Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

Core Competencies for Fellowship Training in Psychosomatic Medicine: A Collaborative Effort by the APA Council on Psychosomatic Medicine, the ABPN Psychosomatic Committee, and The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) officially recognized Psychosomatic Medicine as a subspecialty of Psychiatry in 2003. In May 2008, both the ABPN and the ACGME approved the following Core Competencies for Fellowship Training in Psychosomatic Medicine (PM). These PM Core Competencies will serve as a guideline for the training experience, for the construction of fellowship programs in psychosomatic medicine, and as a self-study guide for all PM fellows

Diagnosis and Management of Depression in Three Countries: Results from a Clinical Vignette Factorial Experiment

Abstract Objective: International differences in disease prevalence rates are often reported and thought to reflect different lifestyles, genetics, or cultural differences in care-seeking behavior. However, they may also be produced by differences among health care systems. We sought to investigate variation in the diagnosis and management of a "patient," with exactly the same symptoms indicative of depression, in three different health care systems (Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Method: A factorial experiment was conducted in which 384 randomly selected primary care physicians viewed a video vignette of a "patient" presenting with symptoms suggestive of depression. Results: Most physicians listed depression as one of their diagnoses, but German physicians were more likely to diagnose depression in women, while British and American physicians were more likely to diagnose depression in men (p=.0251). American physicians were almost twice as likely to prescribe an anti-depressant (p=.0241) as British physicians. German physicians were significantly more likely to refer the patient to a mental health professional (p<.0001) than British or American physicians. German physicians wanted to see the patient in follow-up sooner (p<.0001) than British or American physicians. Conclusions: Primary care physicians in different countries diagnose exactly same symptoms of depression differently, depending on the patient's gender. There are also significant differences between countries in the management of a "patient" with symptoms suggestive of depression. International differences in prevalence rates for 3 depression, and perhaps other diseases, may in part result from differences among health care systems in different countries

HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND): Relative Risk Factors

This chapter will address the issue of risk for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), focusing on HIV-associated dementia (HAD), among persons living with HIV in relationship to the risk for other dementias. Advances in effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) have led to an increase in the prevalence of older persons surviving with HIV – in addition to older persons who become infected by HIV later in life. Hence, HIV is no longer a disease of younger persons, and additional attention has been brought to bear against the plight of older persons living with HIV – not only as it pertains to treatment but also to prevention. The additional risk caused by aging among older persons living with HIV is complex to asses, and HIV infection is a research area that requires a robust approach to multiple other factors causing neurocognitive impairment with older age. The long-term and potentially neurotoxic exposure to ART and the deleterious consequences of chronic infection with HIV and its associated neuro-inflammation have been described for health. This aids in the understanding of dementia risk factors in this patient population, but the comorbidities (HIV- and non-HIV-associated) occurring among older persons living with HIV must also be addressed to properly assess the overall impact on dementia risk in this group. This need also warrants our examination of the risk factors for other dementias (and comorbid dementias) in persons living with HIV versus the general population through the assessment and quantification of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors identified as major contributors toward dementia