Method in neurology

Neurological Sciences -     

基于问题学习教学法结合传统教学法在血管神经病学教学中的应用

目的 总结基于问题学习 （problem-based learning, PBL） 教学法结合传统教学法 （lesson-based learning, LBL） 在医学生临床学习中的作用。 方法 对2011年-2014年在首都医科大学附属北京天坛医院神经内科进行临床学习的7年制医学生, 采用PBL结合LBL的教学模式, 教学后对学生进行问卷调查, 统计学生对教学方法的意见。 结果 共发放并收回合格问卷200份, 统计显示学生对PBL结合LBL的教学模式在激发学习兴趣, 加 深对理论知识的理解, 拓展临床逻辑思维能力、 提高分析解决问题的能力, 理论联系实际能力、 提高 独立思考能力、 提高沟通协作能力等方面认可度较高 （84.3%～92.3%） , 85.3%的学生认为有必要继 续采用这种教学方法。 结论 医学生对PBL结合LBL的临床教学模式的接受度较高, 有利于提高学生的学习积极性。     

数值计算方法在生物电磁学中的应用

近年来,数值计算方法在生物电磁学中的应用得到了广泛的研究和发展。数值计算方法所具有的优势决定了其在未来生物电磁学研究中的重要地位。文章基于电磁学数值计算的主要方法,介绍和总结了目前几种流行的生物电磁仿真软件的特点,并探讨生物电磁计算平台的发展趋势。     

The Plan Formulation Method

The Plan Formulation Method, a procedure for developing comprehensive clinical case formulations, is illustrated using the case of Ms. Smithfield. The theory out of which the Method developed and the steps involved in developing a Plan Formulation are described. The Plan Formulation Method has been employed with excellent reliability to a wide variety of cases by different researchers. The validity of the Method has been tested in both process and outcome studies. Applications of the Method to the empirical validation and comparison of different theories of psychotherapy are discussed.     

Method of lesioning brainstem determines seizure probability

We examined 3 different methods of brainstem lesioning to assess their propensities to evoke seizures in the early postoperative period. Lesioning by electrolysis or microinjection of the neurotoxin, N-methyl-D,L-aspartate, caused seizures, but lesioning by thermocoagulation (radiofrequency current) did not. In paradigms in which postoperative lesion-induced seizures could confound interpretation of experimental results, the thermocoagulative method offers an important advantage.     

Validity and reliability of the Experience-Sampling Method

To understand the dynamics of mental health, it is essential to develop measures for the frequency and the patterning of mental processes in every-day-life situations. The Experience-Sampling Method (ESM) is an attempt to provide a valid instrument to describe variations in self-reports of mental processes. It can be used to obtain empirical data on the following types of variables: a) frequency and patterning of daily activity, social interaction, and changes in location; b) frequency, intensity, and patterning of psychological states, i.e., emotional, cognitive, and conative dimensions of experience; c) frequency and patterning of thoughts, including quality and intensity of thought disturbance. The article reviews practical and methodological issues of the ESM and presents evidence for its short- and long-term reliability when used as an instrument for assessing the variables outlined above. It also presents evidence for validity by showing correlation between ESM measures on the one hand and physiological measures, one-time psychological tests, and behavioral indices on the other. A number of studies with normal and clinical populations that have used the ESM are reviewed to demonstrate the range of issues to which the technique can be usefully applied.     

Method for prediction of serum lithium levels

A new computer-assisted method for predicting lithium levels and consulting dosage of lithium is demonstrated. The method is based on a mathematical model describing elimination of lithium after lithium treatment of any duration and regularity. From two values of serum concentration of lithium obtained during a single day, parameters of the model are computed and used for prediction. In an evaluation study involving 20 inpatients, the results demonstrated a high correlation between predicted and observed levels (r = 0.80) and revealed no systematic error of prediction. The elimination rate of lithium in these patients was unrelated to age or to duration of previous lithium therapy.     

Effectiveness of routine psychotherapy: Method matters

Objective: Though many studies have shown that psychotherapy can be effective, psychotherapy available in routine practice may not be adequate. Several methods have been proposed to evaluate routine psychological treatments. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the combined utility of complementary methods, change-based benchmarking, and end-state normative comparisons, across a range of self-reported psychological symptoms. Method: Benchmarks derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and normative comparisons were used to evaluate the effectiveness of psychotherapy in a large (N?=?9895) sample of clients in university counseling centers (UCCs). Results: Overall, routine psychotherapy was associated with significant improvement across all symptoms examined. For clients whose initial severity was similar to RCT participants, the observed pre–post effect sizes were equivalent to those in RCTs. However, treatment tended to lead to normative end-state functioning only for those clients who were moderately, but not severely, distressed at the start of psychotherapy. Conclusions: This suggests that although psychotherapy is associated with an effective magnitude of symptom improvement in routine practice, additional services for highly distressed individuals may be necessary. The methods described here comprise a comprehensive analysis of the quality of routine care, and we recommend using both methods in concert.

Clinical or methodological significance of this article: This study examines the effectiveness of routine psychotherapy provided in a large network of counseling centers. By comparing multiple established methods to define outcomes in this sample we provide a detailed understanding of typical outcomes. The findings show that, across several different problem areas, routine psychotherapy provided substantial benefit, particularly to clients in the most distress. However, there is room to improve, especially by increasing the number of clients who return to normal functioning by the end of treatment. Using distinct methods provides complementary answers to the question: How effective is routine psychotherapy?     

An Innovative Method of Processing Short-term Inpatient Groups

Inexperienced group leaders can benefit from using a system to process groups. A system or model can help to reduce anxiety. It can help group leaders make connections between group behavior and theoretical concepts, and move the group toward its goal. The author presents such a system. This one provides a specific recording format and step-by-step guidelines for organizing and interpreting the collected data.