PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C J Golden

Publications and source records attributed to C J Golden.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Predicting pain treatment results by personality variables in organic and functional patients.

Recent literature has suggested that the traditional dichotomy of organic vs. functional classification for pain patients is unimportant in determining the role of personality variables in predicting treatment outcome. The present study examined the role of MMPI variables in predicting treatment outcome in pain patients with definitive physical disorders (N = 58) (organic) and in patients without definitive physical findings (N = 46) (functional). In the organic group, the presence of high Hs was associated with poor outcome, while in the functional group K scores were associated with poor outcome. Results suggested that although personality variables played an equal role in both groups, the nature of that contribution may vary in the functional and organic groups.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1979

The diagnosis of brain-damage by the MMPI: a comprehensive evaluation.

A number of research studies have proposed various methods for using the MMPI to identify brain dysfunction. This previous research has taken one of three major approaches. The present study compared the major approaches in a population consisting of 30 schizophrenic, 30 brain-damaged and 30 hospitalized normal patients. The results indicated that the most effective diagnosis device was the use of the Sc scale alone or in conjunction with the remaining clinical scales and the F scale. None of the organic scales or keys were able to match the performance of the Sc scale alone. The poor results obtained bring into question the use of these scales in any other setting without an extensive research validation. An alternate method that might be used to employ the MMPI in the diagnosis of brain dysfunction was suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Prediction of neurosurgical results by psychological evaluation.

There has been an increasing interest in the role of personality factors in the outcome of medical treatment. The present study examined the role of personality measures in predicting the outcome of neurosurgery for patients with a well-documented disruption of one or more discs. Each of 15 male and 16 female patients whose average age was 40.8 yr. received the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory before surgery and received a follow-up at least one year after surgery or until a final, stable level of recovery was attained. A multiple correlation of .64 between the personality measures and treatment outcome suggested that even in cases with a well-documented need for surgery, psychological factors can play a major influence in the eventual outcome. Possible psychological interventions before surgery which might increase the likelihood of a good outcome are briefly outlined.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Relationship of age and education to performance on a standardized version of Luria's neuropsychological tests in different patient populations.

A.R. Luria, a Russian neuropsychologist, developed many qualitative bedside tests that have been effective in the diagnosis and localization of neurological disorders. Recently, a standardized and objectively-scored version of Luria's tests has been developed. Knowledge of the effects of patient age and education on neuro-psychological test performance has been found crucial in the neurodiagnostic decision-making process. The present study examined the effects of patient age(younger subjects between 20 and 40 years and older subjects between 50 and 70 years of age), education (grade school, high school, and post-high school), and diagnosis (normal, schizophrenic, brain damaged) on 14 standardized Luria measures. A weighted means analysis of variance found 11 significant age effects, 14 significant educational effects, and 14 significant effects diagnosis. One significant interaction was found between education and diagnosis, the results support the contention that with appropriate age and educational corrections, the standardized Luria battery would satisfy the need for a short, objectively scored, and diagnostically effective neuropsychological battery.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Identification of specific neurological disorders using double discrimination scales derived from the standardized Luria neuropsychological battery.

The Standardized Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery has been validated in a number of studies and has shown its effectiveness in making basic neuropsychological discriminations. A major advantage of this battery, compared to other test batteries, is its structure. The test consists of 269 separate items, each of which is designed to measure a different neuropsychological skill. As a result, these items can be combined in a number of ways to form scales aimed at specific neurological processes. It is the purpose of the present study to investigate whether or not the Luria Battery can be successful in discriminating specific neurological disorders by the development of what is termed "double discrimination scales." Using this process, two scales are established to diagnose any given neurological process. The first represents items in which the patients with a specific disorder do worse than a general neurological control group while the second scale represents items in which the patients with a neurological disorder do better than the general neurological control group. For a patient to be diagnosed as having a given process, the patient must score in the proper range on both scales. This method was applied to a sample of 24 multiple sclerosis patients who were compared with 74 patients diagnosed as normal, 106 psychiatric patients, and 101 brain damaged patients. Using the double discrimination procedure, the accuracy of identification of 100% was achieved in all groups. The study supported the usefulness of the double discrimination approach with the Standardized Luria Neuropsychological Battery and opens up the possibilities for scales to be developed for a wide variety of diseases in specific lateralized disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The use of a standardized battery of Luria's tests in the diagnosis of lateralized cerebral dysfunction.

