Adult psychopathology on the MMPI and dysfunctional families of origin.

Adults who were raised in dysfunctional families demonstrate psychopathology on the MMPI. 396 (140 men, 256 women) adult clients (mean age = 35 yr.) from dysfunctional families who were seeking treatment at a university counseling center were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Analysis showed significantly elevated scores on F, Total Pathology, Depression, Psychopathic Deviance, Psychasthenia, Schizophrenia, and Social Introversion scales by these subjects from families with a history of physical, sexual, emotional abuse, or alcoholism. This study contributes to the growing body of empirical research on the relationship between dysfunctional families of origin and adult psychopathology.

Development of a measure of work-related distress: Psychometric properties.

A new burnout instrument, the Generalized Work Distress Scale (GWDS) is introduced, which is theoretically more compatible with the concept of work disability than previous instruments that measure job dissatisfaction and burnout. In the present study, the GWDS demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability as well as known group validity in both care-giver and non-caregiver populations. Additionally, the GWDS demonstrated predictive validity in terms of care givers' strong reactions to the need for assistance with their own vocational distress responses, and retrospective validity in terms of non-caregivers' days absent from work. Factor analysis indicated a 2 factor solution involving an internal (distress), and external (support from others) factor. The present test should be useful in the assessment of a common barrier to occupational rehabilitation, especially when rehabilitation involves a musculoskeletal disorder.

The frequency and effect on outcome of different types of interpretation in psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral group psychotherapy.

The therapeutic effects of interpretations by both therapists and other clients were recorded by observers in three cognitive-behavioral and three psychodynamic groups over a period of thirty one-and-one-half-hour group therapy sessions. There was no significant difference in the overall frequency of interpretations made in the two different therapy modalities; however, there was the expected difference in the types of interpretations made. Cognitive-behavior therapists and group members tended to interpret patterns of behavior or impact on others more frequently than did psychodynamic therapists and group members; while psychodynamic therapists and group members made more historical cause interpretations. However, contrary to expectations, both therapy modalities made more interpretations of patterns of present behavior than any other type. When these interpretations were converted into problem statements that were sent to outside raters after the termination of the groups, the outside raters judged that clients improved most when interpretations of a pattern of behavior were made; next most when interpretations of impact on others were made; and did not improve when interpretations of motive were employed in either modality.

Combined medical and psychological treatment of postchemotherapy nausea and vomiting: a case study.

The current case study illustrates the innovative potential of combined medical and psychological treatment of postchemotherapy nausea and vomiting for cancer patients. A 58-yr-old male patient diagnosed with leukemia and on a weekly cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) treatment protocol, experienced violent vomiting episodes approximately 3 hr. after each injection. Emesis was so severe that the patient considered terminating treatment. Control was attempted with antiemetics (Compazine, Reglan), an antianxiety agent (Valium), an hypnotic (Dalmane), canabinol, hypnosis, and relaxation training without success. A re-examination of these strategies employing experimental rigor and data-responsive experimental designs indicated how success can be achieved without the necessity of new interventions. The patient experienced complete emetic relief and at 3-yr. follow-up remained symptom-free.