bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Somatoform Dissociation Discriminates Among Diagnostic Categories Over and Above General Psychopathology
Authors: Nijenhuis Ellert R.S. , van Dyck Richard , Spinhoven Philip , van der Hart Onno , Chatrou Marlene , Vanderlinden Johan , Moene Franny 
Published: December 2009

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that somatoform dissociation would differentiate among specific diagnostic categories after controlling for general psychopathology. Method: The Somatoform Dissocation Questionnaire (SDQ-20), the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R were completed by patients with DSM-IV diagnoses of dissociative disorders (n = 44), somatoform disorders (n = 47), eating disorders (n = 50), bipolar mood disorder (n = 23), and a group of consecutive psychiatric outpatients with other psychiatric disorders (n = 45), mainly including anxiety disorders, depression, and adjustment disorder. Results: The SDQ-20 significantly differentiated among diagnostic groups in the hypothesised order of increasing somatoform dissociation, both before and after statistically controlling for general psychopathology. Somatoform dissociation was extreme in dissociative identity disorder, high in dissociative disorder, not otherwise specified, and increased in somatoform disorders, as well as in a subgroup of patients with eating disorders. In contrast with somatoform dissociation, psychological dissociation did not discriminate between bipolar mood disorder and somato form disorders. Conclusions: Somatoform dissociation is a unique construct that discriminates among diagnostic categories. It is highly characteristic of dissociative disorder patients, a core feature in many patients with somatoform disorders, and an important symptom cluster in a subgroup of patients with eating disorders., dissociation
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Emotional Problems in Children Following Motor Vehicle Accidents: An Extended Case Series
Authors: McDermott Brett M. , Cvitanovich Anita 
Published: December 2009

Objective: The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and general psychopathology in children following motor vehicle accidents (MVA) was investigated. Method: Twenty-six subjects aged 8–13 years presenting to an emergency department following an MVA were assessed 3 months after the accident using a standard clinical psychiatric assessment, a structured research interview and self- and parent-report questionnaires. Results: A higher prevalence of psychopathology was seen in the sample compared with community controls. Self-report of PTSD symptoms revealed 22% subjects in the moderate or severe PTSD range and 35% of mild severity. There was significant concordance between self-report PTSD scores and a clinical diagnosis of PTSD. Perception of threat and the internalising subscale on the Child Behaviour Checklist were significantly correlated with PTSD scores. Conclusions: PTSD and other symptoms of emotional distress are common following MVAs. The clinical and public health implications are discussed, and areas for further research highlighted.
Correlates of Firesetting in a Community Sample of Young Adolescents
Authors: Martin Graham , Bergen Helen A. , Richardson Angela S. , Roeger Leigh , Allison Stephen 
Published: December 2009

Objective: To investigate relationships between firesetting, antisocial behaviour, individual, family and parenting factors in a large community sample of adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study of students (n = 2596) aged 13 years on average, from 27 schools in South Australia with a questionnaire on firesetting, antisocial behaviour (adapted 21-item Self Report Delinquency Scale), risk-taking, drug use, suicidality, physical and sexual abuse, depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, anxiety, locus of control, self-esteem, family functioning (McMaster Family Assessment Device) and parenting style (Influential Relationships Questionnaire). Data analysis included χ2, ANOVA and logistic regression. Results: Large significant differences are found between firesetters and non-firesetters on all measures. Among adolescents with serious levels of antisocial behaviour (7++ acts included in diagnostic guidelines for DSM-IV conduct disorder), firesetters differ from nonfiresetters in reporting more extreme antisocial behaviour (10++ acts), extreme drug use, suicidal behaviour, and perceived failure at school. Gender differences are apparent. A study limitation is the single item assessment of firesetting. Conclusions: Self-report firesetting is strongly associated with extreme antisocial behaviour in young community adolescents, in support of existing evidence from incarcerated delinquent and psychiatric populations. Early detection of community firesetters demands further assessment and intervention. Clinicians should consider its coexistence with serious drug use and high risk-taking (especially in girls), and suicidality, sexual and physical abuse (in boys).
Early Risk Factors for Adolescent Antisocial Behaviour: An Australian Longitudinal Study
Authors: Bor William , McGee Tara Renae , Fagan Abigail A. 
Published: December 2009

