Timing of postcombat mental health assessments.

When soldiers return from combat and peacekeeping operations, the United States and many NATO and Partnership for Peace countries conduct some form of postdeployment mental health assessment. To date, however, no research has been published examining changes in prevalence rates of mental health problems in the first several months after returning from combat duty. In this study, the authors examined the degree to which timing was related to reported prevalence rates of mental health problems in a matched sample of 509 US Army soldiers returning from combat in Iraq. Results showed significant increases in mental health problems at 120 days postdeployment relative to immediate reintegration. The findings are discussed in terms of providing mental health services to soldiers returning from combat. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Couple adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in National Guard veterans of the Iraq war.

Relationship adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed across two time points in a sample of 313 married or partnered National Guard soldiers recently returned from combat duty in Iraq. Structural equation modeling using a four-factor model for PTSD found the latent variable dysphoria (reflecting generalized distress including aspects of emotional numbing and arousal) had the strongest independent contribution to predicting relationship adjustment at Time 1 and indirectly predicted poorer relationship adjustment at Time 2. Exploratory analysis of gender differences (n = 33 women; n = 280 men) suggested a different pattern of relations between PTSD factors and relationship adjustment among female soldiers at Time 1, with a trend toward trauma specific avoidance being more highly related to relationship adjustment. Clinical and research implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program: Family skills component.

Field combat stress clinics and research have identified the signature event that precedes thoughts of suicide and homicide in combat soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan: a distressing personal relationship event with a stateside partner. In response to this alarming information, we have identified critical factors and precipitating incidents as well as critical social skills that form the basis for changing communication between soldiers and their stateside partners. A pilot program is described that proved effective with small groups of soldiers who were led by a male–female professional team and given structured reading and social skills training exercises based on Gottman and Silver's (1999) book The seven principles for making marriage work. Recommendations for future training are made based upon our assessment of the family issues facing the combat soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan. In conclusion, we describe the family fitness interventions and program elements of the skill building trainings within the family component of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which can be delivered via online interactive technology as well as face to face with families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of social support and battle intensity on loneliness and breakdown during combat.

A sample of 382 Israeli soldiers who developed combat stress reactions (CSR) during the 1982 Israel-Lebanon War were compared with groups of carefully matched controls who did not develop CSR. Lack of social support from officers was found to be related to greater feelings of loneliness and greater likelihood of CSR in soldiers. Lack of social support from buddies was found to be related to greater loneliness. Intensity of battle was also found to be related to greater feelings of loneliness and increased likelihood of CSR. A path model was tested and supported. The model suggests that battle intensity and officer support lead to CSR directly and indirectly by causing increased feelings of loneliness. Possible cognitive and psychodynamic explanations for the findings are offered. The limitations of making causal statements from retrospective perceptions are discussed. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Applied cognitive task analysis (ACTA): a practitioner's toolkit for understanding cognitive task demands

Cognitive task analysis (CTA) is a set of methods for identifying cognitive skills, or mental demands, needed to perform a task proficiently. The product of the task analysis can be used to inform the design of interfaces and training systems. However, CTA is resource intensive and has previously been of limited use to design practitioners. A streamlined method of CTA, Applied Cognitive Task Analysis (ACTA), is presented in this paper. ACTA consists of three interview methods that help the practitioner to extract information about the cognitive demands and skills required for a task. ACTA also allows the practitioner to represent this information in a format that will translate more directly into applied products, such as improved training scenarios or interface recommendations. This paper will describe the three methods, an evaluation study conducted to assess the usability and usefulness of the methods, and some directions for future research for making cognitive task analysis accessible to practitioners. ACTA techniques were found to be easy to use, flexible, and to provide clear output. The information and training materials developed based on ACTA interviews were found to be accurate and important for training purposes.     

Resilience to traumatic exposure among soldiers deployed in combat.

We examined the influence of positive psychological capital (PsyCap), a metaconstruct that combines established psychological predispositions to be resilient to stress, on the well-being of soldiers during combat deployment. Among U.S. Army personnel deployed in Iraq, cognitive appraisal of stress mediated the effects of trait PsyCap on health symptoms. The indirect effects through appraisal were moderated by levels of exposure to potentially traumatic stimuli. Trait PsyCap covaried more strongly with cognitive appraisals, and had stronger indirect effects through appraisal on health, among soldiers in units with higher levels of potentially traumatic exposures. We discuss implications for research on resilience to trauma in the workplace and for helping workers cope with potentially traumatic exposures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bayesian Network Enhanced with Structural Reliability Methods: Methodology

