Developing an efficient clinical information system for a comprehensive psychiatric institute: II. Initial evaluation form

This paper describes the objectives, design, organization, content, evaluation, and implementation of the initial evaluation form, first component of a comprehensive psychiatric institute’s clinical information system. Major features of this effort are the involvement of a large number of clinicians in the form’s development, the use of complementary narrative and standardized components, the use of an expanded DSM-III multiaxial diagnostic format, pilot testing with over 1,000 patients, the evaluation of the form’s usefulness and interrater reliability, the form’s computerization, facilitating data retrieval and coordination with other institutional data bases, and the form’s monitoring.     

Intact Procedural Knowledge in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from Golf Putting

Can Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients efficiently learn to perform a complex motor skill when relying on procedural knowledge? To address this question, the authors compared the golf-putting performance of AD patients, older adults, and younger adults in 2 different learning situations: one that promotes high error rates (thus increasing the reliance on declarative knowledge) or one that promotes low error rates (thus increasing the reliance on procedural knowledge). Motor performance was poorer overall for AD patients and older adults relative to younger adults in the high-error condition but equivalent between similar groups in the low-error condition. Also, AD patients in the low-error condition had better performance at the final putting distance relative to those in the high-error condition. This performance facilitation for AD patients likely stems from intact procedural knowledge.     

Stage of exercise change model and attitudes toward exercise in older adults.

This study examined the attitudes toward exercise held by older adults within different stages of the exercise change model for the purpose of aiding health professionals in developing effective approaches that engage older adults in physical activity. Men and women (n = 116) between the ages of 60 and 93 years (73.9+/-6.6) completed a questionnaire used to categorize them into one of five stages of exercise change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Participants also completed a questionnaire to assess four attitude factors related to exercise: tension release, health promotion, vigorous exercise, and social benefits. The Active older adults in this study reported positive attitudes toward exer cising for health benefits, social interaction, and tension release. Of these, the health benefits of exercise appear to be the most important factor in their participation in exercise. Therefore, prograns designed to engage older adults in regular physical activity should promote positive attitudes toward exercise, especially regarding the health related aspects of exercise.     

Context-Specific Learning, Personality, and Birth Order

Most people believe that learning to get along (or not get along) with their siblings played an important role in shaping their personality, and that their position in the family—oldest, youngest, or in the middle—had lasting effects. Yet studies of birth order generally fail to support these beliefs. The apparent contradiction can be resolved by taking into account the context-specific nature of learned behavior. There is abundant evidence that people do not automatically transfer behavior from one context to another: They wait until they have evidence that what they learned in Context 1 will also be useful in Context 2. Because patterns of behavior acquired in the family of origin tend to be useless or inappropriate in other settings, birth order effects show up only in that context. Outside the family they grew up in, firstborns and later-borns are indistinguishable in personality.     

Simply Satisfied: The Role of Psychological Need Satisfaction in the Life Satisfaction of Voluntary Simplifiers

Low consumption lifestyles have the potential to impact positively on the environment and mental health. Past research indicates that individuals who engage in a low consumption lifestyle known as voluntary simplicity have higher levels of life satisfaction. This investigation aimed to test the role of psychological needs as proposed by Ryan and Deci’s (Am Psychol 55(1):68–78, 2000. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68) self-determination theory, in the relationship between voluntary simplicity and life satisfaction in a sample of 571 adults who may or may not identify as voluntary simplifiers. Self-report data was analysed using structural equation modeling to test a hypothesised path from simplifying behaviours to life satisfaction via gratification of the three proposed psychological needs. Consistent with previous research, simplifying behaviours were associated with increased life satisfaction. The proposed pathway: simplicity—psychological need gratification—life satisfaction was supported in the empirical test of the structural equation model suggesting psychological need satisfaction plays a mediating role in the increased life satisfaction of voluntary simplifiers.     

The logic of probabilistic knowledge

Philosophical Studies - Sarah Moss’ thesis that we have probabilistic knowledge is from some perspectives unsurprising and from other perspectives hard to make sense of. The thesis is...     

User modeling via stereotypes

This paper addresses the problems that must be considered if computers are going to treat their users as individuals with distinct personalities, goals, and so forth. It first outlines the issues, and then proposes stereotypes as a useful mechanism for building models of individual users on the basis of a small amount of information about them. In order to build user models quickly, a large amount of uncertain knowledge must be incorporated into the models. The issue of how to resolve the conflicts; hot will arise along such inferences is discussed. A system, Grundy, is described that builds models of its users, with the aid of stereotypes, and then exploits those models to guide it in its task, suggesting novels that people may find interesting. If stereotypes are to be useful to Grundy, they must accurately characterize the users of the system. Some techniques to modify stereotypes on the basis of experience are discussed. An analysis of Grundy's performance shows that its user models are effective in guiding its performance.     

Direct‐Supervision and Remote‐Supervision Jails: A Comparative Study of Psychosocial Factors1

The direct‐supervision style correctional facility has been offered as a design that provides a better atmosphere for staff and inmates. Prior research has shown minor support in favor of the general environment created by direct‐supervision facilities. However, the claims of benefits associated with direct supervision far outweigh the number of empirical research studies on the design. This research examined corrections officers' and inmates' feelings of boredom, perceived control, aggression, attitudes toward each other, and stress in a direct‐supervision style facility and a remote‐supervision style facility. Results from 164 inmates and 82 correctional officers showed that staff in the direct‐supervision facility reported elevated levels of perceived control, less anger and hostility, and less boredom.