Prevalence, Predictors and Sources of Information Regarding Neuromyths in an Australian Cohort of Preservice Teachers

The term neuromyths refers to misconceptions about learning and the brain. Educator neuromyths may result in inappropriate instruction, labelling of learners, and wasted resources. To date, little research has considered the sources of these beliefs. We surveyed 1359 Australian preservice educators (M = 22.7, SD = 5.7 years) about their sources of information for 15 neuromyth and 17 general brain knowledge statements. Consistent with previous studies, neuromyth beliefs were prevalent. Predictors of neuromyth accuracy included general brain knowledge and completion of university classes addressing neuromyths, although effects were modest. Depending on the belief, participants relied on general knowledge, academic staff, school staff, and popular media. Recommendations for teacher education are presented

Longitudinal investigation of the role of temperament and stressful life events in childhood anxiety

The current study investigated the longitudinal relationships between BI, life events, and anxiety in a sample of 102 behaviourally inhibited (BI) and 100 uninhibited (BUI) children aged 3 to 4 years. Children’s parents completed questionnaires on BI, stressful life events, and anxiety symptoms, and were administered a diagnostic interview three times in a 5-year period. In line with our hypotheses, negative life events, and negative behaviour- dependent life events (i.e. life events that are related to the children’s own behaviours) in particular, and the impact of negative life events, were predictive of increases in subsequent anxiety symptoms, the likelihood of having an anxiety disorder, and increased number of anxiety diagnoses over the five year follow-up period. Experiencing more positive, behaviour-independent life events decreased the risk of being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Furthermore, differences were found in life events between BI and BUI children. That is, BI children experienced fewer positive and specifically positive behaviour-dependent life events, and the impact of these positive life events was also lower in BI children than in BUI children. However, BI did not interact with life events in the prediction of anxiety problems as hypothesized. Therefore, this study seems to indicate that BI and life events act as additive risk factors in the development of anxiety problems

herbal medicines: A guide for healt-care professionals

ix,ill,296hal,;37c

herbal medicines: A guide for healt-care professionals

ix,ill,296hal,;37c

Herbal medicines and pharmacy

In addition to orthodox Western medicine, a plethora of complementary therapies are available in the UK and these have been steadily gaining in popularity since the 1970's. The key areas in which pharmacists are becoming increasingly involved with complementary therapies are in the sale and supply of homoeopathic products, healthfoods and nutritional supplements, and herbal products. The growing involvement of pharmacists in the supply of herbal medicines is paralleled by a requirement to provide professional advice on the use of these products. As with all medicines, pharmacists should be responsible for supplying herbal medicines of reliable quality, safety and efficacy, and be able to advise patients on such aspects as potential adverse reactions and drug interactions. If pharmacists are to be able to provide professional advice to customers on herbal medicines, then access to reliable information sources is required. However, few pharmacy undergraduate courses provide training on herbal remedies, and the usual reference sources used by pharmacists contain either no or little reference to herbal medicines. In the present work, European herbs commonly sold through pharmacies have been identified by visiting pharmacies in and around the London area, by reference to popular health magazines and to the Chemist and Druggist listing, and by contact with herbal product manufacturers. Details were obtained for 623 different products from 37 manufacturers, involving some 200 herbal ingredients of which 141 were chosen for subsequent study. The information sources utilised in the data collation for the 141 identified herbs are listed and represent pharmacopoeias, scientific and non-scientific sources, primary and secondary literature, and on-line databases. It was determined that pharmacists require clinically-orientated information on herbal remedies. Monographs produced for the 141 herbs therefore include headings such as pharmacological actions, side-effects and toxicity, and contra-indications and warnings. The present work also discusses medicines legislation for herbal remedies, including a historical account of UK legislation and an explanation of the current status of herbal remedies within European legislation. Issues specific to the quality, safety and efficacy assessment of herbal medicines are also discussed. A number of tables and appendixes are included detailing, for example, potential drug/herb interactions, herbs best avoided during pregnancy, and herbs with specific pharmacological actions and constituent types. Finally, a number of recommendations are made regarding the supply of herbal remedies by pharmacists. The present work resulted in a reference source entitled "Herbal Medicines - A Guide for Healthcare Professionals", published by the Pharmaceutical Press in January 1996

Online cognitive-behaviour therapy is similarly effective to clinic-based CBT for reducing adolescent anxiety

Commentary.1 page(s

Physical context regulates the renewal of fear in indirect pathways : an examination of fear reduction processes using verbal information provision and modelling

Among adults, classically conditioned fears that have been extinguished can recover through a change of physical context. Recovery of fear via a change of physical context is typically termed ‘renewal’. In this study, we investigated whether adults also exhibit renewal via the verbal threat information pathway. Fifty adult participants (M = 20 years-old; range: 18 to 45 years of age) acquired fear beliefs about a novel and fictitious animal through the provision of threatening information about the animal. Fears were reduced via the verbal provision of positive information and modelling. Participants were randomised to receive fear reduction in either the same context (Context A) or in a different context (Context B) to the context used for fear acquisition (Context A). All participants were then tested back in the context of acquisition. Results showed fears recovered when the context of fear reduction and the context of test were different, indicating physical context regulates the renewal of verbally acquired and reduced fear. The findings are discussed in terms of current theoretical and developmental models for fear extinction and the implications for relapse models of adult anxiety disorders.15 page(s

Maternal expectancy versus objective measures of child skill : evidence for absence of positive bias in mothers' expectations of children with internalizing disorders

Parents of anxious children are thought to be more attuned to threat, which might translate into less positive bias in parental report of child coping and ability, unlike parents of non-anxious children. Maternal expectancy bias was examined in a sample of 43 clinically anxious (51% female), 30 clinically anxious/depressed (50% female), and 44 non-clinical control children (46% female), 8-14 years of age. When compared to an objective observer's ratings of the children, mothers of non-clinical children demonstrated a positive bias (i.e., over-rated their children's performance) for both ratings of expected speech performance in absolute terms and relative to peers. Mothers in the clinical groups did not exhibit this positive expectancy bias. Moreover, mothers of clinical children reported lower expectations in absolute terms and relative to peers than mothers of non-clinical children. The data suggest that mothers of clinical children held accurate expectations for child performance when compared to the gold standard of an objective observer.13 page(s

The Role of perfectionism in cognitive behaviour therapy outcomes for clinically anxious children

The main aim of this study was to determine whether pre-treatment levels of child perfectionism impacted on anxiety treatment outcomes for school-aged children. In addition, it was investigated whether child perfectionism decreased following treatment for anxiety. Participants were sixty-seven clinically anxious children aged 6-13 years (female=34; majority Caucasian) who were enrolled in a group-based cognitive behaviour therapy program, and their parents. They completed self-report questionnaires on anxiety and depressive symptoms and were administered a diagnostic interview to determine the type and clinician rated severity of anxiety and related disorders pre- and post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Self- and parent-rated perfectionism were also measured pre-treatment, while a subset of children completed perfectionism measures post-treatment as well. Self-Oriented Perfectionism, but not Socially Prescribed Perfectionism, predicted poorer self-reported treatment outcome (higher levels of anxiety symptoms) immediately following treatment and at 6-month follow-up when using a multi-informant approach. Additionally, both Self-Oriented and Socially Prescribed child perfectionism significantly reduced immediately following treatment. Despite reductions in child perfectionism following anxiety treatment, higher Self-Oriented Perfectionism may impact negatively on child anxiety treatment outcome.8 page(s

Assessing child and adolescent internalizing disorders

16 page(s