Psychological treatment of hypnotic-dependent insomnia in a primarily older adult sample.

Objective: This study tested cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in hypnotic-dependent, late middle-age and older adults with insomnia.

Method: Seventy volunteers age 50 and older were randomized to CBT plus drug withdrawal, placebo biofeedback (PL) plus drug withdrawal, or drug withdrawal (MED) only. The CBT and PL groups received eight, 45 min weekly treatment sessions.

Impact of race on early treatment termination and outcomes in posttraumatic stress disorder treatment.

Objective: The present study investigated the influence of race on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment among 94 African American and 214 Caucasian female victims of interpersonal violence participating in 2 studies of cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD that were conducted sequentially and continuously.

Method: In each study, participants were randomized into 1 of 3 conditions. The first study compared cognitive processing therapy with prolonged exposure and a delayed treatment condition.

Gender differences in cocaine dependence.

Aims: This study examined gender differences among treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent outpatients (e.g., on demographics, psychopathology, and substance abuse).

Impact of behavioral contingency management intervention on coping behaviors and PTSD symptom reduction in cocaine-addicted homeless.

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in posttrauma symptoms among 118 homeless cocaine-dependent adults participating in a randomly controlled trial studying effective treatments for dually diagnosed homeless individuals. Among those with trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms, the group receiving more behaviorally intensive, contingency management treatment had significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptomatology than did the group receiving less-intensive treatment. Regression analyses revealed that greater positive distraction coping and lower negative avoidance coping at baseline, in addition to changes in avoidance coping over the 6-month study period, were significantly related to greater symptom and severity reductions.

Psychological treatment of insomnia in hypnotic-dependant older adults.

Background: The existing literature does not address the question of whether cognitive-behavioral therapy would have an impact on insomnia in older adults who are chronic users of sleep medication and have current insomnia, but are also stable in their quantity of medication usage during treatment. The present report seeks to answer this question.

Methods: Hypnotic-dependant older adults, who were stable in their amount of medication usage and still met the criteria for chronic insomnia put forth by American Academy of Sleep Medicine, were treated using a cognitive-behavioral intervention for insomnia.

The association of illness severity, self-reported cognitive impairment, and perceived illness management with depression and anxiety in a multiple sclerosis clinic population.

Within the multiple sclerosis (MS) population, high prevalence of psychiatric concerns, such as depression and anxiety, has been well documented. The purpose of this study was to examine factors contributing to higher depression and anxiety levels in a sample of 82 patients utilizing MS clinic services. Independent variables included MS physical severity, self-reported cognitive impairment, and perceived illness management, respectively.

Actigraphy validation with insomnia.

Study Objective: Actigraphy, a method of inferring sleep from the presence or absence of wrist movement, has been well validated against polysomnography in trials with people without insomnia. However, the small amount of literature on validation with insomniacs has revealed an actigraphy bias toward overscoring sleep. The current validation trial with insomniacs used the largest number of subjects to date in such research and attracted participants with diverse demographic characteristics.

Cell phones for ecological momentary assessment with cocaine-addicted homeless patients in treatment.

This is the first study to examine whether cell phones could be used to collect ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data with homeless crack cocaine-addicted adults in treatment. The study adapted an EMA method to examine behavior in real time using cell phones and computer-automated telephone interviewing. Participants treated in an intensive outpatient treatment program were given cell phones for a 2-week period to record current states of cocaine craving and using episodes.

Relationships among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts, proximity to the World Trade Center, and effects on fetal growth.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic pollutants released by the World Trade Center (WTC) fires and various urban combustion sources. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a representative member of the class of PAHs. PAH-DNA adducts, or BaP-DNA adducts as their proxy, provide a measure of chemical-specific genetic damage that has been associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and cancer.