Biomedical subjects

C Zalewski

Publications and source records attributed to C Zalewski.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Moderator variables of executive functioning in schizophrenia: meta-analytic findings.

The literature regarding executive functioning in schizophrenia was examined to determine effect size differences between schizophrenic, normal control, and psychiatric groups. Effect sizes (n = 176) from 71 studies were cumulated across measures including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Halstead Category Test (HCT), verbal/design fluency, Trail Making B (TMB), and the Stroop Color-Word Test. Schizophrenic groups were impaired relative to controls (delta = -1.45). Schizophrenic groups also performed 0.40 standard deviations lower than psychiatric groups. Within the schizophrenic versus normal control comparisons, the effect size based on complex measures, such as the WCST/HCT (delta = -1.42), was similar to that based on less complex measures, such as TMB and the Stroop (delta = -1.58). Chlorpromazine equivalents and illness duration were not significantly correlated with effect sizes (p > 0.05). Effect sizes and number of hospitalizations (p < 0.05) were related. Effect sizes and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were not significantly correlated. Negative and positive symptoms were significantly correlated (p < 0.05). The results as they apply to research and clinical practice are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Genome sequence of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1.

The complete genome sequence of the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1 is composed of two chromosomes (2,648,638 and 412,348 base pairs), a megaplasmid (177,466 base pairs), and a small plasmid (45,704 base pairs), yielding a total genome of 3,284, 156 base pairs. Multiple components distributed on the chromosomes and megaplasmid that contribute to the ability of D. radiodurans to survive under conditions of starvation, oxidative stress, and high amounts of DNA damage were identified. Deinococcus radiodurans represents an organism in which all systems for DNA repair, DNA damage export, desiccation and starvation recovery, and genetic redundancy are present in one cell.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1998

A review of neuropsychological differences between paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenia patients.

This review examines the literature on neuropsychological differences between paranoid and nonparanoid schizophrenia subjects. Thirty-two studies related to intellectual functioning, attention, memory, language, visual-spatial, and motor functions are discussed. Subjects with paranoid schizophrenia did not demonstrate higher intellectual functioning than those with nonparanoid schizophrenia, and both groups performed similarly on tests of verbal ability and visual-spatial functions. Several studies suggest that the paranoid subtype is associated with higher performance on tests of executive functions, attention, memory, and motor skills. However, the findings are inconsistent. Methodological issues in the literature are examined, including varying degrees of participants' chronicity and severity of illness among studies, criteria for diagnostic group membership, medication effects, reliability and validity of the neuropsychological measures, and statistical power.

Cognition Disorders↗

PubMed1998

The relationship between ethnicity and word fluency.

The impact of ethnicity on word fluency measures, i.e., the FAS (Benton & Hamsher, 1976) and Animal Naming (AN) (Spreen & Strauss, 1991) tests, was explored. The groups included: White (n = 200), Black (n = 200), and Hispanic (n = 200) veterans. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed significant main effects for FAS and AN total scores both before and after covarying for income, education, and Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised Reading scores (p <.05). The largest unadjusted group mean difference approximated a medium effect size. No differences were found between FAS and AN standardized scores within each group. The findings are discussed as they relate to clinical practice and research.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1995

Characteristics of child sexual abuse victims according to perpetrator gender.

Characteristics of child sexual abuse victims were determined through a comparison of 87 victims of lone female perpetrators to 93 victims of lone male perpetrators according to age, gender, and relationship of perpetrator to the victim. Lone female perpetrators abused children 3.3 years younger (M = 6.0 years) than lone male perpetrators (M = 9.3 years). Both lone female and lone male perpetrators abused more girls (62%, 76%, respectively) than boys. Female perpetrators were more likely to be caretakers than male perpetrators, whereas male perpetrators were more likely to be strangers than female perpetrators. Lastly, lone female perpetrators, lone male perpetrators, and male/female coperpetrators did not differ regarding severity of abuse. Thus, contrary to popular assumption, abuse by female perpetrators was not less severe than abuse by male perpetrators.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Comparison of Neuropsychological Test Performance in PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Control Vietnam Veterans

