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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Effects of ethanol on behaviour of aggressive mice from two different strains: a comparison of simple and complex behavioural assessments.

The effects of acutely administered ethanol (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg IP) were studied in two strains of aggressively-rated, individually-housed male mice in encounters with non-drugged "standard opponents." Behaviour was quantified using both a complex ethological analysis of frequency of occurrence of acts and postures, and a more simplified analysis of time spent in 4 broad behavioural categories (non-social, social/sexual, aggressive and timid/defensive). The simplified analysis failed to reveal certain trends that were detected by the more complex analysis. The principal effects of alcohol on behaviour were a dose-dependent suppression of aggressive activities (with no evidence of a biphasic effect), an increase in timid/defensive behaviours, and changes in many non-social and social/sexual acts and postures. There were no qualitative inter-strain differences, but Swiss mice were markedly more sensitive to the drug than TO mice, particularly in their non-social, aggressive and timid-defensive behaviours. Strain differences in blood alcohol levels were only apparent at the lowest dose.

Aggression↗
PubMed1999

Nefazodone attenuates the stress-induced facilitation of wet dog shaking behaviour but not the facilitation of sexual behaviour in female rats.

The effects of chronic stress both alone and in combination with the antidepressant, nefazodone, which possesses antagonistic activity at the 5-HT2A receptor, were examined on the 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behaviour, wet dog shaking and sexual behaviour. Ovariectomized female rats received either a chronic stressor or no stress for 30 days, and half of each group received concurrent nefazodone treatment (100 mg/kg/day). Following treatment with either estrogen, or estrogen combined with progesterone, sexual behaviour and wet dog shaking were recorded. Chronic stress alone was found to facilitate sexual behaviour and increase wet dog shaking, while nefazodone administration alone was without effect. Furthermore, nefazodone completely attenuated the stress-induced facilitation of wet dog shaking, but not sexual behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measuring the effect of a hygiene behaviour intervention by indicators of behaviour and diarrhoeal disease.

A social marketing approach used both qualitative and quantitative methods to develop a hygiene behaviour intervention in rural north-east Thailand. Behaviours were preselected from a previous study and the intervention was designed to promote hand washing, especially before feeding a baby, cooking, eating, and after defaecation or cleaning a baby's bottom, and dish washing immediately after eating. A bacteriological indicator (enumerating faecal streptococci using a finger impression technique) was developed to measure changes in hand washing behaviour and observation (spot checks) of dirty dishes to indicate dish washing practice. There was a significant improvement in both behaviours and a significant reduction in diarrhoeal disease as a result of the intervention. Furthermore, both indicators were retrospectively found to be positively related to diarrhoeal disease incidence. However, receiving and being able to recall the intervention messages was not necessarily sufficient to ensure behaviour change, as some adults found it difficult to change old habits. Villages showing the greatest improvement tended to have a stronger sense of community than others and to have more people actively involved in the intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of cognitive behaviour therapy and behaviour therapy for chronic pain in adults, excluding headache.

A computer and a hand search of the literature recovered 33 papers from which 25 trials suitable for meta-analysis were identified. We compared the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural treatments with the waiting list control and alternative treatment control conditions. There was a great diversity of measurements which we grouped into domains representing major facets of pain. Effect sizes, corrected for measurement unreliability, were estimated for each domain. When compared with the waiting list control conditions cognitive-behavioural treatments were associated with significant effect sizes on all domains of measurement (median effect size across domains = 0.5). Comparison with alternative active treatments revealed that cognitive-behavioural treatments produced significantly greater changes for the domains of pain experience, cognitive coping and appraisal (positive coping measures), and reduced behavioural expression of pain. Differences on the following domains were not significant; mood/affect (depression and other, non-depression, measures), cognitive coping and appraisal (negative, e.g. catastrophization), and social role functioning. We conclude that active psychological treatments based on the principle of cognitive behavioural therapy are effective. We discuss the results with reference to the complexity and quality of the trials.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Ethical issues involved in the implementation of a differential reinforcement of inappropriate behaviour programme for the treatment of social isolation and ritualistic behaviour in an individual with intellectual disabilities.

The present case study describes an adult male with a 28-year history of institutional care underpinned by a moderate intellectual disability (ID), and ritualistic behaviour congruent with features of autism or obsessive-compulsive disorder. The subject's ID was recognized early in life and he was provided with a special educational placement at 6 years of age, although his increasingly disturbed behaviour had resulted in several psychiatric admissions by early adolescence, and by the age of 20, his presentation necessitated long-term secure psychiatric care. The present report describes the application and ethical issues pertaining to a differential reinforcement of inappropriate behaviour (DRI) programme for the reduction of ritualistic behaviour and social isolation, the latter being a direct consequence of the former, one year after the subject was admitted to a medium-secure assessment and treatment residential facility. The results suggest that, although the treatment was successful in targeting ritualization and reducing social isolation, ethical concerns extended to care staff concerns about the reinforcer adopted for the programme and the lack of informed consent from the subject. The former resulted in inconsistent application of the programme and its eventual termination. A follow-up assessment of the subject's extent of social isolation and ritualistic behaviour suggested a return to a pre-DRI level of morbidity. Limitations and suggestions for the future treatment of such cases are outlined.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

REVIEW ARTICLE: Behavioural and cognitive-behavioural interventions for sleep disorders in infants and children: A review.