We combine Bayesian networks (BNs) and structural reliability methods (SRMs) to create a new computational framework, termed enhanced BN (eBN), for reliability and risk analysis of engineering structures and infrastructure. BNs are efficient in representing and evaluating complex probabilistic dependence structures, as present in infrastructure and structural systems, and they facilitate Bayesian updating of the model when new information becomes available. On the other hand, SRMs enable accurate assessment of probabilities of rare events represented by computationally demanding physically based models. By combining the two methods, the eBN framework provides a unified and powerful tool for efficiently computing probabilities of rare events in complex structural and infrastructure systems in which information evolves in time. Strategies for modeling and efficiently analyzing the eBN are described by way of several conceptual examples. The companion paper applies the eBN methodology to example structural and infrastructure systems.     

Key Assessment Indicators for the Sustainability of Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure projects have major effects on implementing the principles of sustainable development. Infrastructure projects will continue to be developed in the coming years, particularly in developing countries such as China and India; therefore, it is important to find methods and solutions for improving the sustainability of them. Although existing studies have suggested various methods for practicing sustainable development principles in the process of implementing infrastructure projects, effective assessment indicators are unavailable, which presents a barrier to the effective assessment of infrastructure project sustainability. This study introduces key assessment indicators (KAIs) for assessing the sustainability performance of an infrastructure project. The research data used for analysis were collected from a questionnaire survey given to three groups of experts, including government officials, professionals, and clients in the Chinese construction industry. The fuzzy set theory was used to establish KAIs. A procedure for using the KAIs is demonstrated by a case study. These research findings provide an alternative solution to appraise the sustainability of infrastructure projects.     

Cup dissociation after reduction of a dislocated hip hemiarthroplasty]

The frequency of alcohol abuse in the soldiers of Herzegovinian corps of the Republic of Srpska Army during the 1992-1994 war, who took part in combat action was investigated by retrospective analysis of medical documentation. The same procedure was performed in the members of Yugoslav Army for the same period who did not take part in combat actions. By comparing the obtained results, it was concluded that the alcohol abuse was 3.7 times more frequent in participants of combat actions compared to those who did not have such assignment.     

Nondestructive Sample Quality Assessment of a Soft Clay Using Shear Wave Velocity

While improvements in equipment and sampling methods have enabled collection of better quality samples of soft clays for more reliable engineering design and performance prediction, current sample quality assessment methods typically require destructive laboratory testing performed long after samples are taken. This paper describes a nondestructive technique for sample quality assessment of soft clays using shear wave velocity. A portable bender element device was used to measure shear wave velocity (Vvh) in the field immediately following collection of Sherbrooke block, tube, and split spoon samples of Boston blue clay. Vvh values were compared to in situ values from seismic piezocone (VSCPTU) tests. The ratio Vvh/VSCPTU was compared with results from a conventional, laboratory-based assessment method. Results indicate a consistent correlation between laboratory-based methods and the Vvh/VSCPTU ratio, which ranges from Vvh/VSCPTU = 0.77 for the block samples to 0.28 for split spoon samples. The portable bender element device and nondestructive assessment technique offer the potential for field quality assessment and allow for real time adjustments to sampling techniques and/or more effective selection of samples for laboratory testing.     

Objective versus subjective measurement of stress and social support: Combat-related reactions.

Combat intensity, social support, and related stress reactions were studied among two subject groups: 382 soldiers who experienced combat stress reaction (CSR) during the 1982 Israeli-Lebanon War and a matched control group of 334 soldiers who participated in the same military units but who did not experience CSR. Both objective and subjective indicators of stress and social support were predictive of CSR. Subjective indicators, however, were stronger predictors than objective indicators. Soldiers who later developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more likely to have had CSR, to perceive themselves as having been in more intensive combat, and to have perceived themselves as receiving less social support than soldiers who did not develop PTSD. The CSR was clearly the best predictor of PTSD. The effect of the objective versus the subjective experience of stress and social support is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological symptoms and marital satisfaction in spouses of Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans: Relationships with spouses' perceptions of veterans' experiences and symptoms.

