Cyclic GMP inhibits and shifts the activation curve of the delayed-rectifier (I[K1]) of type I mammalian vestibular hair cells

NITRIC oxide (NO) plays a role in the modulation of the predominant potassium current of type I vestibular hair cells, a low-voltage activated current called I(K1). Since many effects of NO are mediated via cGMP, patch-clamp recordings were made to evaluate the effects of cGMP on I(K1). In whole-cell recordings 1 mM cGMP shifted Vhalf of I(K1) by 15.0 +/- 2.4 mV (n = 6) to more positive. In cell-attached 'multichannel' recordings 1 mM 8-bromo-cGMP caused a reversible shift of Vhalf by 13.8 +/- 2.6 mV (n = 12) and in single channel recordings in the cell-attached configuration the open probability was reduced at -60 mV from 0.39 +/- 0.14 to 0.08 +/- 0.01. cGMP had no effect on excised inside-out patches, indicating that an intact cytosolic milieu with functioning phosphorylation cascades is necessary. cGMP seems to be an important second messenger which reduces the potassium conductance of vestibular hair cells.     

Internalization of interpersonal process in time-limited dynamic psychotherapy.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 31(3) of Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training (see record 2009-17141-002). This article contained, as Figure 1, an SASB model. The authorship and copyrights for the model were not acknowledged. The following acknowledgement should have been included: "Adapted from Benjamin (1984). Principles of Prediction using Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). In R. A. Zucker, J. Aronoff, and A. J. Rabin (Eds.), Personality and the Prediction of Behavior (pp. 121- 174). New York: Academic." An apology is offered to the author, Dr. Lorna Smith Benjamin. The particular version used in the article was developed in collaboration with Clinton W. McLemore.] Investigated the internalization of positive aspects of therapist–patient (TP) interactions among 70 patients and their 16 therapists who participated in a 5-yr study (H. H. Strupp et al, unpublished) of time-limited dynamic psychotherapy. Patients sought help for anxiety, depression, or other problems with a clear interpersonal component and qualified for an Axis I or Axis II diagnosis on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III (DSM-III). Instruments included the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior and outcome measures of depression, anxiety, and psychological functioning. Patients' intrapsychic functioning became more similar to interpersonal activity in the TP relationship over the course of psychotherapy. Intrapsychic movement toward interpersonal activity in the TP relationship was associated with positive outcome on measures of depression, anxiety, and on independent clinician ratings of patient psychological functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of prognostic information on global ratings of psychotherapy outcome.

30 graduate students in clinical psychology (raters) viewed a videotape recording of an interview with a patient after having read 1 of 3 types of posttherapy information about the patient. One group of raters was presented information associated with a good prognosis, one group was presented information associated with a poor prognosis, and the last group received neutral information about the patient. Half of the members of each group were told that the interview was made at the termination of therapy, the other half were told that it was a 1-yr follow-up interview. All raters then completed scales regarding patient's level of adjustment, psychic distress, amount of change, and success of patient's therapy. Only ratings of pre- to posttherapy patient change varied as a function of prognostic information. Results suggest that although poor prognosis patients are perceived as exhibiting more change than good prognosis patients, only final level of functioning determines global judgments of psychotherapy outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence for social anxiety and impaired social cognition in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

This study assessed social behavior in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the Fmr1 tm1Cgr or Fmr1 "knockout" (KO) mouse. Both the KO and wild-type (WT) mice preferred to be near a novel conspecific than to be alone. However, during the initial interaction with a novel conspecific, (1) a greater proportion of the KO mice exhibited high levels of grooming; and (2) the average duration of nose contact with the stimulus mouse was significantly shorter for the KO mice, both indicative of increased arousal and/or anxiety. Both groups exhibited a robust novelty preference when the novel animal was a "preferred" mouse. However, when the novel mouse was a "nonpreferred" animal, both groups showed a diminished novelty preference but this effect was more pronounced for the WT mice. This blunted negative reaction of the KO mice to a nonpreferred animal may indicate that they were less proficient than controls in distinguishing between positive and negative social interactions. These findings provide support for the use of this animal model to study the autistic features of FXS and autism spectrum disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dynamic factors in patient assessment and prediction of change in short-term dynamic psychotherapy.

Assessed 25 outpatients via the Rorschach assessment prior to short-term, dynamic therapy to see whether patient characteristics would predict outcome in intrapsychic organization, as measured with L. S. Benjamin's (see record 1975-02991-001) Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). SASB and other outcome measures were administered after termination of psychodynamic therapy. Findings show good predictive value of the Rorschach developmental dimensions Differentiation and Articulation in predicting an Introject change outcome index. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical psychology, irrationalism, and the erosion of excellence.

Argues that the contemporary trend toward anti-intellectualism, antiscientism, and antiprofessionalism has produced a significant deterioration in the quality of clinical psychology training. In this trend, exemplified by encounter groups, sensitivity training, and the human potential movement, the intellect is indicted as the primary source of evil and dehumanization, as well as the spoiler of pleasure in human relatedness. Underlying reasons for this development are traced, and a basic fallacy is exposed in the view that intellect and emotion are antithetical. It is concluded that if clinical psychology is to maintain respect as a profession, it must reassert standards of training and quality of service. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Obituary: Julius Segal (1924–1994).

Memoralizes the life of J. Segal who authored and co-authored 8 books and approximately 500 articles, chapters, and magazine and newspaper features in the field of behavioral science and mental health. Shortly before his death, he co-authored the 8th edition of the widely used textbood, Psychology: An Introduction . Segal was the 1st psychologist to receive the American Psychological Foundation's Science Writer's Award. In the areas of stress and coping, Segal conducted the Department of Defense's official study of the American soldier who had been brainwashed during the Korean War. Segal is noted for possessing the rare capacity to present complex scientific and professional issues in understandable language, and his writing style was graceful, felicitious, and engaging. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social transmission of food preferences in adult hooded rats (Rattus norvegicus).

When given a choice between 2 novel diets, rats show a marked preference for the diet that a paired conspecific has been eating. Four experiments were conducted to investigate this transmission of a food preference from one rat to another. Ss were 340 male Long-Evans hooded rats that were paired into observers and demonstrators. Demonstrators were presented with 2 novel foods, one adulterated with quinine sulfate, after which the observers were presented with the same novel diets, neither of which was adulterated with quinine. These studies suggest that (a) the effect is socially mediated, (b) the learning is very rapid, and (c) the preference can last for at least 5 days. Results are discussed in the context of other instances of social transmission of food-related behaviors and in terms of social learning in general. Findings stress the importance of divising animal learning paradigms in accord with the natural history of the animal being studied. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)