The present study was designed to examine the capability of a standardized battery of Luria's qualitative neuropsychological techniques in discriminating between right, left and diffuse brain-injured subjects. A total of sixty medically confirmed brain-damaged subjects were equally divided among the three groups. Subjects were assigned to two groups (right, left) according to medically proven lateralized brain injury to either the right or left hemisphere in the absence of verifiable insult to the opposite hemisphere. A third group was also selected in which medical evidence confirmed damage to both hemispheres (diffuse group). All three groups were matched for age and education. All subjects were tested on a standardized version of 269 Luria's qualitative neuropsychological test items. The items were divided into 11 sections based upon Luria's theory of brain function. Each of the 11 sections plus a right and a left hemisphere scale as well as an overall impairment scale yielded 14 summary measures of performance representing several areas of neuropsychological ability and overall severity of brain dysfunction. Analysis of variance and discriminant analysis were used to compare the three groups on these 14 summary measures. Analysis of variance revealed on significant difference between the three groups on the Left scale with the left group performing poorest. Discriminant analysis predicted the status of 59 of 60 subjects correctly (98% hit rate). The implication of the lack of significant simple relationships (ANOVA) and the complex interrelationships found using the discriminant analysis were discussed in terms of the support these results provide for Luria's theory of brain function. The specific qualitative aspects of the test battery and their use in the diagnosis of lateralized brain injury were also discussed. Indications for future research were pointed out.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1978

Personality correlates of attitude toward death.

Examined the interrelationships of two scales of attitudes toward death with four measures of personality: the Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Novelty Experiencing Scale, the Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and the Internal-External Orientation Scale. Ss were 142 volunteer males enrolled in introductory psychology courses. A correlation of .72 was found between the Death Concern Scale and the Death Anxiety Scale. In addition, both scales showed the same pattern of correlations with the four personality measures. The highest correlations were found between death attitude and the manifest anxiety scores and the external-internal orientation scores. The importance of including these factors when one is interpreting death attitude scores was stressed, as well as the need for research to establish that these scales measures an anxiety or concern above and beyond general anxiety.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1977

Short form of the Speech Sounds Perception Test.

Although numerous studies have investigated the diagnostic effectiveness of the Speech Sounds Perception Tests, few have investigated the qualities of the test make it effective. Different writers have suggested that it may be effective because of interference from earlier syllables and items, an inability to understand speech, fatigue or an inability to match letters and sounds. If the effectiveness is due to fatigue or interference, the lengh of the test (60 items) would contribute to its accuracy. Otherwise, a short form of the test could be as effective. Data from 37 brain-damaged and 21 normal individuals indicated that a 30-item version of the test was slightly more accurate diagnostically than the 60-item form. This suggests that a short form of the test could be used without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy, enabling the clinician to save time in assessing neuropsychological patients.

Auditory Perception↗
PubMed1977

Higher cortical dysfunction associated with long term alcoholism.

A number of studies during the past decade have described deficits associated with chronic alcoholism. Although several of these studies have used neuropsychological tests, no study has comprehensively surveyed all recognized neuropsychological skills in a single population. The present study compared 41 chronic alcoholics to 41 matched controls during a two-day battery of neuropsychological tests, including the Halstead-Reitan, Wechsler Memory Scale, and other major tests. It was hypothesized that tests reflecting right and anterior brain function would differentiate between the groups. A factor analysis of the tests which differentiated between the groups indicated five primary deficits in chronic alcoholism: spatial conceptual skills, associative conceptual skills, flexibility, spatial-motor integration, and serial integration. The last factor demonstrated a small but significant verbal loss in the alcoholics. The implications of these factors for understanding and treating chronic alcoholism were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The identification of brain damage by an abbreviated form of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery.

In recent years there has been an increased interest in the development of neuropsychological tests that can diagnose accurately brain damage. The most successful of these test are represented in the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery, which has been shown to be 90% or more effective in the diagnosis of brain damage. However, this battery is not available to many psychologists or clients because of its length, cost, and the considerable background required to use it properly. The present study tested 121 Ss (30 normal, 91 brain-damaged) to develop an abbreviated version of the battery that is relatively brief (1 hour) and inexpensive, but accurate. It was found by discriminant analysis that the abbreviated battery is capable of diagnosing brain damage equally as well as the full battery 93% of the time. The limitations and advantages of the abbreviated battery are discussed.

Adolescent↗