Biomedical subjects

J Kenardy

Publications and source records attributed to J Kenardy.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Binge eating among the obese: a descriptive study.

Nineteen obese females applying for treatment for binge eating were administered a semistructured interview assessing the presence or absence of food restrictions, thoughts, feelings and physical sensations associated with binges, typical precipitants to binges, and factors identified as useful in avoiding binge eating. Both negative mood and abstinence violations emerged as important precipitants. The results also suggested that these precipitants constitute separate, independent pathways to binge eating. Implications of these findings with respect to restraint theory are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The latent structure of anxiety symptoms in anxiety disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Research in the psychopathology of panic and anxiety disorders, particularly agoraphobia, suggests that fear of fear may be the basis of these conditions. However, there is little empirical research on the definition and validity of the concept of fear of fear in a clinical study group. The authors' aims are 1) to determine empirically if particular associations between symptoms and beliefs exist in a group of patients with anxiety disorders and what underlying dimensions of perceived threat they represent and 2) to assess the relative importance of these associations in agoraphobia with panic attacks, panic disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. METHOD: In an anxiety disorders treatment unit, 390 outpatients with anxiety disorders diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria completed the Anxiety Symptoms and Beliefs Scale. RESULTS: A principal components analysis of the patients' ratings on the Anxiety Symptoms and Beliefs Scale produced a four-factor solution in which specific sets of anxiety symptoms loaded with specific beliefs. These four factors were interpreted as respiratory symptoms, vestibular symptoms, autonomic arousal, and psychological threat. Respiratory and vestibular symptoms were more associated with panic disorder diagnoses than with social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a conception of fear of fear in anxiety disorders as fearful beliefs concerning the experience of anxiety symptoms. Associations between symptoms and fear of fear are present across anxiety disorders but are most pronounced in agoraphobia with panic attacks.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Psychological precursors of panic attacks.

The ongoing experience of panic disorder was assessed in 20 female subjects, to determine psychological precursors to panic attacks. Measures of anxiety, threat, control, prediction of panic, and symptoms were assessed at hourly intervals during waking hours for one week. Measures were taken using a portable computerised diary which prompted for and stored responses. Patients' ratings of the prediction of panic attacks were the only significant precursors to panic attacks. This supports recent research that expectancy is important in panic onset. The data also suggested that anxiety levels follow a circadian pattern.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Neuroticism and age of onset for agoraphobia with panic attacks.

The study of the age of onset of psychiatric conditions can provide some clues to the aetiology of these disorders. A number of studies have examined the age of onset in agoraphobia but results have varied. This may be associated with small sample sizes or differences in populations. There has been very little work examining the factors determining age of onset. The present study examines age of onset in relation to sex and personality. Results indicate no sex differences in age of onset, but an association with age and high levels of neuroticism.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Attributional style and panic disorder.

This study investigated the relationship between the development of panic disorder and attribution style by administering the Attribution Style Questionnaire (ASQ) to 28 subjects with panic disorder with agoraphobia and 21 subjects with other anxiety disorders who had experienced a panic attack at some time. No significant differences were found between the groups suggesting that cognitive style as assessed by the ASQ may not predispose to the development of panic disorders. A factor analysis of the results indicated that the ASQ may not be appropriate for the assessment of patients with panic disorder. Alternative hypotheses for the development of panic disorder are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

The use of a real-time computer diary for data acquisition and processing.

Behavioural researchers have long relied on the use of diaries for the collection of self-report data. We discuss the characteristics of a programmable hand-held computer used to collect hourly and event generated data for 7 days on 20 subjects with panic disorder. In the application described, subjects answered a series of 19 or more questions on the hour from 0700 to 2300 or when they were having a panic attack. Subjects completed 88% of all the hourly ratings (range 64-98%). The system was well accepted by the subjects and provided relatively inexpensive data collection and management.

Agoraphobia↗

PubMed1990

Group cognitive-behavioral treatment for the nonpurging bulimic: an initial evaluation.

This study tested the initial effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy for binge eating in Ss who do not purge. Forty-four female binge eaters were randomized to either cognitive-behavioral treatment (CB) or a waiting-list (WL) control. Treatment was administered in small groups that met for 10 weekly sessions. At posttreatment a significant difference was found, with 79% of CB Ss reporting abstinence from binge eating and a 94% decrease in binge eating compared with a nonsignificant reduction (9%) in binge eating and zero abstinence rate in WL Ss. Following the posttest assessment, WL Ss were treated and evidenced an 85% reduction in binge episodes and a 73% abstinence rate. Binge eating significantly increased at 10-week follow-up for initially treated Ss; however, the frequency remained significantly improved compared with baseline levels.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Hyperventilation and panic attacks.

The role of hyperventilation in the aetiology of panic attacks is still unclear. This paper briefly reviews the role of hyperventilation and abnormal respiration to panic attacks and examines the experimental evidence. Evidence has been found that physiological variables such as paCO2 and pH are involved in the aetiology of panic attacks and panic disorder but the extent and the nature of the involvement of cognitive variables is undetermined. Based on current evidence, there is a need to integrate cognitive variables with the physiological framework proposed by the hyperventilation theory. Until clear experimental evidence is produced about the relationships between cognitive and physiological factors, the applicability of hyperventilation in the aetiology and treatment of panic attacks remains in question.

Agoraphobia↗

PubMed1987

Plasma biogenic amine levels in agoraphobia with panic attacks.

Eight patients with agoraphobia and panic attacks as defined by DSMIII and 11 controls were included in this study which measured the circulating biogenic amine levels. The method of assay used a high performance liquid chromatograph with electrochemical detection. Measurement of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline showed no differences between the groups. Levels of serotonin (5-HT) were significantly lower in the agoraphobic group. The authors discuss the implication of this finding.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Effect of a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor in agoraphobia with panic attacks. A double-blind comparison of zimeldine, imipramine and placebo.

A double-blind clinical trial of zimeldine, a potent inhibitor of central serotonin reuptake, versus imipramine and placebo was carried out on 44 patients suffering from agoraphobia with panic attacks. Zimeldine was a superior treatment on all rating scales other than a global rating scale which did not reach statistically significant superiority. Imipramine was not shown to be superior to placebo. The implications of these results for further research on the underlying pathophysiology of agoraphobia with panic attacks are discussed.

Adult↗