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Introduction
Education
August 1973 - December 1976
July 1972 - June 1973
August 1969 - April 1972
Publications
Publications (108)
The current study was conducted to increase understanding of how emotion dysregulation influences postcombat functioning. We hypothesized that more severe difficulties with emotion regulation would relate to worse postcombat adaptation (measured via posttraumatic stress symptom [PTS] severity and quality of life [QOL]) through negative influence on...
This study identifies risk factors for grief following a mass school shooting. Participants (N = 1,013) completed online questionnaires 3-4 months (Time 1) and 1 year (Time 2) post-shootings. We tested models predicting Time 2 grief reactions, exploring direct and indirect predictive effects of exposure variables (physical and social proximity) thr...
The current perspective offers advances in contextualizing and conceptualizing returning combat veteran obstacles, with a focus on cynical worldview development, function, and consequences. Specifically, the current theory describes military training and culture focused on promoting survival and mission completion through developing an effective, c...
Helping children, adolescents, and families displaced following a natural disaster is a daunting task made more challenging by the relatively small research base to inform services and interventions. This paper describes the current literature pertaining to intervention practices used with displaced youth. Where gaps in the literature exist, we pul...
This case study aims to provide evidence for the effectiveness of adapting a particular manualized cognitive behavioral therapy intervention to treat co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This study presents the treatment of a woman who experienced co-occurring mTBI and PTSD following a motor vehi...
Anger is a pervasive problem following traumatic events. Previous research has demonstrated a moderate relationship between anger and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet findings also highlight that anger has not been rigorously measured in the context of PTSD. Thus, this study concerns the development of a complimentary measure to assess ang...
This study tested social cognitive theory of posttraumatic adaptation in the context of mass violence, hypothesizing that pre-event protective factors (general self-efficacy and perceived social support) would reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and depression severity through boosting post-event coping self-efficacy appraisals (mediator)....
Objective:
Network analysis is a useful tool for understanding how symptoms interact with one another to influence psychopathology. However, this analytic strategy has not been fully utilized in the PTSD field. The current study utilized network analysis to examine connectedness and strength among PTSD symptoms (employing both partial correlation...
Although the linkage between PTSD symptoms and aggression has been demonstrated among victims of interpersonal traumas, this relationship is rarely examined among child survivors of other traumas. This study was conducted to examine the association between posttraumatic stress symptoms and aggression among 135 children who survived a residential fi...
Epidemiological research conducted in the wake of disasters has demonstrated low rates of mental health (MH) treatment service utilization and high rates of treatment drop-out among those in need of MH services. This chapter explores possible mechanisms that determine MH service utilization related to intraindividual, interpersonal, and sociocontex...
Trauma exposure heightens the risk of reckless behavior and is now included in DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology. Individuals exposed to trauma may be likely to engage in reckless behavior because of negative changes in their worldview (referred to as disrupted worldview). The current study investigates the relationship between DSM...
Theory highlights forgiveness as a dynamic process that unfolds over time, as well as a potential target for posttrauma therapy. Longitudinal research, however, is nonexistent in the trauma literature. Further, the adaptation of forgiveness for understanding mass violent events has yet to be tested. The current study examined a theory-based hypothe...
This study tested a conceptual model merging anxiety buffer disruption and social– cognitive theories to predict persistent grief severity among students who lost a close friend, significant other, and/or professor/teacher in tragic university campus shootings. A regression-based path model tested posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom severity 3 to 4...
In the presented case, Daryl experienced 12 hr of uncertainty regarding the safety of a friend before learning the friend was killed during the April 16th shootings at Virginia Tech. Treatment began 4 years following the shootings. Daryl has two previous premature terminations, was treatment resistant, and at high risk for dropping out. Prolonged e...
Background:
Theory and evidence link social support processes and self-efficacy appraisals in the promotion of adaptation following traumatic events. Dynamic causal processes, however, have not been examined longitudinally or in the context of mass-violence. This study tested whether quantity of social support seeking indirectly reduced distress s...
Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and physical health outcomes are three of the most common health outcomes evaluated for trauma survivors and several lines of empirical and meta-analytic research have demonstrated many risk factors for PTSD. Further, examining trauma survivors’ responses through a resilience orientation...
Pediatric traumatic brain injury is a significant public health concern affecting hundreds of thousands of children each year. The majority of children who sustain traumatic brain injuries are classified as having a mild traumatic brain injury, and a subset of these children go on to experience persistent physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms...
The link between trauma and posttraumatic stress has been well-established; however, less is known about the relationship between trauma and resiliency. Traditionally, resilience has been defined as behavioral competence and adaptation following a stressful event. The purpose of this study was to examine resilience, as measured by both internal and...
Brief and age-appropriate measures of trauma-related symptoms are useful for identifying children in need of clinical services. The current study examines the psychometric properties of the 23-item Child’s Reaction to Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CRTES-R). The CRTES-R includes subscales assessing hyperarousal, avoidance and intrusion. To date, n...
This case study discusses the treatment of an emergency responder to the 2007 shooting on Virginia Tech's campus where 33 students and faculty members were killed. After a thorough assessment, prolonged exposure (PE) was used to treat the emergency worker, referred to as Jack, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Assessment measures administer...
There has been a considerable amount of research demonstrating links between disasters and negative life events, PTSD symptoms, and psychological distress in youth. Sociodemographic variables, such as race and gender, influence the expression of trauma and anxiety following disaster events. The current study sought to explore relationships among co...
Children’s reactions to residential fires were explored using a qualitative methodology. Forty-four children (n = 44) between the ages of 6 and 18 (23 female and 21 male) participated. The youth were interviewed using two instruments that assessed levels of psychological distress and explored their perceptions regarding their experiences of the fir...
The close interplay between mental health and physical health makes it critical to integrate mental and behavioral health considerations into all aspects of public health and medical disaster management. Therefore, the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) convened the Disaster Mental Health Subcommittee to assess the progress of the US Departme...
In substantial numbers of affected populations, disasters adversely affect well-being and influence the development of emotional problems and dysfunctional behaviors. Nowhere is the integration of mental and behavioral health into broader public health and medical preparedness and response activities more crucial than in disasters such as the 2009-...
On the morning of Monday, April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech (VT) student Sueng Hui Cho shot and killed 2 students in a campus dormitory, West Ambler Johnston Hall. In a separate incident, approximately two hours later, he killed 30 students and faculty members in Norris Hall, an academic building. Cho wounded seventeen other students and faculty member...
On April 16, 2007, in the worst campus shooting incident in U.S. history, 49 students and faculty at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) were shot, of whom 32 were killed. A cross-sectional survey of 4,639 Virginia Tech students was carried out the following summer/fall to assess PTSD symptoms using the Trauma Screen...
This case study describes the treatment of a female psychology graduate student, referred to as Mary, who presented with complaints of “mild symptoms of depression and a lack of motivation.” It was revealed that Mary had been sexually assaulted 4 years before presenting for therapy and was diagnosed with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder...
To examine patterns and predictors of trends in DSM-IV serious emotional disturbance (SED) among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina.
A probability sample of adult pre-hurricane residents of the areas affected by Katrina completed baseline and follow-up telephone surveys 18 to 27 months post-hurricane and 12 to 18 months later. Baseline adult respo...
To estimate the prevalence of serious emotional disturbance (SED) among children and adolescents exposed to Hurricane Katrina along with the associations of SED with hurricane-related stressors, sociodemographics, and family factors 18 to 27 months after the hurricane.
A probability sample of prehurricane residents of areas affected by Hurricane Ka...
Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters the United States has ever encountered. Although many
were adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina, this chapter focuses on children and the role traumatic events can play on their
mental health. The chapter begins with an overview of the immediate and ongoing efforts of the first...
This special issue of Traumatology focuses on the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. It took place on April 16, 2007, at Virginia Tech University. The focus of this special issue is on how members of the Virginia Tech community of faculty and students from a variety of disciplines experienced, responded to, and considered—personally and profe...
