MMPI profiles in PTSD as a function of comorbidity

A sample of 135 Vietnam veteran inpatients with combat-related PTSD was sorted into three groups, depending upon the presence of concurrent psychiatric disorders: Depression (n = 68), Psychosis (n = 31), and Other (n = 36). Pairwise comparisons were made on the MMPI with respect to the validity indicators, clinical scales, four relevant Harris-Lingoes subscales, the Psychoticism content scale, and the MMPI-PTSD subscale. Results indicate variations in scale elevations as a function of comorbid diagnosis. Various items and scales appear to differentiate the Psychosis group due to greater psychopathology. In general, the results spotlight the heterogeneous aspects that comorbidity brings to PTSD assessment.     

Diagnostic efficiency of the depression adjective check lists

The diagnostic efficiency of the trait version of the Depression Adjective Check Lists (DACL) was studied in a two-phase investigation that involved two psychiatric patient samples (N = 308 and N = 67). Cutting scores developed on the first sample were cross-validated successfully on the second sample. In addition, the DACL compared favorably in diagnostic efficiency with the Beck Depression Inventory, the MMPI-D scale, and a Self-rating Depression scale.     

Locus of control and depression in students and psychiatric outpatients

Examined the relationship among depression, locus of control of reinforcement, and age in 26 depressed, female, psychiatric outpatients, 26 nondepressed controls, and 55 undergraduate students (23 male, 32 female), of whom 18 were depressed. The mean age of the patients and controls was 40.2, and of the students 19.7. Depression (measured on the Beck Depression Inventory) and locus of control (measured on Rotter's Internal-External questionnaire) were correlated highly. Age was correlated negatively with locus of control scores and positively with depression. With age partialled out, the correlation between external locus of control and depression increased. The association between external locus of control is neither a simple function of age nor a response to hospitalization because the depressed Ss in this study were out-patients. The possible causal relationship between external locus of control and depression is discussed.     

Imagery elaboration and clarity in modifying college students' depression

Examined the relationship between clarity of imagery and depression reduction and determined whether Ss who elaborated on positive fantasies were more successful in therapy than those Ss who merely practiced positive daydreams. Thirty depressed college females were pretested with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 3-week period, and then were posttested with the BDI. The groups were a no treatment control, a positive imagery group, and a positive imagery group who elaborated on their daydreams. Ss were asked to rate the clarity of imagery on a scale from 1 to 10. Analysis of covariance found no significant treatment effect, but vividness of imagery was correlated significantly with depression reduction.     

Perceived locus of control as a function of level of depression among alcoholics and nonalcoholics

This study investigated perceived locus of control as a function of level of depression among 39 alcoholics and 39 matched nonalcoholic controls. Ss completed the Rotter I-E scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Initial analyses of variance indicated a lack of difference between groups on the I-E scale; however, alcoholics were significantly more depressed than were controls. A correlational analysis indicated a significant relationship between an external locus of control and higher levels of depression. When level of depression was controlled statistically, an analysis of covariance indicated that the alcoholic sample was significantly more internal than the nonalcoholics. These data tend to cross-validate Lamont's (1972) findings of an item-mood response bias in the I-E scale. These data further support the contention that caution must be used in interpreting comparative locus of control results derived from samples that have differential base rates of depression.     

Depression in mothers of burned children

Summary The treatment of burned children needs to address also their psychic state. Since the child’s emotional state depends heavily on the emotional state of its parents, especially the mother’s, interest should also be focused on diagnosing and treating secondary psychiatric disorders in mothers of burned children. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of depression in mothers of burned children and its predicting factors. Methods: The enrolment of mothers of burned children was done in the Burns Department, Ibn Rushd University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco. Twenty-eight mothers of seriously burned children agreed to participate in this study. A psychiatric interview was conducted after informed consent was obtained. The mothers completed a questionnaire; the diagnosis was made according to DSM IV criteria using the Mini International Neuro-psychiatric Interview (MINI). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were used to evaluate respectively the intensity of depression and the level of anxiety. Social functioning was assessed by the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF). The minimum time interval between the child’s being burned and the interview with the mother was one month. Results: The prevalence of depression was 35.7%, which is much higher in the mothers of burned children as compared to the general population. Several risk factors were found such as: several burned children or burn of the only child, severity and complications of burn, and the socio-economic level. Conclusion: Depression is a common disorder in mothers of burned children. Thus early screening for depression in mothers and psychological and psychiatric support must be provided in conjunction with the treatment of the burned child.     

