The validity of the assessment centre method as a predictor of managerial potential.

The Assessment Centre is a process involving a number of participants who take part in a series of individual and group exercises administered by a specialist, while being observed by several specially trained impartial observers. The prime objective of the Assessment Centre is the assessment of managerial personnel, and consequently the exercises in which the participants are involved simulate the problems and challenges of jobs for which their potential is being considered. Such jobs are referred to as target level jobs. By simulating a futuristic job situation, the Assessment Centre provides empirical information which can be used to predict an individual's performance in a future situation. An advantage is that information thus derived can be used to prepare individuals for the future by identifying weak points which can be developed

The relationship between sales of SSRI, TCA and suicide rates in the Nordic countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the period 1990-2006, strong and almost equivalent increases in sales figures of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were observed in all Nordic countries. The sales figures of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) dropped in Norway and Sweden in the nineties. After 2000, sales figures of TCAs have been almost constant in all Nordic countries. The potentially toxic effect of TCAs in overdose was an important reason for replacing TCAs with SSRIs when treating depression. We studied whether the rapid increase in sales of SSRIs and the corresponding decline in TCAs in the period 1990-98 were associated with a decline in suicide rates.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Aggregated suicide rates for the period 1975-2006 in four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) were obtained from the national causes-of-death registries. The sales figures of antidepressants were provided from the wholesale registers in each of the Nordic countries. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test and Pearson's correlation coefficient.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was no statistical association (P = 1.0) between the increase of sales figures of SSRIs and the decline in suicide rates. There was no statistical association (P = 1.0) between the decrease in the sale figures of TCAs and change in suicide rates either.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found no evidence for the rapid increase in use of SSRIs and the corresponding decline in sales of TCAs being associated with a decline in the suicide rates in the Nordic countries in the period 1990-98. We did not find any inverse relationship between the increase in sales of SSRIs and declining suicide rates in four Nordic countries.</p

Repetition and severity of suicide attempts across the life cycle: a comparison by age group between suicide victims and controls with severe depression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Suicide attempts have been shown to be less common in older age groups, with repeated attempts generally being more common in younger age groups and severe attempts in older age groups. Consistently, most studies have shown an increased suicide risk after attempts in older age. However, little is known about the predictive value of age on repeated and severe suicide attempts for accomplished suicide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the reduced incidence for initial, repeated, or severe suicide attempts with age in suicide victims and controls by gender.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The records of 100 suicide victims and matched controls with severe depression admitted to the Department of Psychiatry, Lund University Hospital, Sweden between 1956 and 1969, were evaluated and the subjects were monitored up to 2006. The occurrence of suicide attempts (first, repeated, or severe, by age group) was analysed for suicide victims and controls, with gender taken into consideration.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a reduced risk for an initial suicide attempt by older age in females (suicide victims and controls) and male controls (but not suicide victims). The risk for repeated suicide attempts appeared to be reduced in the older age groups in female controls as compared to female suicide victims. The risk for severe suicide attempts seemed reduced in the older age groups in female suicide victims. This risk was also reduced in male controls and in male controls compared to male suicide victims.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In the older age groups repeated attempts appeared to be predictive for suicide in women and severe attempts predictive in men.</p

Broad and narrow personality traits as markers of one-time and repeated suicide attempts: A population-based study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studying personality traits with the potential to differentiate between individuals engaging in suicide attempts of different degrees of severity could help us to understand the processes underlying the link of personality and nonfatal suicidal behaviours and to identify at-risk groups. One approach may be to examine whether narrow, i.e., lower-order personality traits may be more useful than their underlying, broad personality trait dimensions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated qualitative and quantitative differences in broad and narrow personality traits between one-time and repeated suicide attempters in a longitudinal, population-based sample of young French Canadian adults using two multivariate regression models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One broad (Compulsivity: OR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.2–3.5) and one narrow personality trait (anxiousness: OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.01–1.1) differentiated between individuals with histories of repeated and one-time suicide attempts. Affective instability [(OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.04–1.1)] and anxiousness [(OR = .92; 95% CI .88–.95)], on the other hand, differentiated between nonattempters and one-time suicide attempters.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Emotional and cognitive dysregulation and associated behavioural manifestations may be associated with suicide attempts of different severity. While findings associated with narrow traits may be easier to interpret and link to existing sociobiological theories, larger effect sizes associated with broad traits such as Compulsivity may be better suited to objectives with a more clinical focus.</p

The validility of the Assessment Centre method as a predictor of Managerial Potential

In hierdie studie is 'n ex post facto ondersoek gedoen na die geldigheid van 'n besondere takseersentrum soos dit deur 'n versekeringsmaatskappy geadministreer word. Daar is vasgestel dat die besondere takseersentrum 'n geldige identifiseerder van bestuurspotensiaal is. Daar is voorgestel dat die organisasie groter voordeel uit die takseersentrum kan put indien dit nie in isolasie beskou word nie, maar tesame met addisionele insette in terme van die huidige funksionering van die organisasie in werking gestel word. Die takseersentrum behoort ook 'n integrale deel van die inligtingsvloei deur die organisasie te vorm