Papers by michael christopher
Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2004
This article provides an overview of cultural considerations when providing disaster relief.
EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing, 2015
A growing body of literature suggests that mindfulness techniques may be beneficial in fibromyalg... more A growing body of literature suggests that mindfulness techniques may be beneficial in fibromyalgia. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of six trials indicated improvement in depressive symptoms and quality of life, calling for increased rigor and use of standardized measures in future trials. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness [as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)] and fibromyalgia impact [as measured by the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR)]. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia from a national fibromyalgia advocacy foundation e-mail list. A total of 4986 respondents represented all 50 states in the United States and 30 countries. FIQR scores demonstrated moderate to severe fibromyalgia with the majority of subjects (59%) scoring ≤60. Scores on the FFMQ subscales ranged from 20.8 to 27.3, with highest scores for the observe subscale. All subscale correlations were small to moderate and indicated that more severe fibromyalgia impact was associated with less mindfulness except in the observe scale (r = .15, P > .000). No clinical or demographics explained as much variance in the FIQR total as any of the mindfulness subscales. Fibromyalgia patients experience symptoms that may be alleviated by mindfulness interventions. Baseline values for the observe subscale of the FFMQ were unexpectedly high. Further research is needed to know if this may be due to non-mindful observations and should be noted when the FFMQ is used in fibromyalgia clinical trials.
Journal of College Counseling, 2009
International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 2010
Increased susceptibility to distress among young adults from diverse cultural backgrounds amplifi... more Increased susceptibility to distress among young adults from diverse cultural backgrounds amplifies the importance of identifying culturally-salient factors related to the development of mental illness. To address this issue we investigated the relationship between culture ( ...
Mindfulness, 2012
Although Western psychological mindfulness shares many common features with Buddhist mindfulness,... more Although Western psychological mindfulness shares many common features with Buddhist mindfulness, subtle differences in the way in which it is practiced and assessed may have important implications. Therefore, the primary goal of this qualitative study was to evaluate the cultural validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS) by using cognitive interviews among a sample of Buddhist clergy and laypersons to assess their perceptions of these two scales. Participants were 14 Zen Buddhists (7 laypersons, 6 Zen priests, and 1 in priest the ordination process) recruited from a monastery in the Pacific Northwestern U.S. Each participant completed a cognitive interview using the FFMQ and TMS. We developed a coding schema to identify and categorize participant responses, and then applied the final coding framework to all 14 interviews. Results revealed perceived concerns and strengths of each scale, as well as concerns regarding content deemed missing from both scales and general issues related to mindfulness self-assessment. These findings suggest that Buddhist and Western psychological conceptualizations of mindfulness may have important differences.
Culture & Psychology, 2008
The dual influence of culturally sensitive therapies (CSTs) and empirically supported treatments ... more The dual influence of culturally sensitive therapies (CSTs) and empirically supported treatments (ESTs) on clinical practitioners has grown quickly in the United States. While CST advocates have been driven by the need to provide culturally diverse populations with services that are consistent with their cultural characteristics, practitioners of ESTs have striven to empirically demonstrate the benefits of psychotherapy. However, as
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2005
The study examined models of marijuana (n ϭ 309) and alcohol (n ϭ 731) problems. Impulsivity was ... more The study examined models of marijuana (n ϭ 309) and alcohol (n ϭ 731) problems. Impulsivity was directly associated with both marijuana-and alcohol-related problems. Negative mood regulation expectancies were indirectly associated with marijuana problems through coping motives. Sensation seeking was indirectly associated with alcohol problems through enhancement motives. Affect lability and negative affect were indirectly associated with alcohol problems though coping motives. In both models, coping motives were directly associated with use-related problems. A multigroup analysis indicated that the association between negative affect and coping motives as well as use and problems was stronger among participants using both alcohol and marijuana relative to alcohol only. Enhancement motives were a stronger predictor of alcohol use among participants using alcohol only.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2009
Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 2003
Although religion and psychology are generally conceived of as distinct domains, the theoretical ... more Although religion and psychology are generally conceived of as distinct domains, the theoretical underpinnings of certain psychological theories are inextricably related to religious ideology. This relationship is perhaps best exemplified by the theoretical and ...
Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 2009
Mindfulness has its roots in Eastern contemplative traditions and is rapidly gaining popularity i... more Mindfulness has its roots in Eastern contemplative traditions and is rapidly gaining popularity in Western psychology. However, questions remain regarding the validity of Western operationalizations of mindfulness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the applicability of several Western mindfulness measures among a sample of Thai Theravāda Buddhist monks. Twenty-four monks recruited from Buddhist temples in Thailand participated in the study. The monks evinced similar associations between mindfulness and related variables as American validation study samples did, and on two facets of mindfulness the monks' mean scores were greater than an American college student sample. However, the American sample endorsed significantly higher scores on three other facets of mindfulness. These results raise concerns about whether these scales are measuring mindfulness as it is conceptualised in a Buddhist context. Future research with larger samples is needed to further assess the cultural validity and measurement equivalence of Western mindfulness measures across cultural groups.
Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 2009
Objective: To examine the relationship between cognitive and behavioral changes associated with c... more Objective: To examine the relationship between cognitive and behavioral changes associated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and treatment response in an intensive partial hospital (PH) setting. Methods: Study participants were 105 patients with mood disorders receiving treatment in a private psychiatric PH setting. The flexible treatment model used evidence-based CBT interventions adapted to the PH context, with emphases on psychoeducation and skills training. Participants completed self-report measures at admission and discharge to assess psychological distress, depression, negative automatic thoughts, and behavioral activation. Mean treatment duration was 9 days. Results: Decreased negative automatic thoughts and increased behavioral activation predicted reduction of depressive symptoms; however, only decreased negative automatic thoughts was predictive of patients' overall level of psychological distress. Conclusions: These results suggest that a CBT intervention adapted for use in a PH setting can be an effective treatment for severe mood disorders. Furthermore, although the design used in this study precludes causal inferences, depressive symptom improvement appears to be associated with decreased negative automatic thoughts and increased behavioral activation. Implications for the delivery of CBT in PH programs and future directions for research are discussed.
Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2006
On the basis of previous research on self-construals, the theory of reasoned action, and persuasi... more On the basis of previous research on self-construals, the theory of reasoned action, and persuasive communication, the authors hypothesized that individual, behavioral-focused information would be more effective in increasing help-seeking intention among college students in the United States, whereas relational, normative-focused information would be more effective among college students in Thailand. Results partially supported these predictions, suggesting that different information can enhance help-seeking intention across cultures.
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 2012
In this study, the authors examined a series of nested confirmatory factor analytic models to ass... more In this study, the authors examined a series of nested confirmatory factor analytic models to assess the multidimensionality of the Self-Construal Scale (SCS) in Thailand and the United States. The authors compared the original two-factor model with the more recently developed six-factor model and examined model fit for cross-cultural invariance. Results suggested a substantially better fit to the data for
Current Psychology, 2010
Self-report measures of mindfulness have consistently demonstrated positive relationships with we... more Self-report measures of mindfulness have consistently demonstrated positive relationships with well-being and inverse relationships with depression symptoms. The goal of this study was to extend the existing literature to include a test of the incremental validity of the components of mindfulness (as measured by the four factors of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills [KIMS]; Baer et al. Assessment, 11, 191-206, 2004) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown and Ryan Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 822-848, 2003) in the prediction of satisfaction with life (relative to self-esteem) and depression (relative to negative cognitions) among a sample of 365 college students. Results revealed only KIMS Observe accounted for a significant amount variance relative to self-esteem in the prediction of satisfaction with life, and in the prediction of depression symptoms, only KIMS Accept without Judgment accounted for a significant amount of variance relative to negative cognitions. These results are discussed in relation to the measurement of mindfulness and methods used to assess the validity of these scales.
Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2010
In this research we investigated the role of mindfulness-based attention in mitigating possible n... more In this research we investigated the role of mindfulness-based attention in mitigating possible negative consequences of experiencing depressive affect. A sample of 278 undergraduate college students completed selfreport measures of depressive affect, negative cognitions, and mindfulness-based attention. As expected, depressive affect was positively related to negative cognitions, mindfulness-based attention was inversely related to negative cognitions, and the strength of the relationship between depressed affect and negative cognitions was significantly moderated by mindfulness-based attention. More specifically, a simple slope analysis revealed that individuals low in mindfulness-based attention evidenced a statistically significant relationship between depressive affect and negative cognitions, whereas individuals who are high in mindfulness-based attention did not. These findings support the extant literature suggesting that the general tendency to be mindful may be a protective factor against the development of psychopathology and enhance mental health.
