Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness

The current thesis set out to develop an implicit relational assessment procedure as a measure of self-forgiveness across five studies. The first study targeted the development of a measure of implicit forgiveness of self related to “minor” transgressions (mistakes, flaws, shortcomings) versus the forgiveness of others. The results indicated that the measure of implicit forgiveness diverged from an explicit measure designed to measure the same construct. Moreover, implicitly, participants tended to be more forgiving towards themselves than towards others, whereas at the explicit level participants tended to forgive others. The second study aimed to develop the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a measure of response biases related to emotional reactions and expected outcomes in the context of minor failings and successes in everyday life. However, in contrast to the previous study, the IRAPs were modified to investigate forgiveness of the self rather than others. Additionally, the research explored the extent to which such implicit reactions were related to standardized measures of psychopathology, including a measure Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS), measures of self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS) and a scale that was based directly on the IRAP. Once again, the results showed that there was no convergence between explicit and implicit measures. The third study was similar to the second one, except that instead of using nomographic stimuli, ideographic stimuli were used with the IRAPs that reflected problem behaviours and the feelings (and anticipated outcomes) that they evoked in each one of the participants. Although specific response biases on the IRAP correlated with psychological suffering, particularly depression and stress, the results of the second and the third study were very similar in that only a few correlations were found between the explicit and implicit measures. Due to disclosure issues, the nomographic IRAPs developed in the second study were used in the next study. The fourth study investigated the impact of two priming procedures on implicit self-forgiveness. Specifically, participants had to write down 3 examples of failures or successes depending on priming condition (negative or positive priming); the researcher did not have access to what was written. Results indicated differences in the way in which the two types of priming impacted upon the IRAP effects, and how those effects correlated with measures of self-compassion and psychopathology. Finally, the final study aimed to investigate the impact of a history of training in behaviour therapy using the self-forgiveness IRAPs. Overall, only one of the two IRAPs, the one that targeted feelings rather than outcomes, produced clear and significant differences between the group with a history of therapy training versus a control group with no such training. The thesis concludes with a summary and a detailed discussion of the findings reported in each of the chapters. Overall, the research presented in the current thesis constitutes a first step in developing measures of the verbal behaviours involved in the psychological domain of self-forgiveness

Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness

The current thesis set out to develop an implicit relational assessment procedure as a measure of self-forgiveness across five studies. The first study targeted the development of a measure of implicit forgiveness of self related to “minor” transgressions (mistakes, flaws, shortcomings) versus the forgiveness of others. The results indicated that the measure of implicit forgiveness diverged from an explicit measure designed to measure the same construct. Moreover, implicitly, participants tended to be more forgiving towards themselves than towards others, whereas at the explicit level participants tended to forgive others. The second study aimed to develop the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a measure of response biases related to emotional reactions and expected outcomes in the context of minor failings and successes in everyday life. However, in contrast to the previous study, the IRAPs were modified to investigate forgiveness of the self rather than others. Additionally, the research explored the extent to which such implicit reactions were related to standardized measures of psychopathology, including a measure Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS), measures of self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS) and a scale that was based directly on the IRAP. Once again, the results showed that there was no convergence between explicit and implicit measures. The third study was similar to the second one, except that instead of using nomographic stimuli, ideographic stimuli were used with the IRAPs that reflected problem behaviours and the feelings (and anticipated outcomes) that they evoked in each one of the participants. Although specific response biases on the IRAP correlated with psychological suffering, particularly depression and stress, the results of the second and the third study were very similar in that only a few correlations were found between the explicit and implicit measures. Due to disclosure issues, the nomographic IRAPs developed in the second study were used in the next study. The fourth study investigated the impact of two priming procedures on implicit self-forgiveness. Specifically, participants had to write down 3 examples of failures or successes depending on priming condition (negative or positive priming); the researcher did not have access to what was written. Results indicated differences in the way in which the two types of priming impacted upon the IRAP effects, and how those effects correlated with measures of self-compassion and psychopathology. Finally, the final study aimed to investigate the impact of a history of training in behaviour therapy using the self-forgiveness IRAPs. Overall, only one of the two IRAPs, the one that targeted feelings rather than outcomes, produced clear and significant differences between the group with a history of therapy training versus a control group with no such training. The thesis concludes with a summary and a detailed discussion of the findings reported in each of the chapters. Overall, the research presented in the current thesis constitutes a first step in developing measures of the verbal behaviours involved in the psychological domain of self-forgiveness

