Scorpion stings outbreaks in recently constructed urban dwellings inhabitants

Scorpion stings are unfrequent in Chile. Most of cases occur in rural areas during the warm season. Clinical manifestations have a low to moderate intensity and consist in local pain and inflammation, sometimes associated with headache and hyperthermia. Two autbreaks of scorpion stings--affecting six and five adult residents (18-42 years old) of recently built urban dwelling complexes--have been recorded in Chile in summertime of 1957 and 1998. The first took place in the town of Maipú and the second in Villa Alborada sites respectively 10 and 150 km South of the city of Santiago. The Maipú dwelling complex was constituted by 112 one story houses in which lived 504 people. In Villa Alborada live 1,050 persons distributed in 158 apartments, 86 of which are in the main floor and in 26 of these last the occupants have observed scorpions inside. All the 11 cases occurred into the dwelling: four when sleeping at night, three performing different activities (trying to find a tool, searching a kee, housekeeping), two when putting their shoes, and two walking with bare feet in dormitory. In all the cases the causative scorpion was observed, captured or destroyed. Identification of six specimens from Maipú corresponded to Brachistoternus ehrenbergi and of two from Villa Alborada to Bothriurus borrelianus. All the patients presented mild to moderate symptomatology. Treatment consisted basically in oral antihistamanic and/or antinflammatory tablets. Recovery was observed within one to seven days with a mean of three days. Prophylactic measures consisted in health education and physical destruction of scorpions in Maipú and insecticide spraying on floors of basement apartments and surrounding areas in Villa Alborada. Though the majority of accidents by scorpion stings happens in rural areas, also may occur in urban areas--rural in the near past--where dwellings have been constructed in fields which in not to much preterit times constituted the habitat of the referred arthropod, phenomenom that have occurred in summertime in the two dwelling complexes described in the present communication.     

Abstraction on proverbs in process-reactive schizophrenia.

Administered the Phillips Prognostic Rating Scale (PRS) and the Benjamin Proverb Test to 51 consecutive, drug-free, males with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, shortly after entering the hospital. There was no relationship between classification by PRS and abstraction when drug effects and duration of current hospital stay were controlled. Using only those cases who had no previous history of psychiatric hospitalization, thereby controlling for previous and current hospitalization, still failed to produce a significant relationship. The suggestion of a racial effect emerged. This is discussed along with certain theoretical implications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology and proverbs: Folk psychology revisited.

Comments on T. B. Rogers's (see record 1991-03999-001) article on the role of proverbs in psychology, viewing Rogers's exposition as an advocacy of folk psychology. Rogers's contention that psychologists have set out to test proverbs as psychological hypotheses with some frequency is criticized, and potential uses of proverbs in psychological research on the human condition are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Off-label dermatologic therapies. Usage, risks, and mechanisms

Off-label refers to the prescribing of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for a use not indicated on the package insert. The prescribing of off-label drugs may benefit patients with many dermatologic diseases including angiogenesis-related conditions. We surveyed 55 dermatologists from a single large academic program to assess their use of particular drugs for specific skin conditions, their perception of such use as being for Food and Drug Administration-approved or for off-label indications, and their attitudes towards off-label therapies. The practice of prescribing off-label drugs was common among the respondents, many of whom had misperceptions about which conditions are Food and Drug Administration-approved indications and about the legal ramifications of off-label therapies. We suggest that understanding the principles of off-label prescribing in conjunction with the mechanisms of drug action in diseases may help clinicians exercise their judgment in finding innovative therapies for their patients.     

Difficulties in the approval of clinical trials in Spain. An obstacle race]

The purpose of this study is to observe the disease-disability association through a cross-sectional study. Between 1994 and 1995, we conducted a questionnaire survey in 5 towns in Japan. Among the items included in the questionnaire, 5 related to ADL (bathing, feeding, dressing/undressing, toileting, and going out socially) were treated as purpose variables; and 5 related to the history of medical treatment received over the past year (diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, neuralgia, and bone fractures) were used as explanatory variables. Multiple logistic models were applied to observe the relationship. The history of medical treatment for cerebrovascular disease greatly and unavoidably affects disability related to ADL. Bone fractures, diabetes, and heart diseases contributed to specific ADL disabilities.     

