Theses and Dissertations - Department of Psychology

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The Role of Mental Imagery in the Free Recall of Deaf, Blind, and Normal Subjects
(University of Alabama Libraries, 1971) Craig, Ellis M.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
In recent years there has been increased concern with the functional significance of "mental imagery" in learning and memory. Prior to the advent of Behaviorism, mental imagery played a major role in the interpretation of such phenomena. However, the revolution in psychology which accompanied the acceptance of Behaviorism resulted in the banishment of imagery, attention, states of consciousness, and other "mentalistic" concepts. Although many factors were probably responsible for the recent reexamination of many of these areas, an altered philosophical climate was certainly important.
The Interaction of Locus of Control of Reinforcement and Frustration Effect
(University of Alabama Libraries, 1972) Serum, Camelia Sue; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
According to Amsel's theory of frustrative nonreward (Amsel, 1958), the frustration effect (FE) is manifested in more highly motivated behavior immediately subsequent to nonreward of a previously rewarded response. Moreover, an expectancy for reward must be established before the occurrence of nonreward will result in FE. Within the typical frustration research paradigm, expectancy is defined operationally and data on the relationship between FE and expectancy indicates that FE is a positive function of expectancy (Amsel & Hancock, 1957).
A Study of the Effects of an Affective Curriculum Program on the Awareness, Self-Concept, and Social Interaction of First Grade Students
(The University of Alabama, 1973) Sweaney, David R.
The past decade has witnessed an increasing interest in elementary school counseling programs. Although the geneses of this movement have come from many sources, the rationales and justifications for child counseling can be broken down into two major functions: (1) the prevention of maladjustment and (2) the development of human potential (Dimick & Huff, 1970). The need for a preventive approach is· painfully obvious. Everyday, newspapers report some antisocial act/ committed by a young person. It is not necessary to document the increase in crime, drug usage, violence, and general anomie among high school and college students~ The evidence is there for all to see. Mental disturbances incapacitate more people than all other health problems combined, and mental patients occupy more than half the country's hospital beds. What is even more frightening is the estimate that for each of those currently hospitalized for mental illness, at least twenty more are in need of psychiatric or psychological help (Coleman, 1964). For these people, most of whom were ones elementary school students, it is too late for preventive measures. Prevention must precede the symptom.
Reinforcer effectiveness of adult social approval of preschoolers as a function of the amount of previous disapproval
(1977) Nolan, William T.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The effectiveness of a reinforcer's control over an individual's behavior typically depends upon the contextual features of stimulus provision. The manipulation of these features may enhance or attenuate the effectiveness of the reinforcer being presented. The reinforcer which is being studied as a function of the manipulation of contextual features is referred to as the focal stimulus (Gewirtz,1972). Contextual qualifiers may operate concurrently or prior to the presentation of such a focal stimulus. Some contextual qualifiers of reinforcer efficacy may readily be interpretable as outcomes of learning, while others may have nothing to do with learning. Both sources of qualifiers may exist simultaneously and interact, the effect of the interaction possibly depending upon some other contextual condition. In general, stimulus functioning may also be affected by the presentation of contextual stimuli during a preliminary condition whether or not the stimuli presented and the focal stimulus are the same. Examples of preceding qualifiers include the conditioned value of a particular focal stimulus source, stimulus deprivation-satiation operations, and the delay between the preliminary condition and the criterion task. This dissertation sought to add relevant data about the effect of two contextual conditions on the effectiveness of an adult's approval in maintaining marble dropping behavior by preschoolers: (a) the frequency of preceding disapproving statements and (b) the delay-interval between the preliminary condition and the criterion task.
Partial helplessness conditioning as a possible etiological factor in psychopathy
(University of Alabama Libraries, 1989) Johnson, Tucker Dunlap; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The clinical syndrome characterized by chronic antisocial behavior is variously known as psychopathy, sociopathy, and antisocial personality disorder. The entrenched behavior patterns that hallmark this disorder result in numerous costs to society, not the least of which is criminal activity. Prevalence estimates of psychopathy within the prison population range as high as 75 percent (Mawson & Mawson, 1977); yet some investigators (e.g., Cleckley, 1976) maintain that many psychopaths are ingenious enough to avoid penal confinement. Thus these psychopaths continue unhindered in their unlawful exploits, while their incarcerated counterparts occupy expensive prisons.
