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Biomedical subjects

R A Moss

Publications and source records attributed to R A Moss.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The effects of cigarette smoking on the perception of electrical stimulation and cold pressor pain.

Prior research has attempted to delineate the effects of cigarette smoking on pain. However, there has been little consensus among findings. Therefore, the present investigation was designed to provide a more carefully controlled evaluation of the effects of cigarette smoking on pain. Specifically, the effects of cigarette smoking on two pain tasks (electrical stimulation and cold pressor) were assessed via three primary response measures: pain threshold, pain tolerance and McGill Pain Questionnaire scores. The results of this study indicated that cigarette smoking did not affect subsequent ratings on any of the response measures for either cold pressor or electrical stimulation tasks. These data are integrated with those of previous research and hypotheses are proposed regarding specific factors responsible for the conflicting findings of studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Common migraine: a review and proposal for a non-vascular aetiology.

A brief review of the literature related to migraine headaches is presented. Information is presented on the epidemiology and diagnostic criteria of migraine headaches and is followed by a discussion on the problems inherent in the current classification system. Previously proposed vascular mechanisms of common migraine are discussed in the light of recent non-supporting data and a possible link between common migraine and orofacial pain dysfunction syndromes is proposed. The role of oral behavioural patterns and related muscular/temporomandibular joint problems are advanced as probable factors related to common migraine. The discussion focuses on the need to distinguish classic from common migraine headache sufferers in assessment and treatment outcome studies, as well as suggesting future avenues of research.

Facial Muscles↗
PubMed1984

The physiological effects of cigarette smoking: implications for psychophysiological research.

The present study was designed to determine the specific physiological effects of two experimental conditions, smoking and mock smoking (puffing on an unlit cigarette), with smokers and nonsmokers. Two groups (smokers versus nonsmokers) with nine subjects each (five females, four males) participated in the present study. Physiological measures included alveolar carbon monoxide (COa) levels, skin resistance, heart rate, and finger temperature across a standard session sequence. The results of the COa assessment indicated increments only in the smoking condition. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) across skin conductance, heart rate, and hand temperature were initially performed, followed by univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) for each physiological measure. Post hoc analyses were performed using orthogonal polynomial trend analyses. A number of significant differences were found. Discussion focuses on the need for experimental controls related to cigarette smoking in psychophysiological research in general, and in hand temperature biofeedback training in particular.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Screening for anorexia and bulimia nervosa in a college population: problems and limitations.

In relation to prevalence studies, bulimia and anorexia nervosa symptoms have been reported to be surprisingly high, although such studies have relied upon questionnaire data. The present study examines the reliability and validity of an eating disorder questionnaire (Eating Attitudes Test) in discriminating anorexics and bulimics from a general female college population. Of an initial test sample of 162 subjects, 56 were subsequently interviewed and retested. The results indicated that the questionnaire gave a high false positive rate for both eating disorders. Discussion focuses on limitations of questionnaire data in determining bulimia prevalence rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Temporomandibular joint disfunction syndrome and myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome: a critical review.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction syndrome and myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome have been primarily viewed as dental problems and have only recently received close attention by psychologists. The literature reviewed in the present paper reveals that a substantial portion of the population is affected by these disorders. There is, however, a great deal of confusion that exists in relation to the aetiology and treatment of these syndromes. In an attempt to clarify the current understanding of these disorders, the present review first presents a discussion of the symptoms which comprise each of these syndromes and the proposed physiological mechanisms associated with each symptom. Next, the aetiological theories for each of these syndromes are reviewed and critically evaluated. Treatments which have been derived from the theoretical models are then discussed. Finally, methodological considerations involving classification, assessment and treatment issues are presented and future research needs are outlined.

Auscultation↗
PubMed1984

Physiological reactions to stress in subjects with and without myofascial pain dysfunction symptoms.

Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction syndrome have been suggested as resulting from masticatory muscle hyperactivity. Furthermore, this hyperactivity has been viewed as a response-specific reaction to stress. The present study was designed to assess the effects of laboratory-induced stress (i.e., startle stimulus, buzzer series, serial sevens tasks, and pain threshold/tolerance tests) on physiological responses (i.e. bilateral masseter EMG, skin conductance level, and heart rate) of ten patients (TMJ pain) with a history of facial pain and TMJ sounds. The two control groups, one with TMJ sounds only (TMJ sound) and the other with no history of these symptoms (non-TMJ), were matched for sex and age. The results indicated that the TMJ pain group did not exhibit different masseter EMG levels when comparing symptomatic versus asymptomatic sides. Few significant differences were noted in the masseter EMG recordings of the TMJ pain and non-TMJ group, while no difference occurred between the EMG levels of the TMJ pain and TMJ sound group. Little support was found for the assertion that TMJ pain subjects show greater EMG reactivity and less adaptation than do non-TMJ subjects. Finally, no differences were found among groups in relation to the latency to ischaemic pain onset or tolerance. The discussion focuses on reasons for the findings of the present study being discrepant from previously reported research.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The assessment of personality, anxiety and depression in mandibular pain dysfunction subjects.

