Intrusive thoughts are variously reported as images, thoughts, doubts, impulses etc. Recent accounts of emotional processing make important distinctions between cognitive activity in verbal form and images. The comparison of verbal intrusions and images was made on archival data about intrusive cognitions from 628 university students. Images and doubts (a verbal form) occurring together were perceived as more difficult to dismiss than either images or doubts alone. In addition, images and doubts together were more frequent, more probable, and required more effort to counter than images alone. Likewise, images and doubts together and doubts alone were more worrisome and more frequently triggered by various stimuli than images alone. These results suggest that cognitive intrusions identified as a mixture of doubts and images are qualitatively different and more troublesome than those identified as either doubts or images. These findings are discussed in terms of current accounts of emotional processing.

A number of studies have indicated that the right hemisphere is specialized for (negative) emotions. Some authors have suggested that this specialization stems from the cognitive characteristics of this hemisphere. More specifically, the verbal and analytic approach that characterizes left hemisphere functioning would inhibit emotional reactions, whereas the imaginal and global approach that characterizes right hemisphere functioning would facilitate emotional reactivity. The present study examined whether these two cognitive strategies have, indeed, different effects on emotional responsivity. Subjects were exposed to a series of aversive slides. One group (n = 14) was instructed to process the slides in a verbal/analytic manner. The second group (n = 14) employed an imaginal/global strategy while viewing the slides. The third group (n = 14) was a control group that received no explicit instructions. Self-reported emotions, skin conductance responses, heart rate frequency, and eye blink startles were recorded. There were no differences between the three groups with regard to any of these variables. Thus, no evidence was obtained to support the idea that processing modes (i.e., verbal/analytic versus imaginal/global) have a differential impact on emotional reactivity. The implications for theories about lateralization of emotions and for cognitive therapy are discussed.

In the last 10 years, as part of the push towards greater community provision of services for the psychiatrically disabled in the UK, assessment has assumed a prominent position. A variety of different assessment instruments have been employed, including assessment of patient attitudes and opinions, of the environment, social networks and basic living skills (Carson, 1991; TAPS, 1992). Amongst the differing assessment types, behaviour rating scales have a distinct contribution. They are particularly applicable to group settings such as hostels or hospital wards and have the advantage of being objective, behavioural, able to measure change in functioning over time or due to some intervention; and most importantly, they yield numerical scores which can be assessed against “hard data” in the form of norms or scores from other populations, especially those from other countries.

Recent advances have been made in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cognitive behavioural techniques have been reported in controlled trials to be very effective in reducing arousal symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, such as sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. It remains unclear from the literature, however, how well these treatment modalities can alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder where the predominant clinical features are associated with depersonalization and dissociative states. Depersonalization is evident in a significant proportion of individuals presenting with PTSD and yet does not appear to be amenable to exposure based therapies. A case study presented suggests methods through which depersonalization may be addressed within the therapeutic context.

In a rejoinder to a recent paper in this journal (Day et al., 1993) based on the “Two Plus One Model”, this article attempts to point out a number of important self-contradictions and flaws within the “two plus one” approach. These problems have a bearing on its claims to be a new and efficient way of utilising clinical resources.

A questionnaire survey of a random sample of the members of the BABP (N = 191) served to clarify the relationship between research and practice in behavioural psychotherapy in the UK. The predicted gap between research and practice was only obtained in one of eight targeted areas, i.e. training. Overall, this indicated that behavioural practitioners were conforming to the standards set out in behavioural research. However, as the research standards were not challenging, it is argued that theory provides a better benchmark against which to judge practice. This leads to the view that considerable progress remains to be made, particularly in terms of becoming more environmental in the formulation and treatment of problems, and in becoming more objective and systematic in measuring such problems. Developments in the analysis of practitioner behaviour should, it is suggested, form the basis of more effective training and contingency management, in relation to behavioural practice.

A 38 year old patient with auditory hallucinations was treated with a brief cognitive-behavioural intervention without concurrent medication. This intervention was based upon the theory of Bentall (1990a, b) and the methods of Haddock, Bentall and Slade (1993). The patient's ratings for frequency of hallucinations and distress caused were significantly reduced at end of treatment, and her belief in the reality of these voices was correspondingly diminished. These gains were maintained at one and three month follow-up.