Journal Of Abnormal Psychology Research Articles

"Three recommendations based on a comparison of the reliability and validity of the predominant models used in research on the empirical structure of psychopathology": Correction to Forbes et al. (2021).

Reports an error in "Three recommendations based on a comparison of the reliability and validity of the predominant models used in research on the empirical structure of psychopathology" by Miriam K. Forbes, Ashley L. Greene, Holly F. Levin-Aspenson, Ashley L. Watts, Michael Hallquist, Benjamin B. Lahey, Kristian E. Markon, Christopher J. Patrick, Jennifer L. Tackett, Irwin D. Waldman, Aidan G. C. Wright, Avshalom Caspi, Masha Ivanova, Roman Kotov, Douglas B. Samuel, Nicholas R. Eaton and Robert F. Krueger (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2021[Apr], Vol 130[3], 297-317). In the article, Figure 1 had an error in the latent variable labels for Models 1, 2, and 3 whereby "Fear" and "Distress" had been inverted. The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2021-13650-001.) The present study compared the primary models used in research on the structure of psychopathology (i.e., correlated factor, higher-order, and bifactor models) in terms of structural validity (model fit and factor reliability), longitudinal measurement invariance, concurrent and prospective predictive validity in relation to important outcomes, and longitudinal consistency in individuals' factor score profiles. Two simpler operationalizations of a general factor of psychopathology were also examined-a single-factor model and a count of diagnoses. Models were estimated based on structured clinical interview diagnoses in two longitudinal waves of nationally representative data from the United States (n = 43,093 and n = 34,653). Models that included narrower factors (fear, distress, and externalizing) were needed to capture the observed multidimensionality of the data. In the correlated factor and higher-order models these narrower factors were reliable, largely invariant over time, had consistent associations with indicators of adaptive functioning, and had moderate stability within individuals over time. By contrast, the fear- and distress-specific factors in the bifactor model did not show good reliability or validity throughout the analyses. Notably, the general factor of psychopathology (p factor) performed similarly well across tests of reliability and validity regardless of whether the higher-order or bifactor model was used; the simplest (single factor) model was also comparable across most tests, with the exception of model fit. Given the limitations of categorical diagnoses, it will be important to repeat these analyses using dimensional measures. We conclude that when aiming to understand the structure and correlates of psychopathology it is important to (a) look beyond model fit indices to choose between different models, (b) examine the reliability of latent variables directly, and (c) be cautious when isolating and interpreting the unique effects of specific psychopathology factors, regardless of which model is used. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A Commentary on “Eating Disorders and the Rorschach” (Guinzbourg de Braude et al., 2021)

A Commentary on “Eating Disorders and the Rorschach” (Guinzbourg de Braude et al., 2021)

Individual mental health and couple functioning following couple relationship education participation: Exploring prospective cross-lagged influences among changes.

Limited research on couple relationship education (CRE) programs explores the relationships among potential outcomes over time. This study conducted tests of processes of change in CRE participants' mental health and couple functioning, based on previous evidence of concurrent benefit in these domains following CRE participation. Using a diverse sample of 926 men and women we first tested the stress generation model (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1991, 100(4), 555-561) assumptions that individual functioning influences relational functioning. We found support for immediate changes in mental health predicting changes in couple functioning 6months later. However, a full cross-lagged prospective model comparatively testing the stress generation model and the marital discord model (Depression in marriage: A model for etiology and treatment. Guilford, 1990), which emphasizes relational functioning impacts on individual well-being over time, revealed the stronger directional link for both men and women was from immediate changes in couple functioning to later changes in individual mental health. Practical implications and future research directions are suggested.

Correction to Moore et al. (2020).

