Temporal Stability of Dissociative Symptoms in the General Population

The Dissociative Symptoms Scale (DSS) was developed to assess moderately severe levels of depersonalization, derealization, gaps in awareness or memory, and dissociative reexperiencing that would be relevant to a wide range of clinical populations. Structural analyses of data from four clinical and five nonclinical samples ( N = 1,600) yielded four factors that reflected the domains of interest and showed good fit with the data. Sample scores were consistent with expectations and showed very good internal consistency and temporal stability. Analyses showed consistent evidence of convergent and divergent validity, and posttrauma elevations in scores and in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder provided additional evidence of construct validity. Item response theory analyses indicated that the items assessed moderately severe dissociative experiences. Overall, the results provide support for the reliability and validity of DSS total and subscale scores in the populations studied. Further work is needed to evaluate the performance of the DSS relative to structured interview measures and in samples of patients with other psychological disorders.

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609 B-type natriuretic peptide testing for structural heart disease screening: a general population-based study

European Journal of Heart Failure Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1567-4215(05)80381-9 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 138-139

Keyword(s):

Heart Disease ◽

General Population ◽

Natriuretic Peptide ◽

Structural Heart Disease ◽

Population Based ◽

Disease Screening ◽

Population Based Study

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Arterial stiffness is a potential mechanism and promising indicator of orthostatic hypotension in the general population

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000389 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 423-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Qingtao Meng ◽

Si Wang ◽

Yong Wang ◽

Shixi Wan ◽

Kai Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Orthostatic Hypotension ◽

Operating Characteristic ◽

Pulse Wave ◽

Augmentation Index ◽

Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Baroreceptor Sensitivity ◽

Roc Curve Analysis

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a disease prevalent among middle-aged men and the elderly. The association between arterial stiffness and OH is unclear. This study evaluates whether arterial stiffness is correlated with OH and tests the usefulness of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an arterial stiffness marker, with regard to identifying OH. Patients and methods: A sample of 1,010 participants was recruited from the general population (64.8 ± 7.7 years; 426 men) who attended health check-ups. BaPWV and the radial augmentation index (rAI) were both assessed as the arterial stiffness markers, and OH was determined using blood pressure (BP) measured in the supine position, as well as 30 seconds and 2 minutes after standing. Results: The prevalence of OH in this population was 4.9 %. Compared with the non-OH group, both baPWV (20.5 ± 4.5 vs 17.3 ± 3.7, p < 0.001) and rAI (88.1 ± 10.8 vs 84.2 ± 10.7, p < 0.05) were significantly higher in the OH group. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, baPWV (OR, 1.3; 95 % CI, 1.106–1.528; p < 0.05) remained associated with OH. Moreover, the degree of orthostatic BP reduction was related to arterial stiffness. In addition, increases in arterial stiffness predicted decreases in the degree of heart rate (HR) elevation. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that baPWV was useful in discriminating OH (AUC, 0.721; p < 0.001), with the cut-off value of 18.58 m/s (sensitivity, 0.714; specificity, 0.686). Conclusions: Arterial stiffness determined via baPWV, rather than rAI, was significantly correlated with the attenuation of the orthostatic hemodynamic response and the resultant OH. The impaired baroreceptor sensitivity might be the mechanism. In addition, baPWV appears to be a relatively sensitive and reliable indicator of OH in routine clinical practice.

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Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Sri Lanka

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 30-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sudath Samaraweera ◽

Athula Sumathipala ◽

Sisira Siribaddana ◽

S. Sivayogan ◽

Dinesh Bhugra

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

General Population ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

National Average ◽

The West ◽

Suicide Methods ◽

Suicide Rates ◽

Completed Suicide ◽

The World

Background: Suicidal ideation can often lead to suicide attempts and completed suicide. Studies have shown that Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world but so far no studies have looked at prevalence of suicidal ideation in a general population in Sri Lanka. Aims: We wanted to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation by randomly selecting six Divisional Secretariats (Dss) out of 17 in one district. This district is known to have higher than national average rates of suicide. Methods: 808 participants were interviewed using Sinhala versions of GHQ-30 and Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Of these, 387 (48%) were males, and 421 (52%) were female. Results: On Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation, 29 individuals (4%) had active suicidal ideation and 23 (3%) had passive suicidal ideation. The active suicidal ideators were young, physically ill and had higher levels of helplessness and hopelessness. Conclusions: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in Sri Lanka is lower than reported from the West and yet suicide rates are higher. Further work must explore cultural and religious factors.