The family drawing depression scale

Described the development of a standardized rating scale for scoring Kinetic Family Drawings of depressed patients. The Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and a Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD) task were administered to hospitalized depressives who met the DSM-III criteria for Major Depression. Using the Family Drawing Depression Scale (FDDS), family drawings were analyzed in the depressed patients, pre- and posttreatment, and in a group of normal control Ss (N = 71). It is concluded that the FDDS is a useful and reliable measure of depression. Potential clinical and research applications are discussed.     

Further evaluation of the CPI repeated item short form

Cross-validated the CPI Repeated Item Short Form (RISF). Three populations police dispatcher recruits (N = 22), college students (N = 30), and pententiary prisoners (N = 51) were used for comparison purposes. Each S was administered the full-length CPI, from which scores for the short forms were extracted. CPI short-from comparisons were conducted by contrasting intercorrelaitonal matrices, comparing correlations with full length CPI scale, s and determining profile validity/invalidity as well as matching profile high and low points. On all of the described comparisons the RISF compared favorably relative to the only other published. CPI short form (i. e., the Factor Analyzed Short Form-FASF). The authors conclude the RISF is a good approximation of the full length CPI profiles for both institutionalized and normal populaitons.     

A comparative trial of psychotherapy in the treatment of post-trauma stress reactions

Forty-two patients with post-traumatic stress reactions were assessed 40 weeks after the traumatic event and given either an immediate (n = 29) or delayed (n = 13) eight sessions of psychotherapy. The patients in the delayed condition improved somewhat during the waiting list period, but at the end of treatment the two conditions were not significantly different. However, treatment gains were a little higher in the immediate group, with up to a 32% reduction in symptoms. There were no significant differences between therapists. The rate of improvement while under therapy was much higher than while awaiting assessment. Improvements were greatest for those with high Psychoticism and Obsessive Compulsive scores.     

抑郁症患者焦虑症状、应付方式与人格的相关研究

目的：探讨有无焦虑症状抑郁症患者的应付方式与人格的关系。方法：对88名抑郁症患者及与之匹配的90名正常对照组进行SDS、SAS、EPQ和应付方式问卷评定。结果：与正常对照组相比，抑郁症患者SDS、SAS、EPQ的N、P两个维度的得分高于正常对照组，而EPQ的E维度、积极应付方式得分低于对照组。相对于无焦虑症状组，有焦虑症状组SDS、SAS、EPQ的N、P两个维度的得分明显较高，积极应付方式得分明显较低。相关、回归分析表明抑郁症状的严重程度与SAS、EPQ的E维度及积极应付方式的关系更为密切，三者可解释抑郁症状严重程度方差的52．0％。结论：抑郁症患者发病期有较高的N、P两个维度的得分，较低的E维度得分，较少采用积极的应付方式。相对于无焦虑症状组，有焦虑症状组的抑郁症患者抑郁症状较严重，神经质、精神质比较明显，较少采用积极的应付方式。且较少采用积极的应付方式似乎可纳入人格特质的E维度之中。     

The effects of self-induced mood states on behavior and physiological arousal

The effects of reading emiotionally loaded statements on behavioral tasks and physiological measures were investigated. Statements were constructed to arouse elation depression, or neutrality. Ss were both pre- and posttested on Writing Speed, Reaction Time, Decision Time, and Spontaneous Verbaliza-tions. Base rates were obtained for heart rate and galvanic skin response. Elation Ss significantly outperformed both Neutral and Depression Ss on the Reaction Time task. Scores for Neutral Ss fell between those of Elation and Depression Ss on three of the four behavioral measures. No significant differences were found on the physiological measures.     

