An experimental investigation of the effects of covert sensitization in an analogue eating situation

Diament, Charles; Wilson, G. Terence

doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(75)80006-2

Cited by 29 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Research on covert sensitization illustrates the pitfalls of premature comparative outcome research. Following the first case report of the successful use of covert sensitization (Cautela, 1967), researchers quickly began comparing covert sensitization to a wide variety of treatments over a wide range of problem areas (e.g., Ashem & Donner, 1968;Diament & Wilson, 1975;Foreyt & Hagen, 1973;Wisocki & Rooney, 1974). Rather than spend all the energy and resources demonstrating covert sensitization to be no more effective than already existing treatments, researchers might have studied ways to alter or add to this imagery-based procedure to enhance its potency.…”

Section: Future Directions For Clinical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The present status of outcome studies: A reply to Frank.

Telch¹

1981

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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Frank has argued that therapy outcome depends more on client and therapist characteristics than on therapeutic methods. Based on this assertion, Frank has suggested that researchers should direct their attention to the identification of relevant client and therapist characteristics. The aim of this article is to challenge Frank's argument and to offer an alternative direction for clinical researchers that emphasizes the development of more potent psychological procedures. Frank (1979) has recently given a rather pessimistic view of the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of psychological interventions. He offers several generalizations to summarize the findings of past therapy outcome research: (a) All forms of psychotherapy are somewhat more effective than informal or unplanned help; (b) one form of therapy has rarely been shown to be significantly more effective than any other; (c) most clients who show initial improvement maintain it; and (d) therapeutic success lies more in the qualities of the client, therapist, and their interaction than in the therapeutic method. Frank argues that since therapeutic success depends primarily on client and therapist characteristics, clinical researchers should direct their attention to the identification of relevant attributes of clients and therapists. He suggests that future research explore the relationship between client characteristics (e.g., locus of control), therapist characteristics (e.g., degree of therapist participation), and therapy outcome.The directions for future research suggested by Frank are based on several erroneous generalizations regarding the present state of knowledge on psychological change. The aim of the present article is to challenge Frank's original generalizations and to offer an alternative direction for clinical researchers.To support the generalization that therapies rarely differ in effectiveness, Frank cites two widely publicized articles on psychotherapy outcome (Sloane, Staples, Cristol, Yorkston, &

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Section: Future Directions For Clinical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The present status of outcome studies: A reply to Frank.

Telch¹

1981

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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“…In accordance with the present findings, other studies have found covert sensitization to be effective in decreasing deviant sexual arousal (Barlow et al, 1969;Callahan & Leitenberg, 1973) and that its effects are spe-cific to the arousal patterns being treated. In contrast, efforts to remedy other "habit" behaviors (e.g., obesity, alcoholism) with this procedure have not proven effective (Diament & Wilson, 1975). This discrepancy may result from the nature of the disorder being treated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of appropriate and deviant sexual arousal: The behavioral treatment of multiple sexual deviations.

Brownell¹,

Hayes²,

Barlow³

1977

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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“…For example, covert sensitization alone has the disadvantage of not building in appropriate eating responses. Recent empirical studies suggest that covert sensitization is simply ineffective beyond that of increasing client expectancies and reducing likability ratings of certain foods (Diament & Wilson, 1975;Elliott & Denney, 1975;Foreyt & Hagen, 1973;Lick & Bootzin, Note 6). Some aversion therapy success with obese clients has been reported using noxious odors (Foreyt & Kennedy, 1971), cigarette smoke (Morganstern, 1974), and electric shock (Wijesinghe, 1973).…”

Section: Achieving Weight or Fat Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment strategies for therapists conducting weight control programs.

Franzini¹,

Grimes²

1981

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice

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Seven major problem areas which often arise in treating the obese client are identified: the recalcitrant client, attrition, nonstandardized improvement criteria, deficiencies in monitoring treatment effectiveness, therapist characteristics and credibility, achieving weight or fat loss, and maintaining the weight or fat loss. Specific therapeutic recommendations, derived from a review of the weight control literature, are made for confronting each of these areas.

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An experimental investigation of the effects of covert sensitization in an analogue eating situation

Cited by 29 publications

References 16 publications

The present status of outcome studies: A reply to Frank.

The present status of outcome studies: A reply to Frank.

Patterns of appropriate and deviant sexual arousal: The behavioral treatment of multiple sexual deviations.

Treatment strategies for therapists conducting weight control programs.

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