A new infrequent response indicator, frequency psychopathology [F(p)] was developed for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and tested with 308 male psychiatric inpatients (veterans). Findings support the F(p) as a sensitive index of profile invalidity in psychiatric populations. (SLD)

Investigated extent and mechanisms of therapeutic generalization across distinct areas of agoraphobic dysfunction among 27 severe agoraphobics. Analysis of possible cognitive mechanisms revealed that perceived self-efficacy accurately predicted treatment and transfer effects even when alternative factors were held constant. Agoraphobia appears to…

Associations between parents' poor marital adjustment, parent-child discord, affectionless control, low family cohesion, and parental divorce and DSM-III diagnoses were explored among 220 offspring of parents with and without major depression. Parental depression and family risk factors were significant predictors of conduct disorder. (RH)

A clinical case of penile obsession and compulsive hypersexuality is interpreted from four different theoretical frameworks--psychoanalysis, behaviorism, Bowen-type multigenerational therapy, and structural/strategic systems theory--to illustrate how conceptual frameworks implicitly or explicitly underlie all therapeutic approaches. Implications…

Randomly assigned 96 persons from inpatient alcoholism treatment program to aftercare group treatment consisting of either coping skills training or interactional therapy. Found that coping skills training was more effective for subjects higher in sociopathy or psychopathology; interactional therapy was more effective for subjects lower in…

Examined whether Psychopathology Checklist contains stable and replicable factor structure by factor-analyzing data from male prisoners (N=1,119) in Canada, United States, and England. Found two-factor solution replicated in all samples. Factor 1 defined by personality traits: superficiality; habitual lying/manipulation; callousness; lack of…

Female undergraduates (n=100) were surveyed concerning body percept and past experience with sexual abuse. Body size overestimation was greater in noneating-disordered women who had relatively unhealthy eating attitudes. Overall findings suggested that age at time of abuse and body image are only associated where there is a degree of eating…

Notes that more students with severe personality disorders are presenting for psychological services at university counseling centers. Considers ethical dilemmas posed by these students. Sees clinical decisions about appropriate treatment modalities, philosophical decisions about agency mission, and available resources to carry out defined…

Psychopathological disorders exhibited by children of normal intelligence are the same as those seen in intellectually disabled children, although they occur much more commonly in intellectually disabled children. Factors which complicate the clinical assessment and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in this group are noted and assessment…

The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) is described as a measure of five factors of personality and its use in clinical assessment and treatment practice is reviewed. Data from 17 adult men and women show links between NEO-PI scales and other measures of psychopathology. (SLD)

Research in the field of developmental disabilities has found direct links between severity of a personality trait or psychopathology and particular pathology of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). From studies of behavior phenotypes, new psychiatric disorders are being recognized, such as Williams syndrome. The formulation of valid behavior…

Of 69 female undergraduates participating in an eating attitudes investigation, 49 reported some form of unwanted sexual experience. Of these, 34 had attempted some form of disclosure, of whom 7 had received an adverse response to disclosure. Adverse response to disclosure was associated with greater levels of psychopathology, particularly oral…

Reviews historical and current problems with making accurate psychological diagnoses of African Americans. Suggests that misdiagnosis is strongly related to pathologization of African-American culture itself. Explores diagnostic process, stereotypes of African-American psychopathology, cultural differences in values and life stressors, and…

Hospitalized female patients with borderline personality disorder were assessed for Axis II disorders by the Structured Clinical Inventory for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (SCID-II) and for personality traits with the NEO Personality Inventory. The relationship of results to social adjustment and the utility of…

Assessed relationship between stressful life events and adolescent suicide in 67 adolescent suicide victims and 67 matched community controls. Found that, in year before death, suicide completers were more likely than controls to have experienced interpersonal conflict with parents and boy/girlfriends; disruption of romantic attachment; legal or…