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Biomedical subjects

J G Beck

Publications and source records attributed to J G Beck.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Gender differences in sexual desire: the effects of anger and anxiety.

The effects of anxiety and anger on subjective sexual desire in men and women, following Kaplan's model of hypoactive desire disorders, were examined. Gender-appropriate erotic audiotapes containing statements designed to elicit anxiety, anger, or situationally appropriate feelings (control condition) were presented to 24 men and 24 women. Dependent measures included subjective anxiety and time to expressed desire to terminate the sexual encounter. Results indicated that, for women, both anger and anxiety significantly reduced desire relative to the control condition, with anger showing a more marked effect. For men, similar results were noted, although fewer differences were observed between the anxiety and anger conditions. Significantly more women (79%) than men (21%) indicated that they would have terminated the encounter during the anger condition. Results are discussed in light of potential gender differences in factors that influence sexual desire, with directions for future research highlighted.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: an overview.

This article reviews the current state of knowledge about hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Despite considerable clinical attention that has been given to this disorder, ambiguity remains concerning the nature and treatment of low sexual desire. This article reviews diagnostic issues, including prevalence estimates. Current theories of etiology and maintenance are highlighted, as well as available assessment strategies. Controlled treatment studies are reviewed, with particular focus on the need to develop desire-specific interventions. Throughout this review, areas where additional work is needed are highlighted.

Female↗
PubMed1994

Instructional control of female sexual responding.

To examine whether women can suppress genital arousal under instructional control, 25 women were presented with three erotic films and instructions to "become as aroused as possible" (Arouse) or to "suppress arousal" (Suppress). Genital responding was assessed using the heated oxygen electrode which yields two measures of vaginal responding: oxygen perfusion and thermistor assessment of vasocongestion. 36 to 40% of the sample was able to demonstrate a substantial reduction in sexual responding under Suppress instructions (depending upon the measure used), based on externally derived criteria to determine suppression. Differences were noted in the patterns of responding between suppressors and nonsuppressors, on both the pO2 and heat measures. Examination of thought-listing data indicated that subjects were able to identify cognitive strategies they used to suppress responding. In particular, successful suppressors were more likely to report the use of 2+ cognitive strategies, whereas the nonsuppressors reported reliance on a single strategy. Results are discussed in light of current theories of emotional factors in sexual responding, with emphasis on clinical implications. Directions for future research in female sexuality are highlighted.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of cognitive therapy and relaxation training for panic disorder.

Current approaches to the treatment of panic disorder (PD) include a treatment package consisting of relaxation training (RT), cognitive therapy (CT), and exposure-based components. In an examination of the separate effects of RT and CT without formally taught exposure of any form, 64 PD patients were assigned randomly to one of these treatment protocols or to a minimal-contact control (MCC) condition. Both RT and CT were superior to the MCC condition on a variety of measures pertaining to panic, global psychological functioning, agoraphobic fear, and other associated fears. A significantly greater percentage of patients were classified as treatment responders (based on a composite index) after CT (82%) and RT (68%), compared with the control group (36%). On measures of agoraphobic fear, CT patients fared slightly better than RT patients. Some support was demonstrated for specific cognitive changes after CT, although treatment specificity was not strongly supported overall. These results are discussed in light of current theories of PD and the presumed importance of exposure in its treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Attention and memory for threat in panic disorder.

Recently, information processing paradigms have been utilized to explore the role of attentional and memory processes in the maintenance of clinical anxiety disorders. The present study extended these data using a dual-task paradigm to assess attentional vigilance and a cued recognition task to evaluate short-term memory effects in Panic Disorder (PD). Twenty PD patients and 20 normal controls completed a computerized task wherein they read aloud one of a pair of rapidly presented words (primary task) while simultaneously attempting to detect a small probe that appeared adjacent to one of the words (secondary task). Eighty stimulus words were chosen to represent four categories: physical panic-related threat, social threat, positive-emotional, and neutral. Reaction time and accuracy in detecting the probe were assessed, as well as psychophysiological responding (heart rate, skin conductance, EMG). Following task completion, a cued recognition task was administered to examine short-term memory of task stimuli. Results indicated that PD patients exhibited slower reaction times relative to normal controls during presentation of physical panic-related threat and positive-emotional stimuli. A similar trend emerged for social threat stimuli, although the PD and control samples responded similarly to neutral stimuli. No group differences were found on the cued recognition measure or psychophysiological responding during task performance. The data are discussed in terms of possible implications for cognitive models of PD.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Pain profiles of patients with nonorganic chest pain: a preliminary report of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory.

