Neuroradiologic evaluation of craniocerebral trauma

Modern imaging techniques have greatly aided our ability to diagnose the effects of craniocerebral trauma. Computed tomography (CT), introduced in 1973, revolutionized the evaluation of changes related to trauma, allowing accurate diagnosis of intracerebral and extracerebral areas of blood accumulation. It became readily apparent that in most cases CT was the only exam necessary prior to surgical treatment. CT also accurately evaluates facial bone trauma. Magnetic resonance (MR), widely introduced in 1983, has also aided in diagnosis and is most accurate in cases of subacute and chronic injury, particularly cases involving shearing injuries. Skull films continue to be useful for linear skull fractures.     

Managing group process in nonprocess groups: Working with the theme-centered psychoeducational group

While there has been a recent proliferation of groups for consultative and psychoeducational purposes, little has been written about using the group process in these nonprocess groups. This paper investigates the management of various group processes in a group whose contracted focus is teaching stress management skills. Distinctions are made between psychotherapeutic and theme-centered psychoeducational process management. Many group processes can be predicted given the group's normal developmental stages, while other ongoing group processes arise spontaneously. A working dialogue between the presented content and the emerging process is necessary in order for psychoeducation to be personalized and most fully assimilated. A clinical vignette follows the evolution of a stress management group conducted for high-level executives who have been identified as manifesting Type-A behaviors. For each session, the format and material content are briefly outlined, the emerging group process is described, and the clinical interventions involved in the process management are discussed.     

Social Involvement as a Mediator of Disaster-Induced Stress1

This study examined individuals either personally or indirectly exposed to disaster and hypothesized that social involvement would differentially mediate the effect of exposure on the mental health of male and female victims. The study reinterviewed individuals previously interviewed just prior to disastrous floods and the discovery of unsafe levels of dioxin. Results indicated that males and females differ in their response to disaster exposure. Males showed increased symptoms of alcohol abuse and depression as a result of either personal, or both personal and indirect, exposure to disaster. In contrast, females' s]ymptomatology was not directly elevated by personal disaster exposure. Both sexes were sensitive to demands for support as a mediator of disaster effects. That is, victims both personally exposed to disaster and heavily relied upon by network members were far more likely to somatize (females) or abuse alcohol (males) than personally exposed individuals subject to more moderate network demands. Although excellent spouse support attenuated male symptomatology, its presence was associated with an exacerbation of symptoms in personally exposed females. Results suggest the importance of considering both the positive and negative consequences of social involvement because, for women in particular, very strong social ties may be more burdensome than supportive in times of extreme stress.     

EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR,SUSTAINED ATTENTION,AND A MEMORY TASK IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

The effects of caffeine on the behavior of young children is an important issue, as children in our society consume considerable amounts of caffeine, primarily in soft drinks. This study investigated the effects of normative amounts of caffeine on the behavior of 6 normal children in a kindergarten setting. Using a reversal design, counterbalanced for order of conditions, children's behavior was examined during a baseline condition, a caffeinated beverage condition, and a noncaffeinated beverage condition. Measures included direct observation of off-task and gross motor activity, actometer readings of movement, a Continuous Performance Test, a Paired Associates Learning Test, and teacher ratings of classroom behavior. Results suggest that caffeine exerts only small and inconsistent effects on the classroom behavior of kindergarten children. These results cast doubt on the importance of caffeine as a variable controlling the classroom behavior of normal kindergartners.     

The convergent and discriminant validity of the MCMI as a measure of the DSM-III personality disorders

The personality scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) were constructed and validated to measure the typology developed by Millon (1981). The ability of the MCMI to measure the DSM-III personality disorders has not yet been empirically evaluated. The current study found better convergent validity for the DSM-III personality disorders that are consistent with Millon's typology (i.e., the avoidant and the dependent) than for the disorders that are inconsistent (i.e., the antisocial and the passive-aggressive). However, the results may reflect some advantages Millon's typology might have over the DSM-III. The discriminant validity of all four scales was limited, due in part to the overlap among the MCMI scales and the DSM-III personality disorders. We discuss implications of the results for the revision of the MCMI and the DSM-III.     

The psychiatric nurse as group psychotherapist

An overview of current dimensions of group psychotherapy practice by psychiatric-mental health nurses is presented. The relationship between graduate education and the characteristics of the nurses' current practice is demonstrated. The psychiatric-mental health nurse's involvement in the general health care arena with nonpsychiatric populations is highlighted. Future trends for the practice of group by nurses is explicated and projected. In addition, implications for the education and practice of other group practitioners is drawn.Marianne DiMinno, R.N., M.S.N., assisted in the development of the survey questionnaire.     

Bilateral language: Is the left hemisphere still dominant?

A 13-year-old left-handed boy with a left fronto-parietal vascular malformation evidenced bilateral symmetrical language representation at intracarotid amytal testing. Surgical resection of the parietal motor and frontal premotor area (sparing classical perisylvian language regions) for seizure control resulted in an acute aphasia. Language deficits were still apparent 3 months and to a lesser degree 1 year after surgery. This suggests that when language is bilateral and symmetrical, the left hemisphere may still be dominant or both hemispheres may be necessary to sustain full language competence. Explanations for atypical language localization within the left hemisphere are also discussed.     

The influence of component participation and role models on goal acceptance, goal satisfaction, and performance

The present investigation examined the effects of different types of participation (choice) and role models in goal setting on goal acceptance, goal satisfaction, and performance. It was hypothesized that choice in setting a goal and a strategy to achieve the goal would positively benefit goal acceptance, performance, and goal satisfaction. In addition, it was predicted that a role model would differentially influence an individual's goal acceptance, goal satisfaction, and performance. One hundred twenty male college students working on a class scheduling task were exposed to either a high- or low-performing role model and given various amounts of choice in the goal-setting process. The results of two-way analyses of variance demonstrated that goal acceptance, goal satisfaction, and performance were highest for individuals given choice over their goal and their strategy to achieve the goal. In addition, the results demonstrated that an individual exposed to a high-performing role model outperformed and had higher goal acceptance and satisfaction than an individual exposed to a low-performing model. The results are discussed as a means for clarifying the effects of different types of choice in the goal-setting process and the importance of role-provided information in influencing an individual's performance.     

Race Relations on Prime Time Television Reconsidered: Patterns of Continuity and Change

This study was designed to assess the changes that have occurred in the portrayals of black people and cross-racial relationships in prime-time television broadcasting during the past decade. By replicating the content analysis procedures used by Weigel, Loomis, and Soja (1980), this investigation provided a consistent basis for comparing two similar samples of television content drawn, respectively, from 1978 and 1989. Results of this comparison indicated that, although black appearances and cross-racial interactions were no more frequent in the 1989 sample of product commercials, the black presence in prime-time programming had increased substantially. As compared to 1978, the proportion of time that one or more black characters were on the screen more than doubled, while the frequency of cross-racial interactions more than tripled in the 1989 sample. Nevertheless, ratings of qualitative dimensions of these cross-racial interactions suggested that relationships between blacks and whites on television continued to be portrayed as cooperative but emotionally detached, particularly when the relationships occurred outside of the work place.