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Particular Dimensions (particular + dimension)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Contagion Phenomena in Financial Crises: Evidence from the Portuguese and Spanish Exchange Rate Crises in the Early 1990s

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, Issue 2 2003
Margarida AbreuArticle first published online: 3 SEP 200
Based on the experience of the Portuguese and Spanish financial crises in the early 1990s, this paper suggests that the spillover of exchange rate crises may reveal a particular dimension of the financial contagion effect: the presumption of mimetic behaviour by monetary authorities. This paper analyses the evolution of the credibility of the Escudo and the Peseta. We set out to test the existence of a contagion effect: that is, in what way does the polarization of exchange rate expectations in a scenario of devaluation of one currency explain the building up of a similar scenario for the other currency? We also examine the transmission mechanisms of such a scenario. Our results suggest the existence of a one-way contagion effect, of the Escudo by the Peseta. Speculative attacks against the Peseta necessarily give rise to speculative attacks against the Escudo, regardless of the evolution of the ,fundamentals' of the Escudo. In this case, the spillover of financial crises could be better understood by the anticipated mimetic behaviour of monetary authorities, rather than by the geographical proximity of the countries in question or by the identical performance of the economies of both. [source]

Changes in perfectionism following cognitive-behavioral treatment for social phobia,

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 3 2007
Andrea Ashbaugh M.A.
Abstract Previous studies have found that social phobia (social anxiety disorder) is associated with elevated levels of perfectionism, particularly concerns over making mistakes (CM) and doubts about actions (DA). This study investigated the extent to which various dimensions of perfectionism change as a result of participating in a 12-session cognitive-behavioral group treatment for social phobia. One hundred seven individuals completed the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale before and after treatment. Participants improved on several measures of social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression. With respect to perfectionism, significant reductions were seen on total perfectionism scores and scores on particular dimensions (CM, DA, organization), but not on other dimensions (personal standards, parental expectations, parental criticism). Furthermore, changes in DA and to some extent CM predicted posttreatment levels of social anxiety after controlling for pretreatment levels of social anxiety and changes in anxiety and depression. Implications of these findings are discussed. Depression and Anxiety 24:169,177, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Anger and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 2 2002
Raymond W. Novaco
Abstract We examined whether combat-related PTSD was differentially associated with particular dimensions of anger on two multi-index, psychometric instruments and whether the proportion of variation in PTSD scores explained by anger was significantly greater than that by demographic and exposure variables. We also examined the reliability and validity of a subset of Mississippi Scale items as an anger measure. Participants were 143 Vietnam combat veterans. Anger accounted for over 40% of the variance in Mississippi PTSD scores (minus the anger items) above that associated with age, education, and combat exposure. Veterans with structured-interview,diagnosed PTSD were significantly differentiated from those without PTSD on all anger indices. The results point to anger treatment as a high priority for combat-related PTSD. [source]

Can brief workshops improve clinical instruction?

MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2008
Netta Notzer
Context, The impact of faculty development activities aimed at improving the teaching skills of clinical instructors requires elucidation. Since 2003, all instructors at our school of medicine have been required to undertake a brief workshop in basic clinical instructional skills as a prerequisite for promotion and tenure. The impact of this has, so far, remained unknown. Objective, This study aimed to examine to what extent participation in a brief workshop can improve clinical instructors' performance in the long run, and which particular dimensions of performance are improved. Methods, The study included a sample of 149 faculty members who undertook a required workshop in basic instructional skills. The teaching performance of these faculty members was measured by student feedback a year after the workshop. The study used pre- and post-test design, with a comparison group of 121 faculty members. Results, Student ratings for 5 dimensions of clinical instruction increased significantly, but only for the study group who had participated in a workshop. The comparison group's ratings were unchanged. The highest improvement in the instructors' performance related to availability of teachers to students. Conclusions, The study supports previous findings about the added value gained by longterm improvement of instructional skills after participation in even a brief workshop. The meaningful improvement in instructor availability to students is associated with the workshops' emphasis on a learner-centred approach and the need to provide continuous feedback. [source]