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Selected AbstractsRisk factors and patterns of onset in binge eating disorderINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 2 2006Jamie L. Manwaring MA Abstract Objective The current study examined risk factors in women with binge eating disorder (BED) who began binging before dieting (binge-first [BF]) compared with women with BED who began dieting before binging (diet-first [DF]). It further aimed to replicate findings regarding eating disorder and general psychopathology among BF versus DF subtypes. Method One hundred fifty-five women with BED completed the Oxford Risk Factor Interview to retrospectively assess risk factors occurring before eating disturbance onset. Clinical interview assessed eating disorder and general psychopathology. Results Overall, no significant differences in risk factors emerged between the groups. The BF group had a significantly earlier onset of BED than the DF group. In contradistinction to previous studies, the DF group endorsed more eating disorder psychopathology and lifetime diagnosis of any substance use disorder. Conclusion Limited support was seen for different risk factors in BF versus DF women, suggesting similar etiologic pathways in both subtypes. © 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Staff in services for people with intellectual disabilities: the impact of stress on attributions of challenging behaviourJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 11 2005D. Rose Abstract Background There is a lack of a conceptual framework as to how stress and attribution variables interact and influence staff behaviour in response to challenging behaviour. To address this, a model is tested examining the impact of stress on attributions of challenging behaviour within Weiner's model of helping. Method A total of 107 staff working in community homes for people with intellectual disabilities completed a self-report questionnaire that measured stress, burnout, attributions, emotions, optimism and helping behaviour in response to challenging behaviour. Results Partial support was found for the role of attributions and emotions. However, although staff reported high stress levels and moderate burnout, this did not appear to relate to their reporting of thoughts and feelings regarding challenging behaviour predicted by Weiner's helping model. It was not possible to fully test the helping model, as the ,help' variable was not normally distributed. Conclusions There was little evidence to suggest that stress has a primary role in determining staff responses when examined within Weiner's model of helping. Limited support in general was offered for Weiner's helping model. Potential conceptual difficulties and clinical implications are explored and alternative models for future research are discussed. [source] Brand Name Audit Pricing, Industry Specialization, and Leadership Premiums post-Big 8 and Big 6 Mergers,CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 1 2002Andrew Ferguson Abstract This paper investigates brand name, industry specialization, and leadership audit pricing in the wake of the mergers that created the Big 6 and the Big 5 accounting firms. For samples of Australian listed public companies in each of the postmerger years 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1998, we estimate national audit fee premiums for the Big 6/5 auditors and the industry specialists and leaders. We find limited support for the ability of the Big 6/5 to obtain fee premiums over non-Big 6/5 for those industries not having specialist auditors. Nonspecialist Big 6/5 auditors are able to obtain fee premiums over nonspecialist non-Big 6/5 auditors for those industries having specialist auditors. However, this result only holds among the smaller half of our sample. We do not find strong support for the presence of industry specialist premiums in the postmerger years, especially after 1990, using various definitions of industry specialist. We find, at best, limited support for the presence of industry leadership premiums. The evidence suggests that after the Big 8/6 audit firm mergers, some caution is required in generalizing the Craswell, Francis, and Taylor 1995 finding of national market industry specialist premiums. More generally, the study raises questions about the tenuous link between the concept of specialization and national market-share statistics. [source] A cross-system synthesis of consumer and nutrient resource control on producer biomassECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 7 2008Daniel S. Gruner Abstract Nutrient availability and herbivory control the biomass of primary producer communities to varying degrees across ecosystems. Ecological theory, individual experiments in many different systems, and system-specific quantitative reviews have suggested that (i) bottom,up control is pervasive but top,down control is more influential in aquatic habitats relative to terrestrial systems and (ii) bottom,up and top,down forces are interdependent, with statistical interactions that synergize or dampen relative influences on producer biomass. We used simple dynamic models to review ecological mechanisms that generate independent vs. interactive responses of community-level biomass. We calibrated these mechanistic predictions with the metrics of factorial meta-analysis and tested their prevalence across freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems with a comprehensive meta-analysis of 191 factorial manipulations of herbivores and nutrients. Our analysis showed that producer community biomass increased with fertilization across all systems, although