The only child in pediatric neuropsychiatric patient material

In the older literature, single children were usually considered as being subject to particularly pathogenetic situations. In the more recent literature, on the other hand, the emphasis has usually been on psychoreactive disorders of single children. The author and his associates have been able to show that in a comparison of single children and multiple children different socioeconomic conditions are of major importance and tend to play a decisive role in the complex pathogenetic structure of certain diseases. Therefore, it is necessary that, so fat as the prevention of diseases that we are concerned here with is concerned, far more attention be given to children in multiple-children families (inasmuch as three-children families are required for an adequate reproduction of our society, a fact which has been convincingly demonstrated by Mehlan in 1963).     

Driver behavior and scores on the MMPI.

Are auto accidents related to driver personality? Using a paper and pencil personality inventory (MMPI), the driver behavior and MMPI scores of 993 college students were compared. Some slight relationship was found. "Knowledge of the kind of personality organization and motivation of a driver may be useful for purposes of both licensing and training drivers." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implementation of neuropsychiatric research programs.

"This paper presents a philosophy of the research service unit's approach toward implementing neuropsychiatric research." The philosophy was developed at the Palo Alto VA Hospital and is being applied at the Chicago VA Research Hospital. A research service unit is an administrative staff developed to serve, train, and encourage the research efforts of the entire professional hospital staff or of a division. A basic rationale is indicated. 8 pressing problems encountered in carrying out psychiatric research are listed. Major topics are "Attitude of Personnel and Time Allotted for Research," "Presentation and Discussion of New Developments," "Methods of Training," "Assistance of Library for Up-To-Date Information," "Expenditures for Personnel and Equipment," "Effective and Efficient Research Design," "Aid of Volunteer Help," and "Preparation and Publication of Research Reports." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-social constructs of normal and acute neuropsychiatric patients.

2 studies explore the utility of a nonverbal method for facilitating communication of personal constructs and construction systems. Emanating from a theory of cognitive style with regard to the organization of self and social objects, the Ss were required to arrange circles representing the self and other salient social objects on a felt board. In the 1st experiment, electroconvulsive shock therapy patients in comparison with other neuropsychiatric patients tended to place themselves last in an assumed left-right hierarchical ordering of the symbolic circles. In the 2nd experiment the hypothesis was confirmed that patients in an acute neuropsychiatric treatment center express lower self esteem than normals. In addition, under instructions to group 10 self-social symbolic circles, normals included more social objects in the self category. The clinical significance of other configurations of the objects are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reported driving speeds and previous accidents.

For 275 psychology students, accident records and frequency of traffic citations were compared with self-reported driving speed (slow, medium, fast) and with number of speeding citations. "… individuals in the kind of population considered who report consistently higher driving speeds than average have traffic records free of accidents as often as other drivers. This finding also holds for individuals with previous speeding citations and traffic citations of all kinds." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Limbic circuits and neuropsychiatric disorders. Functional anatomy and neuroimaging findings

The limbic system seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, including dementia, schizophrenia, affective disorders, and amnestic disorders. These findings are subtle and largely went undetected until the advent of modern neuroimaging. This article discusses some of the neuroimaging findings in these disorders.     

Frontal-subcortical circuits and neuropsychiatric disorders

Five parallel anatomic circuits link regions of the frontal cortex to the striatum, globus pallidus/substantia nigra, and thalamus. The circuits originate in the supplementary motor area, frontal eye fields, dorsolateral prefrontal region, lateral orbito-frontal area, and anterior cingulate cortex. Open loop structures that provide input to or receive output from specific circuits share functions, cytoarchitectural features, and phylogenetic histories with the relevant circuits. The circuits mediate motor and oculomotor function as well as executive functions, socially responsive behavior, and motivation. Neuropsychiatric disorders of frontal-subcortical circuits include impaired executive function, disinhibition, and apathy; indicative mood disorders include depression, mania, and lability. Transmitters, modulators, receptor subtypes, and second messengers within the circuits provide a chemoarchitecture that can inform pharmacotherapy.     

