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Biomedical subjects

A B Caldwell

Publications and source records attributed to A B Caldwell.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

What do the MMPI scales fundamentally measure? Some hypotheses.

I consider the question of whether all psychopathological behaviors can, on an evolutionary foundation, be considered as positive adaptations. I proposed that higher functions can be differentiated from their associated emotional modulations at simultaneous subjective, behavioral, and neural levels and that organizing analyses in this way will enable us to fill in our understanding of both the effects and relief of traumatic experiences. I then present each of the 8 clinical scales of the MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) as a dimension of positive adaptation with simultaneous cognitive-emotional, operant-classical, and neocortical-limbic elements. A variety of life-experience paradigms are then offered to explain the factors that operate to increase MMPI scale elevations as well as countermeasures that can operate to reduce such elevations. Understanding all such behaviors as adaptive leads to a notable enhancement of empathy.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗

Whither goest our redoubtable mentor, the MMPI/MMPI-2?

Four areas of MMPI use and development toward the year 2000 and beyond are discussed. First, although the MMPI-2 booklet is a clear improvement, we will continue to need to use both profiles, the MMPI-2 for normative purposes and the MMPI profile for pattern interpretation. Applying MMPI expectations to MMPI-2 profiles is a violation of Meehl's basic actuarial prediction concepts. Secondly, as psychologists begin prescribing medications, we may be able to substantially refine drug choices. Thirdly, the measurement of socioeconomic status levels appears to be the major, missing moderator variable in MMPI/MMPI-2 interpretation. Lastly, an effective and positive MMPI/MMPI-2 feedback paradigm is discussed that fits well within the managed care context.

Journal Article↗

Dissociation of protein kinase C activation from phorbol ester-induced maturation of HL-60 leukemia cells.

The role of C-kinase in the induction of maturation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells was examined using two activators of this kinase, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG). At 10(-8) M, a concentration that induced maturation, TPA effectively stimulated C-kinase activity in cell-free preparations by increasing the affinity of the enzyme for Ca2+. Similar activation was observed with 20 micrograms/ml of OAG. At these concentrations, addition of either compound to intact cells stimulated the phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Treatment with TPA resulted in an increased phosphorylation of 14 proteins, 9 of which also changed in response to OAG. In addition to the effects on protein phosphorylation, TPA and OAG both affected choline lipid metabolism. TPA at 10(-8) M stimulated the incorporation of [methyl-3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and lysophosphatidylcholine. OAG at 20 micrograms/ml had quantitatively similar effects on the labeling of the former two lipids, but did not affect incorporation of choline into lysophosphatidylcholine. Despite the similar biochemical effects of TPA and OAG, the diglyceride was unable to induce HL-60 cell maturation as measured by inhibition of cell growth, development of nonspecific esterase activity, phagocytosis, adherence of cells to plastic, and loss of transferrin receptor activity. The lack of effect is not due to metabolism of OAG; maturation could not be induced by treating cells with fresh OAG every 2 h for a period of 12 h. These results suggest a dissociation of the activation of C-kinase and the induction of HL-60 cell maturation by TPA.

Cell Differentiation↗

Severe obstructive sleep apnea--II: Associated psychopathology and psychosocial consequences.

Personality patterns, signs of mental impairment, mental health correlates, and psychosocial consequences were assessed in 50 patients who had obstructive sleep apnea of sufficient severity to warrant recommendation for tracheostomy. The personality patterns of sleep apnea patients were consistently those of a somatic-neurotic type, similar to typical patterns for medical outpatients. The high level of psychologic distress demonstrated was clearly a consequence rather than a cause of the disorder. Most patients showed cognitive impairment; 76% had suspected or mild to severe deficits in terms of thinking, perception, memory, communication, or the ability to learn new information, resulting in a greater potential for being distractible, confused, and irritable. Finally, another striking finding was the high incidence of patients' reports of frequent, severe psychosocial disruption in their lives--involving the family, social interactions and work situations.

Adult↗

Biopsychobehavioral correlates of insomnia. II. Pattern specificity and consistency with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

In a study designed to assess personality patterns of patients with chronic insomnia, a total of 528 subjects (428 insomniacs and 100 controls) completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Comparison of the MMPI profiles of insomniacs from a semirural area and of those from an urban area, each in a completely different geographic region, showed results consistent for high levels of psychopathology as well as for specific personality patterns within and between groups. The personality patterns of insomniac subjects were remarkably homogeneous: only a few MMPI code types accounted for about one-half of each insomniac sample. The insomniac profiles were consistently characterized by the presence of neurotic depression, rumination, chronic anxiety, inhibition of emotions, and an inability to discharge anger outwardly. The results of this study confirm the original hypothesis that the handling of stresses and conflicts through an internalization of emotions leads to physiologic activation and is a major factor underlying the development and maintenance of chronic insomnia.

Adolescent↗

Somnambulism. Clinical characteristics and personality patterns.