Clinical utility of serum HER2/neu in monitoring and prediction of progression-free survival in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab-based therapies

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical utility of serum HER2/neu in monitoring metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing trastuzumab-based therapy and to compare these results with those obtained using cancer antigen (CA) 15-3. We also sought to determine whether early changes in serum HER2/neu concentrations could be a predictor of progression-free survival. METHODS: Sera were obtained retrospectively from 103 women at four medical institutions. Patients eligible for participation were women with metastatic breast cancer who had HER2/neu tissue overexpression and were scheduled to be treated with trastuzumab with or without additional therapies as per the established practices of the treating physicians. A baseline serum sample for each patient was taken before trastuzumab-based therapy was started. Patients were subsequently monitored over 12 to 20 months and serum samples were taken at the time of clinical assessment and tested with Bayer's HER2/neu and CA15-3 assays. RESULTS: Concordance between clinical status in patients undergoing trastuzumab-based treatment and HER2/neu and CA15-3 used as single tests was 0.793 and 0.627, respectively, and increased to 0.829 when the tests were used in combination. Progression-free survival times did not differ significantly in patients with elevated baseline HER2/neu concentrations (≥ 15 ng/mL) and those with normal concentrations (<15 ng/mL). However, progression-free survival differed significantly (P = 0.043) according to whether the patient's HER2/neu concentration at 2 to 4 weeks after the start of therapy was >77% or ≤ 77% of her baseline concentration. The median progression-free survival times for these two groups were 217 and 587 days, respectively. A similar trend was observed for a subcohort of patients treated specifically with a combination of trastuzumab and taxane. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that serum HER2/neu testing is clinically valuable in monitoring metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing trastuzumab-based treatment and provides additional value over the commonly used CA15-3 test. The percentage of baseline HER2/neu concentrations in the early weeks after the start of therapy may be an early predictor of progression-free-survival

Structural brain anomalies in patients with FOXG1 syndrome and in Foxg1+/- mice

Objective FOXG1 syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with heterozygous FOXG1 variants or chromosomal microaberrations in 14q12. The study aimed at assessing the scope of structural cerebral anomalies revealed by neuroimaging to delineate the genotype and neuroimaging phenotype associations. Methods We compiled 34 patients with a heterozygous (likely) pathogenic FOXG1 variant. Qualitative assessment of cerebral anomalies was performed by standardized re-analysis of all 34 MRI data sets. Statistical analysis of genetic, clinical and neuroimaging data were performed. We quantified clinical and neuroimaging phenotypes using severity scores. Telencephalic phenotypes of adult Foxg1+/- mice were examined using immunohistological stainings followed by quantitative evaluation of structural anomalies. Results Characteristic neuroimaging features included corpus callosum anomalies (82%), thickening of the fornix (74%), simplified gyral pattern (56%), enlargement of inner CSF spaces (44%), hypoplasia of basal ganglia (38%), and hypoplasia of frontal lobes (29%). We observed a marked, filiform thinning of the rostrum as recurrent highly typical pattern of corpus callosum anomaly in combination with distinct thickening of the fornix as a characteristic feature. Thickening of the fornices was not reported previously in FOXG1 syndrome. Simplified gyral pattern occurred significantly more frequently in patients with early truncating variants. Higher clinical severity scores were significantly associated with higher neuroimaging severity scores. Modeling of Foxg1 heterozygosity in mouse brain recapitulated the associated abnormal cerebral morphology phenotypes, including the striking enlargement of the fornix. Interpretation Combination of specific corpus callosum anomalies with simplified gyral pattern and hyperplasia of the fornices is highly characteristic for FOXG1 syndrome.Peer reviewe

Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness

The current thesis set out to develop an implicit relational assessment procedure as a measure of self-forgiveness across five studies. The first study targeted the development of a measure of implicit forgiveness of self related to “minor” transgressions (mistakes, flaws, shortcomings) versus the forgiveness of others. The results indicated that the measure of implicit forgiveness diverged from an explicit measure designed to measure the same construct. Moreover, implicitly, participants tended to be more forgiving towards themselves than towards others, whereas at the explicit level participants tended to forgive others. The second study aimed to develop the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a measure of response biases related to emotional reactions and expected outcomes in the context of minor failings and successes in everyday life. However, in contrast to the previous study, the IRAPs were modified to investigate forgiveness of the self rather than others. Additionally, the research explored the extent to which such implicit reactions were related to standardized measures of psychopathology, including a measure Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS), measures of self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS) and a scale that was based directly on the IRAP. Once again, the results showed that there was no convergence between explicit and implicit measures. The third study was similar to the second one, except that instead of using nomographic stimuli, ideographic stimuli were used with the IRAPs that reflected problem behaviours and the feelings (and anticipated outcomes) that they evoked in each one of the participants. Although specific response biases on the IRAP correlated with psychological suffering, particularly depression and stress, the results of the second and the third study were very similar in that only a few correlations were found between the explicit and implicit measures. Due to disclosure issues, the nomographic IRAPs developed in the second study were used in the next study. The fourth study investigated the impact of two priming procedures on implicit self-forgiveness. Specifically, participants had to write down 3 examples of failures or successes depending on priming condition (negative or positive priming); the researcher did not have access to what was written. Results indicated differences in the way in which the two types of priming impacted upon the IRAP effects, and how those effects correlated with measures of self-compassion and psychopathology. Finally, the final study aimed to investigate the impact of a history of training in behaviour therapy using the self-forgiveness IRAPs. Overall, only one of the two IRAPs, the one that targeted feelings rather than outcomes, produced clear and significant differences between the group with a history of therapy training versus a control group with no such training. The thesis concludes with a summary and a detailed discussion of the findings reported in each of the chapters. Overall, the research presented in the current thesis constitutes a first step in developing measures of the verbal behaviours involved in the psychological domain of self-forgiveness

Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness

The current thesis set out to develop an implicit relational assessment procedure as a measure of self-forgiveness across five studies. The first study targeted the development of a measure of implicit forgiveness of self related to “minor” transgressions (mistakes, flaws, shortcomings) versus the forgiveness of others. The results indicated that the measure of implicit forgiveness diverged from an explicit measure designed to measure the same construct. Moreover, implicitly, participants tended to be more forgiving towards themselves than towards others, whereas at the explicit level participants tended to forgive others. The second study aimed to develop the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a measure of response biases related to emotional reactions and expected outcomes in the context of minor failings and successes in everyday life. However, in contrast to the previous study, the IRAPs were modified to investigate forgiveness of the self rather than others. Additionally, the research explored the extent to which such implicit reactions were related to standardized measures of psychopathology, including a measure Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS), measures of self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS) and a scale that was based directly on the IRAP. Once again, the results showed that there was no convergence between explicit and implicit measures. The third study was similar to the second one, except that instead of using nomographic stimuli, ideographic stimuli were used with the IRAPs that reflected problem behaviours and the feelings (and anticipated outcomes) that they evoked in each one of the participants. Although specific response biases on the IRAP correlated with psychological suffering, particularly depression and stress, the results of the second and the third study were very similar in that only a few correlations were found between the explicit and implicit measures. Due to disclosure issues, the nomographic IRAPs developed in the second study were used in the next study. The fourth study investigated the impact of two priming procedures on implicit self-forgiveness. Specifically, participants had to write down 3 examples of failures or successes depending on priming condition (negative or positive priming); the researcher did not have access to what was written. Results indicated differences in the way in which the two types of priming impacted upon the IRAP effects, and how those effects correlated with measures of self-compassion and psychopathology. Finally, the final study aimed to investigate the impact of a history of training in behaviour therapy using the self-forgiveness IRAPs. Overall, only one of the two IRAPs, the one that targeted feelings rather than outcomes, produced clear and significant differences between the group with a history of therapy training versus a control group with no such training. The thesis concludes with a summary and a detailed discussion of the findings reported in each of the chapters. Overall, the research presented in the current thesis constitutes a first step in developing measures of the verbal behaviours involved in the psychological domain of self-forgiveness

