Genetic Testing and Parkinson Disease: Assessment of Patient Knowledge,Attitudes, and Interest

The most common genetic contributor to late-onset Parkinson disease (PD) is the LRRK2 gene. In order to effectively integrate LRRK2 genetic testing into clinical practice, a strategy tailored to the PD population must be developed. We assessed 168 individuals with PD for baseline knowledge of genetics, perceived risk, and interest and opinions regarding genetic counseling and testing. Most participants felt that they were familiar with general genetics terms but overall knowledge levels were low, with an average score of 55%. The majority of participants thought it was likely they inherited a PD gene (72%), believed genetic testing for PD would be useful (86%), and were interested in genetic testing (59%) and genetic counseling (56%). However, only a few participants had heard of any genetic tests for PD (29%) or LRRK2 (10%). There appears to be a significant level of interest in genetics and genetic testing within the PD population, but a considerable deficit in genetics knowledge and an over-estimation of risk. Genetic education and counseling tools to address these needs were developed to provide patients with the ability to make informed and knowledgeable genetic testing decisions.     

Investigator ratings of ADHD symptoms during a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of atomoxetine: a comparison of parents and teachers as informants

This study compared investigator ratings of ADHD symptoms based on interviews with parents and teachers during a doubleblind, placebo-controlled study of atomoxetine. Investigators completed the ADHD Rating Scale: Investigator (ADHDRS-I) based on separate semistructured interviews with the primary caretaker and teacher of the participant. Interviews were conducted at Visits 2 to 7 during a double-blind treatment protocol comparing atomoxetine (N= 10) and placebo (N= 6). Both parent and teacher-based ratings were sensitive to change in ADHD symptoms with atomoxetine treatment. Parent-based assessment differentiated significantly between treatment with atomoxetine and placebo, whereas teacher-based assessment was less sensitive to change. Parents and teachers showed good agreement on change in ADHDRS-I scores. Investigator ratings based on parent- and teacher-report were sensitive to change in symptoms of ADHD during treatment with atomoxetine. Despite good agreement between parent- and teacher-based ratings of symptom change, parent-based ADHD symptom ratings are more sensitive to symptom change.     

Treatment of panic disorder: live therapy vs. self-help via the Internet

A randomized trial was conducted comparing 10 individual weekly sessions of cognitive behaviour therapy for panic disorder (PD) with or without agoraphobia with a 10-module self-help program on the Internet. After confirming the PD diagnosis with an in-person structured clinical interview (SCID) 49 participants were randomized. Overall, the results suggest that Internet-administered self-help plus minimal therapist contact via e-mail can be equally effective as traditional individual cognitive behaviour therapy. Composite within-group effect sizes were high in both groups, while the between-group effect size was small (Cohen's d=16). One-year follow-up confirmed the results, with a within-group effect size of Cohen's d=0.80 for the Internet group and d=0.93 for the live group. The results from this study generally provide evidence to support the continued use and development of Internet-distributed self-help programs.     

What, if anything, is the medial temporal lobe, and how can the amygdala be part of it if there is no such thing?

Should the medial temporal lobe (MTL) of primates--which includes allocortical structures such as the hippocampus, neocortical structures such as the parahippocampal cortex, and nuclear structures such as the basolateral amygdala--be considered a single "thing"? According to the prevailing view, here termed the reification theory, the answer is yes. According to this theory, the MTL functions as an amalgamated entity that provides the neuronal mechanisms for declarative memory; the greater the damage to the MTL or any of its components, the greater the deleterious effects on declarative memory. A countervailing view, here called the balkanization theory, holds that the various components of the MTL process and store different kinds of information. According to this theory, damage to each part of the MTL causes a unique set of behavioral deficits-some involving memory, others involving perception, and yet others involving response selection. The empirical neuropsychological evidence favors the balkanization theory, as do some new concepts in theoretical neuroanatomy.     

