PROBLEM AND METHOD Despite a good deal of theorizing in recent years, there is surprising lack of objective attempts to evaluate the psychological course of pregnancy. Such investigations are notably scarce in the obstetrical and gynecological literature, and, with few exceptions in the psychological literature (e.~.. s! 9. The majority of reports are based upon the observations of child therapists@. 3 , 4 s 6 ) . It is the purpose of this paper to provide objective-test data on pregnant women late in term.MMPI data were collected from a consecutive sample of 24 women in the eighth-month of their first pregnancy.' Subjects ranged in age from 21 to 28 years, and averaged 23.7 years. All were volunteer Minnesota residents artici,;ating in a longitudinal study of perinatar factors in child development a t the University of Minnesota Hospitals.2 Comparisons were made with the female normative group reported by Hathaway and Briggs (7) on the original scales, and on four of the newer scales (Ego Strength, Responsibility, Dependency, Low Back Pain) .3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONReported in Table 1 are T score means for the sample, and Raw score means and SD's for the sample and normative groups. Scores for the sample on five clinical scales, on K, and on all four newer scales differ significantly from those of the comparison group at the .05 level or beyond. Greatest differences are found on K, HY, PD, MA, Es, RE, LB, and DY. In addition, the high-point frequency of PD in the sample (21.8 per cent) is significantly greater than in tshe normative group (8.4 per cent) a t the .02 level. Testing for a percentage difference of abnormal (70f) scores between groups, however, fails to yield a reliable split. Scores equal to or greater than 70 are found in approximately 15 per cent of profiles of e&h group.The most striking finding of these data is noted by the absence of (even) mild subjective discomfort (i.e., anxiety and/or depression) as late in pregnancy as the eighth month. Also of interest is the low incidence of psychopathology of any sort a t this time. The findings in general suggest that pregnancy is a period of good psychological adjustment and emotional health. SUMMARY MMPI data collected from a homogeneous group of 24 women in the eighth month of their first pregnancy were compared with similar data of the normative group. Significant differences were found on 10 of 17 scales used. The findings revealed a low incidence of psychopathology and an absence of subjective distress among the pregnant group.'The authors express their appreciation to Claire (Vedensky) Korn who provided these data.

Hospitalization and surgery can have adverse psychological effects on children that may be prevented by preoperative intervention procedures. The present study compared an in vivo preparation in which 3- to 9-year-old patients who were about to undergo tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy surgery experienced a preview of the procedures and equipment, a slide show condition depicting hospitalization and surgery, or a standard nursing care control group. The in vivo group was rated as significantly less anxious than the slide show and control groups at each of the three assessment points. The in vivo children also took less time to drink following surgery than the slide show and control groups.

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Increasing the number of task alternatives in a match-to-sample problem led to longer decision times in cognitively reflective but not in cognitively impulsive adults. Impulsives, as compared to reflectives, were found to verbalize less "thinking out loud" coded verbal behavior, to endorse less motivation for success and more motivation for speed, and to consistently underestimate time (i.e., periods of 10, 20, & 60 seconds). The present results suggest a latency-related response inhibition deficit in cognitively impulsive adults. The potential of a cognitive-behavioral treatment strategy is considered.

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