<p> Adolescence represents a key developmental period when the interplay between temperament and parenting may be most apparent and has implications for adolescents' adjustment. The current study utilized a cross-lagged, biometric model to explore the reciprocal relationship between Adolescent Negative Emotionality and Parental Negativity across adolescence. Analyses examined stability and change in Adolescents' Negative Emotionality and Parental Negativity over a three year period, as well as the impact of each construct on each other over time. To gain further understanding of the mechanisms that underlie links between temperament and parenting, genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change in each construct were also examined. </p><p> This study focused on a subset of the families within the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD) project (N=395) who were assessed twice, 3 years apart. This sample included 5 sibling pair types that resided in nondivorced or stepfamilies: Monozygotic (N=63) and Dizygotic (N=75) twin pairs, and Full Sibling (N=153), Half Sibling (N=60 pairs), and Unrelated Sibling (N=44) pairs. </p><p> Overall findings for mothers and fathers indicated that: (1) there is moderate stability in Negative Emotionality and Parental Negativity over time, (2) Negative Emotionality and Parental Negativity influence each other over time; and (3) genetic and environmental factors account for variance in Negative Emotionality and Parental Negativity within each age examined, and contribute to stability and change. These findings support the presence of bidirectional effects between Parental Negativity and Adolescent Negative Emotionality, and underscore the importance of the parent-child relationship during adolescence.</p>

<p> The current study examined archival-data collected prior to and following subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) to ascertain cognitive effects. Memory, a cognitive domain potentially impacted by STN DBS, is an area of continued interest and documenting its effects following DBS surgery using the California Verbal Learning Test second edition (CVLT-II) has practical value. The CVLT-II was administered as part of a neuropsychological assessment and the CVLT-II data was assessed in terms of pre-post memory function for DBS patients. Qualitative data attained from an interview with participants at a Midwest outpatient hospital prior to and following surgery was analyzed to gain insight in relation to the individuals lived experience of long-term health, wellness, and quality of life. The quantitative data analysis revealed there was no difference between participant's pre-DBS CVLT-II memory scores and post-DBS CVLT-II memory scores. The qualitative data analysis based on the five interviews conducted with individuals diagnosed with PD and their experience prior to and following STN DBS surgery revealed three central themes with several subcomponents to each. These themes encompassed (a) Impact of the disease with subcomponents of dealing with the disease and unpredictability's impact on social interactions, (b) Individual experiences of PD with subcomponents of emotions including fear, hope and humor, loss of independence and regaining normality, and sense of self, and (c) Lived Experience post DBS with subcomponents of medication changes, sleep, regaining lost abilities, surprises and disappointments, and future possibilities and advice for PD patients.</p>

<p> The concept, countertransference, has followed the history of transference, being first thought to be an obstacle, then a necessary nuisance, and finally, a potential source of great therapeutic gain. During this history, the related concepts of empathy, attunement, and mutual regression have been studied and have shed some light on the experience of countertransference. However, due to the unconscious nature of these concepts, especially with regards to mutual regression, the psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theories have led to a fuller understanding of these dynamics and, ultimately, countertransference itself. Thus, the two-person psychology was born. From the two-person psychology perspective, the therapeutic dyad is conceptualized from six possible experiences: the client's experience of self, the client's experience of other (therapist), the client's experience of the relationship (client-therapist), the therapist's experience of self, the therapist's experience of other (client), and the therapist's experience of the relationship (client-therapist). </p><p> This study proposed, sought, and found ample evidence for the proposition that countertransference, and its related dynamics, can be better understood and leveraged to contribute to an increase in therapeutic gains. Each of the validity judges agreed that countertransference is a dynamic underutilized by therapists. The intersubjective view had a more egalitarian approach than the object relational or modern analytical theorists posited, resulting in the intersubjective approach being less defined but more open with regards to conceptualizing the psychodynamics of their clients. All validity judges agreed that the knowledge a therapist has of his or her countertransference includes not only an intellectual awareness but an emotional awareness and a physical/somatic awareness as well. In addition to this, each of the validity judges believed that the awareness of countertransference alone is useless without the therapist's ability to make skillful use of this awareness in a way that is effective for the client.</p>

