Smoking and panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia: a review of the empirical literature

The empirical literature regarding panic-spectrum problems (i.e., panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia) and cigarette smoking is reviewed. In the first section of the paper, empirical studies that document the prevalence of smoking and panic-related problems are presented and discussed. In the second section of the paper, studies pertaining to the role cigarette smoking may play in the onset and maintenance of panic-related problems are critically reviewed. In the third section of the paper, studies related to the association between panic vulnerability factors and the nature of smoking behavior are presented. In the fourth section of the paper, specific areas not otherwise covered in the review are presented to stimulate further development in these areas (e.g., specialized treatment development).     

Emotional numbing in combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: A critical review and reformulation

Emotional numbing symptoms are considered in the clinical literature as cardinal signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have been formally codified in DSM-III-R. However, the term has not been consistently defined nor adequately researched. The present paper critically reviews the extant empirical and theoretical literature in combat-related PTSD that has explored emotional numbing symptoms. A theoretical framework, based on Levanthal's (1984) perceptual-motor theory of emotion, is posited to account for the parameters of emotional processing in PTSD, and specific hypotheses concerning selective or differential emotional processing deficits in PTSD are described in order to clarify empirical issues about the development and maintenance of emotional processing deficits in PTSD and to stimulate future research in this underexplored, yet clinically important area.     

A critical review of the empirical literature on coping and panic disorder

The present review critically examines the available empirical literature on coping and panic disorder (PD). As a basis for the review, key terms are defined and conceptual models are presented. The empirical literature on coping processes in relation to PD is then critically reviewed with a specific focus on methodology. For each section, primary conclusions are presented. In the final section, directions for future research are provided both in terms of methodological and conceptual issues.     

Psychological stress and antibody response to immunization: a critical review of the human literature

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the evidence for the hypothesis that psychological stress influences antibody response to immunization in humans. METHODS: A critical review of the literature was conducted. RESULTS: The evidence supports an association between psychological stress and suppression of humoral immune (antibody) response to immunization. This association is convincing in the case of secondary immune response but weak for primary response. The lack of consistent evidence for a relation with primary response may be attributed to a failure to consider the critical points when stress needs to be elevated in the course of the production of antibody. Lower secondary antibody responses were found among patients with chronically high levels of stress (severe enduring problems or high levels of trait negative affect). These responses were found most consistently among older adults. Lower secondary responses were also found for those reporting acute stress or negative affect, but only in studies of secretory immunoglobulin A antibody in which psychological and antibody measures were linked very closely in time. Health practices did not mediate relations between stress and antibody responses; however, there were indications that elevated cortisol levels among stressed patients could play a role. Evidence also suggests the possible influences of dispositional stress-reactivity and low positive affect in the inhibition of antibody production. CONCLUSIONS: The literature supports a relationship between psychological stress and antibody responses to immunizations. The data are convincing in the case of secondary response but weak for primary response. More attention to the kinetics of stress and antibody response and their interrelations is needed in future research.     

Religion and anxiety: a critical review of the literature

Religion's effects on mental health have been debated for years, yet only in the last half century have these theories been empirically tested. While a number of mental health constructs have been linked to religion, one of the most prevalent and debilitating mental health indices, anxiety, has been largely ignored. This paper categorizes and critically reviews the current literature on religion and general indices of anxiety in terms of findings linking decreased anxiety to religiosity, increased anxiety to religiosity, and those finding no relation between anxiety and religiosity. Results from 17 studies are described and synthesized. Conceptual and methodological weaknesses that potentially threaten the validity and generalizability of the findings are discussed. Finally, conclusions and directions for future research are provided.     

A critical review of the empirical literature on the relation between anxiety and puberty

The current paper critically reviews the empirical literature focused on the association between puberty and anxiety. A detailed review of more than 45 empirical articles is provided. There is some evidence that among girls, but not boys, a more advanced pubertal status (controlling for age) is associated with higher reported anxiety symptoms. Also among girls, earlier pubertal timing is linked to higher anxiety scores. It is unclear whether early puberty may lead to increased anxiety or if high anxiety influences pubertal timing. With respect to hormones, there were relatively few significant associations for girls, although this literature is very small. Among boys, several studies reported positive associations between both gonadal and adrenal hormones and anxiety. The direction of effect for these finding is also unstudied. The primary limitation of the hormone-anxiety literature pertains to the absence of pubertal measures in samples of youth in which hormones are measured. The paper concludes with a comprehensive examination of the methodological strengths and weaknesses of the literature and recommendations for future work.     

