Chemodosimetric cyanide sensing in a 5,15-porphodimethene Pd(II) complex.

The Pd(II) complex of 5,15-porphodimethene is shown as a chemodosimetric sensor where it selectively senses cyanide ions, monitored through electronic spectral analysis and identified by the naked eye. The possible binding mechanism is also proposed based on the (1)H NMR analyses. Two polymorphs of the mentioned complex are obtained by using different polar solvents and further confirmed by single crystal X-ray analyses.

Exploring anagostic interactions in 5,15-porphodimethene metal complexes.

Using a metal templating strategy, 5,15-porphodimethene metal complexes were synthesized and their structure confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. The anagostic interaction causes distortion, while the hydrogen bonding interactions generate dimerisation and array formation in these complexes.

Fluorine interaction controlled AIEE phenomenon in an expanded calixbenzophyrin and its vapoluminescent response: turn on emission with volatile ketones and esters.

Fluorine interaction assisted AIEE characteristic in an expanded calixbenzophyrin is presented by single-crystal X-ray-diffraction analysis and molecular modelling approaches. Selective exposure to volatile organic compounds such as ketones and esters results in the breaking of fluorine interaction, leading to enhanced monomer emission.

4,4,9,9-Tetraphenyl pyrroloindolizine: a structural analogue of calix[2]pyrrole.

Synthesis, spectral and structural characterization of a pyrroloindolizine derivative having structural similarity with calix[2]pyrrole is described. Here, two pyrrole rings are connected with two meso-carbon atoms having an N,α-linkage and an α,ß-linkage to afford the smallest analogue in the calixpyrrole family. Detailed NMR spectroscopic studies along with single crystal X-ray analysis confirm the assigned structure of the molecule.

Rorschach protocols from children and adolescents with Asperger's disorder.

Rorschach protocols from 24 boys with Asperger's Disorder matched by age to 24 boys with other emotional or behavioral disorders (the contrast group) were compared to each other and to Exner' s (1995) normative data. Eight variables based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV]; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria and a review of the literature for Asperger's Disorder were predicted to discriminate between groups with the Asperger's group having more extreme scores. Five variables (COP, CDI, H, M, and EA) were significantly different from the contrast group and T and WSumC were significantly different from the normative data in both the Asperger's group and the contrast group.

Revised guidelines for Urist's Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MOA).

Research findings reported in the literature with less than 80% interrater agreement for the Rorschach Mutuality of Autonomy (MOA) scale may be problematic due to possible error. In preparation for a new Rorschach study using the MOA scale, we found it necessary to revise and clarify MOA scale scoring guidelines because they were confusing and ambiguous. A group of 19 naive graduate students improved their interrater agreement scores from 67% using guidelines from the literature, to 75% on the first revision, and these 19 raters plus 13 new raters produced an 80% agreement on a second revision. This revision, with only minor changes based on raters' feedback, is included in an appendix.

Rorschach protocols from children and adolescents diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Rorschach protocols from 35 children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 35 with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) were compared. Both groups revealed significant differences from the normative tables on the same 12 variables: SCZI, DEPI, CDI, X + %, EgoC, Afr, T, EA, P, WSumC, RawSumSS, and WgtSumSS. However, as predicted, 4 of those variables, the Schizophrenic Index (SCZI) and 3 of the criterion tests that comprise it (X + %, RawSumSS, and WgtSumSS) were significantly different between the PTSD and ODD groups, with the PTSD group responding with more extreme scores. These findings contradict Exner's (1993) statement that only people with schizophrenia can be "defined or conceptualized as having both the problems of disordered thinking and inaccurate perception" (p. 356). Children and adolescents with PTSD also display these problems when trauma interrupts the child's naive belief that the world has predictable rules, the people in it are trustworthy and fair, and punishment and pain are consequences of bad behavior. When young victims cannot comprehend or make sense of what has happened to them, life becomes irrational, illogical, and confusing. Exner's SCZI does what it was designed to do: identify individuals with disordered thinking and inaccurate perception. Therefore, SCZI should be renamed the Perception and Thinking Index (PATI) to reflect its function rather than a diagnostic category.

Sentence completion tests: a review of the literature and results of a survey of members of the Society for Personality Assessment.

Test usage surveys consistently find that sentence completion tests (SCTs) are among the most popular personality assessment instruments used by practitioners. What is not noted is which SCTs practitioners are using, why these tests are so popular, and whether practitioners are using formal scoring. We surveyed a random selection of 100 members of the Society for Personality Assessment. With a 60% return rate on a single mailing, we found that most psychologists who use incomplete sentence tests use the Rotter (1951) Incomplete Sentences Blank with children (18%), adolescents (32%), and adults (47%). Most practitioners said they do not read stems aloud and record answers themselves, and even fewer said they use formal scoring. The most common reasons for using an SCT are (a) to use it as part of an assessment battery (41 endorsements), (b) to determine personality structure (18 endorsements), and (c) to elicit quotable quotes (17 endorsements). Implications for practitioners and training suggestions for academicians who prepare future psychologists are noted.

Rorschach protocols of children and adolescents with severe burns: a follow-up study.

Twenty children and adolescents with severe burns who participated in a Rorschach study in 1992 were reexamined in 1995. The Rorschach variables that were most deviant from normative table values were the same (X + %; EgoC; Afr; T; EA; P; WSumC; SCZI; DEPI; CDI; and Fr, rF) that had been found in 1 or more other studies examining Rorschach variables with individuals of all ages who had been traumatized by different events. Although group mean codes were similar across Rorschach administrations, a Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient of -.776 indicated that the group as a whole produced more pathological responses in 1995 than they did in 1992, with individual protocol pairs revealing changes between constrictive to flooded or flooded to constrictive records.

