Bispectral Index Monitoring and Observer Rating Scale Correlate with Dreaming during Propofol Anesthesia for Gastrointestinal Endoscopies

Background and objectives: Dreaming is a commonly reported side effect of propofol anesthesia. Materials and Methods: We investigated the inci-dence and character of dreams in patients undergoing intravenous propofol anesthesia and cor-related it with an observer rating scale of facial expression on the seven-point scale from pain to smile. A total of 124 patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy were recruited in the pro-spective observational study. Bispectral index (BIS), blood pressure (BP), and pulse were moni-tored. Upon emergence from anesthesia, the patient’s facial expression was rated numerically. Thereafter, patients were asked whether they had dreams and to rate their dreams as pleasant or unpleasant. The mean age of participants was 53; body mass index, 26.17; duration of procedure, 20 min; and average propofol dose, 265 mg. Results: Dreaming was reported by 43% of patients. Dreams were pleasant in all but one patient. There was a significant correlation of the observer’s rating of facial expression with dreaming (r = 0.260; p = 0.004). Dreamers had higher scores of observer rating of facial expression (1 (0–2) vs. 0.5 (0–1), p = 0.006). Conclusions: BIS values were lower in the dreamers vs. non-dreamers 2 min after the endoscopy started (48 (43–62) vs. 59 (45–71), p = 0.038). Both BIS and observer ratings correlate with dreaming in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endos-copy. Trial registration number: NCT04235894.

Exploring the Cognitive Model of Social Anxiety in Autistic Young People—The Central Role of Bodily Symptoms

We explored the role of negative performance beliefs and self-focused attention considered central to psychological models of social anxiety but not studied in autism. Firstly, we compared self- and observer ratings of performance on a social task for 71 young autistic people, 41 high and 30 low in social anxiety, finding a significant main effect of social anxiety but not rater. Subsequently, 76 autistic young people, 46 high and 30 low social anxiety completed measures of interoceptive sensibility and focus of attention following a social task. Only heightened interoceptive sensibility fully mediated the relationship between self-ratings of social performance and social anxiety. These findings suggest awareness of bodily sensations are critical to anxiety in social situations with implications for treatment.

Being Flexible While Maintaining Fidelity in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of Depression

Cognitive Therapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression is a well-studied, research-supported treatment. Contrary to common misconceptions about manual-based treatments, CBT can be provided with considerable flexibility. As the first manual-based treatment to be developed, it is remarkable that it is so principle-based and flexible. There is flexibility in focusing on the goals and topics of importance to clients. Therapists have discretion in determining how much to use various CBT strategies and determining how they might be used to meet the diverse needs of clients with depression. Because of the flexibility of CBT, therapists also have many options for determining what approach to use when a client does not initially respond well to an intervention. To ensure that CBT offers the therapeutic benefits that have been identified and supported in clinical trials, the treatment also needs to be provided with fidelity to the manual. Despite their limitations, observer ratings of competence remain the standard for ensuring that CBT is provided with fidelity.

Behavioural Measures of Infant Activity but Not Attention Associate with Later Preschool ADHD Traits

Mapping infant neurocognitive differences that precede later ADHD-related behaviours is critical for designing early interventions. In this study, we investigated (1) group differences in a battery of measures assessing aspects of attention and activity level in infants with and without a family history of ADHD or related conditions (ASD), and (2) longitudinal associations between the infant measures and preschool ADHD traits at 3 years. Participants (N = 151) were infants with or without an elevated likelihood for ADHD (due to a family history of ADHD and/or ASD). A multi-method assessment protocol was used to assess infant attention and activity level at 10 months of age that included behavioural, cognitive, physiological and neural measures. Preschool ADHD traits were measured at 3 years of age using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the Child Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ). Across a broad range of measures, we found no significant group differences in attention or activity level at 10 months between infants with and without a family history of ADHD or ASD. However, parent and observer ratings of infant activity level at 10 months were positively associated with later preschool ADHD traits at 3 years. Observable behavioural differences in activity level (but not attention) may be apparent from infancy in children who later develop elevated preschool ADHD traits.

The idiodynamic method: willingness to communicate and anxiety processes interacting in real time

The idiodynamic method is a relatively new mixed-method approach to studying in real time the complex dynamics of integrated affective and cognitive states that interact continuously with human communication. The method requires video recording a sample of communication from a research participant and then using specialized software to play the video back while collecting contemporaneous self-reported ratings (approximately one per second) on one or more focal variables of interest to the researcher, such as willingness to communicate (WTC) or communication anxiety (CA). After the participant rates the communication sample, a continuous graph of changes in the focal variable is printed. The final step is to interview the speaker to gather an explanation for changes in the ratings, for example at peaks or valleys in the graph. The method can also collect observer ratings that can then be compared with the speaker’s self-ratings. To date, studies have been conducted examining WTC, CA, motivation, perceived competence, teacher self-efficacy, teacher empathy, and strategy use, among other topics. The strengths and limitations of the method will be discussed and a specific example of its use in measuring WTC and CA will be provided.

