Changes in cochlear microphonic sensitivity after priming C57BL/6j mice at various ages for audiogenic seizures.

Groups of mice were briefly exposed to a one-octave band of noise at 14, 18, 28, 38, or 58 days of age. Five days later the groups were divided, and some mice were behaviorally tested for audiogenic seizures by reexposing them to the same sound. The round window cochlear microphonic potential was measured in the remaining animals and compared with that observed in unprimed control subjects. Seizure behavior occurred in all animals primed on Day 18 but rarely for subjects in the other age groups. Cochlear microphonic threshold curves in mice primed on Day 18 showed a 30-dB loss in sensitivity, while all other primed groups showed little change. These data were discussed in terms of the "disuse-supersensitivity" hypothesis previously proposed to account for the physiological effects of priming in mice.     

The effects of adaptation to square-wave gratings as a function of grating orientation

An adaptation technique was used to measure the selectivity or tuning for grating orientation in the visual system for different orientations of the inspection stimulus. Duration thresholds for grating patterns of constant luminance were determined for 13 test gratings oriented from ±5 to 90 deg away from each of five adaptation gratings: 0, 22, 45, 67, and 90 deg. Threshold data obtained for test gratings without prior adaptation indicated higher sensitivity for gratings oriented along the horizontal and vertical axis than along the oblique axis. After adaptation, thresholds increased (sensitivity was reduced) for gratings having similar orientations as the test gratings. However, the functions relating sensitivity reduction to degree of angular disparity between test and adaptation grating did not vary across the five inpsection orientations, i.e., selectivity or tuning for grating orientation appeared to be independent of the orientation of the adapting stimulus.     

Discomfort with space and motion: A possible marker of vestibular dysfunction assessed by the situational characteristics questionnaire

Space and motion discomfort (SMD) refers to the situational specificity of symptoms occurring in some patients with vestibular dysfunction, such as those with balance disorders and some with panic disorder. SMD occurs in situations characterized by inadequate visual or kinesthetic information for normal spatial orientation. We report the results of two studies of the construct validity of the Situational Characteristics Questionnaire (SitQ), which has two subscales, both of which measure SMD: the SMD-I and SMD-II. In Study 1, the SitQ was administered to members of a self-help group for balance disorders, a psychiatric sample consisting of patients with panic disorder, nonpanic anxiety disorders, depression, and a sample of normals. SMD levels were the highest in the self-help balance group, next to the highest in the panic groups, and lowest in the remaining groups. In Study 2, the SitQ was administered to otolaryngological patients with vestibular dysfunction and to patients with hearing loss. SMD levels were higher in the vestibular patients. Data on internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity are presented. The SitQ, particularly the SMD-II, is recommended for quantifying space and motion discomfort in patients with anxiety and/or balance disorders.Study 1 was funded by MH 40757. Study 2 was funded by a grant from the Upjohn Company and MH 19816.     

Fatigue and Quality of Life in Hepatitis C: Fact or Fiction?

The chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has traditionally been impossible to treat. Recently there has been increased attention in the treatment of HCV due to the development of drug treatments (i.e., Interferon and Ribavirin). As clinical attention to the assessment and treatment of HCV has increased, the issue of fatigue has become a central concern. Fatigue is one of the major symptoms reported by those suffering from HCV but it is not clear whether fatigue should be treated as a major symptom that is an important focus on attention or if it is a minor and irrelevant concern. In this paper, we examine the issues of fatigue in HCV in light of the importance of health-related quality of life in HCV. We present evidence to suggest that fatigue is a major issue that warrants clinical attention. We also propose that fatigue be reconceptualized as lassitude and provide an operationalized definition of dysfunctional lassitude, a new clinical construct that may have value as a psychological diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to provide those interested in psychological issues in HCV, and chronic illnesses for which fatigue is a major symptom, guidelines for future clinical and research efforts.     

Outcomes of Parent Education Programs Based on Reevaluation Counseling

We report two studies in which a parent education program based on Reevaluation Counseling was field-tested on mothers randomly assigned to treatment groups or equivalent, no-treatment comparison groups. The goal was to evaluate the program's viability, whether there were measurable effects, whether those effects were sustained over time, and whether the program was effective among diverse populations. The first study involved middle income, married mothers (n = 25) with at least one child younger than age five. Eleven members of the no-treatment group participated in the program three months later. Pretest, posttest, and follow-up measures included a parental attitude survey and a parenting stress index. The second study involved 18 black mothers with children enrolled in Head Start. Six members of the no-treatment group participated in the program two months later. Added to the pretest, posttest, and follow-up measures were a parent attitude research instrument and a parenting practices questionnaire. Results were replicated within and across studies. Significant effects suggest that the program can reduce parenting-related stress, improve parental attitudes, and encourage authoritative parenting practices, although some effects tend to diminish somewhat over time. The program appears viable with mothers of various social status groups.     

Scham und Schuld – Sein und Tun

Shame and guilt are affective experiential dimensions regulating the different forms of being and behaving in a social context. Constructive or even pathologic feelings of guilt are to be distinguished from real guilt. Shame refers to the judgment of ?So-sein” even if being often manifests itself in action. Shame is generated by the ideal ego. Guilt and feelings of guilt are dimensions of acting, real guilt requires the recognition of guilt, guilt is generated by the superego (conscience). The implications of familiar as well as extreme traumatisation for shame and feelings of guilt are discussed. The most frequent wish for a therapy nowadays that offers perspectives of changes by action can be considered as a defence against processing of the being in psychoanalytical therapy.     

