Biomedical subjects

Adam S Radomsky

Publications and source records attributed to Adam S Radomsky.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Psychometric properties of the French and English versions of the Claustrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ).

Research suggests that Claustrophobia, defined as the fear of enclosed spaces, may be better conceptualized as two separate, but related fears: (1) the fear of suffocation, and (2) the fear of restriction. The Claustrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ) is a self-report measure designed to assess these two fears. The original English version of the CLQ has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a French version of the CLQ for use in clinical and research settings and to replicate the psychometric findings of previous investigations of the English CLQ. Language-appropriate versions of the CLQ, as well as self-report measures of phobic, anxious and depressive symptomatology were distributed to undergraduate students at three Montréal, Québec universities. Results show that the CLQ possesses strong psychometric properties in both languages, and that the English and French versions of the CLQ appear to measure identical constructs. These findings are discussed in terms of proposed applications of the CLQ.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Repeated checking really does cause memory distrust.

Memory phenomena associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have received increased attention in the recent literature. Some debate remains about whether OCD is characterized by deficits in memory per se, or by poor memory confidence. Following from a recent study that demonstrated memory distrust results from repeated checking of a virtual computerized stove, we asked 50 undergraduate students to repeatedly turn on, turn off and check either a real kitchen stove (relevant checking) or a real kitchen faucet (irrelevant checking) in a standardized, ritualized manner. All participants completed a final check of the stove following these 19 checking trials. Results indicated that following repeated relevant checking, participants reported significantly reduced memory confidence, vividness and detail. Repeated irrelevant checking did not produce these decreases. Results are discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioural formulations of OCD and in terms of the effects of repetition on memory and metamemory.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Exploring the boundaries of memory distrust from repeated checking: increasing external validity and examining thresholds.

Checking behavior is among the most common forms of compulsions in OCD. Recent research suggests that repeated checking decreases memory confidence, and supports theoretical models of how repeated checking is maintained. The current paper presents findings from two studies exploring the boundaries of memory distrust from repeated checking. Results of study 1 show that repeated checking of a real stove decreases memory confidence, vividness, and detail (i.e., metamemory), and leads to a greater reliance on knowing as a source of memory, without meaningfully altering memory accuracy. Results of study 2 suggest that these changes in metamemory are observed after performing a relatively low number of checks on one occasion. The findings are considered within the context of theoretical models of checking and future directions are delineated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI).

The original Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) has been widely used and is considered to be one of the best available self-report instruments for measuring observable obsessive-compulsive problems such as washing and checking. However, it has several limitations and requires updating. Our revision of the MOCI, the Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), was designed to provide assessment of a range of obsessions, compulsions, avoidance behaviour, and personality characteristics of known or theoretical importance in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The development of the VOCI is described, and we provide evidence of its reliability and validity. Our findings in samples of people with OCD, people with other anxiety disorders or depression, community adults, and undergraduate students suggest that the VOCI is a promising new measure. We anticipate that, like its predecessor, the VOCI will have widespread use in both research and clinical settings.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The importance of importance in OCD memory research.

Investigations of memory and associated phenomena in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can advance our understanding of this often debilitating problem. Theoretical models predict both the presence and absence of memory biases in favour of threat-relevant information in association with anxiety disorders generally, and with OCD specifically. Two previous experiments (one involving compulsive washing and another involving compulsive checking) that demonstrated such a memory bias are reviewed in the context of the existing literature. Additionally, a new experiment failing to demonstrate such a bias (in association with compulsive ordering and arranging) is presented. The results are discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioural and information processing approaches to understanding OCD. It is argued that experiments which utilize stimuli that are low in ecological validity are unlikely to detect explicit memory biases in OCD. As such, experimental paradigms that are perceived as particularly significant, relevant and important to participants with OCD are encouraged.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Connections among symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: a case series.

Theoretical, clinical, and empirical implications of the functional connections between symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are abundant. As such, four cases are presented here of men and women who met criteria for comorbid OCD and PTSD. All had been diagnosed with treatment-resistant OCD and were seeking treatment from an OCD specialty clinic or institute, all reported a history of traumatic experiences prior to the onset of OCD, and all appeared to demonstrate negative treatment outcomes. Upon examination, it appeared that symptoms of OCD and PTSD were connected such that decreases in OCD-specific symptoms related to increases in PTSD-specific symptoms, and increases in OCD-specific symptoms related to decreases in PTSD-specific symptoms. Speculations about the function of OCD symptoms in relation to post-traumatic psychopathology are put forth; and theoretical, research, and treatment implications are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Thought-shape fusion in anorexia nervosa: an experimental investigation.

Cognitive biases and cognitive distortions have been implicated as important factors in the development and maintenance of many disorders. The concept of thought-shape fusion (TSF) in eating disorders was developed by Shafran, Teachman, Kerry, and Rachman (British Journal of Clinical Psychology 38 (1999) 167) as a variant of thought-action fusion, described by Shafran, Thordarson and Rachman (Journal of Anxiety Disorders 10 (1996) 379). TSF occurs when thinking about eating certain types of food increases a person's estimate of their shape and/or weight, elicits a perception of moral wrongdoing, and/or makes the person feel fat. Shafran et al. (1999) examined both the psychometric and experimental properties of TSF in an undergraduate sample. This paper reports an extension of this work to a clinical group (N=20) of patients with anorexia nervosa. After completing a set of relevant questionnaires, participants were asked to think about a food which they considered extremely fattening. They were then asked to write out the sentence, "I am eating--.", inserting the name of the fattening food in the blank. After being asked to rate their anxiety, guilt, feelings about their weight, morality, etc., participants were given the opportunity to neutralize their statement in any way they chose. The majority of the participants neutralized in ways consistent with the findings of Shafran et al. (1999). The results are discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioural formulations of eating disorders, and of the influence of cognitive biases and cognitive distortions on the processing of information relevant to food, weight and shape in anorexia nervosa.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Panic termination and the post-panic period.

A comprehensive theory of panic must explain not only the cause(s) of episodes of panic but also why and when panic episodes terminate. Accordingly, we conducted a set of three studies on participants with panic disorder in order to investigate these aspects of panic episodes. In Study 1, we asked participants to monitor their panics prospectively, paying particular attention to the episodes' conclusions and the time period which followed. Results from Study 1 were consistent with earlier retrospective studies, showing that people engage in safety and other behaviors in an attempt to end their panics. We also collected information from the participants on beliefs about panic termination and the post-panic period. Study 2 was designed to determine if a post-panic refractory period occurs. Participants were asked to complete a hyperventilation exercise, and then to repeat the exercise a second time. Results from this study provide scant evidence of a post-panic refractory period. Study 3 was a more ecologically valid version of Study 2, in which participants were asked to re-trigger panics that occurred in their natural surroundings. Again, there was little support for a post-panic refractory period. Results are discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioral and biological theories of panic disorder.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Predictors of psychological well-being in a diverse sample of HIV-positive patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

The purpose of the present study was to identify variables relevant to psychological well-being in HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Multiple stressors accompany living with HIV while managing a HAART regimen. However, a variety of cognitive and behavioral variables can protect against or augment the deleterious effects of stress in this population. The authors hypothesized that satisfaction with social support, coping styles, and maladaptive attributions about HIV would explain more variance in psychological well-being than stressful life events per se. Participants were individuals with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy-either starting a new HAART regimen or having difficulties adhering to their current regimen. Satisfaction with social support, coping styles, and punishment beliefs about HIV were uniquely associated with depression, quality of life, and self-esteem over and above the effects of stressful life events. These results provide support for continued psychosocial interventions that target these variables among patients with HIV.

Adaptation, Psychological↗