bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abductive Method and Clinical Assessment in Practice
Authors: Ward Tony , Vertue Frances M. , Haig Brian D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractClinical reasoning is one of the central components of psychological assessment. The identification of a client's psychological difficulties and the subsequent depiction of their onset, development, and interrelationships enables clinicians to plan treatment in a systematic and effective manner. In a recent paper (Ward & Haig, 1997), we presented an abductive theory of method and showed how it offered a useful framework for highlighting and integrating the major phases of psychological assessment. These phases involve detecting clinical phenomena, postulating psychological mechanisms, developing a case formulation, and evaluating a case formulation. In this paper we outline the abductive theory and elaborate on the related clinical dimensions of assessment, while illustrating them with an ongoing case example.
Construct Validation and Clinical Assessment
Authors: Haig Brian D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis paper undertakes a conceptual and methodological examination of construct validation from the viewpoint of a scientific realist philosophy of science. It is argued that there is an important need to revise our thinking about the methodology of construct validation and to incorporate the revisions into clinical psychological practice. After a brief characterisation of construct validation, the paper points out the inadequacies of operationalism and cautions against the heavy appeal to definitions in science. Thereafter, psychology's standard construct validation strategies of hypothetico-deductive testing and null hypothesis significance testing are criticised, and the importance of abductive reasoning for construct validation is spelled out.
A Descriptive Model of the Relapse Process in Disqualified Drivers
Authors: Wilson Leonie , Ward Tony , Bakker Leon 
Published: July 2008

AbstractDriving-while-disqualified (DWD) offenders represent a significant proportion of the driving offender population, and contribute to a significant drain on governmental and societal resources. The reoffence or relapse process of recidivist DWD offending has been somewhat neglected in the past, and this paper represents a first attempt at developing an empirically generated model of this phenomenon. In this study, we undertook a grounded theory analysis of offence chain information obtained from 28 male recidivist DWD offenders. The grounded theory analysis resulted in the development of a 15-stage model of the relapse process of recidivist DWD offenders. The model identifies and describes the sequence of psychological, behavioural, and environmental factors, including mediating variables that contribute to DWD reoffending. The model was then applied to 14 new offence chains to examine its level of saturation, content validity, and inter-rater reliability. The results suggest that the model has provisional validity and adequate inter-rater reliability, and achieved a high level of saturation. The strengths and value of the model are discussed, as are its clinical and research implications.
Murray Sidman: An Appreciative Introduction
Authors: Blampied Neville M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to introduce readers to Dr Murray Sidman. He has made a number of fundamental and distinctive, but perhaps neglected, contributions to the behaviour therapy enterprise, from its emergent years to the present. It is also an attempt to engender an appreciation of the continuing significance and relevance of Sidman's research and scholarship to matters of contemporary and enduring concern for behaviour therapists.
Coercion in Educational Settings
Authors: Sidman Murray 
Published: July 2008

AbstractCoercion is defined as the control of behaviour through (a) punishment or the threat of punishment, or (b) negative reinforcement — the removal of punishment. The question under discussion is whether coercion is an effective and a desirable basis for applied behaviour analysis, particularly in educational settings. Because coercive control has always been characteristic of society in general, the problem requires consideration of all facets of our culture. Behaviour analysts who use or recommend coercive techniques of therapy, behaviour modification, teaching, parenting, and so on, must be viewed in that context. In many areas of society, the practice of coercion has been refined and perfected to an extent that applied behaviour analysis has never approached. Applied behavioural research therefore contributes nothing new when it applies coercive methodology. Also, coercion produces side effects that may be even less desirable than the original problem behaviour. The occasional need to use coercion to deal with emergencies does not justify the advocacy of coercion as a principle of therapy. What basic and applied behaviour analysts can offer that is new and constructive are positive reinforcement techniques for teaching new behaviour and stimulus-control techniques for establishing cognitive repertoires.
Parenting Issues and Behaviour Problems of Young Children in a Community Sample
Authors: Ralph Alan , Haines Anne , Harvey Jennifer , McCormack Cara , Sherman Dione 
Published: July 2008

