Mike, My guess is that the water test referred to in your post is an old learned helplessness test. I can find a reference if you are interested.
Dennis ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Dennis M. Goff Chair, Department of Psychology Professor of Psychology Randolph College (Founded as Randolph-Macon Woman's College in 1891) Lynchburg VA 24503 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Mike Palij [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 9:56 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Cc: Mike Palij Subject: re: [tips] Dirk Wittenborn: a history of brain candy On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:00:25 -0800, Stephen Black wrote: >With a nod to Leo Standing: > >http://tinyurl.com/b5amaz > >A long, interesting, but inflammatory personal account of life with a >pioneer of clinical psychopharmacology (previously unknown to me). It >does little to reverse my generally poor opinion of psychiatrists, even >if some of the claims seem over-the-top. I thank Stephen for bringing this article and Dirk Wittenborn to our/my attention. Whether the account is truly inflammatory or a writer's embellishment of his personal experiences is not clear. Certainly, Dirk Wittenborn has some (unresolved?) issues with his father J.R. and his friends in psychiatric research and treatment but his stories do not seem all that outlandish (as least on the basis of my own experiences with such people). I suggest one take a look at the PBS episode of the series the American Experience which featured Walter Freeman, "The Lobotmist" for an example of how some of these people behaved. see: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lobotomist/program/ However, Dirk Wittenborn appears to be an outsider to psychiatry and research and its hard to tell whether he tells anecdotes because they make for interesting writing or whether providing details would detract from a good yarn. Consider the following quote: |How were all these pills tested? How are they tested today? |Dr Donald Klein, who served as president of the American College |of Neuropsychopharmacology in 1981 (my father was president in '73), |says testing still generally goes from lab animals directly to humans. I |was amazed when Don told me that potential antidepressants were |deemed worthy of trying out on people if a rat who had ingested them |took longer to drown than a rat normally takes to drown when placed |in a pool with no exit. To this day, this test is still used - only now to |save time the rats are weighted. What better way of simulating paralysed rage? I am sure that there are others on the list (e.g., David Epstein) who can lay out the phases of drug testing and what the above test is (is it the Morris water maze? see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_water_maze ). But such details might detract from the writing's "punch". But the impact, I think, is to make Don look either foolish or sadistic (he could be both but I don't think this is a good example). On another minor point, Dirk Wittenborn refers to "Dr. Nathan Klein" and his research with lithium. The name is actualy Nathan Kline and the research center that he headed is now known as the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research. A brief description of Kline and the history of the Nathan Kline Institues are provided here: http://www.rfmh.org/nki/welcome/kline.cfm NOTE: New York State had set up public-private partnerships with certain universities to support psychiatric research in the context of research institutes that contained the department of psychiatry of a major medical school. Two such institutes continue to exist: (a) New York State Psychiatric Instituted (NYSPI or, locally, PI) which is affiliated with Columbia's College of Physians and Surgeons and with which Don Klein was long affiliated [see:http://nyspi.org/ ], and (b) Rockland/Nathan Kline Research institute which is affiliated with NYU. The chairperson of the department of psychiatry at Columbia is the de facto head of NYSPI while the chairperson of the department of psychiatry at NYU is the head of Nathan Kline. The Klein/Kline thing is a minor error but one wonders how many minor errors are present in Dirk Wittenborn's writings (anecdotes). Finally, I admit to not knowing who J.R. Wittenborn was but after a PsycInfo search I now realize that I may have read a couple of his articles/chapters (but because they're not in my area of "main interests" they have not stood out in my memory). I provide a list below of J.R. Wittenborn's writings as found in PsycInfo. Perhas something can be learned about the man from them. