Guided imagery, a therapeutic technique in which a healer directs an individual to visualize a scene or sensations, has existed for millennia and is often used within healthcare settings today. A small, though growing number of studies among clinical samples demonstrate that guided imagery produces positive effects such as decreased pain and anxiety. Few studies have dismantled this intervention in order to isolate its active ingredients, and even fewer studies have determined for whom this intervention works. The current study sought to address these gaps in the literature by examining the effects of guided imagery on mood and anxiety among a college sample. The effects of a single session of non-directive guided imagery were examined through a repeated measures, pre-test post-test design with three experimental conditions. Multivariate analysis of data from 107 adults showed that following a distress induction, guided imagery significantly decreased anxiety and negative affect. However, guided imagery did not produce significantly greater changes in mood and anxiety than quiet rest or attention control conditions as hypothesized. Individual difference variables hypothesized as moderators (trait absorption, imagery vividness, imagery control) did not predict outcome; however, self-reported engagement in the experimental conditions predicted magnitude of change in outcome. The discussion outlines potential reasons for these unique findings as well as clinical implications and future directions for research.

Recent evidence indicates that the proportion of young people developing significant psychosocial problems is increasing (Rutter, 1995). This thesis focuses upon a small percentage of the growing number of adolescents who experience significant psychopathology; adolescents admitted to a regional inpatient psychiatric unit. Chapter 1 provides the theoretical background to the thesis; reviewing the literature on both the methodology and outcome of studies conducted with adolescents in inpatient adolescent psychiatric services. It suggests that future investigations take account of the practical impossibility of conducting high quality, standard double-blind control trials in such settings and outlines four empirical alternatives to such designs; evaluation of components of the therapy employed in residential settings; the use of problem-oriented case records; prediction of outcome across time; investigating the reasons for the effectiveness of established predictors of outcome. The next four chapters describe a series of studies utilising the last three of these suggested approaches in a cohort of adolescents admitted to a regional psychiatric unit. Chapter 2 is a cross-sectional study describing the sample upon which the remainder of the thesis is based. It focuses principally upon describing the psychopathology of the adolescents from three perspectives; that of the adolescent, their parents and the therapeutic team. It examines the interrelationships between mood, behaviour and family functioning. Chapter 3 describes the results of an investigation into the relationships between selfesteem, autobiographical memory, attributional style, social problem-solving and the experience of depression and hopelessness. Chapter 4 examines the clinical effectiveness of the treatment at the unit as assessed by problem severity as rated by adolescents and their parents and standardised measures of mood and self-esteem. Chapter 5 examines to what extent outcome can be predicted on the basis of initial problem severity, mood and cognitive style (autobiographical memory, attributional stye, problem-solving and selfesteem). Each chapter is written as a separate paper with abstract, literature review, method, results and discussion; however, reference to the overall findings is made throughout for ease of reading. The final chapter draws together themes from the whole thesis and discusses the psychological processes which mediate change during the adolescent treatment programme described here. It concludes that the cognitive and meta-cognitive processes which mediate change are best understood as related to internal working models derived from attachment experiences. A model for understanding individual variation in these processes is outlined and strategies for testing the proposed model are advanced.

The effects of induced mood on secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) were tested on 104 students (51 men & 53 women) using a mixed design with between subject factors of gender, induced mood (positive vs. negative), method of induction (writing about oneself vs. viewing a video), and a within subject factor, time (baseline vs. posttest). A split-plot multivariate analysis of covariance, controlling for salivary flow rate, did not support a causal link between induced mood alone and change in SIgA concentration. The effect of induced mood on blood pressure and heart rate was also examined. There were no significant main effects, but gender interacted with mood induction such that females experienced an increase in blood pressure in the positive mood induction condition. There was no significant effect of method of mood induction on SIgA, blood pressure, or heart rate. Stable personality traits, however, moderated the effects of mood induction. Persons who scored higher on depression and neuroticism, and lower on positive affect had significantly higher SIgA concentrations in the negative mood condition. There were no significant effects of personality traits on SIgA levels in the positive mood condition, nor did they interact with induced mood to change blood pressure or heart rate. These data suggest that although SIgA concentration may not be subject to short-term laboratory mood manipulations alone, changes in SIgA concentration may be associated with an interaction of stable personality traits and mood state, especially in the case induced negative mood.

