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Biomedical subjects

L C Morey

Publications and source records attributed to L C Morey.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Classification of mental disorder as a collection of hypothetical constructs.

In this article, I explore the implications of viewing psychiatric classification as a collection of hypothetical constructs. In this view, a taxonomic construct includes meaning surplus to the descriptive features provided by operational definitions, such as those provided in the American Psychiatric Association's 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This surplus meaning includes ties to etiology and treatment that for many disorders are as yet unknown. Despite these unknowns, it is proposed that a taxonomic construct must be embedded in a theory that provides some meaningful context for the construct and that falsification of such theories constitutes the primary enterprise of taxonomic research.

Humans↗

Matchmaking in psychotherapy: patient-therapist dimensions and their impact on outcome.

Patient-therapist matching was investigated using recent theoretical and methodological developments to overcome some of the limitations that have hindered similar past efforts. Two hypotheses were tested: (a) Therapeutic outcome is affected by the interaction between patients' and therapists' self-concepts, and (b) increasing anticomplementarity between therapist self-concept and therapists' perceptions of patients' behavior is negatively associated with patient improvement. Data from the first 2 cohorts of the Vanderbilt II Psychotherapy Project were analyzed. They included the therapies of 16 experienced therapists, who saw a total of 48 patients (38 women and 10 men) in time-limited psychotherapy. Patients' ages ranged from 24 to 64 years (M age = 40). Outcome was measured from the perspective of the patient, therapist, and evaluating clinician. Each hypothesis was supported, but not across all 3 outcome perspectives.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

An examination of the stability of the MMPI Personality Disorder Scales.

Recently, a set of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales for the diagnosis of personality disorders have attracted research attention. As personality disorders are thought to represent long-standing trait disturbances, any measure of these disorders should be stable over time and relatively free from state influences. This study investigated the stability of the MMPI scales in 67 subjects across a brief inpatient treatment for substance abuse. The results indicated high levels of stability across the 3-week treatment period.

Adult↗

Reliability of categorical and dimensional judgments of personality disorder.

To investigate interrater reliability on categorical and dimensional judgments of personality disorder, five clinicians completed five different judgment tasks for each of 10 case vignettes. The reliability estimates support previously unconfirmed statements that dimensional judgments are substantially more reliable than categorical diagnoses.

Analysis of Variance↗

Heterogeneity of personality traits in massive obesity and outcome prediction of bariatric surgery.

The search for heterogeneity of personality characteristics amongst the massively obese is extended to a larger sample (n = 215) of both males (n = 83) and females (n = 132). The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory standard scales serve as the data base for a cluster analysis which has yielded four clusters: cluster 1 (n = 36) where all scales fell well within normal limits; cluster 2 (n = 112) was coded as 3-1 and was also within normal limits; cluster 3 (n = 44) was coded as spike 4; and cluster 4 (n = 23) was coded as 2-1-7-3-8-4. Cluster membership was not related to surgeons' four-year follow-up overall outcome rating. Discriminant function analysis yielded two variables (patient age and MMPI scale 1 T-score) which were significant predictors of subsequent outcome. The results suggest that there is heterogeneity of personality traits among the massively obese and offer encouragement to the search for variables that are even more effective predictors of the outcome of bariatric surgery.

Cluster Analysis↗

Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (Ateroid) in old-age dementias: effects upon depressive symptomatology in geriatric patients.

1. Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate is a mixture of sulfo-muco-polysaccharides with hypolipidemic activity. A number of clinical studies have indicated that it is effective in improving psychopathology in patients with cardiac and/or cerebral disease associated with arteriosclerosis. 2. A multicenter clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of two different dosages of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate upon depressive symptomatology in patients with multi-infarct dementia and primary degenerative dementia. 3. A total of 39 patients were treated in an 18-week clinical trial which followed a single-blind parallel design. 4. Results indicated that patients with both diagnoses improved significantly in depressive symptomatology over the course of treatment, with particular improvement noted in cognitive disturbance. Drug dosage was not a significant determinant of treatment response for either diagnostic group.

Aged↗

Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate in old-age dementias: a factor-analytic study of change in psychopathologic symptoms.

In a multicenter clinical trial, two dosages of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate were compared in patients with primary degenerative dementia and multi-infarct dementia. Psychopathologic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). A factor analysis of this scale revealed four factors in this population. During the clinical trial, significant improvements were noted on the primary BPRS factor (i.e. depressive withdrawal), as well as on total BPRS score. There was a tendency for greater improvement in the primary degenerative dementia group than in the multi-infarct dementia group.

Aged↗

Personality disorders in DSM-III and DSM-III-R: convergence, coverage, and internal consistency.

Although many sections of DSM-III-R reflect few changes from DSM-III, the diagnostic criteria for the personality disorders involve more substantial revisions. This study examined the impact of DSM-III-R revisions in terms of convergence with DSM-III, the diagnostic coverage of patients with personality disorders, and the internal consistency of the personality disorder criteria sets. The results demonstrated a substantial divergence between DSM-III and DSM-III-R diagnoses, increased coverage accompanied by a large increase in overlap among personality disorders, and internal consistency estimates of DSM-III-R criterion sets comparable to those in DSM-III.

Adult↗

Empirically derived classifications of alcohol-related problems.

In recent years a number of investigators have utilized empirical techniques to develop classification schemes for alcohol related problems. This chapter examines this literature, reviewing both dimensional and categorical models that have been proposed. Despite much consistency in the methodologies that have been used, relatively few consistent substantive findings have emerged from these studies. However, increasing sophistication in the use of these empirical techniques over the past decade has produced some interesting results. One such study which yielded a hybrid model for alcoholism incorporating advantages of both categorical and dimensional approaches, is discussed in some detail. Finally, promising directions for future research are outlined with references to the implications of such taxonomy for alcoholism treatment and course.

Alcohol Drinking↗

An empirical comparison of interpersonal and DSM-III approaches to classification of personality disorders.

In recent years, a number of authors have attempted to map correspondences between interpersonal models and traditional psychiatric classification. Many of the proposed relationships are plausible from a theoretical standpoint, but at present little empirical evidence has been gathered in support of these speculations. This paper describes the results of a project that suggests that the convergence of these two approaches to personality taxonomy is not as high as might be expected. In particular, it seems that DSM-III personality disorders are not as differentiated with respect to affiliative needs as has been hypothesized.

Adolescent↗

A comparative validation of the Foulds and Bedford hierarchy of psychiatric symptomatology.

This study investigated the validity of the Fould & Bedford hierarchical model of psychiatric illness, as compared to hierarchical models based upon prevalence and severity of disorder. The DSSI was administered to 52 American psychiatric in-patients with severe disturbances. The reports of symptoms in this sample conformed to the Foulds hierarchy in 90% of cases, while 94% of cases conformed to a model based upon prevalence. When a cross-method validation was investigated, the Foulds & Bedford classification demonstrated good discriminative capacity, while models based upon prevalence and severity failed to achieve significance. These results suggest that the Foulds & Bedford model is a useful taxonomy of symptomatology in psychiatric illness.

Adolescent↗