<p> Carl Jung suggested yearning is the psychological condition of all people. For what do we yearn? What are the resources we bring to bear on yearning? Can yearning be progressive and creative? The purposes of this dissertation are: (a) to explore Jung's perspectives on <i>yearning;</i> (b) to relate these perspectives to his views on regressive and repressive defensiveness as opposed to progressive <i>creativity;</i> (c) to compare and integrate these perspectives with the findings of <i>contemporary</i> psychologists who study creativity, particularly as they relate to <i> eminent</i> and <i>everyday</i> creativity; and (d) to illustrate the integrated perspectives as they manifest in examples of eminent and everyday creativity, focusing on two of the most important subjects Jung explores: the <i>visual image</i> (representing eminent creativity through photography), and <i>sexuality</i> (representing everyday creativity through sex therapy). </p><p> This dissertation is qualitative including hermeneutic, phenomenological, and composite case study approaches. Investigations into Jung's and contemporary psychologists' perspectives on creative yearning are archival and database. Eminent photography is examined through interviews, anecdotes, observation, archival research and operationalization through visual images and words. Everyday sexuality is explored through observation of sex therapy clients together with database research. </p><p> The results emphasize the transformative and meaningful power of authentically creative yearning as Jung and contemporary psychologists present it. According to Jung, Jung differed from Freud by suggesting that while we desire regressive homecoming to the unconscious, archetypal Mother-Limerence, and while we long for repressive mastery through conscious, archetypal Father-Liveliness, that for which we ultimately yearn is original, resonant integration of both these energies in forms that assume what Jung defines as authentically creative, Self-Liberating meta-consciousness and purposiveness. </p><p> The discussion suggests the power of eminent photographs and everyday sexuality to represent yearning for: Mother-Limerence through <i> visionary</i> blending of visual dimensions, and through <i>erotic </i> tactile focus, respectively; archetypal Father-Liveliness via laws of <i>aesthetic</i> visual organization, and via <i>logotic </i> sensual knowledge, respectively; and, ultimately, Self-Liberation through the integrative <i>STROBEnBLUR</i> in photography and <i> Sensate Focus</i> in sex therapy. For Jung, authentic creativity is yearning for the felt oneness borne of differentiation, namely, immortality.</p>

<p> Psychological research on forgiveness has become increasingly prevalent over the past several years. However, there remain significant gaps in the theory guiding this research. This dissertation developed and tested a comprehensive model of the state forgiveness process across two studies. The first study used a constructivist grounded theory approach to discover the major themes in the forgiveness process. Thirteen interviewees discussed recent experiences of having been wronged by someone. From these interviews seven major categories emerged: history, the event, immediate aftermath, festering, fading, apology, and letting go and moving on. The second study tested the validity and usefulness of the model using questionnaire data from 185 university students. The hypotheses in the second study fell under two aims: identifying significant predictors of state forgiveness and identifying important life outcomes predicted by forgiveness. All hypotheses, with the exception of one, regarding main effects were fully or partially supported; however, those involving interaction effects were not supported. Modifications were made to the proposed model based on results from both studies within the context of past findings in the forgiveness literature. Overall, the model performed well under scrutiny and proved useful in guiding hypothesis development and results interpretation. Implications and limitations of the present findings are discussed in detail as well as directions for future research.</p>