Objective: This investigation utilizes data from an Australian longitudinal study to identify early risk factors for adolescent antisocial behaviour. Method: Analyses are based on data from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy, an ongoing longitudinal investigation of women's and children's health and development involving over 8000 participants. Five types of risk factors (child characteristics, perinatal factors, maternal/familial characteristics, maternal pre- and post-natal substance use and parenting practices) were included in analyses and were based on maternal reports, child assessments and medical records. Adolescent antisocial behaviour was measured when children were 14 years old, using the delinquency subscale of the Child Behaviour Checklist. Results: Based on a series of logistic regression models, significant risk factors for adolescent antisocial behaviour included children's prior problem behaviour (i.e. aggression and attention/restlessness problems at age 5 years) and marital instability, which doubled or tripled the odds of antisocial behaviour. Perinatal factors, maternal substance use, and parenting practices were relatively poor predictors of antisocial behaviour. Conclusions: Few studies have assessed early predictors of antisocial behaviour in Australia and the current results can be used to inform prevention programs that target risk factors likely to lead to problem outcomes for Australian youth.
New Zealand's Psychiatrist Workforce: Profile, Recruitment and Retention
Authors: Lau Trevor , Kumar Shailesh , Lau Trevor , Kumar Shailesh , Robinson Elizabeth 
Published: December 2009

Objective: New Zealand is suspected of sharing other countries' difficulties of having inadequate numbers of practising psychiatrists and attracting psychiatrists to work outside its main urban centres, but there is no contemporary data on the socio-demographic and professional practice profile of its psychiatrists. This paper highlights some interesting trends about New Zealand's psychiatric workforce. Method: A postal questionnaire was sent to all actively practising vocationally registered psychiatrists with a New Zealand mailing address requesting information about basic demographic data, professional training experiences, current professional status, practise intentions, why they chose to work where they do and what factors might influence them to leave for another region of New Zealand or overseas. Results: Of the 277 doctors on the vocational register for psychiatry, 159 responded, giving a response rate of 59.8%. Most psychiatrists were male (n = 102; 64.2%), European (n = 144; 90.6%), aged between 41 and 60 (69.2%), born overseas (n = 90; 56%), had English as their primary language (n = 142; 89.3%) and were in a long-term relationship with dependent children (n = 99; 62.3%). Nearly all (n = 149; 95%) did their psychiatry training in a metropolitan area and most (n = 108; 67.9%) held the Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry (FRANZCP). Most worked in a metropolitan area (n = 136; 85.5%) and either wholly or partly in the public sector (n = 145; 93%). Nearly one-quarter expected to retire over the next decade. Professional factors were rated more important as a reason for staying by metropolitan psychiatrists compared with their non-metropolitan counterparts (p < 0.001). Psychiatrists who did not have an FRANZCP (57% vs. 27%, p = 0.05), those who had spent more than 50% of their professional life in New Zealand (86% vs. 74%, p = 0.02) or those who had obtained their primary medical degree outside New Zealand were more likely to be in nonmetropolitan areas (81% vs. 49%, p = 0.04). Metropolitan psychiatrists rated personal and social reasons more highly than non-metropolitan psychiatrists did for factors which might induce them to leave for another area, whereas professional development was ranked lower. Conclusions: This is the first contemporary study of New Zealand's psychiatric workforce and it highlights some interesting trends and has significant implications for those concerned with the recruitment and retention of psychiatrists. Further investigation is suggested, as a more complete picture of New Zealand's specialist psychiatric workforce would be gained by including psychiatrists who are not vocationally registered.
The Prevalence of ‘Cognitive Impairment no Dementia’ in Community-Dwelling Elderly: A Pilot Study
Authors: Low L-F. , Brodaty H. , Low L-F. , Brodaty H. , Edwards R. , Kochan N. , Draper B. , Trollor J. , Sachdev P. 
Published: December 2009

Objective: To determine the prevalence of ‘cognitive impairment no dementia’ (CIND) and ‘amnestic mild cognitive impairment’ (aMCI) in a population sample of 70–79-year-olds and the risk factors for CIND. Method: Cross sectional population survey. Setting: Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia. Subjects: 150 community-dwelling 70–79-year-olds were screened by telephone, 42 of whom were assessed at home. Measures: Demographics, subjective ratings of physical and emotional health and memory, cardiovascular risk factors, medications, the Mini-Mental State Examination, Boston Naming Test, Trail Making Tests A and B, Block Design, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Visual Reproduction, Logical Memory, letter and category fluency, the National Adult Reading Test (NART), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the ‘state’ section of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S). Results: From the 400 subjects contacted initially, 150 consented to be interviewed and 131 eligible subjects were recruited. Of a 1-in-3 random sample of 42 subjects assessed at home, 14 (33.3%) subjects met criteria for CIND, 1 (2.4%) had possible dementia and the 27 remaining (64.3%) were cognitively normal. Four (9.5%) met criteria for aMCI. Subjects with CIND were older, had lower ranking occupations and were less likely to be currently working than those classified as cognitively normal. Ten subjects with CIND did not meet criteria for aMCI because they lacked subjective memory impairment (n = 3) or had cognitive deficits other than memory (n = 7). All subjects with aMCI met criteria for CIND. Conclusions: One-third of individuals in this population sample met criteria for CIND. CIND is a broader definition than aMCI. Further research is needed to determine the longitudinal course and clinical utility of these definitions of cognitive impairment.
Non-Suicidal Deaths Following Hospital-Treated Self-Poisoning
Authors: Carter Greg , Reith David M. , Whyte Ian M. , Mcpherson Michelle 
Published: December 2009

