Stephen N. Haynes

Presleep cognitions and attributions in sleep-onset insomnia

This research examined the role of cognitive factors (attributions about the causes of sleep difficulties and presleep cognitive activity) in sleep-onset insomnia. Thirty-four subjects, including 13 mild to extreme insomniacs, were interviewed and then spent 5 consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory. In a multiple regression paradigm predictor measures included attribution ratings of sleep difficulty, perceived control of presleep cognitions, presleep cognitive content, and affect associated with presleep cognitions. Criterion measures included laboratory measured objectives and subjective sleep-onset latency, a score presenting the difference between objective and subjective laboratory measures of sleep-onset latency, interview-measured subjective sleep-onset latency, and degree of overall concern and presleep concern about initiating sleep. The results of multiple regression analyses suggested that the content of presleep cognitions and the attributions of sleep difficulties were significantly associated with several subjective measures of sleep-onset latency or concern with initiating sleep. None of the predictor measures was significantly associated with objectively measured sleep-onset latency. Implications for cognitive theories of sleep-onset insomnia and for the psychophysiologic-subjective dimension of insomnia are discussed.

A psychophysiological investigation of muscle-contraction and migraine headache

Abstract The function of the current study was to examine the psychophysiological responses and response stereotypy of three groups of subjects—migraine headache, muscle-contraction headache, low frequency headache controls—during rest, stress and post-stress adaptation periods. Each subject was interviewed and then exposed to several experimental conditions: a 15-minute rest condition, two stressors (cognitive and physical), and a post-stress adaptation period following each stressor. Dependent measures included frontal electromyogram (EMG), forearm EMG, earlobe blood volume pulse amplitude and heart rate. The results of this study were consistent with some previous research in finding no differences in EMG levels between muscle-contraction and control subjects, a significantly greater activation in cardiovascular measures for migraine subjects, and evidence for response stereotypy in the migraine headache group.

Biofeedback treatment of atopic dermatitis: controlled case studies of eight cases.

To investigate the feasibility of a behaviorally oriented intervention program with atopic dermatitis, 12 patients were exposed to a fixed sequence of treatment phases including a no-treatment baseline phase, a phase incorporating nonspecific treatment factors, and a phase involving frontal electromyographic (EMG) feedback and relaxation instructions. Photographic analyses of involved skin areas revealed significant remission of dermatological problems across the entire program, although significant changes could not be attributable to any specific phase. Ratings of itching level decreased within but not across treatment sessions, and variable correlations across subjects were found between frontal EMG and itching level. MMPI results from the dermatitis subjects were within normal limits. Overall, the results provided mixed support for the hypothesis that atopic dermatitis may be amenable to intervention through behaviorally oriented treatment procedures.

Structured laboratory observation in the behavioral assessment of parent-child interactions: A methodological critique

Structured observation situations have been frequently used in the behavioral assessment of parent-child interaction. These assessment situations have been used to assess the effects of behavioral intervention, to design behavioral intervention strategies, and as a method of assessing interaction differences between classes of subjects (e.g., clinic vs nonclinic subjects). This paper reviews the target subjects, target behaviors, structure, and observation procedures of structured observation situations and considers methodological issues such as content validity, criterion-related validity, and threats to validity.

The utility and validity of daytime naps in the assessment of sleep-onset insomnia

This study examined the discriminant validity, consistency, and reactivity of afternoon naps for assessing sleep-onset insomnia. Eleven insomniac and 17 noninsomniac subjects came to a sleep laboratory for three afternoon naps while multiple electrophysiological and subjective measures were taken. The results indicated that sleep-onset latencies during the afternoon naps significantly discriminated between insomniac and noninsomniac subjects. Further, significant correlations were found among most measures of sleeponset latency measured both electrophysiologically and subjectively. The proportion of variance in sleep-onset latency accounted for by groups (insomniac vs. noninsomniac) increased over the three naps. Finally, a comparison of the results from this study with those from three all-night studies using identical facilities and procedures revealed that the sleep-onset latencies from this nap study were within the ranges expected on the basis of the all-night studies.