Biopsychosocial conceptualizations highlight the role of cognitive factors in the experience of chronic pain. Emerging research suggests that injustice-related appraisals contribute to more adverse chronic pain outcomes. At present, however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship between perceived injustice and pain outcomes or how perceived injustice might be managed in the clinical setting. Therefore, this thesis aims to extend previous research by elucidating the processes by which perceived injustice influences pain outcomes and to provide an empirical basis to guide the clinical management of perceived injustice. Study 1 examines anger intensity and regulation style as mechanisms underlying the relationship between perceived injustice and chronic pain outcomes. This cross-sectional study reports on a sample of 173 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who completed self-report measures of perceived injustice, anger intensity and regulation style, pain intensity, disability, and depressive symptoms. The results of mediation analyses indicated that anger variables differentially explained the relationships between perceived injustice and pain outcomes. The implications of these findings for clinical intervention are addressed. Study 2 investigates the synergistic influence of perceived injustice and pain intensity on depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional study reports on a sample of 107 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who completed self-report measures of pain intensity, perceived injustice, and depressive symptoms. As predicted, pain intensity predicted depressive symptoms only for patients with elevated levels of perceived injustice. Therefore, interventions for depressive symptoms may be optimized by the identification of patients with elevated levels of both pain and perceived injustice and subsequent matching of these patients with injustice-targeting interventions. The final study identifies a clinical cut off score on the Injustice Experiences Questionnaire (IEQ) to facilitate the identification of patients with elevated levels of perceived injustice in the clinical setting. This prospective study reports on a sample of 103 patients with persistent pain following whiplash injury. Patients completed the IEQ prior to and immediately following a 7-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Patients reported on their employment status, pain intensity, and narcotic use one year following completion of treatment. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analyses were used to identify optimal cut off scores on the IEQ in relation to patients' work status, pain intensity, and narcotic use at the one-year follow-up. The results serve to inform the identification of patients with problematic injustice perceptions who might require targeted intervention. Considered together, the results of studies 1 through 3 extend previous research by examining the processes underlying the detrimental impact of perceived injustice, specifying the nature of the interacting influence of perceived injustice and pain on adjustment, and providing an empirical basis upon which clinicians might identify at-risk patients. The General Discussion presents a developing theoretical model of perceived injustice in chronic pain. The Discussion concludes with an examination of the implications of this model for clinical practice. / Des nouvelles recherches suggèrent que des perceptions d'injustice contribuent aux conséquences indésirables de la douleur chronique. Cependant plus de recherches sont requises pour découvrir les mécanismes qui expliquent la relation entre les perceptions de l'injustice et la douleur. En outre, des recherches sont nécessaires pour déterminer, plus précisément, comment des perceptions d'injustices peuvent être adressées dans un milieu clinique. Par conséquent, la présente thèse vise à développer les recherches précédentes pour éclaircir les processus par lesquels les perceptions d'injustice influencent l'expérience de la douleur chronique. De plus, l'objectif de cette thèse est de fournir une base empirique qui pourrait informer le traitement de la douleur dans les milieux cliniques. La première étude a pour but d'examiner si l'intensité de colère et la manière de régulation peuvent mieux expliquer (en tant que mécanismes) la relation entre la perception d'injustice et les conséquences de la douleur chronique. Cette étude emploi un échantillon de 173 patients atteints avec de la douleur musculo-squelettique. Ces patients ont complété des questionnaires portant sur leurs perceptions d'injustice, l'intensité et la régulation de leur colère, l'intensité de leur douleur, leur niveau d'incapacité et finalement leurs symptômes dépressifs. Les résultats indiquent que les variables liés à la colère expliquent la relation entre les perceptions d'injustice et les conséquences de la douleur. Les implications suggérées par ces résultats envers des interventions cliniques, seront également discutées. La deuxième étude examine l'influence combinée des perceptions