AbstractForty parents of children aged between 1 and 8 years were recruited by means of an exhaustive telephone survey of a defined suburban area in regional Queensland. Following recruitment, parents were mailed a family survey comprising measures of parenting and child behaviour problems. The sample represents almost 50% of parents of young children in the defined area. Forty-four per cent of parents in the sample reported numbers of child behaviours as problems that exceeded recommended clinical cut-off scores based on data reported in other studies. Thirty per cent of parents reported problems occurring at an intensity that exceeded clinical cut-off scores. Fathers who completed the questionnaires reported significantly more problems than mothers, although the ratio of mothers to fathers in the sample was 3:1. However, there was no difference between the reported behaviours of boys or girls. Parent characteristics that were highly correlated with reported child behaviour problems were overreactivity; stress, anxiety, and depression; and parental satisfaction with their parenting style. Family and other demographic variables appeared to play less significant roles. The results are discussed in the context of the challenge of delivering effective early-intervention parenting programs to large numbers of parents.
Deciding to Change: Enhancing Client Motivation to Change Behaviour
Authors: Ryder David 
Published: July 2008

AbstractCognitive behaviour therapy concentrates on strategies to assist clients in changing their thoughts and/or their behaviour. The aim of this paper is to discuss research findings from the addictions field indicating that an effective approach to therapy is to enhance motivation for change. Research into stages and processes of change, decision making, and motivational interviewing is reviewed. The paper concludes by suggesting ways in which this research can be used by therapists to increase the likelihood that clients will engage in change and maintain change over time.
The Efficacy of Information-giving in Cognitive-behavioural Treatment for Panic Disorder
Authors: Rees Clare S. , Richards Jeffrey C. , Smith Leigh M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractDespite its inclusion as a basic component of the cognitive-behavioural treatment for panic disorder, the effects of the provision of information about panic anxiety have not been separately assessed. This study compared information-giving with self-monitoring of panic alone, on panic-related variables and negative affect for 40 people with panic disorder. In comparison to self-monitoring alone, information-giving together with self-monitoring was associated with reductions in anticipatory fear of panic and negative affect, but not panic frequency. These results suggest that provision of information about panic anxiety is an important component of the cognitive-behavioural approach to panic disorder in reducing anxious and depressive affect. The other cognitive-behavioural components of this intervention are required to impact upon specific panic parameters.
Cognitive-behavioural Treatment of Blood-Injury-Injection Phobia: A Case Study
Authors: Thompson Alanda 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis single case study examined the treatment of blood-injury-injection (BII) phobia in a 14-year-old female. Thirteen 1-hour sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy were conducted. The intervention included a combination of exposure, applied tension, and cognitive restructuring in an effort to produce clinically significant reductions in anxiety and fainting in response to BII stimuli. Results did indeed show dramatic reductions in subjective distress in BII situations from baseline to post-treatment. This was supported by small reductions in phobic anxiety and general anxiety on self-report measures. In contrast to baseline, fainting did not occur during treatment. The subject rated cognitive restructuring as the most effective treatment component for the latter half of therapy. It is suggested that, to date, the importance of cognitive therapy for the treatment of BII phobia has been overlooked.
Normative Data for an Australian Clinical Sample on the Home Situations Questionnaire — Modified Version (HSQ-M)
Authors: Matthey Stephen , Barnett Bryanne 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAn extension of the Home Situations Questionnaire is described (HSQ-M), and normative data for an Australian clinical sample are reported. Reports were obtained from both female (339) and male (143) informants on 403 children aged between 3 and 12 (287 boys, 116 girls) from nine centres in Sydney. Clinicians from these centres predicted the likely findings on the HSQ-M, and their expectations were not wholly supported by the data. Boys were reported to have more problem situations than girls by fathers but not by mothers, and boys were reported as having greater situation severity than girls by mothers but not by fathers. While these differences were statistically significant, they were not clinically significant. Contrary to expectations, fathers reported similar levels of home situation difficulty to mothers. The data provide useful information for targeting situations that would meet the need of parents in parenting groups, and for supplementing the assessment tools used by clinicians working with families.
Functional Analysis of Intermittently Reinforced Behaviour: A Case Study
Authors: Tustin Don 
Published: July 2008

