Helen Lindner

A brief assessment of irrational thinking : The shortened General Attitude and Belief Scale

Three studies were undertaken to develop andvalidate a shortened measure of irrational thinkingbased on Bernards version of the General Attitude andBelief Scale (GABS). In experiment 1 the responses of 356 participants were analyzed to derive 26items from the 55 items of the GABS to form theshortened General Attitude and Belief Scale (SGABS).Experiment 2 established that correlations between the subscales of the GABS and the SGABS (completed3 days apart by 90 participants) ranged from .60 to .77.In experiment 3, moderately significant test-retestcorrelations (.65 to .87) were found between subscale scores obtained from the SGABS, administered 3days apartto 36 participants. Although a moderate butsignificant correlation (r = .41) was found between theSGABS and the Beck Depression Inventory, a significantly higher correlation (r = .77) was found betweenthe SGABS and the Irrational Belief Scale. It wasconcluded that the SGABS provided a brief method ofassessing multidimensional aspects of irrationalthinking with substantial test-retest reliability andconstruct validity.

What skills do primary health care professionals need to provide effective self-management support?: seeking consumer perspectives

This research aimed to identify the skills required by primary health care (PHC) professionals to provide effective chronic condition prevention and self-management support, according to the perceptions of a sample of Australian consumers and carers. Qualitative data were collected and integrated from a focus group, key informant interviews and National Stakeholder meetings and a National Workshop, supported by an extensive literature review. With the exception of health professionals specifically trained or currently working in this area, consumers and carers perceive there is a lack of understanding, competence and practice of chronic condition prevention and self-management support among PHC professionals. The PHC workforce appears not to have the full set of skills needed to meet the growing burden of chronic conditions on the health system. Recommendations include education and training that focuses on improved communication skills, knowledge of community support resources, identification of consumers’ strengths and current capacities, collaborative care with other health professionals, consumers and carers and psychosocial skills to understand the impact of chronic conditions from the person’s perspective.

Relationship of illness perceptions with depression among individuals diagnosed with lupus.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of illness perceptions, as outlined in the Self‐Regulatory Model of illness, with depression among individuals diagnosed with lupus. Methods: A mail‐out questionnaire was completed by 154 members of the Australia Lupus Foundation and Lupus Foundation of New South Wales. Each questionnaire consisted of a Lupus Medical and Symptoms Questionnaire, the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire‐Revised and the Cardiac Depression Scale. Results: Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that individuals who reported a perception of their illness as having negative life consequences, an unpredictable nature and themselves possessing little understanding of lupus, reported high levels of depression. Conclusions: This study indicated the existence of a high level of depressive symptoms among individuals diagnosed with lupus, and reinforces the need for screening procedures in chronic illness, and treatment interventions that target maladaptive illness perceptions. Depression and Anxiety, 2009.

Self-reported sleep in systemic lupus erythematosus

The objectives of the study were to assess sleep disturbances in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to compare these with a working sample and a treatment-seeking sample reporting insomnia. The primary sample was 172 people with SLE. This sample represented 32% of all members of two lupus support association. Two comparison samples were used: 223 adults who expressed interest in taking part in a psychological treatment for sleep problems and 456 Australian adults who were working at a large organization. All individuals completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; 6). Data derived from the PSQI included total sleep time, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, as well as the global and seven component scores. The SLE sample reported significantly worse sleep on all parameters than the working sample, but significantly better sleep than the sample of those seeking treatment for sleep disorders, except for sleep onset latency. The percentages scoring >5 on the PSQI global score was 80.5% for SLE, 91.5% for those seeking treatment for sleep disorders, and 28.5% for the working sample. PSQI component scores for the SLE group more closely resembled those of the treatment-seeking group. Self-reported sleep in this sample of people with SLE was significantly better on most parameters than that of a group seeking treatment for sleep disorders. However, the values obtained tended to be worse than previous reports and indicated less than optimal sleep. However, the low response rate of the sample was of concern and may indicate that the sample was biased. The present results suggest that sleep disturbance is common in those with SLE and deserves more attention in a more representative sample.