d'injustice et l'intensité de douleur sur les symptômes dépressifs. Cette étude emploi un échantillon de 107 patients atteints avec de la douleur musculo-squelettique. Ces patients ont complété des questionnaires portant sur l'intensité de leur douleur, leurs perceptions d'injustice, et leurs symptômes dépressifs. Comme prévu, l'intensité de douleur prédit le nombre de symptômes dépressifs, seulement pour les patients avec un haut niveau de perceptions d'injustice. Par conséquent, les traitements visant a diminuer des symptômes dépressifs pourraient être améliorer en identifiant ces patients atteints de douleur et qui ont, en même temps, des perceptions d'injustice élevés. Des interventions conçues spécifiquement pour adresser des perceptions d'injustice pourront donc, être plus efficaces pour ces types de patients. La dernière étude vise à identifier le score, généré par le questionnaire 'Injustice Experiences Questionnaire', qui représente un niveau de perception d'injustice qui est cliniquement significatif. Cette étude prospective emploi un échantillon de 103 patients souffrant de douleur persistante suite a un coup de fouet cervical. Ces patients on complété l'IEQ avant et immédiatement après un programme de réadaptation. Un an après la fin du traitement, les patients ont décrit leur statut d'emploi, l'intensité de leur douleur, et si des narcotiques ont été utilisé. Des analyses de courbe ROC ont été utilisées pour déterminer les scores optimaux par rapport au statut d'emploi, l'intensité de douleur et l'usage de narcotiques, au suivi un an après. Ces résultats pourront être utilisés pour améliorer la détection de patients avec des perceptions d'injustice qui sont problématiques et qui pourraient avoir besoin d'un traitement plus spécifique. Les résultats de ces études, ensembles, ont développé plus profondément les recherches précédentes en examinant la manière dont des perceptions d'injustice influencent négativement l'expérience de la douleur. En se basant sur les résultats présentés, la discussion générale propose un model théorique qui intègre les perceptions d'injustice dans l'expérience de douleur chronique. La discussion se conclut avec une explication des implications que ce type de model théorique aurait dans un milieu clinique.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BP) are debilitating mood disorders that are associated with both long-term economic costs and functional impairment. Impulsivity has been implicated in mood disorders, and primarily in BP. Impulsivity is strongly associated with aggression, risk of suicidal behaviour, and overall functional impairment in mood disorders. Studies have found that BP individuals have significantly higher levels of impulsivity than controls, although fewer studies have examined the specific link between impulsivity and BP compared to MDD. Furthermore, there has been very little research pertaining to the differentiation between levels of impulsivity in BP subtypes, including bipolar type I (BPI) and bipolar type II (BPII). As well, impulsivity has been linked with other psychiatric comorbidities, including anxiety disorders as well as substance use disorders (SUDs). However, the role of impulsivity in mood disorders with anxiety disorder or SUD comorbidity has not been established. Objectives: There are two objectives for this study. The first objective is to compare a) MDD and BP subjects and b) MDD, BPI, and BPII subjects on impulsivity, specifically total impulsivity as well as each of the three dimensions of impulsivity: attentional impulsivity, motor impulsivity, and nonplanning impulsivity. The second objective is to examine if comorbid lifetime (a) anxiety disorders or (b) SUDs modify the association between mood disorder (BP and MDD) and impulsivity, specifically total impulsivity as well as each of the three dimensions of impulsivity. Methods: 115 euthymic outpatients with a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of MDD (N=45), BPI (N=53), or BPII (N=17) from the Mood Disorders Program of the McGill University Health Centre were recruited. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) was conducted to diagnose psychiatric disorders. Impulsivity was measured using the self-report questionnaire - Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) - which assesses three dimensions of impulsivity: attentional, motor, and nonplanning impulsivity. A medical chart review was conducted to obtain socio-demographic and psychiatric disorder information. Results: BP subjects had significantly higher total impulsivity as well as motor and nonplanning impulsivity compared to MDD subjects. With regards to specific BP subtypes, BPI subjects had significantly higher total impulsivity and motor impulsivity than MDD subjects, and BPII subjects had significantly higher total impulsivity, as well as attentional, motor, and nonplanning impulsivity than MDD subjects. Finally, BPII subjects had significantly higher attentional