increases were greatest in freshwater habitats. Herbivore removal generally increased producer biomass in both freshwater and marine systems, but effects were inconsistent on land. With the exception of marine temperate rocky reef systems that showed positive synergism of nutrient enrichment and herbivore removal, experimental studies showed limited support for statistical interactions between nutrient and herbivory treatments on producer biomass. Top,down control of herbivores, compensatory behaviour of multiple herbivore guilds, spatial and temporal heterogeneity of interactions, and herbivore-mediated nutrient recycling may lower the probability of consistent interactive effects on producer biomass. Continuing studies should expand the temporal and spatial scales of experiments, particularly in understudied terrestrial systems; broaden factorial designs to manipulate independently multiple producer resources (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, light), multiple herbivore taxa or guilds (e.g. vertebrates and invertebrates) and multiple trophic levels; and , in addition to measuring producer biomass , assess the responses of species diversity, community composition and nutrient status. [source] Validity Evidence of an Electronic Portfolio for Preservice TeachersEDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2008Yuankun Yao This study applied Messick's unified, multifaceted concept of construct validity to an electronic portfolio system used in a teacher education program. The subjects included 128 preservice teachers who recently completed their final portfolio reviews and student teaching experiences. Four of Messick's six facets of validity were investigated for the portfolio in this study, along with a discussion of the remaining facets examined in two previous studies. The evidence provided support for the substantive and generalizability aspects of validity, and limited support for the content, structural, external, and consequential aspects of validity. It was suggested that the electronic portfolio may be used as one requirement for certification purposes, but may not be valid for the purpose of assessing teacher competencies. [source] Attitude-behaviour consistency: the role of group norms, attitude accessibility, and mode of behavioural decision-makingEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Joanne R. Smith The interplay between two perspectives that have recently been applied in the attitude area,the social identity approach to attitude-behaviour relations (Terry & Hogg, 1996) and the MODE model (Fazio, 1990a),was examined in the present research. Two experimental studies were conducted to examine the role of group norms, group identification, attitude accessibility, and mode of behavioural decision-making in the attitude-behaviour relationship. In Study 1 (N,=,211), the effects of norms and identification on attitude-behaviour consistency as a function of attitude accessibility and mood were investigated. Study 2 (N,=,354) replicated and extended the first experiment by using time pressure to manipulate mode of behavioural decision-making. As expected, the effects of norm congruency varied as a function of identification and mode of behavioural decision-making. Under conditions assumed to promote deliberative processing (neutral mood/low time pressure), high identifiers behaved in a manner consistent with the norm. No effects emerged under positive mood and high time pressure conditions. In Study 2, there was evidence that exposure to an attitude-incongruent norm resulted in attitude change only under low accessibility conditions. The results of these studies highlight the powerful role of group norms in directing individual behaviour and suggest limited support for the MODE model in this context. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The possible role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the aetiology of cryptorchidism and hypospadias: a population-based case,control study in rural SicilyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2007P. Carbone Abstract This was an open case,control study of the possible association between parental occupational and domestic exposures to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) assessed by questionnaire and cryptorchidism and hypospadias in their offspring in the agricultural area of Ragusa. Cases of infants born between 1998 and 2002 with either of these two malformations (n = 90), and controls (n = 203), were recruited through the paediatric services (for cases) and a random sample of healthy infants attending the same services born in the same period of time (for controls). Data on occupational and environmental exposures of parents prior to and during the index case (or control), were collected through interviews with both parents. Concerning occupational exposures, we did not find a statistically significant increase in risk among parents directly involved in agricultural work. We did find a non-statistically significant increase in risk for cryptorchidism in mothers employed in agriculture [adjusted odds ratios (OR) 2.