Clinicians' judgments of female clients' causal attributions

Presented clinicalpsychologists (N = 400) with statemetns of female client attributions for presenting probelems with locus of causality varied, Clinicians' jugdments of clients wer investigated through their evaluatins of the a curacy of these attributions. While clinician did not difer in estimate of accuracy based on whether attribution were internal or external, female clinicians were more likely than males to judge client attirbutions as accurate.     

Alterations in morning cortisol associated with PTSD in women with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can be a stressful experience, putting women at risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study investigated morning cortisol levels in newly diagnosed (i.e., within 6 months) breast cancer patients. METHODS: Structured DSM-IV interviews determined current and past incidence of PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) in 71 women with Stage 0-3 breast cancer. RESULTS: Significantly decreased plasma cortisol was found in women meeting current or lifetime criteria for PTSD or past diagnosis of MDD. CONCLUSIONS: These results reinforce the importance for both psychological and physiological outcomes of a clinical evaluation of both current and past psychiatric status in newly diagnosed cancer patients.     

White paper on the health status of Filipino Americans and recommendations for research

This paper provides the historical and demographic background of Filipino Americans and a brief examination of the paucity of health data and information on Filipino Americans in Healthy People 2010 and the research literature. Recommendations for areas of future nursing research are provided.     

Parent Depression and Child Anxiety: An Overview of the Literature with Clinical Implications

The association of parental depression with child anxiety has received relatively little attention in the literature. In this paper we initially present several reasons for examining this relationship. We then summarize the empirical support for a link between these two variables. Finally, we discuss directions for future research and clinical implications of an association of parental depression with child anxiety.     

Stress, coping, and immune function in breast cancer

Research has found suggestive links between emotional distress and immune and neuroendocrine measures in cancer patients. Furthermore, several studies have reported that participation in psychological support groups is associated with better health outcomes for cancer patients. However, controversy exists surrounding these findings, and the mechanisms behind such effects are unclear. This article integrates current evidence from several lines of research concerning the relations among coping, psychological adjustment, cortisol and immune function, and disease progression in breast cancer patients. A biopsychosocial model is evaluated in which coping and psychological adjustment are associated with alterations in cortisol levels, immune function, and potential long-term medical outcomes in breast cancer patients. Although strong evidence suggests that coping and psychosocial intervention can improve psychological outcomes for breast cancer patients, potential effects on physiological outcomes remain speculative.