Peter J. Donovick

A Metachromatic Stain for Neural Tissue

The need for rapid histological feedback on neural tissue is ever present. Although there are several stains which can be readily used for staining either cell bodies or fiber tracts, adequate contrasting stains which are both rapid and easy to apply are not generally available. In 1936 Chang presented a technique for whole brains utilizing the metachromatic properties of thionin. Unfortunately this procedure was very time consuming. For the last several years we have worked with several variations of this stain and have found that thionin can be reliably used as a polychrome stain for sections of neural tissue obtained from a freezing microtome.

Divergent validity of measures of cognitive distortions, impulsivity, and time perspective in pathological gambling.

The present study assessed the divergent validity of several self-report and objective behavioral measures for assessing pathological gambling using three samples divided by South Oaks Gambling Scale score [Lesieur, & Blume (1987). American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1184–1188]: pathological gamblers, potential pathological gamblers, and non-pathological gamblers. Self-report measures included the Gamblers’ Beliefs Questionnaire [GBQ; Steenbergh, Meyers, May, & Whelan (2002). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 16, 143–149], the Gambling Passion Scale [GPS; Rousseau, Vallerand, Ratelle, Mageau, & Provencher, (2002). Journal of Gambling Studies, 18, 45–66], the Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire [EIQ; Eysenck, & Eysenck (1978). Psychological Reports, 43, 1247–1255], and the Stanford Time Perspective Inventory [STPI; Zimbardo, & Boyd (1999). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 1271–1288]. Behavioral tasks included the delay discounting task [Madden, Petry, Badger, & Bickel (1997). Experimental & Clinical Psychopharmacology, 5, 256–263] and the Future Time Perspectives [FTP; Wallace (1956). Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 52, 240–245]. The GBQ, GPS, Impulsivity subscale of the EIQ, and DDT all exhibited robust divergent validity, however, neither measure of time perspective discriminated between groups. Applications of these findings to etiological research and clinical contexts are discussed.

Comparison of the predictive power of socio-economic variables, severity of injury and age on long-term outcome of traumatic brain injury: sample-specific variables versus factors as predictors.

The primary objective of this study was to measure the predictive power of pre-injury socio-economic status (SES), severity of injury and age variables on the very long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). By applying a within-subjects retroactive follow-up design and a factor analysis, the study also compared the relative power of sample-specific predictors to that of more commonly used variables and conceptually based factors. Seventy-six participants with severe TBI were evaluated at an average of 14 years post-injury with an extensive neuropsychological battery. The results show that pre-injury SES variables predict long-term cognitive, psychiatric, vocational, and social/familial functioning. Measures of severity of injury predict daily functioning, while age at injury fails to predict any of these variables. Sample-specific predictors were more powerful than more commonly used predictors. Implications regarding long-term clinically based and conceptually based prediction, and those regarding comparisons of predictors across samples are further discussed.

Presurgical rearing environment alters exploration, fluid consumption, and learning of septal lesioned and control rats

Abstract Rats were reared in either enriched, social cages or restricted individual cages from 25 days of age until they underwent septal or control surgery two months later. Rearing conditions differentially altered septal and control behavior as measured by: (1) exploration tests; (2) fluid consumption of water, saccharin, and quinine; and, (3) the learning of a spatial alternation task.

The Function of Self-Harm Behavior in a Forensic Population

This article examines the functions of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in forensic populations. The cases of four individual offenders who have engaged in SIB are presented. These cases depict the four main functions of self-harm behaviors including (a) suicidal intent, (b) manipulation of the environment, (c) emotion regulation, and (d) a response to psychotic delusions or hallucinations. Assessment and treatment implications are discussed.

Open-field luminance and 'septal hyper-emotionality.

Abstract Open-field activity of septal lesioned and operated control rats was measured under three levels of illumination. While control animals showed a steady decline in activity across days in all light conditions, septal lesioned rats initially had, and maintained, higher levels of activity for five days in both the bright and dim conditions. Only in red light was there any evidence of the control animals being more active than the lesioned subjects. This relative suppression of lesioned animals was very transient. These results are discussed in terms of the relative activating effects of light on septal and control animals. Data is also presented which indicates that heat has a suppressing effect on both control and lesioned animals.

Prevalence of traumatic brain injury in psychiatric and non-psychiatric subjects.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its sequelae may impact the expression and treatment of psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of TBI in psychiatric patients is unknown and investigations in the general population are limited. This study examined the prevalence of TBI with loss of consciousness in mental health setting patients (n = 231), general hospital and university staff and students (n = 534) and non-psychiatric medical clinical patients (n = 59). The Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire was used to assess TBI. A greater percentage of psychiatric patients reported TBI than medical patients or staff and students. Traumatic brain injuries were typically mild--moderate, medical assistance was frequently sought and use of alcohol and drugs was reported in a minority of TBI incidents. Multiple injuries were most common in psychiatric patients. The percentage of medical patients and staff and students reporting TBI was similar to previous research. The greater percentage of psychiatric patients reporting TBI indicates the need to assess TBI in this population. The role of TBI in the emergence, expression and treatment outcome of psychiatric disorders and the risk factors that leave psychiatric patients vulnerable to TBI should be further examined.

Experiential effects on acquisition and reversal of discrimination tasks by albino rats with septal lesions

Abstract Two experiments investigated the effect of septal lesions in rats on the repeated reversals of a simultaneous brightness discrimination task. In the first experiment, rats underwent surgery subsequent to acquiring a brightness discrimination, but prior to receiving three reversals of the same task. In the second experiment, rats learned the brightness discrimination postoperatively, were given four subsequent reversals on that problem, and then acquired a spatial discrimination followed by four reversals in a T-maze. In both experiments, rats with septal lesions exhibited increased perseverative tendencies on the reversal of the brightness discrimination but by the third reversal, lesioned animals performed comparably to control rats. Despite prior acquisition and reversal training on a brightness discrimination, performance of rats with septal lesions was inferior to that of controls on the spatial discrimination. Nonetheless both groups exhibited experiential effects. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of prior experience with the discriminanda and the response measure utilized.

Habenular lesions, water consumption, and palatability of fluids, in the rat

Abstract Using a single bottle technique, habenular lesions did not originally increase water consumption, but did decrease quinine intake re normal rats. Water intake following quinine availability increased more in the group with lesions. In contrast to septal lesions, habenular lesions did not increase saccharine intake.

Facilitation of passive, avoidance acquisition in rats with septal lesions

The effects of septal lesions were investigated on a passive-avoidance type of task where quinine, rather than electric shock, was the aversive stimulus. Contrary to typical results with shock, rats with gross septal lesions were superior to controls in inhibiting their approach to, and consumption of, quinine. The results indicate the presence of at least two dissociable effects associated with septal lesions, one mediating response perseveration and the other more dominant one mediating quinine rejection.