In the present study 128 alcohol dependent men and women received 26 weeks of group treatment in one of two modalities: Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) intended specifically to develop coping skills or interactional therapy intended to examine interpersonal relationships. Coping skills and drinking were assessed prior to and after treatment and up to 18 months after intake. Results indicated that both treatments yielded very good drinking outcomes throughout the follow-up period. Increased coping skills was a significant predictor of outcome. However, neither treatment effected greater increases in coping than the other. Specific coping-skills training was not essential for increasing the use of coping skills. The results raise questions about the efficacy of specific treatment elements of CBT in treatment of alcohol dependence.

In five experiments, choice responding of female human adults was examined, as a function of variations in reinforcer amount and reinforcer delay. Experiment 1 used a discrete-trials procedure, and Experiments 2, 3, 4, and 5 used a concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedule. Reinforcer amount and reinforcer delay were varied both separately and together. In contrast to results previously reported with pigeons, the subjects in the present experiments usually chose the larger reinforcers even when those reinforcers were delayed. Together, the results from all the experiments suggest that the subjects followed a maximization strategy in choosing reinforcers. Such behavior makes it easy to observe self-control and difficult to observe impulsiveness in traditional laboratory experiments that use adult human subjects.

Thirty-two children experiencing recurrent migraine, aged 8-17, were compared to 32 non-headache peer controls matched for age, sex, and social class. Each child completed an extensive battery of psychological tests, which consisted of (1) the Children's Depression Inventory (for children aged 8-13) or the Beck Depression Inventory (for children 14 and above), (2) the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (ages 8-12) or the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Form X (ages 13 and above), (3) the Children's Depression Rating Scale, (4) the Personality Inventory for Children, (5) the Child Behavior Checklist, (6) the Psychosomatic Symptom Checklist, SUNYA Revision, (7) the Children's Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire, (8) the Wide Range Achievement Test for Reading, and (9) the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Form L. Children with migraine revealed higher scores on all scales measuring depression and somatic complaints; adolescent headache sufferers also revealed increased levels of trait anxiety. Older male headache sufferers revealed the poorest overall level of adjustment as reflected by scores on the Adjustment scale of the Personality Inventory for Children. It was argued that the psychological differences were most likely a consequence of the migraineurs having to live with frequent, unpredictable attacks of intense pain. However, the correlational nature of this study does not make it possible to rule out alternative explanations.

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Accumulating evidence suggests that psychosocial treatment for cannabis dependence is effective. Earlier investigations were well designed and sought to evaluate efficacy of manual-guided therapies with particular attention to protecting the independent variable. The Marijuana Treatment Project (MTP) represents an effort to build upon previous knowledge about cannabis dependence treatment through an evaluation of an integrative therapy, which was meant to allow for greater therapist latitude in its delivery, and to be more responsive to a potentially more diverse population of clients. The treatment intervention developed for delivery in the Marijuana Treatment Project (MTP) reflects an effort to find a true compromise between the needs of the scientific community to have clearly specified and measurable treatments, and the realities of the treatment community, which demand flexibility, appreciation of the multi-determined nature of most problems, and individualized approaches. This paper will describe the clinical interventions used with the MTP participants, the theoretical rationale guiding their design and practical aspects related to implementation and treatment response.