Conditioned inhibition of cyclophosphamide-induced taste aversion

Rats in an experimental group received trials during which 1 flavor (saccharin) was always followed by cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressive drug, but another (vanilla) was not. An unconditioned stimulus-only group served as a control. Flavor-preference tests revealed that conditioned excitation and conditioned inhibition occurred in the conditioned group subjects but not in the control group subjects. This demonstration suggests that a conditioned inhibitor might be used to modify conditioned and unconditioned immune system functions, for example, natural killer-cell activity.     

Correlates of Mental Disorders in the Quebec General Population of 6 to 14-Year Olds

Previous epidemiological studies of correlates of child and adolescent mental disorders in the general population have focused more on child/adolescent and socioeconomic/sociodemographic characteristics than on family characteristics. Moreover, there are no generally accepted methods to analyze and interpret correlates. The purpose of the Quebec Child Mental Health Survey in this regard was twofold: (1) to identify correlates of DSM-III-R internalizing and externalizing disorders according to informant (youth, parent, teacher), for three age groups (6–8, 9–11, and 12–14 years), including relevant family characteristics not considered in previous studies; and (2) to interpret the relative importance of risk indicators by ranking correlates according to strength and consistency of association across age groups. Logistic regression models suggest the inconsistency of correlates across informants. The ranking of correlates reveals that individual and family characteristics make a more important contribution than do socioeconomic characteristics, thereby supporting the relevance of proximal variables in the development of psychopathology.     

Selective attention and interhemispheric response competition in the split-brain

The interfering effect of an unattended stimulus on processing of an attended item was studied in a single split-brain participant (LB) and in normal controls. Pairs of letters were presented to the left visual field (LVF), right visual field (RVF), or bilaterally. Participants attended to the rightmost letter while attempting to ignore the leftmost letter. Responses associated with the attended and to-be-ignored letters could be compatible or incompatible. Manual response latencies were generally slower on Response Incompatible compared to Response Compatible trials. Notably, LB displayed this effect on Bilateral trials, where target and distractor were presented to opposite visual fields. LB was unable to perform a same-different matching task with bilateral letter stimuli, but was able to name bilateral letters accurately. Hence, in the bilateral condition, the ability to cross-compare letters was dissociated from attentional interference and from letter naming. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

Activity-stress increases density of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in the rat hippocampus

Although past research has indicated that stress and the accompanying increase in glucocorticoids compromises hippocampal neurons, little is known about the effect of stress on hippocampal glial cells. In the current study, male rats were exposed to activity-stress (A-S) for six days; this comprised housing with an activity wheel and restricted access (1h/day) to food. Physiological data (e.g., relative adrenal and thymus weights, gastric ulceration) suggested that the A-S rats experienced more stress than pair-fed (no wheel) and control (fed ad libitum, no wheel) rats. Whereas stress did not influence the quantitative morphology of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive cells, a semi-quantitative analysis revealed that the A-S rats had significantly more (30%) GFAP-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampal CA3 region than the control rats. Based on the present findings, it appears that the hippocampal astrocytic response to chronic stress may be similar to the response found in endangered, or challenged hippocampal environments, such as in ischemia.     

Stereotype Threat Impairs Older Adult Driving

Stereotypes can harm human performance, especially when activated in individuals with diminished working memory capacity (WMC). Performance implications for the stereotype of poor driving in older adults were investigated. Using a sample of older adults, WMC (the ability to maintain task goals and ignore distractions) and driving performance [brake reaction time (RT), following distance, and crashes] were assessed, the latter using a high‐fidelity simulator. Elderly participants under stereotype threat with reduced WMC exhibited slower brake RTs and longer following distances compared with a control condition that was not threatened. This driving profile was characteristic of cognitive distraction. Stereotype threat has clear consequences for human performance in a common real‐world task—driving—that is critical to public safety. Furthermore, these findings suggest caution in how the media and public policy communicate information about older adult driving.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hamburger Modell der integrierten Versorgung von schwer erkrankten Psychosepatienten

The Hamburg model designates an integrated care model for severely ill patients with psychotic disorders. Based on evidence-based knowledge it was developed in 2005 and implemented in 2006 and is financed since May 2007 via §140 SGB V (German Social Code, book V) as a yearly per patient rate by various health insurances. It comprises comprehensive and long-term treatment within a network of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and private psychiatrists. The treatment model consists of therapeutic assertive community treatment (ACT) and need-adapted inpatient and outpatient care. Since 2012 the model has been extended to the indications of first episode adolescent and young adult patients in the age range of 12–29 years. The present article summarizes the contents of the model, important patient characteristics and results of the long-term treatment.     

Behavioral contrast: Research and areas for investigation

Behavioral contrast occurs when a change in reinforcement rate in one context results in a change in behavior in the opposite direction in an unchanged context. Despite decades of study by basic researchers, behavioral contrast has remained largely an unstudied phenomenon among applied researchers. The purpose of this paper is to occasion translational and applied research on behavioral contrast with the aim of predicting and controlling socially significant behavior in unchanged contexts. We present a brief history of contrast and related definitions, review research with human and nonhuman subjects, and suggest future directions for applied and translational researchers.     

Social Validation of the Outcome Questionnaire—45: An Assessment of Asian and Pacific Islander College Students

This study tested the appropriateness of Outcome Questionnaire‐45 norms for Asian and Pacific Islander students. Both groups scored higher, based on participants' self‐reported general functioning, than the norms and more frequently met criteria for clinical classification, a possible indication of greater distress. The authors discuss findings and therapeutic applications. Este estudio probó la conveniencia de Resultado del Cuestionario—45 normas para los estudiantes Asiáticos y Isleño Pacífico. Los dos grupos estubirieron un puntaje alto, basado en la función general de ser‐informó, que las normas, y con más frecuencia encontró los criterios para la clasificación clínica, una indicación posible de anguista más alta. Los autores discuten los hallazgos y las aplicaciones terapéuticas.