Sex differences in dendritic patterns in hamster preoptic area

Sexual dimorphism is described in the dendritic field pattern of Golgi-stained neurons from the dorsomedial preoptic area of adult golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Data were obtained through a mathematical reconstruction of dendritic densities of neurons sampled from this area in males and females. Males tended to have a central concentration, while females showed an irregular dendritic density distribution with concentrations dorsolateral, ventral and medial to the area of highest dendritic density in the males. These results suggest sex differences in the afferent inputs to neurons in the dorsomedial preoptic area which may be related to functional sexual dimorphism in physiology and behavior.     

Effectiveness of sampling-exposure procedures on facilities utilization by psychiatric hard-core chronic patients

Sampling-exposure procedures patterned on those of Ayllon and Azrin (1968 a, b) were systematically introduced, alternating with regular pass procedures, in an attempt to increase use of off unit facilities and services by residents of milieu and social-learning treatment units. Social-learning unit residents (for whom passes cost tokens) remained unaffected by the experimental conditions for 22-week duration of the study, using services at a frequency consistently and significantly below that of milieu unit residents (for whom passes were “free”). However, milieu unit residents' utilization was dramatically increased by the sampling-exposure procedures, generalized to alternating announce-only procedures, and continued at a significantly higher level at a final extended baseline.     

A comparison of covert sensitization and “nonspecific” treatment in the modification of smoking behavior

Forty-nine volunteer participants in a study to reduce cigarette smoking, were randomly assigned to one of five experimental conditions: covert sensitization, attention-placebo, self-control, monitoring control, or no-contact control. Subjects in the first three conditions received six individual contacts over a 2-week treatment period. Subjects in all three of these “treatment” conditions significantly decreased smoking behavior. There were no significant differences between these groups at the end of treatment or at follow-up. Although smoking rates increased during follow-up, subjects were still smoking significantly fewer cigarettes than baseline at the end of 6 months.     

Selection of test methods to assess ecological effects of mixed aerosols

Components of the mixed aerosols generated during military training are known to be of toxicological and/or ecological significance. There are few studies, however, quantifying mixed aerosol effects on ecosystems. Prompted by our finding that one or more of the compounds in the mixed aerosols commonly encountered in military training areas showed mutagenic effects in several species, a multiyear effort is evaluating the use of ecotoxicity testing methods to assess mixed aerosol ecological impacts. Selection of test methods for ecoepidemiology begins with the identification of the data required to meet defined environmental quality objectives. The data requirements are then matched with appropriate test methods, and testing results are related to important ecological effects resulting from aerosol exposure. The critical element of test system selection is to ensure that toxicity testing results relate to important ecological effects. The procedures developed for identifying test methods to assess mixed aerosols are also applicable to a range of environmental contaminants regulated by air, water, and solid waste regulations.     

The use of problem solving and decision making in behavior therapy

An updated model from problem solving and decision making (PS/DM) theory is presented for application to behavior therapy. The article highlights an important distinction between “static” and “dynamic” PS/DM situations. The static model presumes that the PS/ DM procedures need to be conducted only once to implement a change program. The model provides little opportunity to use outcome feedback from successive PS/DM stages for further correction of the overall plan. In the dynamic model, the stages are conceptualized as a sequence of interrelated actions guided by feedback, similar to the tracking of a moving target. The dynamic model is regarded as more characteristic of the clinical change process. Based upon this important distinction, the traditional stages of PS/DM are re-evaluated. In addition, several newly emerged issues are addressed from two different points of view—one in which the clinician is considered the problem solver helping the client with a particular problem, and one in which the client is considered the problem solver learning to deal with unforeseen difficulties. Finally, the article describes several different methods that can be used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed PS/DM procedures.     

Monoamines, estrogen and female sexual behavior in the golden hamster

In the golden hamster drugs which inhibit monoaminergic function (including p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), methysergide and a-methyl-p-tyrosine (a-MPT) facilitated lordosis in ovariectomized female hamsters as a function of the duration of estradiol benzoate (EB) priming. a-MPT (200 mg/kg), methysergide (6 mg/animal) or PCPA (150 or 360 mg/kg) potentiated lordosis if 6 days of EB priming preceded drug treatment. However, if female hamsters were primed with EB for only 2 days, a-MPT and methysergide were ineffective. PCPA (360 mg/kg) was less effective after 2 days of EB than after 6 days of EB priming. alpha-MPT produced a three-fold elevation in progesterone levels in ovariectomized females but methysergide and PCPA did not influence serum progesterone. PCPA (360 mg/kg) facilitated lordosis in adrenalectomized, ovariectomized females, eliminating the possibility that adrenal progesterone is essential for the behavioral effects of the drug. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone levels in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area and the medial basal hypothalamus were also not significantly altered at 1 h after PCPA injection. Pimozide (1.5 mg/kg) and pimozide (1.5 mg/kg) and amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg) did not potentiate lordosis in ovariectomized hamsters after either 2 or 6 days of EB priming. Pargyline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, inhibited female sexual behavior in females in estrogen alone-induced estrus. Lordosis in the female rat is more readily elicited both by drugs and estrogen. It is proposed with regard to female sexual behavior that species differences in estrogen sensitivity may underlie apparent differences in drug sensitivity.     

Treatment of a spider phobia by in vivo and imaginal desensitization

The use of in vivo and imaginal desensitization procedures in the treatment of a spider phobia is described. A diversity of in vivo programs, following a thematic hierarchy paradigm, are discussed in detail to encourage more frequent attention to and utilization of easily arranged, controlled exposures.     

Reduction of ritual checking by a relaxation-delay treatment

A 27-yr-old male with a life-long history of ritual re-checking was treated by imposing increasingly lengthy scheduled durations of relaxation just prior to ritual performance. Although developed within the clinical situation, treatment was mainly performed in the natural setting. Within-session feedback and social reinforcement were employed to regulate and maintain progress. The re-checking behavior was completely extinguished over the course of 12 therapy weeks and did not recur in 28 follow-up weeks.     

Multiple approaches to the reduction of dental fear

Participant modeling, symbolic modeling, and graduated exposure were compared with each other and with two control treatments for effectiveness in reducing fear of dentistry in 33 adults who had avoided dental treatment for from 1 to 10 yr. Assessment of in-chair psychological responsiveness and overt behavior showed no significant pre-post change for any group although all of them reported significant reduction in state anxiety and expected pain. During the 24 months following treatment, from 50 to 87.5% of the subjects were able to return to regular dental care with the highest “return” rate appearing in the participant modeling condition.