Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 258 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-258). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of Psychology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2005. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3227740 Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-64)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-143). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Psychology

The purpose of this research project was to look for a neuropharmacological correlate to the behavioral deficits seen in learned helplessness (LH). The fact that antidepressant drugs reverse the deficits seen in a helpless rat, strongly suggests that the deficit is due to some neurochemical imbalance. This imbalance could be due to either the uncontrollable stressor or genetically induced. The three experiments suggest that there are fundamental differences in the way the CNS of helpless-prone rats and helpless-resistant rats cope with unpredictable and inescapable footshock. The goal of Experiment I was to search for a correlation between LH and receptor changes in the frontal cortex. The results did not support the hypothesis. The use of a heterogeneous stock of rat may have masked any basic differences between helpless-prone and helpless-resistant rats with regard to the 5-HT₂ and β-adrenergic receptors in the frontal cortex. Based on previous studies and the results from Experiment I, one could argue that there exists a genetic component in LH. The results from Experiment II suggest a strong genetic component to LH, not unlike that found in certain forms of human depressive disorders. Accordingly, rats from eight different stocks were tested for susceptibility to LH training. Of the eight stocks tested, Kyoto and Charles River Holtzman rats were the most susceptible at 53% and 55%, respectively. Overall, the variability ranged from 0% to 50%. These results indicate that wide differences in susceptibility to LH training exist in rats from different stocks or suppliers. The results of Experiment II suggested that the Kyoto Wistar rat would be a reliable inbred strain in which to study LH. With regards to the original goal of this research, it was decided that an evaluation of different neuro-transmitter systems during the LH paradigm would yield a potential for success in finding a biochemical marker that would differentiate LH-prone from LH-resistant rats. The results of Experiment III suggest, at least in hippocampus, that the serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) systems are differentially affected in the LH-prone and LH-resistant rat. In particular 5-HT levels are not affected by stress alone, but are increased in LH-prone rats following a frustrating test session. Also, the NE metabolite MHPG, is not affected by stress, but does increase in the LH-prone rat following testing. Both of these results differentiate the LH-prone and LH-resistant rat. In conclusion, the three experiments suggest that there is a genetic component in LH and that the NE and 5-HT systems are differentially affected by uncontrollable and inescapable shock in LH-prone and LH-resistant rats.

Severity and pattern of depressive symptomatology were examined among four groups of elderly individuals, i.e., patients with DSM-III diagnoses of major depression (n = 54), patients with presumed dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) (n = 27), patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) (n = 30), and normal controls (n = 29). The depressed elderly group obtained significantly (p < .001) higher means, and the control group obtained significantly (p < .01) lower means, than the neurologically impaired groups on clinician ratings (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, HRS-D) and self-report (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) of depression. However, HRS-D means of the PD and DAT groups did not differ significantly (p < .125). The depressed elderly group also obtained significantly (p < .001) higher means than the contrast groups on HRS-D vegetative and cognitive depression primary factors (adapted from Rhoades & Overall, 1983), while the control group obtained significantly (p < .001 to 0.01) lower means. At the intermediate level, the PD mean on the vegetative factor was significantly (p < .05) higher than the DAT mean, while the groups did not differ significantly (p < .79) on the cognitive factor. The depressed elderly group obtained a substantially lower interfactor correlation coefficient than the neurologically impaired groups, suggesting greater heterogeneity in manifestation of depression at moderate than at mild levels of severity. However, the finding of zero variance on some HRS-D items for the neurologically impaired groups suggested that factor structures may differ for PD, DAT, and depressed groups. For PD patients, the prediction that PD symptom severity ratings would correlate more highly with clinician ratings (HRS-D) than self-report (BDI) of depression, due to PD symptoms that resemble depression, was not supported. Speculation that the DAT group might report less depression due to loss of insight was not supported in this group of mildly to moderately demented patients. Only 22% demonstrated loss of insight, while 93% exhibited some degree of depressed mood on the HRS-D. Over 50% of the control group of PD spouses and community volunteers endorsed some degree of fatigue, work inhibition, and decreased libido, illustrating the need for considering base-rates in assessment.

M.A. (Psychology) / Both the theories of Seligman (1975) and Beck (1976) provide an explanation of depression as a cognitive phenomenon. These theories are inadequate in the sense that no provision is made for individual differences and personality factors in the development of depression. This study postulates that perfectionism is related to learned helplessness and depression, with the intention of understanding mild depression. Forty first year students at the Rand Afrikaans University were selected on the basis of exceptionally high or exceptionally low scores on the P.Hs. (Perfectionistic Attitude Scale). The subjects were further divided into helpless and non-helpless groups. Helplessness was induced by confronting the subjects with a cognitive task which was impossible to execute. Hereafter, among other things, the subjects' attributions and level of depression (Beck Depression Inventory) were measured. The findings indicate that perfectionism is significantly related to depression, but not to learned helplessness. Furthermore, it was found that helplessness is not necessarily related to depression. It is suggested that helplessness in a laboratory situation is not aversive or important enough to cause depression. The recommendation is made that future helplessness studies Should preferably concentrate on actual life situations. Perfectionism was found to be an important factor in the development of depression, and it was found that perfectionists are essentially underachievers. The implications of these findings were briefly discussed.

D.Litt.et Phil. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Bibliography: leaves 339-361. / xii, 361 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychiatry, 1993