A comparison of Culture-Free Self-Esteem Scale means from different child and adolescent groups.

The Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory (CFSEI-2) was administered to 7 groups of children: 84 White Catholic school students from a New Orleans suburb, 78 White rural public school students from Virginia, 62 Hispanic Migrant student from Florida, 90 Aboriginal and White students from an isolated Canadian community, 199 African American students attending an inner city school, 60 Hispanic and White international students from Venezuela, and 61 Innuit students from isolated community in Labrador. The four elder groups also wrote three words to describe themselves (the Adjective Generation Technique [AGT]). Significant differences in responding between groups were found on all CFSEI-2 scales and for AGT favorability means. Although several possible reasons for these results are discussed, we conclude that the CFSEI-2 is not culture-free. Recommendations are: change the title of the test to avoid misrepresentation, limit test usage to elementary school children, develop an adolescent version with age appropriate language, and construct local norms before using the CFSEI-2 to make decisions about a child's self-esteem. To determine relevance of scores, a team of professionals and lay persons should review items from this or any test given to children who may be different from the normative or standardization group.

Results of a hospital survey to determine the extent and type of psychologic services offered to patients with severe burns.

Surveys sent to psychologic service providers at the 159 burn care hospitals in the United States and Canada elicited 69 responses with 66 completed forms. Results indicated that few hospitals provide formal psychologic testing for their patients who require acute or reconstructive care. However, respondents estimated that more patients display symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder than are given counseling or psychologic therapy. Referrals for counseling or therapy at discharge and appointments for follow-up visits to assess emotional health are given to approximately two thirds of the patients. A disturbing survey finding was that many respondents reported that their hospital staff, 6 months after beginning to work on the unit, also displays symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A preliminary investigation of ethical problems in publication and research.

This paper describes a preliminary study investigating the nature of publication and research ethics problems encountered by psychologists. Descriptions of 25 ethical dilemmas were written by 22 psychologists. Those dilemmas involved conflicts about authorship credit (13), plagiarism (9), unethical research (1), and other related problems (2). Stage of career did not determine the likelihood of their being confronted with an ethical dilemma. The most often cited causes of problems and sources of distress were unethical demands by more dominant individuals who were perceived to hold power over the respondents.

A comparison of psychologic functioning in children and adolescents with severe burns on the Rorschach and the Child Behavior Checklist.

The incidence of psychologic problems in 12 children and adolescents with severe burns was examined through four similar scales on the Children's Behavior Checklist and the Rorschach. No correlations were found for any of the pairs, which were Withdrawn-Isolation Index, Somatic Complaints-Anatomy + X-ray, Anxious/Depressed-Depression Index, and Thought Disorder-Schizophrenic Index. Discrepancies were explained as both accurate reflections of patients' personalities and function of the type of assessment instrument used to determine psychologic problems. Although the statistical power of the study is limited by the small sample size, the results suggest the lack of good objective psychologic assessment tools available to this population and the need for experienced professionals to interpret test results in light of their personal knowledge of the patient.

Resiliency characteristics and Rorschach variables in children and adolescents with severe burns.

Three raters classified 40 children and adolescents (ages 8 to 19 years) with severe burns who were placed in two groups designated as Resilient (N = 28) and Nonresilient (N = 12). Nine hypothesized differences in Rorschach responding between groups were developed through a review of the literature and operationalized through descriptive statements from a rating scale now being developed. The Resilient group gave more Cooperative Movement responses than the Nonresilient group (p = 0.0270), and they were more likely to have D scores that were within the normal range (p = 0.0700). The Nonresilient group had lower Egocentricity Index scores than the Resilient group (p = 0.0368) and more often had a positive Coping Deficit Index (p = 0.1285). Texture, Diffuse Shading, and Passive: Active responses appeared similar between groups. Differences found concerning Experience Actual and Z frequency were not statistically significant. Possible interventions addressing the emotional needs of burned children and adolescents such as strengthening certain personality characteristics are noted.

Rorschach responding in children and adolescents who have been severely burned.

Psychological consequences of surviving thermal injury in children and adolescents were examined through their Rorschach responding. Participants were 98 reconstructive patients aged 6 through 21 from Shriner's Burns Institute in Galveston, Texas. Percentages of patients with positive clinical indices were: 49%, Coping Deficit Index; 26%, Depression Index; and 23%, Schizophrenic Index. These results were interpreted as learned helplessness, depressive feelings, and inner struggle to master trauma. Other findings indicate poor perceptual accuracy (X + %), disturbed interpersonal relationships (T), low self-esteem (3r + 2/R), and increased anxiety (m). When the group was divided by high and low lambda, age, and time in years from burn, significant differences were revealed. There were no significant differences between groups when the sample was divided by facial scarring, gender, or severity of burn. This sample of young patients gave Rorschach responses that were similar to those given by other groups of traumatized youngsters.

An atypical eating disorder with Crohn's disease in a fifteen-year-old male: a case study.

Most of the time, school or counseling psychologists are not specifically trained to work with children who have physical disorders that cause or exacerbate psychological problems. This article describes a 15-year-old male with delayed physical development who was referred for psychological evaluation and treatment of a suspected eating disorder. Six months after psychological intervention, appropriate eating behaviors were established, yet he had not gained weight as expected. After further medical evaluation, he was diagnosed as having Crohn's disease. Criteria for a DSM-III-R diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa or Eating Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, are discussed and symptoms of Crohn's disease described. Also discussed are differential diagnoses and practical recommendations for professionals in the field.