Observational Measurement of Attachment in Toddlers with Disruptive Behavior Using the Strange Situation Procedure and Attachment Q-Set

Child-caregiver attachment is an important factor in healthy child development and is often targeted by early intervention programs. To assess the efficacy of these interventions, attachment must be accurately measured across the toddler years in populations referred for treatment of externalizing behavior problems. The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth et al., 1978) and Attachment Q-Set (AQS; Waters, 1987) are empirically-validated measures of child-caregiver attachment, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Previous research has reached mixed conclusions on relations between the observer-report AQS and SSP, depending on sample and study characteristics, and a review of the literature did not produce any published investigations on concurrent relations between the two measures across clinically-referred, mental health populations. Using a clinical sample of 69 Australian mother-toddler dyads referred for disruptive behavior problems, this study examined associations among behavior problems, SSP classifications, AQS Security scores, and child age. In line with hypotheses, data revealed a significant small to medium correlation between AQS Security and externalizing behavior. Unexpectedly, no significant association was found between SSP classifications and externalizing behavior. Although AQS and SSP Security scores were not significantly correlated for the sample as a whole, there was a moderate correlation among the two measures for children ages 19-25 months. Implications of these results on future research measuring attachment in this population, with particular relevance for early intervention outcome studies and clinical work, are discussed

Emotion Regulation and Attrition in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

As evidence of the importance of emotion regulation (ER) continues to mount, little is known about how families dealing with child behavior problems can better develop this important ability. This study explored the relations among a caregiver training program for children with severe problem behaviors (i.e., Parent-Child Interaction Therapy; PCIT), child ER, caregiver ER, parent-ing stress, and attrition. This study was part of a larger investigation evaluating the impact of in-centives on treatment outcomes. Measures of caregiver and child ER, child behavior problems, and parenting stress were completed by caregivers referred for PCIT from a predominantly low-income community sample of 66 caregiver-child dyads. Caregiver-child interactions were coded for caregiver verbalizations during three play situations. ANCOVA, t-test, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine changes in ER across treatment and compare those who completed treatment with those who dropped out of treatment early. Results suggested that care-giver ER and child ER lability/negativity improved significantly across both phases of PCIT. Child adaptive ER improved significantly from pre- to post-treatment and during the PDI phase of treatment for those children in the non-incentives group only. Baseline levels of child and caregiver ER were not significant predictors of attrition; however, two models composed of base-line (e.g., caregiver-child interactions) and demographic variables significantly predicted attrition. The findings are discussed with respect to the importance of both caregiver and child ER in the provision of PCIT and other behavioral parent training programs

Observations on Thyronectria denigrata

Thyrornectria denigrata (Wint.) Seaver,* a Hypocreaceous fungus, occurring on branches and fallen trunks of Gleditschia triacanthos L. in the eastern and central United States, consists of an internal mycelium producing subimmersed or erumpent-superficial, pulvinate, orange-brown stromata. On or near the surfaces of such stromata are formed dense cespitose, carnose-melnbranaceous, subglobose, ostiolate, reddish-brown to black perithecia. The cylindrical, short stipitate asci contain eight hyaline or slightly yellowish short elliptical ascospores which are three to five septate, muriform, more or less constricted at the septa and 10--16 × 7--10μ. This study is based on numerous collections made intermittently in the flood-plain areas around Lincoln, Nebraska, since 1930. Early collections were the source of eighteen monascospore cultures. Slides were made from naturally developed infections and from inoculated materials. The best slides were obtained with materials fixed in formal-acetic-alcohol, cleared in cedar oil, sectioned at three to six microns, stained with Haidenhain\u27s haematoxylin and counter-stained with Orange G. Agar film growth was stained with methyl blue in lactophenol. Zeiss apochromatic lenses have been used in the major part of the microscopic study; sketches have been made with the camera lucida. *Seaver, F. J. (Mycologia 1 : 203--206. 1909) regards Pleonectria Sacc. (Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 8 : 178. 1876) as synonymous with Thyronectria Sacc. (Grevillea 4; 21, 1875)

A Host Index to the North American Species of the Genus Cercospora

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