Does nodding cause contagious agreement?: the influence of juror nodding on perceptions of expert witness testimony
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Simpson, Jolene Elizabeth; Brodsky, Stanley L.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The act of head nodding is thought to convey a signal of agreement and approval of a message (Helweg-Larson, Cunningham, Carrico, & Pergram, 2004; Stivers, 2008). Head nodding has also been shown to affect attitude change within an individual when the nodding was continuous at the rate of one nod per second (Wells & Petty, 1980; Brinol & Petty, 2003). Nodding may be particularly important in the courtroom environment where jury members can only communicate nonverbally. There are a number of anecdotal accounts of attorneys (Aron, Fast, & Klein, 1996) and expert witnesses looking to the head nodding of jurors as a signal of agreement with their position in a case; and it is often perceived as being an indicator that the juror who nodded will vote in a manner consistent with this position. Although the importance of nodding and the influence that nodding can have on attitude change has been established in the literature, what had not been investigated was the influence of juror nodding on the jurors around them. The present study examined the influence of varied amounts of head nodding by mock jurors on agreement with expert witness testimony and perceptions of expert credibility. The number of individuals instructed to nod was varied (i.e. 15 or 50 percent of individuals), and the jurors were instructed to only nod while the expert was speaking (N = 303). Results showed there were significant effects of nodding on ratings of expert credibility, and marked effects on ratings of agreement with the testimony of the expert, when the nodding was consistently performed. There was no effect of the number of individuals instructed to nod within a condition on the non-nodding participants, but there was an effect on those who had been instructed to nod that was consistent with correcting for perceived bias (Petty & Wegner, 1993). Need for cognition and locus of control variables were also measured. Implications of the study, including a discussion of the effect of changes to previous nodding paradigms, are included.
Language development in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders: investigating fast-mapping abilities and utilization of word learning constraints
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Williams, Amie M.; Klinger, Laura G.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Children with typical development utilize social-cognitive skills (e.g., joint attention, imitation) and word learning constraints to quickly learn new words (i.e., fast-map). However, few studies have investigated fast-mapping in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the effects that social-cognitive skills have on word learning. The objectives of the current study were to examine the following questions: (1) Do preschoolers with ASD and preschoolers with typical development fast-map at similar rates?; (2) Do preschoolers with ASD utilize word learning constraints?; and (3) What is the relationship between joint attention, imitation, and fast-mapping in preschoolers with ASD? Preschoolers with ASD and typical development completed a basic fast-mapping condition (i.e., the ability to link a novel label with a novel object) and 3 conditions measuring the uses of word learning constraints; (1) Mutual Exclusivity - examined the ability to assume that a novel label applies to a novel object; (2) Taxonomic - examined the ability to assume that novel labels extend to objects that are similar in shape; and (3) Whole-Object - examined the ability to assume that novel labels refer to whole objects. Various assessments measured language, joint attention, and imitation skills. Results revealed that children with ASD showed equivalent word learning to children with typical development in the basic fast-mapping condition. This intact word learning occurred despite significantly lower joint attention and imitation skills. However, children with ASD were less effective at using word learning constraints, showing significantly less word learning in these conditions than children with typical development. Further, while increased joint attention was related to performance in the mutual exclusivity and taxonomic constraints for both diagnostic groups, joint attention was only related to performance in the basic fast-mapping condition for children with typical development. Overall, preschoolers with ASD fast-mapped and learned new words in a similar manner to children with typical development, despite impairments in joint attention and imitation. However, children with ASD were less accurate at utilizing word learning constraints. Although research has emphasized the link between social-cognitive skills and language, the current study suggests that children with ASD may be utilizing alternative strategies or skills to increase their vocabulary.