Reynolds adolescent depression scale‐second edition: a reliable and useful instrument

The authors conducted two studies to address issues of the dimensionality, scale reliability, and psychometric properties of scores on the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale‐Second Edition (RADS‐2; Reynolds, 2002 ) in samples of adolescent psychiatric inpatients. In Study 1 (N=262), they used bifactor analysis to further evaluate the general and specific components of the RADS‐2. In Study 2 (N=196), they used confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the fit of a 1‐factor model, the original 4‐factor model, a second‐order model, and a bifactor model to a new sample data. In both studies, the total RADS‐2 and content‐specific subscale scores showed acceptable estimates of reliability (i.e., scale reliability estimates >.80). Estimates of concurrent validity were also examined. Scores of the RADS‐2 total and content‐specific subscale scores were useful in differentiating between the responses of youth with mood disorder diagnoses and those with other primary psychiatric disorder diagnoses. The authors also conducted correlation analyses to identify potential correlates for the total RADS‐2 scale and the proposed subscale scores. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66:1–22, 2010.     

The relative predictive validity of subtle vs. obvious items on the MMPI depression scale

To assess the relative predictive validity of subtle and obvious items on the MMPI Depression scale, obvious, neutral, and subtle subscales were formed and used to predict several criterion measures of depression; these included the Beck Depression Inventory, the Depression subscale of the Profile of Mood States, and the Pleasant Events Schedule (N = 209). In general, obvious items were good predictors of all criteria, neutral items overlapped considerably with obvious items, and subtle items generally did not contribute uniquely to the prediction of any of the concurrent measures of depression.     

Predicting outcome of psychiatric hospitalization: A comparison of attitudinal and psychopathological measures

Demonstrated that a generalized measure of locus of control (the Rotter I-E Scale) is not as effective in predicting outcome of hospitalization as a direct assessment of psychiatric patients' (N = 103) willingness to admit to having problems. The addition of diagnostic classification to patients' acknowledgment of problems did not improve the discriminative capacity of the latter with regard to length of hospitalization or readmission within 1 year. Patients' acceptance of responsibility for their problems was not related significantly to length of stay or readmission, except in the presence of severe pathology (as indicated by diagnostic classification). Implications for therapeutic strategies based on these findings were presented.     

Force and myosin content variation in isolated intact single muscle fibres from Rana temporaria

 We studied the relation between force normalized by dry mass per unit length and the myosin fraction of muscle dry mass. The two tibialis anterior muscles were dissected from 12 frogs (Rana temporaria). Then, from one muscle, two single fast-twitch fibres were isolated. Each fibre was mounted isometrically in Ringer’s solution, and electrically stimulated using a standardized protocol. Peak force production, normalized by the fibre’s dry mass per unit length, varied by a factor of 1.4. Little variation in normalized force was measured between fibres from the same animal, whereas between animals a significant difference was found (P<0.05). The contralateral muscle was used to determine the myosin fraction of the dry mass. The relationship between the fraction myosin of the dry mass and force normalized by dry mass per unit length showed a high correlation (r = 0.81; n = 12). From this we conclude that variation in normalized tetanic force is determined greatly (65%) by variations in myosin content. Received: 23 January 1997 / Received after revision: 14 March 1997 / Accepted: 26 March 1997     

13C NMR studies of thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(γ-alkylaryl L-glutamate)s

The molecular motions of three kinds of poly(γ-alkylaryl L -glutamate)s ( 1 – 3 ) having a phenylene or a biphenylylene group and alkyl groups with various length, containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, were investigated by means of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy as a function of temperature. The observed range of temperature covers the “crystal-to-liquid-crystal” phase transition temperature, T_m. It was found that these phase transitions are caused by an increase of the motions of aromatic or alkyl groups in the side chain, depending on the samples, and that the motion of main chains of polymers 1 – 3 with α-helical conformation does not occur on the NMR time scale at least up to 160°C. The degree of the mobility of the alkyl chain in the side chain of 1 – 3 depends on their length above T_m.     