Positive affect and suicide ideation in older adult primary care patients

Suicide is a significant public health problem for older adults. Identification of protective factors associated with reduced risk is important. The authors examined the association of positive affect and suicide ideation in 462 primary care patients ages 65 and older. Positive affect distinguished suicide ideators from nonideators, after controlling for age, gender, depression, negative affect, illness burden, activity, sociability, cognitive functioning, and physical functioning. There was a trend toward age moderation of this relationship. Clinical and theoretical formulations of late-life suicide should consider the role of positive affect, including the possibility that its protective effects grow more pronounced with age.     

Körperinszenierungen

Zusammenfassung Formen zeitgenössischen Körperagierens in der Adoleszenz, wie besondere Haartracht (Punkfrisuren), Tätowierungen und Piercings, sowie pathologische Körpermanipulationen, wie Selbstverletzung und Essstörungen, haben eine auffallende Ähnlichkeit bzw. gehen parallel mit den Körperritualen der sog. Naturvölker, teilweise auch mit denen unseres eigenen Kulturkreises. Bei aller Ähnlichkeit sind jedoch drei in ihrem Wesen verschiedene Formen zu unterscheiden: 1. Die gesellschaftskonformen Körperpraktiken, die der Tradition einer sozialen Gruppe entsprechen und öffentlich-rituell Identitätsschritte in der menschlichen Entwicklung markieren (insbesondere Initiation in der Adoleszenz), wie wir es bei den Naturvölkern und in Rudimenten in unserer Kultur finden. 2. Die Benutzung des eigenen Körpers, um sich als Adoleszenter meist in Peer-Groups provozierend und rebellierend gegen überkommene Traditionen abzugrenzen; hier wird am Körper eine passagere Gegenidentifikation markiert, die gerade nicht den überkommenen Traditionen entspricht, jedoch wieder verlassen wird und in eine reife Erwachsenenidentität übergeht. 3. Die pathologischen Formen des Körperagierens dagegen bedeuten Entwicklungsstillstand und Arretierung der Identitätsentwicklung; sie müssen (wie eine Sucht) ständig wiederholt werden, um eine prekäre Ersatzidentität aufrechtzuerhalten, weil die Entwicklung einer autonomen Identität mit psychosenaher Trennungsangst verbunden wäre. Nur Menschen manipulieren derart ihren Körper, und zwar seit Menschengedenken, als ob der Mensch ständig symbolisch die Natur beherrschen müsste, wie auch sonst die natürliche Umwelt, in mehr oder weniger harmloser bzw. destruktiver Form, und der Körper ist der ihm nächste Teil der Natur.

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Body enactmentsOn parallels between body acting of primitive cultures, contemporary adolescents and pathologic forms

There are obvious parallels between contemporary body acting of adolescents such as the manner of wearing ones hair, using tattoos and piercings, as well as some kinds of pathologic body manipulation (like self-inflicting or eating disorders), and ritual body performances of the so-called primitive or savage cultures. But in part there are also parallels with ubiquituous body activities in our culture. In this paper three groups of body-acting are distinguished: 1. In conformity to social rules traditional body practices are marking steps of identity development, for example rites of initiation in primitive cultures and rudimentary ceremonies in our culture. 2. Ones own body is used to define oneself in adolescence rebelliously against social traditions. Such unconventional body-acting occurs in peer-groups and is seen as a passagère phenomenon in average identity development. 3. Pathologic forms of self destructive body-acting signify a cessation of development. In an addiction-like repetition they build up a precarious identity surrogate, because arriving at an autonomous identity would be connected with psychotic separation anxiety. Only human beings are able to treat their bodies (in normality and pathology), as if humans are constantly compelled to dominate nature symbolically in every moment, and their bodies are the nearest part of nature to them.

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Erweiterte Fassung dreier Vorträge: Psychotherapietage NRW, 1. Nov. 2002, Bad Salzuflen; Symposium der Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Freiberg der Arbeitskreise für Psychoanalyse in Österreich, Salzburg, März 2003; Fachtagung der Vereinigung Ostschweizer Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten, St. Gallen, September 2003.     

Imagery and interpretations in social phobia: support for the combined cognitive biases hypothesis

Cognitive-behavioral models of clinical problems typically postulate a role for the combined effects of different cognitive biases in the maintenance of a given disorder. It is striking therefore that research has tended to examine cognitive biases in isolation rather than assessing how they work together to maintain psychological dysfunction. The combined cognitive biases hypothesis presented here suggests that cognitive biases influence each another and can interact to maintain a given disorder. Furthermore, it is proposed that the combined effects of cognitive biases may have a greater impact on sustaining a given disorder than if the biases operated in isolation. The combined cognitive biases hypothesis is examined in relation to imagery and interpretation in social phobia. Individuals with social phobia experience negative images of themselves performing poorly in social situations, and they also interpret external social information in a less positive way than those without social anxiety. Evidence of a reciprocal relationship between imagery and interpretations is presented, and the mechanisms underlying the combined effects are discussed. Clinical implications and the potential utility of examining the combined influence of other cognitive biases are highlighted.