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Biomedical subjects

R J Gatchel

Publications and source records attributed to R J Gatchel.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

The effect of voluntary control of heart rate deceleration on skin conductance level: an example of response fractionation.

Twenty-four undergraduate male volunteers participated in an experimental designed to assess the effect of voluntary control of heart rate deceleration on skin conductance level. One group of subjects received heart rate feedback training and a second group performed a tracking task. Because heart-rate feedback was presented via a visual display, the tracking task group was included to control for display monitoring influences on heart rate. Results demonstrated feedback mediated acquisition of learned control of heart rate slowing. More importantly, the heart-rate slowing performance was accompanied by increases in skin conductance level. This 'fractionation' of physiological responding suggests the presence of a physiological response pattern which may counter initial attempts to produce greater magnitude slowing effects.

Arousal↗
PubMed1975

Locus of control and voluntary heart-rate change.

Investigated the effects of locus of control on voluntary control of heart-rate change. The 32 subjects were randomly assigned to one of two heart-rate change groups: Increase or decrease. The groups were counterbalanced for locus of control and sex. No heart-rate feedback was provided to subjects, and all subjects performed the appropriate task for two sessions. Results indicated that during the initial session, internals were better able to increase their heart-rates than externals; the externals were better able to decrease their heart-rates internals. This association, however, diminished to nonsignificance in the second session.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Change over training sessions of relationship between locus of control and voluntary heart-rate control.

The present study investigated the effects of locus of control on learning to accelerate and decelerate heart over a number of training sessions. 15 Ss who scored internal in locus of control and 15 who scored external were trained to change their heart rates. Ss were given two training sessions in speeding heart rate and two in slowing heart rate. Results indicated that during the initial training sessions, internals were better able to increase their heart rates than externals; the externals were better able to decrease their heart rates than internals. However, this association diminished to nonsignificance when additional training sessions were provided. These results argue for routinely conducting a number of training sessions to avoid any premature statement of a relationship between personaltiy measures and learned control of heart rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic spinal disorders and psychopathology. research findings and theoretical considerations.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Numerous studies have documented a strong association between chronic spinal disorders and psychopathology. However, there have been methodological shortcomings associated with much of this. PURPOSE: This article reviews the relevant research literature, including methodological refinements that have resulted in improved measurement of psychopathology, in order to provide the most updated conclusions concerning the links between spinal disorders and psychopathology. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of all Medline referenced articles on this subject during the past three decades. METHODS: Previous research has shown that chronic spinal disorders are most often associated with depressive disorders, somatoform disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. In addition to reviewing this research, the relationship between chronic spinal disorders and depressive disorders is examined in more detail. RESULTS: Although the relationship between spinal disorders and psychopathology is complex, a diathesis-stress model is emerging as the dominant overarching theoretical model. In this model, diatheses are conceptualized as pre-existing semidormant characteristics of the individual before the onset of chronic spinal disorders, which are then activated by the stress of this chronic condition, eventually resulting in a diagnosable depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: In the present review, a diathesis-stress model was applied specifically to the relationship between chronic spinal disorders and depressive disorders. Such a model may also be applicable to the relationship between chronic spinal disorders and other types of psychopathology, such as anxiety and substance use disorders. However, conclusive empirical support will require a prospective research design, given that these diatheses could be validly assessed only before the onset of the chronic pain condition.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Spine stats.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent disabling work-related spinal disorders after prior injury claims in a chronic low back pain population.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Multiple compensation injury claims are an understudied phenomenon in the chronic back pain and occupational injury literature. Assumptions about poor treatment outcomes for patients presenting with prior injury can lead to denial of treatment, even though these assumptions have not been empirically addressed. Functional restoration has been demonstrated to be an effective rehabilitation treatment for disabling, work-related chronic back pain, although its' relative utility with recurrent injury (RI) patients has not been previously evaluated. PURPOSE: To assess demographic, psychosocial and work history/adjustment differences between the two groups, and to investigate whether patients with recurrent work-related spinal injury claims benefit from functional restoration treatment at a level equivalent to patients with nonrecurrent injuries. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A prospective cohort design assessing characteristics and outcomes of patients with recurrent work-related spinal disorders, compared with a group of patients without prior work-related spine injury claims, all treated with the same interdisciplinary rehabilitation protocol. PATIENT SAMPLE: A cohort of consecutively treated functional restoration rehabilitation patients (n=395) divided into two groups based on a history of prior work-related injury. The RI (n=172) group had at least one prior work-related injury claim (with or without lost time), whereas the nonrecurrent injury (NRI; n=223) group did not. OUTCOME MEASURES: The RI and NRI groups were assessed for prospectively collected demographic, psychosocial and work history/adjustment data. A structured clinical interview addressing socioeconomic outcomes and assessing work return, health utilization, recurrent injury and case closure was administered 1 year after discharge from the treatment program. METHODS: Consecutive patients from a regional referral center for tertiary rehabilitation treatment of chronic work-related musculoskeletal injuries were evaluated with a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment protocol at pretreatment and posttreatment. Moreover, at 1 year after completing the program, a structural telephone interview was conducted that assessed health and socioeconomic outcomes. RESULTS: For the 1-year socioeconomic outcomes (such as posttreatment injury), the RI patients responded to rehabilitation at a level equivalent to the NRI patients. Demographic analyses revealed that RI patients, relative to NRI patients, were older, more represented by the dominant culture, had more education, had a shorter length of disability, had less severe types of injuries, had a greater rate of non-work-related health conditions, received higher disability payments, and had slightly greater job demand. The RI group also had a greater rate of pre-injury Axis I psychiatric disorders, particularly substance abuse/dependence disorders, than the NRI group. In addition, the RI group had greater job stability than the NRI group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that, although patients with recurrent injuries evidence differences in demographic, psychosocial and work history/adjustment differences when compared with patients with nonrecurrent injuries, their 1-year outcomes after tertiary, medically directed rehabilitation are identical. Both groups demonstrate very low rates of further work-related injuries through the first posttreatment year. Patients with recurrent injuries appear to develop skills in dealing with the workers' compensation system with a familiarity not seen in NRI patients. Of course, these results will need to be replicated in other settings to determine whether they can be generalized to the entire workers' compensation population.

Adult↗