Eveningness Is Associated With Greater Depressive Symptoms in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Study in Two Different Ethnic Cohorts

Background: Eveningness is associated with greater depressive symptoms in the general population. Depression and type 2 diabetes (T2D) commonly coexist. We aimed to explore the association between morningness–eveningness and depressive symptoms in T2D patients in the United States and in Thailand. Participants: T2D patients (n = 182) from an endocrinology clinic in Chicago, Illinois, and six hospitals in Thailand (n = 251) were enrolled. Methods: Diabetes history was collected. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). The Chicago cohort completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Thai cohort completed the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: The mean (SD) CES-D score was 13.7 (9.1) in Chicago and 11.9 (6.4) in Thailand. In Chicago participants, after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, hemoglobin A1c, insulin use, and PSQI score, greater eveningness (lower MEQ scores) was associated with higher CESD scores (B = –0.117, p = 0.048). In Thai participants, after adjusting for age, sex, and PSQI score, eveningness (lower CSM score) was associated with higher CES-D score (B = –0.147, p = 0.016). In both cohorts, however, eveningness was not independently associated with the likelihood of being in the at-risk range for clinical depression (CES-D ≥ 16). Conclusions: Eveningness is independently associated with greater depressive symptoms in T2D in two different ethnic cohorts. The results support the association between individual differences in circadian rhythms and psychological functioning in T2D.     

Imagery as an aid in reducing depression

Hypothesized that encouraging depressed Ss to attend to nondepressive daydreams could reduce their level of depression. Ss were selected on the basis of their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory from a pool of 350 Ss administered the Inventory. Ss were assigned to one of four groups: A no treatment control group, neutral daydreams, positive daydreams, and daydreams developed by the individual and the E. Each S in the treatment groups met with the E once a week for 3 weeks. Ss were instructed to practice each daydream at least twice daily. All measures were readministered the week following the last session. The change toward decreased depression was significant (p < 0.01) for the three treatment groups, and the control group was not significant (p > 0.01). Level of depression can be decreased by diverting depressed Ss' attention from depressed themes to alternative daydreams.     

Prevalence of depression among women with obstetric fistula in low-income African countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Depression is one of mental health consequences that present in women with obstetric fistula. It is estimated that over 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression globally. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the epidemiologic evidence from previous studies on the prevalence of depression among women with obstetric fistula in low-income African countries. We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to conduct this meta-analysis. The common databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Psych INFO, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus, and African Journals Online (AJOL)) were searched for the relevant literature. We used a random-effect meta-analysis model to estimate the overall prevalence of depression and the Q -and I² -statistics were used to assess the heterogeneity between the studies included in the meta-analysis. Egger’s test and visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots were used to check for the presence of publication bias. The pooled estimated prevalence of depression among women with obstetric fistula in low-income African countries was 56.2% (95% CI 43.1–68.4). The prevalence of depression among women with obstetric fistula was 74.4% in Ethiopia, 72.9% in Kenya, 46.0% in Malawi, 41.0% in Sudan, 34.8% in Nigeria, and 27.7% in Tanzania. Furthermore, the prevalence of depression was higher (97.0%) when it was measured by using Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) when compared with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) (62.7%), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) (36.7%), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) (41.0%), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (27.7%). Moreover, the pooled estimated prevalence of depression among women with obstetric fistula was ranged from 48.1 to 57.7% in a leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. The prevalence of depression among women with obstetric fistula in low-income African countries was high. Screening and appropriate management of depression among women with obstetric fistula are warranted.

     

Role of hospital stay and antibiotic use on Pseudomonas aeruginosa gastrointestinal colonization in hospitalized patients

The prospective cohort study presented here assessed the risk factors associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa gastrointestinal colonization (PAGIC) in 933 patients hospitalized in five different wards in a French university hospital. A total of 195 patients were colonized. By logistic regression, hospitalization in an intensive care unit and length of hospital stay were independent risk factors. A significant association was observed between fluoroquinolone use and PAGIC caused by an ofloxacin-resistant strain (p<0.0001), imipenem use and PAGIC caused by an imipenem-resistant strain (p<0.0002) and ceftazidime use and PAGIC caused by a ceftazidime-resistant strain (p<0.02). The ecological impact of antibiotic use is of great clinical relevance and clinicians should consider antimicrobial resistance in order to limit the development and dissemination of resistant microorganisms.