ABSTRACT
A woman in her late 40s with a 5 year history of anxiety was treated with relaxation training and cognitive restructuring. Her anxiety was manifested by facial twitching, hand fidgeting, vocal tremor, loss of self-esteem, and depression. Therapy seemed to reduce motor symptoms and improve her self-esteem, confidence, and mood. Six months after the start of therapy the client was found to have Meige's Disease. Following treatment with botulinum toxin, motor symptoms disappeared. This case highlights the need for psychotherapists to be more aware of neurological and medical problems which may mimic psychological ones.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Meige Syndrome/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Diagnostic Errors , Female , Humans , Meige Syndrome/psychology , Middle Aged , Relaxation TherapySubject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Marriage , Obesity/therapy , Adult , Female , Humans , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The present study investigated the effects of two observational learning paradigms in modifying the eating behavior of obese children. A total of 18 subjects ranging in age from seven to 12 years and in weight from 74 to 160 lb (33 to 72 kg) were randomly assigned to three conditions. Intervention consisted of four sessions in which subjects viewed videotapes of their baseline eating behaviors compared with a model eating at a reduced speed. Based on the assumption that children may acquire their parents' eating behaviors, one condition included videotapes of a same-sex adult model. In order to maximize model-observer similarity, subjects in a second treatment condition observed videotapes of themselves eating at a reduced speed. Subjects in the control condition viewed only their baseline eating behavior videotapes. Dependent measures of eating behavior were found to be significantly affected by both model treatments, while no significant differences were evidenced in the control group.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy , Feeding Behavior , Obesity/therapy , Child , Female , Humans , Learning , Male , MasticationSubject(s)
Body Weight , Feeding Behavior , Obesity/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Adipose Tissue , Body Weight , Obesity/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Behavior Therapy , Child , Diet, Reducing , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Physical Exertion , Skinfold ThicknessABSTRACT
The applicability of behavior modification as a process for treating somatic difficulties is examined within the framework of measurement, modification, and evaluation. Illustrations of this process are presented throughout. In particular, the last section of the paper gives an example of a currently operative and multifaceted approach to the problem of obesity. Among the topics considered herein are the use of behavioral contracts that specify ameliorative weight reduction practices and the assessment as well as manipulation of eating speed.