Information processing and PTSD: a review of the empirical literature

This article reviews a series of studies that have utilized information-processing paradigms with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) populations. The review suggests that pretrauma measures of intelligence (IQ) are predictive of the development of PTSD symptoms following trauma. There is also evidence of impaired performance on standardized tests of memory (independent of IQ) in PTSD populations. PTSD populations are found to exhibit deficits in memory function that may be due to hippocampus damage secondary to excessive neuroendocrine responses to conditioned stimuli. In addition, individuals with PTSD evince an attentional bias towards trauma-related stimuli at postrecognition stages of information processing. The review also includes that there is insufficient evidence to either support, or reject, the theoretical proposition that PTSD patients are sensitive to global valence effects at the earliest stages of information processing relative to traumatized non-PTSD populations. Finally, there is some evidence to suggest that the processes associated with autobiographical memory in PTSD populations are similar to those seen in depression. The implications of these findings for the behavioral and cognitive treatment of PTSD are discussed. Directions for future research with such paradigms are also discussed in light of contemporary information processing theories of PTSD.     

Dating violence: a critical review of the literature

The investigation of dating violence has previously been underrepresented in the interpersonal violence literature. Within the past 2 decades, however, researchers have significantly advanced our knowledge of the variables associated with dating violence. This critical article provides a comprehensive review of the current body of literature on dating aggression. Research on dating violence is presented, progressing from prevalence rates and types of violence to an exploration of victim and perpetrator characteristics. There is an emphasis on the necessity to establish a theoretical model of typology to allow investigation of the distinct subgroups of violent individuals. The deficits in the present body of literature are presented and include sampling methods, dependent measures, and data analyses. Finally, implications for future research and prevention are provided.     

Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with severe mental illness: a critical review

There is a great deal of research on the prevalence, correlates, and treatment of PTSD in the general population. However, we know very little about the manifestation and consequences of PTSD in more complicated patient populations. The purpose of the current paper is to provide a comprehensive review of PTSD within the context of severe mental illness (SMI; i.e., schizophrenia spectrum disorders, mood disorders). Extant data suggest that trauma and PTSD are highly prevalent among individuals with SMI relative to the general population, and both are associated with adverse clinical functioning and increased healthcare burden. However, trauma and PTSD remain overlooked in this population, with low recognition rates in public-sector settings. Additionally, there are few data on the clinical course and treatment of PTSD among individuals with SMI. Particularly lacking are longitudinal studies, randomized controlled treatment trials, and studies using ethno-racially diverse samples. Furthermore, there is a need to better understand the interplay between trauma, PTSD, and severe forms of mental illness and to further develop and disseminate evidence-based PTSD treatments in this population. The current state of the literature and future directions for practice are discussed.     

Anger expression in children and adolescents: a review of the empirical literature

Understanding the links between anger expression by children and adolescents, their health, and their interpersonal interactions is important given the evidence that anger is associated with maladjustment and illness among adults. This review covers: 1) possible origins of the awareness and expression of anger; 2) assessment of anger in children and adolescents, including both self-report and observational approaches; 3) implications of anger expression for interpersonal relationships; and 4) outcomes of anger expression. Dimensions of anger expression found in adults have been corroborated to some extent in child and adolescent data. Reliable and valid measures of these dimensions have been developed. There has been much less research on the correlates of maladaptive anger expression in children or adolescents than in adults. Nevertheless, the current data base provides some confirmation that youth who cope inappropriately with their anger are at risk for problematic interpersonal relationships and negative outcomes in terms of both mental and general health.     

Dynamics of swine mange: a critical review of the literature

This paper summarizes the literature on swine mange, incorporating relevant literature on human scabies and on acarine associations with other mammals. Discussed are how mite populations affect immune development, how immune hypersensitivity affects host behavior and performance, and how immune hypersensitivity determines whether or not crusted lesions develop. Several key gaps in our understanding of swine mange are identified. The temporal pattern of immunity has not been studied beyond the 20th week of infestation. Desensitization as occurs in other host-parasite systems has not been documented. It is unclear if components of immune hypersensitivity regulate mite populations. Location of mites on the body and movement of mites among hosts have not been studied. And finally, improved methods for judging the severity of mange are needed to understand the biological and economic effects of mange on the swine industry.     

Sugar and hyperactivity: A critical review of empirical findings

Studies examining the effects of sugar ingestion on the behavior of children, both normal and hyperactive, were reviewed. Although the results of correlational studies suggested that high levels of sugar consumption may be associated with increased rates of inappropriate behavior, the results of dietary challenge studies have been inconsistent and inconclusive. Most studies have failed to find any effects associated with sugar ingestion, and the few studies that have found effects have been as likely to find sugar improving behavior as making it worse. Design parameters unique to undertaking sugar challenge studies were identified, and suggestions for future research were offered     

Non-epileptic seizures and child sexual abuse: a critical review of the literature

