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It is proposed that the nature of the self or, more correctly, the "selves" predisposes some individuals to depression in the face of aversive life events. Theorists characterize the complexity of this multifaceted self according to two structural features, i.e., differentiation and integration. Differentiation, first discussed by James Bieri, was evaluated empirically by Linville (e.g., 1982) for its relationship to depressive symptomatology. Differentiation refers to the number of relatively independent elements within the self-structure. Integration reflects the hierarchical interrelationships among those elements. / A recently-developed statistical procedure, the Hierarchical Classes Model (HICLAS; De Boeck & Rosenberg, 1988), was employed to provide measures of the complexities of each subject's self-structure. Consonant with more sophisticated theoretical discourse on the "self", the HICLAS analysis provides more refined representation of the multidimensionality of the self than is available from other statistical methods. / This two-month prospective investigation employed non-clinical female subjects to investigate the role of self-complexity, derived from the HICLAS paradigm, as a vulnerability factor in subsequent dysphoria. Partialling out initial dysphoria, individuals with a less differentiated self-structure reported significantly more depressive symptoms under conditions of increasingly unpleasant life events. Under conditions of greatest unpleasantness, differentiation was strongly negatively associated with depressive symptoms, supporting Linville's "buffering hypothesis". Results for integration measures were similar but less robust. / Interestingly, under conditions of fewest unpleasant events, there was a reliable and positive relationship between differentiation and dysphoria. As Markus and colleagues have remarked, it is important to begin to evaluate the conditions under which a highly "complex" self-structure may serve as a vulnerability rather than an invulnerability to depression. / Questions are also raised in regard to the role of affect within the self-structure, the importance of self-discrepancies (e.g., actual/ideal), conceptual refinement of "integration", the relative contributions of differentiation and integration to a complex system, and the utility of measuring the selves within their phenomenological context (i.e., self-with-other). / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-09, Section: B, page: 4916. / Major Professor: Jack E. Hokanson. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The potential negative impact of cognitive impairment on the treatment of recently detoxified alcoholic inpatients has received increasing research attention. The usefulness of the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE) (Kiernan, Mueller, Langston, & VanDyke, 1987) for cognitive assessment of alcohol dependent inpatients was investigated. The NCSE, a brief test that uses a differentiated approach to assess various aspects of cognitive functioning, was developed to overcome weaknesses of other brief instruments. Characteristics of the NCSE, and research conducted to date on its effectiveness, are discussed. / Subjects were 120 alcohol dependent adults admitted to an inpatient substance abuse treatment program at a Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. The sample was comprised of 111 males and 9 females, from 23 to 72 years old, with 6 to 19 years of education, and a mean Full Scale IQ of 93.6. Canonical correlation analysis was used to compare subjects' NCSE test results to results from an assessment battery of more traditional cognitive tests. Two additional canonical correlation analyses analyzed the relationship of other variables to NCSE performance including: age; years of education; Full Scale IQ; length of abstinence; severity of addiction; and alcohol abuse only vs. polysubstance abuse. / A significant canonical correlation was found between the NCSE and an assessment battery comprised of the Denman Paired Associate Learning Test, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test $(R=.70,\ F(32,399)=3.23,\ p<.001).$ A significant canonical correlation was also found between Full Scale IQ, age, and NCSE performance $(R=.72,\ F(24,316)=4.91,\ p<.001),$ while years of education did not significantly correlate with NCSE results. Severity of addiction, length of abstinence, and use of alcohol alone vs. with other substances were not significantly correlated with NCSE performance. Two ancillary Chi-Square analyses did not find significant relationships between NCSE performance and either a diagnosis of Depression or prescribed psychotropic medication at the time of testing. / Recommendations for using the NCSE to assess alcohol dependent inpatients are made, in addition to suggestions for adjusting treatment programs for cognitively impaired individuals. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-02, Section: B, page: 1448. / Major Professor: Charles H. Madsen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

