Effects of different substance misuse in genital reflexes of paradoxical sleep deprived male rats

As psychostimulants are widely abused, their neurochemical and behavioral effects have been extensively studied for many years. Our previous data demonstrate that paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) enhances drug-induced penile erection and ejaculation. PSD in association to drugs of abuse like cocaine potentiated genital reflexes in male rats. In this sense, the present study investigated if three substances abused by young people--such as Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)THC), alcohol and caffeine--had any significant effect on the genital reflexes in PSD rats. The results indicated that PSD induced erection in 50% of the rats and 20% ejaculated. In addition, there was no significant alteration in the number of animals exhibiting genital reflexes neither on the frequency of these behaviors when challenged with Delta(9)-THC or alcohol or caffeine after 96 h of PSD. These findings show that Delta(9)THC, alcohol and caffeine when administrated isolated did not produce alterations in genital reflexes in the PSD male rats.     

The alcohol-aggression link: children's aggression expectancies in marital arguments as a function of the sobriety or intoxication of the arguing couple

Children's expectancies of man-woman and woman-man aggression during arguments between individuals who were either intoxicated or sober were examined. The role of child and familial characteristics in influencing these expectancies was assessed. We examined children's expectations of interadult verbal/psychological and physical aggression during simulated arguments presented to children on videotapes. A community sample (N = 156) of children and young adolescents (6-14-year olds) participated. Children expected higher levels of aggression during conflict when they thought that one or both participants in conflict were intoxicated versus sober. Further, higher levels of verbal versus physical interadult conflict were expected during the disputes. These findings build on the literature by demonstrating that elementary school age children and young adolescents exhibit expectancies that link the consumption of alcohol with increased verbal and physical aggression in marital arguments. These alcohol-aggression expectancies were robust and were evident in relation to either the man's or woman's perpetration of aggression against the spouse. Elucidation of factors that can influence associations between aggression and alcohol consumption are of importance and have broad implications for family functioning.     

Alcohol-aggression expectancies and dispositional rumination moderate the effect of alcohol consumption on alcohol-related aggression and hostility

Alcohol consumption increases aggression, but only in some drinkers. This study extends previous work to show how expectancies for alcohol-induced aggression and dispositional rumination moderate the link between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related aggression and hostility in a sample of 285 men and women. Alcohol-aggression expectancies and quantity of alcohol interacted to predict alcohol-related hostility and aggression. Trait rumination moderated the effect of alcohol consumption on aggressive acts. Finally, women who ruminated were more likely to report alcohol-related aggression than were men who ruminated. These results suggest that alcohol expectancies for aggression and rumination constitute two important cognitive facilitators of alcohol-related aggression and hostility, and that gender plays an important role in these relations.     

Male alcohol‐related aggression as a function of type of drink

The present study tested the so‐called type‐of‐drink effect on aggression, that is, the idea that moderate acute alcohol intoxication elicits more aggression when the alcohol is drunk in the form of spirits than in the form of beer or wine. A computerized version of the Taylor “aggression machine” was used. Spirits‐drinking subjects drank 1.0 ml of 100% alcohol per kg body weight. To compensate for the lower alcohol concentration, beer‐ and wine‐drinking subjects drank 20% more. No significant differences were found between drinkers of different beverages in terms of blood alcohol levels. Results indicated that spirits elicited more direct physical aggression than either beer or wine. Three different possible explanations for this finding were discussed. Aggr. Behav. 25:401–408, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Violence in the community—a study of violence and aggression in homelessness and mental health day services

This study examined violence and aggression in five agencies providing day services in homelessness or mental health. Incident reporting was used to test the hypotheses that aggression is associated with alcohol problems, drug use, mental disorder, homelessness, history of violence, age and sex. Agency policies and patterns to aggressive incidents were explored. Three agencies provided a sufficient number of incidents for analysis (involving 30 ‘aggressors’). A history of violence was associated with aggression in all three agencies; alcohol problems, drug use and younger age were associated with aggression in at least one agency; no association was found for mental disorder, homelessness or sex. A degree of pattern to incidents could be discerned, with drink or drugs often involved, and exercises of authority or intervention in client altercations being particularly likely to precede aggression towards staff. A variety of incidents were reported, from verbal arguments to threats with a knife and serious physical assault. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alcohol‐aggression expectancies and dispositional aggression moderate the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related violence

Alcohol consumption increases aggression, but only in some drinkers. This study examines how expectancies for alcohol‐induced aggression and dispositional aggression moderate the link between alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related violence, building on previous studies that have employed limited measures of alcohol‐related violence and included few women. A sample of 212 men and women reported their alcohol consumption, alcohol‐aggression expectancies, dispositional aggression, and incidents of alcohol‐related aggressive acts. Alcohol‐aggression expectancies and quantity of alcohol consumed interacted to predict alcohol‐related aggression. Alcohol‐aggression expectancies covaried with alcohol‐related aggressive acts, particularly in heavier drinkers. Dispositional aggression also correlated with alcohol‐related aggression among heavier drinkers. These results help identify that alcohol might increase aggression only among heavy drinkers who expect alcohol to increase aggression or who are dispositionally aggressive. Aggr. Behav. 32:517–527, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Health Behaviors of Childhood Cancer Survivors: What We’ve Learned

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of childhood cancer survivors due to improved cancer treatments. However, these survivors are at risk for numerous late-effects as a result of their cancer therapy. Engaging in health-protective behaviors and limiting risky health behaviors are vitally important for survivors given their increased risks and physical late-effects. For this paper, we systematically reviewed the literature on childhood cancer survivors’ health behaviors by searching for published data and conference proceedings using computerized databases and references, and summarized these results. We examined the literature describing the prevalence of a variety of health behaviors among survivors, identifying significant covariates, and describing health behavior interventions. Finally, we provided research recommendations and discussed an ongoing study designed to address some of the limitations in the existing literature. The research to date is limited and recommendations for future studies are outlined.     

心理学研究中应用统计方法应注意的几个问题

心理统计是认识心理现象数量特征的重要工具,在心理学研究中或多或少地存在着统计的误用。本文从心理学研究过程的内在逻辑出发,探讨了在心理研究中应用统计应该注意的问题和可能遇到的误用现象:有偏样本与小样本的使用,潜在变量的缺失,欺骗性的统计图表,量表信度与统计显著性检验的考量,事后解释的谬误,统计关系与因果关系等。针对这些问题提出避免统计误用的方法与建议。     

我国酒精性肝病的医学困惑与应对策略

酒精性肝病是导致我国肝脏损害的第二大原因,已成为最严重的健康问题之一。我国已经迎来了酒精性肝病的高峰时期,并将会持续增长,卫生系统将面临巨大的压力。然而,对于酒精性肝病本身,还存在着诊断、治疗、预防等众多医学困惑;饮酒的危害不仅仅局限在肝脏,还可引起全身多器官的损害;酒害也早已超越了医疗界,是一个严重的社会问题。对于酒精性肝病的防治需要全社会共同参与,并且将是一条极其漫长而艰难的路程。