Circulation, 1988
Twelve consecutive patients who developed torsade de pointes (polymorphous ventricular tachycardi... more Twelve consecutive patients who developed torsade de pointes (polymorphous ventricular tachycardia with marked QT prolongation, TdP) over a 4 year period were treated with intravenous injections of magnesium sulfate. In nine of the patients a single bolus of 2 g completely abolished the TdP within 1 to 5 min, and in three others complete abolition of the TdP was achieved after a second bolus was given 5 to 15 min later. Nine of the patients also received continuous infusion of MgSO4 (3 to 20 mg/min) for 7 to 48 hr until the QT interval was below 0.50 sec. In nine of the 12 patients the TdP was induced by antiarrhythmic agents. The QT interval preceding TdP ranged from 0.54 to 0.72 sec. After the MgSO4 bolus, which prevented the recurrence of TdP, no significant changes were observed in the QT interval. There were no side effects of this treatment. In eight of the 12 patients potassium levels before the TdP were below 3.5 meq/liter; magnesium levels were available in eight patients before TdP, and were normal in all. Five additional patients with polymorphous ventricular tachycardia but normal QT intervals (non-TdP patients) received two to three boluses of MgSO4. This treatment was ineffective in all, but they responded to conventional antiarrhythmic therapy. Thus, MgSO4 is a very effective and safe treatment for TdP, and its application is rapid and simple. Its use is therefore recommended as the first line of therapy for TdP.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Preliminary evidence attests to the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing ... more Preliminary evidence attests to the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing symptoms associated with a variety of medical and psychological conditions. However, there are discrepancies in how mindfulness has been operationalized, assessed, and practiced. Contemporary mindfulness assessments were developed by Western scientists and have questionable validity, particularly among diverse cultural groups. Therefore, in this research we examined mindfulness from the perspective of experts -Theravāda, Tibetan, and Zen Buddhist clergy and lay practitioners.
Behavior Modification, 2011
Although several theories exist to describe why patients improve in cognitive-behavioral therapy ... more Although several theories exist to describe why patients improve in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in only a limited number of studies has CBT skill acquisition been examined, particularly among patients with complex clinical profiles. Thus, the overarching aim of this research was to develop a tool to measure patients' use of CBT skills, such that it would have clinical utility for patients and therapists during treatment. In Study 1, the authors developed an initial set of items for the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Skills Questionnaire (CBTSQ). They submitted these items to an exploratory factor analysis in an initial administration (n = 350) and to a confirmatory factor analysis in a second administration (n = 378). Results indicated that there were two factors (Behavioral Activation and Cognitive Restructuring) with good factor structure and internal consistency, and both the factors evidenced expected relationships with other constructs. In Study 2, the criterion validity of the CBTSQ was investigated on a patient sample in a CBToriented treatment setting. Results showed that CBTSQ scores increased following treatment, and Cognitive Restructuring and Behavioral Activation scores predicted reduction of overall psychiatric symptoms and depression.
Addictive Behaviors, 2004
This study examined relations between personal strivings and alcohol use among college students. ... more This study examined relations between personal strivings and alcohol use among college students. Personal strivings are ongoing goals that individuals are characteristically trying to achieve through their behavior. Participants generated lists of personal strivings following standard instructions and then completed an assessment of alcohol use and related problems. Participants returned to complete a follow-up assessment of drinking behavior after 30 days. Personal strivings were coded into content categories by trained raters using a coding manual. Four content categories were examined for this study: achievement, affiliation, health, and self-presentation. A series of t tests revealed that participants endorsing achievement strivings reported less alcohol-related problems and marginally fewer instances of binge drinking during the 30-day follow-up period. In contrast, participants endorsing self-presentation strivings reported more alcohol-related problems during the follow-up period. D
Addictive Behaviors, 2006
This study examined relations between personal strivings and frequency of alcohol, marijuana, and... more This study examined relations between personal strivings and frequency of alcohol, marijuana, and any drug use among college students. Personal strivings are ongoing goals that an individual is characteristically trying to achieve through their behavior. Participants generated lists of personal strivings following standard instructions and then completed an assessment of alcohol and marijuana use and days used any drug (aside from tobacco or medication as prescribed). Personal strivings were coded into content categories by trained raters using a coding manual. Four content categories were examined for this study: achievement, affect regulation, self-presentation, and interpersonal. A series of t-tests revealed that participants' achievement strivings were unrelated to substance use. In contrast, participants endorsing more affect regulation goals used all drugs more frequently. Self-presentation goals were positively associated with alcohol use but unrelated to marijuana or other drug use. Finally, interpersonal goals were associated with higher rates of alcohol use, lower rates of marijuana use, and not related to total use days.
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Papers by michael christopher