Reports an error in "Criterion validity and relationships between alternative hierarchical dimensional models of general and specific psychopathology" by Tyler M. Moore, Antonia N. Kaczkurkin, E. Leighton Durham, Hee Jung Jeong, Malerie G. McDowell, Randolph M. Dupont, Brooks Applegate, Jennifer L. Tackett, Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, Omid Kardan, Gaby N. Akcelik, Andrew J. Stier, Monica D. Rosenberg, Donald Hedeker, Marc G. Berman and Benjamin B. Lahey (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Advanced Online Publication, Jul 16, 2020, np). In the article (http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/abn0000601), an acknowledgment is missing from the author note. The missing acknowledgement is included in the erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2020-50590-001.) Psychopathology can be viewed as a hierarchy of correlated dimensions. Many studies have supported this conceptualization, but they have used alternative statistical models with differing interpretations. In bifactor models, every symptom loads on both the general factor and 1 specific factor (e.g., internalizing), which partitions the total explained variance in each symptom between these orthogonal factors. In second-order models, symptoms load on one of several correlated lower-order factors. These lower-order factors load on a second-order general factor, which is defined by the variance shared by the lower-order factors. Thus, the factors in second-order models are not orthogonal. Choosing between these valid statistical models depends on the hypothesis being tested. Because bifactor models define orthogonal phenotypes with distinct sources of variance, they are optimal for studies of shared and unique associations of the dimensions of psychopathology with external variables putatively relevant to etiology and mechanisms. Concerns have been raised, however, about the reliability of the orthogonal specific factors in bifactor models. We evaluated this concern using parent symptom ratings of 9-10 year olds in the ABCD Study. Psychometric indices indicated that all factors in both bifactor and second-order models exhibited at least adequate construct reliability and estimated replicability. The factors defined in bifactor and second-order models were highly to moderately correlated across models, but have different interpretations. All factors in both models demonstrated significant associations with external criterion variables of theoretical and clinical importance, but the interpretation of such associations in second-order models was ambiguous due to shared variance among factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

"Identity confusion in complicated grief: A closer look": Correction.

Reports an error in "Identity confusion in complicated grief: A closer look" by Benjamin W. Bellet, Nicole J. LeBlanc, Marie-Christine Nizzi, Mikaela L. Carter, Florentine H. S. van der Does, Jacqueline Peters, Donald J. Robinaugh and Richard J. McNally (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2020[May], Vol 129[4], 397-407). In the original article, the following acknowledgment of funding was missing from the author note: "Donald J. Robinaugh's work on this article was supported by federal funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant 1K23MH113805-01A1; principal investigator: Donald J. Robinaugh)." The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2020-23551-001). Complicated grief (CG) is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including identity confusion or a sense that a part of oneself has died with the decedent. Although identity confusion is a commonly reported feature of CG, little is known about which specific aspects of self-concept are compromised. In the current study, we used qualitative coding methods to investigate which aspects of the sense of self differed between those with and without CG in a sample of 77 bereaved adults. Relative to individuals without CG, those with CG provided fewer descriptors of their self-concept overall (lower self-fluency), provided sets of descriptors that consisted of fewer categories (lower self-diversity), and had lower proportions of self-relevant preferences and activities. However, group differences were not observed for proportions of any other categories of self-concept descriptors, including references to the loss, the past, or distress-related self-statements. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Predictive processing in mental illness: Hierarchical circuitry for perception and trauma.

Predictive coding emerged as an explanation for how the brain can efficiently encode sensory stimuli. The hierarchical organization of neural circuits for perception thus passes prediction errors between computational layers. Extensions of this theory have provided a unifying understanding of Bayesian inference within neural circuits and psychiatric disorders. In particular, disorders of perception and belief have been explained as a Bayesian process of weighing prior beliefs (predictions) against new sensory data (prediction errors). The present issue of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology provides further evidence for how psychotic disorders develop and persist and how addiction- and trauma-related disorders may also be conceptualized. Trauma-related disorders in particular have begun to be identified as disorders of excessive accumulated prediction errors (uncertainty) over life. Here we summarize and reconcile recent advances in reinforcement learning momentum models with predictive processing and attempt to point out potential pitfalls for the application of hierarchical prediction models to stress. Future directions for understanding stress through this lens may need to involve updates to a purely hierarchical view or reframing long times cale molecular predictions as higher-order predictions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing College Writing: Do Students Connect with the Text?

Assessing College Writing: Do Students Connect with the Text?