This review covers the literature on behavioural and cognitive-behavioural treatments for sleep disturbance in infants, pre-school, and school-age children. Treatment areas are dyssomnias (disorders of initiating, maintaining, or excessive sleep) and parasomnias (behaviours which occur predominantly during sleep). Interventions aimed at preventing sleep disorder through targeting infant sleep patterns are also examined. Controlled experimental studies are the main focus of this review but case studies and clinical reports are also included. It is concluded that, for families willing to undertake behavioural and cognitive-behavioural interventions, some treatments appear effective for some infant and child sleep problems, in the short term at least. The adequacy of current research is discussed, and suggestions for future research are given.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

The relationship between executive function abilities, adaptive behaviour, and academic achievement in children with externalising behaviour problems.

BACKGROUND: Specific domains of adaptive behaviours and academic achievement may, in part, depend on executive function capacities. Executive function deficits have been found to be associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), not Oppositional Defiant Disorder/Conduct Disorder (ODD/CD). METHOD: Using a sample of 110 adolescents, comprising four groups, ADHD only, co-morbid ADHD and ODD/CD, ODD/CD only, and a normal community control group, we assessed socialisation and communication skills with the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, along with reading ability, and executive functioning. RESULTS: Poorer adaptive communication skills were specifically associated with ADHD when compared with either ODD/CD or the control group, and the social competence of adolescents with ADHD was as low as the levels associated with ODD/CD. Presence of ADHD was associated with lower word recognition scores, while the reading levels of adolescents with ODD/CD were equivalent to those without behaviour problems. Executive function test scores correlated with all adaptive behaviour outcomes. Multiple regression analyses indicated that verbal ability predicted communication and reading scores, with executive function abilities contributing significant variance to the prediction in the adaptive behaviour, communication, and socialisation domains. CONCLUSIONS: Further research with other samples, both community and clinical groups, is needed to assess the generalisability of the findings. Small numbers of girls in the groups gave us insufficient power to adequately address potential gender differences.

Achievement↗
PubMed1987

Developing self-care skills and reducing institutionalized behaviour in a long-stay psychiatric population: the role of the nurse in behaviour modification.

This paper examines the potential for behaviour modification in the rehabilitation of chronic, long-stay psychiatric patients and the impact such procedures may have on the work role of ward-based nursing staff. Through the use of five case histories the effectiveness of behavioural analysis and modification in encouraging self-help skills and constructive activity is identified. In addition to a critical examination of the clinical and organizational factors involved in patient improvement, it is argued that behaviour modification develops the therapeutic potential of nurses. The development of the patient-teaching dimension of the nursing role not only fosters greater clinical responsibility, but also promotes both professional independence and institutional power. This is not to imply that the use of behavioural methods cannot be combined with customary nursing practices, for in many ways they provide nurses with an appropriate technology to achieve established therapeutic goals. In conclusion, it is noted that clinical success is not sufficient to ensure the acceptance of ward-based behavioural programmes. The critical issues concern conventional hospital and staff practices and institutional rigidity, not the commitment of nursing staff or patient improvement.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Annotation: behavioural phenotypes: a window onto the biology of behaviour.

Characteristic behavioural patterns (including cognitive processes and social interactions) have been reported in a number of syndromes arising from genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, suggesting that molecular analysis of the underlying defect could reveal the biological basis of the behavioural phenotype. Because of the rarity of many of the syndromes, and the complexity of their genetic basis, there are great difficulties in establishing the validity of the association between syndrome and behavioural phenotype. Nevertheless, evidence from animal studies with relevance to human behavioural phenotypes shows that the pathway from genotype to phenotype may be accessible by careful delineation of behavioural phenotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Behavioural treatment in the reduction of coronary risk factors: type A behaviour and blood pressure.