AbstractFunctional analysis is used to identify potential reinforcers by generating hypotheses about possible functions of a behaviour. Current methods of functional analysis emphasise observations of events, especially consequences, that occur in the immediate environment of the behaviour. While these methods are well suited for assessing behaviour that is reinforced frequently, they are less appropriate for assessing behaviour that is reinforced only intermittently. A new method for conducting functional analysis is presented that is designed to assess intermittently reinforced behaviour. The new method is illustrated using data that were gathered from an extension of a standard problem-solving format. Data are interpreted using the principle of revealed preference that arose from behavioural economics. The revealed preference method is illustrated using information provided by a client with a dependent personality disorder.
Assertive Community Treatment for Persons with Severe Mental Disorders: A Controlled Treatment Outcome Study
Authors: Hamernik Elizabeth , Pakenham Kenneth I. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe present study evaluated the efficacy of an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program for the seriously mentally ill. Outcomes of the program were assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up and were compared with that of a control group, which received standard community care. Thirty-six subjects with serious mental disorders participated in the study. Dependent measures included number of hospital admissions and hospital bed days per year, life skills, quality of life, and psychiatric symptoms. Results of 2 x 2 (treatment/control group x baseline / 12-month follow-up) repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that, after 1 year, both treatments lead to a significant reduction in hospital admissions and bed days, and to improvement in life skills. ACT subjects evidenced a greater decrease in psychiatric symptoms compared to control group subjects. In general, markedly more ACT subjects showed reliable clinical change in life skills, quality of life, and psychiatric symptoms than control subjects. Although the ACT did produce greater clinical change than standard case management, it did not produce statistically greater improvement across most domains of functioning in the short term.
Assessment of Sexually Abused Children
Authors: Herbert Martin 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA great deal is at stake for children who are sexually abused; not only in the here-and-now, but also the possibility of long-term blight in their future relationships and mental health. This puts a heavy responsibility on the professionals who are required to investigate, and further assess for treatment or other interventions, cases where sexual maltreatment is confirmed or suspected. The multidimensional, multicomponent elements that make up an assessment (in particular, the ASPIRE process) are described here in terms of their practical and theoretical implications. The difficulties of finding reliable and valid methods (be they interviews or psychometric instruments) for this onerous task are discussed.
Child Sexual Abuse: An Overview
Authors: Mullen Paul E. , King Neville J. , Tonge Bruce J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis overview examines the nature, prevalence, and impact of child sexual abuse. Associations and potential risk factors are identified, thus showing that child sexual abuse is not randomly distributed through the population. Finally, we discuss the ways in which clinicians and researchers have conceptualised the impact of child sexual abuse. A social and developmental model is outlined.
Sexually Abused Children: A Commentary
Authors: Ollendick Thomas H. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn this brief commentary, issues associated with the definition, assessment, treatment and prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) are highlighted. It is concluded that much has been learned regarding CSA in recent years and there is reason to hope that we will do better in the future. Studies presented in this special issue document some of these advances. Still, CSA continues to occur with alarming frequency and our treatment programs are only beginning to address the many issues associated with such traumatic experiences. Furthermore, developmental issues have been largely ignored and prevention of CSA remains an illusory goal. We can, and must, do better.
Aktuelle Verfahren zum Nukleinsäure gestützten Direktnachweis von MRSA / Direct nucleic acid-based detection of MRSA in clinical specimens
Authors: Reischl Udo , Holzmann Thomas 
Published: July 2008