The effects of self-other rating agreement on ethical behavior: an experimental investigation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of self-other rating agreement (SOA) on ethical decisions and behavior.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 169 students (60 women and 109 men) enrolled in a part-time, regional MBA program was divided into three SOA categories: (1) Self-aware, individuals whose self-ratings matched observer ratings, (2) Underraters, those whose self-ratings were lower than observer ratings and (3) Overraters, individuals whose self-ratings were higher than other ratings. Ethical behavior was evaluated with the completion of a managerial in-basket assessment.FindingsThe results revealed that ethical behavior varied by SOA, with underraters exhibiting the highest levels of ethical behavior, followed by self-aware (i.e. accurate) and then overraters. One of the intriguing results is that underraters displayed more ethical behaviors than accurate raters, raising questions about the use of accurate self-assessments as an indicator of personal and professional effectiveness.Originality/valueThe results indicate that organizations should consider SOA in their human resource processes because it has important implications for employee training, selection and promotion. While prior research has examined the effect of SOA on performance, commitment and leadership perceptions, the authors contribute to the literature by examining whether SOA influences actual ethical decisions and actions.

Childhood self-control forecasts the pace of midlife aging and preparedness for old age

The ability to control one’s own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in early life predicts a range of positive outcomes in later life, including longevity. Does it also predict how well people age? We studied the association between self-control and midlife aging in a population-representative cohort of children followed from birth to age 45 y, the Dunedin Study. We measured children’s self-control across their first decade of life using a multi-occasion/multi-informant strategy. We measured their pace of aging and aging preparedness in midlife using measures derived from biological and physiological assessments, structural brain-imaging scans, observer ratings, self-reports, informant reports, and administrative records. As adults, children with better self-control aged more slowly in their bodies and showed fewer signs of aging in their brains. By midlife, these children were also better equipped to manage a range of later-life health, financial, and social demands. Associations with children’s self-control could be separated from their social class origins and intelligence, indicating that self-control might be an active ingredient in healthy aging. Children also shifted naturally in their level of self-control across adult life, suggesting the possibility that self-control may be a malleable target for intervention. Furthermore, individuals’ self-control in adulthood was associated with their aging outcomes after accounting for their self-control in childhood, indicating that midlife might offer another window of opportunity to promote healthy aging.

Beyond Stereotypes: Analyzing Gender and Cultural Differences in Nonverbal Rapport

The current paper addresses two methodological problems pertinent to the analysis of observer studies in non-verbal rapport and beyond. These problems concern: (1) the production of standardized stimulus materials that allow for unbiased observer ratings and (2) the objective measurement of non-verbal behaviors to identify the dyadic patterns underlying the observer impressions. We suggest motion capture and character animation as possible solutions to these problems and exemplarily apply the novel methodology to the study of gender and cultural differences in non-verbal rapport. We compared a Western, individualistic culture with an egalitarian gender-role conception (Germany) and a collectivistic culture with a more traditional gender role conceptions (Middle East, Gulf States). Motion capture data were collected for five male and five female dyadic interactions in each culture. Character animations based on the motion capture data served as stimuli in the observation study. Female and male observers from both cultures rated the perceived rapport continuously while watching the 1 min sequences and guessed gender and cultural background of the dyads after each clip. Results show that masking of gender and culture in the stimuli was successful, as hit rates for both aspects remained at chance level. Further the results revealed high levels of agreement in the rapport ratings across gender and culture, pointing to universal judgment policies. A 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 ANOVA for gender and culture of stimuli and observers showed that female dyads were rated significantly higher on rapport across the board and that the contrast between female and male dyads was more pronounced in the Arab sample as compared to the German sample. Non-verbal parameters extracted from the motion capture protocols were submitted to a series of algorithms to identify dyadic activity levels and coordination patterns relevant to the perception of rapport. The results are critically discussed with regard to the role of non-verbal coordination as a constituent of rapport.

Experimental Variation of Relationship Styles Draft Version Preprint

Objective: In psychotherapy process research, there is a lack of experimental designs that specifically explore which therapeutic style is helpful for which patient. Thus, the aim of this study was to test the feasibility of experimentally varying the therapeutic style under realistic conditions and how this affects alliance. Method: We defined two therapeutic styles (relationship-focused vs. problem-focused) based on the interpersonal circumplex. In a randomized two-group design, 64 healthy university students (70% female, Mage=23.78 years old, SDage=2.81) were assigned to one of the styles and received a single psychological counseling session on interpersonal conflicts. We checked the manipulation success using an adherence rating and counselors’ interpersonal impressions via the Interpersonal Message Inventory (IMI-R). Primary outcome was alliance (Working Alliance Inventory, WAI). Symptom severity (Symptom Checklist, SCL-K-9) was also assessed. Results: Analyses of adherence (p< .001) and IMI-R ratings (p< .001 in friendly dimension, p=.003 in hostile dimension) were hypotheses-conform to the proposed therapeutic styles. Alliance was highly rated in both conditions and by all raters. While clients did not show any group differences, counselor and observer ratings were significantly higher in the relationship-focused than in the problem-focused condition (p=.040; p=.003). In both groups, symptom severity decreased significantly after the session (p=.020).Conclusions: The experimental variation of the therapeutic style is feasible under realistic conditions with high overall alliance ratings. The novel experimental design may provide a basis for further process research. Mediator and moderator analyses could yield more detailed information on differential relationship forming and thus an individualized therapeutic style.