1084 Depression and Stress Generation: Can Sleep Quality Bridge the Gap?

Abstract Introduction The stress generation literature has established a bidirectional relationship between depression and stress. Not only do stressful life events predict depressive episodes, but a depressive history is also linked to increased, future stressors. One relevant mechanism that has received little attention to account for this relationship is sleep. Sleep difficulties are intertwined with depression, both as a predictive and maintenance factor. Beyond depression, sleep disruption is also a factor in a plethora of stressful events, from an increased risk of automotive accidents to higher reports of interpersonal conflict. The present study explored the role of sleep quality to account for depression’s association with stressors. Methods Ninety-six college students (Age: M = 19.56, SE = .20) reported on their depressive symptoms before undergoing a two-week, online diary, where they reported on sleep quality and the number of stressors experienced. A generalized structural equation model (GSEM) was used to test the relevance of sleep quality to account for baseline depressive symptoms predicting average differences in stressors over the diary. Within the GSEM, a multilevel model was used to explore the daily, within-person association between sleep quality and the number of stressors reported. Results Baseline depression was predictive of poorer sleep quality (b = .01, p < .001) and more stressors across the diary (b = .02, p = .017). Sleep quality mediated the effect of depression on stress generation (b = .002, p = .036), accounting for 13% of the variance. On a daily level, poorer sleep quality the night before predicted more stressors the next day (b = .16, p = .027). Conclusion The results suggest that sleep quality is a relevant mechanism in the prediction of future stressors from depression. Sleep difficulties may represent a pivotal area of future research and intervention target in breaking the cycle between depression and stress generation. Support Hammen, C. (1991). Generation of stress in the course of unipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 555-561. Tsuno, N., Besset, A., & Ritchie, K. (2005). Sleep and depression. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 66, 1254-1269.

"Dimensions of deprivation and threat, psychopathology, and potential mediators: A multi-year longitudinal analysis": Correction to Miller et al. (2018).

Reports an error in "Dimensions of deprivation and threat, psychopathology, and potential mediators: A multi-year longitudinal analysis" by Adam Bryant Miller, Margaret A. Sheridan, Jamie L. Hanson, Katie A. McLaughlin, John E. Bates, Jennifer E. Lansford, Gregory S. Pettit and Kenneth A. Dodge (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2018[Feb], Vol 127[2], 160-170). In the article, the indirect effects in the Path Analysis Model section of the Results (i.e., in paragraph 3 of the Model 1 subsection and paragraphs 1-4 of the Alternative models subsection) are incorrectly reported as standardized βs and should have been represented by βs for unstandardized indirect effects. Nevertheless, the pattern of results remains unchanged, and the standardized indirect effects are significant. Additional minor corrections to standardized βs for direct paths are as follows: In paragraph 1 of the Alternative models subsection, "β = 0.40" should read "β = 0.50." In paragraph 4 of the Alternative models subsection, "β = 0.05," "β = 0.12," and "β = 0.002, p = .97" should read " β = 0.12," "β = 0.09," and "β = 0.3, p = .70," respectively. Finally, the corresponding author's e-mail address is incorrect and should read adam.miller@unc.edu. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2018-09964-003.) Prior research demonstrates a link between exposure to childhood adversity and psychopathology later in development. However, work on mechanisms linking adversity to psychopathology fails to account for specificity in these pathways across different types of adversity. Here, we test a conceptual model that distinguishes deprivation and threat as distinct forms of childhood adversity with different pathways to psychopathology. Deprivation involves an absence of inputs from the environment, such as cognitive and social stimulation, that influence psychopathology by altering cognitive development, such as verbal abilities. Threat includes experiences involving harm or threat of harm that increase risk for psychopathology through disruptions in social-emotional processing. We test the prediction that deprivation, but not threat, increases risk for psychopathology through altered verbal abilities. Data were drawn from the Child Development Project (N = 585), which followed children for over a decade. We analyze data from assessment points at age 5, 6, 14, and 17 years. Mothers completed interviews at age 5 and 6 on exposure to threat and deprivation experiences. Youth verbal abilities were assessed at age 14. At age 17, mothers reported on child psychopathology. A path analysis model tested longitudinal paths to internalizing and externalizing problems from experiences of deprivation and threat. Consistent with predictions, deprivation was associated with risk for externalizing problems via effects on verbal abilities at age 14. Threat was associated longitudinally with both internalizing and externalizing problems, but these effects were not mediated by verbal abilities. Results suggest that unique developmental mechanisms link different forms of adversity with psychopathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

"Best research practices in clinical science: Reflections on the status quo and charting a path forward": Correction to Gruber and Joormann (2020).

