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D W Foy

Publications and source records attributed to D W Foy.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Etiological factors in the development of PTSD in clinical samples of Vietnam combat veterans.

This paper presents a review of empirical literature that deals with etiological factors in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Variables implicated in PTSD from three time frames, premilitary, military, and postmilitary, are identified, and findings from relevant research are discussed. There is consistency across studies in showing significant correlations between PTSD and combat exposure and post-military psychosocial adjustment. Less consistent are the findings with regard to relationships between premilitary psychosocial factors and PTSD. Recent findings from studies that have explored possible physiological correlates of PTSD also are discussed. Based on current literature, implications for future research on etiological factors in combat-related PTSD are presented.

Conditioning, Psychological↗

Combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder etiology: replicated findings in a national sample of Vietnam-era men.

To examine the generality of recent findings on PTSD etiology in help-seeking Vietnam combat veterans, replication was attempted with data from a national study of Vietnam-era men that included combat veterans. Use of a Guttman scaling technique for assessing combat exposure was found to be robust for use with a national nonclinical sample as well. In addition, multiple regression analysis was used to examine predictive relationships between premilitary adjustment, military adjustment, combat exposure, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results obtained from the national sample showed the same patterning as that reported from the smaller clinical sample. Combat exposure was related significantly to PTSD symptomatology, while premilitary adjustment was not. A previously identified discriminant function, composed of psychological symptoms not found in the DSM III criteria for PTSD, also was cross-validated.

Humans↗

Contingency management of food misbehavior in a psychiatric patient with diabetes.

A contingency management procedure was instituted with a hospitalized 52-year-old male psychiatric patient to alter behavior associated with an exacerbated diabetic condition. A ten-day baseline indicated consistently elevated urine sugar levels and that the patient frequently violated his prescribed low sugar diet by stealing, trading and hoarding high sugar foods. Beginning in baseline, the patient was instructed to measure his urine sugar levels and post the results on a chart next to his bed. During two of the intervention procedures used in the additive design, the patient could earn coupon booklets from the hospital commissary if his daily average urine sugar levels were less than a set criterion. Two such criteria were employed before the reinforcement contingencies were faded. By the end of the intervention, urine sugar levels were under control and follow-up measures six months post-treatment indicated durable treatment effects.

Behavior Therapy↗

Spouse contracting to increase antabuse compliance in alcoholic veterans.

Developed and evaluated a home-based contracting program to determine its effect on the compliance rates of discharged alcohol patients to a disulfiram (antabuse) regimen. The three comparison groups included (a) no contract/no recording; (b) contract/recording; and (c) contract/recording plus instructions for positive reinforcement. Twenty-five patients who had been treated in a behaviorally oriented inpatient alcohol dependence treatment program and who lived with a significant other (i.e., spouse, sibling, parent) participated in the study. At the end of the 3-month period for which the disulfiram was prescribed, those Ss who were involved in contracting and recording reached criterion more frequently than those who were in the minimal treatment group. Furthermore, 84% of this S sample were abstinent at the 3-month follow-up according to collateral reports. The discussion centers on the use of home-based contracting as an inexpensive alternative to other, more costly disulfiram programs. Additional methods for obtaining measures of reliability on self-report of disulfiram usage also are discussed.

Adult↗

Alcohol use in television programming: effects on children's behavior.

The impact of televised use of alcoholic beverages on children's behavior was evaluated in this study. Children were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: (a) television with drinking depicted, (b) television without drinking, or (c) a no television control condition. Segments of the syndicated television show M.A.S.H. were used as the viewing stimulus. The impact of the various conditions was evaluated in a choice task requiring subjects to choose either martini or regular glasses of either "whiskey" or "water" to serve pictured adults and children. Results indicated that subjects who viewed television drinking were significantly more likely to choose alcoholic beverages for pictured adults but not children. No effect was found for glass preference. Results and implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Alcohol Drinking↗

An analysis of distance variables that affect aftercare attendance.

Recent reserach has examined variables related to attendance of aftercare services because of the correlation between aftercare and posthospitalization treatment success. The present study, which examined aftercare attendance for 40 randomyl selected subjects following discharge from an inpatient alcohol treatment program, extends the list of variables found to influence attendance. A multiple-regression analysis of subject demographic variables and variables of a more programmatic nature found that distance variables (e.g., number of miles to an aftercare agency) significantly influenced aftercare attendance. The results are discussed with respect to aftercare program decisions.

Adult↗

Goal choice of alcoholics: a comparison of those who choose total abstinence vs. those who choose responsible, controlled drinking.

Examined possible pre-treatment differences between alcoholic veterans who choose total abstinence and those who choose responsible drinking as their drinking goal. The two groups were compared on a variety of behavioral, cognitive, affective, and demographic characteristics. It was found that those who choose responsible drinking had a significantly shorter history of abusive drinking (6.5 years vs. 11.5 years) and more education (12.5 years vs. 10.8 years). In addition, the responsible drinking group showed a stronger belief that their chance for success was 100%.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Social-skills training to modify abusive verbal outbursts in adults.

Social-skills training was used to modify abusive verbal outbursts displayed by two adult psychiatric patients. Five target behaviors--looking, irrelevant comments, hostile comments, inappropriate requests, and appropriate requests were monitored during role-played situations. Social-skills training, consisting of behavior rehearsal with modelling, focused instructions, and feedback, was introduced in a multiple-baseline design across individuals. Training improved all target behaviors. The improved behavior generalized to: (1) novel scenes role-played with the original respondent, (2) training and novel scenes role-played with a different respondent, and (3) interpersonal situations on the hospital ward.

Adult↗

Heart rate during group flooding therapy for PTSD.

The objective of this study was to assess, via heart rate, the arousal levels of participants in group trauma reexposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, and so to better understand this common mode of treatment, particularly in regards to its presumed curative factor, extinction. Six Vietnam combat-related PTSD inpatients participated twice weekly in group trauma reexposure therapy during which their electrocardiograms were recorded. Heart rate was quantified continuously off-line. Heart rates of participants not directly engaged in imaginal reexposure to their personal combat traumas consistently exhibited mild linear declines from the beginnings to the ends of the approximately 2.5 hour sessions. Participants actively engaged in personal combat trauma reexposure exhibited higher whole-session heart rates. Most also exhibited more specific elevation extending over the later portions of therapy sessions during which intensive reexposure usually occurred. Surprisingly, no patients exhibited focal increases in heart rate concurrent with periods of most intensive traumatic incident review as judged from videotape. Administering imaginal reexposure in a group context does not preclude substantial physiological (sympathetic) arousal, as is preconditional for extinction. Under conditions in which the actively engaged reexposure patient is reliably identified, group trauma reexposure therapy may not provide an opportunity for "vicarious" flooding in nonengaged participants.

Adult↗