impulsivity than BPI subjects. With regards to lifetime psychiatric comorbidity, mood disorder subjects with anxiety disorders had higher levels of attentional impulsivity. For lifetime SUD diagnosis, SUD comorbidity was associated with higher levels of total impulsivity as well as motor and nonplanning impulsivity in mood disorder subjects. There was no interaction between anxiety or SUD comorbidity and mood diagnosis on total or dimensional impulsivity. Conclusions: Impulsivity is an important factor in the clinical presentation of mood disorders. Our results emphasize the importance of impulsivity primarily in BP, as well as impulsivity in BP individuals with a comorbid anxiety disorder or SUD. Further research measuring impulsivity in BP subtypes with different psychiatric comorbidities (e.g., anxiety disorders, SUDs) would help guide health professionals and clinicians in the assessment of impulsivity and the treatment of impulsive aggression, suicidal behaviours, and other clinical correlates of impulsivity in BP subjects. / Contexte: Le trouble dépressif majeur (TDM) et le trouble bipolaire (TB) sont des troubles de l'humeur qui sont associés aux coûts économiques à long terme et la détérioration fonctionnelle. L'impulsivité a été impliquée dans les troubles de l'humeur, principalement dans TB. L'impulsivité est associée à l'agression, le risque de comportement suicidaire, et la détérioration fonctionnelle globale chez les personnes avec un trouble de l'humeur. Des études ont montré que les individus avec le TB ont des niveaux d'impulsivité plus élevés que les témoins, bien que peu d'études aient examiné le lien spécifique entre l'impulsivité et TB contre TDM. En outre, il y a eu peu de recherche relatif à la différenciation entre les niveaux d'impulsivité dans les sous-types TB, y compris le trouble bipolaire de type I (TB-I) et le trouble bipolaire de type II (TB-II). Aussi, l'impulsivité a été liée à d'autres comorbidités psychiatriques, dont les troubles anxieux ainsi que les troubles de toxicomanie. Cependant, le rôle de l'impulsivité chez les personnes avec un trouble de l'humeur et un trouble anxieux ou un trouble de toxicomanie comorbide n'a pas été établi.Objectifs: Il y a deux objectifs pour cette étude. Le premier est de comparer a) TDM et TB sujets et b) TDM, TB-I, et TB-II sur l'impulsivité, spécifiquement l'impulsivité total et les trois dimensions de l'impulsivité: cognitive, motrice, et non-planification. Le deuxième objectif est d'examiner si les troubles anxieux et de toxicomanie, modifient la relation entre les troubles de l`humeur et l`impulsivité. Méthodes: 115 patients en consultation externe avec un diagnostic de TDM (N = 45), TB-I (N = 53), ou TB-II (N = 17) du Programme des troubles de l'humeur du Centre Universitaire de Santé McGill ont été recrutés. L'Entrevues Cliniques Structurées pour le DSM-IV ont été menées pour diagnostiquer les troubles psychiatriques. L'impulsivité a été mesurée à l'aide du questionnaire de l'Échelle d'Impulsivité de Barratt (BIS- 11), qui divise l'impulsivité totale en trois dimensions: cognitive, motrice, et non-planification. Un examen des dossiers médicaux a été réalisée pour obtenir plus d`informations sur les troubles psychiatriques. Résultats: L'impulsivité totale, l'impulsivité motrice, et l'impulsivité non-planification étaient plus élevées chez les sujets avec le TB par rapport aux sujets avec le TDM. Les sujets avec le TB-I avaient l`impulsivité totale et l'impulsivité motrice significativement plus élevées par comparaison avec les sujets avec le TDM, et les sujets avec le TB-II avaient l'impulsivité totale, cognitive, motrice, et non-planification significativement plus élevées par rapport aux sujets avec le TDM. Enfin, l'impulsivité cognitive était significativement plus élevée chez les sujets avec le TB-II par rapport aux sujets avec le TB-I. Les sujets avec le TB et un trouble anxieux avaient des niveaux d'impulsivité cognitive plus élevés par rapport aux sujets avec le TDM et un trouble anxieux. À propos des diagnostics de toxicomanie, avoir une comorbidité de toxicomanie est associée aux niveaux d'impulsivité totale, motrice, et non-planification plus élevées chez les sujets avec le TB par rapport aux sujets avec le TDM. Il n'y avait pas d'interaction entre les comorbidités et le diagnostic de trouble de l'humeur sur l'impulsivité. Conclusions: L'impulsivité est un facteur important dans la présentation clinique des troubles de l'humeur. Nos résultats soulignent l'importance de l'impulsivité chez les individus avec le TB ainsi que chez les individus avec le TB et un diagnostic comorbide. On a besoin de plus de recherche sur l'impulsivité chez les patients avec les sous-types TB avec des comorbidités psychiatriques pour aider les professionnels de la santé à bien évaluer l'impulsivité chez les sujets avec le TB et à bien traiter l'agressivité impulsive, des comportements suicidaires, et d'autres corrélats cliniques de l'impulsivité.

