Faculty Bibliography

We compared neural and behavioral responses to feedback received during interpersonal interactions within the Prisoner's Dilemma game between adolescents with anxiety disorders (n = 12) and healthy peers (n = 17). Groups differed significantly in neural activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), precuneus, insula, and temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Anxious adolescents were also more likely than controls to cooperate after co-player betrayal. Our findings provide evidence that social behavior and related neural activity differs between anxious and healthy adolescents. These findings constitute a step toward elucidating neural correlates of social impairment in anxious youths.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of adult attachment and relationship beliefs (dysfunctional expectations and implicit theories of relationships) for predicting interdependence in emerging adults' romantic relationships. College students at Fairleigh Dickinson University's Teaneck and Madison campuses were recruited from undergraduate psychology courses. Those students who consented to participate completed a battery of self-report measures. Bivariate correlations were computed among all variables of interest. None of the predictor variables were associated with overall ratings of relationship interdependence. Several multiple regression models were then conducted in order to assess whether attachment anxiety predicted interdependence, and whether the different relationship beliefs moderated this association. All models predicting relationship interdependence were non-significant, however some of the models predicting Strength of Influence, a subscale of interdependence, were significant. Older age and greater endorsement of the Mindreading is Expected and Disagreement is Dangerous beliefs were predictive of greater Strength of Influence scores. Exploratory analyses indicated that the interaction between gender and dysfunctional relationship beliefs approached significance in the model predicting Strength of Influence. The destiny and growth beliefs (i.e. implicit theories of relationships) were largely unrelated to either attachment anxiety or the outcome of interest, and no moderation effect was found for either belief. This study adds to our understanding of the phenomenology of relationship beliefs in emerging adulthood, particularly how such beliefs influence close relationships. In comparison to married adults, for whom dysfunctional beliefs are detrimental to relationship functioning, emerging adults who endorsed dysfunctional beliefs in this study simultaneously reported positive relationship functioning, as indicated by greater influence of their romantic partners. Such findings suggest that dysfunctional beliefs may be developmentally appropriate in emerging adulthood and may only become harmful to relationships later in the lifespan.

This investigation compared the adjustment of two groups of New York City preschool children 8-10 months after September 11, 2001. One group was within 1 mile (1.61 km) of the World Trade Center and exposed to one or more traumatic events. The second group was 2 to 14 miles (3.28-22.54km) away and not exposed to traumatic events. Parents evaluated their children by marking a DSM-IV based PTSD questionnaire and a standardized norm-referenced index of childhood adjustment. Parents also rated their personal adjustment by completing self-report measures of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. None of the trauma-exposed children warranted a current, probable PTSD diagnosis. Moreover, scores on the norm-referenced measure of childhood adjustment did not significantly vary between groups. These outcomes were consistent after adjusting for the potentially confounding influence of parental PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms. The findings suggest that the traumatized children in this sample were relatively resilient to the events of September 11, 2001 at the diagnostic level and on a norm-referenced index of childhood psychopathology. The outcomes may also suggest that the DSM-IV PTSD avoidance-symptom diagnostic threshold may have been too high to reflect morbidity at the diagnostic level for this sample.

Introduction: An important goal of ongoing Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is to identify markers that allow one to predict risk for the development of this type of dementia in cognitively intact elderly. Known cognitive changes associated with AD, possibly reflecting hippocampal pathology, include a worse recall of primacy items and better immediate recall of items learned at the end of a list compared to the middle (recency effect). Aims: The aim of our study was to examine whether learning and recall of primacy and recency words predicted future decline in intact elderly subjects. Methods: Individuals with MMSE of 28 or over at baseline were included in the study. Of these, 211 had at least two successive cognitive evaluations; mean age at baseline was 69.5 (SD=8.0). We regressed MMSE decline on baseline Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) memory measures, focusing especially on learning and recall of primacy and recency words, and controlling for baseline age, time since baseline and other variables. Results: Worse learning/delayed recall of primacy words on AVLT trials consistently predicted greater subsequent cognitive decline. Additionally, this effect was stronger among older subjects than among younger ones. APOE e4, a well established genetic risk factor for late-onset AD, was not a significant predictor of MMSE decline in this sample. Conclusions: Decreased learning and poorer recall of primacy words in the AVLT is a predictor of decline in healthy elderly individuals, and future studies should examine if decreased learning and recall can predict conversion to AD

The goal of this paper is to synthesize available data to help guide policy and programmatic initiatives for families with substance abuse problems who are involved with the child welfare system, and identify gaps in the research base preventing further refinement of practices in this area. To date, Family Treatment Drug Court and newly developed home-based substance abuse treatment interventions appear the most effective at improving substance abuse treatment initiation and completion in child welfare populations. Research is needed to compare the efficacy of these two approaches, and examine cost and child well-being indicators in addition to substance abuse treatment and child welfare outcomes

Fregoli syndrome (FS) is commonly associated with verbal threats and aggressive behavior. We present a case of Fregoli syndrome leading to an assault. We discuss the possible underdiagnosis of FS, associated risk for aggression, and strategies to reduce that risk.

Review of "APA Ethics Code Commentary and Case Illustrations. Linda Campbell, Melba Vasquez, Stephen Behnke, and Robert Kinscherff. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010, 392 pages, $69.95"