Edmund Husserls Phänomenologie: Philosophia perennis in der krise der europäischen kultur

Ohne ZusammenfassungVortrag, gehalten auf der Gedenkfeier für Edmund Husserl zum 50. Todestag am 27. April 1988 an der Universität Freiburg     

Book notes

Ruchy Pogranicza Religii i Nauki. Jako Zjawisko Socjopsychologiczne [Movements on the Border of Science and Religion as Socio‐Psychological Phenomenon]

Tadeusz Doktor, ed, 1996 Warsav: Wydawnictwa University Warsav 274 pp. ISBN 83–230–9829–8

Religion: North American Style, 3rd edn. Thomas E. Dowdy & Patrick H. McNamara, eds, 1996 New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press 221 pp., US$48.00 (hb), US$16.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8135–2343–5 (hb), ISBN 0–8135–2344–3 (pb)

Islam in a World of Diverse Faiths. Dan Cohn‐Sherbok, ed, 1997 Houndsmill, Basingstoke: Macmillan Press 218 pp., £45.00 (hb), £15.99 (pb) ISBN 0–333–52612–0 (hb), ISBN 0–333–69067–2 (pb)

Spirituality and Culture: The Case of Celtic Christianity. Oliver Davies, 1996 Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 10 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–13‐X

Christianity and New Age Thought. Frank Whaling, 1996 Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 11 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–08–3

Religious Experience: A Sociological Perspective. Bryan Wilson Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 15 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–09–1

Searching for the Truth around the Next Twist: Why Do We Like The X‐Files Mark Fox. Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 9 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–11–3

Sexual Morality in the World's Religions. Geoffrey Parrinder, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 276 pp., £8.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–108–6

The Sacred Thread: Hinduism in its Continuity and Diversity, 2nd edn John I. Brockington, 1996 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press 222 pp., £10.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7486–0830–3

Behind the Crystal Ball: Magic and Science from Antiquity to the New Age. Anthony Aveni, 1996 London: Newleaf 406 pp., £20.00 ISBN 0–7522–0549–8

Historical Dictionary of Methodism. Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. & Susan E. Warrick, 1996 Lanham: Scarecrow Press 299 pp., £44.65 ISBN 0–8108–3140–6

Historical Dictionary of the Orthodox Church. Michael Prokurat, Alexander Golitzin & Michael D. Peterson, 1996 Lanham, Maryland, London: Scarecrow Press 440 pp., £80.40 ISBN 0–8108–3081–7

God's Straggler: Religion in the Writings of Nikos Kazantzakis. Darren J. N. Middleton & Peter Bien, eds, 1996 Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press 236 pp., US$32.95 ISBN 0–86554–499–9

Apocalypticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls. John J. Collins, 1997 London: Routledge 187 pp., £37.50 (hb), £11.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–14636–4 (hb), ISBN 0–415–14637–2 (pb)

The Word Made Strange: Theology, Language, Culture. John Milbank, 1996 Oxford; Cambridge, MA: Blackwell 298 pp., £45.00, US$59.95 (hb), £14.99, US$23.95 (pb) ISBN 0631–20335–4 (hb), ISBN 0631–20336–2 (pb)

The Simple Guide to the Roman Catholic Church. Edmund Hartley, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 144 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–023–7

The Simple Guide to Judaism. David Starr‐Glass, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 120 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–008–3

The Simple Guide to Hinduism. Venika Mehra Klngsland, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 117 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–018–0

Mission on the Margins. Mary Beasley, 1997 Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press 110 pp., £7.99 ISBN 0–7188–2966–2     

Distinctions between separation anxiety and social anxiety in children and adolescents

Separation anxiety and social phobia are intertwined to a considerable degree, and high comorbidity rates have been reported. The present study used latent class analysis (LCA) to investigate if classes of children and adolescents with-simultaneously-high rates of separation anxiety and low rates of social anxiety symptoms, or vice versa, could be identified. Eight- to 18-year-olds from a large general population (n=1000) and referred sample (n=735) were assessed with the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). With LCA, a separate class of referred 8-11-year-old children with high separation anxiety scores, and simultaneously lower social anxiety scores was identified, next to a class of children with high scores on separation anxiety and social anxiety. In the other groups (referred 12-18-year-olds and children and adolescents from the general population), a class with individuals who specifically scored high on separation anxiety could not be revealed. The results indicated that separation anxiety represents a different construct than social anxiety in referred children (but not in referred adolescents or in the general population). It can be concluded that, in referred children, research regarding etiology and treatment outcome of anxiety symptoms should be aimed specifically at separation anxiety and social anxiety, instead of just investigating a broader anxiety dimension.