Recent interest in the construct of motivation to change among male perpetrators of intimate part... more Recent interest in the construct of motivation to change among male perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) has led to development of two self-report measures of this construct: the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment for Domestic Violence (URICA-DV; and the Safe at Home Inventory (SAH; . We examined the internal structure of these instruments using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses in a sample of 199 male IPV perpetrators waiting to begin court-mandated batterer intervention programs. Results indicated that the scales had adequate internal consistency. However, using confirmatory factor analyses, the hypothesized structural models of each instrument fit the data poorly. Subsequent models suggested by a series of exploratory factor analyses failed to improve model fit substantially for both scales. For the URICA-DV, a 3-factor model including items from the Precontemplation, Contemplation, and Action subscales fit the data adequately. No acceptable model fit could be found for the SAH. Intercorrelations among similar subscales across the two inventories suggested only a modest degree of intercorrelation (r's=0.16-0.52), and a factor structure more dependent on scale of origin than item latent content, suggesting that the scales assess different facets of the readiness to change construct. These results suggest that before the stages of change construct can be fully applied to the IPV area, more research and evaluation are needed on how to accurately assess abuser readiness to change.
The current study examined fear of negative evaluation (FNE), the core fear associated with socia... more The current study examined fear of negative evaluation (FNE), the core fear associated with social anxiety, in the context of the dual pathway model of the etiology of bulimia nervosa. Our primary aim was to improve the understanding of the development of bulimic psychopathology. We investigated the relationships between FNE, the risk factors of the dual pathway model and bulimic symptoms using path analysis in a sample of female undergraduates (N = 210). The inclusion of FNE increased the predictive ability of the model to account for 49% of the variance in bulimic symptoms compared to previous findings in which the model accounted for 33% of the variance. Additionally, FNE was related to several risk factors of the dual pathway model including the pressure to be thin, thin-ideal internalization and negative affect, as well as contributing directly to bulimic symptoms. These findings suggest that FNE may increase the risk for developing established risk factors of the model, as well as bulimic symptoms, and that targeting FNE in prevention programs may be useful in circumventing this serious disorder.
Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder has the potential to lower health care cost... more Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder has the potential to lower health care costs and enhance dissemination of evidence-based interventions to clinical practice. This manuscript evaluates the utility of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder. A narrative review of studies examining the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral brief treatment of panic disorder, with a specific focus on an ultra-brief, 5-session, intervention developed by our group. Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder is associated with clinically meaningful symptom improvement reflecting large effect sizes, comparable to those observed for standard protocols. Growing evidence encourages the further evaluation and application brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder. Controlled trials of cognitive-behavioral therapy have established the dramatic benefit that can be offered by brief treatment (often 12-15 sessions) approaches for Axis I disorders. Yet, as the field advances and core mechanisms of change are identified, there is the potential for offering efficacy in even briefer treatment protocols. In this manuscript, we describe the elements and initial efficacy estimates, based on published studies, for an ultra-brief treatment approach for panic disorder. We also discuss the potential impact, and such brief treatment can have relative to dissemination issues and the desire for the timely end to psychological suffering.
ABSTRACT Anxiety sensitivity, one measure of distress intolerance, has been increasingly shown to... more ABSTRACT Anxiety sensitivity, one measure of distress intolerance, has been increasingly shown to play a role in a variety of health behaviors. A number of reports now suggest that individuals with higher levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS) are less likely to engage in exercise. However, this finding has been inconsistent across sex and limited by measurement strategy. This study examined the relationship between AS and self-reported exercise in a mixed-sex sample of 233 individuals. Consistent with prediction, AS was negatively associated with engagement in vigorous-intensity exercise; however, the strength of this association when covarying for sex was dependent on the measurement strategy used (continuous vs. categorical ASI scores). Sex did not moderate the AS-vigorous exercise association. AS was not associated with moderate-intensity exercise or walking. Results suggest a role of distress intolerance in exercise behavior and confirm the importance of continued research on this topic.
