Clinical psychology in general hospital settings: Issues in interprofessional relationships.

We suggest that the involvement of clinical psychologists in health care teams may not necessarily improve health care. The position of clinical psychology with regard to medical theory and practice is examined. Then issues arising from multidisciplinary teamwork, with particular emphasis on consultation–liaison work, are discussed. We conclude that professional power structures in hospital settings have a profound influence on clinical psychological practice and that these issues need to be explicitly addressed before health care can benefit from the expertise of clinical psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role transition: Exploratory survey of new counseling faculty.

Conducted a national survey, using a questionnaire based on the organizational theory work of E. H. Schein (1978), to ascertain how 35 new faculty members in departments offering the doctoral degree in counseling or in counseling psychology viewed their transition from graduate students to faculty members. Results show that, of the 5 adjustment tasks described by Schein, deciphering the reward system was reported as the most difficult. Findings are outlined on how Ss (1) felt they were viewed by peers, (2) trusted chairpersons, and (3) identified what helped them most in their role. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modelling sweetness and texture perception in model emulsion systems

Model emulsion samples, prepared subject to a d-optimal response surface design, were used to investigate the effect of rapeseed oil, sugar and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose thickener (HPMC) on perceived sweetness, textural attributes (thickness, stickiness, mouth-coating, dispersing), instrumental measures of apparent viscosity 50 s⁻¹ and Kokini oral shear stress. An increase in oil, sugar and HPMC resulted in an increase in perceived thickness, stickiness and mouth-coating, and a decrease in dispersion; sweetness was enhanced by the addition of both sugar and oil but suppressed by the addition of HPMC. Viscosity and Kokini oral shear stress were well correlated with oral thickness (r ² > 0.9). Validated multiple linear regression models highlighted several 2-factor interactions between ingredients. Model statistics indicated that the variation in data was well explained; the models were predictive and could be used to navigate the design space. Samples predicted to be iso-thick and iso-sweet could not be discriminated (P > 0.10) in a 3-alternative forced choice (3-AFC) test using 35 panellists.     

Bias associated with the discriminant analysis approach to the estimation of mixing proportions

The estimation of the mixing proportion π₁, in which the first of two multivariate normal groups occur is considered on the basis of a sample drawn from a mixture of them. Under the model studied, there are also data of known origin available from each of the groups for the formation of a discriminant rule R. The bias of the estimator of π₁, based on the proportion of the mixture data assigned to the first group by R, is investigated. Also, the case where the data of known origin are taken to be correlated is considered.     

The contribution of adrenal and reproductive hormones to the opposing effects of stress on trace conditioning males versus females.

Exposure to an acute stressful experience facilitates classical conditioning in male rats but impairs conditioning in female rats (T. J. Shors, C. Lewczyk, M. Paczynski, P. R. Mathew, & J. Pickett, 1998; G. E. Wood & T. J. Shots, 1998). The authors report that these effects extend to performance on the hippocampal-dependent task of trace conditioning. The stress-induced impairment of conditioning in females was evident immediately, 24 hr and 48 hr after stress, depending on the stage of estrus. Moreover, the effect could be reactivated days later by reexposure to the stressful context. Corticosterone levels correlated with overall performance in males but not in females. Unlike the effect seen in males, adrenalectomy did not prevent the stress-induced effect on conditioning in females. These data indicate that exposure to the same experience can have opposite effects on learning in males versus females and that these opposing effects are mediated by differing hormonal systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identifying persistently antisocial offenders using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist and DSM antisocial personality disorder criteria.

Early starting, lifetime criminal persistence has been called sociopathy, antisocial personality disorder, and psychopathy. There is, however, disagreement about its core features and which measure is best for identifying such individuals. In the 1st of 2 studies of male offenders (n = 74), we found a large association between scores on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; R. D. Hare, 1991) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) antisocial personality disorder criteria scored as a scale. The second study (n = 684) replicated this finding and found that, as previously shown for PCL-R scores, a discrete class (or taxon) also underlies scores on items reflecting antisocial personality disorder. The high association among these sets of items and their similarity in predicting violence suggested that the same natural class underlies each. Results indicated that life-course-persistent antisociality can be assessed well by measures of psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adherence to RIASEC structure as a key career decision construct.

The present study examined the relation between individual cognitive structure and several key career decision variables. Specifically, in a sample of college students enrolled in a career development class, the usage of the RIASEC (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) circumplex (adherence) was examined as it varied across individuals and with career certainty, career decision-making self-efficacy, and interest-occupation congruence. Individual adherence to the RIASEC circumplex as a cognitive structure was related to better career decision outcomes. Changes in adherence as a function of taking a career class were found to be associated with changes in career certainty, career decision-making self-efficacy, and interest-occupation congruence. The results support the importance of thinking about careers in a manner similar to the RIASEC circumplex and the potential value of direct instruction of this model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Organizing chaos: Crisis management in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Applying the model of crisis management (D. Smith, 1990), this case study of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New Orleans chronicles the organization's response to Hurricane Katrina and illustrates the unique aspects of this crisis, as well as the well-worn patterns this organization faced in the year following the storm. We describe the organizational challenges associated with various stages of crisis and identify the strengths that facilitated this organization's successes. Practical and theoretical suggestions are provided for how organizations and organizational psychologists can learn from the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe. Five lessons are summarized for helping organizations better prepare for future crises. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)