Reports an error in "Best research practices in clinical science: Reflections on the status quo and charting a path forward" by June Gruber and Jutta Joormann (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2020[Jan], Vol 129[1], 1-4). In the article, an incomplete sentence in the abstract read "This special section aims to take stock of current practices in our field and to reflect on them by providing user-friendly articles on common practices across a variety of methodologies in." The complete sentence is as follows: "This special section aims to take stock of current practices in our field and to reflect on them by providing user-friendly articles on common practices across a variety of methodologies in clinical science." The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2019-79779-001.) Clinical psychological science is a rapidly evolving field using a diverse set of methods in various populations. Many of our common research practices and everyday decisions on how and when to use certain methods are described with little detail and formal guidelines and open discussion of those (formal and informal) guidelines is often missing. This special section aims to take stock of current practices in our field and to reflect on them by providing user-friendly articles on common practices across a variety of methodologies in clinical science. The articles cover 4 broad areas: (a) diagnostic and clinical assessment including the importance of interrater reliability, the challenges of extreme group designs, and transdiagnostic approaches; (b) clinical neuroscience research including clinical psychophysiology work and translational neuroscience; (c) research conducted outside the laboratory setting including experience sampling and online studies; and (d) daily research practices. A particular focus is on how the discussed practices apply specifically to psychiatric and at-risk clinical populations and the unique methodological challenges that arise when working with these sensitive populations. The contributors to this special issue represent a diverse group whose efforts target a variety of settings and processes with the ultimate goal of increasing transparency surrounding our everyday decisions about designs, methods, and data analysis. We hope that each of the pieces in this section offer inspiration and provide a resource as well as a starting point for further discussion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

"Temporal associations between sleep quality and paranoia across the paranoia continuum: An experience sampling study": Correction to Kasanova et al. (2020).

Reports an error in "Temporal associations between sleep quality and paranoia across the paranoia continuum: An experience sampling study" by Zuzana Kasanova, Michal Hajdúk, Viviane Thewissen and Inez Myin-Germeys (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2020[Jan], Vol 129[1], 122-130). In the article, the affiliation for Inez Myin-Germeys should have included the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University. In addition, the following acknowledgment of funding was missing from the author note: "This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 777084." The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2019-42677-001.) Sleep disturbances are prevalent among individuals with a psychotic disorder and have been linked to symptoms of paranoia across the entire psychosis continuum. Emerging evidence suggests that rather than a secondary symptom, poor quality of sleep may contribute to elevated paranoid ideation. We investigated the temporal dynamics of sleep quality and paranoid ideation using the experience sampling method in 42 acutely paranoid individuals with a psychotic disorder, 32 nonparanoid individuals with psychotic disorder, and 41 individuals with high schizotypy traits. We applied time-lagged mixed multilevel modeling to tease apart the effect of poor sleep quality on morning paranoia and negative affect, and the impact of evening paranoid ideation and negative affect on subsequent sleep quality. In the whole sample, poor subjective sleep quality predicted elevated paranoia the following morning, a relationship that was fully mediated by morning negative affect. No significant association between evening paranoia and poor sleep the following night emerged. In the everyday lives of individuals on the paranoia continuum, low quality of sleep appears to drive paranoia through its impact on negative affect. These findings identify sleep quality as an important target of transdiagnostic interventions for psychotic and affective symptomatology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Ambulatory assessment in psychopathology research: A review of recommended reporting guidelines and current practices.

The use of ambulatory assessment (AA; Trull & Ebner-Priemer, 2013) in psychopathology research, which includes experience-sampling methods as well as ecological momentary assessment, has increased dramatically over the last several decades. Previously, methodological and reporting guidelines have been presented to outline best practices and provide input on methodological issues and decisions that are faced when planning and conducting AA studies (e.g., Bolger & Laurenceau, 2013; Mehl & Conner, 2012; Stone & Shiffman, 2002). However, despite the publication of these important resources and guidelines, it remains an open question as to how much uniformity or consistency is evident in the design and reporting of AA studies of psychopathology. To address this, we reviewed the reported practices of published studies using AA in major psychopathology journals (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Psychological Medicine, Clinical Psychological Science) over the last 7 years (2012-2018). Our review highlights (a) sample selection and size; (b) sampling design; (c) selection and reporting of measures; (d) devices used and software; (e) compliance; (f) participant training, monitoring and remuneration; and (g) data management and analysis. We conclude with recommendations for reporting the features of future AA studies in psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Facet-Level Personality Relations of the Symptom Dimensions of the Tripartite Model