The physician and accidents. Legal and medical problems

German law requires that any physician at a place of accident is obliged to help according to his training and ability. As an emergency doctor on duty he works in a warrantee position. In cases with multiple accident victims triage may be necessary, corresponding to the priority of medical care. In criminal procedures against a physician due to omitted help, there is no probative charge against the accused. On the other hand, civil law sets up an objective standard: attention as required in communication. In giving initial medical assistance for unconscious patients or injured children, rules of "authorized management without commission" become valid. Basic first aid measures involve: securing, saving and rescue. Life-threatening situations such as severe bleeding, airway obstruction and cardiac arrest must be dealt with immediately. Following this, such measures as proper positioning, clearing of the respiratory tract, removal of dental prostheses, evaluation of multiple injuries, avoidance of hypothermia and initiating infusions are mandatory. The orientating examination of the accident victim is described, as is the "ABCD Rule" for treating respiratory insufficiency or circulatory arrest and shock, using heart massage and artificial respiration. Finally, medical first aid is described for special injuries, such as cerebral or thoracic trauma, fractures and burns. The psychological situation affecting the physician at the place of an accident is characterized.     

Relationships between neuropsychological and functional assessment in elderly neuropsychiatric patients.

Examined relationships between neuropsychological and functional assessment in 58 inpatients (aged 60–91 yrs) from an acute psychiatric facility using a short form of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB—S) and the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS) developed by J. C. Rogers (1984). The PASS assesses various activities of daily living through observation. The degree of association between the LNNB—S scales and assessment with the PASS related to personal self-care, mobility, and physically oriented instrumental activities was low, but there was a substantial degree of association between the LNNB—S scales and activities of daily living that required complex cognitive skills. It is concluded that neuropsychological tests are reasonably good predictors of activities of daily living that place relatively heavy demands on memory and problem-solving abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Derived IQ estimates from the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Investigated relationships between estimates of IQ derived by S. E. McKay et al (see record 1982-04758-001) and by A. Prifitera and J. J. Ryan (see record 1982-00171-001) from the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) IQ values as the criterion. Ss were 64 severely disturbed neuropsychiatric patients (mean age 31.75 yrs). Findings were similar to those of the previous studies regarding Luria-Nebraska correlations with standard IQ scores and question the utility of IQ estimates when relatively precise indicators of intelligence are required. Subsamples of schizophrenics and depressives are also analyzed. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Driver judgments of relative car velocities.

In a study of the causes of rear end accidents, 11 Ss made judgments of the interval separating the car in which they were riding from a preceding car. Of 154 judgments, only 7 were potentially dangerous, although Ss "tended to underestimate the relative speed differential between their car and the one in front of it." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4LN61O. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology of drivers in traffic accidents.

50 automobile drivers whose driving involved them in accidents serious enough to require hospitalization were paired with 50 drivers without accident histories but matched according to sex, approximate age, race, and educational level. The Ss were compared on the basis of their driving experiences and performance on written tests. The accident victims differed from the comparison Ss in a higher incidence of previous traffic violations but were not distinguishable from the comparison Ss on any written tests. The accident Ss were similar to the "safe" drivers in describing themselves as much closer to "expert" than "very poor" on a driving performance continuum. In fixing the responsibility for the accidents and in estimating their driving competence at the time of the accidents, the accident Ss' reports are at considerable variance with police reports. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cyclical calendar and lunar patterns in automobile property accidents and injury accidents

Nine years of traffic accidents involving damage to property (n = 246,926 accidents) and involving nonfatal injury (n = 50,492) in Saskatchewan were examined by regression and spectral analyses. Both calendar and seasonal periodicities were found in both sets of data. After data were adjusted for calendar effects, no relationship was found with the total or half synodic and anomalistic lunar cycles or between the waxing and waning synodic cycle. No sudden change on the day of the full moon or surrounding days was found.     

Arousal, monotony, and accidents in line driving.

Lack of alertness in monotonous work situations may result from lowered arousal induced by restricted and repetitive stimulation. Line driving is held to be monotonous in this sense, hence laboratory evaluation of a driver's resistance to monotony should predict his accident record. A highly repetitive, 42-min paced task was performed under controlled conditions by 20 line drivers. Self-reports on monotony susceptibility, intelligence test scores, and peer ratings were obtained. Supervisory ratings, traffic convictions, and objective driving measures were criteria in addition to accident records. Accidents of 1 type were predicted by task errors (r = .63; p     

Implications of psychological research on stress and technological accidents.

Psychological research on stress, disasters, and human-made technological accidents have important implications for policy, planning, and legal resolution of situations caused by environmental hazards. The incidence of technological accidents and catastrophes seems to have increased, and the biobehavioral sequelae of such accidents among victims have implications for mental and physical health as well as for intervention and prevention. In this article, research on the long-term effects of human-made disasters is discussed in the context of contributions that psychological research and theory can make in decisions regarding where potential hazards are located, how they are managed, and how accidents are handled. Unique psychophysiological processes associated with toxic accidents make these stressors more potent and likely to cause long-term uncertainty and chronic stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)