Readying a US measure of health status, the SF-36, for use in Canada

OBJECTIVE: To culturally adapt and translate for use in French- and English-speaking areas of Canada the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), a carefully developed and standardized measure that is useful for assessing the outcomes for care. DESIGN: For the Canadian French version, the methods involved forward and backward translations, quality ratings of the translated product, a scaling exercise and pilot tests. A process of cultural adaptation, along with the scaling exercise and pilot tests, was used to create a form in Canadian English. RESULTS: The authors produced acceptable versions of the SF-36 in Canadian French and English. CONCLUSIONS: Although further psychometric testing of the Canadian versions of the SF-36 is desirable, they are now available for use in clinical practice and research in Canada.     

Two- and four-subtest short forms of the WAIS--R: Validity in a psychiatric sample.

Investigated the validity of 2 (Vocabulary [V] and Block Design [BD]) and 4 (V, BD, Arithmetic, and Picture Arrangement)-subtest short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) using 45 male (mean age 27.93 yrs) and 45 female (mean age 30.41 yrs) psychiatric patients. 42% of the Ss were placed in different IQ categories by short-form 2 (SF 2), whereas a 40% misclassification rate occurred with short-form 4 (SF4). Shortened administration time reduced the accuracy of SF2. SF4 validity was better for females than for males. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measuring outcomes in primary care: a patient generated measure, MYMOP, compared with the SF-36 health survey

OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity to within person change over time of an outcome measure for practitioners in primary care that is applicable to a wide range of illness. DESIGN: Comparison of a new patient generated instrument, the measure yourself medical outcome profile (MYMOP), with the SF-36 health profile and a five point change score; all scales were completed during the consultation with' practitioners and repeated after four weeks. 103 patients were followed up for 16 weeks and their results charted; seven practitioners were interviewed. SETTING: Established practice of the four NHS general practitioners and four of the private complementary practitioners working in one medical centre. SUBJECTS: Systematic sample of 218 patients from general practice and all 47 patients of complementary practitioners; patients had had symptoms for more than seven days. OUTCOME MEASURES: Standardised response mean and index of responsiveness; view of practitioners. RESULTS: The index of responsiveness, relating to the minimal clinically important difference, was high for MYMOP: 1.4 for the first symptom, 1.33 for activity, and 0.85 for the profile compared with < 0.45 for SF-36. MYMOP's validity was supported by significant correlation between the change score and the change in the MYMOP score and the ability of this instrument to detect more improvement in acute than in chronic conditions. Practitioners found that MYMOP was practical and applicable to all patients with symptoms and that its use increased their awareness of patients' priorities. CONCLUSION: MYMOP shows promise as an outcome measure for primary care and for complementary treatment. It is more sensitive to change than the SF-36 and has the added bonus of improving patient-practitioner communication.     

Job strain, social support and mental health: a study on the male heavy manufacturing workers

OBJECT: The aim of this study is to explore the influence of work experience on workers' psychological function. Specifically, the researchers will examine the effect of job demand, decision latitude, job strain, and social support at worksite on the mental health status of male heavy manufacturing workers. METHOD: By purposive sampling, from October 1994 to March 1995, the present investigators implemented a self-administered questionnaire survey on the workers in southern Taiwan. The Karasek job strain model and its measure were embedded in the questionnaire to evaluate workers' perceptions of their job conditions. In addition, Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ) was utilized to evaluate the workers' status of mental health. RESULT: Totally, 1,117 workers were selected for this survey. An unviriate analysis showed the younger the workers, the lower their monthly income, and the newer their employment, were more likely to be classified as high risk in mental health status. The workers with more decision latitude and higher social support would be better in mental health status. In addition, it also showed that workers under high job strain were more likely to be in poor mental health status. Result from multivariate logistic regression showed those who served longer, had more decision automony, and had higher social support, were less likely to be in poor mental health status. Instead, those who sustained high job strain were more likely to be in poor mental health status. DISCUSSION: The implication from those findings for the implementation of health promotion program. would be raised, and the limitation of this inference would also be discussed.     

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial.

