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Biomedical subjects

W W Tryon

Publications and source records attributed to W W Tryon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Classical conditioning of meaning--I. A replication and higher-order extension.

The meaning that individuals associate with verbal stimuli may be modified by using classical conditioning procedures. Clinically, such procedures may be used to modify a client's maladaptive associations. The current research investigated the existence and generalizability of this phenomenon by attempting to replicate Staats and Staats' (1957) language conditioning effect and then extent it to a second-order classical conditioning situation (CS1----UCS then CS2----CS1). Such higher-order conditioning would suggest that several different but related maladaptive associations can be modified simultaneously. Significant conditioning was obtained to the CS1, particularly for aware subjects, but no conditioning occurred to the CS2.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Study of the similar structure hypothesis with mentally retarded adults and nonretarded children of comparable mental age.

The similar structure hypothesis was tested by comparing the performance of mentally retarded adults and their nonretarded mental age peers on a series of Piagetian tasks. We controlled for variables that influence the testing of mentally retarded subjects and performance on Piagetian tasks. Statistical analysis revealed that five tests favored the developmental position whereas two tests favored the difference position. Qualitative analysis provided reason to question the validity of two of the seven tests. Nevertheless, the evidence still favored the developmental position 4:1. Corollaries challenged the use of vocabulary tests for matching and raised a caveat concerning the acquisition by mentally retarded adults of key concrete operations skills.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The effectiveness of biofeedback-assisted relaxation in modifying sickle cell crises.

Eight outpatients with sickle cell disease received six EMG and six thermal half-hour biofeedback training sessions. Statistically significant changes in the desired directions were obtained for the following variables: (a) frontalis muscle tension, (b) digital temperature, (c) frequency of headache as a crisis symptom, (d) frequency of analgesic use, (e) perceived pain intensity, (f) frequency of self-treated crises, and (g) state anxiety. Nonsignificant changes in hospital chart data were found. A 6-month posttreatment follow-up questionnaire revealed the continued effectiveness of the training received regarding headaches and mild pains.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Activity as a function of body weight.

Thirty-one undergraduate men and women who weighed more (overweight) or who weighed less (underweight) than the normal weight limits for their height wore actometers on all four limbs 24 h each day for 14 consecutive days. All groups were found to be equally active. This result fails to replicate previously reported results that overweight men and women are hypoactive. This discrepancy is explained in terms of differences in percent overweight between the present and previous samples. The possibility of a catastrophic decline in activity as a function of percent overweight is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Accelerometric assessment of tardive dyskinesia.

Accelerometric measures associated with resting the hand, posturing the arm, and moving the arm were taken in 10 patients with tardive dyskinesia and eight schizophrenic patients matched for diagnosis, age, sex, likelihood of medication to induce extrapyramidal symptoms, and chlorpromazine-equivalent dose. A multivariate analysis of variance and follow-up univariate analyses revealed that the tardive dyskinesia patients showed 1) greater amplitude of dyskinetic movements, 2) lower peak frequency of dyskinetic movements, and 3) more spikes-points beyond four standard deviations from the mean. Multiple discriminant analyses revealed that all patients were correctly classified as to presence or absence of tardive dyskinesia.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1986

Periodontal disease as a function of life events stress.

Studies relating stress and oral pathology have been limited to animal experiments or clinical studies of personality and psychological health that have ignored the role of specific life events. The present study related measurements of life events stress to measurements of periodontal disease. Subjects were fifty male volunteers recruited from a pool of dental patients from the Brooklyn VA Outpatient Dental Clinic. Oral examinations were given to determine the degree of periodontitis and gingivitis. Evidence of other somatic symptomatology was assessed by the somatization subscale of the Brief Symptom Inventory. The degree of life events stress was assessed with the Life Experience Survey. Measurements of life events stress were found to be significantly correlated with measures of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease was more severe and widespread as stressors increased. Subjects were found whose general physical health was unrelated to their life situation.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Activity measures in anorexia nervosa.

Twenty-four-hour measurements of wrist and ankle kinetic energy expenditures were obtained on 20 hospitalized female anorectics during the first two weeks of their hospitalization. Kinetic energy was examined against measures of weight, depression, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores in a regression analysis. Effect of cyproheptadine hydrochloride, amitriptyline hydrochloride, and placebo on activity was assessed. The results supported previous studies showing a positive relationship between weight gain and motor activity and challenge the commonly held notion that activity decreases in anorectics as their clinical condition improves. Motor activity was initially significantly suppressed by cyproheptadine and subsequently increased.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Higher-order semantic counterconditioning of Filipino women's evaluations of heterosexual behaviors.

The purpose of this study was to determine if semantic counterconditioning could modify semantic differential ratings regarding premarital sexual behaviors, in Filipino women whose culture exerts great control over such matters. A total of 303 unmarried, predominantly middle class, English speaking, Roman Catholic Filipino women aged 15-21 years volunteered to be subjects. Significant changes in the semantic differential ratings were obtained in four of the five CS (conditioned stimuli) phrases for subjects receiving semantic counterconditioning. Lesser changes in the semantic differential ratings for the same phrases were obtained from subjects in the Pseudo Conditioning and Repetition Control groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Issues in the selection and use of mechanical transducers to directly measure motor activity in clinical settings.

The application of instrumentation in the social sciences to measure human behavior lags far behind medical practice and the physical sciences. According to Rugh and Schwitzgebel (1977), this primitive state of development and lack of technological sophistication is related to the prevailing belief that many variables of interest to psychologists are not subject to direct measurement. We identified five varieties of maladaptive behaviors commonly displayed by mentally retarded persons which can be measured directly by means of mechanical transducers: hyperactivity, hypoactivity, inadequate postural control, disorders of the sleep/wake cycle, and stereotyped movements. The operating characteristics of several types of motion sensors were described and issues related to the selection and use of these mechanical transducers in clinical settings were considered. Finally, various meanings of the terms reliability and validity were discussed as they pertain to the clinical application of these mechanical measurements of motor activity.

Behavior↗
PubMed1982

Reinforcement history as possible basis for the relationship between self-percepts of efficacy and responses to treatment.

The empirical correlation of self-efficacy statements and treatment outcome reported by Bandura (1977) is acknowledged. The question at issue is whether this correlation is due to an integrative construct called self or social contingencies. Bandura (1982) demonstrated that the correlation exists in the absence of contemporary social contingencies for such a correlation (cf. Tryon, 1981). The present rejoinder argues that the correlation between self-efficacy statements and subsequent behavior could be due to social contingencies existing prior to the experiment. Supportive data from a series of vicarious verbal conditioning experiments are presented.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1982

A simplified time-series analysis for evaluating treatment interventions.

Time-series analysis procedures for analyzing behavior data are receiving increasing support. However, several authorities strongly recommend using at least 50-100 points per experimental phase. A complex mathematical model must then be empirically developed using computer programs to extract serial dependency from the data before the effects of treatment interventions can be evaluated. The present discussion provides a simple method of evaluating intervention effects that can be used with as few as 8 points per experimental phase. The calculations are easy enough to do by hand.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1981

A methodological critique of Bandura's self-efficacy theory of behavior change.

This brief theoretical note identifies a major methodological problem in Bandura's argument in favor of self-efficacy theory and provides two methods of controlling for it. His data could likely be accounted for by social contingencies operating within his highly structured behavioral approach situation.

Behavior Therapy↗