Repetitive behaviors and anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) DeRamus, Michelle; Klinger, Laura G.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
There has been limited research on repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with little information about how repetitive behaviors in ASD differ from repetitive behaviors in other disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Further, there has been little research examining how repetitive behaviors are related to the social impairments characterizing ASD. This study examined the relation between repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and social problems in ASD, as well as symptoms that differentiate ASD and OCD. Parents of 49 children with ASD and 12 children with OCD completed interviews and surveys regarding their children's repetitive behaviors (Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; Repetitive Behaviors Scale - Revised), anxiety (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for Parents), and social impairment (Social Responsiveness Scale). Within the ASD group, approximately half of participants were reported to have clinically significant levels of anxiety. Mediation analyses provided some support for Baron-Cohen's (1989) model suggesting that social difficulties lead to anxiety, producing repetitive behaviors in individuals with ASD. However, there was more support for an alternate mediation model suggesting that anxiety leads to repetitive behaviors, creating social problems. Both models support theories suggesting that anxiety leads to repetitive behaviors in children with ASD. The current study provides converging evidence that anxiety is a significant clinical issue for many children with ASD and is related to core social symptoms. Multivariate analysis of variance and qualitative descriptions were used to compare children with ASD and children with OCD. Results indicated that the severity and frequency of most types of repetitive behaviors are comparable in children with ASD and children with OCD. However, differences were evident between groups on the number of obsessions (more in OCD) and on stereotyped and restricted behavior (greater frequency and severity in ASD). The distinction between groups on these symptoms suggests that they may be useful in differentiating ASD from other disorders. A significant number (74%) of children with ASD met criteria for OCD, suggesting that it may be appropriate to use both diagnoses in the same individual. This research has implications for our conceptualization of repetitive behaviors in ASD and our assessment and treatment of children with this disorder.
The use of social and temporal comparison to explore the process of quality of life evaluation in older adults
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Chandler, Joseph Francis; Snow, Andrea Lynn; DeCoster, Jamie; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
QOL measurement is an enormous field that spans multiple disciplines (Felce & Perry, 1995; Phillips, 2006). Calls for its unification, clarification, or abandonment have been common for nearly four decades (Abeles, Gift, & Ory, 1994; Rapley, 2003). Improving QOL conceptualization and measurement is an important endeavor because of the many ways in which QOL measures are used, and the significant effects of these QOL applications, including influencing decisions about drug efficacy and cost effectiveness, and subsequent health policy decisions. Amidst the hundreds of definitions and scales and thousands of published papers, QOL scientists agree that an individual's personal evaluative process is of utmost importance in the formulation of QOL. Yet, there have been few attempts to measure this process, and no attempts to manipulate it. This dissertation sought to examine, quantify, and manipulate a portion of the personal evaluative process in self-reporting an individual's QOL by examining it through the lens of social and temporal comparisons within the bounds of the WHOQOL-BREF. Using a mixed-methods approach, the results of this dissertation demonstrated that social and temporal comparisons play a significant role in the personal evaluative process of self-reporting QOL, and that manipulating what type of comparison an individual uses can significantly impact the numerical outcome of the WHOQOL-BREF. Results are discussed in terms of impact on the use of QOL as an outcome measure in research, policy, and practice.
Pre-treatment analysis of the demographic and psychosocial characteristics of rural Alabama patients with chronic pain
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Day, Melissa Anne; Thorn, Beverly E.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Rural residency and low socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with increased likelihood of chronic pain. Previous literature suggests numerous pain-related variables vary with age and sex, and research on pain and race indicates that African-Americans (AA) report greater pain in a variety of chronic pain conditions. SES, rurality, and race are correlated, and their impact on the experience of chronic pain is compounded by widespread treatment disparities. This study reports on the pre-treatment demographic and psychosocial characteristics of a virtually unstudied population of rural patients with chronic pain. One-hundred-and-six rural Alabama patients completed validated measures of pain, interference, perceived disability, depression, quality of life, and catastrophizing. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression analyses, and exploratory mediation analyses of their psychosocial measures and demographics are presented. Calculated means and standard deviations are reported in reference to published norms. Average age of study participants was 52-years, 78% were female, 77% were AA, 72% reported annual income between 00,000-12,999, and 60% were unemployed. Although average years of education were 12.40, average reading level percentile was 17.35. Results indicate that when the demographic variables are controlled for: 1)Depression significantly predicted quality of life; 2) Both pain intensity and depression predicted pain interference, and depression partially mediated the relation between pain intensity and pain interference; and 3) Pain intensity significantly predicted perceived disability. Surprisingly, none of the demographic variables nor catastrophizing significantly predicted the outcome variables. These preliminary analyses provide insight into demographic and psychosocial factors associated with chronic pain in a low-literacy, low-SES rural population.