The tripartite model (Clark and Watson, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(3), 316–336 1991) was developed to explain both the strong comorbidity and the distinction between anxiety and depression. The model includes a shared general distress factor that is most strongly associated with Neuroticism/Negative Emotionality (N/NE); a unique depression factor, anhedonia, which is most strongly associated with low Positive Emotionality/Extraversion; and anxious arousal, a unique anxiety factor that subsequent research has shown to be most strongly related to panic/agoraphobia among the anxiety disorders (e.g., Mineka et al. Annual Review of Psychology, 49, 377–412 1998) and to have the weakest link to personality. The present study extends past work by demonstrating that narrower facets of personality domains show nuanced relations that are masked when only the broader domains are examined. Specifically, we investigated facet-level relations of the tripartite model’s symptom dimensions using three hierarchical personality measures (BFI-2, NEO-PI-3, and FI-FFM) and data from three separate samples (Ns = 353–451). In one sample, the tripartite-model dimensions were assessed twice across a 9.5-month interval. At the domain level, N/NE, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness were the strongest predictors of these factors. At the facet level, general distress and anhedonia were most strongly related to N/NE’s Depression facet; anhedonia also was substantially linked to the low Energy/Positive Temperament component of Extraversion. Finally, anxious arousal was best predicted by the Somatic Complaints facet of N/NE. This pattern of results was highly stable across measures, samples, and time points. Theoretical implications of the findings are discussed, including connecting these findings to the dimensional Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology framework.

An N-pact factor for clinical psychological research.

Although an emphasis on adequate sample size and statistical power has a long history in clinical psychological science (Cohen, 1992), increased attention to the replicability of scientific findings has renewed focus on the importance of statistical power (Bakker, van Dijk, & Wicherts, 2012). These recent efforts have not yet circled back to modern clinical psychological research, despite the importance of sample size and power in producing a credible body of evidence. As one step in this process of scientific self-examination, the present study estimated an N-pact Factor (the statistical power of published empirical studies to detect typical effect sizes; Fraley & Vazire, 2014) in 2 leading clinical journals (the Journal of Abnormal Psychology [JAP] and the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology [JCCP]) for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. Study sample size, as one proxy for statistical power, is a useful focus because it allows comparisons with other subfields and may highlight some of the core methodological differences between clinical and other areas. We found that, across all years examined, the average median sample size in clinical research was 179 participants (175 for JAP and 182 for JCCP). The power to detect a small to medium effect size of .20 is just below 80% for both journals. Although the clinical N-pact factor was higher than that estimated for social psychology, the statistical power in clinical journals is still limited to detect many effects of interest to clinical psychologists, with little evidence of improvement in sample sizes over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

"Reward processing and future life stress: Stress generation pathway to depression": Correction to Mackin et al. (2019).

Reports an error in "Reward processing and future life stress: Stress generation pathway to depression" by Daniel M. Mackin, Roman Kotov, Greg Perlman, Brady D. Nelson, Brandon L. Goldstein, Greg Hajcak and Daniel N. Klein (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2019[May], Vol 128[4], 305-314). In the article, there is an error in Figure 2 in which the path from "T1-T3 Dependent Life Stress" to "T3 Depression" incorrectly includes a minus sign in front of the estimate value 0.25. Thus, the estimate should be positive and read as follows: b =0.25, [0.168, 0.330]. This error does not change the explanation of the results reported in the "Indirect effects of the RewP on depression" section of the Results or any conclusions outlined in the article. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2019-23604-003.) Blunted reward sensitivity and life stress are each depressogenic. Additionally, individuals with clinical and psychosocial vulnerabilities are prone to experience or evoke dependent life stressors (e.g., interpersonal conflict) that, in turn, increase depression risk. However, no previous study has investigated the role of neural vulnerability factors in generating life stress. Therefore, the current study investigated whether a neural measure of reward sensitivity prospectively predicts the generation of life stress, which in turn mediates effects of these neural processes on subsequent depression. Participants were 467 never-depressed adolescent girls. Using event-related potentials, neural sensitivity to the difference between monetary reward and loss (the Reward Positivity [RewP]) was assessed at baseline. Negative life events were assessed twice via interview over the ensuing 18 months, yielding an index of total life stress over the follow-up period. A self-report dimensional measure of depression symptoms was administered at baseline and follow-up. After accounting for baseline age, depression, and race, a blunted RewP predicted greater dependent, but not independent, life stress over the follow-up. Mediation analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of the RewP on follow-up depression through dependent, but not independent, life stress. Our results suggest that neural processing reward and loss plays a crucial role in depressogenic stress generation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Changes in depressed patients’ self-statements

