Remediation of memory disorders: experimental evaluation of the spaced-retrieval technique.

Research concerning remediation of memory disorders has frequently been concerned with mnemonic techniques that demand a great deal of elaborative and effortful processing. The present study examines a relatively simple technique, known as spaced retrieval, in which patients are taught to retrieve information at increasingly long temporal intervals after initial presentation. Results indicated that the spaced-retrieval technique aided patients' learning of new information. There was also evidence of learning to learn: Two of the four patients who were studied learned to use the technique in the absence of explicit cues from the experimenter. Issues pertaining to the possible usefulness of spaced retrieval in everyday life are discussed.

Reattribution of cancer pain.

The psychological aspects of cancer pain have been largely neglected except in the treatment related research literature. The present study examines the role of attribution theory in illuminating the experience of cancer pain. Twenty-five cancer patients were administered pain and discomfort vertical visual analogue scales and a measure of locus of control. Data pertaining to intensity and perceived source (cancer, cancer therapy or unrelated benign conditions) of pain and discomfort, per cent attribution to each and physician ratings as to source were also obtained. While results indicate that a variety of reattributional phenomena do occur in cancer patients, such cognitive reappraisal does not diminish pain intensity. The findings further suggest that locus of control expectancies are important mediating variables in the reattribution of cancer pain and discomfort. The study raises research and clinical issues pertinent to understanding the experience of pain associated with cancer.