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Biomedical subjects

G C Davison

Publications and source records attributed to G C Davison.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cognitive bias in the articulated thoughts of depressed and nondepressed psychiatric patients.

Beck's cognitive theory of depression postulates several types of cognitive bias among depressed patients. Empirical studies supporting this hypothesis have usually used questionnaire "endorsement" measures of cognition, which may suggest responses to subjects. We used the articulated thoughts during simulated situations (ATSS) method of cognitive assessment in comparing cognitive processes of 15 outpatients with major depression with those of 15 nondepressed psychiatric outpatients in three simulated situations. Depressed patients exceeded nondepressed patients in cognitive bias only in the negative (not the neutral or positive) simulated situation. Discussion centered on the possible utility of ATSS for research on cognition in stressful situations.

Cognition↗
PubMed1991

Relaxation, reduction in angry articulated thoughts, and improvements in borderline hypertension and heart rate.

An intensive 7-week relaxation therapy was evaluated in a sample of unmedicated borderline hypertensive men. All subjects were provided state-of-the-art medical information regarding changes known to affect hypertension favorably, e.g., lower salt intake and regular exercise. In addition, relaxation subjects were trained in muscle relaxation that entailed audiotaped home practice. As predicted, relaxation combined with hygiene lowered blood pressure more than did hygiene alone. Neither treatment favorably affected a paper-and-pencil measure of anger but relaxation did lower anger-hostility on a new cognitive assessment procedure, Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations (ATSS). Moreover, ATSS anger-hostility reduction was correlated with blood pressure or heart rate reductions, for all subjects and especially for those in the Relaxation condition. This represents the first clinically demonstrated link between change in a cognitive variable and change in cardiovascular activity. Finally, results were especially strong in subjects high in norepinephrine, suggesting its importance in essential hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Noradrenergic hyperactivity in primary hypertension; central and peripheral markers of both behavioral pathogenesis and efficacy of sympatholytic and relaxation therapy.

The effects of clonidine or relaxation therapy were determined in two separate groups of patients with primary hypertension. Ten patients were treated with clonidine monotherapy for 3 months. There were concurrent reductions of blood pressure, plasma and CSF norepinephrine, all p less than 0.01. The changes of blood pressure and norepinephrine were correlated, p less than 0.05 and 0.01, respectively. Thirty patients received hygienic instructions, and 17 of them had relaxation training in addition. Relaxation lowered blood pressures, p less than 0.01, the reduction of blood pressure was related to baseline plasma norepinephrine, p less than 0.05, and greater in patients with "raised" plasma norepinephrine, p less than 0.02. Plasma norepinephrine was lowered after hygienic therapy, p less than 0.05, the change was not significant after relaxation training. Arterial pressure elevation appears to be related to raised plasma norepinephrine. This noradrenergic hyperactivity is a marker for blood pressure responsiveness to sympatholytic therapy with clonidine or relaxation techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Homosexuality and the ethics of behavioral intervention: Homosexuality, the ethical challenge.

It is suggested that behavior therapists have not attended sufficiently to the factors influencing the desire of some homosexuals to change their sexual orientation. Therapists of all persuasions constantly make decisions for their voluntary clients, encompassing both the goals of therapy and the means to be used to achieve those goals. A perusal of the psychotherapy and behavior therapy literature indicates that therapists generally regard homosexuality as undesirable, if not pathological. Since professionals are unlikely to work on treatment procedures unless they see a problem, it is probable that the very existence of change-of-orientation programs strengthens societal prejudices against homosexuality and contributes to the self-hate and embarrassment that are determinants of the "voluntary" desire by some homosexuals to become heterosexual. It is therefore proposed that we stop offering therapy to help homosexuals change and concentrate instead on improving the quality of their interpersonal relationships. Alternatively, more energy could be devoted to sexual enhancement procedures in general, regardless of the adult gender mix.

Behavior Therapy↗