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Results for “Reality Testing”

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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Irrational beliefs as predictors of adolescent drug abuse and running away.

With a population of 78 residents from a residential drug program and 79 residents from a shelter for runaways, this study examined the Rational Behavior Inventory's ability to predict two forms of adolescent maladjustment--drug use and running away. Specific belief systems were found to be differentially associated with each disorder. In addition, gender differences along two belief dimensions of the RBI were found in the drug abuse population. The importance of belief systems as mediating cognitive factors in both running away and drug use also is discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

The relationship between psychological differentiation and performance expectation in alcoholics and normals.

Sixty subjects (20 alcoholic inpatients, 20 outpatient alcoholics, and 20 surgical controls from two Veterans Administration hospitals) were tested on field independence-dependence (measured by the Rod-and-Frame Test), realistic/unrealistic self-expectations (on the Level of Aspiration Board), and degree of alcohol dependence (on the Alcohol Dependence Scale). Response bias and current intelligence were controlled. As predicted, alcoholic inpatients were more alcohol dependent than outpatients, both groups of alcoholics were found to be more field dependent and more unrealistic in their self-expectations than controls, and field dependence was related to unrealistic expectations. Patterns of differentiation and expectation were similar in both alcoholic groups. Results support the consistency of differentiation levels within clinical groups and the relationship between field dependence and unrealistic self-expectation.

Achievement↗
PubMed1990

Transcending death during early adulthood: symbolic immortality, death anxiety, and purpose in life.

Robert Jay Lifton has originated a comprehensive theory of development based on the human psychobiological need to symbolize death and life continuity. He calls this condition the sense of symbolic immortality and argues that life is threatened whenever death is not transcended. A Sense of Symbolic Immortality Scale was built and administered to two groups of young adults (N = 136) in order to test the hypothesis that symbolic immortality develops with age (Drolet, 1986). Templer's Death Anxiety Scale and Crumbaugh and Maholick's Purpose in Life Test also were administered. Results show that established adults have a sense of symbolic immortality and a purpose in life significantly stronger than those of young adults. They show a negative relation between death anxiety and purpose in life, while purpose in life correlates highly with the sense of symbolic immortality. Finally, the premise that the sense of symbolic immortality helps cope with the fear of death is supported.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1984

Confirmation of the borderline personality within a psychodynamic framework.

Using a psychodynamic framework and an underlying structural configuration, the borderline patient is described. Statistical methods are then used to differentiate this group from both a schizophrenic and a character disorder group of patients. The borderline group emerges as a clear-cut entity characterized by (1) the lack of an integrated self concept, and (2) a particular ego structure consisting of a specific pattern of superficial ego strengths and underlying ego weaknesses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

[The programming of cardiac pacemakers--wish and reality].

To test the extent and quality of pacemaker programming, 340 programmable pacemakers were selected out of 1,204 impulse generators removed post-mortem. Their actual program was compared with the nominal parameters when first delivered. 177 (52.1%) of the 340 pacemakers still had the same parameters as on delivery. The multiply programmable impulse generators with telemetry were more frequently programmed (61.2%) than the simple programmable ones (43.0%) or the multiply programmable ones without telemetry (43.7%). Rate was the most frequently programmed parameter, followed by impulse amplitude, sensitivity and impulse duration. Refractory time and hysteresis were only rarely changed from the initial state. Apparently, programmability was not thought to be important enough. Programming without telemetry was seemingly too complicated. The reasons for this attitude should be investigated so that the discrepancy between wishes and reality can be overcome.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1989

The statistical analysis of matched data in psychiatric research.

Clinical studies in psychiatry frequently involve the analysis of matched pairs, in which each patient is matched with his or her psychiatric clinician. If the response variable of interest is dichotomous, then McNemar's chi 2 test for correlated proportions may be applied to the resulting data. However, this test assumes that the set of matched pairs are statistically independent, an assumption that is violated if some clinicians are matched with more than one patient. In this article we present alternatives to McNemar's test for dealing with this problem.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Working memory and bias in reasoning across the life span.

Age differences in syllogistic reasoning in relation to crystallized and fluid ability were studied in 278 adults from 19 to 96 years of age. Two reasoning tasks, the evaluation and the construction of conclusions for syllogisms of varying complexity and believability, a vocabulary test, and 3 tasks of working memory were administered. The magnitude of age-related variance on selected reasoning tasks was only partially reduced by statistically controlling measures of both working memory and vocabulary. Additional age-related effects on reasoning were found to be significantly associated with number of mental models and bias produced by conflict between belief and logic. A significant bias was also found toward acceptance of invalid syllogisms as valid, even when contents were abstract. These sources of error in logic are discussed in relation to Johnson-Laird's (1983) theory of mental models and Evan's (1989) account of bias in human reasoning.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Reality perceptions of television: a comparison of emotionally disturbed, learning disabled, and nonhandicapped children.