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77,11.47] and with probable exposure to pesticides (adjusted OR 2.74; 95% CI 0.72,10.42). Fathers who had indirect contact with agricultural products (transport and retail) had an increased risk (not statistically significant) for cryptorchidism (adjusted OR 2.45; 95% CI 0.63,9.59) and hypospadias and cryptorchidism combined (adjusted OR 2.24; 95% CI 0.67,7.48). Increases in risk of the two malformations pooled were also observed in relation to the mother's age below 25 (adjusted OR 1.99; 95% CI 0.97,4.09), to the presence of genital disease of the father (adjusted OR 2.41; 95%C I0.94,6.17), and the mother (adjusted OR 3.47;95% CI1.34,8.99), to low birth weight of the infant (adjusted OR 4.49; 95% CI 1.23,16.31). Increased risk was also observed for mothers consuming alcohol during pregnancy (adjusted OR 3.09; 95% CI 0.98,9.66), and for couples who conceived while using condoms (adjusted OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.02,4.41). The study therefore provides only limited support to the hypothesis of a possible association between the risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias and the occupational exposure to EDC and agricultural work. [source] Ecological correlates of vulnerability to fragmentation in Neotropical batsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Christoph F. J. Meyer Summary 1In the face of widespread human-induced habitat fragmentation, identification of those ecological characteristics that render some species more vulnerable to fragmentation than others is vital for understanding, predicting and mitigating the effects of habitat alteration on biodiversity. We compare hypotheses on the causes of interspecific differences in fragmentation sensitivity using distribution and abundance data collected on 23 species of Neotropical bats. 2Bats were captured over a 2-year period on 11 land-bridge islands in Gatún Lake, Panama, and on the adjacent mainland. We derived a series of explanatory variables from our capture data and from the literature: (1) natural abundance in continuous forest, (2) body mass, (3) trophic level, (4) dietary specialization, (5) vertical stratification, (6) edge-sensitivity, (7) mobility, (8) wing morphology (aspect ratio and relative wing loading) and (9) ecologically scaled landscape indices (ESLIs). After phylogenetic correction, these variables were used separately and in combination to assess their association with two indices of fragmentation sensitivity, species prevalence (proportion of islands occupied) as well as an index of change in abundance. 3Model selection based on Akaike's information criterion identified edge-sensitivity as the best correlate of vulnerability to fragmentation. Natural abundance and mobility or traits linked to mobility (relative wing loading and ESLI) received limited support as predictors. Vulnerability of gleaning animalivorous bats is probably caused by a combination of these traits. 4Synthesis and applications. Our findings emphasize the importance of a local-scale approach in developing predictive models of species fragmentation sensitivity and indicate that risk assessments of Neotropical bats could be based on species tolerance to habitat edges and mobility-related traits. We suggest that, in order to be effective, management efforts should aim to minimize the amount of edge-habitat and reduce the degree of fragment-matrix contrast. Moreover, if high bat diversity is to be preserved in fragmented Neotropical landscapes, conservation measures regarding reserve design should assure spatial proximity to source populations in larger tracts of continuous forest and a low degree of remnant isolation. [source] Sex differences in levels of physical, verbal, and indirect aggression amongst primary school children and their associations with beliefs about aggressionAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 2 2004Katy Tapper Abstract The present study examined sex differences in levels of physical, verbal, and indirect aggression amongst primary school children and their relationship with instrumental and expressive beliefs about aggression. Levels of aggression were examined using self ratings, peer ratings, and observations. The latter were collected during the mid-morning and lunchtime breaks using a wireless microphone and hidden video camera. Beliefs about aggression were assessed using modified versions of Campbell et als.' [1992] EXPAGG questionnaire. The results revealed significantly higher levels of observed physical aggression amongst boys as compared to girls. However, although the means were generally in the directions predicted, there were no other significant sex differences, nor interactions between sex and age. The results also showed limited support for claims that instrumental versus expressive beliefs about aggression influence behaviour. Beliefs generally showed significant correlations with reported and observed levels of aggression, and three of these remained significant even after the variance associated with sex and age had been partialled out. On the basis of these results, we call for more longitudinal research while simultaneously acknowledging the possibility that children's beliefs about aggression and their aggressive behaviours may be shaped independently from one another. Aggr. Behav. 