This investigation examined multidimensional perfectionism, shame and maltreatment in 45 women with bulimia nervosa, 14 women with binge eating disorder and 26 women with anorexia nervosa, purging type, all of whom suffered from comorbid substance use disorders. Participants completed three perfectionism scales, one shame scale and one maltreatment scale. Results revealed that in the bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder group, perfectionistic self-promotion and bodily shame were significant predictors of eating disorder severity while other-oriented perfectionism was a significant predictor of alcohol use severity. In the anorexia group, other-oriented perfectionism and bodily shame were significant predictors of eating disorder severity and nondisplay of imperfection was a significant predictor of drug use severity. All participants experienced elevated levels on all types of shame and maltreatment and on most perfectionism dimensions compared to normative samples. Findings should be utilized in developing treatment programs for those with comorbid eating and substance use disorders.

The current investigation compared the fit of three models of internalizing in middle childhood: (1) a unitary factor model, (2) a two-factor model corresponding to the DSM-IV Anxiety/Depression distinction, and (3) a two-factor model corresponding to the Fear/Distress distinction observed in structural studies of adult psychopathology (Krueger, 1999; Slade & Watson, 2006). Mothers of 344 children (50.6% female, mean age = 9.97, SD = .82) reported on childhood internalizing symptoms and personality traits. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed acceptable fit indices for all three models. The unitary factor model provided the most parsimonious fit to the data. Although the structural analyses suggested that internalizing subfactors were not differentiated in middle childhood, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that personality dimensions uniquely predicted fear and distress disorders. These results suggest that personality foreshadows later psychopathology structure before it is manifest at the symptom level.

Mindfulness has been defined in cognitive-behavioural terms in the mental health literature despite its broader application by many practitioners. Mindfulness is a complex and often ambiguous concept that has historically been understood and applied in myriad ways depending on the context; thus its application to psychotherapy outside the cognitive-behavioural tradition is not necessarily straightforward, and has not been addressed. This study addressed this gap in the literature through interviews with 9 experienced psychotherapists who integrate mindfulness with non-cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic modalities or eclectic psychotherapy. Interviews addressed how participants a) define mindfulness, b) apply it to psychotherapy, and c) the aims of that integration. Data were analyzed via the grounded theory approach. The results depicted mindfulness and its potential applications as broader than its presentation in the mental health literature, and emphasized the role of contexts in shaping conceptualization and application. A broad, context-based model of mindfulness/psychotherapy integration is proposed.

The present study explored the influence of social support and psychological resources on depression in people living with HIV/AIDS. The mediating role of mastery and self-esteem was examined. Factor analysis of the MOS-SSS supported three dimensions of social support. Findings from a predominantly gay male sample of unemployed individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the Toronto-area indicated high levels of depressive symptomatology, which were negatively related to emotional/informational support, tangible support, and affectionate/interpersonal support. Mediation analyses indicated partial support of the Cognitive Adaptation Model, revealing significant mediating effects of mastery on the relationship between social support and depressive symptomatology. Self-esteem was not found to be a significant mediator of this relationship. Findings suggest the need for social support interventions that help to strengthen mastery in individuals living with HIV/AIDS in order to reduce depression. Attention should be paid to self-esteem and its relationship with gender and employment status in this population.

This investigation examined multidimensional perfectionism, shame and maltreatment in 45 women with bulimia nervosa, 14 women with binge eating disorder and 26 women with anorexia nervosa, purging type, all of whom suffered from comorbid substance use disorders. Participants completed three perfectionism scales, one shame scale and one maltreatment scale. Results revealed that in the bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder group, perfectionistic self-promotion and bodily shame were significant predictors of eating disorder severity while other-oriented perfectionism was a significant predictor of alcohol use severity. In the anorexia group, other-oriented perfectionism and bodily shame were significant predictors of eating disorder severity and nondisplay of imperfection was a significant predictor of drug use severity. All participants experienced elevated levels on all types of shame and maltreatment and on most perfectionism dimensions compared to normative samples. Findings should be utilized in developing treatment programs for those with comorbid eating and substance use disorders.

The current investigation compared the fit of three models of internalizing in middle childhood: (1) a unitary factor model, (2) a two-factor model corresponding to the DSM-IV Anxiety/Depression distinction, and (3) a two-factor model corresponding to the Fear/Distress distinction observed in structural studies of adult psychopathology (Krueger, 1999; Slade & Watson, 2006). Mothers of 344 children (50.6% female, mean age = 9.97, SD = .82) reported on childhood internalizing symptoms and personality traits. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed acceptable fit indices for all three models. The unitary factor model provided the most parsimonious fit to the data. Although the structural analyses suggested that internalizing subfactors were not differentiated in middle childhood, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that personality dimensions uniquely predicted fear and distress disorders. These results suggest that personality foreshadows later psychopathology structure before it is manifest at the symptom level.

