Trait Mindfulness, Problem-Gambling Severity, Altered State of Awareness and Urge to Gamble in Poker-Machine Gamblers
In Australia, poker-machine gamblers represent a disproportionate number of problem gamblers. To cultivate a greater understanding of the psychological mechanisms involved in poker-machine gambling, a repeated measures cue-reactivity protocol was administered. A community sample of 38 poker-machine gamblers was assessed for problem-gambling severity and trait mindfulness. Participants were also assessed regarding altered state of awareness (ASA) and urge to gamble at baseline, following a neutral cue, and following a gambling cue. Results indicated that: (a) urge to gamble significantly increased from neutral cue to gambling cue, while controlling for baseline urge; (b) cue-reactive ASA did not significantly mediate the relationship between problem-gambling severity and cue-reactive urge (from neutral cue to gambling cue); (c) trait mindfulness was significantly negatively associated with both problem-gambling severity and cue-reactive urge (i.e., from neutral cue to gambling cue, while controlling for baseline urge); and (d) trait mindfulness did not significantly moderate the effect of problem-gambling severity on cue-reactive urge (from neutral cue to gambling cue). This is the first study to demonstrate a negative association between trait mindfulness and cue-reactive urge to gamble in a population of poker-machine gamblers. Thus, this association merits further evaluation both in relation to poker-machine gambling and other gambling modalities.
Barriers and facilitating factors to help-seeking for symptoms of clinical anxiety in adolescent males
Objective
Young men are very reluctant to seek help for anxiety disorders. In particular, the factors that facilitate mental health help‐seeking in adolescent males are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitating factors to help‐seeking behaviour for clinical anxiety in Australian adolescent males.
Method
The views of 29 adolescent males, both with and without experience of clinical anxiety symptoms, were elicited using semi‐structured interviews and focus groups. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using grounded theory.
Results
Primary barriers to help‐seeking included stigma (particularly in relation to social norms of masculinity), effort, limited awareness/knowledge of symptoms of anxiety and a sense of being ‘confronted’ by private emotions through help‐seeking. Facilitating factors included increasing the accessibility of school‐based mental health literacy programs and providing a wider range of formal and informal help‐seeking options. Other facilitators related to amendments in how mental health information is presented and investments into high speed/low effort help‐seeking options. A preliminary model of mental health help‐seeking in adolescent males with clinical anxiety is presented.
Conclusion
Adolescent males feel that they risk significant stigma by help‐seeking for mental health problems but lack information as to the benefits or the experience of help seeking. A stepped approach to options for mental health support and information for this population should be evaluated.
Cue-Reactive Rationality, Visual Imagery and Volitional Control Predict Cue-Reactive Urge to Gamble in Poker-Machine Gamblers
Poker-machine gamblers have been demonstrated to report increases in the urge to gamble following exposure to salient gambling cues. However, the processes which contribute to this urge to gamble remain to be understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether changes in the conscious experience of visual imagery, rationality and volitional control (over one’s thoughts, images and attention) predicted changes in the urge to gamble following exposure to a gambling cue. Thirty-one regular poker-machine gamblers who reported at least low levels of problem gambling on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), were recruited to complete an online cue-reactivity experiment. Participants completed the PGSI, the visual imagery, rationality and volitional control subscales of the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), and a visual analogue scale (VAS) assessing urge to gamble. Participants completed the PCI subscales and VAS at baseline, following a neutral video cue and following a gambling video cue. Urge to gamble was found to significantly increase from neutral cue to gambling cue (while controlling for baseline urge) and this increase was predicted by PGSI score. After accounting for the effects of problem-gambling severity, cue-reactive visual imagery, rationality and volitional control significantly improved the prediction of cue-reactive urge to gamble. The small sample size and limited participant characteristic data restricts the generalizability of the findings. Nevertheless, this is the first study to demonstrate that changes in the subjective experience of visual imagery, volitional control and rationality predict changes in the urge to gamble from neutral to gambling cue. The results suggest that visual imagery, rationality and volitional control may play an important role in the experience of the urge to gamble in poker-machine gamblers.
The Factor Analytic Structure and Personality Correlates of 'Spiritual Emergency'
A reliable and valid assessment instrument would aid clinicians in their diagnosis of spiritual crisis, or emergency. The current study investigated the structural validity and personality correlates of the 30-item Spiritual Emergency Scale (SES) (Goretzki, Thalbourne, & Storm, 2013). Participants (N 5 162) were recruited via email and social media and completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Exploratory principal axis factor analysis revealed a four-factor solution. Mysticism was correlated with SES scores, supporting convergent validity. However, the SES appears to neglect the crisis aspect of SE. As expected, results found that self-concept expanding beyond the here-and-now and mental boundaries predicted SES scores. In contrast, ego-grasping style did not predict SES scores. In conclusion, although in need of revision, the 30-item SES may be regarded as a promising measure of spiritual emergence but perhaps not emergency.