The primary purpose of this report is to extend the range of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) to include patients with nonorganic chest pain. Previous research with the MPI has not included this patient population, although this instrument has been used to derive an empirically based taxonomy of patient responses to chronic pain. Scale scores are provided for a sample of 43 chest pain patients and compared with normative scores from samples of chronic lower back pain patients and patients suffering from temporomandibular disorder. The MPI taxonomy was applicable for only 34.8% (N = 15) of this sample. Scale intercorrelations are examined and compared with those derived during development of the MPI, to explore reasons for this low classification rate. The results are discussed in light of cognitive-behavioral factors present in persistent chest pain, with implications for scale development and use of the MPI.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Covariation of sexual desire and sexual arousal: the effects of anger and anxiety.

To test Kaplan's model of hypoactive sexual desire, this investigation examined the effects of anger and anxiety presented during sexual stimuli. Subjects included 24 male undergraduates, free from psychological and medical problems that interfere with sexual function. Each subject was presented with three audiotapes, containing sexual content and statements by the participants that were designed to evoke anger or anxiety or that were situationally appropriate (control condition). Penile tumescence and sexual desire were monitored continuously. Results indicated significant differences in sexual desire in each of the three conditions, with desire highest during the control condition, followed by the anxiety condition, and last, the anger condition. Tumescence was decreased during the anger condition, relative to the control and anxiety conditions, which were not significantly different from one another. These findings partially support Kaplan's model of maintaining factors in hypoactive sexual desire, by demonstrating that anger may be the primary mechanism through which sexual desire and arousal are inhibited. In this study, anxiety impaired desire but did not affect tumescence. Implications for the study of emotional influences on sexual responding are discussed, including the need for investigation of other parameters of sexual motivation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The effects of voluntary hyperventilation on patients with chest pain without coronary artery disease.

The present investigation was designed to examine panic symptom experience in patients with chest pain of nonorganic etiology, using a hyperventilation provocation procedure. Given the recent focus on panic disorder in patients with nonorganic chest pain, we assessed three indices of physiological arousal, subjective anxiety, and endorsement of DSM-III-R panic symptomatology in response to 3 min of voluntary hyperventilation. Subjects included 23 patients with nonorganic chest pain (CP sample) and matched normal controls (NC sample). The results indicate that hyperventilation produced significant increases in skin conductance, heart rate, and upper trapezious EMG in both CP and NC samples. Despite equivalent levels of physiological arousal and subjective anxiety, the CP sample endorsed a greater number of DSM-III-R panic symptoms relative to the NC sample. Examination of post-hyperventilation symptoms indicated that a greater percentage of the CP sample reported palpitations, nausea, and chest pain when compared with normals. Comparison of CP patients with and without Panic Disorder revealed no significant differences on any measure. The results suggests that hyperventilation plays a role in symptom experience in patients with nonorganic chest pain, although anxiety does not appear central in moderating this effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Respirator physiology research: answers in search of the question.

Adverse effects of respirators have been the focus of considerable research over the past decade. Individual research projects have generally focused on one specific category of effects: ventilatory, respiratory control, work limitation, subjective discomfort, psychologic effects, thermal loading, and cardiovascular changes. Most were studied in experimental laboratory situations rather than in actual worksites. Very little attention has been given to compliance with use and actual effectiveness in preserving health. Inasmuch as many types of effects have been demonstrated, there is a need to carefully define which type(s) of effects is/are most important for respirator design selection and worker medical certification in particular situations. In general, respirators should be assessed for their effect on all relevant variables.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1987

Teen contraception: a review of perspectives on compliance.

National attention has been drawn to the near epidemic rates of teen-age pregnancy in this country, with greater psychological understanding of this problem cited as a research need. This paper reviews available literature on teen contraceptive compliance with particular focus on the development of self-regulation. In this first section, programs designed to enhance teens' choice and use of birth control are reviewed, with specific attention given to emerging issues and methodological concerns. In the second section, studies that examine factors predictive of contraceptive use in teen-age girls are discussed. This literature is grouped according to three conceptual systems: medical perspectives, behavioral theory, and self-regulation and self-control approaches. A summary is presented, specifying ways in which conceptually based research findings can assist in program development to address the problem of teen pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The effects of attentional focus and partner responsiveness on sexual responding: replication and extension.

The effects of manipulating attentional focus (self-versus partner-focus) and level of partner responsiveness (high, low, and ambiguous) on sexual responding were examined with sexually functional (N = 8) men. These manipulations were embedded in six standardized 3-minute erotic audiotapes. When the partner was displaying high sexual responsiveness, partner-focus resulted in significantly higher levels of penile responding than did self-focus. Post-stimuli questionnaires indicated that, although not statistically significant, self-reported attentiveness was consistently higher under partner-focus conditions. These findings are discussed in regard to their relevance to the concept of spectatoring as discussed by Masters and Johnson (1970). A comparison to previous research that examined the same variables using videotapes is included.

Adult↗