Cognitive treatment of test anxiety: Rational restructuring versus attentional training

This study examined the relative efficacy of rational restructuring and attentional training for the cognitive treatment of test anxiety. Both treatments were presented in an identical format, which involved imaginal exposure to anxiety-provoking testing situations. In the rational restructuring condition subjects were trained to identify and modify irrational beliefs, and in the attentional training condition subjects were trained to reduce attention to task-relevant variables. The results suggested that both cognitive treatments were superior to the waiting-list control group in reducing test anxiety and improving performance on analogue tasks, and that treatment effects were maintained at an 8-month follow-up. The lack of significant differences between cognitive treatments was discussed in the context of Banduras self-efficacy theory. In addition, anxiety-reduction scores (derived from the in-session coping exercises) were found to be significant predictors of treatment outcome.

The stimulus control paradigm in sleep-onset insomia: A multimethod assessment

Abstract Three studies were conducted to assess a stimulus control conceptualization of sleep-onset insomia. In the first study, eight sleep-onset insomniac and ten noninsomniac subjects were interviewed about their sleep patterns and presleep behaviors. Each subject then spent five nights in a sleep laboratory while standard psychophysiological measures were recorded along with subjective report of sleep-onset latency. The second study was a replication of the first using seven sleep-onset insomniac and eight noninsomniac subjects. In both studies, there were nonsignificant differences between insomniac and noninsomniac groups on self-reported frequency of sleep-incompatible behaviors, nap frequency or location, or variability in sleep habits. There were also nonsignificant relationships between these variables and laboratory measures of sleep-onset latency. In the third study, 23 insomniac and noninsomniac subjects self-monitored time spent in sleep-incompatible behaviors and sleep-onset latencies at home for 14 consecutive nights. There were no significant relationships among these variables. The results of all three studies are generally inconsistent with a stimulus control paradigm of sleep-onset insomia and alternative explanations for the effectiveness of stimulus control treatments must be considered.

Vicarious Effects of Time-Out in the Modification of Aggression in the Classroom

This study was designed to assess the vicarious effects of time-out applied to a childs aggressive behaviors in the classroom. In an ABAB replication design, aggressive behaviors by a child in a classroom were followed by 5-minute periods of social isolation. The aggressive behaviors of untreated classmates were also monitored. Time-out contingencies were associated with a reduction in the levels of aggressive behavior in treated and untreated subjects. Decisions to change between phases were based on statistical stabilization of the percentage of intervals in which aggression occurred within each phase.

The effects of participant monitoring and feedback on marital interaction and satisfaction

The effects of participant monitoring of spouse behaviors, with and without feedback to the spouse were evaluated on measures of marital satisfaction and interaction. Three groups of eight couples participated in the study; half of the couples in each group were classified as maritally adjusted and half as maladjusted on the basis of the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. A no-treatment control group, participant monitoring of positive behaviors emitted by the spouse, and participant monitoring plus immediate verbal feedback between spouses concerning monitored behaviors were compared. No significant effects on marital satisfaction were found for repeated administration of the dependent measures or of participant monitoring alone. Compared to the control group, participant monitoring plus spouse feedback was associated with significantly greater increases in daily satisfaction with the marital partner and spouse and a significant increase in the rate of emitted spouse pleasurable behaviors.

Frontal electromyographic feedback. Stress attenuation and generalization.

This study evaluated the effects of one session of frontal electromyographic (EMG) feedback on (1) frontal EMG, (2) frontal EMG response to stress, (3) cardiovascular variables, and (4) cardiovascular responses to stress. Eighteen male and female undergraduate volunteers received either frontal EMG feedback or a relaxation instructions control procedure and were then exposed to a fear stimulus (visualization of a feared situation) and a post-stress adaptation period while several cardiovascular measures were monitored. In comparison to the control group, frontal EMG feedback significantly reduced resting levels of frontal EMG and frontal EMG response to stress but had no significant effect on cardiovascular measures. The results of this study suggest that one session of frontal EMG feedback may attenuate response to stress but, within the paradigm utilized, may be confined to the specific muscle groups monitored. Additional areas of needed research were noted including individual differences in generalization, the effects of EMG feedback from multiple sites sequentially and concomitantly, and the generalized effects from symptom-specific sites.