Objective: Individuals’ use of self-statements reflecting self-criticism, a sense of inadequacy, and low self-worth has been linked to the incidence, severity, and recurrence of major depressive disorder [de Graaf, L. E., Huibers, M. J. H., Cuijpers, P., & Arntz, A. (2010). Minor and major depression in the general population: Does dysfunctional thinking play a role? Comprehensive Psychiatry, 51(3), 266–274. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2009.08.006; Riso, L. P., du Toit, P. L., Blandino, J. A., Penna, S., Dacey, S., Duin, J. S., … Ulmer, C. S. (2003). Cognitive aspects of chronic depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112(1), 72–80. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.112.1.72]. The present study used an observer-rated measure, the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior [Benjamin, L. S. (1974). Structural Analysis of Social Behavior. Psychological Review, 81(5), 392–425. doi:10.1037/h0037024], to examine patients’ self-directed communication over the course of psychotherapy.Method: Self-talk in early and late therapy sessions was examined using cases (N = 44) from the cognitive therapy arm of Jacobson and colleagues’ component study of cognitive therapy for depression [Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., … Prince, S. E. (1996). A component analysis of cognitive–behavioral treatment for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 295–304. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.64.2.295, Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., … Prince, S. E. (2000). A component analysis of cognitive–behavioral treatment for depression. Prevention & Treatment, 3(1). doi:10.1037/1522-3736.3.1.323a]. We identified changes at treatment termination, and used hierarchical multiple regression to examine whether improvements in patient self-talk influenced treatment outcome up to 24 months post-termination.Results: Trends indicate that patients used friendlier and less critical self-statements at the end of treatment. Decreased self-critical behaviour was associated with fewer symptoms at the end of treatment and up to one year later; increased self-acceptance was linked to symptom improvement a year and a half after termination.Conclusion: Consistent with cognitive theory, reduced self-criticism was associated with better treatment outcomes. Longer-term improvement was linked to the development of friendlier and more accepting self-referential behaviour.

"Children with autism spectrum disorder show pronoun reversals in interpretation": Correction to Overweg, Hartman, and Hendriks (2018).

Reports an error in "Children with autism spectrum disorder show pronoun reversals in interpretation" by Jessica Overweg, Catharina A. Hartman and Petra Hendriks (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2018[Feb], Vol 127[2], 228-238). In the article there is an error in Figure 2. The Dutch sentence "Varken zei dat hij de auto krijgt" should be "Varken zei dat ik de auto krijg" (with the first-person pronoun "ik" instead of the third-person pronoun "hij" and the first-person inflected verb "krijg" instead of the third-person inflected verb "krijgt"). (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2018-09964-009.) Pronoun reversals, saying you when meaning I, in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are generally viewed as manifesting in early development and speech production only. This study investigates pronoun reversals in later development (age 6-12) in interpretation in 48 Dutch-speaking children with ASD and 43 typically developing (TD) peers. We contrasted children's interpretation of I and you in indirect and direct speech reports, with the latter type requiring an additional perspective shift. To examine which cognitive processes are involved in pronoun interpretation, additional tasks were administered to measure Theory of Mind (ToM) understanding, cognitive inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. We found that children with ASD showed more problems than TD children interpreting pronouns in direct speech, resulting in pronoun reversals in interpretation. Children with ASD hardly improved with age. Older children with ASD thus showed more pronoun reversals than did their TD peers. ToM understanding, working memory, IQ, and verbal ability, but not inhibition and flexibility, were associated with pronoun interpretation. ToM understanding in particular was associated with correct pronoun interpretation in older TD children relative to younger TD children, but this improvement was not found in children with ASD. These findings indicate that pronoun reversals most likely result from perspective-shifting difficulties. We conclude that pronoun reversals are more pronounced in individuals with ASD, occur beyond early development, and require sufficient cognitive resources. The relation with ToM understanding, but not inhibition and flexibility, suggests that pronoun reversals are best classified as a social communication problem in the diagnosis of ASD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Integrating the Hopelessness Model and the Response Style Theory in an Adolescent Sample.

