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The interactional model of anxiety states that individuals who score high on trait anxiety measure for a specific situation dimension will respond with elevated state anxiety only in reaction to encounters with congruent situations. We tested this model by presenting subjects who scored high or low on ego threat, physical danger, novelty ambiguity, and daily routine trait measures with stressors representative of the four situation dimensions. The interactional model was partially supported for ego threat trait anxiety. However, results generally supported the influence of situation rather than the trait or interaction on anxiety response. The lack of trait factor independence for the novelty ambiguity and daily routine trait dimensions is discussed as a potential reason for the nonsupport of the interactional model. Finally, we suggest that the experimental design used in this study is a more accurate and vigorous test of the differential hypothesis than past research.

Psychosocial evaluation is recommended prior to bariatric surgery. Practice guidelines have been published on assessment methods for bariatric surgery candidates, but they have not emphasized ethical issues with this population. This review outlines ethical and professional considerations for behavioral healthcare providers who conduct pre-surgical assessments of bariatric surgery candidates by merging ethical principles for mental health professionals with current practices in pre-surgical assessments. Issues discussed include the following: (a) establishing and maintaining competence, (b) obtaining informed consent, (c) respecting confidentiality, (d) avoiding bias and discrimination, (e) avoiding and addressing dual roles, (f) selecting and using psychological tests, and (g) acknowledging limitations of psychosocial assessments.

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Though Likert-type scales are frequently employed in research, typically little systematic consideration is given to the process of identifying the number of response categories, selecting appropriate category labels or ensuring that the scale yields an acceptable level of measurement. Relatively little research has been performed to identify the category labels which yield scales with equidistant category points. Unidimensional ratings of category labels associated with the psychological dimensions of intensity, frequency, and similarity on 5-, 7-, and 9-point scales by 192 introductory psychology students yielded several scales with equidistant intervals. Researchers are encouraged to employ such Likert-type scales with interval levels of measurement and to validate them on the population being studied.

CBT Basics I is a psychoeducational group program originally developed as a pre-individual therapy introduction to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) skills for clients presenting with depression and/or anxiety disorders. We describe the development and content of this sixsession introductory CBT group and provide data from a 3-year pilot program. The results support the potential for symptom improvement and CBT skill acquisition, and provide preliminary evidence for the group's potential to enhance accessibility to CBT. Future directions for the development of this group are discussed, including expanding to a 10-session group model incorporating mindfulness meditation.