1. Experimental Research Strategies1 Objective of Today’s Lecture Become acquainted with commonly used experimental approaches (paradigms) to the study of psychopathology

2. Experimental Research Strategies2 Areas sampled Experimental paradigms from social/personality psychology Experimental paradigms from cognitive psychology Experimental paradigms using biological challenges

3. Experimental Research Strategies3 Definition of Experimental Approaches Research strategies that attempt to advance knowledge about psychopathology by manipulating one or more relevant factors and observing the effects on some clinically-relevant phenomenon

4. Experimental Research Strategies4 Advantages of Experimental Approaches Threats to internal validity are more easily controlled Causal inferences can be made with greater confidence Are particularly well-suited for theory testing

5. Experimental Research Strategies5 Limitations Feasibility in designing relevant manipulations Potency of the manipulation(s) Concerns about the ecological validity of the experimental manipulations

6. Experimental Research Strategies6 Manipulation Vs. Underlying Construct Distinction Between Variable Manipulated and the Underlying Construct That the Manipulation Is Designed to Tap

7. Experimental Research Strategies7 Manipulated Factor Instructions

8. Experimental Research Strategies8 Underlying Construct Expectancy

9. Experimental Research Strategies9 Manipulated Factor Administration of a biologic agent

10. Experimental Research Strategies10 Underlying Construct Physiologic perturbation

11. Experimental Research Strategies11 Manipulated Factor Demanding mental arithmetic task

12. Experimental Research Strategies12 Underlying Construct Cognitive load (Low attentional resources)

13. Experimental Research Strategies13 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Instructional set manipulations –General strategy Provide subjects an identical task but vary (manipulate) the task instructions and examine differences in the phenomenon of interest as a function of the type of instructions –Examples Expectancy instructions

14. Experimental Research Strategies14 Balanced Placebo Design Ingest Alcohol Ingest Placebo Expect Alcohol 7.56.6 Expect Placebo 4.22.8 NOTE: Numbers represent hypothetical ratings of subjective relaxation as a function of alcohol ingestion versus alcohol expectancy

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19. Experimental Research Strategies19 Effects of Arousal Expectancy and Anxiety Sensitivity on CO2 Panic Taken from Telch & Harrington, 1994

20. Experimental Research Strategies20 Effects of Perceived Responsibility on Compulsive Checking Bouchard et al, 1999

21. Experimental Research Strategies21 Effects of Perceived Responsibility on Compulsive Checking Taken from Bouchard et al, 1999

22. Experimental Research Strategies22 Effects of Thought-Action Fusion on Obsessive Intrusions Taken from Rassin et al, 1999

23. Experimental Research Strategies23 Effects of Thought-Action Fusion on Obsessive Intrusions Taken from Rassin et al, 1999

24. Experimental Research Strategies24 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Manipulation of stimulus materials. –Subjects are provided several different types of stimulus materials. The responses of subjects to the different materials are then used to draw inferences about the phenomenon of interest. Examples. –Research on attentional and memory biases in emotional disorders.

25. Experimental Research Strategies25 Stroop Performance as a Function of Word Type and Clinical Status

26. Experimental Research Strategies26 Stroop Performance As a Function of Word Type and Clinical Status

27. Experimental Research Strategies27 Memory Bias for Threatening Material in Panic Disorder Taken from McNally et al, 1989

28. Experimental Research Strategies28 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Feedback manipulations –General strategy Subjects are provided one of several different feedback conditions. The differential effects of these feedback conditions are then used to draw inferences about the phenomenon of interest –Example Research on self-verification (Swann et al, 1997) Michele Mick dissertation on social phobia Providing HR feedback during exposure

29. Experimental Research Strategies29 Effect of Partner Feedback on Partner Preferences Taken from Swann et al, 1992

30. Experimental Research Strategies30 Effects of Evaluator Feedback on Desire to Interact Taken from Swann et al, 1992

31. Experimental Research Strategies31 Effects of Positive vs. Negative Feedback on Social Anxiety

32. Experimental Research Strategies32 Manipulation of Feedback Telch et al (2000) –Claustrophobics randomized to one of three 30- min exposure conditions: Self-guided exposure + HR feedback (HRF) Self-guided exposure + paced-tone control (PTC) Self-guided exposure only control (EOC)

33. Experimental Research Strategies33 Clinical Outcome for the Three Exposure Conditions Data from Telch et al Behaviour Research and Therapy, 2000

34. Experimental Research Strategies34 Treatment Process Findings for the Three Exposure Conditions Data from Telch et al Behaviour Research and Therapy, 2000.

35. Experimental Research Strategies35 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Mood manipulations. –General strategy. Subjects are administered a mood induction procedure designed to elicit either a dysphoric, anxious, or neutral mood. The differential effects of these mood states are then used to draw inferences about the phenomenon of interest. –Example. Effects of mood state on binge-eating.

36. Experimental Research Strategies36 Effects of Mood State on Binge Eating

37. Experimental Research Strategies37 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Pharmacological manipulations –General strategy Subjects are administered one or more active drugs and/or a placebo and the differential effects of these agents are then used to draw inferences about the phenomenon of interest –Examples Panic provocation Female sexual arousal

38. Experimental Research Strategies38 Panicogenic Effects of Yohimbine

39. Experimental Research Strategies39 Effects of Ephedrine on Female Sexual Arousal Taken from Meston et al, 1994

40. Experimental Research Strategies40 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Other physical state manipulations –General Strategy Subjects engage in one or more activities to alter some physical state and the differential effects of the induced state(s) are then used to draw inferences about the phenomenon of interest.

41. Experimental Research Strategies41 Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Female Sexual Arousal Taken from Meston et al, 1994

42. Experimental Research Strategies42 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Cognitive manipulations –General strategy Subject performs one of several cognitive activities while engaging in a main task. The effects of the cognitive activities on task performance are then examined and used to draw inferences about the phenomenon of interest –Examples Cognitive load manipulations Manipulation of attentional focus

43. Experimental Research Strategies43 Treatment Outcome Across the Four Exposure Conditions Data from Telch et al (in prep)

44. Experimental Research Strategies44 Common Types of Experimental Manipulations Combined manipulations –General strategy Manipulate two or more factors and examine their independent and interactive effects –Examples Effects of cognitive load and instructions to relax

45. Experimental Research Strategies45 Effects of Cognitive Load and Relaxation Instructions on Skin Conductance Level Taken from Wegner et al, 1999

46. Experimental Research Strategies46 Effects of Cognitive Load and Threat Focus Instructions on Claustrophobic Fear Data from Kamphuis & Telch, 1999