Developing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure as a Measure of Self-Forgiveness

The current thesis set out to develop an implicit relational assessment procedure as a measure of self-forgiveness across five studies. The first study targeted the development of a measure of implicit forgiveness of self related to “minor” transgressions (mistakes, flaws, shortcomings) versus the forgiveness of others. The results indicated that the measure of implicit forgiveness diverged from an explicit measure designed to measure the same construct. Moreover, implicitly, participants tended to be more forgiving towards themselves than towards others, whereas at the explicit level participants tended to forgive others. The second study aimed to develop the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as a measure of response biases related to emotional reactions and expected outcomes in the context of minor failings and successes in everyday life. However, in contrast to the previous study, the IRAPs were modified to investigate forgiveness of the self rather than others. Additionally, the research explored the extent to which such implicit reactions were related to standardized measures of psychopathology, including a measure Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS), measures of self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS) and a scale that was based directly on the IRAP. Once again, the results showed that there was no convergence between explicit and implicit measures. The third study was similar to the second one, except that instead of using nomographic stimuli, ideographic stimuli were used with the IRAPs that reflected problem behaviours and the feelings (and anticipated outcomes) that they evoked in each one of the participants. Although specific response biases on the IRAP correlated with psychological suffering, particularly depression and stress, the results of the second and the third study were very similar in that only a few correlations were found between the explicit and implicit measures. Due to disclosure issues, the nomographic IRAPs developed in the second study were used in the next study. The fourth study investigated the impact of two priming procedures on implicit self-forgiveness. Specifically, participants had to write down 3 examples of failures or successes depending on priming condition (negative or positive priming); the researcher did not have access to what was written. Results indicated differences in the way in which the two types of priming impacted upon the IRAP effects, and how those effects correlated with measures of self-compassion and psychopathology. Finally, the final study aimed to investigate the impact of a history of training in behaviour therapy using the self-forgiveness IRAPs. Overall, only one of the two IRAPs, the one that targeted feelings rather than outcomes, produced clear and significant differences between the group with a history of therapy training versus a control group with no such training. The thesis concludes with a summary and a detailed discussion of the findings reported in each of the chapters. Overall, the research presented in the current thesis constitutes a first step in developing measures of the verbal behaviours involved in the psychological domain of self-forgiveness

The Effect of Educational Messages on Implicit and Explicit Attitudes towards Individuals on the Autism Spectrum versus Normally Developing Individuals

This study extended previous research on the effect of education and communication on anti-autism bias and stigmatization, using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) as an assessment tool and employing undergraduates as participants. Experiment 1 examined the effect of a simple video and text-based educational intervention on attitudes towards autism, as assessed both using the IRAP and various explicit measures. Participants received either an educational video–text combination or a control video–text combination before exposure to the assessments. Findings showed positive responding towards both normally developing and autism spectrum individuals across both conditions on both the IRAP and the explicit measures. Experiment 2 investigated the effects of two different types of online video-based narrative regarding autism, one negatively oriented and the other positively oriented, on both implicit and explicit responding. Findings suggested that the negative video affected both implicit and explicit responding, albeit in different ways. Responding on the IRAP showed a stronger pro-normally developing bias whereas explicit responding showed a stronger anti-autism bias. Implications and possible future directions are discussed