Psychopathy and the role of anxiety in childhood populations
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Kubak, Franz Alexander; Salekin, Randall T.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The study examined the relationship between psychopathy and anxiety in 147 community boys. Children and their guardians completed self- and parent-report measures of child psychopathy (APSD) and child anxiety (MASC). In the literature, the psychopathy and anxiety association has been conceptualized as nonexistent, more a function of fearlessness, and a consequence of the impulsive lifestyle of psychopathy. The study suggested that anxiety may also be a reaction to fluctuating affective and interpersonal features that may diminish with age. Structural equation modeling was used to examine these hypotheses. The inverse relationship theory and the lifestyle consequence theory were not supported in the young (ages 8-14) community sample. However, the expected association with fearfulness and psychopathy was present, although it was limited to the impulsive lifestyle features. As posited, higher levels of self-report anxiety were associated with higher levels of psychopathy, including callous-emotional features. Age was not shown to be a significant moderator of the relationship. Regardless, there was a clear developmental distinction that conflicted with previous theory as well as the adult psychopathy literature. The current results suggest that anxiety may have important implications for the development and treatment of psychopathy in children.
Awareness of rhyme in children and adolescents with Down syndrome
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Moore, Marie; Conners, Frances A.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The aim of the present study was to measure rhyme awareness, along with alliteration and final phoneme detection, in a sample of children and adolescents with Down syndrome, compared with typically developing children of similar verbal mental age. Each phonological task was a judgment task requiring participants to decide whether two auditory words rhymed, alliterated, or shared the final phoneme. However, most participants with Down syndrome did not score above chance on a non phonological same different judgment control task. Although it was not possible to test the original hypotheses in this group, this finding is informative for future attempts to measure phonological skills in this population. Also, item analyses of data from typically developing children revealed specific performance patterns on the phonological tasks.
To flatter the jury: ingratiation effects during closing arguments
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Ziemke, Mitchell H.; Brodsky, Stanley L.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
ABSTRACT The current study investigated the effect of defense attorney ingratiation during closing arguments of criminal trials. Previous research has shown ingratiation to be a powerful tool of social persuasion across many different settings. In the current study, participants read a vignette of a criminal case and then saw a videotaped presentation of closing arguments from actors portraying the prosecutor and defense attorneys. The defense attorney's closing argument contained either no, low, moderate or high levels of ingratiation. Results revealed that ingratiation had a significant effect on juror ratings of attorney attractiveness, trustworthiness, likeability, confidence, and overall credibility. As ingratiation increased ratings of attractiveness, trustworthiness, likeability and credibility increased whereas ratings of confidence decreased. Ingratiation did not significantly affect ratings of guilt directly; however, the relationship between ingratiation and guilt was significantly mediated by ratings of attorney attractiveness, trustworthiness, and confidence. Higher levels of these traits significantly lowered mock-jurors' ratings of the defendant's guilt. Finally, contrary to expectations, analyses revealed that self-esteem, self-efficacy, and the personality domains of extraversion and neuroticism were unrelated to ratings of attorney characteristics. The personality domains of openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were able to significantly predict ratings of several attorney characteristics. Implications for the use of ingratiation during closing arguments of trials are discussed.
