Beyond the interpersonal circumplex in group psychotherapy: the structure and relationship to outcome of the Individual Group Member Interpersonal Process Scale

Development of a new scale to measure patient behavior in group psychotherapy, the Individual Group Member Interpersonal Process Scale (IGIPS), is described. This scale captures clinically important aspects of how patients act in group, including how they respond to the other group members. The IGIPS was applied to videotapes of the first four sessions of seven 15-session outpatient therapy groups (52 patients) in the Mental Health Department of a health maintenance organization. The scale was found to have five factors (Activity, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Comfort with Self, Self-Focus, and Psychological Mindedness). Patient behavior that was moderate on two IGIPS dimensions was connected with better outcome than was that of patients with more extreme behavior in either direction.     

Structured Singular Valued based robust nonlinear model predictive controller using Volterra series models

A methodology is proposed for designing a robust nonlinear model predictive controller based on a Volterra series model with uncertain coefficients. A key benefit of using the Volterra series model is that it can be split into a nominal and an uncertainty model thus permitting the application of robust analysis tools. The controller is based on the on-line solution of a robust performance test based on a Structured Singular Value norm. The cost function of the controller can be formulated to account for manipulated variable movement weighting, manipulated variable constraints and a terminal condition. Finally, the proposed methodology is applied to a single-input–single-output continuous stirred tank reactor problem and to a multiple-input–multiple-output pH neutralization process.     

On the prediction of gas hold-up in two-phase flow systems using an Euler–Euler model

We quantify the ability of the two-fluid Euler–Euler model to predict the overall gas hold-up during two-phase flow in vertical columns using a combination of experiments and simulations. Gas hold-up in a bubble column and gas hold-up in the less-frequently studied co-current flow are investigated. For homogeneous flow characterized by nearly uniform bubble size, Euler–Euler model predictions are within 10% of the experimental values for both modes of operation, if the bubble diameter supplied as input to the model is the average bubble diameter in the physical system. This also holds true for heterogeneous flow in bubble columns despite the presence of a broad distribution of bubble sizes, if turbulence and bubble swarm effects on momentum exchange between phases are properly accounted for. Swarm corrections adequate for bubble columns, are less successful for co-current heterogeneous flow, for which gas hold-up predictions are least accurate (average error of 22%).     

Design of robust gain-scheduled PI controllers for nonlinear processes

Gain-scheduling has proven to be a successful design methodology in many engineering applications. However, in the absence of a sound theoretical analysis, these designs come with no guarantees of robust stability, performance or even nominal stability of the overall gain-scheduled deign.This paper presents such an analysis for one type of nonlinear gain-scheduled control system based on the process input for nonlinear chemical processes. A methodology is also proposed for the design and optimization of the robust gain-scheduled PI controller. Conditions which guarantee robust stability and performance are formulated as a finite set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and hence, the resulting problem is numerically tractable. Issues of modeling error and input-saturation are explicitly incorporated into the analysis. A simulation study of a nonlinear continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) process indicates that this approach can produce efficient sub-optimal robust gain-scheduled controllers.     

Predicting Addiction Severity Index (ASI) interviewer severity ratings for a computer-administered ASI.

The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is a reliable and valid measure of problem severity among addicted patients. Concerns have been raised about the reliability of the Interviewer Severity Rating (ISR), a summary score for each of 7 domains. As part of an effort to build a computer-administered ASI, regression equations were developed to predict the ISR. Repeated resampling of a large dataset, consisting of 1,124 ASIs conducted by trained interviewers, permitted derivation of stable regression equations predicting the ISR for each ASI domain from patients' answers to preselected interview items. The resulting 7 Predicted Severity Ratings (PSRs) were tested on 8, standardized vignettes, with "gold standard," expert-generated ISRs. Reliabilities compared well with those of intensively trained interviewers. The PSRs could provide an alternative to potentially unreliable interviewer ratings, enhancing the ASI's role in treatment planning and treatment matching and make possible a computer-administered version of the ASI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Efficient psychotherapy as a viable response to scarce resources and rationing of treatment.

A recent series of articles purported that brief psychotherapy is mostly ineffective, that managed care's use of brief interventions constitutes invisible rationing, and that it is ethically mandatory to disclose this information to the patient. In response, the authors of this article demonstrate that health care rationing is multifaceted and universal in modern society, and patient disclosure is far from the simplistic, one-sided matter purported by the previous articles. It may even be deleterious. The authors advocate effective psychotherapy as a viable response to scarce resources and urge the profession to train future practitioners in the full range of emerging innovative and effective psychotherapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training for managed care settings: How to make it happen.

Discusses the importance of and resistances to the training of experienced therapists in brief approaches to psychotherapy. Ways are examined of providing such training to psychotherapists who are working in systems where brief treatment is essential. Three principles of adult learning are described (e.g., adults want to apply their new learning immediately) to highlight the important relation between those principles and the training strategies implemented in the program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychologists in health care settings: An introduction.

Summarizes a series of articles that examine such topics as the operation of health maintenance organizations, the training of psychologists for various health care settings, and the legislative and political issues affecting the delivery of health care. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short-term group therapy for couples in a health maintenance organization.

Describes a 15-session group treatment program for couples in a health maintenance organization (HMO). The program demonstrates principles of efficiency, economy, integration of services, and prevention in an HMO. It is argued that the location of the program in a comprehensive organized health care setting enhances the efficacy of the treatment. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)