The World Federation for Mental Health.

Describes the founding of the World Foundation for Mental Health (WFMH). The WFMH's policy is to encourage its worldwide member associations to take the initiative in promoting multidisciplinary activities for the benefit of countries in their respective regions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Autoerotic asphyxia: a case report

Autoerotic asphyxia is the induction of a state of oxygen deficiency to enhance sexual excitement and orgasm. It has been practiced for centuries, and there are many reports of fatalities. The authors report a case of a living participant that shows a number of characteristics different from those of fatalities. The case study also raises doubt about the conventional view that participants have no wish to die. We feel that further case studies of living participants will lead to a greater understanding of the practice and will facilitate treatment.     

A case of autoerotic asphyxia.

Describes the case of a 34-yr-old male who engaged in autoerotic asphyxia, which culminated in his death. It is hypothesized that the deviant behavior was motivated by archaic grandiose and exhibitionistic strivings with sadomasochistic features, serving as a defense against loss of self-cohesion. Psychotherapists are alerted to the possibility that patients engaged in this behavior may not disclose this fact while in therapy. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Birth order: Reconciling conflicting effects.

Secular trends in test scores are accurately predicted by trends in aggregate birth orders. The trend data contradict individual-difference analyses that show birth order as a poor predictor of individual test scores. This article demonstrates why the 2 formulations of the problem—the individually distributed birth order analysis and aggregate-pattern analysis—generate different results. A meaningful interpretation is given by the confluence model, a theory specifying the process whereby the intellectual environment modulates intellectual development. The authors introduce the concept of collective potentiation that specifies collective side effects of birth order. In contrast to genetic theories, the confluence model quantifies the differential environmental contributions to intellectual development of successive siblings, and it offers several well-confirmed derivations that genetic and other developmental theories cannot explain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editorial statement of the American Psychologist: III.

Presents an editorial statement about the publication policies of the American Psychologist (AP). About half the contents of the AP are documents that report on the activities of the Association—the minutes of the Council of Representatives, the address of the immediate Past President, and those reports of the Association boards and committees of concern to a large percentage of the membership. The remaining pieces are articles that the editorial board and the ad hoc reviewers judge to be of sufficient interest and consequence to appeal to the large and heterogeneous readership of the AP. These articles should explicitly address the broadest scientific and practical implications of the topic under consideration. In addition, a new series, tentatively called "Science Watch," will appear in the AP on an irregular basis. The purpose will be to cover articles that broaden our understanding of the discipline, that enable us to understand the connections between our discipline and others, and that help us glimpse the directions in which our science is moving. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Editorial statement of the American Psychologist: II.

Editing a journal that combines professional, scientific, and public policy interests is a strange business, indeed. Although this January 1987 issue of the American Psychologist (AP) begins the second year of my editorship, it is the first issue that actually reflects my editorial input and that of my associate editors. This state of affairs results from both the usual 9- to 10-month publication lag and the normal transition process between two editorial terms. It seems worthwhile to use my "first" issue as an opportunity to comment on the editorial direction of the journal, about the editorial process itself (and some changes we have made in it), and about some specific modifications in format that you will see in coming issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Technical communication in psychology: A statement of the problem.

The "needs of scientific psychology for communication may be categorized into four classes: need for rapid communication of what and how, need for direct discussion and comparison of ideas and findings, need for adequate and efficient archival storage, and need for integrated retrieval of information… . Certainly, the psychologist today cannot read all of the principal journals and books in psychology, and it is an uncommon specialist who reads all of the literature in his area of specialization." The present indexing system is not adequate. "BSA considers the problem of efficient and effective communication of scientific information to be perhaps the most critical problem faced by scientific psychology today." Factors responsible for the crisis are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neurologists--1991 to 1992. Human Resources in Neurology Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) membership survey was developed to define and monitor changing trends in the demography and practice profile of US neurologists. All 11,300 AAN members received a Demographic Information Form (DIF) and 2,600 members also received a Practice Profile Form (PPF) to gather this information. Response rates were 75% from the DIF group and 70% from those who received both. For responding members, age (median, 43 years), sex (83% male), race/ethnic origin (85% white), and medical schools (22% international medical graduates) are similar to those for other physicians in the United States. The ratio of neurologists to population ranges from a low of 1.3 per 100,000 in Wyoming to a high of 11.0 per 100,000 in the District of Columbia. One-fourth of neurologists complete at least one residency in addition to neurology and 39% complete a fellowship. Although nearly two-thirds (63%) of neurologists have a full-time or clinical academic appointment, 70% indicate patient care as their primary medical activity. The number of working hours and professional activities of neurologists vary with practice type. Neurologists perform numerous neurodiagnostic tests for reimbursement, particularly neurophysiologic studies and lumbar puncture. One-third of office-based neurologists have an ownership interest in an imaging facility. The most common payment sources for professional fees are commercial insurers (32%) and Medicare (29%), the latter reflecting the large proportion of disabled and elderly treated by neurologists. Office-based neurologists provide 5% charity care and write off an additional 13% of unpaid charges. The practice of neurology is constantly changing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differential involvement of the brain in neonatal asphyxia: a pathogenic explanation

Multiple cystic lesions in brain parenchyma supplied by the anterior cerebral circulation is a recognized pattern of cerebral injury associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the term infant. This report presents a series of seven infants (gestational age, 39.3 +/- 2.8 weeks; range, 36 to 44 weeks) who developed multicystic encephalomalacia in the distribution of the anterior cerebral circulation after severe neonatal asphyxia. Cerebral imaging and pathologic studies demonstrate relative preservation of the cerebellum, brain stem, and cerebral structures supplied by the vertebrobasilar circulation. Compared to the vertebrobasilar vasculature, the anterior cerebral vessels in the term infant have dense sympathetic innervation. Asphyxia, a potent sympathetic stimulator, may induce vasoconstriction in the anterior circulation and differentially accentuate the effects of hypoxia/ischemia on cerebral tissue.     

Professional education in industrial psychology: A statement of policy.

"The industrial psychologist should be a broadly trained psychologist… . Education in industrial psychology should provide grounding in psychological theory… . The curriculum should provide knowledge of the problem areas of industrial psychology… . Education in industrial psychology should include knowledge in other areas important in business and industry… . The student should become familiar with a very wide variety of research tools, methods, and procedures… . The education of an industrial psychologist should be realistic… . The education of industrial psychologists should include discussion of the ethical problems likely to arise in industry." The stated principles "should be interpreted in a flexible rather than a rigid fashion." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)