Integrations of cognitive models of depression, specifically, the hopelessness model (Abramson et al. Psychological Bulletin, 96, 358-372, 1989) and the response style theory (Nolen-Hoecksema et al. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 405-422, 1992) have been suggested but no previous study has compared the integrations of these models with each other and the original models. Further, previous studies only tested the associations between composite scores of inferences, from the hopelessness model, and rumination (incl. brooding and reflection), from the response style theory. Thus, a 3-wave study using self-report instruments with 519 adolescents was conducted (mean ageWave 1 = 16.09years; SD = 0.70; 62.7% female; 72.8% European American, 14.7% African-American, 5.4% Latino, 4.4% mixed race/ethnicity, 1.4% Asian/Pacific Islander, 0.8% Native American, and 0.6% identified as "other"). The school serves predominantly working to middle class families and almost one third of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch programs. AMOS and RMediation were used to calculate and compare five different theory-driven models. The findings of the study provide support for an integrated model in which both brooding and reflection are influenced by individual inferences and interact with individual inferences while affecting depressive symptoms. In addition, reflection plays an unexpectedly important role in this integrated model. Age and cognitive development are discussed as possible explanations for this finding.

Interpersonal predictors of stress generation: Isthere a super factor?

Hammen's (1991, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 555-561) seminal paper on stress generation highlighted the reciprocal relationship between stress and depression. Not only does stress predict depression, but women with a diagnosis of depression also experienced subsequent increased levels of stress. In the ensuing years, depression researchers have moved beyond clinical predictors and examined whether depression vulnerability factors also contribute to stress generation. This interest has led to a growing focus on interpersonal vulnerability factors that contribute to stress generation. To date, the research examining interpersonal predictors of stress generation has tended to examine vulnerability factors singly and thus potential overlap and unique predictions amongvulnerability factors have not been determined. This study examines interpersonal vulnerability factors from various schools of thought (dependency, attachment, and unmitigated communion) as predictors of interpersonal stress generation. Three hundred and sixty-four young adults completed baseline measures of interpersonal vulnerabilities and provided weekly reports of depressive symptoms and stressful life events. Multilevel models were estimated to examine their unique predictions of interpersonal stress generation. Despite converging theories, there does not appear to be a single super factor. Of the interpersonal vulnerability factors tested, anxious attachment emerged as a consistent predictor of interpersonal stress generation both when examined singly and when in combination with related variables.

Inhibited Power Motivation is Associated with the Facial Width-to-Height Ratio in Females

The inhibited power motive is a disposition for obtaining a functional influence on others (Schultheiss 2008) and characterized by a high implicit need for Power (n Power) and high activity inhibition (AI; McClelland Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88(2), 182–190, 1979). Organizational effects of gonadal steroid hormones on the brain during prenatal development affect the emerging n Power (Schultheiss and Zimni Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, 1(4), 387–407, 2015) but it is unknown whether there are similar associations during puberty, a second phase of endocrine organization (Schulz et al. Hormones and Behavior, 55(5), 597–604, 2009). In two studies (combined for analyses; total N = 213, after exclusions), we investigated this relationship using the facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR; Weston et al. PloS One, 2(8), e710, 2007), assessed via anthropometry, as a marker of organizational hormone effects during puberty in a cross-sectional, correlational design. N Power and AI were measured via Picture Story Exercise (PSE; McClelland et al. Psychological Review, 96, 690–702, 1989). Controlling for BMI and age in a multiple regression analysis predicting fWHR, we found a significant n Power x AI-effect, B = 0.15, SE = 0.07, t(207) = 2.03, p = .04, ∆R 2 = .02. N Power and fWHR approached a marginally significant positive association, when AI was high (+1SD; B = 0.16, SE = 0.10, t(207) = 1.64, p = .10) and showed a negative but insignificant association, when AI was low (−1SD; B = −0.14, SE = 0.10, t(207) = −1.40, p = .16). After adding gender to the model on an exploratory basis, we found a significant n Power x AI x Gender-effect (B = 0.34, SE = 0.17, t(203) = 2.00, p = .05, ∆R 2 = .02), predominantly driven by a positive effect of the inhibited power motive in females, B = 0.28, SE = 0.13, t(55) = 2.24, p = .03, ∆R 2 = .08. Compared with past research, this finding was unexpected since fWHR is commonly linked to various criteria in males. Implications for the understanding of the development of n Power are discussed, respecting the limitations of our design.