Counselor education has been repeatedly faulted for failing to adequately train counselors in research methodology, generally, and practice-relevant methods, specifically. Continued emphasis and education in the use of group experimental design methodology, which is by definition insensitive to the exigencies of everyday practice, will have little effect on counseling practice. It is ironic that single-case (N = 1) design developed for use in practice settings continues to be the "best kept secret" in counseling. Single-case (N = 1) designs offer a scientifically credible means to objectively evaluate practice and conduct clinically relevant research in practice settings. A 7-component model for establishing the use of single-case design research methods in counseling programs is presented.
This article describes the results of a quantitative analysis of research on the treatment of aggression, self-injury, and property destruction with persons who are developmentally disabled. Fifteen evaluative criteria, including use of functional analysis of behavior, assessment of generalization, maintenance, and change in collateral behaviors, were used in examining 62 experiments. Results indicate significant limitations in methodological rigor and use of "state-of-the-art" behavioral procedures. Conclusions regarding effective treatment are generally consistent with earlier reviews. Discussion focuses on the need for improvements in the design and evaluation of interventions, further research on reinforcement-based interventions, effects of punishment, and treatment of aggression displayed by adults.
Twenty older adults provided acceptability ratings for two interventions for the treatment of depression-behavior therapy and medication. At Time 1 assessment, subjects received infor mation regarding content of treatment followed by completion of the Treatment Evaluation Inventory (TEI). At Time 2 assessment, descriptions of treatment content and side effects were provided, and TEI was completed once again. Results indicated a main effect for treatment with behavior therapy receiving significantly higher acceptability ratings than medication. No main effect for side effects or interaction effects was obtained. These results suggest that older adults are influenced more by information regarding the content of treatments for depression than by side effects. The results also clearly indicate that older adults prefer behavior therapy for treatment of depression compared to medication. This article discusses implications for educat ing older adults and physicians regarding nonpharmacological alternatives for treatment of depression, and implications for older adults' psychological help-seeking behavior.
Four questions were addressed: (a) does biobehavioral intervention result in within-session reduction of tremor severity; (b) do relaxation and electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback training produce differential effects; (c) do within-session treatment effects generalize to daily performance; and (d) are reductions in tremor severity maintained at follow-up assessment? Three adults, ages 51, 77, and 83, each with a diagnosis of essential tremor (ET), and a long standing history of tremor of the hands uncontrolled by medication, took part. A repeated pre-post-training single-case experimental design embedded within a sequential A--B--C--D design was used; in addition, 1 participant received a return to the B phase. Outcome measures included within-session clinical and self-ratings of tremor severity, surface electromyography (sEMG) of forearm muscles, and daily self-ratings of tremor at home. Tremor was measured while participants engaged in eating or drinking tasks. The Behavioral Relaxation Scale (BRS) served as a process measure to assess relaxation proficiency. Clinical ratings of tremor and the BRS had high interobserver agreement. Visual inspection and statistical tests of single-case data were used to evaluate outcomes. Each participant showed significant within-session improvements on various measures of tremor and improvement during intervention as compared to baseline phases. There were no clear-cut differences between relaxation and biofeedback phases. Improvements declined somewhat at a 12-week follow-up. Relationships among measures of tremor are discussed. Biobehavioral interventions hold promise for older adults coping with ET. Further research is needed using an array of biobehavioral measures to assess intervention outcome.
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