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Instrumental and Ideological Union Commitment: Longitudinal Assessment of Construct Validity

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027//1015-5759.17.2.98 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 98-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anders Sjöberg ◽

Magnus Sverke

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Strong Support ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Measurement Model ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Longitudinal Assessment ◽

Union Commitment ◽

Union Participation

Summary: Previous research has identified instrumentality and ideology as important aspects of member attachment to labor unions. The present study evaluated the construct validity of a scale designed to reflect the two dimensions of instrumental and ideological union commitment using a sample of 1170 Swedish blue-collar union members. Longitudinal data were used to test seven propositions referring to the dimensionality, internal consistency reliability, and temporal stability of the scale as well as postulated group differences in union participation to which the scale should be sensitive. Support for the hypothesized factor structure of the scale and for adequate reliabilities of the dimensions was obtained and was also replicated 18 months later. Tests for equality of measurement model parameters and test-retest correlations indicated support for the temporal stability of the scale. In addition, the results were consistent with most of the predicted differences between groups characterized by different patterns of change/stability in union participation status. The study provides strong support for the construct validity of the scale and indicates that it can be used in future theory testing on instrumental and ideological union commitment.

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Psychometric Properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000090 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 51-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Anna Ogliari ◽

Simona Scaini ◽

Michael J. Kofler ◽

Valentina Lampis ◽

Annalisa Zanoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Social Phobia ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Emotional Disorders ◽

Child Anxiety ◽

Self Report ◽

Public Performance ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

The Social ◽

General Populations

Reliable and valid self-report questionnaires could be useful as initial screening instruments for social phobia in both clinical settings and general populations. The present study investigates the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) in a sample of 228 children from the Italian general population aged 8 to 11. The children were asked to complete the Italian version of the SPAI-C and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that social phobia can be conceptualized as a unitary construct consisting of five distinct but interrelated symptom clusters named Assertiveness, General Conversation, Physical/Cognitive Symptoms, Avoidance, and Public Performance. Internal consistency of the SPAI-C total scores and two subscales was good; correlations between SPAI-C total scores and SCARED total scores/subscales ranged from moderate to high (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, for social phobia), with the SCARED Social Phobia subscale as the best predictor of SPAI-C total scores. The results indicate that the SPAI-C is a reliable and sensitive instrument suitable for identifying Social Phobia in the young Italian general population.

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Internal Structure of the Spanish Adaptation of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000087 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 25-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Paula Elosua ◽

Alicia López-Jáuregui

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Internal Structure ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Second Order ◽

Order Structure ◽

Eating Disorder Inventory ◽

High Internal Consistency

In this study the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 was adapted to Spanish and analyzed the internal psychometric properties of the test in a clinical sample of females with eating disorders. The results showed a high internal consistency of the scores as well as high temporal stability. The factor structure of the scale composites was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The results supported the existence of a second-order structure beyond the psychological composites. The second-order factor showed high correlation with the factor related to eating disorders. Overall, the Spanish version of the EDI-3 showed good psychometric qualities in terms of internal consistency, temporal stability and internal structure.

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Personality of Clown Doctors

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000187 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 49-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Alberto Dionigi

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Big Five ◽

Normal Population ◽

Big Five Personality Traits ◽

Published Data ◽

Big Five Personality

Abstract. In recent years, both professional and volunteer clowns have become familiar in health settings. The clown represents a peculiar humorist’s character, strictly associated with the performer’s own personality. In this study, the Big Five personality traits (BFI) of 155 Italian clown doctors (130 volunteers and 25 professionals) were compared to published data for the normal population. This study highlighted specific differences between clown doctors and the general population: Clown doctors showed higher agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion, as well as lower neuroticism compared to other people. Moreover, specific differences emerged comparing volunteers and professionals: Professional clowns showed significantly lower in agreeableness compared to their unpaid colleagues. The results are also discussed with reference to previous studies conducted on groups of humorists. Clowns’ personalities showed some peculiarities that can help to explain the facility for their performances in the health setting and that are different than those of other groups of humorists.

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