Zusammenfassung
In den letzten Jahren ist weltweit eine dramatische Zunahme der Methicillin-Resistenz bei Staphylococcus aureus-Isolaten zu beobachten. Infektionen mit Methicillin-resistenten Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) gehen mit erhöhter Morbidität, Mortalität, längerer Liegedauer und erhöhten Kosten einher. Um eine Ausbreitung dieser resistenten Isolate auf bisher nicht mit MRSA infizierte bzw. kolonisierte Patienten zu verhindern, sind umfangreiche hygienische Maßnahmen notwendig. Je schneller diese Maßnahmen ergriffen werden, desto geringer ist nachweislich auch die Übertragungswahrscheinlichkeit auf andere Patienten. Um das zu erreichen, ist eine rasche Identifizierung von MRSA-Trägern notwendig. Auch neuere kulturbasierte Nachweisverfahren können Ergebnisse meist erst nach 24 Stunden liefern. Mit dem Einsatz von modernen PCR-gestützten Nachweisverfahren eröffnet sich die Möglichkeit einer Befundübermittlung innerhalb weniger Stunden. Die ursprünglichen Testkonzepte, die auf einem getrennten Nachweis des mecA-Gens und verschiedener Marker für S. aureus basieren, haben sich als Kulturbestätigungstest gut bewährt – für den schnellen und aussagekräftigen Direktnachweis von MRSA aus klinischem Probenmaterial sind sie jedoch nur eingeschränkt geeignet. Für diesen Zweck stehen neuerdings innovative Testkonzepte zur Verfügung, die auf dem gezielten Nachweis der Integration eines sogenannten SCCmec-Elements (ein Gencluster, das typischerweise auch das Methicillinresistenz-vermittelnde mecA-Gen beinhaltet) im S. aureus-Genom beruhen. Inzwischen existieren einige kommerzielle Testsysteme sowie eine Vielzahl von eigenentwickelten Testkonzepten, die auf diesem Grundprinzip basieren. Auch wenn hier in der Regel hohe Sensitivitäten (90–100%), Spezifitäten (93–99%) und negativ prädiktive Werte über 95% beobachtet werden, so liegen die positiv prädiktiven Werte meist deutlich niedriger (80–95%). Mit dem zunehmend breiteren Einsatz dieser Testverfahren sind inzwischen auch einige Störgrößen identifiziert worden, die zu falsch positiven oder falsch negativen Ergebnissen führen können. Angesichts dieser Grenzen erscheint nach wie vor eine Kombination aus PCR-gestützten und kulturellen Nachweisverfahren als sinnvoll.
The puzzle of the hepatitis B genotype distribution and evolution in Africa / Das Rätsel der Verbreitung und Evolution der Hepatitis B-Genotypen in Afrika
Authors: Olinger Christophe M. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is currently estimated to chronically infect almost 400 million people worldwide of which 65 millions live on the African continent. Based on the nucleotide distance between complete genomes, the circulating hepatitis B strains have been classified into different genotypes and subtypes most of which present a specific geographic distribution. Numerous phylogenetic studies have determined the genotypes and subtypes of HBV circulating in Africa, and have revealed a surprising picture. The most prevalent genotype found was genotype E, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa followed by genotype A distributed in sub-Saharan Africa but also in the South and East of Africa, and genotype D, which was mostly found in North Africa. While the evolutionary history of genotype A has seen an obvious diversification with the appearance of several subtypes, genotype E did not undergo a similar evolutionary history. In fact, genotype E and A co-circulate in several countries but although genotype A strains show a high diversity from country to country, the diversity among genotype E strains found in the same countries is very low. While this low diversity suggests a recent appearance of genotype E in Africa it is paradoxical to the fact that the same genotype is found on more than a third of the African continent. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the HBV genotypes circulating in Africa and laboratory diagnosis.
Vitamin D-Mangel: Ein globales Gesundheitsproblem / Vitamin D deficiency: a global health problem
Authors: Pilz Stefan , Dobnig Harald , Fahrleitner-Pammer Astrid , Polt Günter , März Winfried 
Published: July 2008

