Im Montgomery

Controlled comparison of computer-aided vicarious exposure versus live exposure in the treatment of spider phobia

Forty-five participants diagnosed as having specific phobia of spiders were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (a) computer-aided vicarious exposure; (b) therapist-delivered live exposure; (c) relaxation placebo. Each group received three 45-minute sessions. Phobic symptom severity was measured at pretreatment, post-treatment, and at a 3-month follow-up assessment with the Spider Questionnaire, Fear Questionnaire, Phobic Targets and Work Adjustment Ratings Scale, and a Behavioral Assessment Test with Subjective Units of Distress Rating Scale. The results showed that the computer-aided vicarious exposure was an effective treatment for spider phobia and comparable to live exposure therapy in significantly reducing phobic symptoms. Both the computer and live exposure treatments were more effective than the relaxation placebo treatment.

The Short-EMBU in Australia, Spain, and Venezuela: Factorial invariance, and associations with sex roles, self-esteem, and Eysenckian personality dimensions

The short(s)-EMBU (Swedish acronym for Egna Minnen Betraffande Uppfostran [My memories of upbringing]) consists of 23 items, is based on the early 81-item EMBU, and was developed out of the necessity of having a brief measure of perceived parental rearing practices when the clinical and/or research context does not adequately permit application of time-consuming test batteries. The s-EMBU comprises three subscales: Rejection., Emotional Warmth, and (Over)Protection. The factorial and/or construct validity and reliability of the s-EMBU were examined in samples comprising a total of 1950 students from Australia, Spain, and Venezuela. The data were presented for the three national groups separately. Findings confirmed the cross-national validity of the factorial structure underlying the s-EMBU. Rejection by fathers and mothers was consistently associated with high trait-neuroticism and low self-esteem in recipients of both sexes in each nation, as was high parental emotional warmth with high femininity (humility). The findings on factorial validity are in keeping with previous ones obtained in East Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, and Sweden. The s-EMBU is again recommended for use in several different countries as. a reliable, functional equivalent to the original 81-item EMBU.

Comparison of the amnesic effects of midazolam and diazepam

Thirty patients undergoing gastroscopy received intravenous premedication with either midazolam or diazepam in a randomised double blind study. Mean dosages were similar for the midazolam (6.13 mg) and diazepam (6.4 mg) groups. Neuropsychological testing pre- and post-medication comprised the Wechsler Memory Scale, Complex Figure Test, Word Association Test, and a Tactile Memory Test. There was a significant impairment on post-medication tests requiring delayed recall of verbal, visual and tactile stimuli. Midazolam produced significantly greater anterograde amnesia than diazepam at similar mean dosages. With the exception of Digit Span and Associate Learning, cognitive tasks which do not require delayed recall were not affected. It is concluded that the amnesic deficit is discrete and not secondary to sedative effects.

Worry and heart rate variables: autonomic rigidity under challenge

[Borkovec, T. D. (1994). Worrying: perspectives on theory, assessment and treatment (pp. 5-34). West Sussex: Wiley] proposes that the cognitive activity of worry restricts autonomic nervous system activity, producing autonomic rigidity. Autonomic rigidity affects both sympathetic nervous system [Behav. Res. Ther. 28 (1990) 69.] and parasympathetic nervous system activity [Behav. Ther. 26 (1995)457.]. Three experiments investigated the relationship between worry and autonomic system activity as indexed by heart activity measures. In the first experiment, we measured average heart rate when worriers were required to perform a public speaking task. No difference was found in heart rate between worriers and controls. The second and third experiments measured average heart rate and heart period variability (HPV) in worriers and controls during relaxation, non-stressful cognitive tasks, worried thinking, and aversive imagery conditions. There was no support for the autonomic rigidity view as worriers did not respond differently to non-worriers. These findings challenge the view that autonomic rigidity applies generally to worry.

