The relationship between social skill deficits and the psychological state of loneliness was examined in two studies. Study 1 compared conversational behaviors of high-lonely and low-lonely college students during brief heterosexual interactions. Results indicated that the two loneliness groups differed significantly in their use of a specific class of conversational behaviors termed partner attention, with high-lonely as compared to low-lonely subjects giving less attention to their partners. Study 2 examined the casual relationship between social skill and loneliness by directly manipulating the use of partner attention in a group of high-lonely males. For that group, increased use of partner attention during dyadic interactions resulted in significantly greater change in loneliness and related variables relative to interaction only and no-contact control groups. The utility of conceptualizing loneliness as a social skills problem is discussed.

Although organ transplantation is considered a viable treatment approach for end-stage organ disease, few empirical investigations have assessed the effects of transplantation on the cognitive development and learning of pediatric organ transplant recipients. This article reviews studies evaluating neurocognitive changes following organ transplantation in pediatric end-stage renal and liver disease. Despite numerous methodological problems inherent in the investigations examined, the findings of some studies are suggestive of potential neurocognitive benefits associated with organ transplantation. Recommendations are made regarding methodological improvements for future investigations assessing neurocognitive outcomes of organ transplantation.

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The present research was designed to investigate the adjustment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families as well as the relationship between adjustment and physician perceptions of compliance with CF treatment. Patient and family adjustment was assessed by means of the Personality Inventory for Children as well as measures of marital adjustment, depression, and social isolation completed by mothers of CF patients. Results indicated no characteristic pattern of psychopathology or adjustment problems. However, higher levels of perceived compliance with CF treatment were found to be associated with less satisfactory marital relationships and with less frequent maternal social contacts. These findings are discussed in terms of achieving a balance between compliance and psychological adjustment.

Considerable attention has recently been focused on intervention techniques designed to alter cognitive processes in an attempt to modify clinically relevant child behaviors. Studies in which children have been taught cognitive mediating strategies (methods collectively known as cognitive behavior therapy) were evaluated in terms of subject populations, adequacy of outcome measures, experimental and statistical methodology, and consistency of findings. In general, deficiencies were found on all dimensions. Although some studies have reported promising results that merit further investigation, methodological improvements are necessary before the clinical utility of cognitive behavior therapy with children can be documented.