We used a negative priming paradigm to test for deficits in cognitive inhibition in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and to examine whether they exhibit greater inhibitory deficits when lexical targets are threat-related than when they are neutral. The results indicated that OCD patients, relative to healthy control participants, exhibited only marginally significant (p < .10) deficits in negative priming at short (100 ms), but not long (500 ms), stimulus onset asynchronies. There was no evidence that OCD patients exhibited disproportionate difficulty inhibiting negative words, nor was there any evidence that negative priming deficits differed between OCD checkers and OCD noncheckers.

The aim of this paper was to determine the features of pathological gamblers who dropped out of the treatment or relapsed within a one year follow-up period. The sample consisted of 69 patients selected according to DSM-IV criteria. Results indicated that the only difference between the patients who dropped out of treatment and the ones who completed was the level of state-anxiety. The former were more anxious than the latter. Predictive variables for the therapeutic failure were the dissatisfaction with the treatment, the high level of alcohol consumption, and the neuroticism as a personality variable. Implications of the study for clinical practice and future research in this field are commented upon.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of a range of trauma responses and has claimed the most therapeutic attention, but other post-traumatic states are probably, collectively, as common and produce a comparable level of functional impairment. It is suggested that in accordance with the cognitive theory of emotional disorders (Alford & Beck, 1997) the post-traumatic states are distinguished by differing cognitive content. Further, it is suggested that PTSD clients have particular information processing biases and those with a chronic form of the condition have a cognitive profile similar to those with a personality disorder. The differing cognitive architecture amongst the post-traumatic states suggests different treatment focii (Scott & Stradling, 2001).

This study (part of a larger one whose main outcomes were reported by Marks, Lovell, Noshirvani, Thrasher, & Livanou, 1998) investigated the impact of exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring alone and combined on the individual symptoms of PTSD and on associated features. Exposure therapy was expected to act mainly on fear and avoidance, and cognitive restructuring mainly on detachment, restricted range of affect, and associated features of PTSD. Seventy-seven PTSD outpatients were randomly allocated to one of four treatments: 1) exposure alone; 2) cognitive restructuring alone; 3) combined exposure and cognitive restructuring; or 4) relaxation (placebo control). The active treatments were superior to relaxation in improving clusters of PTSD symptoms and associated features and some but not all individual symptoms and associated features of PTSD. Exposure and cognitive restructuring improved almost all individual symptoms similarly.

This study investigated the effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention for people with panic disorder. Twenty-two participants met criteria for panic disorder and were randomly assigned to either the treatment or a self-monitoring control condition. The study took place over 3 weeks and consisted of one week of self-monitoring prior to the intervention group accessing the program for one week, followed by one week of post-intervention assessment. Participants were assessed on measures pertaining to panic, negative affect, body vigilance, anxiety sensitivity and self-efficacy in managing panic. The treatment condition was associated with significant reductions in all variables except anxiety sensitivity and depressive affect. This type of intervention for people with fearful panic attacks holds promise as an efficacious and economical method for treating spontaneous panic.

Thank you to all those who participated in the review process for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy during 2000.