The differential effect of personality on computer-based treatment of agoraphobia

The differential effects of the revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) personality factors and intelligence on response to a computerized vicarious exposure treatment for agoraphobia were investigated. The Fear Questionnaire (FQ), the Agoraphobia Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ), and the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ) were used to assess agoraphobic symptomatology. Fourteen females and four males with agoraphobia diagnoses completed three 45-minute weekly treatment sessions. There was a significant decrease in scores on all three measures following treatment. Compared with published population norms, the agoraphobic subjects showed very high neuroticism, low extroversion, and high openness. Lower agreeableness factor scores predicted good treatment outcome. The NEO PI-R openness factor was negatively correlated with proficiency on the computer program; however, proficiency on the computer program did not correlate with symptom improvement. Overall, these results suggest that personality interacts with treatment at different stages of the therapeutic process.

Long-term follow-up of computer-aided vicarious exposure versus live graded exposure in the treatment of spider phobia

This study investigated the long-term efficacy of three 45-minute sessions of live graded exposure, computer-aided vicarious exposure, or progressive muscle relaxation placebo for the treatment of spider phobia, and is a follow-up of the results previously reported by Gilroy, Kirkby, Daniels, Menzies, and Montgomery (2000). Forty-two out of 45 participants were assessed, using both subjective and behavioral assessments, at a mean of 33 months after completing treatment. The assessor was unaware of treatment group. Results showed significant improvement from pretreatment to 33-month follow-up across a range of measures in all treatment groups, although the group by time interaction was not statistically significant. Between 3-month and 33-month follow-up, no significant change was observed in any group, indicating sustained long-term improvement. The results support previous reports of the long-term efficacy of live graded exposure and indicate similar durable treatment outcome effects for computer-aided vicarious exposure.

Dose dependent effects of alcohol on visual evoked potentials

The effects of various alcohol doses on components of the visual evoked potential were investigated. Using a repeated measures, Latin square design, five alcohol dose conditions were administered to ten male subjects: 0.00 (placebo); 0.28; 0.36; 0.54 and 0.72 g/kg total body weight. EEG responses to a reversing checker board stimulus were measured in a standard oddball paradigm. In the alcohol conditions, latencies of the P1 and P2 components of the VEP were unaffected. However, reaction time, and the latencies of N2 and P3 displayed significant dose related increases with increasing blood alcohol levels. Further, RMS power of the P3 complex was reduced by higher alcohol doses, as was the N2-P3 amplitude difference at central and parietal sites. It is concluded that the latency and power of the endogenous components of the VEP are altered by alcohol, without effects being seen in earlier components.

Spicy meal disturbs sleep: an effect of thermoregulation?

Tabasco sauce and mustard taken with the evening meal markedly disturbed sleep of six, young, healthy male subjects; reducing slow wave and stage 2 sleep, increasing total time awake and tending to increase sleep onset latency. Whilst post meal effects on temperature and oxygen consumption were not significantly different from control meals the spicy food condition elevated body temperature during the first sleep cycle. The possibility that the spice principle capsaicin affects sleep via changes in body temperature is discussed.

Sleep after exercise of variable intensity in fit and unfit subjects

Abstract Bodily restorative theories of sleep predict that physical exercise results in elevated levels of slow wave sleep (SWS). However the evidence is contradictory. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to accomodate the negative results. Two of these proposals are tested in the present paper. The first argues that under various circumstances stress counteracts the facilitative effect of exercise on SWS. The second, that the facilitative effect is only observed in fit subjects given very intense exercise schedules. Two experiments were conducted in which exercise intensity was systematically varied and in which an attempt was made to minimize stress effects. Physically unfit subjects were used in the first study and fit subjects in the second. Exercise had no effect on SWS under any conditions in either experiment. In addition the failure to observe the effect could not be accounted for by stress. Thus the results of the two experiments offer no support for bodily restorative theories.

Graduate attributes of the 4-year Australian undergraduate psychology program

This paper outlines the background, process and outcomes for a project that delineated a set of graduate attributes of the 4-year Australian undergraduate psychology program. The nature of the current undergraduate psychology program and its quality assurance system is described, followed by a consideration of current issues in psychology education and training. The processes involved in delineating the six graduate attributes (i.e., knowledge and understanding, research methods, critical thinking, values, communication, and application) are then described. Some issues and suggestions related to their implementation are then outlined. Finally, the authors summarise what has been accomplished in delineating the graduate attributes, and what still needs to be achieved.