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Design Test (design + test)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Test,re-test reliability of DSM-IV adopted criteria for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse and dependence: a cross-national study

ADDICTION, Issue 10 2009
Linda B. Cottler
ABSTRACT Aims This study evaluated the prevalence and reliability of DSM-IV adopted criteria for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse and dependence with a purpose to determine whether it is best conceptualized within the category of hallucinogens, amphetamines or its own category. Design Test,re-test study. Participants MDMA users (life-time use >5 times) were recruited in St Louis, Miami and Sydney (n = 593). The median life-time MDMA consumption was 50 pills at the baseline. Measurements The computerized Substance Abuse Module for Club Drug (CD-SAM) was used to assess MDMA abuse and dependence. The Discrepancy Interview Protocol (DIP) was used to determine the reasons for the discrepant responses between the two interviews. Reliability of diagnoses, individual diagnostic criteria and withdrawal symptoms was examined using the kappa coefficient (,). Findings For baseline data, 15% and 59% met MDMA abuse and dependence, respectively. Substantial test,re-test reliability of the diagnoses was observed consistently across cities (, = 0.69). ,Continued use despite knowledge of physical/psychological problems' (87%) and ,withdrawal' (68%) were the two most prevalent dependence criteria. ,Physically hazardous use' was the most prevalent abuse criterion. Six dependence criteria and all abuse criteria were reported reliably across cities (,: 0.53,0.77). Seventeen of 19 withdrawal symptoms showed consistency in the reliability across cities. The most commonly reported reason for discrepant responses was ,interpretation of question changed'. Only a small proportion of the total discrepancies were attributed to lying or social desirability. Conclusion The adopted DSM-IV diagnostic classification for MDMA abuse and dependence was moderately reliable across cities. Findings on MDMA withdrawal support the argument that MDMA should be separated from other hallucinogens in DSM. [source]

Usefulness of measuring serum markers in addition to comprehensive geriatric assessment for cognitive impairment and depressive mood in the elderly

GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006
Hidenori Arai
Background: To determine the utility of various serum markers for assessment of cognitive and mental functions in the elderly, we performed a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the out-patient clinic in Kyoto University Hospital. Methods: We measured serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA-S, malondialdehyde low-density lipoproteins (MDA-LDL), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in 145 patients to find the association of these markers with activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms. Results: We found that the levels of hs-CRP were significantly higher in patients with lower scores in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Kohs block design test, and higher scores in the button test, indicating that hs-CRP may be associated with the cognitive function in elderly patients. We also found that the levels of DHEA-S were lower in patients with higher scores (9 or over) on the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS), indicating that DHEA-S may be associated with depressive mode in elderly patients. Total cholesterol, high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), or albumin were not statistically different in each group studied. Conclusions: Thus, our data indicate that measuring hs-CRP and DHEA-S would be helpful to assess the cognitive function and depressive symptoms in elderly patients. [source]

Interrelations between maternal smoking during pregnancy, birth weight and sociodemographic factors in the prediction of early cognitive abilities

INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2006
S. C. J. Huijbregts
Abstract Maternal prenatal smoking, birth weight and sociodemographic factors were investigated in relation to cognitive abilities of 1544 children (aged 3.5 years) participating in the Québec Longitudinal Study of Children's Development. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) was used to assess verbal ability, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) block design test to assess visuospatial ability, and the Visually Cued Recall (VCR) task to assess short-term memory. Prenatal smoking was related to performance on the WPPSI-R, the PPVT, and the VCR, although it did not independently predict any cognitive ability after maternal education was taken into account. Birth weight was a more robust predictor of all outcome measures and independently predicted VCR-performance. Birth weight interacted significantly with family income and maternal education in predicting visuospatial ability, indicating a greater influence of birth weight under relatively poor socio-economic conditions. Parenting and family functioning mediated associations between maternal education/family income and cognitive task performance under different birth weight conditions, although there were indications for stronger effects under relatively low birth weight. We conclude that investigations of moderating and mediating effects can provide insights into which children are most at risk of cognitive impairment and might benefit most from interventions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

"What exactly are you inferring?"

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2008
A closer look at hypothesis testing
Abstract This critical review describes the confused application of significance tests in environmental toxicology and chemistry that often produces incorrect inferences and indefensible regulatory decisions. Following a brief review of statistical testing theory, nine recommendations are put forward. The first is that confidence intervals be used instead of hypothesis tests whenever possible. The remaining recommendations are relevant if hypothesis tests are used. They are as follows: Define and justify Type I and II error rates a priori; set and justify an effect size a priori; do not confuse p(E | H0) and p(H0 | E); design tests permitting Positive Predictive Value estimation; publish negative results; estimate a priori, not post hoc, power; as warranted by study goals, favor null hypotheses that are not conventional nil hypotheses; and avoid definitive inferences from isolated tests. [source]