The role of lipids in the central nervous system and their pathological implications in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Lipids play an important role in the central nervous system (CNS). They contribute to the structural integrity and physical characteristics of cell and organelle membranes, act as bioactive signalling molecules, and are utilised as fuel sources for mitochondrial metabolism. The intricate homeostatic mechanisms underpinning lipid handling and metabolism across two major CNS cell types; neurons and astrocytes, are integral for cellular health and maintenance. Here, we explore the various roles of lipids in these two cell types. Given that changes in lipid metabolism have been identified in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, we also discuss changes in lipid handling and utilisation in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in order to identify key cellular processes affected by the disease, and inform future areas of research.

Examination of the General Factor with the Interpersonal Circumplex Structure: Application to the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems.

The relation of the general factor of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP, Horowitz, Rosenberg, Baer, Ureno, & Villasenor, 1988) to several response set and personality measures as well its relation to the circumplex structure was examined. The correlation of the IIP general factor to the personality and response measures was examined on a sample of 105 undergraduates. The general factor was significantly related to a symptom severity measure as well as negative affectivity and self-deception, supporting its interpretation in a substantive manner. Subsequently, the circular structure of the IIP was examined as it varied across different levels of the general factor in a sample of 1093 college students. The sample was divided into five relatively equally sized groups on the general factor. At each level, the IIP scales were examined for their circularity and circular variance accounted for to determine if the structure of the IIP scales resembled a cylinder, a sphere, or a truncated cone. Evaluations of both the circular order model and the circumplex model supported the circularity of the IIP at all levels of the general factor. Support for the cone structure was supported for lower levels of the general distress factor but higher levels did not demonstrate the expected increased correlational dispersion.

An examination of the complementarity of interpersonal behavior.

The complementarity of behavior as moderated by the base rates of consequent behaviors, the differences attributable to friendly and hostile antecedent behaviors, and octant versus quadrant codes was examined. Complementarity was defined using 3 different but overlapping models: R. Carson (1969), D. Kiesler (1983), and J. Wiggins (1979). The Interpersonal Communication Rating Scale (ICRS; S. Strong & Hills, 1986) behavioral ratings on 80 female dyads provided by Strong, Hills, Kilmartin, et al. (1988) were analyzed using the randomization test of hypothesized order relations and correspondence analysis. Results demonstrated that (a) complementarity was supported for each of the 3 definitions (Carson's, Kiesler's, and Wiggins's), (b) complementarity fit the data better if account was taken of the base rate of behavior, (c) complementarity was more prominent if the antecedent behavior was friendly rather than hostile, and (d) complementarity of quadrant behavior was fairly strong. Results are discussed with respect to the measurement of interpersonal behaviors and the construct of complementarity.

Natural and professional help: a process analysis.

Differences in the helping interactions formed by mental health professionals, divorce lawyers, and mutual help group leaders were examined. Fourteen members of each of these three helper groups (N = 42) met independently with a coached client presenting marital difficulties. Using ratings of ability to ameliorate the personal and emotional problems presented, the 42 helpers were divided (using a median split) into successful and less successful outcome groups. The responses of each of the pairs were coded using the Hill Counselor Verbal Response Category System. The sequence of client-helper responses were examined using log-linear analysis as they varied by type of helper and outcome. Results indicated that successful helpers (regardless of type of helper) tended to use directives (e.g., guidance and approval-reassurance) differently from less successful helpers. Successful helpers used directives following client emotional expression and not following factual description. In addition, clear differences in helper responses by helper type and outcome were found. Each helper type had unique patterns of responses that differentiated successful from less successful outcomes. Client responses were found to vary across helper type even when given the same helper preceding response. Results are discussed with respect to the unique goals of each helping relationship and the different shaping process involved in each.

Distress and help-seeking as a function of person-environment fit and self-efficacy: a causal model.

Self-efficacy, indicators of distress (state anxiety and frequency of physical symptoms), help-seeking (visits to the campus health center, an outside physician, and a counselor), and two measures of person-environment (P-E) fit were assessed on 152 college students and examined in a LISREL model. The two P-E fit measures were perceived discrepancy, the profile difference score between how each student would like their residence floor and how each viewed it as being, and actual discrepancy, the profile difference score between how each would like the floor to be and the mean rating for how floor residents viewed the floor. It was found that self-efficacy and perceived discrepancy had independent and moderate effects on distress but not on help-seeking, whereas actual discrepancy was found to have a strong effect on help-seeking and no direct effect on distress. Help-seeking was found to have a strong negative effect on distress.

Interpersonal control in psychotherapy: a comparison of two definitions.

This study compared the two definitions used to study therapist interpersonal control: The relational coding scheme of Ericson and Rogers (1973) and the topic initiation/topic following schema of Tracey and Ray (1984), as they apply to actual therapy dyads. All interactions of three psychotherapy dyads was coded independently according to each control coding schema and then correlated to examine the overlap and to assess whether each yielded similar results. It was found that both schemata were moderately correlated, which indicates marginal convergent validity, but the two models attributed control to different participants. The Ericson and Rogers model yielded results with the client in control, whereas the opposite result was obtained when the topic initiation/topic following schema was used. The results are discussed with respect to the different assumptions used in each method of operationalizing control and as an indication of the subtlety and complexity of the construct of control in psychotherapy.

The N of 1 Markov chain design as a means of studying the stages of psychotherapy.

Research on the process or, more specifically, the stages of psychotherapy has been difficult to carry out and can lead to spurious results. An initial step in furthering knowledge of the stages of successful therapy would be the use of an N of 1 design with Markov chain analyses. This design would allow one to incorporate the uniqueness of each therapy dyad, the interactional nature of the psychotherapeutic process, and a statistical test of the changes in the interactional behavior over time that is not often available in nonbehavioral single case designs. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize the reader with N of 1 designs and Markov chain methodologies and to propose how they could be combined in an attempt to study the stages of successful therapy. A hypothetical study is presented to exemplify the operation and value of the proposed N of 1 Markov chain design.