Exploring Holotropic Breathwork: An Empirical Evaluation of Altered States of Awareness and Patterns of Phenomenological Subsystems with Reference to Transliminality
It is a long-standing assumption that holotropic breathwork (HB) induces an altered state of consciousness. However, this assumption has not been empirically tested. Consequently, 32 participants were recruited for the present study, which aimed to use the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) to quantify the pattern of phenomenological subsystems and Altered State of Awareness (ASA) scores associated with a HB condition relative to a comparison condition and a baseline assessment. The hypothesis that the HB group would report a different pattern of relationships among phenomenological subsystems relative to the comparison condition and baseline was partially supported. In addition, the hypothesis that, while controlling for baseline, the HB group would report higher ASA scores than the comparison group was supported. Finally, for the HB group, transliminality did not significantly improve the prediction of ASA, while controlling for baseline. Various suggestions for future research are discussed.
Spiritual Emergence(y), Psychosis, and Personality: Differentiation, Identification, and Measurement
Spiritual emergency (SEY) is a process of spiritual emergence (SE) or awakening that becomes traumatic, leading to a state of psychological crisis. SE(Y) experiences may contribute to both physical and mental health problems, while providing a unique opportunity for transformation and growth. However, SE(Y) may appear very similar to clinical psychosis. This thesis presents three empirical studies exploring SE(Y), psychosis and personality. The aims are to introduce the phenomena of SE(Y) as a form of religious/spiritual struggle; to explore the complex relationships between SE and SEY, SE(Y) and psychosis, and SE(Y), psychosis and personality; and to address issues pertaining to differentiation, identification and measurement of the phenomena.
Psychological Treatment of Co-occurring Anxiety Disorders in Clinical Practice: A Vignette Study
'Background and Objectives' Many individuals with anxiety difficulties present with co-occurring anxiety disorders yet no evidence-based guidelines exist on how to treat this presentation. The present study investigated how Australian psychologists approach treating co-occurring anxiety disorders. 'Methods' A total of 169 psychologists practicing in Australia undertook an online survey consisting of open-questions relating to the treatment of DSM-IV anxiety disorder diagnoses and reported practice in relation to two clinical vignettes. Participant responses were coded using a directed content analysis approach. 'Results' The majority of psychologists reported utilising cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) interventions in the treatment of single and co-occurring anxiety disorders but not specific evidence-based treatment guides or protocols. The majority of the psychologists surveyed reported that they adopt a transdiagnostic approach to addressing co-occurring anxiety disorders. 'Conclusions' Psychologists typically do not follow a specific treatment guide in the treatment of anxiety disorders and judge a transdiagnostic approach incorporating CBT techniques as the best way to treat comorbidity. More effort may be needed to disseminate evidence-based interventions for anxiety disorders and for authors of empirically supported treatments to provide clear guidelines regarding treating co-occurring anxiety disorders.
The relationship between early maladaptive schemas and interpersonal problems - Dataset
This dataset is based on series of three studies conducted as part of a PhD thesis for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology). The thesis investigated the relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMS) from the schema therapy model and their relationship with interpersonal problems. The dataset for study one is based on a metaanalysis investigating the correlations between early maladaptive schemas and measures of interpersonal relationship problems from the available research as systematically reviewed in 2019. The remaining two datasets were sampled from a first-year psychology student participant pool at the University of New England. The dataset from study two is based on a repeated measures experiment which assessed participant responses and EMS scores following a series of interpersonal vignettes depicting acceptance, ambiguous rejection and rejection. The responses from study two included measures of perceived emotional distress and negative cognitions measured quantitatively and a series of written actions coded qualitatively using inductive content analysis. The dataset from study three consists of crosssectional survey data including measures for EMSs, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, trait-mindfulness and trait-tendencies for problematic interpersonal behaviour patterns. Together these datasets found support for a link between EMSs and low trait-mindfulness, increased emotional distress, negative cognitions and trait-tendencies for problematic interpersonal behaviour patterns.
Processes Contributing to the Maintenance of Flying Phobia: A Narrative Review
Flying phobia is a highly prevalent anxiety disorder, which causes sufferers significant distress and life interference. The processes which maintain flying phobia remain poorly understood. A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify what research has been conducted into the processes which may be involved in the fear of flying and whether processes which are believed to maintain other anxiety disorder diagnoses have been investigated in flying phobia. The results of the literature review are presented and related to existing cognitive behavioral theory and research. The results indicate that little research has been conducted into a number of areas considered important in the wider cognitive behavioral literature on anxiety disorders: namely attention, mental imagery, memory, worry, and safety-seeking behaviors. The review proposes a hypothetical model, derived from cognitive behavioral theory, for the processes which may be involved in maintaining flying phobia, and considers a number of areas for future research.
Religious or spiritual problem? The clinical relevance of identifying and measuring spiritual emergency
Spiritual emergency (SEY) is a type of religious or spiritual struggle that has been associated with physical and psychological health problems as well as providing a unique opportunity for growth. The SEY construct provided the impetus for the development of a diagnostic v-code that exists within the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, clinicians are failing to utilize the code due to a lack of understanding and knowledge. This article discusses the clinical relevance of identifying religious and spiritual problems and presents an overview of the SEY construct. We discuss attempts to identify religious and spiritual problems in a clinical setting and distinguish them from psychopathology. A systematic review of recent research aimed to measure SEY is provided, along with an outline of its limitations and suggestions for further empirical inquiry. Given the expanding number of positive health benefits associated with healthy religiousness and spirituality, facilitating this potential outcome for those experiencing more pathological forms of religiousness and spirituality should be of paramount importance to mental health professionals.