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] References Wittenborn, J. R. (1990). Psychological assessment in treatment. In G. Goldstein, & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of psychological assessment (2nd ed.). (pp. 467-485). Elmsford, NY, US: Pergamon Press. Retrieved from www.csa.com Block, R. I., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1986). Marijuana effects on the speed of memory retrieval in the letter-matching task. International Journal of the Addictions, 21(2), 281-285. Retrieved from www.csa.com Block, R. I., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1985). Marijuana effects on associative processes. Psychopharmacology, 85(4), 426-430. doi:10.1007/BF00429658 Block, R. I., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1984). Marijuana effects on semantic memory: Verification of common and uncommon category members. Psychological Reports, 55(2), 503-512. Retrieved from www.csa.com Block, R. I., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1984). Marijuana effects on visual imagery in a paired-associate task. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 58(3), 759-766. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1983). Adolescent drug use. US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/022348 Wittenborn, J. R. (1983). Drug abuse: Who and why?. US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/022248 Wittenborn, J. R. (1976). Diversities in the study of personality. US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/015197 Wittenborn, J. R. (1976). The effect of minor tranquilizers on psychomotor performance. Psychopharmacology, 47(3), 281-286. doi:10.1007/BF00427614 Wittenborn, J. R. (1976). A comparison of the effect of imipramine, nomifensine, and placebo on the psychomotor performance of normal males. Psychopharmacology, 51(1), 85-90. doi:10.1007/BF00426327 Wittenborn, J. R. (1974). Deductive approaches to the catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 158(5), 320-324. doi:10.1097/00005053-197405000-00002 Wittenborn, J. R. (1974). The WPRS: A quantification of observable psychopathology. Psychological measurements in psychopharmacology. (). Oxford, England: S. Karger. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R., Kiremitci, N., & Weber, E. S. (1973). The choice of alternative antidepressants. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 156(2), 97-108. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1972). Reliability, validity, and objectivity of symptom-rating scales. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 154(2), 79-87. doi:10.1097/00005053-197202000-00001 Wittenborn, J. R. (1971). Categories or dimensions?. US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/0011312 Goldberg, S. C., May, P. R., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1971). ACNP study group on prediction of response: Abridged proceedings. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 7(1), 4-9. Retrieved from www.csa.com May, P. R., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1969). Psychotropic drug response: Advances in prediction. Oxford, England: Charles C Thomas. Retrieved from www.csa.com May, P. R., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1968). Psychotropic drug response: Advances in prediction Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1967). Do rating scales objectify clinical impressions? Comprehensive Psychiatry, 8(5), 386-392. doi:10.1016/S0010-440X(67)80064-6 Wittenborn, J. R., & Smith, J. B. K. (1964). A comparison of psychotic dimensions in male and female hospital patients. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 138(4), 375-382. doi:10.1097/00005053-196405000-00006 Wittenborn, J. R. (1964). Psychotic dimensions in male and female hospital patients: Principal component analyses. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 138(5), 460-467. doi:10.1097/00005053-196405000-00006 Wittenborn, J. R., Adler, E., Lukacs, A., Sharrock, J., & Simmons, J. J. (1963). A contingent reinforcer. Psychological Review, 70(5), 418-431. doi:10.1037/h0041710 Wittenborn, J. R. (1963). Distinctions within psychotic dimensions: A principal component analysis. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 137(6), 543-547. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1963). Symptom patterns in a group of mental hospital patients., 81. doi:10.1037/11397-006 Wittenborn, J. R. (1962). Many-faceted study of drugs. US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/006891 Wittenborn, J. R. (1962). The dimensions of psychosis. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 134(2), 117-128. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R., Plante, M., Burgess, F., & Maurer, H. (1962). A comparison of imipramine, electroconvulsive therapy and placebo in the treatment of depressions. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 135(2), 131-137. doi:10.1097/00005053-196208000-00006 Wittenborn, J. R. (1961). Contributions and current status of Q methodology. Psychological Bulletin, 58(2), 132-142. doi:10.1037/h0045018 Wittenborn, J. R., & Kline, N. S. (1959). Drive strength and symptom manifestations. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58(3), 300-304. doi:10.1037/h0049172 Wittenborn, J. R. (1959). Some comments on confounded correlations among rorschach scores. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 23(1), 75-77. doi:10.1037/h0041470 Wittenborn, J. R. (1957). Rotational procedures and descriptive inferences. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(6), 445-447. doi:10.1037/h0041603 Wittenborn, J. R. (1957). The theory and technique of assessment. Annual Review of Psychology, 8, 331-356. doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.08.020157.001555 Wittenborn, J. R. (1956). A study of adoptive children. I. interviews as a source of scores for children and their homes. II. the predictive validity of the yale developmental examination of infant behavior. III. relationships between some aspects of development and some aspects of environment for adoptive children. Psychological Monographs, 70(12,3), 1-115. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1955). The study of alternative responses by means of the correlation coefficient. Psychological Review, 62(6), 451-460. doi:10.1037/h0049292 Wittenborn, J. R. (1954). Some current research issues in clinical psychology. Oxford, England: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from www.csa.com Mettler, F. A., Crandell, A., Wittenborn, J. R., Litten, K., Feiring, E. H., & Carpenter, M. B. (1954). Factors in the pre-operative situation of schizophrenics considered to be of significance in influencing outcome following psychosurgery. Psychiatric Quarterly, 28, 549-606. doi:10.1007/BF01567074 Adams, D. K., Mowrer, O. H., Ammons, R. B., Snygg, D., Butler, J. M., Spence, K. W., et al. (1954). Learning theory, personality theory, and clinical research: The kentucky symposium. Hoboken, NJ, US: John Wiley & Sons Inc. doi:10.1037/11280-000 Wittenborn, J. R. (1954). Some current research issues in clinical psychology. Hoboken, NJ, US: John Wiley & Sons Inc. doi:10.1037/11280-011 Wittenborn, J. R., Holzberg, J. D., & Simon, B. (1953). Symptom correlates for descriptive diagnosis. Genetic Psychology Monographs, 47, 237-302. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1952). Review of the prediction of performance in clinical psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 49(6), 662-664. doi:10.1037/h0053104 Wittenborn, J. R., & Weiss, W. (1952). Patients diagnosed manic depressive psychosis--manic state. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 16(3), 193-198. doi:10.1037/h0059432 Wittenborn, J. R., Herz, M. I., Kurtz, K. H., Mandell, W., & Tatz, S. (1952). The effect of rater differences on symptom rating scale clusters. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 16(2), 107-109. doi:10.1037/h0054796 Wittenborn, J. R. (1952). The behavioral symptoms for certain organic psychoses. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 16(2), 104-106. doi:10.1037/h0056987 Wittenborn, J. R., & Bailey, C. (1952). The symptoms of involutional psychosis. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 16(1), 13-17. doi:10.1037/h0057892 Wittenborn, J. R. (1952). Critique of small sample statistical methods in clinical psychology. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 8, 34-37. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195201)8:1<34::AID-JCLP2270080108>3.0.CO;2-Z Wittenborn, J. R., & Holzberg, J. D. (1951). The rorschach and descriptive diagnosis. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 15(6), 460-463. doi:10.1037/h0062592 Wittenborn, J. R., & Mettler, F. A. (1951). Practical correlates of psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 15(6), 505-510. doi:10.1037/h0056460 Wittenborn, J. R., & Mettler, F. A. (1951). Some psychological changes following psychosurgery. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46(4), 548-556. doi:10.1037/h0055314 Wittenborn, J. R., & Holzberg, J. D. (1951). The generality of psychiatric syndromes. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 15(5), 372-380. doi:10.1037/h0054115 Wittenborn, J. R. (1951). Symptom patterns in a group of mental hospital patients. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 15(4), 290-302. doi:10.1037/h0054947 Wittenborn, J. R., & Holzberg, J. D. (1951). The wechsler-bellevue and descriptive diagnosis. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 15(4), 325-329. doi:10.1037/h0055536 Wittenborn, J. R., & Eron, L. D. (1951). An application of drive theory to TAT responses. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 15(1), 45-50. doi:10.1037/h0061198 Wittenborn, J. R. (1951). An evaluation of the use of difference scores in prediction. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 7, 108-111. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195104)7:2<108::AID-JCLP2270070203>3.0.CO;2-A Wittenborn, J. R., & Lesser, G. S. (1951). Biographical factors and psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 7, 317-322. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195110)7:4<317::AID-JCLP2270070403>3.0.CO;2-5 Wittenborn, J. R., & Mettler, F. A. (1951). A lack of perceptual control score for the rorschach test. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 7, 331-334. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195110)7:4<331::AID-JCLP2270070406>3.0.CO;2-C Wittenborn, J. R., Bell, E. G., & Lesser, G. S. (1951). Symptom patterns among organic patients of advanced age. