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Biomedical subjects

T A Brigham

Publications and source records attributed to T A Brigham.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Modifying hypnotizability with the Carleton Skills Training program: a partial replication and analysis of components.

3 standard components of the Carleton Skills Training (CST) program--information, modeling, and instructions--were administered in 1 of 3 sequences to 12 low-hypnotizable Ss. Hypnotizability measures were obtained after each component was given, as well as before and after training. Although objective scores showed significant gains from screening to testing, subjective scores did not, suggesting that while training encouraged behavioral compliance, few Ss learned to have the subjective experiences traditionally associated with hypnosis. Results from the component analysis were clear and consistent: whether instructions were presented first, second, or third in the training sequence, no significant changes occurred until this component was provided.

Adolescent

Modifying hypnotic suggestibility with the Carleton Skills Training program.

The Carleton Skills Training (CST) program was used to investigate (a) whether increases in hypnotic responsiveness obtained at Carleton University could be replicated at a different laboratory, (b) the influence of demand characteristics on suggestibility gains, and (c) whether initial gains are maintained over time. After two screening sessions, a replication and experimental group received the CST program, while a control group was allowed to practice hypnotic responding. All groups were then tested twice. Whereas the replication group was told that training and testing were part of the same experiment, the experimental group was told that training and testing were unrelated. Trained subjects returned after 4 months for a final session. Results indicated that (a) the CST program does increase hypnotic responsiveness, (b) suggestibility gains found in this study were relatively modest, (c) demand characteristics may influence suggestibility gains, and (d) suggestibility gains were not maintained at follow-up.

Adolescent

Accuracy of drinkers' recall of alcohol consumption in a field setting.

In a previous field study of how feedback on intoxication might affect an individual's decision to drive, it was found that a small sample of people were quite accurate in their recall of alcohol consumption. The accurate estimation of alcohol consumption clearly is of potential value in driving while intoxicated (DWI) prevention programs. However, because the finding of accurate recall is inconsistent with other reports in the literature, it was decided to replicate the testing with a larger sample. Randomly selected patrons leaving taverns and bars were asked to participate in a study, and individuals agreed to answer a consumption questionnaire and have their blood alcohol level (BAL) measured. Results indicated that subjects were very accurate in their estimates of consumption when self-reports were compared with Breathalyzer readings (r = .70, p less than .01). An additional trend of some interest was that men were apparently more accurate in their estimates of consumption than women even though they generally had higher BALs. The present study replicates and extends the earlier findings concerning the ability of college-age drinkers to estimate alcohol consumption in field settings accurately.

Adult

Tolerance of aversive stimuli in relation to life change.

This study investigated the relation between an individual's tendency to tolerate and/or report discomfort and the amount of life change experienced by that individual. The role of attention in this relation was also examined and manipulated through instruction. Eighty college freshman were selected and divided into three groups (high, medium, low) as a function of scores obtained on the College Schedule of Recent Experience (CSRE). Participants were asked to experience two known discomforting stimuli, the cold pressor and loud broad-band noise. Dependent measures included participant's tolerance time, report of discomfort, and amount of attention paid to each of the stimuli. Results indicated that "high"-life change groups tolerated the two discomforting stimuli significantly less than either the "low"- or the "medium"-life change groups. Neither discomfort ratings nor attention was significantly different across groups. Findings are discussed in relation to epidemiological studies of the life change and illness relation.

Adolescent

A comparison of self-delivered consequences and desensitization in the treatment of fear of rats.

Exposed 52 rat phobic Ss to either group desensitization, self-delivered consequences imagined exposure, self-delivered consequences in-vivo exposure, or no treatment. Self-delivered consequences Ss conducted the treatment on their own and self-delivered preselected reinforcers contingent upon performance of the treatment exercises. All treatment groups improved significantly more than the no-treatment control group. The self-delivered consequences imagined exposure and the group desensitization treatments were equally effective. The self-delivered consequences in-vivo exposure treatment was significantly more effective than the self-delivered consequences imagined exposure and group desensitization treatments. The applicability of self-management techniques to the treatment of fear responses to specific stimuli and an extinction explanation of the effectiveness of systematic desensitization are discussed.

Adult

Development and evaluation of treatment paradigms for the suppression of smoking behavior.

A multiple-baseline component-analysis design was employed to assess the effectiveness of three treatment programs for suppressing the cigarette smoking behavior of 24 subjects. Sartiation, cognitive control, and continger shock procedures were evaluated. The results demonstrated a consistent relationship between contingent shock and suppression of smoking. It was further indicated that subjects should be exposed to the number of sessions necessary to achieve total suppression in order to gain maximally from treatment and to avoid relapse. Neither the satiation component nor the cognitive control component was correlated with clear, permanent decrements in smoking frequencies. To date no other treatment program has demonstrated the dramatic effects ofethe contingent shock procedures used in the present study.

Adult