Non-epileptic seizures have received a substantial amount of attention in the psychiatric and medical literature, but comparatively little attention from psychologists. Non-epileptic seizures resemble epileptic seizures but lack the physiological symptoms of genuine epilepsy and are psychological in origin. Many authors have emphasized the role that child sexual abuse may play in the etiology of this disorder. In the present paper, we provide a review of 34 studies examining this relationship, followed by a meta-analysis of 19 effect sizes. While our statistical results support the professed link between child sexual abuse and non-epileptic seizures, we suggest that because of research design limitations, it is premature to draw any definitive conclusions regarding a relationship. Eight of these research design limitations are identified and discussed (e.g., the absence of comparison groups; an explicit and public definition of child sexual abuse). Alternatives to a traditional psychoanalytic perspective that emphasizes the role of child sexual abuse in the etiology of NES are presented. Specific recommendations for future research are made and psychologists are strongly encouraged to play a more active role in both researching and treating non-epileptic seizures.     

Catel-Manzke syndrome: two new patients and a critical review of the literature

We report two new female patients with typical features of Catel-Manzke syndrome (MIM 302380) and the follow-up of the first patient affected by this syndrome. In addition to the Pierre Robin anomaly, the hallmark of this palatodigital syndrome is a bilateral hyperphalangy and clinodactyly of the index finger. Classified into four groups there are now (1) 23 reported cases of the typical, (2) six cases of the extended Catel-Manzke syndrome showing more than two accessory bones in the hand, (3) two patients showing unilateral hyperphalangy and clinodactyly of the index finger (4) two patients described with isolated features of the "Manzke dysostosis" without Pierre Robin anomaly. The karyotype of our three patients was normal. A search for submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities by array CGH was performed. In addition, we sequenced candidate genes which are known to be involved in phalangeal development. However, no pathogenic aberrations or mutations were found.     

Trauma exposure,posttraumatic stress,and preventive health behaviours: a systematic review

Psychological trauma has implications for many aspects of physical health, including preventive health behaviours (PHBs). However, whether trauma exposure additionally contributes to PHBs above and beyond the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms remains unclear. In this systematic review, 32 studies were analysed to characterise: (1) the relationships between trauma exposure and PHBs, (2) the relationships between PTSD symptoms and PHBs, (3) the unique associations between trauma exposure and PHBs, independent of PTSD symptoms, and (4) the unique associations between PTSD symptoms and PHBs, independent of trauma exposure. Findings were variable across the three examined PHBs (physical activity, diet, medical screening) when only trauma exposure or PTSD symptoms were taken into account. Clearer relationships emerged between trauma exposure and PHBs when PTSD symptoms were taken into account, demonstrating that trauma exposure is related to PHB engagement above and beyond the effects of PTSD symptoms. Additionally, PTSD symptoms shared unique associations with physical activity and screening frequency, which were not explained by trauma exposure. Our review reveals that teasing apart the effects of trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms on PHBs brings greater clarity to the strength and direction of these associations.     

Expressed emotion: A review of the critical literature

Expressed Emotion (EE) reflects the attitude of a close relative towards a schizophrenic family member. Work carried out over the last decade has provided good evidence that the concept of EE is both valid and reliable. It is, moreover, an accurate predictor of relapse in schizophrenic patients. Since Kuipers's review of the area 6 years ago (Kuipers, 1979), research into EE has progressed rapidly. Not only have there been additional studies replicating, the previously well documented relationship between EE of family members and relapse in schizophrenic patients, but issues relating to the interaction of EE with life events, its psychophysiological correlates, and to intervention procedures have also been explored. In view of these recent developments a reevaluation of the area is necessary. This article will, therefore, review the progress made in the field to date and, in addition, suggest new directions for subsequent research.     

Assessing malingered posttraumatic stress disorder: a critical review

This article is a critical examination of the current state of the literature regarding the assessment of malingered posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). First, published empirical studies that examine the assessment of malingering in PTSD claimants using the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria are summarized. Next, conceptual and methodological strengths, weakness, and limitations of existing research are outlined. Currently, there is no method or single instrument that is universally recognized as being the best tool to detect malingering in PTSD claimants. Lastly, recommendations for future investigations are provided.     

The Conners' Parent Rating Scales: a critical review of the literature

The Conners' Parent Rating Scales (CPRS) have undergone a considerable amount of scrutiny--and subsequent refining, reshaping, and revising--since their development in 1970. While such longitudinal scrutiny has ultimately led to a more reliable, valid assessment tool, it has left behind a wake of literature filled with misinformation and ambiguity. Multiple versions of the Conners' Rating Scales (CRS), their misuse, and inaccurate reporting by researchers have created a body of literature that is difficult to interpret and misleading to both researchers and clinicians. This review is aimed at clarifying issues regarding the proper use of the CPRS as both a diagnostic instrument and a research tool.