The search for distinct personality characteristics of mandibular pain dysfunction patients has produced confusing and contradictory results. The present study represents an attempt to clarify this area of research by assessing reliable measures of personality (MMPI), anxiety (Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory) in ten subjects with a history of facial pain and TMJ sounds. Two control groups, one with TMJ sounds only and other with no history of these symptoms, were matched for sex. The results indicated that the groups did not differ on any of these measures. Discussion focuses on possible explanations for the failure to find any differences in these measures and the future of personality assessment in mandibular pain dysfunction populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

An investigation of a minimal contact brand fading program for smoking treatment.

Self-help methods are preferred by smokers over clinic-based treatments providing more traditional services. Unfortunately, these more popular methods have not been extremely successful in getting smokers to quit. The poor success rates may be partially related to the lack of structure inherent in these treatment approaches. The present study examined a self-help program delivered to smokers via a written manual and limited duration phone calls--the latter to add structure to the treatment procedures. The results, a 23% abstinent rate, indicate that this approach has some promise for treating chronic smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The comparative efficacy of relaxation training and masseter EMG feedback in the treatment of TMJ dysfunction.

The present series of single case studies was designed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of masseter EMG feedback with progressive relaxation training in the treatment of TMJ dysfunction. Study 1 employed a multiple baseline design across the symptoms of jaw pain, jaw tension and shoulder pain in a patient with chronic TMJ problems. The results indicated that relaxation training was the treatment responsible for improvements in subjective ratings of jaw pain and tension, whereas masseter EMG feedback provided little additional benefit. Trapezius EMG feedback was necessary to provide improvements in ratings of shoulder pain. Study 2 consisted of four single case designs in which masseter EMG feedback and relaxation training were compared with four TMJ patients. Results indicated that relaxation produced clear improvements in pain and tension ratings for two patients, a combination of EMG feedback and relaxation training resulted in slight improvements in one patient, and neither treatment procedure was effective for the final patient. The possibility of wide-scale application of relaxation training with TMJ patients and the need for further controlled research of masseter EMG feedback were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Assessment and treatment of stress in myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome: a model for analysis.

Myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome has received widespread attention in the dental and psychological literature. The present paper considers issues concerning a stress-related muscular hyperactivity theory of MPD syndrome. A review of the empirical evidence as well as methodological problems evident in these studies has been noted. In addition, definition aspects of stress and a conceptual model of stress in clinical use is presented. A functional analysis of the problem components will help determine a proper treatment protocol for patients suffering from stress-related myofascial pain. A discussion of the conceptual model for assessment and treatment purposes is presented and its implications for future research noted.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1982

Implications of self-monitoring for smoking treatment: effects on adherence and session attendance.

The reactive effects of three self-monitoring procedures were evaluated with respect to compliance with the self-monitoring requirements and session attendance. A total of 50 smokers who agreed to participate in a smoking cessation program were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: three self-monitoring conditions and two no self-monitoring control conditions. Results indicate that groups were initially equal on the variables of age, sex, pack year history, estimated rate of consumption, and alveolar carbon monoxide level. Drop-out rates for the no self-monitoring control groups were equal at the second session (10% each) and significantly lower than those of the self-monitoring groups (40%, 40%, and 60%). This significant difference was still present at the sixth treatment session. The implications of increased drop-out rates in smoking cessation programs resulting from self-monitoring are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A more efficient biofeedback procedure for the treatment of nocturnal bruxism.

The study describes a noval approach in the use of a conditioning procedure for the treatment of nocturnal bruxism. The effectiveness of the procedure is demonstrated through its application with two nocturnal bruxists in controlled study designs. Subject 1 received several variations of this procedure and the result indicated that using a loud tone which she manually reset after awakening was the most effective approach to this treatment. The second study was designed to compare the effectiveness of relaxation training to the conditioning technique. Subject 2 failed to show any decrease in her bruxing behavior when taught relaxation. However, she showed immediate decreases in both frequency and duration of bruxing responses when treated with the biofeedback procedure. The need for future research in this area is discussed with emphasis on the development of low cost, home treatment units.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The role of level of functioning in the modification of psychological deficit in schizophrenics.

The modification of the psychological deficit in the free and fixed recall performance of low level functioning schizophrenics was examined. One hundred and eighty-seven male and female schizophrenics were divided into three groups according to their level of functioning on their hospital ward and were tested on free and fixed recall tasks under two conditions of payoff crossed with two conditions of informational cues. The results indicated that there was a definite relationship between level of function and effectiveness of payoff, instruction, and training. With lower levels of patient functioning, a combination of payoff and information across trials proved most effective in modifying the psychological deficit.

Adult↗