Validation of distinct amnesic and executive type memory deficit in a psychiatric sample based on retrieval performance

Studies of localized brain dysfunctions have revealed connections between patterns of cognitive dysfunction and specific profiles of memory impairment. The amnesic type of memory impairment is defined by deficits in both free recall and recognition memory, whereas the dysexecutive memory impairment is characterized by retrieval deficits, i.e. a disproportional impairment in free recall relative to recognition memory. The present study tests whether classifications of psychiatric patients into recall impaired only (= RO group) and Recall and Recognition impaired (= RR group) correspond to the executive type and amnesic type of memory impairment. The alternative hypothesis is that the two groups merely differ in degree of neuropsychological and psychiatric disturbance. Forty-four subjects impaired on California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) were selected from a larger database of 103 impaired and non-impaired subjects with schizophrenia or recurrent major depression. Subjects were classified into RO and RR groups and compared on measures of memory strategy (recency effect and interference on CVLT), overall neuropsychological function (Stroop Test and WAIS-R similarity) and psychiatric symptom load (positive and negative symptoms). Repeated measures ANOVA showed no effects of group, i.e. the RR group did not perform consistently below the RO group with regard to memory strategy, neuropsychological function or psychiatric symptom load. Two out of three analyses showed group x test interaction, supporting the dissociation of distinct executive and amnesic profiles among psychiatric patients. The RO group was more susceptible to interference but had better recency score than the RR group. The RO had higher negative symptoms while the RR group had higher positive symptoms.     

Activating the critical lure during study is unnecessary for false recognition

Participants studied lists of nonwords (e.g., froost, floost, stoost, etc.) that were orthographic-phonologically similar to a nonpresented critical lure, which was also a nonword (e.g., ploost). Experiment 1 showed a high level of false recognition for the critical lure. Experiment 2 showed that the false recognition effect was also present for forewarned participants who were informed about the nature of the false recognition effect and told to avoid making false recognition judgments. The present results show that false recognition effects can be obtained even when the critical lure itself is not stored during study. This finding is problematic for accounts that attribute false memories to implicit associative responses or spreading activation but is easily explained by global familiarity models of recognition memory.     

Haptic identification of curved surfaces

In two experiments, the active haptic identification of three-dimensional mathematically welldefined objects is investigated. The objects, quadric surfaces, are defined in terms of the shape index, a quantity describing the shape, and curvedness, a quantity describing overall curvature. Both shape index and curvedness are found to have a significant influence on haptic shape identification . Concave surfaces lead to a larger spread in responses than convex ones. Hyperbolic surfaces show a slight tendency to be identified with more difficulty than elliptic ones. Surfaces with a high curvedness are identified more easily than those with a low curvedness. Results from experiments with constant and with random curvedness are indistinguishable . It is concluded that shape index and curvedness are psychophysically not confounded.     

Mehr Liebe und weniger Gewalt?

This contribution analyzes changes in the role of fathers, which are embedded in overall social changes and changes in parental attitudes and behavior. It shows a trend towards paternal warmth and involvement and a tendency to avoid paternal functions related to dealing with the child??s aggression. The decrease in power and authority has, however, resulted in an increase of psychological control, which is detrimental for the child??s outcome. Today, many fathers face the dilemma of combining work and paternal duties. In particular, fathers of small children are confronted with the breadwinner function and the highest work load, compared to fathers of older children. In general, diversity in fathers?? roles has increased with a high number of traditional fathers and also fathers who were able to balance work and family; ??new fathers?? are not frequent at all. The consequences for therapeutic work are discussed.     

Diagnosespezifische Strukturdefizite

Central to this work are the axes structure and treatment requirements of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostic in Childhood and Adolescence (OPD-CA), which were studied on a sample of n?=?195 inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric patients [mean age (M)?=?12.9 years, SD±10.1 years] in Austria. The study shows the overall poorer structure of male patients in all structural dimensions and the better treatment requirements of older compared to younger patients. Structural deficits not only affect the capacity for insight and motivation for treatment and the working alliance, but also the possible presence of morbid gain. In the diagnosis-specific analysis it was shown that patients diagnosed as F6 were understructured in emotional control, while patients with a diagnosis F9 have more structural deficits in the self-object differentiation. Patients with F3 and F4 diagnosis have better structural capacities for treatment, but their higher degree of insight and motivation for treatment is counterbalanced by an equally high gain of illness. The implications of these findings for treatment planning are discussed.     

