A developmental perspective on family risk factors in somatization.

It is widely believed that the family plays an etiologically significant role in somatization. Although research indicates many high symptom reporters come from dysfunctional homes, very little is known about the more specific aspects of daily family functioning that may heighten the risk of physical symptomatology at different developmental levels. Accordingly, we report findings on the relationship between ten dimensions of family-of-origin environment and physical health complaints in 933 children, adolescents, and young adults in junior high, high, and undergraduate school (grades 6-16).

Do somatic complaints mask negative affect in youth?

The developmental transition between adolescence and early adulthood represents a high-risk period for the onset of somatization. Although research has lagged clinical work in this area, it has long been believed that, for somatizing youth, physical complaints are best conceptualized as a defense against negative affect. Recent adult-oriented research, however, suggests that somatic complaints may be better conceptualized on a continuum, with physical complaints covarying with overt psychological symptomatology.

Demographics, affect, and adolescents' health behaviors.

Considerable research has established that a relationship exists between demographics, emotions, and physical health complaints. Much less is known about the association between demographics, affect, and actual health behaviors, particularly in youngsters. Accordingly, this paper presents findings on the relationship between affect, demographics, and health-related lifestyle among 139 public high school students, a population generally believed to be at high risk for the development of detrimental health habits.

Clinical and statistical issues related to predicting therapeutic outcome.

Attempted to determine whether the therapeutic outcome of an alcoholism treatment program could be predicted (N = 81). Data were analyzed both by a mathematically oriented linear regression approach and by a clinically oriented retrospective parametric approach. When the two types of analyses were applied to the same data base each analysis identified different predictors of therapeutic outcome.

Suppression of mouse killing and apomorphine-induced social aggression in rats by local anesthesia of the mystacial vibrissae.

Local anesthesia of the facial epidermis can effect a substantial decrease in shock-elicited fighting of paired rats. The present experiments constitute methodological extensions to mouse killing and spontaneous drug-induced social aggression. In the first experiment, known mouse-killing rats were given bilateral lidocaine or placebo injections administered under ether anesthesia.