The purpose of this research was to fill a gap in childhood psychological assessment, namely, the lack of a comprehensive, self-report, childhood stress instrument. The Stress Inventory for Children (STRICH) was designed to fill that gap by measuring the quality and intensity of children's stress associated with coping skills, school, family issues, social supports, and physical well-being. No psychological instrument existed which assessed the dimensions of stress specific to those on the STRICH for the targeted age group (ages 8-14). Items were derived by deductive categorization of stress-related research literature and, as a result, 76 items measuring childhood stress were written for the categories identified. Factor analyses were conducted to test the orthogonality of seven proposed factors. Sixty-three items were maintained after weak items, based on empirical analyses, were discarded. An adequate measure of reliability was obtained on the STRICH (r =.73). The issue of validity was resolved by correlating the STRICH to the Stress Response Scale, an established instrument measuring children's behavioral responses to stressors. The two scales correlated significantly (r =.48, p $<$.01) providing evidence that the two scales were measuring similar constructs. Additionally, normative data was generated for racial/cultural, age, grade, and gender classifications. Based on the empirical findings, it may be stated that the STRICH is a comprehensive, reliable, and valid, childhood stress measure. Further, psychologists can now isolate the qualities and intensity of childhood stress factors and, consequently, be better equipped to remediate stress difficulties and ensure the psychological well-being of children. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-08, Section: B, page: 4635. / Major Professor: Stephen A. Rollin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

The psychometric properties of the computer-administered form of the Generalized Contentment Scale (GCS), a rapid assessment instrument designed to measure non-psychotic depression, were evaluated following a single administration (Study 1) and following multiple administrations (Study 2). Subjects came from clinic (n = 41) and nonclinic (n = 80) samples. / Study 1 involved evaluating the reliability and validity of the GCS. Included in the evaluation was estimation of the conditional standard error of measurement utilizing a new technique. Study 2 involved determining whether there was evidence that multiple administration of the GCS resulted in loss of accuracy of the instrument. / Additionally, individuals in the clinic sample were surveyed as to their attitudes toward use of computer-administered scales in general and the computer-administered GCS in particular. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-01, Section: A, page: 0299. / Major Professor: Dianne Harrison Montgomery. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.

This study compared two major research strategies which have been used to classify assaultive criminal offenders as overcontrolled: (1) MMPI Overcontrolled-Hostility (O-H) scale scores and case history information; and, (2) statistical cluster analyses of MMPI profiles. The two procedures have been presumed to be assessing the same construct (i.e., overcontrolled hostility), although the reliability of the two procedures had not been assessed. A central question was whether subjects would be similarly classified as overcontrolled (OC) by both methods. / The subjects were 128 violent mentally disordered male offenders. Case history and O-H score, alone and together, and cluster analysis of MMPI clinical scales (non K-corrected) were used to classify subjects. The study tested six hypotheses aimed at determining whether an identifiable Controlled cluster would emerge, whether there was agreement or convergence between clinical classification as Overcontrolled and cluster analytic classification as Controlled, and whether there was a predicted association between O-H scores and Controlled cluster membership. These hypotheses were also tested using the revised and re-standardized MMPI-2 and the modified O-H scale, which were estimated from MMPI responses. / The hypotheses were supported using both the MMPI and the estimated MMPI-2. It was suggested that the two classification methods were similar but not identical in terms of the classification decisions they yielded and that the Controlled cluster is composed of both normal and Overcontrolled persons whereas the group classified based on O-H and case history as Overcontrolled is more homogeneous. Implications for assessment, treatment, and future research were discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-08, Section: B, page: 4485. / Major Professor: Edwin I. Megargee. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

