Posttraumatic distress and physical functioning: A longitudinal study of injured survivors of community violence.

This study examines the cross-lagged relationships between posttraumatic distress symptoms and physical functioning, using a sample of 413 persons who were hospitalized for injuries resulting from community violence. Posttraumatic distress was assessed at 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months postinjury, and posttraumatic physical functioning was assessed at 3 months and 12 months. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the prospective relationship between posttraumatic distress symptoms and physical functioning while controlling for demographic characteristics and objective measures of injury severity. Results indicate that posttraumatic distress and physical functioning are reciprocally related. Individuals with high levels of psychological distress at 1 week posttrauma have worse physical functioning at 3 months. Psychological distress at 3 months was not significantly associated with subsequent change in physical functioning at 12 months. Individuals with poor physical functioning at 3 months had higher than expected levels of psychological distress at 12 months. These findings demonstrate a reciprocal relationship between physical and mental health following traumatic injury. Interventions targeting physical recovery may influence subsequent mental health, and therapies aimed at improving early mental health may also have long-term benefits for physical recovery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

All Symptoms Are Not Created Equal: The Prominent Role of Hyperarousal in the Natural Course of Posttraumatic Psychological Distress.

This 3-wave longitudinal study examined the natural course of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms using data collected from young adult survivors of community violence. Three key findings emerged. 1. Mean levels of distress for each symptom cluster decreased over time, with reexperiencing decreasing most rapidly. 2. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that hyperarousal strongly influences, but is not generally influenced by, other symptoms clusters. 3. Trajectory analysis demonstrated that respondents for whom hyperarousal was the most pronounced baseline symptom showed lower overall symptom improvement relative to trauma exposed counterparts for whom hyperarousal was a less prominent early symptom. Implications for theory, research, and clinical practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Helical polymers

A number of natural and synthetic helical polymers are briefly described. The relationship between polymer helicity and optical activity is discussed. The synthesis of optically active polymers based solely on macromolecular asymmetry is emphasized.     

A universal method to compare parts from STEP files

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing - Model Based Definition (MBD) captures the complete specification of a part in digital form and leverages (at least) the universal “Standard for the...     

School-based disaster mental health services: Clinical, policy, and community challenges.

The consequences of Hurricane Katrina have far-reaching implications for the mental health system in the Gulf Coast region, with some of the most vulnerable survivors being children and adolescents. School-based services have been proposed as an ideal way to provide care; however, significant challenges remain in providing trauma-informed services in schools postdisaster. The authors discuss the consultation and training activities of the Los Angeles Unified School District Trauma Services Adaptation Center for Schools and Communities following Hurricane Katrina. Issues related to the dissemination of evidence-based treatment in schools following a disaster are discussed, as are the particular needs of providers and school staff and the importance of community collaboration in identifying ways to adapt implementation strategies for specific communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The validation of a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder: The Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale.

The present article reports on the development and validation of a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PTDS), that yields both a PTSD diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994 DSM-IV) criteria and a measure of PTSD symptom severity. Two-hundred forty-eight participants who had experienced a wide variety of traumas (e.g., accident, fire, natural disaster, assault, combat) were administered the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID; Spitzer, Williams, Gibbons, & First, 1990), the PTDS, and scales measuring trauma-related psychopathology. The PTDS demonstrated high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, high diagnostic agreement with SCID, and good sensitivity and specificity. The satisfactory validity of the PTDS was further supported by its high correlations with other measures of trauma-related psychopathology. Therefore, the PTDS appears to be a useful tool for screening and assessing current PTSD in clinical and research settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development and validation of a modified version of the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire.

This article reports results from 3 studies conducted to develop and validate a modified version of the self-administered form of the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ; C. R. Marmar, D. S. Weiss, & T. J. Metzler, 1997). The objective was to develop an instrument suitable for use with persons from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. In Study 1, the original PDEQ was administered to a small sample (N=15) recruited from among men admitted to the hospital for physical injuries stemming from exposure to community violence. Results led to modifications aimed at improving the utility of the instrument. In Study 2, the modified PDEQ was subjected to structural equation modeling and item response theory analyses to assess its psychometric properties in a larger, primarily male, sample of community violence survivors (N=294). In Study 3, the reliability and validity of the modified instrument were further assessed in a sample of female survivors of sexual assault (N=90). Results attest to the psychometric properties as well as the reliability and validity of the modified 8-item PDEQ. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)