Differences among sexist, nonsexist, and feminist family therapies.

Certain characteristics of family therapy have been identified as potentially problematic for the integration of feminism. The question is addressed of how to integrate the 2 schools of thought without violating the theoretical tenets of either. In so doing, it constructs conceptual frameworks for distinguishing among sexist, nonsexist, and feminist forms of family therapy. Nonsexist approaches are deemed necessary but insufficient. Feminist approaches, however, are valued not only for their awareness of the more subtle biases of alternate forms but also, ironically, for their more adequate and accurate application of the theoretical tenets of family therapy itself. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training in cognitive, supportive-expressive, and drug counseling therapies for cocaine dependence.

This study assessed the effects of training on the performance of 65 therapists in delivering manual-guided therapies to 202 cocaine-dependent patients. Changes in ratings of therapists' adherence and competence was assessed in 3 treatment modalities: supportive-expressive dynamic therapy (SE), cognitive therapy (CT), and individual drug counseling. Effects of manual-guided training on the therapeutic alliance were also assessed. Training effects were examined through a hierarchical linear modeling approach that examined changes both within cases and across training cases. A large effect across cases was detected for training in CT. Supportive-expressive therapists and individual drug counselors demonstrated statistically significant learning trends over sessions but not over training cases. Training in SE and CT did not have a negative impact on the therapeutic alliance, although alliance scores for trainees in drug counseling initially decreased but then rebounded to initial levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Morality in group and family therapies: Multiperson therapies and the 1992 ethics code.

Although virtually every psychotherapeutic approach or orientation has adapted group and family therapy to its conceptions of psychological dysfunctions and how to treat them, levels of training of practitioners in all of these approaches are often insufficient to meet the requirements of ethically as well as technically responsible conduct of treatment for persons in groups and in families. The new ethics code (American Psychological Association, 1992) does include a few issues specific to multiperson therapies, but other issues critical to the competent practice of group and family therapy remain unaddressed. The result can be confusing to those applying standards appropriate for individual therapy to multiperson therapies. It is argued that the classical ethical concerns of psychotherapists, informed consent, confidentiality, countertransference reactions, and intrusion of therapist values, require special sensitivity to how they are expressed in multiperson therapies. Practitioners of group and family therapies must be better sensitized to the technical distinctions and the associated ethical vulnerabilities of the modalities they use. Future planning for revision of the APA ethics code should take these factors into account. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Moyamoya disease. Its clinical picture, diagnosis and new therapies

Moyamoya disease is a chronic cerebral vasculopathy that leads to a slow progressive narrowing and occlusion of the principal arteries responsible for the anterior circulation of the brain. It causes a cerebrovascular insufficiency with the development of multiple anastomoses between internal and external carotid arteries. The diagnosis is based on the peculiar appearance in angiography. Although rare, it is not possible to omit it in the differential diagnosis of ischemic vascular accidents in children. The authors describe a case of a eight year old female caucasian whose diagnosis was suspected by means of the non invasive technique of angiographic magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed by angiography. Based on this case, the main aspects of the disease are described, with particular emphasis on clinical features, diagnosis and treatment.     

Cognitive, assertive, and insight-oriented group therapies in the treatment of reactive depression in women.