<p> The dissertation seeks to understand, from a depth psychological perspective, the individual and collective manifestations of anxiety that clients bring to therapy. Anxiety has often been misunderstood as a negative and/or pathological agent, and not has been honored as a potential hidden gift for personal transformation. </p><p> The dissertation explores the reasons why it is possible for transformation to occur out of a self-aware engagement with anxiety at the level of the psyche, as opposed to treating anxiety as merely a physiological and behavioral symptom. It uncovers the metaphors and archetypal dimensions of anxiety and how they precipitate a shift within the individual and collective psyche. </p><p> The findings suggest that anxiety is potentially an inherent impulse from the psyche that is activated during the process of individuation&mdash;i.e., the period of time that Self is emerging in order to be integrated with the more ego-oriented self. Anxiety as a movement towards change operates as the inner-Hermes or messenger drive of the psyche, which informs consciousness through discomfort and suffering with the hidden intention to break inner limitations, and move one forward towards individuation. </p><p> Along these lines, this research suggests that it is important for professional psychotherapists and their clients to understand that anxiety is in fact an essential part of the human condition&mdash;a part that, despite its negative connotations (and experiential manifestations), can also serve tremendously positive transformational functions. </p><p> The research approach is hermeneutic, characterized by holistic and archetypal as well as alchemical associations. The dissertation develops a depth psychological theory by weaving philosophical, psychological, archetypal, and alchemical concepts in order to create the necessary associations that would support the notion that anxiety is a response to the inner impulse of the psyche for individuation, and therefore a potentially positive agent in the transformational process that the psyche undergoes during individuation. </p><p> Keywords: archetype, alchemy, anxiety, Hermes, individuation, Mercurius, psyche.</p>

<p> Negative affect plays a critical role in nicotine dependence. Smokers report feeling that negative affect is a primary motivation to keep smoking. This study examined the relationship between individual differences in emotional experience, in particular emotional clarity and differentiation (individuals' ability to understand, describe, and differentiate between emotions), and smoking motivation. We hypothesized that emotional clarity would be related to affect, craving, and smoking satisfaction. A second goal was to test the ability of an emotional-labeling intervention to reduce negative affect and smoking motivation resulting from a negative emotion induction. We also tested whether emotional clarity moderated the effect of the negative affect manipulation upon smoking-related variables. We hypothesized that emotional clarity would moderate the effect of the emotional-labeling manipulation upon affect, craving, and smoking satisfaction. A correlational and two-group between-subjects design was used. Participants (170 participants; 86 males) first completed baseline measures, then received a mood induction (via video). They then were randomized to one of two conditions (emotion labeling and writing control). Results indicate that emotional clarity was related to affect, craving, and smoking satisfaction ratings, such as those higher on emotional clarity reported more positive affect, less cravings, and having experienced aversive effects after smoking. We found no effect of the emotional labeling task. Although we replicated findings from previous studies showing a relationship between emotional clarity and mood, this study is the first to establish such a relationship with craving for a cigarette and aspects of smoking satisfaction.</p>

<p> Obesity has become a global epidemic having serious negative health and psychological consequences for children and adolescents. The negative psychological and physiological consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity can continue into adulthood. Unfortunately, few studies have explored the effect of parental nutrition knowledge and the parent&mdash;pediatrician relationship with regard to the development and treatment of pediatric obesity. The purpose of this study was to assess parental nutrition knowledge and parental attitude toward their child's or adolescent's pediatrician. The specific objectives were to: (a) assess parental knowledge of nutrition, (b) assess parents' attitudes regarding their child's or adolescent's pediatrician, and (c) assess the correlation between parental nutrition knowledge and parental attitudes toward the pediatrician. </p>