An Improved Method for Detection of Hemagglutination Using an Automated Microplate Reader

Several new automated microplate readers which can take multiple readings in each well have, been commercially developed. Data gathered from one of these readers have been analyzed to determine a parsimonious algorithm for discriminating positive hemagglutination reactions from negative ones. The resulting classification algorithm provides more accurate classification of weak positive reactions than the one point measurements normally used with only a moderate increase in computational complexity.     

Predicting clinically significant response to cognitive behavior therapy for chronic insomnia in general medical practice: Analyses of outcome data at 12 months posttreatment.

The clinical efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for chronic insomnia has been established, yet clinical effectiveness is less clear. This study presents data on 109 patients from general practice during a formal evaluation of clinical effectiveness. Two thirds achieved normative values of ≤30 min for sleep latency and wakefulness during the night after CBT. Furthermore, almost half of the sample reduced sleeplessness by ≥50%. Logistic regression revealed that initial severity did not contraindicate good outcome. Rather, greater sleep disturbance was positively associated with large symptom reduction, although lower endpoint scores were less likely. Similarly, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and thinking errors positively predicted good outcome. Hypnotic using patients responded equally well to CBT, and demographic factors were of no significant predictive value. It is concluded that CBT is clinically and durably effective for persistent insomnia in routine practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on methods and implications of revising assessment instruments.

Development of this special section was inspired in large part by the recent trend in test revision. This special section addresses major issues related to test revision, with attention to both research and clinical practice. Many questions arise when revisions in tests are made. Are research findings that are based on outdated versions of a test accepted in the literature? When is a test revision called for? What are the research and clinical implications of continuing to use the original versions of newly revised tests? These are questions facing test users. This special section addresses these questions in two ways: (a) by identifying and critically examining methods of test revision and (b) by reporting practical considerations involved in using revised tests. The first objective of this special section is to examine when a test should be revised and the best methods for doing this. The second objective is to ensure that ethical implications, clinical utility, research standards,and economic aspects are considered and discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex-role stereotyping in television commercials: A verbal response mode and content analysis.

Evaluated the degree of sex-role stereotyping in TV commercials using both a verbal response mode and a content analysis. A total of 120 commercials (60 daytime and 60 primetime), each depicting an adult male–female dyad verbally interacting, were drawn from a larger sample of commercials aired between October 1983 and January 1984 on the major North American networks. Results of the 2 analyses reveal a more sex-stereotyped pattern of male–female differences in daytime than in primetime commercials. It is concluded that sex-role stereotyping still exists in TV commercials and is present at subtle as well as obvious levels of analysis. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What's wrong with believing in repression?: A review for legal professionals.

Some courts in recent years have tarnished their credibility by willingly and blindly adopting the theory of repressed memory. Such acceptance can destroy the reputations of falsely accused individuals, and, by failing to pay due attention to scientific evidence, gives credence to pseudoscience and demeans the scientific method. This paper was written to inform judges and attorneys about the relevant evidence, which shows that: (a) the concepts of repressed and recovered memory are not generally accepted in the psychological and psychiatric community; (b) the studies cited to support these concepts reveal significant flaws; (c) much empirical evidence has been accumulated against the theory of repression; (d) the studies using the best methodology offer the least support for the repression hypothesis; and (e) there is no evidence that recovered memories accurately reveal the specifics of long-ago events. Repressed- and recovered-memory theory is not supported by science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress processes and the misuse of drugs in older adults.

There is increasing concern about the misuse of drugs among the elderly. We assessed misuse, including drug usage, drug interactions across pharmacologic classes, and multiple drugs in the same pharmacologic class, in a community sample of sixty-five 74-year-olds, and evaluated its relation to stress and coping processes and psychological and somatic health. Assessments were made repeatedly over a 6-month period. Results indicated that misuse was multidimensional and widespread. Misusers did not differ from nonmisusers on antecedent psychosocial variables, nor did they report more hassles or cope differently than nonmisusers. However, misusers and nonmisusers differed on their subjective experience of stressful encounters; misusers experienced their hassles as more intense, and they experienced more threat emotions and more dissatisfaction with their coping than did nonmisusers. Misuse was also associated with long-term psychological satisfaction, psychological symptoms, and somatic health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Family conflict and intragroup marginalization as predictors of acculturative stress in Latino college students.

This study examined the impact of family conflict and intragroup marginalization on acculturative stress in 188 bicultural Latino college students. Results showed that low parental income, low acculturation, perceived family conflict, and perceived intragroup marginalization were related to higher acculturative stress for participants. Intragroup marginalization accounted for a statistically significant proportion of the variance in acculturative stress after all variables were controlled. The findings emphasize the need to recognize culture-specific stressors of college students. Implications for mental health providers are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obligations and opportunities.

Comments on the articles by Oskamp (see record 2000-15413-008), Howard (see record 2000-15413-009), McKenzie-Mohr (see record 2000-15413-012), Stern (see record 2000-15413-011), and Winter (see record 2000-15413-010) in the May 2000 issue of the American Psychologist. Riebel thinks that these authors have performed a valuable service by reminding us that the environmental problems that threaten people and this planet are human in origin and by calling on psychologists to participate in environmental restoration. Psychologists are uniquely positioned to provide expertise critical to this complex task. They understand the defense mechanisms, such as denial, dissociation, and rationalization, that permit destruction of the earth to continue almost unchecked. They study attitudes and social influence, the types and schedules of reinforcement for behavior change, motivation, cultural beliefs and roles, organizational structures and impediments to change. It is no longer justifiable for psychologists to assume that environmental issues don't concern them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between HMW glutenin subunit composition and the bread-making quality of British-grown wheat varieties

Based on previous work, which related individual HMW glutenin subunits to bread-making quality by genetical analysis, quality scores were assigned to each of the commonly occurring subunits. The grain proteins of 84 home-grown wheat varieties were fractionated by SDS—PAGE to determine their HMW glutenin subunit composition. The quality scores of each of the subunits were summed to create a Glu-1 quality score for each variety. The results indicated that 47-60% of the variation in the independently established bread-making qualities of this set of varieties could be accounted for by variation in HMW subunits of glutenin. The presence or absence in the varieties of a translocated chromosome, which consisted of the long arm of 1B and the short arm of 1R from rye, was also established because of its known association with poor bread-making quality. A correction factor was applied to the Glu-1 quality score of those varieties that contained the 1 BLURS chromosome. The variations in the rye-adjusted Glu-1 quality scores were compared with those of the bread-making qualities of the varieties, and the proportion of variation in quality accounted for was raised to 55-67%. The Glu-1 quality score and the biscuit-making qualities of the same set of varieties were negatively related. The results are discussed in relation to future strategies recommended to wheat breeders for developing new varieties with improved bread-making quality.     

Measuring depression in a clinical population using the MMPI.

When the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been compared with other objective depression measures in terms of validity, results have been inconsistent. Administering the MMPI to samples of 72 clinically depressed and 61 clinically nondepressed inpatients and comparing scores from its Depression scale with scores from the Beck Depression Inventory was the purpose of this study. A positive linear relation between the two measures and their ability to discriminate between depressed and nondepressed groups was demonstrated. When obvious subscale items were removed from the MMPI Depression scale and were analyzed separately, results improved on a hit rate of 70% for depression in this population. Research findings based on MMPI Depression scale data from clinical populations may be misleading unless variance due to face-valid or obvious items is taken into account. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)