The present article describes the events of April 16, 2007, from the author's perspective. Initial steps, including interaction with graduate students, community partners, and university administrations are detailed. Additionally, the development of a working model to guide mental health efforts in both the university and local community is describ...
The landfall of Hurricane Katrina marked not only one of the most significant and destructive natural disasters for the United States in recent history, but also a new benchmark in challenges faced by psychologists providing services. The authors explain their roles following the hurricane, describing not only local activities for recovery but effo...
Uncertainty exists about the prevalence, severity, and correlates of mental disorders among people exposed to Hurricane Katrina.
To estimate the prevalence and associations between DSM-IV anxiety-mood disorders and hurricane-related stressors separately among prehurricane residents of the New Orleans metropolitan area and the remainder of the areas...
Individuals who experience a traumatic event are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present investigation examined (1) the relationship between PTSD symptoms and perceived injury sustained during a traumatic event, and (2) the moderational roles of the survivor’s coping behaviors and perceived support on the injury-PTSD...
To estimate the impact of Hurricane Katrina on mental illness and suicidality by comparing results of a post-Katrina survey with those of an earlier survey.
The National Comorbidity Survey-Replication, conducted between February 2001 and February 2003, interviewed 826 adults in the Census Divisions later affected by Hurricane Katrina. The post-Katr...
Despite the proliferation of longitudinal trauma research, careful attention to timing of assessments is often lacking. Patterns in timing of assessments, alternative time structures, and the treatment of time as an outcome are discussed and illustrated using trauma data.
Recent studies of children and adolescents who have experienced a residential, industrial, or wild fire have suggested a causal link between fire disaster and PTSD related psychological distress. Not everyone, however, is equally affected by the stress of experiencing such an event, and the role of coping in this process may be an important mediati...
Although a growing number of investigations have targeted technological and natural disasters involving children and adolescents (e.g., kidnappings, shootings, accidents, wars, fires, hurricanes), little is known about the influence of specific risk factors on functioning post-disaster. A number of basic questions are yet to be fully addressed, inc...
In this study, we explored relations among negative life events, negative attributional style, avoidant coping, and level of fear in 99 children who had survived residential fires. Overall, negative life events, negative attributional style, and avoidant coping were found to be predictive of levels of fear. However, the relation between negative li...
Thirty adults'' psychosocial maladjustment associated with a wildfire were systematically examined,one and a half months after a major wildfire destroyed 420 homes. The level of psychopathology was determined through the use of standardized assessment instruments, including the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and the Impact of Events Scale. Victims''...
Six weeks following a major wildfire, children's psychosocial functioning was examined. Employing a multimethod assessment approach, the short-term mental health consequences of the fire were evaluated. Individual adjustment was compared between families who reported high levels of loss as a result of the fire (high-loss group) and families who rep...
Focuses on how residential fires affect children and adolescents. Considering how frequently residential fires occur, surprisingly little research has been conducted on children's reactions to this form of disaster or on psychosocial interventions following fires. The authors provide an overview of existing research and describe early results from...
This chapter provides the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a residential fire fatality. Firesetting has become a major problem among juveniles in the United States. Rate of juvenile arson reports are continuing to increase while other crimes such as murder and aggravated assault are on the decline for juveniles. Firesett...
In this study, we explored relations among negative life events, negative attributional style, avoidant coping, and level of fear in 99 children who had survived residential fires. Overall, negative life events, negative attributional style, and avoidant coping were found to be predictive of levels of fear. However, the relation between negative li...
The impact of Hurricane Andrew on 212 African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic elementary and middle school children was examined at 6 months postdisaster. Using self-report instruments, this case study examined the predictive utility of several hypothesized mediators of children's reactions to disaster. Results showed higher levels of intrusive s...
Research suggests that the academic performance and psychological adaptation of African-American students on a predominantly White university setting is impacted by specific, unique cultural factors (i.e., sociocultural orientation and minority status stress). This investigation involved a test of a model examining the extent to which sociocultural...
