NCJ Number
56869
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychology Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 1084-1092
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE EFFECT OF FOUR TREATMENT CONDITIONS ON SELF-CONCEPT AND REDUCTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IN ADOLESCENT DELINQUENT FEMALES.
Abstract
THE TREATMENTS WERE RATIONAL STAGE DIRECTED IMAGERY (RSDI), A COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL APPROACH THAT UTILIZED INTENSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION AND VIVID-EMOTIVE-IMAGERY, A RATIONAL RESTRUCTURING TREATMENT AND A PLACEBO CONDITION, AND A NO TREATMENT CONTROL. THIRTY-TWO ADOLESCENT FEMALES FROM A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY IN CANADA WERE CHOSEN RANDOMLY FOR THE STUDY. EACH SUBJECT PARTICIPATED IN SIX TREATMENT SESSIONS THAT LASTED APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR EACH. ALL TREATMENT WAS COMPLETED IN A 6 WEEK PERIOD. THE CONTENT FOR EACH TREATMENT WAS SUGGESTED BY EACH PERSON'S PERFORMANCE ON THE SELF DIRECTED BEHAVIOR CHANGE INSTRUMENT AND AFTER AN EXAMINATION OF THEIR TENN. SELF-CONCEPT SCALE PROFILES. RSDI COMBINES DEEP RELAXATION, COVERT REHEARSAL, SENSORY-IMAGERY, AND RATIONAL OR COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF AWARENESS, EXPLORATION, COMMITMENT TO RATIONAL THINKING AND ACTING, THE IMPLEMENTATION AND INTERNALIZATION OF THESE TENDENCIES AND, FINALLY, CHANGE AND REDIRECTION. IN RATIONAL RESTRUCTURING, SUBJECTS ARE ASKED TO IMAGINE AND EMPHASIZE DESIRABLE BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN SELF-DEFEATING BEHAVIOR. SIGNIFICANT TREATMENT EFFECTS ON SIX SELF-CONCEPT SCALES AND ON A DEPRESSION SCALE WERE NOTED FOR THE RSDI GROUP AT POSTTEST AND A 2-MONTH FOLLOWUP, WHICH SUPPORTS THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF THIS TREATMENT. HOWEVER, THESE EFFECTS DISAPPEARED AT THE 2-MONTH FOLLOWUP. THE PLACEBO AND CONTROL GROUPS SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS AT EITHER POSTTREATMENT OR THE FOLLOWUP. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT RSDI HAS POTENTIAL FOR USE AS A SHORT-TERM PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH WHEN SELF-CONCEPT MODIFICATION IS A PRIMARY GOAL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED -- MJW)