Paul L. Lambert

Psychopathy in female offenders: an investigation of its underlying dimensions

Psychopathy is an important clinical construct in explaining criminal behavior, determining the likelihood of treatment response, and evaluating risk assessment. The majority of past research has focused on male offenders or male forensic patients. Psychopathy in females is relatively unexplored. The current study was designed to further investigate the underlying dimensions of psychopathy in females. Utilizing a sample of 119 female inmates from a large metropolitan area jail, a series of confirmatory factor analyses was undertaken. Previous research and clinical tradition suggest the use of a two-factor conceptualization of psychopathy. More recent research suggests that a three-factor model may better capture the underlying dimensions of psychopathy. Two-factor models of psychopathy were not confirmed. However, the three-factor model reproduced the data extremely well. Clinical and research implications of this finding are addressed.

Ethnicity and Type D personality as predictors of heart rate variability

This study examined the relationship between Type D personality and heart rate variability (HRV) during three guided imagery experiences (baseline, stressful, and uplifting) in a non-medical sample. The interaction between African-American ethnicity and Type D personality was predictive of both low and high frequency HRV during stressful imagery experiences. The importance of identifying group influences when assessing psychological and cardiovascular health was discussed.

Attenuation of response deficits by electroconvulsive shock

Rats previously exposed to inescapable footshock were inferior to nonshocked rats in acquiring a shock-escape response. In three separate experiments, these response deficits were improved by electroconvulsive shock (ECS) given 1 h prior to testing. Subsequent experiments suggested that this effect cannot be attributed to ECS-induced (1) retrograde amnesia, (2) decreased shock thresholds, or (3) increased general activity.

Cardiovascular Risk: Gender Differences in Lifestyle Behaviors and Coping Strategies

BackgroundAlthough cardiovascular disease (CVD) does not occur until mid to late life for most adults, the presence of risk factors, such as high blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol, has increased dramatically in young adults.PurposeThe present study examined the relationships between gender and coping strategies, lifestyle behaviors, and cardiovascular risks.MethodThe sample consisted of 297 (71% female) university students. Participants completed a survey to assess demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and coping strategies, and a physiological assessment including lipid and blood pressure (BP) measurements. Data collection occurred from January 2007 to May 2008.ResultsAnalyses revealed that age, ethnicity, greater body mass index (BMI), greater use of social support, and less frequent exercise were associated with higher cholesterol, while gender, age, greater BMI, and less frequent exercise were associated with higher systolic BP. There were two significant interactions: one between gender and avoidant coping and the other between gender and exercise on systolic BP, such that for men greater use of avoidant coping or exercise was associated with lower systolic BP.ConclusionUnderstanding how young adults manage their demands and cope with stress sets the stage for understanding the developmental process of CVD. Both coping strategies and lifestyle behaviors must be considered in appraising gender-related cardiovascular risk at an early age before the disease process has begun.

Medial hypothalamic stimulation decreases the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system

Although research has linked the central nervous system with changes in immunoresponsivity, research on the possible role of the central nervous system in altering reticuloendothelial activity is lacking. This study investigated the possible relationship between hypothalamic structures and changes in responsivity of the reticuloendothelial system. Eight male albino rats received bilateral electrode implants in the ventromedial area of the hypothalamus, and, following brain stimulation, reticuloendothelial activity was assessed 3, 6, 12, 24, and 96 h after stimulation. Brain stimulation decreased phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system. These findings may increase our understanding of a possible neural mechanism underlying relationships between stress and resistance to disease states.

Comparison of nondominant- and dominant-hand performances on the Copy portion of the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT)

Road accidents and falls often result in injury to the dominant hand; however, few studies have evaluated whether the use of the nondominant hand confounds pen and paper assessments. This study used a counterbalanced within-subjects design to assess the copy accuracy on the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) of 154 undergraduates using both their right and left hands. Handedness was determined using Briggs and Nebess (1975) revision of Annetts Handedness Questionnaire. Two independent scorers used objective scoring criteria (Meyers & Meyers, 1995) with high interscorer reliability. Performance differences were statistically but not clinically significant. Nondominant- and dominant-hand performances did not differ from normative data: A total of 78.9% scored above the impairment cutoff score using the nondominant hand compared to 83.7% using their dominant hand. In the event an individuals dominant hand is compromised, performance using the nondominant hand on the RCFT could produce scores within the normative range and would not falsely suggest neuropsychological impairment.

Stability and Factor Structure of the Jackson Personality Inventory-Revised

The Jackson Personality Inventory-Revised comprises 15 bipolar scales and five cluster scores concerning an individuals interpersonal patterns of interaction, cognitive styles, and value orientation. Recent reviews of this revised version raise questions about test-retest stability as well as the factor structure on which cluster scores are based. 74 men and 33 women (29–63 years of age, M = 42.3) completed the inventory while participating in a continuing education program. Of these 45 participated in a second session 13 wk. later. Test-retest correlations are significant, with 12 of the 15 scales having correlations > .75. Intercorrelations among all subscales indicate that the Jackson subscales for the most part remain distinct from each other ranging from .01 to .59. A Principal Components Analysis with a varimax rotation yielded three factors that parallel the NEO big five, i.e., Openness, Neuroticism, and Extroversion and replicated previous factor structure found for both versions of the Jackson inventory. The fourth and fifth factors here were labeled Trustworthy and Organization; however, the composition of these factors across several studies appears to be unstable, suggesting optimal certainty when interpreting the clusters of subscales associated only with Openness, Neuroticism, and Extroversion. Further research may help clarify the instability associated with the other factors of this inventory.

Reversal of Learned Helplessness by Peripheral Arousal

The response deficit produced by uncontrollable shock has been termed learned helplessness. Many studies have demonstrated similarities between human depression and learned helplessness. However, pilot studies suggested that sympathomimetic drugs which do not alleviate depression may alter learned helplessness. The present study was designed to replicate these preliminary data. 32 rats were exposed to either no-shock or a sequence of inescapable shock previously shown to produce learned helplessness. 24 hr. later metaraminol bitartrate (Aramine) or physiological saline was injected prior to the testing in a bar-press, shock-escape task. Inescapable shock one day prior to testing produced a severe response deficit in saline controls but not in the drug group. Reversal of learned helplessness by peripheral autonomic arousal indicates a reevaluation of the learned helplessness model of human depression may be necessary.

Anterior Hypothalamic Stimulation Decreases Serum Immunoglobulin G Concentrations

Neuroimmunological research has indicated that hypothalamic structures play an important role in the modulation of immunoresponsivity. We report that electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus decreases the concentration of Immunoglobulin G (lgG) in rat serum. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either an anterior or dummy electrode group. Following the determination of baseline IgG concentrations animals were placed in an operant chamber where electrical stimulation was delivered to animals in the anterior group. Animals in the dummy electrode group were placed in an operant chamber but received no brain stimulation through the attached cable. IgG concentrations were determined for each animal 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours following each session in the operant chamber. Poststimulation measurement periods were counterbalanced across animals to control for possible order effects. A significant decrease in IgG concentrations was found between animals in the anterior group and animals in the dummy electrode group. An analysis was also performed to assess the effects of repeated measurements on IgG concentrations. As compared to the dummy electrode group, the anterior group displayed Significantly higher IgG concentrations as a function of the number of measurements. The results of the present study indicate that anterior hypothalamic activity can change IgG concentrations without antigenic challenge and the relevance of this finding as applied to current research in Health Psychology is discussed.