Biomedical subjects

Ann Buysse

Publications and source records attributed to Ann Buysse.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

A categorical and dimensional perspective on depression within a nonclinical sample of couples.

The present study investigated the role of psychosocial variables that are indicators for depressive symptomatology within a couple. The variables chosen for this study were conflict communication, marital adjustment, attachment, attribution style, and personality traits--all potentially specific indicators. A global factor analysis on all our measures revealed that our individual and relational measures were stable findings. We wanted to compare a dimensional and categorical view of depression. First, we focused on the total nonclinical sample, considering depression on a continuum, and studying the selected characteristics along with the varying degree of depressive complaints. The results highlighted the importance of individual characteristics (neuroticism and life satisfaction) covarying with the level of depressive symptomatology in the nonclinical sample (n = 186 couples). Second, in addition to this correlational design, we compared the group of most depressed subjects and their partners with a control sample (n = 34). Both approaches pointed to the same conclusion: individual characteristics covaried with mild depression, whereas couple characteristics only came into the picture with a higher level of depressive complaints. The lowest levels of depressive complaints were associated with individual co-morbidity only, whereas increasing complaints went along with additional relational complaints. Implications for assessment and future research are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

A simple and sensitive method to measure timing accuracy.

Timing accuracy in presenting experimental stimuli (visual information on a PC or on a TV) and responding (keyboard presses and mouse signals) is of importance in several experimental paradigms. In this article, a simple system for measuring timing accuracy is described. The system uses two PCs (at least Pentium II, 200 MHz), a photocell, and an amplifier. No additional boards and timing hardware are needed. The first PC, a SlavePC, monitors the keyboard presses or mouse signals from the PC under test and uses a photocell that is placed in front of the screen to detect the appearance of visual stimuli on the display. The software consists of a small program running on the SlavePC. The SlavePC is connected through a serial line with a second PC. This MasterPC controls the SlavePC through an ActiveX control, which is used in a Visual Basic program. The accuracy of our system was investigated by using a similar setup of a SlavePC and a MasterPC to generate pulses and by using a pulse generator card. These tests revealed that our system has a 0.01-msec accuracy. As an illustration, the reaction time accuracy of INQUISIT for a few applications was tested using our system. It was found that in those applications that we investigated, INQUISIT measures reaction times from keyboard presses with millisecond accuracy.

Humans↗

PubMed2003

STIVID: A VBSCRIPT-based program for adding visual and auditory stimuli on videotapes.

Some psychological experiments require placement of visual and auditory stimuli on predefined frames in a videotape. We introduce STIVID (STImuli on VIDeo) as a method of performing this task STIVID can add images, words, simple shapes, and audio tones to specific frames of existing video files created in AVI format. STIVID is written in Visual Basic and uses VBScripts to modify the AVI files. Three applications of this program are discussed: adding stimuli for reaction time experiments with couples watching a relational conflict, use of distractors in ADHD experiments, and placing eye masks on actors in existing videotapes to manipulate perceptibility of the target's facial expression during the mind-reading process.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2002

Awareness among community-dwelling elderly of assistive devices for mobility and self-care and attitudes towards their use.

The researchers conducted a survey by personal interview of elderly people (75 +years) receiving home nursing (N= 117) in Belgium to investigate the extent of their awareness and perceptions of the existing supply of assistive devices for mobility and selfcare (ADs). A new scale has been developed to measure the possession and the awareness of ADs, the Assistive Devices Awareness Scale. The researchers identified important gaps regarding the awareness of ADs, despite their widespread usefulness and their commercial availability. Even persons with specific disabilities were not necessarily aware of the ADs available to assist with their particular problems. Nevertheless, the elderly persons presented positive attitudes regarding the possibility of using devices as a partial substitute for care and advocated participation in financing the purchase of ADs. Opinions regarding the effect of using ADs on feelings of loneliness differed quite extensively. Most people who were receiving home nursing already possessed ADs. These elderly people perceived mainly positive consequences from using the ADs they already possessed. Linear forward regression analysis revealed that for the elderly clients of home nursing services, the possession of devices is correlated with the extent to which there is a growing need for care, people are aware of the existing devices and people perceive the consequences of using ADs as positive. Implications for future research are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

A social-cognitive model to predict the use of assistive devices for mobility and self-care in elderly people.

PURPOSE: To provide insight into the contribution of psychological variables in understanding use and nonuse of assistive devices (ADs) for self-care and mobility. DESIGN AND METHODS: A survey on a representative sample of 491 community-dwelling elderly people in Flanders was conducted. A theoretical model of the factors predicting the use of ADs was tested with path analysis. RESULTS: The possession and use of 32 ADs were found to be bivariately related to intention to use ADs, awareness of ADs, attitude toward AD use, subjective norm regarding AD use, self-efficacy concerning AD use, and socio-demographic characteristics. In regression analyses the intention to use ADs was found to be related to self-efficacy concerning AD use, attitude toward AD use, and subjective norm regarding AD use. IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that a social-cognitive model of human behavior can be helpful in explaining the use of ADs. The model can suggest measures to be developed aiming to improve the introduction of ADs.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Stimulation seeking and hyperactive behavior in children with ADHD: a re-analysis.

To examine the stimulation-seeking function of hyperactivity in children with ADHD, Antrop and colleagues analyzed the behavior of 30 hyperactive and 30 nonhyperactive children during a waiting situation, either with or without extra stimulation. The behavior was assessed by frequency measures. In their study it was hypothesized that children with ADHD would show a greater decrease in activity in the presence of stimulation than control children. Since confirmation for this hypothesis was only found for 2 of 25 target behaviors, the present re-analysis included other behavioral measures to assess two relationships: first, how hyperactivity varies under fixed time conditions, using measures of duration and intensity of behavior instead of frequency measures, and second, how the perceived duration of waiting time affects behavior. Analysis indicated that children with ADHD showed a greater decrease in behavior in the presence of stimulation for touching objects and movements of trunk, as reported. Further, children who underestimated the waiting period were more apt to seek additional stimulation in its absence than those who overestimated the waiting period.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