Structural analysis of subjective categorical data

A general approach to the analysis of subjective categorical data is considered, in which agreement matrices of two or more raters are directly expressed in terms of error and agreement parameters. The method provides focused analyses of ratings from several raters for whom ratings have measurement error distributions that may induce bias in the evaluation of substantive questions of interest. Each rater's judgment process is modeled as a mixture of two components: an error variable that is unique for the rater in question as well as an agreement variable that operationalizes the true values of the units of observation. The statistical problems of identification, estimation, and testing of such measurement models are discussed.The general model is applied in several special cases. The most simple situation is that underlying Cohen's Kappa, where two raters place units into unordered categories. The model provides a generalization and systematization of the Kappa-idea to correct for agreement by chance. In applications with typical research designs, including a between-subjects design and a mixed within-subjects, between-subjects design, the model is shown to disentangle structural and measurement components of the observations, thereby controlling for possible confounding effects of systematic rater bias. Situations considered include the case of more than two raters as well as the case of ordered categories. The different analyses are illustrated by means of real data sets.The authors wish to thank Lawrence Hubert and Ivo Molenaar for helpful and detailed comments on a previous draft of this paper. Thanks are also due to Jens Möller und Bernd Strauß for the data from the 1992 Olympic Games. We thank the editor and three anonymous reviewers for valuable comments on an earlier draft.     

Clinical experience with Leponex]

Until now the "neuroleptic threshold" (Haase) was considered to be the efficiency criterion of the antipsychotic effect of a neuroleptic substance and it was thought therefore that the extrapyramidal symptoms were a necessary although undesired side effect. The benodiazepine derivative Leponex developed by Sandox - Basel upsets this view because it has an excellent antipsychotic effect without creating definite extrapyramidal symptoms. It is noted for its quick soporfic effect after only a few minutes, for subdueing psychopathological productivity in a very impressive way, for acting rapidly on the "plus"-symptomatology typical of psychosis, as early as in the first days of treatment, and for its equally visible effect on the "minus"-symptoms, typical of psychosis, in the last third of an average period of treatment lasting 40 days. The clinic using Leponex (Dresden, Halle, Brandenburg-G?rden) belonged to the clinical application programme of the Sandox - Basel firm. The article gives a summary of essential results and particulars about the treatment. A detailed evaluation of the case sheets which are at present being statistically reviewed will be given in the next paper.     

The vascular cerebellopontile angle syndrome]

A cerebellopontine angle tumor cannot be reliably diagnosed from a classical clinicotopographic cerebellopontine angle syndrome. There is also a vascular cerebellopontine angle syndrome which is not too rare an occurrence. In some cases of tumorigenesis, where there is no papilledema and no characteristic increase in total liqour protein, it is not possible to make a clear decision between tumorous growth and vascular syndrome. The extension of the internal auditory meatus cannot be considered to be a symptom clearly indicating the presence of a tumor.     

Peripheral nerve injuries following implantation of total endoprosthesis in the hip joint and their treatment]

The complication rate after 844 implantations of total endoprosthesis in the hip-joint, in the form of postoperative nerve injuries was found to be about 1 per cent. A number of causes may be responsible for nerve lesions, and some of these may be eliminated with a sparing operative technique. Although there are good prospects for the disappearance of paralytic symptoms, meaningful pysiotherapeutic after-care is very important. In the paralytic stage consistent exponential electrotherapy is recommended, and for recurring voluntary mobility active exercises against resistance. This will greatly improve the functional result of an operation with regard to nerve lesions.     

COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF SENSORY RELATEDNESS OF ODOURS

Measures of relatedness of odours were obtained by means of two psychophysical methods and one electrophysiological technique. The psychophysical data consisted of similarity judgments and confusion measures. The electrophysiological data were based upon statistical treatment of the responses of single units in the olfactory bulb of the frog. Significant rank correlations were obtained between the results of the three methods. The significance of psychological relatedness data for the study of basic receptor processes is discussed.     

Family therapy and psychopathology: developments in research and approaches to treatment

The impact of family approaches in understanding and treating psychopathology is reviewed for the following disorders: schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychoactive substance use disorders, eating disorders, and conduct disorders in children. Family-oriented interventions are concluded to be useful in treating disorders when applied flexibly and multi-dimensionally and when used in conjunction with psychopharmacological or other valid individual treatment approaches.