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Biomedical subjects

D F Greenwald

Publications and source records attributed to D F Greenwald.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Life events and psychopathology severity: comparisons between psychiatric outpatients and inpatients.

Relationships between life events stress variables and seven indices of psychopathology severity for a group of 97 never-hospitalized outpatients were compared with those of a previously studied group of 217 first-admission functional disorder psychiatric inpatients from the same geographical catchment areas. The hypotheses tested were that degree of life events stress would be correlated positively with indices of psychopathological severity and that the magnitudes of association would be higher for the outpatients. Bivariate correlations and stepwise multiple regression with other potential demographic and prognostic moderator variables provided evidence for significant, but somewhat differing, patterns in outpatient vs. inpatient stress/pathology relationships. Contrary to prediction, the magnitudes of significant and near-significant associations between life events and pathology severity were not different in the two samples.

Adjustment Disorders↗

Family interaction and outcome IQ in high-risk boys.

This study examined the relationship between measures of family interaction and outcome for 97 boys at risk for psychopathology from having one parent previously hospitalized for psychiatric illness. Measures of communication deviance and of activity, balance and warmth, derived from two family activities, correlated significantly with 3-yr. follow-up adaptive functioning, measured by IQ. Poor family interaction, in previous studies associated with schizophrenic symptomatology, was here correlated with poor cognitive/social/emotional functioning, suggesting that family interaction may be a broad predictor of adequacy of functioning.

Child↗

The Last-Weiss Rorschach Ego-Strength Scale as a prognostic measure for psychiatric inpatients.

This study tested the hypothesis that the Last-Weiss (Last & Weiss, 1976) Rorschach Ego-Strength Scale would predict outcome among a representative sample of first-lifetime psychiatric admissions. One hundred seventeen patients were assessed with structured symptom, psychiatric history, and social data interviews at hospital admission, and 2-year follow-up. Outcome measures included a multidimensional variable involving rehospitalization time, social and work functioning, and recent symptom level and symptom measures. Unexpectedly, the Last-Weiss Sum E variable correlated significantly with negative multidimensional outcome, a result that was strengthened when any possibly confounding effects of social class, IQ, and number of Rorschach responses were partialled out. It was found that Sum E's predictive value for poorer outcome was due to the space response (S+) component of the ego-strength variable. Possible explanations of the findings and implications for the previously validated Klopfer's Rorschach Prognostic Rating Scale are discussed.

Adjustment Disorders↗

The Last-Weiss Rorschach Ego-Strength Scale as a prognostic measure for psychiatric outpatients.

This study tested the hypothesis that the Last and Weiss (1976) Rorschach Ego-Strength Scale (sigma E) would predict outcome among a representative sample of never-hospitalized psychiatric outpatients. 78 patients were assessed with structured symptom, psychiatric history, and social data interviews at the time of initial clinic contact and at 2-yr. follow-up. Outcome measures included the Menninger Health-Sickness Scale, a multidimensional variable involving social and work functioning and recent symptom level, symptom measures, and an index of diagnostic severity. sigma E, controlled for number of responses, correlated significantly with Health-Sickness, neurotic symptoms, diagnostic severity, and psychotic symptomatology. Among the components of sigma E, M+, and FC+ had significant relationships or contributed to significant relations with outcome variables. Considered with an earlier study of inpatients, in which S+ sigma E component correlated inversely with outcome, this study suggested that sigma E components have differing prognostic significance, depending on adaptational level of the patient.

Adolescent↗

Responsivity/nonresponsivity in psychosomatic disorders.

Tested the hypothesis that gastrointestinal and dermatological symptoms are associated with differing psychological styles. Specifically, it was predicted that tendencies toward heightened environmental responsiveness and heightened experiences of urges and affects would be associated with gastrointestinal diseases, whereas affectively reduced environmental responsiveness and muted experiences of urges and affects would be associated with dermatological diseases. Forty adult male Ss, 20 in each disease category, were given an open-ended interview--the basis for the main test of the hypothesis, the Mayman Early Memory Test, and the TAT. Based on the interview material, coders classified the Ss as predicted at levels well beyond chance. Though the data from the other tests did not provide clear-cut evidence, they did offer tentative support for the hypothesis. S responses are presented that highlight the contrast between the two styles.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The Urist Rorschach Mutuality of Autonomy Scale as an indicator of psychopathology.

The Urist Rorschach Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MAS), which assesses development along a self-object differentiation and mutuality dimension, has shown considerable promise as an index of interpersonal relationship capacities. As such, MAS scores were predicted to correlate significantly with three measures of psychological pathology/health. The reliability of the scale was investigated with non-S Rorschachs and found to be satisfactory. Four-card Rorschachs from 60 previously hospitalized adults comprised the data source for the hypothesis test. Results suggest that the Mutuality Scale accurately reflects observed pathology severity at time of hospitalization and over a lifetime, but not at the time of assessment. Hence, the Urist MAS may indicate potential for pathology.

Adult↗

WISC scatter and behavioral competence in high-risk children.

Examined the relationship between WISC scatter and school competence measures for 101 boys at risk for psychiatric disorder. This sample, shown in previous research to be less competent in school than controls, was predicted to have greater scatter than a standardization sample. Further, within the high-risk sample, an association was predicted between two measures of scatter and lowered school competence, as measured by Fisher's (1980) peer and teacher ratings. The results suggested that the mean scatter variable available for both samples is significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the intelligence test standardization sample. This scatter measure also measures. The second measure did not relate significantly to any of the school measures. These findings suggest that one of the two scatter measures is a valid index of less competent school functioning and may be in combination with other measures, a useful predictor of future psychopathology.

Child↗