Double talk: changing and conflicting constructions of indigenous mental health

Airway geometry measurements can provide information regarding pulmonary physiology and pathophysiology. There has been considerable interest in measuring intrathoracic airways in two-dimensional (2-D) slices from volumetric X-ray computed tomography (CT). Such measurements can be used to evaluate and track the progression of diseases affecting the airways. A popular airway measurement method uses the "half-max" criteria, in which the gray level at the airway wall is estimated to be halfway between the minimum and maximum gray levels along a ray crossing the edge. However, because the scanning process introduces blurring, the half-max approach may not be applicable across all airway sizes. We propose a new measurement method based on a model of the scanning process. In our approach, we examine the gray-level profile of a ray crossing the airway wall and use a maximum-likelihood method to estimate the airway inner and outer radius. Using CT scans of a physical phantom, we present results showing that the new approach is more accurate than the half-max method at estimating wall location for thin-walled airways.     

Prototype of a profession: Psychology's public image.

Using a prototype approach to assessing concepts and persons, the present authors studied the attitudes of 128 undergraduate students (nonpsychology majors) and 46 of their parents toward psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, counselors, teachers, and scientists. Results show a favorable attitude toward psychologists, who were seen as very similar to psychiatrists and dissimilar to scientists. However, the extent of the sample's familiarity with psychologists was doubtful. Findings support the need for an education campaign designed to inform the public about what psychologists do. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From fate to tragedy: the changing meanings of life, death, and AIDS

PURPOSE: Preliminary experience of radical retropubic prostatectomy using an endoscopic stapler is reported. METHODS: An endoscopic stapler was applied for ligation and division of the lateral prostatic ligaments and the deep dorsal vein complex during radical retropubic prostatectomy in 8 patients. RESULTS: Procedures with stapler were easily performed and almost always effective for hemostasis. Mean total blood loss was 663 ml, mean 575 ml of autologous blood was given. None of patients was transfused allogeneic blood. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that an endoscopic stapler may facilitate radical retropubic prostatectomy.     

From private attitude to public opinion: A dynamic theory of social impact.

A computer simulation modeled the change of attitudes in a population resulting from the interactive, reciprocal, and recursive operation of B. Latané's (see record 1982-01296-001) theory of social impact, which specifies principles underlying how individuals are affected by their social environment. Surprisingly, several macrolevel phenomena emerged from the simple operation of this microlevel theory, including an incomplete polarization of opinions reaching a stable equilibrium, with coherent minority subgroups managing to exist near the margins of the whole population. Computer simulations, neglected in group dynamics for 20 years, may, as in modern physics, help determine the extent to which group-level phenomena result from individual-level processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Report of the Treasurer, 1995: Psychology's public image.

Reports American Psychological Association (APA) operating revenues and expenses for 1994 vs 1995. The APA enjoyed a financially sound year in 1995, which made it possible to continue to support its public education campaign efforts and to bolster its services to both its science and practice communities, while starting its 2nd real estate venture. This report is organized as follows: revenues and expenses (1994 vs 1995) by major category and by major program area (the Science, Practice, Public Interest, and Education directorates, as well as Central Programs, Grants/Contracts, and Communications); support cost centers (e.g., Executive Office); APA real estate investments; APA balance sheet (1991–1995); and changes to fund balance, or net worth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From genes to public health: the applications of genetic technology in disease prevention. Genetics Working Group

OBJECTIVES: With advances in the Human Genome Project, the implications of genetic technology in disease prevention should be assessed. METHODS: The paradigm suggested in The Future of Public Health--assessment, policy development, and assurance--was used to examine the continuum from genetic technology to public health practice. RESULTS: First, important public health functions are to (1) assess the impact of genes and their interactions with modifiable disease risk factors on the health status of the population and (2) assess the impact and safety of genetic testing on the population. Second, given the many implications of genetic testing, the public health community should participate in policy development related to the timing and use of genetic testing in disease prevention. Third, whenever appropriate, the public health community needs to ensure the development of public health genetics programs (e.g. newborn screening) and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the use of genetic testing in disease prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Although most current genetic tests are not ready for disease prevention, there is an important role for the public health community in translating genetic technology into disease prevention.     

Women's changing work roles: Impact on health, family, and public policy.

Women's work roles have changed enormously. This article describes the long-term and short-term changes in women's paid employment. It also introduces a set of Public Forum articles that discuss the consequences of these changes for women's health and for their families and delineate the government's responses to women's changing work roles. The impetus for this Public Forum section came from a workshop conducted under the auspices of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Network on the Determinants and Consequences of Health-Promoting and Health-Damaging Behaviors. Therefore, the article also discusses the mission of the Network and why multidisciplinary, collaborative research on the effects of women's employment is vital. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Where angels fear to tread: Issues in sampling, design, and implementation of school-based mental health services research.

Research on school-based mental health systems is an important but hazardous enterprise. Current trends suggest that child mental health professionals will increasingly focus on community service systems that are family-based and school-centered. Challenges to conducting research on effectiveness of such services include underidentification of children with emotional or behavioral disorders, lack of concordance between diagnostic criteria used in school vs mental health systems, problems of comorbidity, analysis of data from multiple informants, lack of interdisciplinary or interagency collaboration, community involvement, and a variety of other factors. These issues and suggestions for addressing them are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

From "Anna O." to Bertha Pappenheim: Transforming private pain into public action.

Bertha Pappenheim ("Anna O.") was treated for hysteria by J. Breuer when she was a young adult. As a mature adult she became a leading social worker, writer, and feminist activist in the German Jewish community. This article examines her therapy with Breuer, her own struggle for recovery, and some links between her earlier and later life, in particular the lack of intimate relationships in her life and her work against the victimization of women. Throughout the article psychoanalytic interpretations, social history, and feminist analyses are integrated to provide a contextualized examination of Pappenheim's life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improving employment opportunities and the public image of social psychologists.

Suggests ways to increase employment opportunities in nonacademic areas for social psychologists. Graduate schools must emphasize the application of social psychology to business and industry and to social problems. Also, the public must be made aware of what social psychologists are doing and what they can do. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of brief scales to monitor clients' constructions of change.

This article describes the development and validation of scales to measure clients' outcome optimism, perceived progress, and self-agency related to change in problems presented in therapy. In Study 1, initial confirmatory and subsequent exploratory factor analyses (N?=?257) identified effort and persistence as an additional unique factor and guided selection of items to measure the 4 constructs. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis of the revised scales with a new sample (N?=?93) confirmed the measurement model. Results of convergent and discriminant validity analyses generally were in the predicted directions. The Perceived Progress scale demonstrated criterion validity with changes in dyadic adjustment and family functioning. The Outcome Optimism and Self-Agency scales showed variability in their relationship to the Perceived Progress scale over the first 3 sessions of therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)