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Biomedical subjects

G Shean

Publications and source records attributed to G Shean.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A critical look at the assumptions of cognitive therapy.

The cognitive perspective has been a dominant force in psychology and psychotherapy since the 1970s. Cognitive therapists assume that changing cognition is the key to bringing about changes in emotional reactions and symptomatic behaviors. This article examines evidence that is not consistent with the assumptions of cognitive therapy. First, neurobiological evidence is not consistent with the assumption that cognitions are necessary for emotions. Limbic structures allow for the possibility that emotions can be experienced without cortical processing. Second, research indicates that experiences can be stored as isolated affective fragments that distort cognitive functions. The assumptions of contemporary psychoanalytic models of therapy are consistent with this evidence.

Affect↗
PubMed1998

The effects of anxiety sensitivity and history of panic on reactions to stressors in a non-clinical sample.

This study attempted to determine the effects of physical and mental stressors on a non-clinical population that varied in terms of history of panic attacks and level of anxiety sensitivity. Groups included: (1) individuals with a history of panic attacks, (2) those with high scores on the anxiety sensitivity index and no history of panic and (3) those with no panic experiences and low anxiety sensitivity. Results indicated that participants with a history of panic and those with high anxiety sensitivity reported significantly higher levels of anxiety ratings, bodily symptoms, and anxious thoughts than low anxiety sensitivity subjects during a balloon inflation task. Groups did not differ on any of the dependent measures of stress during a mental arithmetic task. Results indicate that anxiety sensitivity is predictive of whether individuals are likely to panic in response to challenges that induce uncomfortable somatic sensations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Card-sort performance and syndromes of schizophrenia.

The performance of subgroups of schizophrenic patients on the Wisconsin Card Sort Test was investigated. Factor analyses of positive and negative symptom ratings confirmed that ratings described three groups similar to those reported by several other researchers. These symptom groups were labeled psychomotor poverty, cognitive disorganization, and reality distortion. Coaching and incentives resulted in significant improvement in the card-sort performance for patients characterized by symptoms of psychomotor poverty and reality distortion. Patients with symptoms of disorganization, however, had impaired ability to improve card-sort performance after coaching and incentives. Results indicate that symptoms of disorganization appear to differentiate learners from nonlearners on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and may be correlated with different underlying deficits.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Subtypes of depression, efficacy, and the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire.

The purpose of our study was to reanalyze the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt, D'Afflitti, & Quinlan, 1976, 1979) and to evaluate relationships between the questionnaire's factors and other construct-related measures, the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1961) and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (Edwards, 1959). We argue that composite scores derived from this study's principal components analysis are more interpretively useful than the original factor scales reported by Blatt et al. (1976; Blatt, Quinlan, Chevron, McDonald, & Zuroff, 1982). Correlational evidence reported in this study does not support the Dependency and Self-Criticism factors as adequate representations of anaclitic and introjective depression (Blatt, 1974). The third DEQ factor scale, Efficacy, as revised for this study, demonstrated moderate to strong associations with other personality measures.

Dependency, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

The relationship between interaction patterns and agoraphobic fears among college students.

In the present study, we investigated the relationships between self-reports of agoraphobic-like anxiety (fear of open, crowded places), panic experiences, childhood separation anxiety, and family interaction patterns in a college student population. The research was conducted in two parts. Correlational analyses of the results of Study 1 revealed significant relationships between anxiety, difficulties in managing life transitions, and measures of family interaction (intergenerational and peer individuation, intergenerational and peer intimacy) as measured by the Personal Authority in the Family System (Questionnaire (Williamson, Bay, Harvey, & Malone, 1985). In Study 2, we observed significant correlations between agoraphobic anxiety and measures of childhood separation anxiety, state and trait anxiety, and patterns of family enmeshment. The results were interpreted in the context of a broad perspective, which includes the role of developmental and interactional variables in the onset and maintenance of agoraphobic anxiety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Interpersonal style and anxiety.

Agoraphobic anxiety has been linked to traditional feminine sex role attitudes and related dyadic interactions. This research correlated measures of panic experience and agoraphobic anxiety with interpersonal style in a college student population. Significant positive correlations were observed between anxiety scores and the following interpersonal styles: submissive/deferent, self-effacing/obedient, mistrusting/cold, submissive, inhibited, and unassured. Results lend support to clinical reports that some individuals may develop agoraphobic symptoms as a result of the interaction of interpersonal style with relationship patterns.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Autonomic control, selective attention and schizophrenic subtype.

Groups of paranoid reactive and nonparanoid process schizophrenic subjects participated in an experiment in which they were reinforced to modify attentional and autonomic responsiveness to differential excitatory and inhibitory avoidance stimuli. Groups did not differ in autonomic responsiveness or in ability to modify GSR and FPV activity to the differential avoidance stimuli. Groups were found to differ in their response to experimental instructions. Parenoid subjects reported being able to exert considerable emotional control during emotional stress. Nonparanoid subjects reported an inability to exert emotional control during stressful stimulation.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1975

Autonomic responses of paranoid, nonparanoid schizophrenic, and normal subjects to affective visual stimulation.

This investigation utilized a procedure designed to determine patterns of cognitive appraisal, and autonomic reactivity which characterize groups of normals, and paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenics. Results indicated that both groups of schizophrenics evidenced electrodermal habituation and increased finger pulse constriction. Normals indicated that stress stimuli became less disturbing over trials and displayed both electrodermal and digital vasomotor habituation. Electrodermal habituation curves for paranoids and normals were similar, with nonparanoids evidencing slower habituation. Paranoids tended to under-rate or deny their emotional reactions.

Adult↗