The impact of personality disorder pathology on the effectiveness of Cognitive Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Major Depressive Disorder

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive research, there is no consensus how Personality Disorders (PD) and PD features affect outcome for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The present study evaluated the effects of PD (features) on treatment continuation and effectiveness in Cognitive Therapy (CT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for MDD. METHODS: Depressed outpatients were randomized to CT (n=72) and IPT (n=74). Primary outcome was depression severity measured repeatedly with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline, three months, at the start of each therapy session, at post-treatment and monthly during five months follow-up. RESULTS: Comorbid PD and PD features did not affect dropout. Multilevel and Cox regression models indicated no negative effect of PD on BDI-II change and remission rates during treatment and follow-up, irrespective of the treatment received. For both therapies, higher dependent PD features predicted overall lower BDI-II scores during treatment, however this effect did not sustain through follow-up. Cluster A PD features moderated treatment outcome during treatment and follow-up: individuals with high cluster A PD features had greater BDI-II reductions over time in CT as compared to IPT. LIMITATIONS: Not all therapists and participants were blind to the assessment of PD (features), and assessments were performed by one rater. Further research must investigate the state and trait dependent changes of PD and MDD over time. CONCLUSIONS: We found no negative impact of PD on the effectiveness and treatment retention of CT and IPT for MDD during treatment and follow-up. If replicated, cluster A PD features can be used to optimize treatment selection

ATR-FTIR Spectroscopic Studies of Polymer-Based Identification Cards

Counterfeit production of polymer identity cards poses a significant economic cost to society and a threat to national security. Identifying these counterfeits is a challenge for ‘frontline’ personnel who lack training in specialised document examination. This study investigates the use of attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with chemometrics as a potential approach to assessing polymer card authenticity. In situ analysis of several cards found that differentiation could be achieved based on the core polymer composition. A chemometric model was thus built for three driver’s licence series produced in Western Australia and tested using a separate set of seven licences. The majority of test samples were correctly matched to the series of issue, with atypical samples recognisable based on their discriminant values. Synchrotron FTIR imaging revealed that differentiation between each series was possibly related to the adhesive used between the core layers. The approach presented in this work has the potential to be developed as a rapid screening method to identify suspect polymer cards warranting further examination

Classification of polyethylene cling films by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was utilised to analyse nine differently branded cling films. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the intra-sample variability, i.e. the variation within individual cling film rolls; as well as the inter-sample variability, which explores the variability between different rolls of cling film. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was then employed to develop a predictive classification model which gave 100% correct differentiation between three brand groupings of cling film, and accurately classified all of the validation samples obtained from different rolls from the same manufacturers

Mites and allergenic activity in house-dust on Heligoland

Heligoland is a small island in the North Sea off the German coast. It is well known for its mild climate and the low pollen count in the air during the hay-fever season. It is visited regularly by allergic patients seeking relief from their respiratory problems. However, nothing is known about another important group of allergens: house dust allergens, and about the mites with which they are frequently associated

In situ studies of biomineral deposition in the radula teeth of chitons of the suborder chitonina

The major lateral radula teeth of chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) are composite materials, incorporating a variety of biominerals within an organic scaffold. While magnetite is ubiquitous to these teeth in all Polyplacophorans whose radulae have been described to date, this is not the case for the biominerals of the tooth core. In situ analsysis, using energy dispersive spectroscopy, to determine the distribution of elements in chiton teeth, and Raman spectroscopy, to identify the biominerals present, has been undertaken in the mature teeth of seven chiton species representing three families in the suborder Chitonina. The results show the tooth core to be comprised of a variety of elements, with the main biominerals identified as limonite, lepidocrocite and hydroxyapatite. Along with Ischnochiton australis, all five representatives of the Chitonidae deposit an apatitic mineral in their tooth core, while Plaxiphora albida does not deposit any calcium biomineral. With the exception of Acanthopleura echinata, the hydrated iron (III) oxide, limonite, is found in all species, including I. australis, which has relatively small amounts of iron in its tooth core. The lack of any evidence for a phosphate mineral in species that possess high levels of phosphorus in their core, challenges the long accepted notion that the presence of phosphorus implies its deposition as a biomineral. The combined techniques of energy dispersive spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy provide a simple and effective means to evaluate, in situ, the biomineralisation strategies employed by chitons. While the results from this study are inconclusive in determining whether biomineralisation strategies reflect phylogenetic affinities in chitons, an extension of the study to include a wider range of chiton taxa could provide a basis for the utilisation of radula tooth biomineralisation as a systematic tool in this class of molluscs