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PubMed1988

Behavioral and sociocognitive correlates of ratings of prosocial behavior and sociometric status.

Although peers' and teachers' evaluations of children's prosocial behavior and peers' sociometric ratings frequently have been used in studies of social development, the validity of young children's ratings of others has been questioned, as has that for teachers' ratings of prosocial behavior. In this study, preschoolers' ratings of peers' sociometric status and prosocial behavior, as well as teachers' ratings of children's prosocial dispositions, were obtained. These were correlated with children's naturally occurring prosocial or social behavior; ratings of prosocial behavior also were correlated with children's prosocial moral reasoning and prosocial self-attributions. Peers' sociometric ratings were positively related to children's sociability whereas prosocial ratings were related to helping (but not sharing) behavior. Teachers' ratings of prosocial behavior were not related to frequency of prosocial behaviors, but were positively related to developmentally mature moral judgments and self-reported motives.

Child Behavior↗
PubMed1988

Alcohol use and health behavior lifestyles among U.S. women: the behavioral risk factor surveys.

Alcohol use is a complex behavior, occurring in the context of an overall health lifestyle. We used data from a nationally representative telephone survey (N = 12,467 women) to examine associations between binge drinking, chronic drinking, and other health behaviors. Certain health-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, drunk driving, and seatbelt nonuse) tend to cluster with alcohol misuse. These may act synergistically, thus augmenting the negative health effects of alcohol misuse. Conversely, some health behaviors (e.g., eating or exercising, particularly in response to stress) are negatively associated with alcohol misuse and may serve similar functions for some women. Finally, binge drinking occurs more frequently among women who may have relatively restrictive eating behaviors and higher levels of interpersonal stress. Our findings suggest that alcohol prevention and treatment programs should address sociodemographic and health lifestyle factors that initially predispose an individual to engage in health-risk behaviors and should recognize the interdependent patterns of behaviors associated with alcohol misuse. This approach will help prevent substitutions, recurrence, or induction of detrimental behaviors and will identify potentially negative interactions between existing concurrent health-risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Time course of transient behavioral depression and persistent behavioral sensitization in relation to regional brain monoamine concentrations during amphetamine withdrawal in rats.

This experiment was designed to characterize the withdrawal syndrome produced by discontiuation of treatment with escalating, non-neurotoxic doses of d-amphetamine (AMPH). AMPH withdrawal was associated with both transient and persistent changes in behavior and postmortem brain tissue catecholamine concentrations. During the first week of withdrawal rats showed a significant decrease in spontaneous nocturnal locomotor activity. This behavioral depression was most pronounced on the first 2 days after the discontinuation of AMPH pretreatment, was still evident after 1 week, but had dissipated by 4 weeks. Behavioral depression was not due to a simple motor deficit, because AMPH-pretreated animals showed a normal large increase in locomotion when the lights initially went out, but they did not sustain relatively high levels of locomotor activity throughout the night, or show the early morning rise in activity characteristic of controls. Behavioral depression was associated with the transient decrease in the concentration of norepinephrine (NE) in the hypothalamus, and a transient decrease in the ability of an AMPH challenge to alter dopamine (DA) concentrations in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens. AMPH pretreatment also produced persistent changes in brain and behavior. The persistent effects of AMPH were not evident in spontaneous locomotor activity, but were revealed by a subsequent challenge injection of AMPH. AMPH pretreated animals were markedly hyper-responsive to the stereotypy-producing effects of an AMPH challenge. This behavioral sensitization was not fully developed until 2 weeks after the discontinuation of AMPH pretreatment, but then persisted undiminished for at least 1 year. It is suggested that the transient changes in brain and behavior described here may represent an animal analogue of the "distress syndrome" seen in humans during AMPH withdrawal, which is associated with symptoms of depression and alterations in catecholamine function. On the other hand, persistent behavioral sensitization may be analogous to the enduring hypersensitivity to the psychotogenic effects of AMPH seen in former AMPH addicts.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1986

Behavioral specificity of beta-endorphin suppression of sexual behavior: differential receptor antagonism.

Open field behavior was observed in conjunction with mating behavior to discern whether the effect of intraventricular (ICV) beta-endorphin (beta-END) on sexual behavior may be secondary to akinesia. Three groups of ovariectomized, estrogen-progesterone-primed rats each received counterbalanced treatments of saline ICV, 2 micrograms beta-END ICV, or 2 micrograms beta-END ICV in combination with a selective opioid receptor antagonist. Receptive behavior (lordosis) and proceptive behaviors (presentation and ear wiggling) were consistently suppressed by beta-END, while ambulation was unaffected. Rearing and grooming were generally decreased, although this effect was statistically significant in only one experiment. Pretreatment with the mu-1 antagonist naloxazone (50 mg/kg intravenously) reversed the effects of beta-END on all behaviors tested. The delta receptor antagonist ICI-154,129 (12.5 and 50 micrograms ICV) only partially reversed the sexual effects of beta-END but completely reversed the open field effects. It is concluded that the suppressive effect of beta-END on sexual behavior, while not behaviorally specific, is not secondary to opioid-induced akinesia.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Behavioral gerontology: application of behavioral methods to the problems of older adults.

