Evaluates therapeutic efficacy of Beck's cognitive treatment and Lewinsohn's behavioral treatment of depression. Results indicated the cognitive modification group was the most effective in alleviating depression as measured by self-report and objective clinical ratings. Cognitive modification resulted in significantly fewer depressive symptoms…

This paper discusses some arguments purporting to show that behavior therapy is an inherently limited, partial approach to mental disorder in human beings. Obvious limitations to scientific theories are also outlined. (Author)

Critical analysis is a legitimate aspect of scientific development. Examination of the limitations of behavioristic theory in its passage to therapeutic practice and the nonexplicit supplementary mechanisms inherent in the latter generates several such propositions, four are presented. (Author/CG)

Evaluated was the effectiveness of four treatment procedures in reducing self-injurious behaviors (handbiting and headstriking) of 22 nonverbal severely mentally retarded children, approximately 10 years old. Among results were that contingent restraint was more effective in reducing behavior below baseline levels than positive reinforcement,…

Discusses the purpose and applications of confrontation and describes a multi-stage technique used in an adolescent unit. Carefully outlines each of the six stages of the technique and reviews the predicted therapeutic effects for each stage. The model is intended to overcome adolescents' denial and teach them self-recognition skills. (RJM)

Three severely retarded individuals (ages 3, 6, and 18) who exhibited self-injurious behavior (SIB) were exposed to sensory-integrative therapy. Prior to treatment, a functional analysis baseline was conducted to identify the motivation features of the SIB. The SIB of all three subjects was reduced when behavior interventions were applied. (DB)

Handicapped students with behavioral problems that include aggression, self-abuse, or severe withdrawal are sometimes subjected to aversive reinforcement techniques. This article provides a brief overview of the attendant debate and research, followed by a comprehensive review of the legal rulings related to aversive therapy for handicapped…

Reviews treatment acceptability measures and practices that have been developed and used to assess the social validity of behavioral interventions. Develops and applies a comparative framework to provide a systematic critique of nine treatment acceptability measures. No one instrument was selected to be the most comprehensive and it is argued that…

This study evaluated the efficacy of 2 brief interventions for cannabis-dependent adults. A multisite randomized controlled trial compared cannabis use outcomes across 3 study conditions: (a) 2 sessions of motivational enhancement therapy (MET); (b) 9 sessions of multicomponent therapy that included MET, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and case…

This meta-analysis summarizes results from 30 randomized experiments that compare behavioral marital therapy with no-treatment control with distressed couples. Results showed that behavioral marital therapy is significantly more effective than no treatment (d=.585). Although behavioral marital therapy research studies tend to be conducted under…

There has been little research on the effectiveness of different training strategies or the impact of exposure to treatment manuals alone on clinicians' ability to effectively implement empirically supported therapies. Seventy-eight community-based clinicians were assigned to 1 of 3 training conditions: review of a cognitive-behavioral therapy…

This study reports the results of a 3-year follow-up assessment of children and adolescents diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (social phobia) and treated with Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children (SET-C), a comprehensive behavioral treatment program combining social skills training, peer generalization, and individualized exposure. Among…

This study examined whether a coping-skills-based treatment for marijuana dependence operated by encouraging the use of coping skills or via other mechanisms. Participants were 450 men and women treated in the multisite Marijuana Treatment Project who were randomly assigned to motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive-behavioral (MET-CB)…

Published self-instructional techniques for stress/anger management for those with mental retardation and developmental disabilities are often impractical due to the demands of complex instructional sequencing and of applying the technique during distressing situations. The development and implementation of an adapted, self-instructional,…

Fifty-two clinic-referred (20) and volunteer (32) mother-child dyads were observed in their home settings for 1 hour per dyad. Observers monitored the mothers' responsiveness during interactions with their children, and mothers' use of ''do'' and ''don't'' instructions were recorded; the children's compliance with instructions was also recorded,…