Terry Tomazic

The Relationship of Anger, Depression, and Perceived Disability Among Headache Patients

SYNOPSIS

Anger, Depression, and Disability: A Path Analysis of Relationships in a Sample of Chronic Posttraumatic Headache Patients

Anger and depression are common affective concomitants of chronic headache. Previous research suggests that the affective component of headache may contribute to the patients perceptions of the degree to which the headache is disabling. The present study examined the relationship between anger expression, anger suppression, depression, and headache‐related disability (interference with function) in a sample of chronic posttraumatic headache patients. A path analytic model indicated a direct relationship between depression and perceived disability. Anger suppression and anger expression each had a direct influence on depression, but their effects on disability were mediated through depression. The results partially replicate a previous path analytic study of the relationships among these variables in a chronic headache sample.

Toe Walking and Language Development

Neurodevelopmental markers that are present early in childhood may identify children at risk for later developmental disabilities. This paper attempts to clarify the relationship between one such proposed marker, toe walking, and language development in a general pediatric population. One hundred sixty-three children being seen for well-child visits were included in the study. Information from each childs caretaker was obtained for language development and a history of toe walking; observation of toe walking during the visit was also included. The frequency of toe walking was 24%. Language quotients were calculated and compared for toe walkers (n=39) and non-toe walkers (n=127). The mean language quotient for toe walkers tended to be consistently lower than that for non-toe walkers. The specificity of toe walking for low language scores was 85% but had a sensitivity of only 32%. Although an association between toe walking and language delay is supported by the present data, the association does not appear to be clinically significant.

Impact of attentional dysfunction in dyscalculia

Ronald L Lindsay* MD, Nisonger Center UAP, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Terry Tomazic PhD, Department of Research Methodology, St Louis University, St Louis, MO; Melvin D Levine MD, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Pasquale J Accardo MD, Westchester Institute for Human Development, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.

Early Ear Problems and Developmental Problems at School Age

Retrospective history of middle ear disease was compared with developmental diagnosis in 507 consecutively referred school-age children. History of major ear problems was positively associated with discrepancies between the performance and verbal IQ on the WISC-R. History of major ear problems was positively associated with the presence of articulation disorders for children in the low social class, hyperactivity in the middle social class, and language problems in the high social class. A history of significant middle ear disease in early childhood should raise concerns for articulation difficulties and possible language problems in children presenting to clinicians with school problems.

Maternally Reported Fetal Activity Levels and Developmental Diagnoses

Retrospective maternal report of fetal activity level was compared with developmental diagnosis in 608 consecutively referred children. Maternal history of fetal activity level was also obtained from 140 unmatched well children in a general pediatric clinic. Fetal hyperactivity was positively associated with a diagnosis of child hyperactivity, and fetal hypoactivity was positively associated with a diagnosis of mental retardation in the children. Maternal histories of fetal activity level in the control group weakened the strength of the association between fetal hyperactivity and child hyperactivity but did not affect the association between fetal hypoactivity and mental retardation in children.

Effectiveness of Individual Versus Group Counseling for Clients with Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract The development and implementation of effective and cost-effective nutrition and lifestyle intervention programs plays an important role in the treatment of clients with hypercholesterolemia. Since the majority of nutrition education research has focused on individual counseling, this poses the question as to whether there are measurable differences between individual and group counseling methods for clients with hypercholesterolemia. The purposes of this multidisciplinary project were to: 1) compare individual versus group counseling methods using percentage changes in serum cholesterol, knowledge and behavior scores, and satisfaction level as measures of effectiveness; and 2) complete a cost-effectiveness analysis for both interventions. One hundred thirty-one adults with hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol ≥200mg/dL) were randomly assigned to either individual (n=66) or group (n=65) counseling programs. A standardized five-week cholesterol education program was presented by the same team of counselors (Registered Dietitian and Clinical Nurse Specialist) in both interventions. Participants had their pre- and post-counseling serum cholesterol measured, completed pre- and post-knowledge and behavior questionnaires, and responded to a post-satisfaction questionnaire. Students paired t-test and analysis of variance were used to detect significant changes within each intervention strategy and compare the two counseling methods. Both intervention methods yielded a significant (P .05) differences between group and individual counseling for any of the effectiveness measures. The program benefits and potential savings outweighed the program costs in both interventions; however, group counseling was determined to be more cost-effective. Results of this study indicate that: 1) group education is just as effective as individual counseling in reducing serum cholesterol, improving knowledge, and changing behavior and 2) a multidisciplinary team can provide effective and cost-effective nutrition and lifestyle counseling that can reduce coronary heart disease risk and promote client satisfaction.

Applied Sources for Teachers of Multivariate Statistics

We describe a course in applied multivariate statistics for psychology graduate students, review appropriate resource materials, and list research articles that illustrate these statistical techniques.

Status of Hospital Foodservice Training Programs and Turnover Rates

Abstract Hospital foodservice departments have experienced higher than desirable turnover rates for at least twenty years. This study was designed to determine if the turnover rates were related to, or effected by, status of training programs. A randomized sample of 400 hospitals was chosen from a national listing to be surveyed for this information. The 28-item double pilot-tested survey was addressed to foodservice directors for completion and return. The survey asked questions regarding: presence of a training program, budget for training, qualifications of trainer/educators, components of the training programs, department demographics and turnover rates. By studying possible reasons for higher turnover rates and possible relationships to certain variables, foodservice administrators can propose departmental programs that may actually reduce future operating costs by reducing the high cost of turnover. Our results indicated no significant difference between groups in which training was provided, number of hours spent training, inclusion of performance appraisals, or budget for training. However, a significant difference in turnover was seen between groups of departments that had been under the same structure for 18 years or greater. Those departments whose management structure had remained unchanged for more than 18 years, had higher turnover rates.

ATTENTIONAL FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH MATHEMATICS WEAKNESS. † 74

Objective: The present study explores the hypothesis that sustained attention to task and detail is an important component in the accurate and rapid computation of mathematics problems.