The adaptive effect of personal control when facing breast cancer: Cognitive and behavioural mediators

This prospective study examines the cognitive and behavioural mediators of the relation between personal control and the initial response to a breast cancer diagnosis as well as subsequent psychological adjustment. A total of 143 patients participated immediately after diagnosis (T1), after surgery (T2) and 2 months after the end of treatment (T3), of whom 92 also completed a questionnaire pre-diagnosis (T0). The buffering effect of personal control on psychological distress shortly after diagnosis was mediated by cancer-specific cognitions, i.e. threat appraisal and coping self-efficacy. Moreover, a strong sense of personal control predicted lower levels of anxiety 2 months after the end of treatment, but was unrelated to distress at T3. The adaptive effect on anxiety was mediated by threat appraisal and active engagement in social life after surgery, but not by active patient participation or coping self-efficacy. These results confirm and explain the adaptive effect of control. Apparently, women with a low sense of control appraise cancer and their personal coping skills more negatively, which makes them vulnerable to distress in response to diagnosis. Furthermore, women with a strong sense of control might regulate anxiety by remaining engaged in social life.     

Gendered pathways to romantic attachment in emerging adults: The role of body image and parental support

This study analyses the impact of body image and perceived parental behaviour (support and negativity) as factors that contribute to romantic attachment in emerging adulthood. In a 11-year longitudinal study on 144 females and 114 males, we assessed body image, body mass index, and perceived father's and mother's support and negativity during adolescence (at ages 14 and 17) and in emerging adulthood (age 21). At the age of 25, romantic attachment was assessed. Results of path analyses revealed that females' positive body image was consistently linked with greater parental support over time and contributed to low avoidance in romance at the age of 25, whereas perceived negativity with fathers mediated by body image contributed to more avoidance in females' later romantic relationships. In contrast, parental support and negativity during adolescence and young adulthood had no impact; only a positive body image resulted in males' low avoidance in later romantic attachment at the age of 25. The findings point to gendered socialization for males and females and highlight the importance of body image for an adaptive romantic outcome in emerging adulthood.     

Graduate Student Selection: Graduate record examination,socioeconomic status,and undergraduate grade point average as predictors of study success in a western European University

Graduate students' mobility has increased within Europe. Yet, empirical evidence on the validity of standardized admission tests in Europe is still scarce. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the incremental validity of the GRE® revised general test above undergraduate grade point average (U‐GPA) by focusing on a multinational sample of master students (N = 282) enrolled at a Dutch university. Results indicated that the Analytical Writing part of the GRE predicts graduate grade point average above and beyond U‐GPA. Furthermore, the results suggest that the relationship is independent of students' socioeconomic status as indexed by parental education. Implications for graduate student selection in a European context are discussed.     

Implementation intentions: a look back at fifteen years of progress

Implementation intentions are if-then plans that spell out when, where, and how a set goal has to be put into action: If situation x is encountered, then I will perform behavior y!, thereby linking a critical situation with a goal-directed behavior. Over the last fifteen years, implementation intentions, as compared to simple goal intentions (I intend to reach z!), have demonstrated their effectiveness as self-regulation strategies in promoting desired behaviors or when unpleasant actions have to be carried out. By forming implementation intentions, the control of unwanted influences (e.g., temptations, bad habits, adverse self-states) on an ongoing goal pursuit can also be facilitated. Furthermore, implementation intentions have been shown to ease goal-directed actions in critical populations such as patients with a frontal brain lesion, schizophrenic patients, and opiate addicts in withdrawal, for whom the initiation problems of the goaldirected action are more accentuated.