30: 123-145, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Surveying Supported Employment in Finland: A Follow-upJOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 4 2007Timo Saloviita Abstract, The longitudinal status of supported employment in Finland was examined via a 2003 nationwide survey sent to job coaches involved in supporting workers with intellectual and other disabilities. Sustained supported employment, defined as "paid work in integrated settings with ongoing supports that contained at least two on-site visits per month at the worksite" was identified at 22 organizations that supported 52 workers. The results of the current survey were compared with those gained from similar surveys conducted in 1998, 1999, and 2001. Comparison of data over a 6-year period showed a decline in the provision of intensive employment supports and appeared to reflect both a change in European public policy on employment supports, and a conceptual shift in supported employment from a paradigm for people with significant disabilities to a technical tool for the employment of people with limited support needs. Along with this change, supported employment agencies in Finland were found to have progressively barred people with significant disabilities from being their customers. [source] Using School Staff to Establish a Preventive Network of Care to Improve Elementary School Students' Control of AsthmaJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 6 2006Jean-Marie Bruzzese To address these problems, Columbia University and the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene undertook a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a comprehensive school-based asthma program. In this intervention, school nurses were trained to facilitate the establishment of a preventive network of care for children with asthma by coordinating communications and fostering relationships between families, PCPs, and school personnel. PCPs also received training regarding asthma management. There was limited support for this model. While case detection helped nurses identify additional students with asthma and nurses increased the amount of time spent on asthma-related tasks, PCPs did not change their medical management of asthma. Few improvements in health outcomes were achieved. Relative to controls, 12-months posttest intervention students had a reduction in activity limitations due to asthma (,35% vs ,9%, p < .05) and days with symptoms (26% vs 39%, p = .06). The intervention had no impact on the use of urgent health care services, school attendance, or caregiver's quality of life. There were also no improvements at 24-months postintervention. We faced many challenges related to case detection, training, and implementing preventive care activities, which may have hindered our success. We present these challenges, describe how we coped with them, and discuss the lessons we learned. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(6):307-312) [source] Eye tracking and online search: Lessons learned and challenges aheadJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2008Lori Lorigo This article surveys the use of eye tracking in investigations of online search. Three eye tracking experiments that we undertook are discussed and compared to additional work in this area, revealing recurring behaviors and trends. The first two studies are described in greater detail in Granka, Joachims, & Gay (2004), Lorigo et al. (2006), and Pan et al. (2007), and the third study is described for the first time in this article. These studies reveal how users view the ranked results on a search engine results page (SERP), the relationship between the search result abstracts viewed and those clicked on, and whether gender, search task, or search engine influence these behaviors. In addition, we discuss a key challenge that arose in all three studies that applies to the use of eye tracking in studying online behaviors which is due to the limited support for analyzing scanpaths, or sequences of eye fixations. To meet this challenge, we present a preliminary approach that involves a graphical visualization to compare a path with a group of paths. We conclude by summarizing our findings and discussing future work in further understanding online search behavior with the help of eye tracking. [source] MPEG-7 tools for Universal Multimedia AccessJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2007José M. Martínez Universal Multimedia Access (UMA) deals with seamless access to once-only-created content via any kind of terminal and any kind of network connectivity, which implies that the content should be adapted in order to fit a variety of terminal and network characteristics, as well as user preferences. The MPEG-7 standard offers some support for UMA within its section on Multimedia Description Schemes (MDS). Within the standard, several groups of tools serve this purpose. For instance, the Navigation and Access Tools provide some Description Schemes that allow the description of adapted content variations and summaries and allow for preprocessed content versions. Some support is also found in the Content Metadata Tools (Media and Usage Tools), for real-time ease in creation of online content versions and in limited support for session description, which is completed in MPEG-21. [source] PLACES OF WORSHIP AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITYJOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Issue 4 2006NANCY T. KINNEY ABSTRACT:,Despite ongoing interest in religious group involvement in community development, only limited research has considered whether the mere existence of a place of worship can be linked to neighborhood well-being. This exploratory study uses a cross-sectional design to examine the relationships between the presence of churches in high-poverty neighborhoods and specific measures of neighborhood stability. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and geographic information system (GIS) software were employed to compare measures of structural permanence, residential tenure, and property valuation from a sample of two types of church (freestanding and storefront) and non-church areas or "clusters." The findings provide limited support for the conclusion that storefront churches, while modest and often regarded as less architecturally significant, may be overlooked contributors to the sort of stable urban space where residential population is preserved and investment maintained. [source] Geographical patterns of micro-organismal community structure: are diatoms ubiquitously distributed across boreal streams?OIKOS, Issue 1 2010Jani Heino A topic under intensive study in community ecology and biogeography is the degree to which microscopic, as well as macroscopic organisms, show spatially-structured variation in community characteristics. In general, unicellular microscopic organisms are regarded as ubiquitously distributed and, therefore, without a clear biogeographic signal. This view was summarized 75,years ago by Baas-Becking, who stated "everything is everywhere, but, the environment selects". Within the context of metacommunity theory, this hypothesis is congruent with the species sorting model. By using a broad-scale dataset on stream diatom communities and environmental predictor variables across most of Finland, our main aim was to test this hypothesis. Patterns of spatial autocorrelation were evaluated by Moran's I based correlograms, whereas partial regression analysis and partial redundancy analysis were used to quantify the relative importance of environmental and spatial factors on total species richness and on community composition, respectively. Significant patterns of spatial autocorrelation were found for all environmental variables, which also varied widely. Our main results were clear-cut. In general, pure spatial effects clearly overcame those of environmental effects, with the former explaining much more variation in species richness and community composition. Most likely, missing environmental variables cannot explain the higher predictive power of spatial variables, because we measured key factors that have previously been found to be the most important variables (e.g. pH, conductivity, colour, phosphorus, nitrogen) shaping the structure of diatom communities. Therefore, our results provided only limited support for the Baas-Becking hypothesis and the species sorting perspective of metacommunity theory. [source] SATISFACTION, CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIORS, AND PERFORMANCE IN WORK UNITS: A META-ANALYSIS OF COLLECTIVE CONSTRUCT RELATIONSPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2010DANIEL S. WHITMAN This paper offers theoretical development clarifying the structure and function of collective job satisfaction and uses meta-analytic methods (k,= 73) to examine the satisfaction,performance relationship when both constructs are construed at the work unit level. Overall, our results suggest that the relationship between unit-level job satisfaction and unit-level performance is significant (,= .34). Specifically, significant relationships were found between unit-level job satisfaction and unit-level criteria, including productivity, customer satisfaction, withdrawal, and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB). Furthermore, the satisfaction-performance relationship was moderated by the strength of unit consensus, performance criteria, industry type, and whether the sample was U.S. based. Although these moderators were identified, collective satisfaction positively predicted performance across all levels of moderators. In addition, results indicate that unit-level OCB has a moderately strong relationship with unit-level performance. Only limited support was found for the notion that OCB is a route through which satisfaction has an impact on performance. We elaborate on these findings and attempt to provide a more clear direction for future research in this area. [source] THE TRANSPORTABILITY OF JOB INFORMATION ACROSS COUNTRIESPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008PAUL J. TAYLOR Three Occupational Information Network (O*NET) instruments (Generalized Work Activities, Basic and Cross-Functional Skills, Work Styles) were administered to 1,007 job incumbents, from 369 organizations, performing 1 of 3 jobs (first-line supervisor, office clerk, computer programmer) in New Zealand, China, and Hong Kong. Data from these countries were compared with archival data collected from 370 incumbents holding similar jobs in the United States. Hypothesized country differences, derived from cross-cultural theory, received limited support. The magnitude of differences in mean item ratings between incumbents from the United States and the other 3 countries were generally small to moderate in size, and rank-orderings of the importance and level of work activities and job requirements were quite similar, suggesting that, for most applications, job information is likely to transport quite well across countries. [source] Occupational stress and work-related upper extremity disorders: Concepts and models,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2002Grant D. Huang MPH Abstract Background While research has suggested that interventions targeted at occupational stress (job stress) factors may improve clinical and work outcomes related to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, the emerging hypotheses relating occupational stress to work-related upper extremity disorders (WRUEDs) are not particularly well known among occupational health providers and researchers. Methods Generic job stress and health models and multivariable models of WRUEDs were described and evaluated. Results Models on occupational stress and health/WRUEDs offer unique perspectives on the role of occupational stressors on WRUEDs. However, the limited support for the structure and proposed mechanisms of these models suggest that investigations examining and validating proposed biobehavioral pathways are still needed. Discussion Difficulties in conceptualizing occupational stress have, in the past, hindered its systematic incorporation