Although impairment in cognitive functioning is theoretically linked to the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the actual impact of this disorder on neuropsychological performance remains largely unknown. While a modest amount of empirical attention has been directed toward examining the neuropsychological correlates of PTSD, several methodological problems, most notably small sample sizes and the resulting lack of power, have greatly restricted generalizability of findings. The present study examined the neuropsychological performance pattern of Vietnam veterans with PTSD (n = 241) as compared to those with generalized anxiety disorder (n = 241) and no history of psychiatric diagnosis (n = 241). A one-way MANOVA revealed no significant differences among the groups on any of the dependent measures of cognitive functioning, including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Block Design subtest, the California Verbal Learning Test, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Drawing Test, and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test. The results are reconciled as they relate to previous research examining the theoretical constructs of PTSD, clinical applications, and directions for future research.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Assessment of Adolescents With the Rorschach: A Critical Review

This paper critically reviews 48 studies which examine the use of the Rorschach in adolescent populations. Several methodological concerns present in this literature are addressed, including (a) small sample sizes, (b) wide age ranges within the samples, (c) limited generalizability due to narrowly defined constructs and examination of highly specific groups, (d) frequent reliance on recorded diagnosis to determine group membership, and (e) limited comparability across studies due to the use of highly variable scoring and interpretation systems. In spite of these difficulties, there is some evidence that the Rorschach does provide useful and valid measures of reality testing, cognitive complexity, and disordered/psychotic thinking; general psychological distress; disturbance in object relations; and depression in specific adolescent groups. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Shame and depression proneness among female adult children of alcoholics.

Although recent clinical literature has posited that both shame and depression are important aspects in the treatment of adult children of alcoholics (ACAs), proneness to shame and depression in this group remains underexamined. This study tests the hypotheses that ACAs are more prone to shame and depression than non-ACAs. The sample consisted of 60 women--30 ACAs and 30 non-ACAs--who were 22 to 55 years old during the study period and had begun treatment within the past 6 months. The dependent measures were the Depression Proneness Rating Scale and the Adapted Shame/Guilt Scale. Female ACAs were found to be more depression prone than non-ACAs (p < .05), and the difference was not explained by any of the other variables studied. Contrary to expectations, they were not found to be more shame prone. The results are discussed as they relate to alternative hypotheses, clinical implications, and future research.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Training in psychodiagnostic testing in APA-approved PsyD and PhD clinical psychology programs.

Fifty-one percent (N = 80) of directors of doctoral PhD and PsyD programs in clinical psychology, accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), responded to a survey on assessment training. The study was a replication of an earlier survey by Piotrowski and Keller (1984b) on instruction, practices, and attitudes on testing. Our findings indicated that training emphasis in assessment coursework has changed very little over the past decade. Intelligence testing was emphasized in most programs, followed by objective and projective personality assessment. However, training in behavioral assessment techniques was required in only half of the responding programs. There were no significant differences between PhD and PsyD programs concerning required coursework in assessment. Factors that influence the perennial importance of testing in the clinical core curriculum are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

Assessment of borderline personality disorder. A review of MMPI and Rorschach findings.

This review examines the literature on assessing borderline personality disorder (BPD) using the MMPI and the Rorschach test. Despite the extensive use of these instruments in the assessment of BPD, the degree to which they are successful in identifying the disorder remains unclear. Methodological difficulties in this literature are discussed, including diagnostic and sample heterogeneity, base rate issues, systematic differences in selection criteria among studies, and, for the Rorschach, differing outcome measures. Both MMPI and Rorschach findings suggest a general trend for borderline groups to produce relatively unique findings. Their usefulness in yielding accurate individual diagnoses of BPD, however, has not yet been established. Furthermore, no supportive evidence was found for the commonly held hypothesis that BPD subjects show more impairment on unstructured measures than on objective measures.

Borderline Personality Disorder↗

PubMed1980

Development of a multihospital pharmacy quality assurance program.

Seven community hospitals have worked cooperatively for 18 months to develop an initial hospital pharmacy quality assurance program. Auditing criteria were developed for nine service areas corresponding to the model program developed by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists. Current plans are to implement and modify this program as required at each participating hospital. Follow-up programs will also be essential to a functional, ongoing program, and these will be developed in the future.

Interinstitutional Relations↗