Early object loss and "secret anniversaries of the heart."

Describes a type of anniversary reaction in which the patient has experienced a traumatic early loss and the duration of the therapy relationship functions as an anniversary trigger. Two cases of female patients are presented to illustrate how early losses may be repeated in psychotherapy, with the timing of repetition duplicating almost exactly the timing of the original event. This points to the need to focus in treatment on the incomplete mourning that is inevitable in cases of early traumatic loss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The science of prevention: A conceptual framework and some directions for a national research program.

A conceptual framework for studying the prevention of human dysfunction is offered. On the basis of recent advances in research on the development of psychological disorders and methods of preventive intervention, generalizations about the relation of risk and protective factors to disorder are put forward, along with a set of principles for what may be identified as the science of prevention. Emerging themes from the study of human devlopment, in general, need to be incorporated in the models for explaining and preventing serious problems of human adaptation. The article concludes with a set of recommendations for a national prevention research agenda. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fast Neutron Dose Measurements for a D–D Neutron Source in Water

The penetration of D–D neutrons in water has been studied through measurements of first collision dose. A relative measurement of first collision dose as a function of distance from the neutron source was made at 0°. At large penetrations the results appear to approach asymptotically the slope predicted by the theoretical calculations of Goldstein et al. [0] for a monoenergetic, isotropic 4.0-Mev neutron source in water. However as expected, the measurements close to the source where the average neutron spectrum is relatively soft indicate a steeper slope than the theoretical calculation. Further calculations will be required to obtain an explicit check of this experiment.     

A longitudinal examination of fear reactions in victims of rape.

Investigated fear reactions in rape victims for 1 yr following their assaults. 150 female victims, over 15 yrs of age, seen approximately 2 wks after the assault and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 mo postrape, were compared with a matched control group of nonvictims seen at the same intervals. To control for the effects of repeated testing, 3 additional groups of victims were assessed only once at either 2, 4, or 8 mo postrape. All participants completed the Modified Fear Survey Schedule (MFS), which yielded a total fearfulness index as well as 6 subscale scores: rape fears, animal fears, classical fears, social–interpersonal fears, tissue-damage fears, and miscellaneous fears. Following the assault, victims were significantly more fearful than nonvictim controls as indicated by their overall MFS score and most of the subscale scores. Although their overall fearfulness declined somewhat and stabilized by 2 mo postassault, victims remained significantly more fearful than nonvictim controls at 12 mo postassault. The rape fears and classical fears subscales seemed to contribute most to this elevation. Results from the single-testing victim groups indicated that repeated assessment had no effect on participants' scores. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pollution and control

As the amount of air, water and solid-waste pollution grows, engineers are increasingly being asked to cope with it and dispose of the disposables. The following articles present some of the problems and certain methods employed by engineers for solving them.     

Social desirability, item-response time, and item significance.

Pathological personality item responses have been shown to relate to the social desirability scale values of test items. It was hypothesized that both social desirability and pathological item-response frequency might vary as a function of the time permitted to answer test items. Two groups of Ss were administered the items of the Maslow, Birch, Honigman, McGrath, Plason, and Stein Security-Insecurity Inventory. Social desirability scale values for the items were established. Maximal reading time required for each item was also determined, and both groups were permitted to view each item for the same established length of time. 1 group was allowed 2 sec., the other group 10 sec. for each response. It was observed that time pressure reduced the number of pathological item responses, and that items scaled either high or low in social desirability tended to be answered in the socially desirable direction under time pressure. Females generally provided more critical or pathological item responses than did males. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Victims of rape: Repeated assessment of depressive symptoms.

115 rape victims (aged 15–71 yrs) were examined at 2 wks and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 mo after the assault. A matched control group of 87 nonvictims was seen at the same intervals. To control for the effects of repeated testing, 3 additional groups of 22–26 victims were assessed only once at 2, 4, or 8 mo postrape. All Ss completed the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression. Depressive symptoms were significantly higher in victims of rape than in nonvictim controls following the assault. By 4 mo postrape, depressive symptoms in the victim group had diminished to the level shown by the nonvictim control group. Results from the single-testing victim groups indicated that repeated assessment affected the self-report measure, but not the interviewer-rated measure. Variables reflecting pre-rape functioning were more predictive of continued problems with depressive symptoms than were demographic variables or variables associated with the rape and its aftermath. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)