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Biomedical subjects

R A McCormick

Publications and source records attributed to R A McCormick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Testing a tripartite model: II. Exploring the symptom structure of anxiety and depression in student, adult, and patient samples.

L. A. Clark and D. Watson (1991) proposed a tripartite model of depression and anxiety that divides symptoms into 3 groups: symptoms of general distress that are largely nonspecific, manifestations of anhedonia and low positive affect that are specific to depression, and symptoms of somatic arousal that are relatively unique to anxiety. This model was tested by conducting separate factor analyses of the 90 items in the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (D. Watson & L. A. Clark, 1991) in 5 samples (3 student, 1 adult, 1 patient). The same 3 factors (General Distress, Anhedonia vs. Positive Affect, Somatic Anxiety) emerged in each data set, suggesting that the symptom structure in this domain is highly convergent across diverse samples. Moreover, these factors broadly corresponded to the symptom groups proposed by the tripartite model. Inspection of the individual item loadings suggested some refinements to the model.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Testing a tripartite model: I. Evaluating the convergent and discriminant validity of anxiety and depression symptom scales.

L.A. Clark and D. Watson (1991) proposed a tripartite model that groups symptoms of depression and anxiety into 3 subtypes: symptoms of general distress that are largely nonspecific, manifestations of somatic tension and arousal that are relatively unique to anxiety, and symptoms of anhedonia and low Positive Affect that are specific to depression. This model was tested in 5 samples (3 student, 1 adult, and 1 patient sample) using the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (MASQ; D. Watson & L. A. Clark, 1991), which was designed to assess the hypothesized symptom groups, together with other symptom and cognition measures. Consistent with the tripartite model, the MASQ Anxious Arousal and Anhedonic Depression scales both differentiated anxiety and depression well and also showed excellent convergent validity. Thus, differentiation of these constructs can be improved by focusing on symptoms that are relatively unique to each.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Plasma cortisol and depression in pathological gamblers.

Basal serum cortisol and dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results were studied in 21 pathological gamblers who varied on the Beck Depression Inventory and selected scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, which had previously been shown to be related to depression in gamblers. All subjects were suppressors on the DST. There was a significant relationship between fluctuation in 08.00 h and 16.00 h basal cortisol levels and the psychological measures, suggesting a subtype of pathological gambler with potential clinical significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Personality profiles of hospitalized pathological gamblers: the California Personality Inventory.

Studies of the personality of the pathological gambler have consisted primarily of case reports and findings on the MMPI. This article presents data on a sample of 70 pathological gamblers, 70 alcoholics in treatment, and 70 medical/surgical controls on the California Personality Inventory (CPI). Gamblers and alcoholics differed significantly from hospitalized controls on a number of scales, particularly on measures of socialization, ego control, and flexibility. Differences between the gamblers and alcoholics were few, with a trend for the alcoholics to be similar to the gamblers and intermediate between the other two groups. Implications for the treatment of the pathological gambler are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Follow-up of pathological gamblers after treatment.

Pathological gamblers entering a comprehensive treatment program were thoroughly assessed before treatment and 6 months after completion of treatment. The reports of gamblers and collateral informants were highly consistent. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 57 of the 66 patients entering treatment. Total abstinence was reported by 56% (N = 32) of the patients located for follow-up, and significant improvement on a wide range of measures was documented. The authors feel that the results demonstrate that pathological gambling is a treatable mental disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The effect of computerized utilization review on patterns of psychiatric inpatient care.

An interactive computerized utilization review system for psychiatric inpatient care was developed and tested on a 30-bed acute admission ward, where staff were trained in its use. The program permitted staff to review clinical decisions affecting length of stay and to receive immediate feedback on the cost and revenue for each case. The impact of the system was evaluated by comparing the length of stay of patients on the study unit with that of patients on a similar unit where the system was not in use, and also by comparing the length of stay for both units before and after the system was implemented. The findings showed that the length of stay on the study unit was significantly reduced after the system's implementation, and that it was well accepted by the staff. Six-month follow-up data showed no increase in symptomatology for the study patients compared with the control group.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The prevalence and impact of major life stressors among pathological gamblers.

Major traumatic events were discovered in the histories of 23% of pathological gamblers seeking hospital treatment. These high-trauma patients were compared with groups of gambler patients who had experienced insignificant, low, or moderate amounts of life trauma. High-trauma patients tended, as measured by standard psychometrics, to be more depressed, anxious, and avoidant in personality style; they were also more likely to be abusing alcohol or other drugs. In their discussion the authors focus on the concept of learned dysthymia, a chronic state of negative affect related to cumulative life trauma and seemingly instrumental in potentiating addictive euphoria.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Affective disorders among pathological gamblers seeking treatment.

Clinical impressions and psychological testing suggest that pathological gamblers demonstrate a high incidence of affective disorders. To assess the frequency of such disorders, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was administered to 50 patients admitted successively to the gambling treatment program of a VA hospital. Seventy-six percent of the subjects were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder and 38% as having hypomanic disorder according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria. The patients with major depressive disorder and one patient with schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, were significantly more likely to miss work often due to gambling. A large number of patients displayed suicidal tendencies.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1984

An outcome study of an inpatient treatment program for pathological gamblers.

In 1972 the Brecksville Unit of the Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center began the first inpatient treatment program for pathological gambling in the United States. The 30-day, highly structured gambling treatment program aims for abstinence from gambling, reduction of the urge to gamble, and restoration of a maximum level of social functioning. The authors report the results of a preliminary outcome study of 60 former patients who completed a survey form rating various aspects of their lives one year postdischarge. Fifty-five percent of the respondents reported complete abstinence from gambling since discharge. Chi-square analyses demonstrated significant relationships between abstinence from gambling and improved interpersonal relationships, better financial status, decreased depression, and participation in professional aftercare and Gamblers Anonymous. The authors believe that their initial results support the contention that pathological gambling is a treatable disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Patterns of substance abuse in pathological gamblers undergoing treatment.

Increasing public exposure to gambling as a recreational option is leading to increased pathological gambling . The prevalence and correlates of substance abuse in a population of severe pathological gamblers is investigated. The results indicate a high rate of alcohol abuse and drug abuse in this population and in their biological families. The implications of these findings for clinicians working with pathological gamblers and substance abusers are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Bioethics in the public forum.

Public policy is, and ought to be, concerned with the welfare of human beings across a broad spectrum of circumstances and conditions. A Catholic moral theologian analyzes his involvement as a public policy consultant on in vitro fertilization. Evaluative judgements made by the Ethics Advisory Board are not edicts; they leave matters open for reconsideration and revision, while providing a basis for policy decisions for the present.

Advisory Committees↗