Personality and attitude changes associated with long-term imprisonment

Very little is known about the psychological effects of imprisonment in general, and long-term imprisonment in particular. Most of our knowledge about imprisonment and its effects is derived from American sociological research, such as the classic study by Clemmer (1940), Psychologists seem to have avoided the problem and what data exists bears on the topic only tangentially. This study is an attempt to begin the process of bringing a particularly psychological point of view to bear on the issue. The study is essentially a two-fold psychometric examination of the question of the effects of long-term imprisonment on personality (as measured by the Sysenck Personality Inventory, the Gough Femininity Scale, the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire) and attitudes (as measured by the Semantic Differential). First, a cross-sectional analysis is outlined which yields data on the differences between groups of men in prison who have served differing mean lengths of total imprisonment during their careers. Second, a longitudinal analysis is presented which illustrates the changes which took place over the relatively short test-retest interval of 19 months, A factor- analytical study of the cross-sectional data and more detailed longitudinal analyoes of identifiable psychometric groups are also presented. Finally, an attempt is made to integrate the results into a coherent picture and suggestions are proffered which, it is hoped, may be of use both to future researchers and to the custodians of long-term prisoners

Early identification of high-risk individuals for monoclonal antibody therapy and prophylaxis is feasible by SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody specific lateral flow assay.

Monoclonal antibody therapy has been approved for prophylaxis and treatment of severe COVID-19 infection. Greatest benefit appears limited to those yet to mount an effective immune response from natural infection or vaccination, but concern exists around ability to make timely assessment of immune status of community-based patients where laboratory-based serodiagnostics predominate. Participants were invited to undergo paired laboratory-based (Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG Quant II chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) and lateral flow assays (LFA; a split SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG and total antibody test) able to detect SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies. LFA band strength was compared with CMIA titer by log-linear regression. Two hundred individuals (median age 43.5 years, IQR 30-59; 60.5% female) underwent testing, with a further 100 control sera tested. Both LFA band strengths correlated strongly with CMIA antibody titers (P < 0.001). LFAs have the potential to assist in early identification of seronegative patients who may demonstrate the greatest benefit from monoclonal antibody treatment

Clinical features and management of individuals admitted to hospital with monkeypox and associated complications across the UK: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The scale of the 2022 global mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak has been unprecedented. In less than 6 months, non-endemic countries have reported more than 67 000 cases of a disease that had previously been rare outside of Africa. Mortality has been reported as rare but hospital admission has been relatively common. We aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of individuals admitted to hospital with mpox and associated complications, including tecovirimat recipients. METHODS: In this cohort study, we undertook retrospective review of electronic clinical records and pathology data for all individuals admitted between May 6, and Aug 3, 2022, to 16 hospitals from the Specialist and High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network for Monkeypox. The hospitals were located in ten cities in England and Northern Ireland. Inclusion criteria were clinical signs consistent with mpox and MPXV DNA detected from at least one clinical sample by PCR testing. Patients admitted solely for isolation purposes were excluded from the study. Key outcomes included admission indication, complications (including pain, secondary infection, and mortality) and use of antibiotic and anti-viral treatments. Routine biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, and virology data were also collected. Outcomes were assessed in all patients with available data. FINDINGS: 156 individuals were admitted to hospital with complicated mpox during the study period. 153 (98%) were male and three (2%) were female, with a median age of 35 years (IQR 30-44). Gender data were collected from electronic patient records, which encompassed full formal review of clincian notes. The prespecified options for data collection for gender were male, female, trans, non-binary, or unknown. 105 (71%) of 148 participants with available ethnicity data were of White ethnicity and 47 (30%) of 155 were living with HIV with a median CD4 count of 510 cells per mm3 (IQR 349-828). Rectal or perianal pain (including proctitis) was the most common indication for hospital admission (44 [28%] of 156). Severe pain was reported in 89 (57%) of 156, and secondary bacterial infection in 82 (58%) of 142 individuals with available data. Median admission duration was 5 days (IQR 2-9). Ten individuals required surgery and two cases of encephalitis were reported. 38 (24%) of the 156 individuals received tecovirimat with early cessation in four cases (two owing to hepatic transaminitis, one to rapid treatment response, and one to patient choice). No deaths occurred during the study period. INTERPRETATION: Although life-threatening mpox appears rare in hospitalised populations during the current outbreak, severe mpox and associated complications can occur in immunocompetent individuals. Analgesia and management of superimposed bacterial infection are priorities for patients admitted to hospital. FUNDING: None

Basic research on reversal theory

This chapter highlights and reviews research that deals directly with the foundations of reversal theory, and identifies a trend toward an interest in all the eight states postulated in the theory rather than in the telic and paratelic states alone is noted

Towards a functional analysis of delinquent behaviour: a pilot study

The events surrounding the delinquent behaviour of 21 juvenile offenders were examined in terms of the antecedents and consequences of these behaviours and with reference to the functional value of the behaviour to the individual. The results are analysed using reversal theory and the importance of the motivational state of the offender at the time the crime is carried out is stressed