into occupational health research and prevention/intervention strategies. The present paper provides a common basis for researchers and practitioners with diverse backgrounds to understand job stress and its relation to WRUEDs in order to enhance future efforts. Given the present limitations in the field and the need for comprehensive approaches to WRUEDs, there is great potential for occupational health researchers and clinicians to advance knowledge in this area. Am. J. Ind. Med. 41:298,314, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Social and Psychological Weil-Being in Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals: The Effects of Race, Gender, Age, and Sexual IdentityAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 4 2009Robert M. Kertzner MD Using a social stress perspective, the authors studied the mental health effects of added burden related to socially disadvantaged status (being African American or Latino, female, young, and identifying as bisexual vs. gay or lesbian) in a community sample of 396 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. Mental health outcomes were social and psychological well-being contrasted with depressive symptoms. When mental health deficiencies by disadvantaged social status were detected, the authors examined whether LGB community connectedness and positive sexual identity valence played a mediating role, reducing the social status disparity in outcome. The authors found different patterns when looking at social versus psychological well-being and positive versus negative mental health outcomes. Bisexuality and young age, but not gender and racial/ethnic minority status, were associated with decreased social well-being. In bisexuals, this relationship was mediated by community connectedness and sexual identity valence. Although no differences in social or psychological well-being were found by gender, female gender was associated with depressed mood. The authors conclude that there is limited support for an additive stress model. [source] Purchasing Cooperatives for Small Employers: Performance and ProspectsTHE MILBANK QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2000Elliot K. Wicks Health insurance purchasing cooperatives were established in the early to mid-1990s for the purpose of making health insurance more affordable and accessible for small employers. Extensive interviews at six cooperatives reveal that while some cooperatives enrolled large numbers of small employers, most have won only small market shares and a number have struggled for survival, not always successfully. They have allowed small employers to offer individual employees choice of health plans, but none has been able to sustain lower prices than are available in the conventional market. Among the important impediments to their success are limited support from health plans and conflicts over the role of insurance agents. [source] Pharmacotherapy of bipolar II disorder: a critical review of current evidenceBIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 1 2004George Hadjipavlou Objectives:, There is much controversy surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with bipolar II disorder (BP II). To address the growing need to find effective treatment strategies for patients with BP II, this article identifies and summarizes available published evidence specific to the pharmacotherapy of BP II. Methods:, Using the keywords, ,bipolar disorder', ,type II' or ,type 2', ,bipolar II', ,hypomania', and ,bipolar spectrum', a search of the databases Medline (via PubMed), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (via Ovid), and PsychInfo was conducted for the period January 1994 to January 2003. Articles deemed directly relevant to the treatment of BP II were selected. Studies that included both BP I and II patients were excluded if results for BP II patients were not analyzed and reported separately. Results:, Fourteen articles were selected for the review period. There are no double blind, randomized controlled trials (RCT) involving only BP II patients. Most studies investigating the pharmacotherapy of BP II are methodologically limited, having observational or retrospective designs and small samples. For long-term treatment, lamotrigine has the strongest quality of evidence (double blind RCT), while lithium is the best studied. With regard to short-term treatment, there is some limited support for the use of risperidone in hypomania, and for divalproex, fluoxetine and venlafaxine in treating depression. Conclusions:, There is a paucity of sound evidence to help guide clinicians treating BP II patients. Decisions about pharmacotherapy should be made on a case-by-case basis; overall, broad recommendations that are based on available evidence cannot be adequately made. More quality research is needed to delineate effective treatment strategies. [source] Union Workers, Union Work: A Profile of Paid Union Officers in the United KingdomBRITISH JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, Issue 3 2006Edmund Heery Twelve years ago, Working for the Union presented an analysis of paid trade union officers working for UK unions. This paper returns to the themes of this earlier study using a fresh survey of union officers carried out in 2002. It provides limited support for two of the principal findings of the earlier research: that union work is performed differently by officers with different demographic and attitudinal characteristics and that union management systems can be effective in encouraging officers to respond to a new bargaining and organizing agenda. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||