Research has shown that mindfulness-based treatment interventions may be effective for a range of mental and physical health disorders in adult populations, but little is known about the effectiveness of such interventions for treating adolescent conditions. The present randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the effect of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for adolescents age 14 to 18 years with heterogeneous diagnoses in an outpatient psychiatric facility (intent-to-treat N = 102). Relative to treatment-as-usual control participants, those receiving MBSR self-reported reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatic distress, and increased self-esteem and sleep quality. Of clinical significance, the MBSR group showed a higher percentage of diagnostic improvement over the 5-month study period and significant increases in global assessment of functioning scores relative to controls, as rated by condition-na?ve clinicians. These results were found in both completer and intent-to-treat samples. The findings provide evidence that MBSR may be a beneficial adjunct to outpatient mental health treatment for adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From psychiatric science to folk psychology: an ordinary-language model of the mind for mental health nurses

In this paper it is argued that, if mental health nurses are to integrate the skills necessary to accomplish the diverse tasks that comprise their professional role, then what is required is a conception of mind independent of any particular paradigm in the biophysical and psychosocial sciences. This is proposed as a necessary condition of articulating the professional autonomy of mental health nurses. A four-part model of mental functioning is presented and developed, drawing on the ordinary language of folk psychology. Objections to this strategy are anticipated and answered. The utility of the model is demonstrated by deploying it to analyse emotional states and to show how subjective experience is a necessary component of mental ill-health, which is why empathic understanding is a necessary skill for mental health nurses. Finally, the major research paradigms associated with scientific approaches to the care and treatment of mental ill-health are aligned with the elements of the model to demonstrate the potential of that model for clarifying the rationale of theoretically divergent treatment approaches for the benefit of both nurses and their clients. It is emphasized that the proposed model is 'theory' only in the weak sense of being a 'systematic account' of the mental life.     

Reliability of the Terry: a mental health cartoon-like screener for African-American children

Test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the Terry, a cartoon-based child mental health screener developed for African-American children, were measured in 36 boys (age 5 1/2 to 13) in a test-retest design. Reliability of the diagnosis (0.70 < or = k < or = 0.75) was good for ADHD, ODD, CD, and OAD, and excellent for MDD and SAD. Because of low base-rate, no kappa value was calculated for SPh. Both test-retest agreement, and reliability of the symptom scale (0.75 < or = ICC < or = 0.80) were very good for all 7 diagnoses. Internal consistency according to symptom scale (0.78 < or = Cronbach alpha < or = 0.90), was moderate for OAD, good for SPh, MDD, SAD, CD, and ODD, and excellent for ADHD. The Terry is a culturally-sensitive questionnaire with good reliability.     

Child and adolescent psychiatric services in the canton of Zurich: a comparison of outpatients, day clinic, and inpatient referral populations

Findings in intervention research are an important basis for the discussion of issues pertaining to quality control. In Switzerland such findings have been rare. The present study of the entire 1988-1995 referred child and adolescent population of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Service of the Canton of Zurich (N = 7538 treated patients) concentrated on the demographic, diagnostic, and therapeutic attributes of the outpatient, day clinic, and inpatient populations that comprised the referred population. Marked differences are found in comparable studies from Germany with regard to patients treated in an inpatient setting. For example, the mean age of the patients in the Zurich sample is lower and patients with conduct disorders are more frequently represented. On the other hand, patients with psychotic illness are missing and, on the average, the duration of treatment is considerably longer. The reasons for these differences are to be found in the various structural attributes of the cantonal services that are provided in Zurich. In the area of inpatient care, where in comparison to outpatient settings and also day care settings patients with severe disorders are treated, there is a lack of places for the short-term care of acutely ill patients--for example, psychotic patients. This is especially true for adolescent patients. The limitations of traditional outpatient settings are frequently marked by unsatisfactory treatment results in outpatients with conduct disorders, developmental disorders, and a high impact of abnormal psychosocial circumstances.     

The needs of prisoners' wives: a challenge for the mental health professions

This research assessed the needs of prisoners' wives in six areas (information, finances, relationships with friends, family relationships, grief, and relationships with children) and determined if stage of separation or previous experience with the correctional system affected those needs. High levels of need were found in each area. Women in the initial stage of separation had significantly greater need for information than women in the pre-reunion stage, but prior experience with the correctional system did not predict needs. Results suggest giving more information to the women at the time of their husbands' trials and the formation of self-help groups.     