The literature on direct behavioural interventions to reduce two coronary risk factors, Type A behaviour and essential hypertension, is reviewed. It is concluded that there is preliminary evidence that the alteration of Type A behaviour is possible and that such alteration is associated with a reduction in the risk of recurrence of myocardial infarction. It is also concluded that reductions in blood pressure can be achieved using behavioural techniques and that such reductions persist for at least 12 months. The exact components of an effective treatment package for essential hypertension are not yet fully established but it is suggested that live relaxation training and stress management techniques are an important part of effective therapy. The positive therapeutic effects obtained in the behavioural treatment of essential hypertension are unlikely to be due to either non-specific effects of therapy or to altered compliance with pharmacological treatment. Reductions in blood pressure of the order obtained in the relaxation and stress management studies could be expected to lead to significant gains in health, including reductions in cardiovascular morbidity, if they are sustained for long periods.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed2006

Hygiene behaviour of adolescents in the Pacific: associations with socio-demographic, health behaviour and school environment.

This study presents findings on health-related hygiene behaviours of 9,013 adolescents from Vanuatu, Tonga and Pohnpei in the Federal States of Micronesia as part of the Health Behaviour of Pacific Youth Life surveys. We examined the prevalence of and relationship between tooth brushing, hand washing before eating, hand washing after toileting and a range of psychosocial factors such as sociodemographic charac-teristics, health behaviour and school affiliation. The results showed that patterns of prevalence and relationships were consistent for all countries, with weaker associations observed in Pohnpei. In general, adolescents reported moderate levels of optimal hygiene practice. Girls reported significantly more frequent optimal hygiene practice than boys. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that frequent hygiene behaviours were significantly associated with gender, parental occupations and high levels of school affiliation. These findings suggest the need to consider psycho-social and economic factors when examining potential influences on hygiene behaviour to ensure effective interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Moderation of cognition-intention and cognition-behaviour relations: a meta-analysis of properties of variables from the theory of planned behaviour.

Meta-analysis was used to quantify the moderating effects of seven properties of cognitions-accessibility, temporal stability, direct experience, involvement, certainty, ambivalence and affective-cognitive consistency-on cognition-intention and cognition-behaviour relations. Literature searches revealed 44 studies that could be included in the review. Findings showed that all of the properties, except involvement, moderated attitude-behaviour consistency. Similarly, all relevant moderators improved the consistency between intentions and behaviour. Temporal stability moderated PBC-behaviour relations, certainty moderated subjective norm-intention relations, and ambivalence, certainty, and involvement all moderated attitude-intention relations. Overall, temporal stability appeared to be the strongest moderator of cognition-behaviour relations.

Affect↗
PubMed1985

Effects of pup sucking behaviour on inhibition of sexual behaviour and ovulatory secretion of LH in lactating rats.

The time-interval between parturition and the display of sexual receptivity varied between 13.5 +/- 0.7 and 35.9 +/- 2.5 days in rats with litters of between 1 and 24 pups. Body weight gain decreased and the avidity of pup sucking behaviour, measured by the latency before the pups, placed on the ventrum of an anaesthetized mother, attached to a nipple of the mother, increased as litter size increased. Litter-shifting procedures, which introduced asynchrony between the lactational age of the mother and the age of the pups, produced deficiencies in sucking behaviour and did not prolong the time-interval between parturition and the display of sexual receptivity by the mother. By keeping the lactational age of the mother in synchrony with the age of the pups and depriving the pups of maternal contact and nutrition every alternate day, the time-interval between parturition and the display of sexual receptivity by the mother was prolonged by 17 days, the avidity of pup sucking behaviour markedly enhanced and the body weight gain of the pups retarded in comparison with mothers and pups continuously living together. The results show that the display of the first postlactational behavioural oestrus and surge of pituitary LH secretion can be greatly delayed by an increase in the avidity of pup sucking behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Impact of cannabinoid receptor ligands on behavioural sensitization to antiaggressive methamphetamine effects in the model of mouse agonistic behaviour.

OBJECTIVES: Psychostimulants and cannabinoids can elicit so called behavioural sensitization after repeated administration, a gradually increased behavioural response to a drug. This phenomenon if conditioned by previous pre-treatment with different drug is termed cross-sensitization. The present study was focused on a possible sensitisation to antiaggressive effect of methamphetamine and cross-sensitization to this effect after repeated pre-treatment with cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor ligands with different intrinsic activity (CB1 agonist methanandamide, CB2 agonist JWH 015, and CB1 antagonist AM 251). METHODS: Behavioural interactions of singly-housed mice with non-aggressive group-housed partners were video-taped and behavioural elements of agonistic behaviour of isolates were recorded in four categories: sociable, timid, aggressive and locomotor. RESULTS: Repeated administration of methamphetamine elicited a significant sensitization to its antiaggressive effects. Methanandamide pre-treatment provoked cross-sensitization to this methamphetamine effect, whereas pre-treatment with JWH 015 did not. Combined pre-treatment with methamphetamine+AM 251 suppressed the sensitization to antiaggressive effects of methamphetamine. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have shown that it is possible to provoke sensitization not only to the stimulatory effects as stated widespread in the literature but also to inhibitory antiaggressive effects of methamphetamine. Furthermore, we confirmed our working hypothesis that it is possible to elicit either cross-sensitization to inhibitory effects of methamphetamine conditioned by repeated pre-treatment with cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist methanandamide, or suppression of methamphetamine sensitizing influence by co-administration of CB1 receptor antagonist.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMed1990

Effect of lesions of areas of brain--stimulation reward of one region of brain on operant behaviour for receiving electrical stimulation into sites of another region and on operant behaviour for food reward.

