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BackgroundA number of psychoeducational programs based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to alleviate psychological distress have been developed for implementation in clinical settings. However, while these programs are considered critical components of stress management education in a workplace setting, they are required to be brief and simple to implement, which can hinder development. ObjectiveThe intent of the study was to examine the effects of a brief training program based on CBT in alleviating psychological distress among employees and facilitating self-evaluation of stress management skills, including improving the ability to recognize dysfunctional thinking patterns, transform dysfunctional thoughts to functional ones, cope with stress, and solve problems. MethodsOf the 187 employees at an information technology company in Tokyo, Japan, 168 consented to participate in our non-blinded randomized controlled study. The training group received CBT group education by a qualified CBT expert and 1 month of follow-up Web-based CBT homework. The effects of this educational program on the psychological distress and stress management skills of employees were examined immediately after completion of training and then again after 6 months. ResultsAlthough the training group did exhibit lower mean scores on the Kessler-6 (K6) scale for psychological distress after 6 months, the difference from the control group was not significant. However, the ability of training group participants to recognize dysfunctional thinking was significantly improved both immediately after training completion and after 6 months. While the ability of participants to cope with stress was not significantly improved immediately after training, improvement was noted after 6 months in the training group. No notable improvements were observed in the ability of participants to transform thoughts from dysfunctional to functional or in problem-solving skills. A sub-analysis of participants who initially exhibited clinically significant psychological distress (K6 score ≥5) showed that the mean K6 score was significantly improved immediately after training completion for the training group compared to the control group (−2.50 vs −0.07; mean difference 2.43, 95% CI 0.55-4.31; d=0.61), with this effect remaining even after 6 months (−3.49 vs −0.50; mean difference 2.99, 95% CI 0.70-5.29; d=0.60). ConclusionsOur results suggest that a brief stress management program that combines group CBT education with Web-based CBT homework moderately alleviates the distress of employees with clinically significant psychological distress. In addition, the program might help improve employees’ ability to evaluate their own stress management skills.

In the large-aperture lens manufacturing, not only high surface quality but also high productivity is required. From this perspective, Reaction-Induced-Slurry-Assisted grinding (RISA grinding), in which cerium oxide slurry is supplied instead of using general grinding fluid, has been developed to achieve high surface quality at high removal rate. However, the surface profile error becomes large due to chemical removal effect of the cerium oxide slurry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the influence of the chemical removal effect on the surface profile error using AE signals and servo current signals in RISA grinding. First, relation between dwell time and removal depth is analyzed by conducting a basic grinding test without the workpiece rotation. The result shows that the actual removal depth increases with increase of dwell time despite applying the constant depth of cut. Then, zero-cut RISA grinding test is conducted. It is found that the removal process proceeds even though zero-cut grinding, and its removal rate varies according to the wheel feed rate. Furthermore, the amount of cerium oxide abrasives adhered to the grinding wheel can be estimated from the AE signals and servo current signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.07.015 Byline: Toru Sawayama (a), Junichi Yoneda (b), Katsutoshi Tanaka (c), Norihito Shirakawa (d), Enami Sawayama (a), Susumu Higuchi (b), Hitoshi Miyaoka (a) Keywords: DRCS; Alcohol dependence; Cognitions; Drinking; Scale; Predictive validity Abstract: The aim of this study is to develop and validate the Drinking-Related Cognitions Scale (DRCS). The DRCS is a brief measure designed to assess multidimensional cognitions of drinking, including perception of drinking problems, perception of impaired drinking control, readiness to change, decisional balancing, and self-efficacy in alcohol-dependent patients. This study was carried out in Japan, with 132 alcohol-dependent patients (mean age (SD): 49.4 (7.5) years) admitted to an inpatient treatment program. On the basis of prior studies of the rating scales of drinking-related cognitions, DRCS items were selected. Factor analysis was carried out to assess the selection of DRCS items and the factor structure. The factor analysis of the 15 DRCS items showed three factors, 'expectancy and resignation,' 'perception of impaired control,' and 'perception of drinking problem.' The DRCS showed good reliability (Cronbach's [alpha]-coefficients for the entire scale and subscales were 0.80 or higher, and the analysis of variance intraclass correlation coefficient for the test-retest method was 0.81 for the total score). The total DRCS and subscale scores predicted abstinence status at a 3-month follow-up, and the DRCS was considered to have satisfactory predictive validity. It was suggested that the DRCS would be useful for the easy measurement of multidimensional cognitions of drinking in alcohol-dependent patients. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Psychiatry, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan (b) National Hospital Organization Kurihama Alcoholism Center, Kanagawa, Japan (c) Department of Occupational Mental Health, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan (d) Health and Advisory Center for the Well-Being of Spirit and Mind, City of Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

Abstract Background Cognitive factors associated with drinking behavior such as positive alcohol expectancies, self-efficacy, perception of impaired control over drinking and perception of drinking problems are considered to have a significant influence on treatment effects and outcome in alcohol-dependent patients. However, the development of a rating scale on lack of perception or denial of drinking problems and impaired control over drinking has not been substantial, even though these are important factors in patients under abstinence-oriented treatment as well as participants in self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The Drinking-Related Cognitions Scale (DRCS) is a new self-reported rating scale developed to briefly measure cognitive factors associated with drinking behavior in alcohol-dependent patients under abstinence-oriented treatment, including positive alcohol expectancies, abstinence self-efficacy, perception of impaired control over drinking, and perception of drinking problems. Here, we conducted a prospective cohort study to explore the predictive validity of DRCS. Methods Participants in this study were 175 middle-aged and elderly Japanese male patients who met the DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Alcohol Dependence. DRCS scores were recorded before and after the inpatient abstinence-oriented treatment program, and treatment outcome was evaluated one year after discharge. Results Of the 175 participants, 30 were not available for follow-up; thus the number of subjects for analysis in this study was 145. When the total DRCS score and subscale scores were compared before and after inpatient treatment, a significant increase was seen for both scores. Both the total DRCS score and each subscale score were significantly related to total abstinence, percentage of abstinent days, and the first drinking occasion during the one-year post-treatment period. Therefore, good treatment outcome was significantly predicted by low positive alcohol expectancies, high abstinence self-efficacy, high perception level of impaired control over drinking, and high perception level of drinking problems measured by DRCS. Conclusions The DRCS was considered to have satisfactory predictive validity, which further supports our previous findings. It was suggested that DRCS is a promising rating scale for evaluating multidimensional cognitive factors associated with drinking behavior in alcohol-dependent patients under abstinence-oriented treatment.