Elderly persons are under-represented in research and clinical applied behavior analysis, in spite of data suggesting that behavior problems are quite prevalent in both community dwelling and institutionalized elderly. Preliminary investigations suggest that behavioral procedures can be used effectively in treating various geriatric behavior problems. We discuss a number of areas within behavioral gerontology that would profit from additional research, including basic field study, self-management, community caregiver training, institutional staff training and management, and geriatric behavioral pharmacology. Special considerations for adapting behavioral procedures are discussed, and suggestions for expanding the role of behavior analysis in geriatric care are offered.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Young women's antisocial behavior and the later emotional and behavioral health of their children.

OBJECTIVES: Antisocial and criminal behavior are increasing among US youth, especially among females. Thus, questions arise concerning whether youthful female deviant behavior eventually will have negative behavioral and emotional consequences for the later children of these women. METHODS: Associations between the severity of early female antisocial behavior (including both drug-related and non-drug related offenses) and the later behavioral and emotional health of the children of these women were examined among 1425 mother-child pairs of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression procedures indicated a significant positive relationship between the severity of the mothers' early non-drug-related offenses and the later severity of the children's scores on the Antisocial, Hyperactive, Anxious/Depressed, Headstrong, Peer Conflict/Social Withdrawal, Immature Dependency, and Total Problem subscales of the Behavior Problem Index. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated an association between the antisocial behavior of female youth and the later behavioral and emotional problems of the children of these women. Future research needs to determine the mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of these types of problems so that effective preventive and therapeutic public health practices may be designed and implemented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Effects of methylphenidate alone and in combination with behavior modification procedures on the behavior and academic performance of hyperactive children.

Twenty hyperactive 6- to 9-year-old children of normal intelligence were studied in a half-day laboratory classroom in a 2-week period baseline-treatment-reversal design for behavior modification. Under double-blind conditions half the children were placed on .3 mg/kg of Ritalin and half on placebo for the entire program. The classroom program consisted of a group period with immediate reinforcement possible, and an individual time period without immediate reinforcement possible. Behavior modification caused a significant decrease in nonattending, out-of-seat, inappropriate vocalizing and inappropriate peer interaction behavior in the group period. Fidgeting, a nontargeted behavior, was not significantly decreased during this period but did significantly decrease as a result of medication. No other drug effects occurred during this period. During the individual period, the results were essentially reversed. There were no significant behavior modification effects observed. Significant reductions resulted from medication in all behaviors except out-of-seat and fidgeting. Behavior modification alone significantly affected the two academic measures. No signigicant effects were seen on the Conners Abbreviated Teacher Rating Scale. No significant interactions were noted between medication and behavior modification.

Achievement↗
PubMed1991

Bisexual behavior in the male rat: influence of masculine sexual activity on the display of lordosis behavior.

Sexually inexperienced male Wistar rats (strain WI in our colony) known to very infrequently display spontaneous lordosis behavior (Schaeffer et al., 1990b) were used. A first group was tested four times at 5-day intervals for lordosis with vigorous stimulus males (heterotypic sexual behavior), immediately following testing for masculine sexual activity with highly receptive females (homotypic sexual behavior). A small number of animals displayed lordosis during the first test, but more and more animals displayed this behavior from the first to the fourth test. There was no relationship between the degree of masculine sexual activity--intromission without ejaculation or ejaculation--and the occurrence of lordosis behavior. A second group was tested only once for both masculine sexual activity and lordosis behavior as above and afterwards three times at 5-day intervals for lordosis behavior in the absence of any previous testing for masculine sexual activity. A few animals displayed lordosis during their first test. As compared to the first group, the animals which had not displayed lordosis in the first test never showed lordosis responses in the following tests. It is concluded that both homotypic and heterotypic sexual interactions are required for the display of lordosis behavior in the strain of Wistar rats used in this study.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of the components of observed chronic pain behavior: the Checklist for Interpersonal Pain Behavior (CHIP).

This article describes the development of the Checklist for Interpersonal Pain Behavior (CHIP), an observation scale which assesses overt pain behavior. The study is an extension of an earlier study in which the dimensions and components of observed chronic pain behavior were examined. A broad definition of pain behavior is chosen (interpersonal pain behavior), namely the interaction between the pain patient and his/her direct environment. The list of pain behaviors, taken from the earlier study, has been transformed into a 78-item global rating scale to be used by nurses to quantify observed pain behavior in a clinical setting. Six studies examine the factor structure and the psychometric properties of this behavioral observation method. In the first study, 6 internally reliable factors are derived using factor analytic techniques from a sample of 152 chronic pain patients. They are labeled as: 'distorted mobility,' 'verbal complaints,' 'non-verbal complaints,' 'nervousness,' 'depression' and 'day sleeping.' Internal consistency of all factors, except 'day sleeping' was excellent. The following studies show that the CHIP is sufficiently reliable and valid. After a discussion on the advantages of this observation scale, the conclusion seems justified that the CHIP is a useful tool in pain assessment that can easily be used by nurses.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Self-injurious behavior: a review of the behavior and biology of self-mutilation.

OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the clinical characteristics of self-injurious behavior, giving special emphasis to self-injurious behavior occurring among individuals with character disorders. DATA COLLECTION: They review data suggesting the involvement of serotonergic, dopaminergic, and opiate neurotransmitter systems in the expression of self-injurious behavior. FINDINGS: Self-injurious behavior occurs among mentally retarded individuals, psychotic patients, prison populations, and individuals with severe character disorders. Although theoretical psychological models of self-injurious behavior are helpful in understanding the patient's experience of self-injury, no generally useful therapeutic approach has yet evolved from these models. Data derived from animal models and treatment studies suggest the involvement of opiatergic and dopaminergic mechanisms in self-injury among the mentally retarded. Serotonergic influences on self-injurious behavior may be present in varying forms of this behavior. The scientific literature on the benefits of pharmacological agents for mentally retarded individuals is beset with a number of problems. Support is emerging, however, for the use of lithium and carbamazepine with self-injuring mentally retarded patients, and some behavioral interventions appear to be successful for mentally retarded individuals. Self-injuring patients with borderline personality disorder may benefit from milieu treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although no form of treatment has yet been demonstrated to be of general benefit, the literature suggests that therapeutic trials with dopamine antagonists, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and opiate antagonists may be of value.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Prolactin (PRL) regulation of maternal behavior in rats: bromocriptine treatment delays and PRL promotes the rapid onset of behavior.

Recent findings indicate that PRL helps stimulate the onset of maternal behavior in inexperienced hypophysectomized steroid-treated female rats. In a series of five experiments we have further examined the involvement of PRL in maternal behavior using nonhypophysectomized ovariectomized rats treated concurrently (type I) or sequentially (type II) with progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2) and administered either bromocriptine (to suppress endogenous PRL secretion) or bromocriptine plus ovine PRL. In Exp 1 plasma PRL concentrations were measured in ovariectomized rats treated for 2 weeks with a combination of E2 and P Silastic implants. Type I steroid-treated (2mm E2, days 1-24; three 30 mm P, days 3-13) rats exhibited elevated plasma PRL levels throughout the sampling period compared with nonsteroid-treated controls. In contrast, PRL concentrations in type II steroid-treated (P, days 3-13; E2, days 13-24) females were low (similar to controls) from days 3-13 when the type II steroid-treated females were exposed to P only. Like type I treated rats, PRL levels in type II steroid-treated rats were elevated from day 13 onward after E2 capsule insertion. In Exp 2, treatment of both type I and type II steroid-treated rats with bromocriptine (2 mg/kg, sc) twice daily beginning on treatment day 13 suppressed basal PRL concentrations and prevented the estrogen-induced diurnal PRL surge. Whereas PRL was effectively suppressed by bromocriptine in both steroid-treated groups, the absolute levels of PRL were lower in rats treated with the type II steroid regimen. Behavioral analyses in Exp 3, 4, and 5 revealed that bromocriptine administration, while failing to interfere with the onset of maternal behavior in rats treated with the type I concurrent steroid regimen, disrupted the onset of maternal care in rats treated with the type II sequential steroid regimen. When a separate set of type II steroid-treated rats was given both bromocriptine (2 mg/kg) plus ovine PRL (0.5 mg, sc) twice daily, maternal behavior rapidly appeared. Thus, suppression of endogenous PRL secretion delays the onset of maternal behavior in nonhypophysectomized steroid-primed rats, an effect prevented by concurrent administration of ovine PRL. In addition to providing further experimental support for PRL's role in maternal behavior, the development of this endocrine regimen provides researchers with a potentially fruitful model to examine neural sites and mechanisms of PRL regulation of maternal behavior in mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Behavioral science education in family medicine: a survey of behavioral science educators and family physicians.

A mailed questionnaire was used to provide a profile of behavioral science educators in family practice residency programs, to examine some aspects of behavioral science curriculum development, and to compare the attitudes of behavioral science educators and family physicians regarding the proper level of involvement of family physicians in a variety of psychosocial problems. The study populations consisted of all 383 behavioral science coordinators of US family practice programs and a national sample of 400 residency-trained family physicians. Eighty percent of the behavioral science educators were familiar with the Core Competency Objectives in Behavioral Science Education, published by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and 61% had used this document to aid in curriculum development. Both behavioral science educators and family physicians perceived that the training provided in the areas of physician-patient relationships, family awareness, and personal and professional relationships was quite effective. The physicians felt significantly less effectively trained in the areas of biopsychosocial assessment and management. A high level of concordance was found between the responses of physicians and educators regarding the appropriate level of involvement of family physicians in various psychosocial problems. One exception between the two groups involved the problems of family and social functioning, for which family physicians advocated a more active level of involvement than did behavioral science educators.

Adult↗