The psychotherapy of schizophrenia: Patient and therapist factors related to continuance.

The influence of pretreatment patient and therapist characteristics on continuance in individual psychotherapy was investigated using a sample of 143 nonchronic schizophrenic patients. Results showed that 1) most of the usual indicators of patient suitability for psychotherapy were not related to continuance; 2) patients with positive symptoms of schizophrenia were most likely to remain in supportive therapy, whereas patients with negative symptoms were more likely to remain in insight-oriented therapy; and 3) all patients were more likely to continue in treatment with therapists who had a strong commitment to a well-defined treatment approach, be it supportive or insight oriented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of familiarization time on visual recognition memory in infant pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina).

Used the familiarization-novelty procedure in 2 experiments to examine the effects of study time on visual recognition memory in 34 infant pigtailed macaques. In Exp I, Ss were familiarized with abstract black-and-white patterns for 10 sec. They then were given a test trial in which the familiar stimulus was paired with a novel one. Results show that during the test trial, Ss directed significantly more visual attention toward the novel stimulus, a finding that provides evidence for recognition memory. In Exp II, a different group of Ss was familiarized with abstract black-and-white patterns for 1, 5, and 10 sec. Ss demonstrated recognition after the 10-sec familiarization period. Ss older than 6 wks of age at test also demonstrated recognition after the 5-sec study time, a finding that is consistent with the hypothetical 4:1 ratio between macaque and human infant development of some basic sensory, perceptual, and cognitive processes. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alternative test method for interlaminar fracture toughness of composites

Two methods of determining the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness for fiber-reinforced polymer matrix (FRPM) composites using a double cantilever beam (DCB) test are compared. The standard method of determining G _IC is based in linear-elastic fracture mechanics theory and requires a visual measurement of the crack length, presenting data acquisition and analysis difficulties. The proposed method makes use of elastic–plastic fracture mechanics theory and an analytical closed form solution to the J-integral to relate the fracture toughness J _IC , load, and angular displacement at the load application points. This method has the advantage of replacing visually acquired data with data easily obtained using inexpensive transducers as well as being applicable to a broader class of materials.     

Differential impairment as an indicator of sex bias in DSM-IV criteria for four personality disorders.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of sex bias in the diagnostic criteria for borderline, schizotypal, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. A clinical sample of 668 individuals was evaluated for personality disorder criteria using a semistructured interview, and areas of functional impairment were assessed with both self-report and semistructured interview. The authors used a regression model of bias to identify bias as differences in slopes or intercepts between men and women in the relationship between each diagnostic criterion and level of impairment. The results suggest that most of the diagnostic criteria examined do not seem to display sex bias. However, those criteria that displayed evidence of bias came largely from the borderline diagnosis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)