Research has shown that anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of somatic arousal, predicts distre... more Research has shown that anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of somatic arousal, predicts distress and maladaptive coping in a range of psychiatric conditions. More recently, the role of AS has been examined in pathological eating. In the current investigation, a twostudy design was employed to examine the role of AS and eating expectancies in both self-reported and actual eating behavior. For Study 1, 42 overweight/obese participants completed questionnaires assessing AS, as well as eating behaviors and attitudes. In Study 2, 60 participants representing all weight ranges completed the same questionnaire battery and underwent a negative mood induction task followed by food exposure. Results of this study revealed a 3-way interaction between Anxiety Sensitivity Indexmental concerns subscale, Eating Expectancy Inventoryeating leads to feeling out of control subscale, and BMI suggesting that those elevated on all 3 constructs consumed the most calories. Results are discussed in relation to better understanding the role of AS and eating expectancy and its utility in identifying a subset of overweight/obese individuals at risk for maladaptive eating behavior.
Despite evidence that exercise is beneficial for serious mental illness, it continues to be an un... more Despite evidence that exercise is beneficial for serious mental illness, it continues to be an under utilized adjunct treatment strategy. Thus, the aims of this study were to examine if self-selected or volunteer exercise programs are feasible in a structured outpatient program and who might choose to participate in such a program. Individuals with serious mental illness admitted to a partial hospital program were offered an adjunct exercise group or a control, psychoeducation group. The exercise group (N = 38) met three times a week for 50 min. Individuals who chose not to exercise (N = 28), attended a psychoeducational control group. Those who self-selected the exercise group tended to have a higher level of education, employment rate and to be Caucasian. The control group had more medical problems, a higher body mass index and alcohol intake. The groups did not differ on age, sex, or use of cigarettes and caffeine. The exercise group was regularly attended. Both groups improved equally on all outcomes symptom and psychological well-being outcomes. These data highlight that certain individuals with serious mental illness may be more likely to exercise based on demographic opposed to clinical features, or illness characteristics. Thus, adjunct exercise programs for individuals with serious mental illness seem to be feasible, but certain groups of individuals (i.e., ethnic minorities, unemployed) should be targeted for recruitment as they are less likely to volunteer for such adjunct exercise programs.
Recent interest in the construct of motivation to change among male perpetrators of intimate part... more Recent interest in the construct of motivation to change among male perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) has led to development of two self-report measures of this construct: the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment for Domestic Violence (URICA-DV; and the Safe at Home Inventory (SAH; . We examined the internal structure of these instruments using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses in a sample of 199 male IPV perpetrators waiting to begin court-mandated batterer intervention programs. Results indicated that the scales had adequate internal consistency. However, using confirmatory factor analyses, the hypothesized structural models of each instrument fit the data poorly. Subsequent models suggested by a series of exploratory factor analyses failed to improve model fit substantially for both scales. For the URICA-DV, a 3-factor model including items from the Precontemplation, Contemplation, and Action subscales fit the data adequately. No acceptable model fit could be found for the SAH. Intercorrelations among similar subscales across the two inventories suggested only a modest degree of intercorrelation (r's=0.16-0.52), and a factor structure more dependent on scale of origin than item latent content, suggesting that the scales assess different facets of the readiness to change construct. These results suggest that before the stages of change construct can be fully applied to the IPV area, more research and evaluation are needed on how to accurately assess abuser readiness to change.
The current study examined fear of negative evaluation (FNE), the core fear associated with socia... more The current study examined fear of negative evaluation (FNE), the core fear associated with social anxiety, in the context of the dual pathway model of the etiology of bulimia nervosa. Our primary aim was to improve the understanding of the development of bulimic psychopathology. We investigated the relationships between FNE, the risk factors of the dual pathway model and bulimic symptoms using path analysis in a sample of female undergraduates (N = 210). The inclusion of FNE increased the predictive ability of the model to account for 49% of the variance in bulimic symptoms compared to previous findings in which the model accounted for 33% of the variance. Additionally, FNE was related to several risk factors of the dual pathway model including the pressure to be thin, thin-ideal internalization and negative affect, as well as contributing directly to bulimic symptoms. These findings suggest that FNE may increase the risk for developing established risk factors of the model, as well as bulimic symptoms, and that targeting FNE in prevention programs may be useful in circumventing this serious disorder.
Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder has the potential to lower health care cost... more Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder has the potential to lower health care costs and enhance dissemination of evidence-based interventions to clinical practice. This manuscript evaluates the utility of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder. A narrative review of studies examining the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral brief treatment of panic disorder, with a specific focus on an ultra-brief, 5-session, intervention developed by our group. Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder is associated with clinically meaningful symptom improvement reflecting large effect sizes, comparable to those observed for standard protocols. Growing evidence encourages the further evaluation and application brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder. Controlled trials of cognitive-behavioral therapy have established the dramatic benefit that can be offered by brief treatment (often 12-15 sessions) approaches for Axis I disorders. Yet, as the field advances and core mechanisms of change are identified, there is the potential for offering efficacy in even briefer treatment protocols. In this manuscript, we describe the elements and initial efficacy estimates, based on published studies, for an ultra-brief treatment approach for panic disorder. We also discuss the potential impact, and such brief treatment can have relative to dissemination issues and the desire for the timely end to psychological suffering.
ABSTRACT Anxiety sensitivity, one measure of distress intolerance, has been increasingly shown to... more ABSTRACT Anxiety sensitivity, one measure of distress intolerance, has been increasingly shown to play a role in a variety of health behaviors. A number of reports now suggest that individuals with higher levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS) are less likely to engage in exercise. However, this finding has been inconsistent across sex and limited by measurement strategy. This study examined the relationship between AS and self-reported exercise in a mixed-sex sample of 233 individuals. Consistent with prediction, AS was negatively associated with engagement in vigorous-intensity exercise; however, the strength of this association when covarying for sex was dependent on the measurement strategy used (continuous vs. categorical ASI scores). Sex did not moderate the AS-vigorous exercise association. AS was not associated with moderate-intensity exercise or walking. Results suggest a role of distress intolerance in exercise behavior and confirm the importance of continued research on this topic.
Research has shown that anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of somatic arousal, predicts distre... more Research has shown that anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of somatic arousal, predicts distress and maladaptive coping in a range of psychiatric conditions. More recently, the role of AS has been examined in pathological eating. In the current investigation, a twostudy design was employed to examine the role of AS and eating expectancies in both self-reported and actual eating behavior. For Study 1, 42 overweight/obese participants completed questionnaires assessing AS, as well as eating behaviors and attitudes. In Study 2, 60 participants representing all weight ranges completed the same questionnaire battery and underwent a negative mood induction task followed by food exposure. Results of this study revealed a 3-way interaction between Anxiety Sensitivity Indexmental concerns subscale, Eating Expectancy Inventoryeating leads to feeling out of control subscale, and BMI suggesting that those elevated on all 3 constructs consumed the most calories. Results are discussed in relation to better understanding the role of AS and eating expectancy and its utility in identifying a subset of overweight/obese individuals at risk for maladaptive eating behavior.
Despite evidence that exercise is beneficial for serious mental illness, it continues to be an un... more Despite evidence that exercise is beneficial for serious mental illness, it continues to be an under utilized adjunct treatment strategy. Thus, the aims of this study were to examine if self-selected or volunteer exercise programs are feasible in a structured outpatient program and who might choose to participate in such a program. Individuals with serious mental illness admitted to a partial hospital program were offered an adjunct exercise group or a control, psychoeducation group. The exercise group (N = 38) met three times a week for 50 min. Individuals who chose not to exercise (N = 28), attended a psychoeducational control group. Those who self-selected the exercise group tended to have a higher level of education, employment rate and to be Caucasian. The control group had more medical problems, a higher body mass index and alcohol intake. The groups did not differ on age, sex, or use of cigarettes and caffeine. The exercise group was regularly attended. Both groups improved equally on all outcomes symptom and psychological well-being outcomes. These data highlight that certain individuals with serious mental illness may be more likely to exercise based on demographic opposed to clinical features, or illness characteristics. Thus, adjunct exercise programs for individuals with serious mental illness seem to be feasible, but certain groups of individuals (i.e., ethnic minorities, unemployed) should be targeted for recruitment as they are less likely to volunteer for such adjunct exercise programs.
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