Fifty-six fourth-grade children participated in this study to assess three training procedures for relative effectiveness in acquiring fire emergency skills and attaining knowledge. The first training approach was behavioral, the second used animated graphics, and the third used still graphics. Each of the training groups was compared to a control...
This study examined the impact of two treatment strategies on children's drug refusal skills and drug-related information. Thirty-four third-graders were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rehearsal-plus group were taught drug knowledge, assertiveness skills, decision-making skills, elaborative rehearsal (rationale), and specific drug refusa...
Fifty-two third-grade children were assessed for the relative effectiveness of active and passive training in acquiring emergency coping skills. Active training consisted of videotaped modeling, plus rehearsal with feedback and reinforcement. Passive training consisted of videotaped modeling and passive rehearsal. Behavioral and self-report measure...
This study examined the extent of children's and adolescents' psychosocial maladjustment associated with a natural disaster, namely, wildfire. The course of psychopathology was assessed six weeks after a major wildfire destroyed 420 homes. Victims' functioning relative to a comparison group from the same community, matched for age, gender, socioeco...
The relative impact of two experimental conditions—rehearsal-plus and behavioral rehearsal—was assessed to determine their influence on acquiring and maintaining fire evacuation skills, as well as reducing fire-related fears. These experimental conditions were compared with two control groups, attention control and wait-list control. The subjects w...
Examined the impact of two treatment strategies on children's drug refusal skills and drug-related information. Fifty-seven third graders were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rehearsal-plus, general information, and control. Children in the rehearsal-plus group were taught drug knowledge, assertiveness skills, decision-making skills, rati...
Accidents are the leading cause of death among children. While there exist a variety of causes of accidents ranging from automobiles to playground equipment, a major source of accidents is fire. More specifically, burn injuries account for 15% of all accidental injuries among individuals admitted to hospitals for burns and scalds (Accident Facts, N...
This investigation examined the effectiveness of three training procedures (elaborative rehearsal, rehearsal-plus, and behavioral rehearsal) in producing children's acquisition and maintenance of fire safety skills, as well as knowledge of fire safety skills. In addition, reduction of fire-related fears was targeted. Fifty-two randomly assigned sec...
Behavior of children, adolescents, and adults during and after a residential fire was objectively assessed. Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences of the nighttime residential fire immediately and 1 month following the fire were obtained. Also, the extent of agreement between children/adolescent and adult functioning was determined. Eight childre...
The effectiveness of a short-term prevention program to increase drug refusal behavior in a school-age population was assessed.
Forty-two third-grade children were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rehearsal-plus, traditional, or attention control.
Children in the rehearsal-plus group were taught specific drug refusal techniques and appropr...
Investigated the influence of training on the acquisition and retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills by 38 sixth-grade children. Three training methods were compared: precise elaboration, imprecise elaboration, and maintenance rehearsal. Each of these methods was coupled with behavioral training and compared to a no-treatment contr...
The term accident has traditionally implied that injuries are random, unavoidable, and unpreventable, or acts of God. By contrast, the term nonintentional injuries implies that injuries are predictable and quantifiable and may be prevented. Several investigators have argued that the distinction of these two concepts in many cases is relative rather...
Two training procedures (behavioral rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal) were assessed for relative effectiveness in the acquisition of fire emergency skills, and for reducing fear associated with being in fires. Both trained groups were also compared to untrained controls. We predicted that behavioral and elaborative rehearsal would lead to compar...
Three training procedures (behavioral, elaborative-behavioral, elaborative) were assessed for relative effectiveness in the acquisition of fire emergency skills, and attainment of knowledge. Each of the training groups was compared to attention and notreatment control groups. We hypothesized that the elaborative-behavioral condition would produce t...
We assessed the relative efficacy of two training procedures on children's acquisition and retention of fire emergency skills and ascertained their effectiveness in reducing children's fear of fire. Forty-eight second and third graders were assigned randomly to one of the four groups: fire safety, fire safety/fear reduction, attention control, and...