Zusammenfassung
Ein Vitamin D-Mangel findet sich bei ungefähr der Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung, was hauptsächlich auf eine reduzierte Sonnenexposition (Ultraviolett-B Einstrahlung) der Haut zurückzuführen ist, welche für die Vitamin D-Produktion erforderlich ist. Die orale Aufnahme von Vitamin D ist generell zu gering, um einen ausreichenden Vitamin D-Status aufrecht zu halten. In den letzten Jahren wurde gezeigt, dass die meisten Zellen und Gewebe des Körpers den Vitamin D-Rezeptor exprimieren, was die Hypothese unterstützt, dass Vitamin D über seine Bedeutung für die Gesundheit des Knochen- und Skelettsystems hinaus ein breites Wirkungsspektrum in diversen Organen hat. Epidemiologische Daten zeigen, dass niedrige 25-Hydroxyvitamin D-Konzentrationen, die als bester Indikator des Vitamin D-Status angesehen werden, in Beziehung zu zahlreichen Erkrankungen, u.a. Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, malignen oder Autoimmunerkrankungen stehen, wobei die Kausalität dieser Zusammenhänge noch bewiesen werden muss. Interventionsstudien sind daher für den Nachweis erforderlich, ob die Vitamin D-Supplementierung einen Effekt für die Prävention und/oder Behandlung diverser chronischer Erkrankungen hat. Vitamin D-Supplementierung hat ein großes Potential für die Verbesserung des Gesundheitsstatus der Bevölkerung, da die Prävalenz des Vitamin D-Mangels sehr hoch ist und eine entsprechende Supplementierung einfach, preiswert und nebenwirkungsarm durchgeführt werden kann.
Scalable Data Dissemination for Inter-Vehicle-Communication: Aggregation versus Peer-to-Peer (Skalierbare Informationsverbreitung für die Fahrzeug-Fahrzeug-Kommunikation: Aggregation versus Peer-to-Peer)
Authors: Lochert Christian , Rybicki Jedrzej , Scheuermann Björn , Mauve Martin 
Published: July 2008

Summary
This paper investigates the scalable dissemination of data between vehicles. The application context of this work is traffic information systems where cars are not only consumers but also producers of information. The key challenge in those systems is to ensure scalability in an environment where data is provided and requested by all participating vehicles in a large area. We discuss two fundamentally different approaches to this problem: using direct communication between cars and compressing the data via aggregation versus relying on infrastructure. The latter approach can further be divided into client-server and peer-to-peer systems. We outline all three approaches and highlight their advantages and disadvantages.
Insulin Administration and Rate of Glucose Appearance in People With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Pennant Mary E. , Bluck Leslie J.C. , Marcovecchio M. Loredana , Salgin Burak , Hovorka Roman , Dunger David B. 
Published: July 2008

OBJECTIVE—To assess whether prandial insulin, in addition to basal insulin, has an effect on the rate of glucose appearance from a meal in people with type 1 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The rate of glucose appearance from a mixed meal (Rameal) was investigated in six adult (aged 24 ± 2 years), lean (BMI 23.6 ± 1.5 kg/m2) subjects with well-controlled type 1 diabetes (duration 7.9 ± 6.9 years, A1C 7.6 ± 0.9%) with/without prandial insulin. Actrapid was infused to maintain euglycemia before meals were consumed. Subjects consumed two identical meals on separate occasions, and Rameal was measured using a dual isotope method. [6,6-2H2]glucose was incorporated into the meal (0.081 g/kg body wt), and a primed constant/variable rate infusion of [1,2,3,4,5,6,6-2H2]glucose was administered. In the tests with prandial insulin, an additional bolus dose of Actrapid was given 20 min before the meal at 0.1 units/kg body wt.
RESULTS—Insulin concentration with prandial insulin was significantly higher than during basal insulin studies (119 ± 16 vs. 66 ± 15 pmol/l, P = 0.03 by paired t test). Despite differences in insulin concentration, there were no differences in total glucose appearance (3,398 ± 197 vs. 3,307 ± 343 μmol/kg) or time taken for 25% (33.1 ± 3.3 vs. 31.7 ± 3.5 min), 50% (54.6 ± 3.5 vs. 54.1 ± 4.7 min), and 75% (82.9 ± 7.1 vs. 82.8 ± 5.8 min) of total glucose appearance. The fraction of the glucose dose appearing in the circulation was the same for basal (73 ± 8%) and prandial (75 ± 4%) study days.
CONCLUSIONS—These results suggest that meal glucose appearance is independent of prandial insulin concentration in people with type 1 diabetes.