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The Cognitive Estimation Test (CET) is generally considered to be a measure of executive function, but there is little information with respect to its clinical utility in patients with schizophrenia. In the present investigation, we evaluated the clinical utility of the CET in 42 patients with schizophrenia relative to 42 healthy comparison subjects matched for age, gender, and parental education. Construct validity of the CET was examined though correlation with other tests of executive and nonexecutive cognitive functions. Patients with schizophrenia performed more poorly on the CET compared with the healthy comparison group, which could not be accounted for by greater level of depression in the patient sample. In the schizophrenia group, CET was correlated with measures of executive function but also general intellectual functioning, verbal learning, and auditory attention. CET performance was not associated with depression or overall severity of psychopathology in the patient sample. These findings provide support for the clinical utility of the CET in schizophrenia but indicate that both executive and nonexecutive cognitive functions contribute to performance on the measure. Thus, the integrity of other cognitive processes should be taken into consideration when interpreting the presence of a deficit in cognitive estimation in patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of this article is to apply the attention-allocation model (AAM; Steele and Josephs, 1990) to the explanation, as well as the prevention, of alcohol-related violence. The AAM contends that alcohol has a “myopic” effect on attentional capacity that presumably facilitates aggression by narrowing attentional focus on the most salient provocative cues that are naturally present in hostile situations, rather than on less salient inhibitory cues. Data are presented to demonstrate support for the AAM with regard to alcohol-related aggression. The model has also been expanded to suggest some intermediary mechanisms that may account for how distracting attention away from provocative cues might be involved in the reduction of aggression. Finally, a number of practical suggestions are put forth regarding how the AAM can be applied to the prevention of intoxicated aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychopathy is a personality syndrome characterized by egocentricity, grandiosity, remorselessness, callousness, impulsivity, and manipulativeness. It is also a disorder highly comorbid with substance use disorders (Derefinko and Lynam, 2007; Smith and Newman, 1990; Tourian et al., 1997). However, unlike their other criminal counterparts, psychopaths' substance use related problems appear remarkably resilient despite treatment (Smith and Newman, 1990) leading many to conclude the dually diagnosed psychopathic substance misuser is “untreatable.” However, this pessimistic stance is predicated upon the notion that psychopathy is a homogeneous, categorical construct. Such a conclusion leaves little hope for treating substance use problems in this population, and has certainly attenuated efforts at developing effective clinical interventions (Seto and Quinsey, 2006). In this review, we argue that conceptualizing psychopathy as a heterogeneous and dimensional construct reveals a common thread of negative emotionality (NEM) that may clarify the relations between psychopathy and substance use disorders as well as pave the way for more practical and viable treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the extent to which religious coping predicted subsequent drug use in adolescent boys. Three hundred and twenty-six adolescent boys completed the Wills Coping Questionnaire (Wills, 1985) as well as a number of drug use inventories. Results showed that religious coping, measured at 12-14 years of age, predicted a significant reduction in number of drugs used, frequency of drug use, and problems associated with drug use measured at 15-16 years of age. These results were maintained even when controlling for age and other key coping variables. These findings may have implications for treatment and prevention efforts, specifically for populations who are amenable to "spiritual" interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated and assessed the perceptions of one's attacker's intentions following an aggressive interaction involving alcohol. Participants were 328 (163 men and 165 women) healthy social drinkers between 21 and 35 years of age. After participants had consumed a beverage containing either alcohol or a placebo, the authors tested them on a modified version of the Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP; S. Taylor, 1967) in which participants received mild electric shocks from, and administered shocks to, a fictitious opponent (the attacker) under the guise of a competitive task. Aggressive behavior was operationalized as the shock intensities administered to the fictitious opponent. The authors queried participants about their perceptions of their opponents' intentions toward them on the task. Overall, participants who were least aggressive on the TAP perceived their opponent to have the most aggressive intentions and those who were the most aggressive perceived their opponent to have the least aggressive intentions. Alcohol only seemed to play a role for women. It appeared to decrease aggressive perceptions for the least aggressive women and to increase such perceptions for the most aggressive women. The authors discuss results according to L. Huesmann's (1988) cognitive script model of aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the association between executive cognitive functioning (ECF), negative affectivity and drug use in adolescent males. Important component of substance abuse disorder; Definition of ECF; Specific cognitive abilities involved in ECF; Overview of the tests that were administered to assess ECF.

Discusses the rationale underlying the Dysregulation Inventory, an integral component of the liability for substance use disorder (SUD). Integral component of the risk for substance use in adolescence; Behavioral characteristics common in youth with high risk of SUD.

Presents information on a study which examined the relation between the stimulating and sedating effects of acute alcohol consumption on human physical aggression. How the agression among drinkers was measured; Methodology; Results of the study.