Level of functioning (LOF) has increasingly become a critical issue within the mental health field. Policy makers use LOF to compare costs and benefits, mental health care organizations use LOF to track client progress and evaluate new treatments, and agencies use LOF to evaluate individuals who are seeking services. Clients with serious mental illness (SMI) are an extremely heterogeneous group in terms of presentation, characteristics, and needs; however a great deal of uniformity exists in their high level of service utilization. This study examines the reliability and validity of a structured clinical interview designed to assess level of functioning in SMI populations. The interview is designed to assess experiences along six dimensions: interpersonal relationships, family living situation, socio-legal issues, medical/physical functioning, role performance, and self care/basic needs. Each scale consists of related questions and problem severity ratings that aid in the assignment of a functional score for each of the six subscales. A random sample of 355 assessments were drawn from a larger sample of interviews conducted with SMI clients in Southern Arizona. Three key relationships among the scale's components were investigated: (1) questions to problem severity ratings, (2) questions to functional scores and, (3) problem severity ratings to functional scores. Results of correlation analyses and confirmatory factor analysis provided evidence of internal consistency reliability and both convergent and discriminant validity for the structured interview.

The construct of craving is frequently invoked as a causal factor in on going substance use or in relapse after a period of abstinence. The aim of the present study is to develop a general self-report questionnaire of craving that can be used to assess craving at any point in addiction and recovery. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase of the study a sample of 23 addicts were interviewed about their subjective experience of craving. The purpose of this phase of the study was to develop a theory of the subjective experience of craving that could be used to guide the development of the self-report questionnaire. Analysis of the text of these interviews revealed nine dimensions of the subjective experience of craving: specificity, strength, positive outcomes, behavioral intention, physical symptoms, affect, internal cues, situations, and drug availability. The first six dimensions were hypothesized to load on a general craving factor, and the last three dimensions were hypothesized to load on a cue reactivity factor. Questionnaire items were generated to broadly sample each of these dimensions. In the second phase the questionnaire was administered to a heterogenous sample of 205 addicts. Confirmatory factor analytic procedures were used to assess the present theory of craving and the psychometric properties of the instrument. The two factor model of craving fit the data well based on practical fit indices (Robust CFI =.95) and the discriminant validity of the two factors was supported. These analyses supported the theory of craving underlying the development of the questionnaire and indicated that the questionnaire has acceptable psychometric properties. The theoretical, psychometric, and clinical implications of the results are discussed.

In this dissertation we explore signal detection with model and human observers in the setting of nuclear medicine. Regarding the model observer, the main focus is on the linear observer that maximizes detectability, which we call the Hotelling observer. In particular, we outline two methods for realizing an estimate of this observer. The first uses a Fourier representation. The second uses a representation with a small number of channels chosen for optimal performance. The work employs statistically defined lumpy backgrounds to test the methods and results. These backgrounds are more complicated than correlated Gaussian noise and are meant to complicate the signal-detection task by involving random structure. Regarding the human observer, we present a literature review of psychophysical models, including results based on these models. We then examine one current front runner--a channelized-Hotelling observer with channels modeling visual-response functions---for two experiments involving the lumpy backgrounds.

<p> Military children are often unspoken or underrepresented casualties of modern day wars. The purpose of this study was to develop a method of empirically measuring civilian mental health professionals' perceived knowledge of the culture of the United States Army. The rational-empirical approach was used during instrument development. The study was divided into three phases: item generation, Army expert panel review, and a pilot study with mental health professionals. Ten experts provided quantitative and qualitative data to inform scale item revisions prior to the pilot study. A revised version of the scale was administered to 97 professionals. Three separate versions of the scale were tested throughout the course of the study. </p><p> Principal component analysis with varimax rotation extracted three factors (Army Knowledge, Army Family Processes, and Adaptability of Army Families) explaining 70.96% of the total scale variance. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.98 and the factor loadings ranged from .42 to .84. These findings show the presence of a strong factor structure. Face and content validity was established via the expert panel. The final result was a 30-item, self-report scale that measures the perceived knowledge of Army culture of mental health professionals in a variety of settings. The SACS-Charlie version reflects an initial attempt to measure the most potent knowledge that mental health professionals need to know in order to provide effective and appropriate services for Army children and families. Subsequent studies can further address this goal.</p>