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Background: Childhood trauma (CT) is a potential risk factor in psychosis, and the prevalence of CT may be higher in patients with psychosis compared to other mental health disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential specificity of CT in psychosis. Methods: The sample consisted of 52 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 52 matched patients with other mental health disorders. CT was measured by the CTQ-SF. The groups were compared on CTQ-SF sum and subscale scores indicating rates of CT, in addition to rates of none/low vs. moderate/severe levels of CT. Results: The psychosis group had significantly higher CTQ-SF sum scores, and reported significantly higher levels of, and more severe, physical and sexual abuse and physical neglect. Also, 67.3% of the psychosis group reported ≥ 1 CT above the cut-off, compared to 38.5% in the non-psychosis group. No patients in the non-psychosis group reported ≥ 4 CT, compared to 9.6% in the psychosis group. Conclusions: Patients with psychosis reported more severe and frequent CT compared to non-psychotic patients. Our results may indicate some specificity for moderate and severe levels of physical and sexual abuse, and physical neglect, in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus are morphologically very similar and cannot be registered separately by species in the Namibian commercial hake catches. This prevents a biologically plausible single-species stock assessment from being carried out. Here, species-separated data from an observer programme and scientific surveys are used to model the spatio-temporal overlap of the two species, which are then used to predict the catch by species in each commercial trawl. The study presents a method that compensates for both the escapement and codend retention differences in the survey and commercial trawls. The accuracy with which species were identified was found to be considerably higher during scientific surveys compared with that obtained from observers, whereas the seasonal coverage of the observer data was much better than that of the surveys. The estimated spatio-temporal model parameters from each of these two data sources were similar, however, despite these differences. In support of previous findings, M. capensis had a shallower and more northerly distribution than M. paradoxus with depth and latitude together explaining 51% and 85% of the residuals in the models produced from observer and survey data respectively. Model outputs suggest that during the period 1998–2007, M. paradoxus has dominated the annual hake catches. Even though our method is unable to account for abrupt and unexpected changes in the species’ geographical distribution, it does open the way for the establishment of a single-species hake assessment in Namibia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction of chlorpromazine, an increasing number of drugs have been added to the list of antipsychotics (neuroleptics). These drugs can be further classified as either first-generation antipsychotics (FAPs) or second-generation antipsychotics (SAPs), depending on their ability to antagonize serotonine in addition to dopamine. The efficacy of various drugs is generally equal, whereas both pharmacological profiles and side-effects differ. Antipsychotic drug therapy recommendations are available both in Norway and internationally, and the purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to register the use of these drugs in representative mental hospitals (A and B), and compare our findings to the recommendations. Medical prescriptions were registered, and data further analysed. In hospital A, a total of 149 patients' prescriptions were registered. Antipsychotics were received voluntarily by 117 patients. Eighty-two of these used one antipsychotic drug, and in this group, 65% received SAPs. Antipsychotic combination therapy was received by 35 patients, and was associated with higher prescription rates of both anticholinergics and benzodiazepines. SAPs were not associated with increased use of benzodiazepines, compared to FAPs. Antipsychotics were frequently combined with mood stabilizers and antidepressants. Our findings in hospital A concerning therapy practices of antipsychotics, were confirmed in hospital B, where 64 patients' medical prescriptions were registered. We conclude that FAPs are still commonly prescribed. Antipsychotic combination therapy is used despite of lack of evidence for efficacy, and is associated with increased prescription rates of anticholinergics and benzodiazepines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between the duration of indoor free play periods and the social and cognitive levels of preschoolers' play. The play of thirty-four 4- and 5-year-old children in two preschool class-rooms was observed during 15 and 30 minute play periods over an 8-week period using Rubin's social-cognitive scale. It was hypothesized that the children would exhibit a higher percentage of mature play categories relative to other forms of play during the longer play periods than during the shorter ones. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests confirmed this hypothesis, with subjects being found to engage in significantly higher percentages of group play, constructive play and group-dramatic play in the long periods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Comments on a study which examined the arousal and imagery effects on reminiscence and forgetting of nouns. Discussion on arousal and imagery; Findings of the study; Details of high imagery nouns.