Varying cautionary instructions, monetary incentives, and comorbid diagnostic training in malingered psychopathology research.

In this article, we combine two analogue experiments in which we empirically examined three malingering methodological issues in individuals trained and instructed to simulate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI; Briere, 1995). In Experiment 1, we examined TSI scale effects of the following manipulations using a 2 x 2 design with 330 college students: (a) inclusion or exclusion of cautionary instructions regarding believability of participants' simulation and (b) different financial incentive levels. In Experiment 2, we examined comorbid psychiatric diagnostic training with 180 college students who were either trained to simulate PTSD and comorbid major depressive disorder or trained to simulate only PTSD.

Service outcomes in physical and sexual abuse cases: a comparison of child advocacy center-based and standard services.

Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) were developed to improve on child abuse investigative services provided by child protective service (CPS) agencies. However, until very recently, there has been little research comparing CAC-based procedures and outcomes to those in CPS investigations not based in CACs. The current study tracked 76 child abuse cases that were reported to authorities and investigated through either a private, not-for-profit CAC or typical CPS services in a mid-south rural county.

Relations among parental substance use, violence exposure and mental health: the national survey of adolescents.

Objective: To study the relations among parental substance use, violence exposure and psychopathology in a nationally representative sample of adolescents.

Method: Random digit dialing methodology was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of 4023 adolescents, ages 12-17. Telephone surveys, conducted in 1995, assessed demographics, parental substance use, violence exposure, and three psychiatric disorders: major depressive disorder (MDE), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse/dependence (SA/D).

The relations between family environment and violence exposure among youth: findings from the national survey of adolescents.

A national household probability sample of 4,023 adolescents (ages 12 to 17) completed telephone interviews assessing demographics, adverse family environment, and violence exposure. Logistic regressions examined relations among family environment and each violence exposure type, controlling for demographics and other violence exposures. Relationships between family environment and violence exposure varied, depending on type of violence reported, most notably between intrafamilial versus extrafamilial violence.

How does trauma beget trauma? Cognitions about risk in women with abuse histories.

This study examined the associations between perceived risks and benefits of drug use, unsafe sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, and aggressive/illegal behavior and reports of expected involvement in those behaviors in a sample of 340 college women with and without histories of interpersonal victimization (i.e., child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, adult sexual assault, and aggravated assault).