A factor analytic study of daydreaming, imaginal process, and temperament: a replication on an adult male life-span sample

One hundred and seventy males aged 24 to 91 years were measured on daydreaming and related mental activity using the imaginal processes inventory and on temperament using the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey to determine if earlier results relating temperament to daydreaming in college populations were generalizable to the adult life-span. The earlier derived factor of "Neurotic-Anxious Absorption in Daydreaming" was found in this sample and had a negative correlation with chronological age, suggesting a decrease with increasing age. Other earlier derived factors on "Personal Acceptance-Utilization of Daydreaming," "Masculinity-Femininity," "Thinking Introversion," and "Social Extroversion" were also found in this sample, but were not related to age.     

Review of Epilepsy: A handbook for the mental health professional.

Reviews the book, Epilepsy: A handbook for the mental health professional edited by Harry Sands (1982). The editor has gathered 10 contributors, each with a wealth of experience in the area of psychological issues in epilepsy. The book is designed to provide necessary information about epilepsy to "the core mental health discipline: psychology, psychiatry, social work, and psychiatric nursing, and to other collaborating disciplines such as rehabilitation and counseling." It certainly achieves this goal and has the potential of becoming a major reference source as well as textbook in the field. The book could be used as a handbook and reference book for specific problems with epileptics. However, its real strength is its potential use as a unified and comprehensive textbook on a broad range of rehabilitation psychology issues with the epileptic. As a text, it would be appropriate for a senior undergraduate-level or graduate-level course within the broad area of medical psychology. Many of the psychological principles and intervention strategies are applicable to other disabilities. Thus, if educators wish, they can use these chapters as a core model to be augmented by other references to other disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identifying at-risk, ethnically diverse stroke caregivers for counseling: A longitudinal study of mental health.

Purpose: This study examined (1) causality in the relationship between stroke caregiver mental health and care-recipient functioning, and (2) the prediction from stroke caregiver and care-recipient variables 5 months and 11 months later. Research Method: Questionnaire, interview, and observational data were collected from 124 ethnically diverse stroke caregiver/care-recipient dyads in the homes of care recipients at 1, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results: The magnitudes of the causal pathways between stroke caregiver mental health and care-recipient functioning were not significantly different. At 1 month after discharge, the best predictors of poor caregiver mental health 11 months later were care-recipient low daily functioning and caregiver low sense of coherence, high burden, and high depression. Conclusions: Caregiver mental health and care-recipient functioning may have reciprocal causal influence on each other, so one of the first steps in stroke rehabilitation may be providing counseling to the primary caregiver. Caregivers with high burden, a low sense of coherence, and a low-functioning care recipient are those most at risk for poor mental health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender stereotyping for sociability, dominance, character, and mental health: a meta-analysis of findings from the bogus stranger paradigm

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ETAAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) were used for the quantitative determination of 13 trace elements in urine and seven trace elements in whole blood of healthy unexposed British subjects living in three regions of the United Kingdom. Careful control of pre-analytical and analytical factors have enabled the results obtained from more than 200 individuals to be used in proposing reference intervals for the following elements; Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl in urine, and Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Tl in blood.     

Effectiveness of cognitive therapy for depression in a community mental health center: A benchmarking study.

The current study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of transporting an empirically supported treatment for depression, cognitive therapy (CT), to a community mental health center setting. CT was delivered to 192 adult outpatients with major depression, and a benchmarking strategy compared results with those of 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The 3 samples were largely similar in terms of initial severity of depression, and CT was as effective in reducing depressive symptoms in the current sample as in the RCTs. More favorable outcome was associated with less severe initial depression, more therapy sessions, more years of education, and absence of a comorbid personality disorder. This study demonstrates that an empirically supported treatment can be transported effectively to a clinical setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Goal adjustment capacities, coping, and subjective well-being: The sample case of caregiving for a family member with mental illness.