Coping Processes in Competitive Gymnasts: Gender Differences

The Ways of Coping with Sport questionnaire was used to investigate coping with performance problems in a sample of 115 adolescent gymnasts. The coping processes reported most frequently by the total sample of gymnasts were Increased Effort and Resolve, Wishful Thinking, Seeking Social Support, and Problem-focused Coping. Analysis of gender differences by multivariate analysis of variance indicated that, compared with males, the female gymnasts were more likely to use Seeking Social Support to cope with slumps in performance. The findings were consistent with previous research on coping in sporting and nonsporting populations.

The role of coping, anxiety, and stress in depression post-acute coronary syndrome

Abstract Depressive symptoms are common and can affect prognosis following acute coronary syndromes (ACS). This study examined the psychological factors, coping, anxiety, and perceived stress associated with depression following ACS. Psychological variables were assessed in 15 females and 66 males (M = 57 years, SD = 12). Repeated measures at 2, 12, and 24 weeks post-ACS compared depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and coping resources as determined by the Cardiac Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Coping Resources Inventory. Depression, anxiety, and perceived stress remained high in the depressed group across time. Coping scores at 2 weeks post-ACS predicted depression scores at 24 weeks post-ACS. It appears that trait anxiety and coping resources are related to depressive symptoms post-ACS.

Co-morbid depression and chronic illness related to coping and physical and mental health status

A partial latent structural regression analysis was used to evaluate the role of coping resources, depression, diet and exercise on mental and physical health status. The sample consisted of 113 participants (59 females and 54 males) with a mean age of 59.38 years (SD = 10.52). Coping resources, depression and exercise explained 52 and 26% of the variance in mental and physical health status, respectively. Fewer coping resources predicted higher levels of depression and both predicted worse mental health. Only higher levels of depression predicted worse physical health status. There were also significant indirect effects of coping on mental and physical health status through depression. The development of cognitive, social and emotional coping strategies is important for managing depression and supporting positive mental health. These results highlight the important role of health psychologists in the care of individuals with chronic illness. Additionally, the management of depression is important in maintaining positive physical health.

A biopsychosocial model for depressive symptoms following acute coronary syndromes.

A partial latent structural regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of perceived stress and coping resources on depression following acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in a sample of 113 participants (25 females and 88 males with a mean age of 57.61 years (SD = 12.63). Out of them, 55 participants were Australian born and 48 were born elsewhere, with 53 of the patients scoring in the mild to high depression range on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Cardiac Depression Scale. Perceived stress and coping resources, after controlling for age and smoking explained 89% of the variance in the latent variable depression. Higher perceived stress levels and fewer coping resources predicted higher levels of depression. Higher levels of perceived stress predicted fewer coping resources and fewer coping resources predicted higher levels of depression. There was a significant direct and indirect effect of perceived stress through coping on depression. Cognitive and physical coping resources were the best predictors of the depression construct. These results have potential implications for the treatment of depression post-ACS. In particular, cognitive and physical coping mechanisms and perceived stress reduction need to be addressed when treating depression post-ACS.

Premenstrual symptoms: the role of irrational thinking.

104 women, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, were surveyed to investigate the relationship between premenstrual symptomatology, as measured by the Modified Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and irrational thinking, as measured by the General Attitude and Belief Scale. The women who reported greater premenstrual symptomatology also reported significantly higher scores in the “need for comfort” irrationality subscale. This indicated that these women had particular difficulty dealing with hassles and the resulting feelings of tension and irritability in the premenstruum. It was suggested that the absence of significant effects for other rationality-irrationality subscales could be associated with testing at different times during the menstrual cycle. Irrationality, like other conditions (such as anxiety and depression) prevalent in the premenstruum, could change in intensity across phases of the menstrual cycle.

Depression and pain in night time and daytime functioning of individuals with lupus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of pain and depression in night time and daytime functioning of individuals with lupus. A cross-sectional research design was used. Participants were recruited via a mail-out to members of the Lupus Australia Foundation and the Lupus Association of New South Wales. One hundred and fifty-four participants completed a questionnaire package consisting of a Lupus Medical and Symptoms Questionnaire designed by the researchers, the Cardiac Depression Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that pain principally predicted levels of sleep disturbance, whilst depression and pain (to a lesser extent) together predicted daytime dysfunction. The present results suggested the need for more adequate pain management, particularly at night and psychological interventions to decrease levels of depression that interfere with daily functioning in individuals with lupus.