between those with-versus those-without borderline personality symptomatology, there were no statistically significant differences for any of the three types of trauma, although clearly larger percentages of borderline patients reported such trauma, with the exception of witnessing violence. Potential implications of these findings are discussed. Language: en