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Purpose To compare coping effectiveness training (CET) with supportive group therapy (SGT) for anxiety, depression, and adjustment to injury in an acute spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) rehabilitation population. CET was shown to result in decreased anxiety and depression symptoms when compared to historical no-treatment control groups (Kennedy, Duff, Evans, & Beedie, 2003; King & Kennedy, 1999). The present study sought to extend those findings with a comparison of CET to an alternative active therapy condition, SGT. Research method Participants (N = 40) entering a hospital-based program were assigned to treatment condition using block randomization. Questionnaire mood measures were completed at program admission, program discharge, and 3-month postdischarge follow-up. Adjustment to disability was assessed at follow-up only. Analyses of variance tested for group differences in anxiety, depression, and adjustment to injury. Results Both groups reported reductions in mood symptoms with no differences between treatment conditions. However, similar reductions were obtained after fewer sessions of CET. Symptoms of depression increased in both groups following hospital discharge. Conclusions Clinical and research implications, including innovative interventions during the period after discharge, are discussed.

Material-specific memory refers to the ability to learn and recall new episodic information on the basis of the nature of the stimulus material (e.g., verbal vs. nonverbal-visuospatial). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from a sample of patients with traumatic brain injury to compare 3 models of memory functioning: material-specific, material-specific plus general, and general (non-material-specific). The models were examined separately for acquisition, delayed free recall, and retention aspects of memory. Results suggest that, at least in a population with traumatic brain injury, the acquisition of new information takes place in a material-specific memory fashion, delayed free recall involves both material-specific and general (non-material-specific) memory components, but retention relies primarily on general (non-material-specific) memory processes.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (Wechsler, 1981) standardization data were analyzed to determine the frequency of relative intersubtest scatter. The relative scatter range was defined as the difference between the highest and lowest subtest scores based on the value of the highest subtest. This approach provides the greatest precision in scatter analysis to determine whether the amount of scatter obtained in clinical profiles is rare enough to be considered abnormal. For ease of clinical use, tables are provided that report frequency of a minimum (lowest) subtest score by each level of maximum (highest) subtest score. Potential scatter range, rather than overall level of intelligence, was the primary determinant of the magnitude of scatter; the greater the possible range the larger the magnitude of scatter

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personnality Inventory scores of 93 male and 186 female headache patients were subjected to a cluster analysis. Four distinct clusters were derived for both men and women. A second sample (52 men, 177 women) was used for cross-validation purposes and again 4 distinct clusters were found for both men and women