Assessment of obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions: Development and evaluation of the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.

Although several measures of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms exist, most are limited in that they are not consistent with the most recent empirical findings on the nature and dimensional structure of obsessions and compulsions. In the present research, the authors developed and evaluated a measure called the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) to address limitations of existing OC symptom measures. The DOCS is a 20-item measure that assesses the four dimensions of OC symptoms most reliably replicated in previous structural research. Factorial validity of the DOCS was supported by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of 3 samples, including individuals with OC disorder, those with other anxiety disorders, and nonclinical individuals. Scores on the DOCS displayed good performance on indices of reliability and validity, as well as sensitivity to treatment and diagnostic sensitivity, and hold promise as a measure of OC symptoms in clinical and research settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Robust dimensions of anxiety sensitivity: Development and initial validation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3.

Accumulating evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (fear of arousal-related sensations) plays an important role in many clinical conditions, particularly anxiety disorders. Research has increasingly focused on how the basic dimensions of anxiety sensitivity are related to various forms of psychopathology. Such work has been hampered because the original measure--the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)--was not designed to be multidimensional. Subsequently developed multidimensional measures have unstable factor structures or measure only a subset of the most widely replicated factors. Therefore, the authors developed, via factor analysis of responses from U.S. and Canadian nonclinical participants (n = 2,361), an 18-item measure, the ASI-3, which assesses the 3 factors best replicated in previous research: Physical, Cognitive, and Social Concerns. Factorial validity of the ASI-3 was supported by confirmatory factor analyses of 6 replication samples, including nonclinical samples from the United States and Canada, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Spain (n = 4,494) and a clinical sample from the United States and Canada (n = 390). The ASI-3 displayed generally good performance on other indices of reliability and validity, along with evidence of improved psychometric properties over the original ASI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist experience and the stresses of psychotherapeutic work.

A questionnaire survey of 227 licensed psychologists (aged 27–76 yrs) identified 5 stress factors associated with the nature of psychotherapeutic work (maintaining the therapeutic relationship, scheduling, professional doubt, overinvolvement, and personal depletion) and 5 associated with patient behaviors (negative affect, resistance, psychopathological symptoms, suicidal threats, and passive-aggressive behaviors). Less stress was reported by older Ss and those with moderate caseloads. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

HCI Lifetime Correction Based on Self-Heating Characterization for SOI Technology

Self-heating (SH) effects, which were observed during the development of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology for high-performance circuits, raise questions concerning the validity of the extrapolation method used for hot carrier injection (HCI). In this paper, we propose a new methodology for lifetime prediction based on DC HCI stress for SOI technology. The SH is quantified using coupled DC HCI stress and gate resistance measurements for different transistor widths. Then, the degradation part due to SH is removed, enabling accurate HCI lifetime prediction when SH effects are present.     

Effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A quantitative Review.

Quantitative review of the controlled treatment outcome literature for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) showed that exposure with response prevention was highly effective in reducing OCD symptoms. Cognitive approaches were also found to be at least as effective as exposure procedures. It appears that both cognitive and exposure interventions involve some overlapping procedures and capitalize on similar mechanisms of change. Serotonergic medication, particularly clomipramine, also substantially reduced OCD symptoms. However, clomipramine may not be particularly superior to other serotonergic medication. The relationship between side effects and effect size in medication trials was explored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychosocial outcomes of sex reassignment surgery.

Reviews research on sex-reassignment surgery. Investigations, all but a handful of which are preexperimental, are classified as prequantitative or quantitative. Data are evaluated in relation to methodological rigor, with special attention paid to the controversial Hopkins study reported by J. K. Meyer and D. J. Reter (see record 1981-01871-001), which found that sex reassignment conferred no advantage in terms of social rehabilitation. Approximately two-thirds of those undergoing sex-change procedures were improved at follow-up. Females-to-males enjoyed somewhat greater success than males-to-females, almost 10% of whom suffered a serious complication. The lack of control groups frustrates the effort to attribute either the improvement or the possible casualties to the surgical intervention. These conclusions are integrated with the findings of previous reviews based on the disproportionately case historical pre-1980 data. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discriminative and participant-rated effects of methylphenidate in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Despite the demonstrated beneficial effects of methylphenidate and d-amphetamine for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the discriminative and subjective effects of these compounds in children are not well understood. This study was designed to characterize such effects in children diagnosed with ADHD. In a series of 3 experiments, 17 children were examined to determine whether methylphenidate (n = 12) and d-amphetamine (n = 5) could be reliably discriminated at doses typically used in clinical practice. Under some conditions (e.g., when they were instructed to attend to the drug effects or when a wide range of doses was used), children discriminated methylphenidate (5.0-30.0 mg) from placebo. Children tested under a range of doses of d-amphetamine (2.5-20.0 mg) were unable to discriminate this drug from placebo reliably. Neither methylphenidate nor d-amphetamine produced reliable participant-rated effects.     

Worries and obsessions in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder with and without comorbid generalized anxiety disorder

Participants from the DSM-IV field trial for OCD (N = 381) were divided into two groups based on the SCID interview: those who met current criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but not generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and those who met current diagnostic criteria for both. The groups were compared on their severity of obsessive and compulsive symptoms, as well as on the percent of individuals who reported excessive worry concerning everyday issues (e.g. health, finances). The comorbidity rate was 20%. While the presence of GAD did not elevate OCD symptoms per se, it was associated with more pathological responsibility and indecisiveness. Excessive worries were significantly more common in those with comorbid OCD and GAD. The relationship between obsessions and worries is discussed.     

Ca-ATPase and bone cell mineralization

The plasma membrane Ca-ATPases play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration by pumping Ca2+ out of the cell into the extracellular fluid at the expense of ATP. These pumps potentially play an important role in the delivery of Ca2+ during mineralization of hard tissues such as bone. The properties of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump are compared with those of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum and the factors regulating pump function are presented. The different gene products for the plasma membrane Ca-ATPases are described as well as their known functional significance. Particular attention is paid on the plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps present in mineralizing tissues and evidence supporting a role for these pumps in the transcellular delivery of Ca2+ during the process of mineralization is also presented.