ABSTRACT
The efficacy of a brief intervention to self-monitor reexperiencing symptoms was evaluated in 137 U.S. combat veterans with PTSD who were enrolled in 5-week psychoeducation groups at a large Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Groups were randomized to psychoeducation alone (Education Control, n = 50) or psychoeducation plus intrusion monitoring (Education + Monitoring, n = 87). Education + Monitoring participants were asked to make a daily record of the number and content of nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive trauma-related thoughts, and physiological and emotional reactions to triggers. Avoidance symptoms were reduced in both conditions (η(2) = .093), with no additional benefit from intrusion monitoring (η(2) = .001). Compliance with intrusion monitoring was markedly low, which complicated the interpretation of the study findings. Even though intrusion monitoring has a strong theoretical foundation and may be an efficient and cost-effective alternative to more structured treatments for PTSD, the effect of intrusion monitoring will not be clearly understood until higher compliance can be achieved. Future work in this area should address barriers to compliance and investigate strategies for enhancing motivation to engage in self-monitoring.
Subject(s)
Medical Records , Patient Education as Topic , Self Care , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/therapy , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Compliance , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Psychotherapy, Brief/methods , Veterans/psychologyABSTRACT
Clinically significant trait perfectionism is often characteristic of individuals exhibiting symptoms of eating disorders. The present study reports on a measure developed to assess the use of food rules and evaluates the hypothesis that adherence to food rules may be one mechanism through which trait perfectionism exacerbates risk for developing eating disorder symptoms. Forty-eight female college students completed a battery of questionnaires, and multiple regression analyses were used to test a mediational model. Results indicated that adherence to food rules mediated the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and three indices of disordered eating in this sample. This relationship was specific to self-oriented perfectionism and did not hold for other-oriented or socially prescribed perfectionism. These findings may have implications for designing early interventions for disordered eating and may be useful in tailoring treatment for individuals with disordered eating who also report high levels of perfectionism.
Subject(s)
Body Image , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Personality , Self Concept , Adolescent , Adult , Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Personal Satisfaction , Students , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Difficulties identifying appetite signals and emotions have been implicated in the development and maintenance of disordered eating. The current study evaluated the mediating roles of appetite awareness and emotional awareness in a brief eating disorders prevention program designed to help participants identify and respond to internal appetite signals. A series of regression analyses was carried out to test the mediator effects of appetite and emotional awareness. Appetite awareness, but not emotional awareness, mediated improvements in binge eating symptoms as well as eating- and weight-control self-efficacy. Appetite awareness appears to be an effective target for eating disorders prevention programs.