Objective: To quantify the non-suicidal mortality subsequent to hospital treated selfpoisoning, and to identify risk factors for non-suicidal death. Method: A prospective longitudinal cohort design was used, with data-linkage between the Hunter Area Toxicology Service database and the National Death Index. All patients with deliberate self-poisoning for a 10-year period (1991–2000) were studied and the first episode in the period was used as the index episode. The outcomes were: accidental, ‘natural’ and non-suicidal death, with follow-up for the study duration. Results: There were 4044 patients studied, and 170 (4.2%) of these had non-suicidal death; 64 were accidental and 106 were ‘natural’ cause deaths. The standardized mortality ratio (95% CI) for non-suicidal death for males, females and combined were 4.98 (4.08–6.07), 3.78 (3.0–4.75) and 4.20 (3.62–4.88), respectively. The increased mortality was apparent for both males and females, and was more marked in the younger age groups. For non-suicidal death the adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for increased risk were: increasing age 1.07 (1.06–1.08), male gender 1.77 (1.24–2.52), psychiatric diagnosis of substance related disorder 1.49 (1.03–2.16), prescription of a respiratory drug 2.69 (1.31–5.55), and prescription of an antidiabetic drug 1.95 (0.93–4.07), while psychiatric diagnosis of adjustment disorder 0.64 (0.38–1.053) was associated with decreased risk. Conclusions: Patients who present with self-poisoning have increased mortality from accidental and ‘natural’ causes. Long-term treatment goals for these patients need to address non-suicide mortality in addition to suicide mortality.
Grief Experiences of Parents Whose Children Suffer from Mental Illness
Authors: Godress Julia , Ozgul Salih , Owen Cathy , Foley-Evans Leanne 
Published: December 2009

Objective: To examine the grief experience of parents of adult children with a mental illness and its relationship to parental health and well-being and parent child attachment and affective relationship. Methods: Participants were recruited from a variety of organizations throughout Australia that provide support services for sufferers of mental illness and/or for their families. Seventyone participants (62 mothers and nine fathers) all of whom had a child diagnosed with mental illness volunteered to take part in the study. All completed measures of grief, health status and parent-child relationship. Results: Parents reported experiencing grief in relation to their child's illness as evidenced by intrusive thoughts and feelings and avoidance of behaviour as well as difficulties adapting to and distress associated with reminders of the illness. Parental grief appears to reduce over time, but only in some aspects of grief and after an extended period. Increased parental grief was related to lowered psychological well-being and health status and associated with an anxious/ambivalent and a negative affective parent-child relationship. Conclusion: The study provides important insights into the grief experiences of parents following their child's diagnosis with mental illness. The significant relationship between parental grief and parental psychological well-being and health status as well as to parentchild relationship has important implications for health professionals. Foremost amongst these are the need to validate the distress and grief of parents and to better understand how to provide interventions that promote grief work and family bonds while reducing emotional distress and life disruption.
A Brief Measure of High Nicotine Dependence for Busy Clinicians and Large Epidemiological Surveys
Authors: Diaz Francisco J. , Jané Mireia , Saltó Esteve , Pardell Hélios , Salleras Lluís , Pinet Cristina , De Leon Jose 
Published: December 2009

