Thomas M. DiLorenzo

Aerobic exercise and mood : a brief review, 1985-1990

ConclusionsThe major reviews of research on aerobic exercise and mood published in the past 10 years and the well-controlled empirical studies in the last 5 years yield a number of consistent conclusions. First, researchers unanimously concluded that aerobic exercise and depression and anxiety are related in a inverse and consistent manner. Yet they consistently refrained from suggesting that this relationship involves causality. Second, studies consistently reported that aerobic exercise is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate forms of depression and anxiety. In fact, it was the conclusion of several researchers that aerobic exercise was as effective as more traditional methods of psychotherapy. Third, it consistently was reported that the increased benefits were greatest in those who were more depressed and more anxious. Fourth, it was reported consistently that an increase in cardiovascular fitness was not necessary for mood enhancement. Finally, because the few existing longitudinal studies predominantly involve pre-experimental and quasi-experimental designs, the hypothesis that exercise leads to mood changes cannot be accepted nor refuted at this time.

Patterns of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use among children and adolescents.

Although cigarette and smokeless tobacco use are recognized as major problems among school-age youth, few nationwide or statewide data exist on the prevalence and patterns of use. To determine the patterns of tobacco use among children and adolescents in Missouri, self-report information was obtained from a representative sample of 5,431 students in grades 5, 8, and 12. Both cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use were more common among males than females for each grade level except the 12th, where 30% of females and 28% of males had smoked during the previous week. Smoking prevalence was considerably lower among blacks than whites. Smokeless tobacco use was rare among both blacks and females. Smokeless tobacco use was more common than cigarette smoking in rural areas, where 17% of 8th-grade males and 31% of 12th-grade males had used smokeless tobacco during the previous week. The mean age at first use of cigarettes was slightly lower in the rural than the urban area, whereas the mean age of initial smokeless tobacco use was more than a year earlier in the rural area. Data regarding the perceived difficulty of quitting smoking and quit rates suggested that adolescent females have more difficulty quitting smoking than males. Male smokeless tobacco users appeared to be more addicted than male cigarette smokers. Smokeless tobacco brand preference indicated that users may switch to progressively stronger types of smokeless tobacco as they get older and a nicotine tolerance is developed. The current study emphasizes the urgent need for carefully targeted tobacco prevention and cessation efforts among school-age youth.

An evaluation of a tobacco use education-prevention program: A pilot study

This study was designed to implement a psychosocial approach to primary prevention of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use among seventh-grade students. The prevention program was presented by peer leaders who were older high school students. Program intervention addressed parental, peer, and media influences on tobacco use, and taught refusal skills for resisting social pressures to smoke or chew tobacco. Program effectiveness was examined in terms of three variables: knowledge (basic knowledge about tobacco facts), refusal skills (degree of self-reported assertiveness in refusing to use tobacco), and attitude (positive and negative attitudes toward tobacco). These variables were assessed at pre- and posttests, and 1-month follow-up to program termination. It was found that students who received the intervention reported increased knowledge and improved resistance skills regarding the use of tobacco, as compared to a control group. Attitudes toward tobacco were initially negative and did not change over the course of the intervention in either group. In addition, 1-year follow-up was conducted on the intervention group, indicating that treatment gains were maintained.

Treatment of smokeless tobacco use through a formalized cessation program

The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a cessation program developed specifically for smokeless tobacco use. The treatment consisted of eight one-hour sessions over a period of six weeks and included cue extinction, target date quitting, a buddy system, and relapse prevention. A multiple baseline design across treatment groups was employed to assess effectiveness of the intervention. Eight male smokeless tobacco users participated in the study. Of the seven participants who actually completed the cessation program, six quit using smokeless tobacco and remained abstinent for nine months after treatment ended. These results were confirmed by collateral sources. The success of the treatment package in the reduction of smokeless tobacco use in an adult population, and the need for further study of the comparisons between smokeless tobacco cessation and smoking cessation are discussed.

A conceptual critique of leisure assessment and therapy: an added dimension to behavioral medicine and substance abuse treatment

Abstract Leisure behavior has not been addressed in the psychology research literature despite tentative evidence of a relationship between this class of behavior, normal adjustment, and psychological problems. The reasons for this neglect are discussed with reference to extant assessment and treatment research studies. Some suggestions for studying leisure behaviors are then proposed which emphasize the importance of assessment issues informative research. The final section makes some tentative suggestions for changing leisure behaviors of individuals with deficiencies in this area of human functioning.

The effects of smoking cessation on food craving.

Weight gain is considered a frequent consequence of smoking cessation. Several psychological mechanisms may play an important role in weight gain following smoking cessation. The present investigation examined changes in food craving associated with smoking cessation using psychophysiologic (i.e., salivation), self-report, and behavioral (i.e., ad lib consumption) measures of reactivity to food cues in a prospective design. Although quitters (n = 16) evidenced weight gain (approximately 5 lbs.) at 1 week and 5 weeks post quit date and while control groups of smokers (n = 11) and nonsmokers (n = 16) did not, no support was found for increased craving assessed via self-report or salivation. The quitters did show evidence of increased craving as measured by ad lib consumption, while smokers and nonsmokers did not. However, the failure to find a significant Group by Session interaction limits our ability to make a strong statement concerning between-group differences on ad lib consumption.

Underestimates of student substance use by school personnel: A cause for concern?

The present study was designed to compare school personnels (i.e., principals, counselors, teachers) estimates of student substance use with student self-reported data. Comparisons were made in 78 schools between 5431 student self-reports of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use and 170 school personnels estimates of student substance use. The results indicated that a significant number of school personnel were unable to estimate student substance use. Personnel who did provide estimates typically underestimated the degree of substance use, in comparison to student self-reported substance use. School personnel did not significantly overestimate use in comparison to student self-reported substance use for any substance in any grade or geographic area. It is suggested that school personnel may resist the adoption of prevention programs because of a perceived lack of need due to underestimation of the substance use problem.

Operant and Classical Conditioning

This chapter is the first of two that outlines behavioral treatment strategies for children. The behavioral approach to treating childhood problems has been characterized by some researchers as a very simplistic type of therapy (i.e., the focus is only on environmental or situational variables). Other researchers characterize the approach as quite complex (i.e., the focus encompasses not only environmental, person, and cognitive variables but also the interaction among the variables). However, a fairly clear consensus has been obtained on how the behavioral approach is different from other psychological theories of personality. Kazdin (1984) cogently summarized these differences: The behavioral approach departs from the traditional conception of behavior by rejecting inferred motives, hypothesized needs, impulses, and drives, which supposedly explain behavior. Rather, emphasis is placed upon environmental, situational, and social determinants that influence behavior. Other events within the individual, including various cognitive processes, often serve as the focus of behavioral treatment. However, these processes are specified as measurable events, and their connection to overt behavior can be evaluated empirically rather than only presumed. (pp. 13–14).

Standardized and Projective Tests

As each chapter of this book has been designed to provide specific information regarding assessment devices that could or would be used for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment effectiveness, this chapter will not address the issue of what standardized tests may be used in the assessment of specific disorders. Rather, this chapter has been designed to present a critical view of the use of standardized tests to diagnose childhood psychopathology and to aid in the evaluation of treatment effectiveness.