33 nonpsychotic, nonsuicidal women (mean age 35.1 yrs) who scored between 15 and 31 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and whose depression was situationally related were assigned to 6-wk cognitive, assertive, or insight-oriented group therapy. Ss were administered a standardized interview, BDI, Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, Personality Data Form, and 4 tape-recorded scenes requiring an assertive response before and after the groups and at a 2-mo follow-up. Results show all groups improved significantly in depression, rationality, and assertiveness. Assertive and insight groups improved significantly more in rationality regarding acceptance than the cognitive group. At follow-up, none of the assertive groups, 18% of the cognitive group, and 45% of the insight group had sought further treatment. Additionally, the assertive group was significantly more rational regarding frustrating events and self-worth. The assertive and insight groups made significantly more gains and were more assertive than the cognitive group. A 3 (change in depression) by 3 (treatment group) ANOVA showed high-depression-change and medium-depression-change Ss changed significantly more in assertiveness and rationally than low-depression change Ss. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Common dances, uncommon therapies: Response to Ryder.

Comments on the article by Robert Ryder (see record 1989-01372-001). In an article titled "The Common Dance," Ryder offers two fundamental truths about the nature of all human relationships. He also provides an epistemological position that limits the validity (i.e., universality) of these claims. It is the intention of this response to comment both on the reality/truth (i.e., ontological) claims themselves and on the epistemological (i.e., limits of knowledge) framework in which they are propounded. Ryder evidently adopts the "antirealist" or "subjective" epistemology fashionable in many disciplines, including the family systems movement. Having adopted this epistemology, Ryder goes on to assert his two truths about human relationships-truths which, he cautiously argues, are to be taken only as relative to his stand, that is, relative to his definition of the term relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A breast cancer case-control study in Girona, Spain. Endocrine, familial and lifestyle factors

This study was designed to explore risk factors for breast cancer with emphasis on the detection of clinical markers of the hormonal imbalance during the perimenarche. Three hundred and thirty women diagnosed with breast cancer and 346 population controls were identified and interviewed in Girona, Spain between 1986 and 89. Cases were more likely than controls to have had long menstrual periods in the first 5 years after menarche [odds ratio (OR) = 3.0], to experience menopause at a late age (OR = 1.5) and to report acne during adolescence (OR = 1.6). Family history of breast cancer was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.3). Cases reported a lower use of drug treatments for anxiety and sleep disorders than controls. Moderate alcohol drinkers and smokers were at lower risk for breast cancer. No statistically significant association with breast cancer was observed for number of children, age at last pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, hormonal treatment after menopause and weight perception during the teenage years. Hormonal changes in the years following menarche may be relevant to breast cancer risk. The roles of menstrual period length and acne during adolescence should be further explored.     

Women and cognitive-behavioural therapies for depression.

Presents 5 major comments on J. M. Stoppard's (see record 1989-29654-001) discussion of the adequacy of cognitive/behavioral theories for understanding depression in women. These include the author's agreement with the importance that Stoppard places on differential rates of depression in men and women and disagreement with Stoppard's emphasis on the need to achieve a sense of control in psychotherapy. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive and family therapies for adolescent depression: Treatment specificity, mediation, and moderation.

The specificity of cognitive and family therapies, and potential treatment mediators and moderators, was examined in a randomized clinical trial for adolescent depression. After acute treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) exerted specific effects on cognitive distortions relative to either systemic-behavioral family therapy (SBFT) or nondirective supportive therapy (NST). At 2-year follow-up, SBFT was found to impact family conflict and parent–child relationship problems more than CBT; NST and CBT tended to show a greater reduction in anxiety symptoms than SBFT. Nonspecific therapist variables qualified few outcome analyses. No measures of cognitive distortion or family dysfunction mediated or moderated treatment outcome. As in adult studies, relatively few areas of treatment specificity or mediation were identified. The implications of these findings for clinical treatment and research in adolescent depression are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Popular literature in the undergraduate social psychology course.

In the social psychology course at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, in addition to using a standard text plus a book of readings, and requiring a technical term report and a class research project, students are required to read three novels (George Orwell's 1984, Thomas Heggen's Mr. Roberts, and Philip Wylie's The Disappearance). Four criteria for the selection of these are specified. These books provided much opportunity for discussing a wide range of social phenomena and "… helped tie together many aspects of the course material." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)