Predictors of coping success in children with functional abdominal pain: the influence of executive function and attention regulation
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Hocking, Matthew; Lochman, John E.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Theoretical models of adjustment to chronic illness underscore the influence of executive function and attention regulation in children's coping attempts, yet few studies have investigated the relations between these neurocognitive variables, coping and adjustment. This study examined the role of executive function and attention regulation in coping and its effect on pain and functional disability in 44 children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain. Participants and their caregivers completed measures of executive function, attention regulation, coping, and several outcome variables including pain, functional disability, and anxiety. Results revealed significant relations between selective attention abilities and two different approaches to coping with the stressor of abdominal pain episodes. Executive function and attention regulation did not directly or indirectly affect levels of pain or functional disability. Support was found for the indirect effects of selective attention on anxiety through cognitive coping strategies. This study highlights the role of neurocognitive variables in coping and provides a framework for future research.
A self-help behavioral activation treatment for geriatric depressive symptoms
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Moss, Kathryn Sara; Scogin, Forrest Ray; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The present study investigated behavioral activation (BA)bibliotherapy as a treatment for late-life depressive symptoms. BA bibliotherapy was administered using Addis and Martell's (2004) Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time as a stand-alone treatment that was completed by participants over a 4-week period. Results of an immediate intervention group were compared with those of a delayed treatment control group and treatment response for both groups was evaluated at 1-month follow-up. Results showed that symptoms on a clinician-rated measure of depression were significantly lower at post-treatment for those who received immediate BA bibliotherapy compared with those who were in the delayed treatment control condition. However, differences between groups at this period on a self-reported measure of depressive symptoms were not significant. Within-subjects analyses examining both treatment groups combined showed that clinician-rated depressive symptoms significantly decreased from pre-treatment to both post-treatment and 1-month follow-up. Self-reported depressive symptoms were significantly lower, and self-reported engagement in pleasant events was significantly higher, from pre-treatment to 1-month follow-up. These findings suggest that BA may be useful in treating mild or subthreshold depressive symptoms in an older adult population.
Effects of a psychosocial intervention on eating behavior compliance in bariatric surgery patients
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Boeka, Abbe; Prentice-Dunn, Steven; Lokken, Kristine L.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Obesity is a leading cause of preventable death in America and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Given the medical and psychosocial consequences of obesity, surgical intervention for weight loss ("bariatric" surgery) is now considered a viable option. Although the initial success rate of bariatric surgery is high, sustained weight loss requires adherence to strict post-surgical guidelines. There is increasing evidence that a percentage of patients have difficulties adhering to the post-surgical guidelines, with reemergence of poor eating habits (overeating, binge eating) being a major contributing factor. Recurrence of such eating habits can be detrimental to successful weight loss after surgery. Given the difficulties many patients face after surgery, it is possible that the typical post-surgical eating behavior guidelines presented to bariatric surgery patients are ineffective in motivating some individuals to comply. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), a model that specifies the components of health messages that increase compliance with a health behavior, has been proven to be a reliable model for creating health promotion messages. The present study utilized a PMT-based intervention directed at patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Eighty-two obese individuals seeking surgical treatment of obesity were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were divided into two groups: PMT vs. Control. In addition to routine messages from the bariatric surgeon, participants in the PMT group received an intervention focused on the importance of adhering to post-surgical eating behavior guidelines and how best to adhere to these guidelines. This intervention was in the form of lectures, guided readings, and participant discussion. Participants in the control group received standard of care information from the bariatric surgeon. Those participants who had bariatric surgery during the time frame of the study were followed after surgery to assess post-surgical eating habits and weight loss. Results indicated that overall, the PMT intervention did not have a significant impact. However, follow-up analyses indicated that perceived self-efficacy and perceived threat of not following the guidelines may predict patients' intentions to comply with post-surgical guidelines. In addition, perceived self-efficacy was found to be a significant predictor of post-surgical weight loss. Findings are discussed in terms of the methodological compromises that resulted from the applied research setting as well as promising avenues for future investigation.