This study examined the associations between goal adjustment capacities, coping, and indicators of subjective well-being in 2 waves of data from individuals who provide care for a family member with mental illness. We hypothesized that goal adjustment capacities would predict higher levels of subjective well-being by facilitating coping with caregiving stress. Results showed that goal disengagement was associated with effective care-specific coping (e.g., less self-blame and substance use). Goal reengagement was also associated with effective care-specific coping (e.g., positive reframing), but at the same time it predicted the use of less effective strategies (e.g., venting and self-distraction). Moreover, goal disengagement predicted lower levels of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms and buffered the longitudinal effect of caregiver burden on increases in depressive symptoms. Goal reengagement, by contrast, predicted higher levels of caregiver burden and purpose in life and buffered the cross-sectional association between caregiver burden and depressive symptoms. Finally, effective (and less useful) care-specific coping statistically explained the adaptive (and maladaptive) effects of goal adjustment capacities on participants' well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preliminary validation of the MMPI-A for a male delinquent sample: an investigation of clinical correlates and discriminant validity

Bacterial strains of Aeromonas salmonicida included in the recognized subsp. acromogenes, subsp. masoucida, and subsp. smithia in addition to the large number of strains not included in any of the described subspecies are referred to as atypical A. salmonicida. The atypical strains form a very heterogeneous group with respect to biochemical characteristics, growth conditions, and production of extracellular proteasess. Consequently, the present taxonomy of the species A. salmonicida is rather ambiguous. Atypical A. salmonicida has been isolated from a wide range of cultivated and wild fish species, non-salmonids as well as salmonids, inhabiting fresh water, brackish water and marine environments in northern and central Europe, South Africa, North America, Japan and Australia. In non-salmonid fish species, infections with atypical strains often manifest themselves as superficial skin ulcerations. The best known diseases associated with atypical A. salmonicida are carp Cyprinus carpio erythrodermatitis, goldfish Carassius auratus ulcer disease, and ulcer disease of flounder Platichthys flesus, but atypical strains are apparently involved in more disease outbreaks than previously suspected. Macroscopical and microscopical studies of ulcerated fish indicate internal organs are infrequently invaded by atypical A. salmonicida. This view is supported by the fact that atypical strains are irregularly isolated from visceral organs of ulcerated fish. High mortality caused by atypical A. salmonicida has been observed in populations of wild non-salmonids and farmed salmonids, although the association between the mortality in the wild fish stocks and atypical A. salmonicida has not always been properly assessed. In injection experiments the pathogenicity of the atypical strains examined showed large variation. An extacellular A-layer has been detected in different atypical strains, but virulence mechanisms different from those described for (typical) A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, for example an extracellular metallo-protease and a different iron utilization mechanism, have been described. Limited information is available about the ecology, spread and survival of atypical strains in water. The commonly used therapeutic methods for the control of diseases in farmed fish caused by atypical A. salmonicida are generally effective against the atypical strains. Resistance to different antibiotics and transferable plasmid encoding multiple drug resistance have been observed in atpical A. salmonicida. Studies aimed at producing a vaccine against atypical strains are in progress.     

The development of a microcomputer-based mental health information system: A potential tool for bridging the scientist–practitioner gap.

Presents a model for a computer-assisted interview and update procedure that incorporates a standardized procedure for the assessment of target complaints, enabling it to be used in a variety of clinical settings by researchers and practitioners representing a wide range of theoretical orientations. The patient is asked to take part in the 40-min computer interview at intake and termination. During therapy both clients and therapists use the computer to rate sessions. Follow-up assessments, using the interview, can be included. (61 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived race-based discrimination, employment status, and job stress in a national sample of black women: implications for health outcomes

This study examined concordance between self-reported drug use and urinalysis data among 341 applicants for methadone treatment in Sydney, Australia. Rates of under-reporting of use of specific drugs were low (0% to 10%). Irregular drug use, short half-life of some abused drugs, and relatively low sensitivity of the TLC assay procedure led to most detected drugs being found in only one of two urine samples collected. Subjects reported having recently used nearly twice as many drugs as were detected in their urine. Agreement (kappa) between self-report and urinalysis results was in the fair to good range for most drugs. None of the six predictors of misreporting examined were found to be of practical value.