Fifty adults with either a present or past complaint of somnambulism were evaluated to determine the development and clinical course of their disorder as well as their personality patterns. Generally, when sleepwalking was outgrown, its onset was before age 10 years and its termination before age 15 years. Current sleepwalkers, compared with past sleepwalkers, started sleepwalking at a later age, had a higher frequency of events, and had episodes earlier in the night. Their episodes were also characterized by more intense clinical manifestations. Furthermore, current sleepwalkers demonstrated high levels of psychopathology, whereas past sleepwalkers had essentially normal psychological patterns. Specifically, the current sleepwalkers showed active, outwardly directed behavioral patterns, suggestive of difficulties in handling aggression. The clinical application of these findings is discussed and practical recommendations are given for the evaluation and management of sleepwalking.

Adolescent↗

Night terrors. Clinical characteristics and personality patterns.

The development and clinical course of night terrors and the personality patterns of patients with this disorder were evaluated in 40 adults who had a current complaint of night terrors. Compared with a group of adult sleepwalkers, the patients with night terrors had a later age of onset for their disorder, a higher frequency of events, and an earlier time of night for the occurrence of episodes. Both groups had high levels of psychopathology, with higher values for the night terror group. This sleepwalkers showed active, outwardly directed behavioral patterns, whereas the night terror patients showed an inhibition of outward expressions of aggression and a predominance of anxiety, depression, tendencies obsessive-compulsive/, and phobicness. Although night terrors and sleepwalking in childhood seem to be related primarily to genetic and developmental factors, their persistence and especially their onset in adulthood are found to be related more to psychological factors.

Adolescent↗

Nightmares: clinical characteristics and personality patterns.

The authors evaluated the development and clinical course of nightmares and the personality patterns of people with this dosorder by studying 30 adults who had a current complaint of nightmares. Nightmares usually began in childhood or adolescence and were chronic. Psychological factors played a major role in the development and persistence of nightmares, major life events were often associated with the onset of the disorder, mental stress usually increased the frequency of events, and psychological testing indicated relatively high levels of psychopathology. Nightmares sufferers in general were distrusful, alienated, sufferers in general were distrustful, alienated, and emotionally estranged, and many showed a chronic schizoid pattern of adjustment, but they were not overtly psychotic.

Adult↗

Proteins of the turkey erythrocyte membrane.

A new and simplified method is described for preparation of turkey erythrocyte membranes which are essentially devoid of supernatant or nuclear contamination, but retain catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. These membranes have been solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the major protein components identified. The turkey erythrocyte membranes exhibit a protein profile very similar to that of the human erythrocyte membrane, but contain a protein component of apparent molecular weight of 50000 which is not present in the human membranes. Three surface glycoprotein components of the turkey erythrocyte membranes (apparent molecular weights of 90000, 41000, and 26000) have been identified by periodic acid-Schiff staining of polyacrylamide gels and by cell surface 125I labeling using lactoperoxidase followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After deoxycholate solubilization of membranes prepared from iodinated cells, glycoprotein with molecular weights of 90000 and 41000 bind to an infinity column of concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B and elute upon application of methyl alpha-Dmannopyrannoside. The lowest molecular weight glycoprotein component, however does not bind to the insolubilized concanavalin A.

Animals↗

Personality patterns in insomnia. Theoretical implications.

Subjects with a primary complaint of insomnia (N = 124) were evaluated with Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPIs). A high percentage of subjects (85%) had one or more MMPI scales elevated to a pathological degree. The scales most elevated were, in order. 2 (depression), 7 (psychasthenia), and 3 (conversion hysteria). A striking finding was the preponderance of depression. This was indicated by the frequency in which scale 2 was elevated above 70, the frequency in which this this scale had the highest elevation, and the frequency of MMPI code types that included scale 2. Four common MMPI code types representing various types of depression were noted, indicating considerable homogeneity for code types in this sample. The predominant personality styles in this sample were characterized by the internalization of psychological distrubances rather than by acting out or aggression. We propose that this internalization produces a state of constant emotional arousal and resultant physiological activation and that this process is a psychophysiological mechansim underlyling insomnia.

Adolescent↗

Diagnosis and treatment of personality factors in chronic low back pain.

The differentiation between primary versus secondary gains is useful for an understanding of the management of chronic low back pain. Primary gain is defined as the direct reduction of pain and emotional distress. Secondary gain is defined as the reduction of anticipatory pain-fear through the avoidance of the occasions of rearousal of pain. This differentiation helps to clarify the diagnosis as well as the treatment of back pain. A person's fear of pain is considered to be the central psychological factor that interferes with successful treatment of chronic low back pain. Research provides insight into how the person both internally and externally protects against pain-fear. The Hysterical Conversion Scale on the MMPI is interpreted to be a measurement of the current level of pain-fear rather than a statement about the physical versus psychological nature of the pain. The reduction of pain-fear is shown to explain the behavior of hysterical conversion patients. Treatment suggestions are made that focus on reducing the patient's fear of pain. These include: considerations for when to operate; a recommendation to give the patient accurate expectations about the pain he/she will experience during treatment; and a specialized pain counselor in hospitals and clinics in order to help manage the level of pain-fear among low back patients.

Back Pain↗