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Psychological Screening (psychological + screening)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Psychology60%

Selected Abstracts

Pretreatment Psychosocial Variables as Predictors of Outcomes Following Lumbar Surgery and Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Literature Synthesis

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009
James Celestin MD
ABSTRACT Background., In the multimodal treatment approach to chronic back pain, interventional back procedures are often reserved for those who do not improve after more conservative management. Psychological screening prior to lumbar surgery or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been widely recommended to help identify suitable candidates and to predict possible complications or poor outcome from treatment. However, it remains unclear which, if any, variables are most predictive of pain-related treatment outcomes. Objective., The intent of this article is to perform a systematic review to examine the relationship between presurgical predictor variables and treatment outcomes, to review the existing evidence for the benefit of psychological screening prior to lumbar surgery or SCS, and to make treatment recommendations for the use of psychological screening. Results., Out of 753 study titles, 25 studies were identified, of which none were randomized controlled trials and only four SCS studies met inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies varied and some important shortcomings were identified. A positive relationship was found between one or more psychological factors and poor treatment outcome in 92.0% of the studies reviewed. In particular, presurgical somatization, depression, anxiety, and poor coping were most useful in helping to predict poor response (i.e., less treatment-related benefit) to lumbar surgery and SCS. Older age and longer pain duration were also predictive of poorer outcome in some studies, while pretreatment physical findings, activity interference, and presurgical pain intensity were minimally predictive. Conclusions., At present, while there is insufficient empirical evidence that psychological screening before surgery or device implantation helps to improve treatment outcomes, the current literature suggests that psychological factors such as somatization, depression, anxiety, and poor coping, are important predictors of poor outcome. More research is needed to show if early identification and treatment of these factors through psychological screening will enhance treatment outcome. [source]

Prevalence and prediction of re-experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion: a prospective study

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 6 2008
Arnold A. P. van Emmerik
Objective: This study investigated short-term re-experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion. In addition, it was prospectively investigated whether peritraumatic dissociation and pre-abortion dissociative tendencies and alexithymia predict re-experiencing and avoidance. Method: In a prospective observational design, Dutch-speaking women presenting for first trimester elective surgical abortion completed self-report measures for dissociative tendency and alexithymia. Peritraumatic dissociation was measured immediately post-abortion. Re-experiencing and avoidance were measured 2 months post-abortion. Results: Participants reported moderately elevated levels of re-experiencing and avoidance that exceeded a clinical cut-off point for 19.4% of the participants. Peritraumatic dissociation predicted intrusion and avoidance at 2 months. In addition, avoidance was predicted by the alexithymic aspect of difficulty describing feelings. Conclusions: Re-experiencing and avoidance after elective surgical abortion represent a significant clinical problem that is predicted by peritraumatic dissociation and alexithymia. Psychological screening and intervention might be a useful adjunct to elective abortion procedures.,Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Development and validation of brief content scales for the psychological screening inventory-2,

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 7 2010
Richard I. Lanyon
Abstract This article describes the development of 21 brief content (BC) scales to supplement the existing scales of the Psychological Screening Inventory-2 (PSI-2), and three validity studies to support their use for both the PSI-2 and the original PSI. The BC scales comprise groups of four or more items that are statistically homogeneous in content and are replicated across three data sets: PSI and PSI-2 normative data and a PSI-based group of forensic respondents. Concurrent validity was shown in correlations with the following: (a) the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) basic clinical scales, Content scales, PSY-5 scales, and Restructured Clinical (RC) scales; (b) family/friend observer ratings; and (c) therapist ratings in an outpatient substance abuse treatment program. Consistent with the purpose of the PSI/PSI-2, the BC scales are intended to provide additional screening information and not a comprehensive representation of psychopathology. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: 66:1,13, 2010. [source]

Pretreatment Psychosocial Variables as Predictors of Outcomes Following Lumbar Surgery and Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Literature Synthesis

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2009
James Celestin MD
ABSTRACT Background., In the multimodal treatment approach to chronic back pain, interventional back procedures are often reserved for those who do not improve after more conservative management. Psychological screening prior to lumbar surgery or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been widely recommended to help identify suitable candidates and to predict possible complications or poor outcome from treatment. However, it remains unclear which, if any, variables are most predictive of pain-related treatment outcomes. Objective., The intent of this article is to perform a systematic review to examine the relationship between presurgical predictor variables and treatment outcomes, to review the existing evidence for the benefit of psychological screening prior to lumbar surgery or SCS, and to make treatment recommendations for the use of psychological screening. Results., Out of 753 study titles, 25 studies were identified, of which none were randomized controlled trials and only four SCS studies met inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies varied and some important shortcomings were identified. A positive relationship was found between one or more psychological factors and poor treatment outcome in 92.0% of the studies reviewed. In particular, presurgical somatization, depression, anxiety, and poor coping were most useful in helping to predict poor response (i.e., less treatment-related benefit) to lumbar surgery and SCS. Older age and longer pain duration were also predictive of poorer outcome in some studies, while pretreatment physical findings, activity interference, and presurgical pain intensity were minimally predictive. Conclusions., At present, while there is insufficient empirical evidence that psychological screening before surgery or device implantation helps to improve treatment outcomes, the current literature suggests that psychological factors such as somatization, depression, anxiety, and poor coping, are important predictors of poor outcome. More research is needed to show if early identification and treatment of these factors through psychological screening will enhance treatment outcome. [source]

Juvenile sexual delinquents: contrasting child abusers with peer abusers

CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2004
J. Hendriks MA
Background There is growing concern regarding juvenile sex offenders, and concomitant interest in a more scientific database which could help direct management and treatment resources. Aims To investigate whether juveniles who sexually offend against children (or those at least five years younger than themselves) differ from those who sexually assault their peers or older victims. Method The study is based on data from psychological screenings conducted for the juvenile courts in the Netherlands. Results As hypothesized, juvenile child molesters scored higher on neuroticism, had experienced more social problems, and had been bullied more often at school than their peers who sexually assaulted same-age or older victims. Child molesters also reported a more negative self-image. When referred for screening, they were younger but had committed more sex offences, more often against males than females. Conclusions The results were suggestive of greater need for psychological interventions in the child molester group, although in both groups substantial minorities had had experience of early childhood deprivation or abuse. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]