Three experiments were carried out to teach children how to respond to home emergencies. Experiment 1 compared the effectiveness of three training procedures, self-instruction training/ self-reward, self-instructional training/ external-reward, and behavioral training, in the acquisition and maintenance of emergency telephone-dialing skills. While...
This study investigated the effects of behavioral training on the acquisition, maintenance, and transfer of fire evacuation skills with mentally retarded adult subjects. Four subjects residing in a moderately supervised community living setting were taught to evacuate their apartments in the event of fire emergencies. A multiple baseline design acr...
This study investigated the effects of behavioral training on the acquisition, maintenance, and transfer of fire evacuation skills with mentally retarded adult subjects. Four subjects residing in a moderately supervised community living setting were taught to evacuate their apartments in the event of fire emergencies. A multiple baseline design acr...
Amplitude changes in the auditory event related response reflect differences in linguistic content and the level of processing of spoken sentences. Thus, the neurophysiology of the cognitive processes underlying speech perception can be evaluated by noninvasive techniques. Semantically correct, semantically incorrect, and grammatically incorrect se...
Describes the potential impact of a prevention model on reducing unintentional childhood injuries. Following a review of major childhood injuries and related risk factors, a complementary prevention model is elucidated. The model borrows heavily from prevention, behavioral, and community psychology frameworks. An application of the model is present...
Within the context of a behavioral training strategy the relative effectiveness of two training procedures (rationale vs. no rationale) was assessed in the development and maintenance of fire emergency skills. Additionally, the impact of behavioral practice versus verbal practice across each type of rationale was examined. A total of 60 second, thi...
This investigation was designed to ascertain the effects of instructions, criterion setting, and the presence of tangible rewards on the self-reinforcement process. Fifty-two third- and fourth-grade subjects were assigned to one of four treatment groups: (a) stringent instructions/criterion setting/tangible reward, (b) stringent instructions/criter...
The comparative effectiveness of external and self-instruction procedures in training children to perform emergency fire responses and establishing maintenance of correct responding was examined. Forty-seven children were divided into three groups—external instruction (n=15), self-instruction (n=16), and control (n=16). All three groups were tested...
The efficacy of group emergency fire-safety skills training for blind adolescents was examined. Eight subjects in a residential school were trained to respond to an emergency fire situation under simulated conditions. The intervention consisted of instructions, explicit corrective feedback, behavior rehearsal, social and token reinforcement, and ve...
The present study examined the effects of a multiple-component emergency fire-safety skills program for blind adolescents. Four subjects in a residential school for blind children were trained to respond correctly to four emergency fire situations under simulated conditions. In addition, response maintenance was systematically programmed to ensure...
A study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of two procedures (1) in training children to perform sequences of emergency fire responses and (2) in facilitating long-term maintenance of correct responses. Subjects, 47 black third-grade children, were divided into external instruction, self-instruction, and control groups. In the self-inst...
The present study investigated maintenance of responding by severely to moderately mentally retarded subjects following behavioral training of socially validated methods of exiting from a burning house. Four subjects in a community living arrangement were taught methods of exiting the house in fire emergency situations via a multiple baseline desig...
As the preceding chapter demonstrates, the black child’s academic performance may be negatively influenced by a host of factors, ranging from personal variables to teacher expectations. Given the fact that academic performance is of major importance in predicting future success, methods of mitigating the influence of these factors are essential. Th...
During the past decade, research and practice in the field of behavior modification have experienced phenomenal growth. Behavioral inter vention strategies that were considered strictly experimental a few years ago are now accepted therapeutic modalities, and behavioral method ology has been instrumental in creating an atmosphere conducive to the...
This investigation represents a follow-up assessment of children's responses 9 months after termination of a multifaceted behavioral procedure designed to teach how to exit a burning house. In the initial program, five children were trained in socially validated methods of responding to several simulated home emergency fire situations. Marked chang...