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 7, 328-331. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195110)7:4<328::AID-JCLP2270070405>3.0.CO;2-W Wittenborn, J. R., Mandler, G., & Waterhouse, I. K. (1951). Symptom patterns in youthful mental hospital patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 7, 323-327. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195110)7:4<323::AID-JCLP2270070404>3.0.CO;2-D Wittenborn, J. R. (1950). Level of mental health as a factor in the implications of rorschach scores. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 14(6), 469-472. doi:10.1037/h0057872 Wittenborn, J. R. (1950). A new procedure for evaluating mental hospital patients. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 14(6), 500-501. doi:10.1037/h0063062 Wittenborn, J. R. (1950). A factor analysis of rorschach scoring categories. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 14(4), 261-267. doi:10.1037/h0054657 Wittenborn, J. R. (1950). The implications of certain assumptions involved in the use of the thematic apperception test. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 14(3), 216-225. doi:10.1037/h0060769 Wittenborn, J. R. (1950). Appraising vocational fitness. Journal of Applied Psychology, 34(2), 136. doi:10.1037/h0050627 Wittenborn, J. R. (1950). Statistical tests of certain rorschach assumptions: The internal consistency of scoring categories. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 14(1), 1-19. doi:10.1037/h0062280 Wittenborn, J. R. (1949). An evaluation of the use of bellevue-wechsler subtest scores as an aid in psychiatric diagnosis. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 13(6), 433-439. doi:10.1037/h0055796 Wittenborn, J. R. (1949). A factor analysis of discrete responses to the rorschach ink blots. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 13(5), 335-340. doi:10.1037/h0058483 Wittenborn, J. R. (1949). Statistical tests of certain rorschach assumptions: Analysis of discrete responses. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 13(4), 257-267. doi:10.1037/h0055471 Wittenborn, J. R. (1949). Certain rorschach response categories and mental abilities. Journal of Applied Psychology, 33(4), 330-338. doi:10.1037/h0055473 Wittenborn, J. R., & Sarason, S. B. (1949). Exceptions to certain rorschach criteria of pathology. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 13(1), 21-27. doi:10.1037/h0054183 Wittenborn, J. R. (1949). Some thematic apperception test norms and a note on the use of the test cards in the guidance of college students. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 5, 157-161. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(194904)5:2<157::AID-JCLP2270050209>3.0.CO;2-G Wittenborn, J. R. (1946). Correlates of handedness among college freshmen. Journal of Educational Psychology, 37(3), 161-170. doi:10.1037/h0056810 Wittenborn, J. R., Larsen, R. P., & Mogil, R. L. (1945). An empirical evaluation of study habits for college courses in french and spanish. Journal of Educational Psychology, 36(8), 449-474. doi:10.1037/h0054441 Wittenborn, J. R. (1945). Mechanical ability, its nature and measurement. I. an analysis of the variables employed in the preliminary minnesota experiment. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 5, 241-260. doi:10.1177/001316444500500304 Wittenborn, J. R. (1945). Mechanical ability, its nature and measurement. II. manual dexterity. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 5, 395-409. doi:10.1177/001316444500500304 Wittenborn, J. R., & Larsen, R. P. (1944). An empirical evaluation of study habits in elementary german. Journal of Applied Psychology, 28(5), 420-430. doi:10.1037/h0062939 Wittenborn, J. R., & Larsen, R. P. (1944). A factorial study of achievement in college german. Journal of Educational Psychology, 35(1), 39-48. doi:10.1037/h0054434 Wittenborn, J. R. (1944). Classes in remedial reading and study habits. Journal of Educational Research, 37, 571-586. Retrieved from www.csa.com Wittenborn, J. R. (1943). Factorial equations for tests of attention. Psychometrika, 8, 19-35. doi:10.1007/BF02288681 Wittenborn, J. R., Triggs, F. O., & Feder, D. D. (1943). A comparison of interest measurement by the kuder preference record and the strong vocational interest blanks for men and women. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 3, 239-257. doi:10.1177/001316444300300121 Larsen, R. P., Wittenborn, J. R., & Giesecke, E. G. (1942). Factors contributing to achievement in the study of first semester college german. Journal of Experimental Education, 10, 265-271. Retrieved from www.csa.com Hall, D. M., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1942). Motor fitness tests for farm boys. Research Quarterly of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, & Recreation, 13, 432-443. Retrieved from www.csa.com Young, P. T., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1940). Food preferences of rachitic and normal rats. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 30(2), 261-277. doi:10.1037/ --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