Much research has shown that spouses of combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have higher rates of psychological and marital distress than do spouses of veterans without PTSD; however, very few studies have examined potential mechanisms of this increased vulnerability. The current study examined spouses of National Guard soldiers recently returned from deployments in Iraq. In addition to documenting elevated levels of psychological symptoms in these spouses, the authors found that spouses experienced greater symptom severity when they perceived high levels of symptoms in soldiers but the soldiers endorsed low levels of symptoms. Furthermore, spouses' marital satisfaction was negatively linked to soldiers' self-reported symptom severity only when spouses perceived that soldiers had experienced low levels of combat activity while deployed. When spouses perceived high levels of such activity, soldiers' self-reported symptoms had no relationship with spouses' marital satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of interpersonal perceptions in intimate relationships and are consistent with the notion that uncontrollable attributions for a relative's mental health problems may provide a buffer against relationship distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training and use of baccalaureate nurses

One thousand three hundred sixty-five soldiers from the U.S. Army completed a 30-item version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) together with four questions on sexual abuse developed for a national survey of U.S. adults. A four-factor solution to the CTQ produced four subscales that were similar to those found in the original study, namely (1) emotional neglect, (2) physical and emotional abuse, (3) sexual abuse, and (4) physical neglect. We found that half of female soldiers reported a childhood history of sexual abuse, compared with one-sixth of male soldiers. Half of both male and female soldiers reported a childhood history of physical abuse. Combined abuse histories were noted in 34% of female and 11% of male soldiers. Abused soldiers reported more psychological symptoms on the Brief Symptom Inventory than nonabused soldiers. The CTQ and screening questions are discussed as possible tools for eliciting histories of abuse from soldiers.     

Assessing Aggression in Adolescent Romantic Relationships: Can We Do It Better?

Almost all research on aggression in adolescent romantic relationships makes use of 1-time, retrospective assessment methods. In the present research, the authors compared data on the experience of adolescent relationship aggression (physical aggression and threatening behavior) collected from 125 high school students via 2 methods: (a) a 1-time, 2-month retrospective assessment and (b) a cumulative method based on four 2-week retrospective assessments, each spaced 2 weeks apart. For the cumulative method, data from the 4 assessments were aggregated to cover the same time period as the single, 2-month retrospective assessment. A greater proportion of the sample (48.0%) reported experiencing physical aggression using the cumulative method compared with the single, 2-month retrospective method (27.0%). The prevalence of threatening behavior was also higher using the cumulative method (48.8% vs. 24.8%). Adolescent trauma and anxiety symptoms correlated more strongly with physical aggression data derived from the cumulative method than from the 1-time assessment method. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Materials Transfer at a Construction Site by Using an Elevator

The aim of this study was to compare materials transfer at a construction site, either by carrying manually or by using an elevator. Data were collected at a construction site by using two methods: continuous automatic collection of data on the use of the elevator, and measuring and observing the transportation of some products when different delivery systems were used. Health and safety risks were at their highest when transporting products manually at construction sites. Risks decrease when vertical (an elevator) and horizontal (a wheeled device) transportation tools are used. A similar improvement as in health and safety risks can be seen in efficiency results: The working time needed with the elevator was 41% of the purely manual handling time. When wheeled devices were used, the transportation time was decreased to 16%. The early use of a permanent elevator succeeded well and its capacity was large enough. The effective use of the elevator and wheeled devices require that pathways are in better condition than normally.     

Some issues in estimating the effect of prognostic factors from incomplete covariate data

In evaluating prognostic factors by means of regression models, missing values in the covariate data are a frequent complication. There exist statistical tools to analyse such incomplete data in an efficient manner, and in this paper we make use of the traditional maximum likelihood principle. As well as an analysis including the incompletely measured covariates, such tools also allow further strategies of data analysis. For example, we can use surrogate variables to improve the prediction of missing values or we can try to investigate a questionable "missing at random' assumption. We discuss these techniques using the example of a clinical study where one important covariate is missing for about half the subjects. Additionally we consider two further issues: evaluation of differences between estimates from a complete case analysis and analyses using all subjects and assessment of the predictive value of missing values.     

Attributional style and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

This study examined the relations of attributions for good and bad events on the one hand and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the other. The sample consisted of 262 Israeli soldiers who suffered a combat stress reaction episode during the 1982 Lebanon War and were followed 2 and 3 years after their participation in combat. Cross-sectional analyses revealed significant relations between attributions and PTSD at the two points of assessment. Changes in PTSD from Time 1 to Time 2 were also associated with changes in attribution. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multinomial processing tree models and psychological assessment.

Psychological assessment often focuses on individual participants in testing situations. Psychometric models for assessment include parameters for individual and item differences, but they rarely model the cognitive processes involved in responding to test items. Information-processing models of cognition focus on psychological mechanisms; however, they are rarely used in assessment situations. This article discusses a class of information-processing models for categorical data called multinomial processing tree (MPT) models. While MPT models have been developed mostly for experimental situations, there is a largely untapped potential for using them for assessment. Thus, the goal of this article is to discuss how MPT models can be developed into cognitively based psychometric tools. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)