Mindfulness has been defined in cognitive-behavioural terms in the mental health literature despite its broader application by many practitioners. Mindfulness is a complex and often ambiguous concept that has historically been understood and applied in myriad ways depending on the context; thus its application to psychotherapy outside the cognitive-behavioural tradition is not necessarily straightforward, and has not been addressed. This study addressed this gap in the literature through interviews with 9 experienced psychotherapists who integrate mindfulness with non-cognitive-behavioural psychotherapeutic modalities or eclectic psychotherapy. Interviews addressed how participants a) define mindfulness, b) apply it to psychotherapy, and c) the aims of that integration. Data were analyzed via the grounded theory approach. The results depicted mindfulness and its potential applications as broader than its presentation in the mental health literature, and emphasized the role of contexts in shaping conceptualization and application. A broad, context-based model of mindfulness/psychotherapy integration is proposed.

Although research supports cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as the treatment of choice for childhood obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and recommends family involvement (e.g., AACAP, 1998; Barrett, Healey-Farrell, & March, 2004a), little is known about the role of the family in the development, maintenance, and treatment of childhood OCD. Furthermore, although significant improvements are found in treatment response, many children remain symptomatic (de Haan, 2006). Objective: The aims of the study were to examine (1) the perceptions of the family environment among family members and if child perceptions change with treatment and (2) treatment response and child and family characteristics that may predict treatment response. Gender differences were also examined. Method: This study involved 82 children (ages 8 to 17 years) receiving CBT for OCD and a concurrent parent program. Children and parents were assessed at initial, pre-, and post-treatment with questionnaires, a symptom severity interview, a family environment questionnaire, and child self-report measures of anxiety and depression. Pre-treatment data were used for the prediction of treatment response. Results: Child and parent perceptions of the family environment differ in terms of family expressiveness, with children perceiving their family as being ‘distressed.’ Although girls and boys had similar perceptions of their family environment, girls’ perceptions were more in agreement with their parents than boys. Children’s ratings of family cohesiveness were ‘normal’ at pre-treatment, and increased significantly at post-treatment; however, this was not meaningful when gender was considered. We found a similar treatment response to past research. Different characteristics were found to predict treatment response for boys and girls, with more predictors being identified for girls. Conclusions: Results emphasize the importance that families may have in the treatment of OCD and in our attempt to find predictors, as well as the need to examine boys and girls separately. This research is critical to refine and tailor treatment techniques to match child and family characteristics.

Although several studies have demonstrated that differential parenting has a negative impact on the children exposed to it, only a small number of studies have attempted to understand why differential parenting occurs within families. The goal of the present study was to examine the contextual correlates of differential parenting. Specifically, the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and differential parenting and the association between objective and subjective indices of neighbourhood quality and differential parenting were investigated. Data were collected as part of the Kids, Families, and Places (KFP) study and analyzed using multilevel modeling. Six hundred and fifty families provided data on 881 children. Five hundred and ninety nine families included a father in the home. Close to seventy five percent of children included in the sample were less than six years of age. Differential parenting was assessed separately for mothers and fathers and across positive and negative parenting outcomes. The findings revealed that parental SES was significantly associated with differential parenting for three of four parenting outcomes. For mothers, SES was negatively associated with differential positivity and negativity. For fathers, SES was negatively associated with differential positivity but not negativity. The objective quality of neighbourhoods in which families resided (i.e., measured as a composite score that combined census tract data on neighbourhood disadvantage and interviewer observations of neighbourhood physical and social disorder) was positively associated with maternal differential negativity; however, this association was also moderated by mothers’ subjective perceptions of their neighbourhoods (i.e., measured using maternal reports of neighbourhood collective efficacy). In other words, when mothers perceived their neighbourhoods to be highly cohesive and supportive, exposure to objectively unfavourable neighbourhood conditions was less strongly associated with differential negativity. Objective neighbourhood quality was not associated with the other three differential parenting outcomes of interest. These findings highlight the important relationship that exists between contextual influences both within and outside of the immediate family and differential parenting. Moreover, they speak to the importance of including both mothers and fathers in studies of differential parenting. The merits of using multilevel modelling to investigate differential parenting and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The present study examined the claim that neuropsychological deficits in set-shifting and emotional decision making are present in eating disordered patients, and to what extent these deficits relate to specific aspects of disordered eating. Sixteen eating disordered patients and 38 controls were given a battery of neuropsychological measures, as well as questionnaires measuring disordered eating. Compared to controls, patients demonstrated poorer performance on tasks of set-shifting, but not decision making, psychomotor speed, working memory, or IQ. Across groups, poor set-shifting was correlated with food-, shape-, and weight concerns, and restricting, whereas poor decision making was correlated to restricting. The study demonstrates that set-shifting deficits are present in eating disordered patients, and that specific relations exist between cognitive performance in different domains and disordered eating.