It was aimed to study the effects of lesions of a self-stimulation (SS) area of one region of brain on the SS of another region, and on feeding behaviour in adult Wistar rats (males). The two regions proposed for study were the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the substantia nigra-ventral tegmental area (SN-VTA). The objective was to elucidate whether each region had its own neural organization for SS behaviour or not, and whether the neural substrates of SS behaviour and feeding behaviour were one, or separate. Four bipolar electrodes were implanted bilaterally in LH and SN-VTA in each rat, and their SS pedal press rates for rewarding electrical stimulations were characterised. The rats were also trained in operant conditioning paradigm for receiving reward of food grains in FR-30 schedule. Their free-field food intake in home cages was measured. Later, electrolytic lesions of the four electrode sites were made one after another at 2-day intervals through the same biopolar electrodes. After each lesioning, the SS of the same and of the other electrode sites, and the operant performance of FR-30 food reward schedule, and daily free-field food intake (in home cage) were determined. Lesions of the LH SS site always disrupted SS-of contralateral LH but not of SN-VTA SS. Lesions of SN-VTA had not modified contralateral SN-VTA SS. A study of effects of ipsilateral lesions of LH SS site on SN-VTA SS, or of lesions of SN-VTA SS site on LH SS, revealed a range of changes, as were also effects on the FR-30 operant performance and daily food intake. Medium size lesions of SS area made in one region affected the SS of that area but not usually the SS of the other region. Large lesions of one region affected the SS of the other regions also. With large lesions, feeding behaviour also was affected, firstly of the operant type and secondly the free-field type.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Stereotyped behaviour in animals induced by stimulant drugs or by a restricted cage environment: relation to disintegrated behaviour, brain dopamine and psychiatric disease.

Stereotyped behaviour can be produced in animals both by stimulant drugs (amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc.) and by a restricted cage environment. Strong evidence indicates that the effect of stimulant drugs is mediated through a primary effect on brain dopamine, and further knowledge is now being acquired through studies on dopamine receptors, tolerance and reverse tolerance to amphetamines and the neural connections of dopaminergic sub-systems with other sub-systems in the brain. The forms of stereotypy induced by a restricted cage environment have been compared with other effects of this type of environment on behaviour and general health. This has led to a hypothesis that stereotyped behaviour may function as a survival (or defence) strategy in an unfavourable milieu. Some evidence indicates that brain dopamine is also involved in the mediation of stereotyped behaviour induced by the environment. The relevance of these results in clinical psychiatry is discussed. Stereotypy (and related disintegrated behaviour) is a well known feature of several mental diseases.

Amphetamines↗
PubMed1993

Behavioural techniques to reduce self-injurious behaviour in children with autism.

This paper is part of a special section on 'self-injurious behaviour and autism' and concentrates on behavioural treatment techniques available and useful to reduce self-injurious behaviour in children with autism (e.g. extinction, time-out, differential reinforcement, alternative forms of stimulation, sensory deprivation, physical restraint, crisis management, environmental modifications). It has become increasingly evident that the successful treatment of self-injurious behaviour requires, first, a systematic and detailed (functional) analysis of the variables associated with the behaviour and, second, a hypothesis-testing approach on an individual, naturalistic basis to increase the acquisition of alternative skills and self-control.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed1998

The dominance of behavioural activation over behavioural inhibition in conduct disordered boys with or without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

On the basis of Gray's theory, Quay suggested that conduct disorder (CD) is associated with a Behavioural Activation System (BAS) that dominates over the Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS), whereas attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterised by an underactive BIS. Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that the dominance of the BAS over the BIS is more pronounced in CD comorbid with ADHD (CD/ADHD) than in CD alone. First of all, a response perseveration task was used, i.e. the door-opening task (Daugherty & Quay, 1991). In this game, the subject chooses either to open the next door or to stop playing; there is a steadily increasing ratio of punished responses to rewarded responses and a large number of doors opened is indicative of response perseveration. As expected, a steady increase in the number of doors opened was found across normal control (NC) boys, CD boys, and CD/ADHD boys (NC < CD < CD/ADHD). Second, the dominance of the BAS over the BIS was examined by observing the social behaviour of the child in interaction with a research assistant who alternately activated the BAS and the BIS while a game was played. The behaviour of the children was analysed according to ethological methods. Group differences in the frequencies of three out of five behavioural categories were in line with the results of the door-opening task (NC < CD < CD/ADHD).

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