An Investigation of the Effects of Gender and Specificity of Information on Diagnosis

Results of studies investigating the possible presence of bias in psychotherapy are equivocal. Past studies have not taken into consideration the amount of information provided to clinicians and therefore have varied this dependent variable unsystematically from study to study. The current study explored the effects of the gender of the psychologist, gender of the client, and level of information provided upon which to base decisions on diagnostic and treatment decisions. Three cases varying gender of the client and the amount of information given were mailed to 814 psychologists listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. Respondents were asked to make a series of diagnostic and treatment decisions based upon the material provided. The amount of information presented was the most influential component of the decision making process. The specificity of data given upon which psychologists based their impressions resulted in differential diagnostic decisions. The gender of the psychologist and that of the client did not play significant roles in diagnosis or on recommendations for medication. The lack of findings indicating bias suggest that it may be time to move beyond analogue studies and investigate using other methods. Research involving a more naturalistic approach is required to further explore bias and also its presence in aspects of therapy other than diagnosis and treatment planning

Character pathology and neuropsychological test performance in remitted opiate dependence

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cognitive deficits and personality pathology are prevalent in opiate dependence, even during periods of remission, and likely contribute to relapse. Understanding the relationship between the two in vulnerable, opiate-addicted patients may contribute to the design of better treatment and relapse prevention strategies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory (MCMI) and a series of neuropsychological tests were administered to three subject groups: 29 subjects receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MM), 27 subjects in protracted abstinence from methadone maintenance treatment (PA), and 29 healthy non-dependent comparison subjects. Relationships between MCMI scores, neuropsychological test results, and measures of substance use and treatment were examined using bivariate correlation and regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MCMI scores were greater in subjects with a history of opiate dependence than in comparison subjects. A significant negative correlation between MCMI scores and neuropsychological test performance was identified in all subjects. MCMI scores were stronger predictors of neuropsychological test performance than measures of drug use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Formerly methadone-treated opiate dependent individuals in protracted opiate abstinence demonstrate a strong relationship between personality pathology and cognitive deficits. The cause of these deficits is unclear and most likely multi-factorial. This finding may be important in understanding and interpreting neuropsychological testing deficiencies in opiate-dependent subjects.</p

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial of dietary supplementation on cognitive and immune functioning in healthy older adults

BACKGROUND: Declining cognitive function is relatively common and increasingly prevalent. Studies have shown that different nutrients (e.g., Ginkgo biloba and vitamin E) appear to be effective at improving memory and concentration, while less is known about their effect on immunity. METHODS: This study investigated the effect of Ginkgo Synergy® plus Choline (n = 33) and OPC Synergy® plus Catalyn® (n = 31) versus placebo (n = 33) in a 6-month, randomized, double-blind trial on cognitive and immune functioning among English-speaking, non-smoking, healthy older adults. The Stroop Color and Word Test, Trail Making Test A and B, Controlled Oral Word Association, Hopkins Verbal Learning, Mini-Mental State Exam, and Digit Symbol were administered at baseline and 3 and 6 months follow-up to assess cognitive functioning. Cytokines and growth factors were measured at baseline and 6 months to assess inflammation and immune functioning. Data were analyzed with linear mixed modeling. RESULTS: No serious adverse events were noted in this study. According to time on the Trail Making Test-B, the Ginkgo Synergy® plus Choline arm showed improvement from baseline to 3 months follow-up (mean difference = 24.2; SE = 6.4; 95% CI: 8.6, 39.7; p = 0.01). On the Controlled Oral Word Association Trial-S, the scores significantly increased for the Ginkgo Synergy® plus Choline arm from baseline to 6 months follow-up (mean difference = 2.1; SE = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.2, 3.9; p < 0.05) and for the OPC Synergy® plus Catalyn® arm from baseline to 3 months follow-up (mean difference = 2.1; SE = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.2, 4.0; p < 0.05). Epidermal growth factor significantly decreased from baseline to 6 months follow-up for the Ginkgo Synergy® plus Choline arm (mean difference = 120.7; SE = 28.4; 95% CI: 62.6, 178.8; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed isolated and modest effects of a Ginkgo biloba plus choline-based formula on cognitive and immune functioning among healthy older adults with no history of significant cognitive deficits. Our trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT01672359). This study was supported by a grant from Standard Process, Inc

Measuring the biological and economic effects of wildlife herbivory on afforested carbon sequestration sites in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Mammalian herbivory of bottomland hardwood seedlings has been listed as one of the primary causal factors of failed afforestation efforts in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). This study examined the biological and economic effects of mammalian herbivory on recently afforested carbon sequestration sites in the LMAV. Selected seedlings of six planting mixes were observed through the first year following planting to monitor seedling survival, growth, and mammalian herbivory. It was determined that greater than 10% of selected seedlings were browsed by various mammalian herbivore species, and some species mixes were browsed in excess of 50%. Financial analyses compared alternative afforestation strategies and determined to what extent herbivore-induced seedling mortality could reduce investment returns of landowners engaged in afforestation activities. In the presence of extreme mammalian herbivory, landowner returns can be reduced by hundreds of dollars per acre and could prevent further afforestation activities in the LMAV

Older Adults in the SeniorWISE Study At Risk for Mild Cognitive Impairment

As part of a larger clinical trial, SeniorWISE(™) (Wisdom Is Simply Exploration), this study provides baseline affective, cognitive, and functional ability data and reports on the likely incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a triethnic community sample of older adults (N = 265). Seventy-eight individuals had memory complaints, whereas 105 had none. Of the complainants, 32 had normal memory function and 46 had poor memory performance. Among those without memory complaints, 42 had no memory impairment and 63 had poor memory performance. Forty-six individuals (17%) met the criteria of poor everyday memory functioning and memory complaints whereas 81 (31%) would be considered to be at risk based on other MCI criteria. This pattern of results suggests that those with declining memory are less aware of their deficits in activities of daily living that their actual performance would suggest are occurring