Gender disparity in the prediction of recidivism: the accuracy of the LSI-R modified
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Evans, Stephanie Ann; Salekin, Karen L.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
During the last 50 years, the rate at which females enter the correctional system has increased exponentially. Despite this influx, risk assessment instruments remain geared toward male offenders. The Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) is considered by some to be one of the most predictive and comprehensive risk instruments, but critics assert that this instrument neglects risk factors salient for female offenders. This study examined whether modifying the LSI-R to assess gender responsive variables (i.e., victimization, economic marginality, and "gendered" substance abuse) would result in an improved assessment of recidivism risk over the original LSI-R. Participants were 37 male and 26 female offenders incarcerated at community corrections centers and county jails in a southeastern state. The study found that the inclusion of all the gender responsive crime variables did not increase the predictive accuracy of the LSI-R. However, the victimization domain performed better than the other gender responsive variables in increasing the predictive accuracy of the LSI-R, while not impacting the predictive accuracy for male offenders. Furthermore, the victimization domain accounted for a significant amount of variability in the rearrest status, of both male and female offenders, above and beyond that predicted by the LSI-R risk score. Implications regarding the assessment of dynamic victimization factors in risk evaluation practices are discussed.
The relation between Alzheimer's disease caregiving status, health-related possible selves, and health behaviors
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Haley, Philip P.; Allen, Rebecca S.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
Possible selves are personalized representations of the self in the future that may motivate individuals to strive toward desired states and avoid feared outcomes. Possible selves have been explored among many populations but have not been investigated among Alzheimer's disease caregivers. In this study, the health-related possible selves of two groups were compared: individuals caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, and individuals who are not caring for anyone with Alzheimer's disease. It was hypothesized that an individual's status as an Alzheimer's caregiver would increase the likelihood of having possible selves related to the development of Alzheimer's disease. It was also hypothesized that caregivers would engage in health behaviors at a lower rate than non-caregivers. Thirty-one non-caregivers and 18 Alzheimer's disease caregivers participated in this study. Caregivers were significantly younger and tended to be White, while non-caregivers were significantly older and tended to be African American. After controlling for age and race, results did not support the hypotheses regarding group differences. However, White participants were more likely to report possible selves related to Alzheimer's disease than were African American participants. Limitations of the current study, as well as implications for future studies, are discussed.
Computer-mediated persuasion: emoticons as a proxy for nonverbal behavior
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Muscanell, Nicole Lori; Guadagno, Rosanna E.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The current research examined whether or not emoticons (in this case, smiley faces) could be used as proxies for nonverbal behavior when inserted into email discussions. Specifically, previous research has suggested that women who are more communal and focused on forming interpersonal bonds may not be able to form such bonds easily when communicating via email due to the lack of nonverbal cues (Guadagno & Cialdini, 2002; 2007). It was predicted that by inserting emoticons into a persuasive email communication, women would be more open to persuasion compared to women who saw no emoticons, whereas we did not expect this to matter for men. A total of 98 (47 men, 51 women) undergraduate students completed the study. Contrary to predictions, results indicated that using a verbal equivalent of the emoticon in an email discussion actually produced more favorability towards the message for both men and women. Additionally, results indicated that individuals' level of femininity predicted attitude towards the topic. Also, the verbal equivalent proxy affected positive mood, which may also help explain the results. Implications for persuasion vial email will be discussed.
Evaluation of a brief behavioral activation therapy for depression (BATD) group protocol in an inpatientgeriatric psychiatry facility
(University of Alabama Libraries, 2010) Norton, Misti Johnson; Crowther, Martha R.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
The present study examined the effect of a modified Brief Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD: Lejuez, Hopko, & Hopko) intervention added to hospital treatment as usual on depressive symptoms (measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale) and global psychopathology (measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory) at a state-run inpatient geriatric psychiatry facility. A control group received hospital treatment as usual only. The intervention was conducted in a group therapy format. Assessments were conducted at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention. Although results revealed that the intervention did not have a significant effect on depressive symptoms or global psychopathology over and above the effects of hospital treatment as usual, this study was limited by various logistical barriers to implementing the intervention. Treatment implementation data revealed that patient attendance at groups, patient understanding of intervention materials, and patient enactment of treatment concepts in their daily lives were below expectation. Future studies should focus on increasing patient receipt and enactment of the intervention to ensure fair tests of behavioral activation interventions in this setting.

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