The Stony Brook Videotest (SBV), a measure of reality perceptions of television programs and commercials, was administered to 38 emotionally disturbed (ED), 35 learning disabled (LD), and 159 nonhandicapped elementary school children. The ED and LD children scored significantly lower than the comparison group, indicating that ED and LD children are less able to distinguish between reality and fantasy on television. The clinical implications of these findings and possible remedial actions are discussed.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1994

Proficiency testing: now it is a reality.

On January 1, 1994, enrollment in an accredited proficiency testing program became mandatory under the CLIA regulations for physicians performing moderate and high complexity tests in their offices. Physicians not enrolled in programs are in violation of the standard.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
PubMed1989

Evolution of motor activity tests into a screening reality.

Measures of activity have changed in ways that their utility in screening for neurotoxicity has vastly improved. New computer pattern recognition systems now provide rapid, objective tools for identifying animal behavior. Advances in data analysis procedures have replaced the percent change in overall activity level with measures of initiations, total time and temporal structure for multiple behaviors and sequences. These advances can distinguish hyperactivities induced by different mechanisms and rank their neurotoxic potential, a feat not possible with photocell devices generally used in laboratories today. With the recent technological improvements, it is possible that a measure of activity will become one of the best predictors of malfunction in the central nervous system.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1993

Predicting neurobehavioral patterns following anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

This multiple case report presents two groups of survivors from aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA); amnesic and non-amnesics, to examine the similarities and differences in neuropsychological profiles. All six patients were consecutive admissions to acute inpatient rehabilitation, and exhibited generally intact attention, concentration and intellectual ability. Confabulation and personality changes were observed only among the amnesic ACoA patients. However, difficulties in concept formation and perseverative responding was observed in all subjects. A neurobehavioral hypothesis addressing the underlying mechanism of the main features of the "ACoA syndrome" is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Qualitative research: what do we know about teaching good nutritional habits?

Drawing from a number of qualitative studies, a set of basic principles is presented for development of sound, effective nutrition education material. First, research is needed each and every time a new intervention or materials development project is initiated. This research should include formative, process, and outcome testing. Second, reality checks are needed. Programs and materials need to be tested in the settings and for the purpose for which they are intended. Third, messages need to be tailored to the audience. Certain concepts, such as the Dietary Guidelines, may be more or less universal, but the actual educational process and materials need to be tailored to specific target groups. Generic messages do not work. Sound scientific methodology is readily available as well as empirical principles to guide in the development and testing of nutrition education programs and materials, but each new intervention must be tested because there is always a creative element involved. Research will be ineffective, however, unless the right questions are asked and the right people (usually requiring a multidisciplinary team) are used to find the answer.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cognitive deficits and thought disorder: II. An 8-month followup study.

Schizophrenic (n = 21) and manic (n = 19) patients were followed up an average of 8 months after an index assessment during an acute admission. These patients were tested at both assessments with laboratory tasks measuring distractibility and reality monitoring and were examined with clinical ratings of positive and negative thought disorder. For manic patients, none of the measures predicted the patients' clinical state of followup, while negative thought disorder, although rare, was temporally stable. For the schizophrenic patients, both negative thought disorder and distractibility were temporally stable, and more severe negative thought disorder was found at index assessment in patients who were psychotic at followup. The differential utility of laboratory and clinical indices for the prediction of overall clinical state is related to these data.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence and correlates of depersonalization following head trauma.

Using the criteria of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D), we assessed the incidence of feelings of unreality among a sample of 70 persons who had sustained head injuries. Among those whose head trauma could be classified as mild, more than 60% complained of a depersonalization syndrome. Among those with a significant period of unconsciousness, only 11% had similar complaints. There was a high comorbidity with post-traumatic stress disorder and vertigo. Feelings of unreality were not associated with cognitive impairment or elevated personality test scores, nor were there significant relationships with gender or involvement in litigation. A conservative estimate of incidence of depersonalization among persons with minor head trauma is 13%, while, at the upper end, as many as 67% of persons who sustain mild head injury may experience feelings of unreality.

Adolescent↗