Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings
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J Clin Psychol Med Settings · Dec 2008
Optimal scoring of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory in a chronic pain sample.
The Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) is one of the most commonly used self-report instruments in pain settings. The MPI can be used to classify patients into three clusters or its nine scales can be treated as dimensions in efforts to understand patient heterogeneity. ⋯ Results suggest that dimensional models consistently outperform cluster models in explaining variance in outcome variables, and that the addition of a measure of defensiveness increments the validity offered by the MPI scales. Implications for the assessment of pain patients are discussed.
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J Clin Psychol Med Settings · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialFrequent assessment of negative symptoms does not induce depressed mood.
Use of real-time data collection is rapidly expanding in the medical sciences and questions have been raised as to whether frequent ratings of disease symptoms could evoke depressed mood. This study investigated the effect of an intensive momentary assessment protocol on depressed mood. Community rheumatology patients (N = 105) were recruited to participate in a 30-day momentary assessment protocol of pain and fatigue. ⋯ Depression scores were significantly lower following the protocol (p < .001). Whereas 10% of patients shifted into a more depressed category at the end of the protocol, 20% shifted into a less depressed category. These findings suggest frequent assessment of pain and fatigue may not induce depressed mood, and may in some instances be associated with a small reduction in depressed mood.
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J Clin Psychol Med Settings · Sep 2008
Catastrophizing as a cognitive vulnerability factor related to depression in workers' compensation patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of catastrophizing as a mediator and moderator between life stress and depression in a sample of workers' compensation patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Pain intensity, life stress (especially work and financial stress), and catastrophizing contributed significantly to depression. ⋯ The results supported the role of catastrophizing as a cognitive vulnerability-stress factor related to depression in chronic pain patients. Screening for life stress and intervening early to prevent catastrophizing from occurring in the workers' compensation rehabilitation process may reduce psychosocial distress and enhance the overall effectiveness of rehabilitation programming for workers' compensation patients with chronic pain.
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J Clin Psychol Med Settings · Mar 2008
ACGME core competencies: helpful information for psychologists.
The mission of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is to improve graduate medical education in order to ultimately improve the quality of healthcare. To meet this mission the ACGME has firmly established a competency based focus for resident education. ⋯ Specific focus is on strategies used within the psychiatry residency and ways a Graduate Psychology Education grant fostered interdisciplinary training between psychology and family medicine that enhanced the development of competencies for both disciplines. The paper also comments on the training experiences and attitudes that can prepare psychologists to assist physician colleagues in meeting competencies.
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J Clin Psychol Med Settings · Dec 1996
Psychological adjustment of children in the pretransplant phase of bone marrow transplantation: Relationships with parent distress, parent stress, and child coping.
Families of 22 children preparing to undergo bone marrow transplantation (BMT) provided information concerning parent-reported major negative life stress, child coping strategies, parental psychological symptomatology, and child adjustment. Immediately prior to BMT, children and families are confronted with multiple stresses which challenge the child's coping and strain the parents' ability to assist the child with coping. Hence, stress, parental adjustment (distress), and child coping may be important factors affecting the child's overall psychological adjustment. ⋯ Parent and child psychological distress were closely related. Major negative life stresses experienced by the parent and use of avoidant coping by the child significantly predicted child adjustment problems in the pretransplant period. Coping skills interventions targeting avoidant coping and management of parental stress/distress may reduce child psychosocial risk prior to BMT.