abstract: This study investigates the effectiveness of the use of Concept-Based Instruction (CBI) to facilitate the acquisition of Spanish mood distinctions by second semester second language learners of Spanish. The study focuses on the development of Spanish mood choice and the types of explanations (Rule-of-Thumb vs. Concept-based) used by five students before and after being exposed to Concept-Based Instruction regarding the choice of Spanish mood following various modalities .The students in this study were presented with a pedagogical treatment on Spanish mood choice that included general theoretical concepts based on Gal'perin's (1969, 1992) didactic models and acts of verbalization, which form part of a Concept-Based pedagogical approach. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of the use of concept-based tools to promote the ability to use Spanish mood appropriately over time, a pre and post-test was administered to the group in which students were asked to respond to prompts containing modalities that elicit the indicative and subjunctive moods, indicate their level of confidence in their response, and verbalize in writing a reason for their choice. The development of these abilities in learners exposed to CBI was assessed by comparing pre and post-test scores examining both forms and explanations for the indicative and subjunctive modality prompts given. Results showed that students continued to rely on Rule-of-Thumb explanations of mood choice but they did expand their use of conceptually-based reasoning. Although the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the results indicate that most students did improve their ability to make appropriate mood choices (forms and explanations) after the CBI treatment, the increased use of conceptually-based explanations for their mood choices led to both correct and incorrect responses. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Applied Linguistics 2013

Previous literature has shown how mood influences persuasion. The aim of this study is to investigate how the persuasion and elaboration of strong and weak arguments are increased or decreased by positive and negative moods, that will be induced through distinct video selections. Participants will be asked to watch a video that incorporates specific music and dancing to induce a positive or negative mood. This study is a 2 mood induction (positive vs. negative) X 2 argument strength (strong vs. weak) design. The results of the two-way ANOVA will show that elaboration is suspected to decrease when one is in a positive mood, but increase in a negative mood. Strong arguments are expected to be more persuasive than weak arguments. Mood and dance will successfully induce positive and negative mood. Mood and argument strength will influence persuasion and elaboration. Implications for this study are expected to further research on how to use music and dance in persuasive appeals, and how mood plays a role in emotional decision-making, especially within advertisements.

The research programme had three principal objectives. First, the evaluation and extension of the extant conceptual framework pertaining to motivational music in exercise settings. Second, the development of a valid instrument for assessing the motivational qualities of music: The Brunel Music Rating Inventory-2 (BMRI-2). Third, to test the effects of motivational and oudeterous (lacking in both motivational and de-motivational qualities) music in an externally-valid setting. These objectives were addressed through 4 studies. First, a series of open-ended interviews were conducted with exercise leaders and participants (N = 13), in order to investigate the characteristics and effects of motivational music in the exercise setting. The data were content analysed to abstract thematic categories of response. These categories were subsequently evaluated in the context of relevant conceptual frameworks. Subsequently, a sample of 532 health-club members responded to a questionnaire that was designed to assess the perceived characteristics of motivational music. The responses were analysed across age groups, gender, frequency of attendance (low, medium, high), and time of attendance (morning, afternoon, evening). The BMRI-2 was developed in order to address psychometric weaknesses that were associated with its forbear, the BMRI. A refined item pool was created which yielded an 8-item instrument that was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. A single-factor model demonstrated acceptable fit indices across three different pieces of music, two samples of exercise participants, and both sexes. The BMRI-2 was used to select 20 pieces of motivational music, which were delivered in a health club gymnasium. It was found that health club members (N = 112) exercised for longer under the condition of motivational music as opposed to oudeterous music (the club’s typical output); however, no differences were noted in terms of affective response. (Jun 2004)