Objective: It is important to perform a routine screening of nicotine dependence in psychiatric patients. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a widely used six-item questionnaire. The Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) is a briefer measure including only two FTND items (time to first cigarette of day and number of daily cigarettes). In a prior study comparing HSI with FTND, a high HSI (score ≥ 4) was a good and briefer alternative for detecting high nicotine dependence. The goals of this study were: (i) to compare the effectiveness of the HSI with the effectiveness of Items 1 and 4 alone for the screening of high nicotine dependence; (ii) to investigate the optimality of 4 as a cut-off score for the HSI so that the HSI can be used as a binary indicator of high nicotine dependence; and (iii) to compare the sensitivity and specificity of four indexes of high nicotine dependence, namely ‘High HSI’, ‘Very Early Smoking’, ‘Heavy Smoking’ and ‘High in Either Item’. Method: The FTND was administered to 819 current daily smokers from a general population survey. As in a prior study, an FTND score ≥ 6 was considered the reference or ‘gold standard’ test for detecting high nicotine dependence. Receiver-operating characteristic analyses were performed. Results: This new study using more sophisticated statistical methodology verified that a cut-off of 4 for the HSI is appropriate and that the ‘high’ HSI has good sensitivity and specificity even across different population subclassifications. Conclusions: With four questions (smoking, daily smoking, time to first cigarette of day and number of daily cigarettes) and minimal calculations, it may be possible to screen whether a smoker has high nicotine dependence. If other studies in other populations and settings verify this finding, this brief measure might be an ideal screening instrument for busy clinicians, epidemiologists developing questionnaires for health surveys and psychiatric researchers. Key words: nicotine dependence, receiver-operating characteristic analyses, sensitivity, specificity, tobacco smoking.
Factors Associated with Pathological Dissociation in the General Population
Authors: Maaranen Päivi , Tanskanen Antti , Honkalampi Kirsi , Haatainen Kaisa , Hintikka Jukka , Viinamäki Heimo 
Published: December 2009

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of pathological dissociation in the general population, and the relationship between pathological dissociation and sociodemographic and several psychiatric variables. Method: The stratified population sample consisted of 2001 subjects. The study questionnaires included the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Dissociative Experiences Scale-Taxon, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and sociodemographic background. Results: The prevalence of pathological dissociation (DES-T ≥ 20) was 3.4% in the general population and did not differ significantly between genders. Men scored higher than women in the amnesia subscale, and women in the absorption and imaginative involvement subscale. The relationship between pathological dissociation, alexithymia, depression and suicidality was strong. The likelihood of pathological dissociation was nearly nine-fold higher among depressive subjects, more than seven-fold higher among alexithymic subjects, and more than four-fold higher among suicidal subjects than among the others. Frequent alcohol consumption also associated significantly with pathological dissociation. Conclusions: A significant relationship between pathological dissociation, depression, alexithymia, and suicidality was found in the general population. The importance of these factors should be examined in a prospective study design to determine causality.
Prevalence of Psychoses on Reception to Male Prisons in New South Wales
Authors: Nielssen Olav , Misrachi Shavtay 
Published: December 2009

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of psychotic illnesses among men received to prisons in New South Wales. The study also sought to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the psychosis screener in the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-Auto). Method: The study was part of a larger study on psychiatric disorder in men received to New South Wales prisons. Using a structured questionnaire, the CIDI-Auto (modified), which included screening questions for psychotic illness, the prisoners who gave positive responses to the screening questions for psychosis as well as any subjects considered by the experienced clinicians performing the CIDI-Auto interviews to show features of a psychotic illness, were referred to the researchers for a clinical assessment. The clinical assessment included a review of all available information. Results: Of the prisoners, 5.1% were thought to have definite psychotic illness and 1.9% to have possible psychotic illness. The psychosis screener was found to be neither sensitive nor specific. Conclusions: The rate of psychotic illness among people remanded to New South Wales prisons is between 10 and 14 times the rate found in a similar study in the wider community. The poor performance of the psychosis screener suggests that screening for psychotic illness on reception to prisons should be performed by clinically trained staff.
Imputing Cross-Sectional Missing Data: Comparison of Common Techniques
Authors: Hawthorne Graeme , Hawthorne Graeme , Elliott Peter 
Published: December 2009

Objective: Increasing awareness of how missing data affects the analysis of clinical and public health interventions has led to increasing numbers of missing data procedures. There is little advice regarding which procedures should be selected under different circumstances. This paper compares six popular procedures: listwise deletion, item mean substitution, person mean substitution at two levels, regression imputation and hot deck imputation. Method: Using a complete dataset, each was examined under a variety of sample sizes and differing levels ofmissing data. The criteria were the true t-values for the entire sample. Results: The results suggest important differences. Ifmissing data are from a scale where about half the items are present, hot deck imputation or person mean substitution are best. Because person mean substitution is computationally simpler, similar in its efficiency, advocated by other researchers and more likely to be an option on statistical software packages, it is the method of choice. If the missing data are from a scale where more than half the items are missing, or with single-item measures, then hot deck imputation is recommended. The findings also showed that listwise deletion and item mean substitution performed poorly. Conclusions: Person mean and hot deck imputation are preferred. Since listwise deletion and item mean substitution performed poorly, yet are the most widely reported methods, the findings have broad implications.