Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP) Standing Review Panel (SRP) Final Report

The first meeting of the Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP) Standing Review Panel (SRP) was held in Houston, TX on November 1-3, 2009. Our task was to assess the Integrated Research Plan (IRP) related to the fields covered in the SRP charge (see section VIII). Having considered and discussed the extensive materials distributed prior to the meeting, and the highly informative briefings by the NASA BHP Human Research Program (HRP) personnel during the site visit, the SRP agreed that the IRP is comprehensive and was developed carefully. Question and answer periods with the presenters were particularly productive and helpful to the SRP. The presenters' willingness to share information and positive responses to the SRP's suggestions were greatly appreciated. Although the IRP and related documents are impressive, the SRP does have a number of recommendations regarding both the overall plan and its component parts

Construct Validation of Quality of Life for the Severely Mentally Ill

This study focused on the quality of life experienced by persons with severe mental illness (SMI). Previous studies indicate the need for a multi-dimensional approach to the study of quality of life and its subjective indicators. For the SMI, attention should be paid not only to the direct and intentional effects of interventions, but also to the indirect and unintentional effects, both negative and positive. Hence, a global evaluation of individuals within this group is indicated. A multitrait-multimethod approach to construct validation using confirmatory factor analysis was employed. The hypothesized factors were modeled as multiple traits and the multiple perspectives of the respondents (i.e. patient, case manager, family member) were multiple methods. A total of 265 severely mentally ill adults served by a network of agencies in four cities were randomly sampled. The sample was approximately 50% male and 50% female, ages ranged from 19-78 years.   DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v1i2_johnso

Improved sleep quality in older adults with insomnia reduces biomarkers of disease risk: Pilot results from a randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial

IMPORTANCE: Sleep disturbances have been linked to increased morbidity and mortality, yet it is unknown whether improving sleep quality in older adult patients with insomnia alters biomarkers of diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk. OBJECTIVE: Determine the comparative efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), tai chi chih (TCC), and a sleep seminar control (SS) to reduce multisystem biomarkers of disease risk in older adults with insomnia. DESIGN: Randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial. SETTING: Los Angeles community PARTICIPANTS: A population-based sample of 109 older adults with chronic and primary insomnia INTERVENTION: Random assignment to CBT, TCC, or SS for 2-hour group sessions weekly over 4 months with a 16-month evaluation (1 year after follow-up). MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S): Multisystem biological risk comprised of 8 biomarkers: high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, hemoglobinA1c, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen. Using clinical laboratory cutoffs defined as abnormal, a multisystem risk score was computed representing a sum of the deviation around the cutoffs across the 8 biomarkers. In addition, high risk grouping was classified if subjects exhibited 4 or more biomarkers in the abnormal laboratory range. RESULTS: An interaction of time-by-treatment-by-high risk group was found (F(4,197.2)=3.14, p=.02) in which both TCC (p=.04) and CBT (p=.001) showed significantly lower risk scores as compared to SS at 16-months. CBT reduced risk of being in the high risk group at 4-months (odds ratio [OR]=.21 [95%CI, .03–1.47], p<.10) and at 16-months (OR=0.06 [95%CI, .005–.669]; p<.01). TCC reduced the risk at 16-months (OR=.10 [95%CI, .008–1.29]; p<.05) but not at 4 months. Of participants who were classified in the high risk category at baseline, improvements in sleep quality, as defined by a clinical severity threshold, reduced the likelihood of being in the high risk group at 16-months, OR=.08 (95% CI, .008–.78); p = .01. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Participants classified as having high multisystem biological risk at entry and assigned to CBT or TCC show improvements in risk scores after one year follow-up. Given that these clinical biomarkers are associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory disease risk, improving sleep quality has the potential to reduce the risk of chronic disease in older adults with insomnia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION # AND NAME: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00280020, Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia in Agin

THE EXPERIMENTER: A CREDIBILITY GAP IN PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract not availabl

Psychology today: an introduction, 5th.ed/ Bootzin

x, 723 hal.: ill.; 26 cm

Circadian rhythm factors in insomnia and their treatment

Hoboken, New Jerse

Psychology today: an introduction, 5th.ed/ Bootzin

x, 723 hal.: ill.; 26 cm