Abstract Depression is a common consequence of stroke and it is known to be associated with deterioration of quality of life. However, only limited information is available on the relationships between depression and communicative and cognitive disorders. Moreover, the present knowledge of the determinants of the domains of quality of life is limited, and little is known of e.g. the changes in sexual behaviour of stroke patients and their spouses. This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of post-stroke depression and aphasia and to study their interrelationships and neuropsychological and functional correlates. The particular aim of the study was to investigate the domain-specific quality of life, and to assess its clinical and sociodemographic correlates, and to study the impact of stroke on the sexual functions of stroke patients and their spouses. The study consisted of 156 first-ever stroke patients. Depression was diagnosed in 53% of the patients at 3 months and in 42% of the patients at 12 months post-stroke according to DSM-III-R-criteria. One third of the patients were aphasic, 70% of them at 3 months and 62% at 12 months after stroke suffering from depression. Among the aphasic patients the prevalence of major depression increased from 11% to 33% during the 12 months follow-up. There was an association between post-stroke depression and cognitive impairment, the domains most likely to be defective being memory, non-verbal problem solving, and attention and psychomotor speed. The non-verbal neuropsychological test performance in the aphasic patients was significantly inferior to that of the patients with dominant hemisphere lesion without aphasia. The quality of life of the patients was low at 3 months after the stroke, and it did not improve during the follow-up of a year. The test domains most often impaired were Physical functioning, Physical role limitations, Vitality and General health. Depression, although mostly minor, and being married emerged as significant independent contributors to low score value of Vitality and Physical role limitations. All the analyzed aspects of sexuality were commonly decreased as a consequence of stroke both in the patients and their spouses. Nocturnal erections were impaired in 21 (55%) of the male patients. The present results demonstrate that more than half of the patients after stroke suffer from depression and the frequency of major depression seems to increase over time, especially among the aphasic patients. Both depression and aphasia increase the liability of cognitive deficits. Stroke affects various dimensions of quality of life extensively, and the most important determinants entailing low quality of life seem to be depression, and, interestingly, being married. As a part of quality of life, sexual function and satisfaction with sexual life are impaired both in stroke patients and spouses. These findings call for multidimensional evaluation of stroke patients and provide new challenges for stroke rehabilitation.

No description available.

This thesis explores the role of mood in adherence to changes in behaviour required for weight maintenance following weight loss in an obese sample. Significant increases in physical activity are necessary for successful weight maintenance, yet this change in lifestyle remains challenging for many. Anecdotally, the importance of being in the 'right mood' to make lifestyle changes is frequently reported. A systematic review of the weight maintenance literature revealed that a number of behaviour change techniques were associated with effective weight maintenance interventions. Therefore, the current randomised control study employed relevant behaviour change techniques within two goal setting interventions to improve either daily steps walked or mood compared to a control group in a weight loss programme cohort. The number of daily steps walked and mood were evaluated and the following questions were addressed: 1) In an obese population enrolled in a weight loss programme, do goal-setting interventions increase the number of steps walked compared to those in a control group? 2) Does the mood score differ for those participants in the mood improvement intervention group compared to those in the steps-walked intervention or control groups? 3) Does weight change differ for those individuals who have shown mood improvement compared to those whose mood is unchanged/worsened? The primary outcomes of steps walked, mood and weight were recorded immediately after intervention and again after unsupervised follow up 6-months later. The results showed that all groups increased the number of steps walked but not significantly so. This increase was greatest for the steps-walked group during the active intervention period but greatest for the mood intervention group during the unsupervised follow-up period. Mood improved significantly for all groups and was associated with significantly increased weight loss at follow-up. A trend for increased steps walked being associated with improved mood was observed in the 6-month follow up period. These findings highlight the links between mood and continued participation in lifestyle behaviour changes required for weight maintenance. Future research priorities are outlined for this field.

Class of 2009 Abstract / Objectives: This study utilized a prescription claims database to retrospectively assess the relationship between adherence rates with a mood stabilizer in bipolar type I patients for: gender, age, psychiatric hospitalization rates, cost of services, and concomitant psychotropic medications. Methods: Adult patients with bipolar type I disorder (N=149; F=92 and M=57) who received at least two prescriptions of a mood stabilizer (i.e., carbamazepine, lamotrigine, lithium, oxcarbazepine, and valproic acid) during a 3-month intake period were included. Adherence to the mood stabilizer was retrospectively analyzed using high: >75% (> 274 days) vs. low: < 75% (< 274 days) supply of a mood stabilizer during 12-months. Results: Only 35.6% of the patients (N=53) met the criteria for > 75% adherence and 11.4% (N=17) met the criteria for > 90% adherence. There was a trend toward women having more days supply of a mood stabilizer compared to men (p=0.08) and older patients having a higher adherence rate with a mood stabilizer (p=0.06). The high adherence group had greater prescription costs (p<0.001) and total cost per year (R2=0.34, p=0.064) and more concomitant medications (p=0.04) than the low adherence group. Overall, there were no significant differences between the high and low adherence groups for mean hospital days, inpatient costs, and total cost of care. Among those patients that were hospitalized there was a negative correlation between adherence and inpatient cost (R2=0.49, p=0.024). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that patients with bipolar type I disorder demonstrate poor medication adherence with a mood stabilizer and that adherence rates based on a prescription claims database using two adherence categories may not be a predictive factor for psychiatric hospitalizations or cost of care.