Behavioral phenotyping of mice lacking the K ATP channel subunit Kir6.2.

ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels are expressed in various tissues and cell-types where they act as so-called metabolic sensors that couple metabolic state to cellular excitability. The pore of most K(ATP) channel types is built by Kir6.2 subunits. Analysis of a general Kir6.2 knockout (KO) mouse has identified a variety of different functional roles for central and peripheral K(ATP) channels in situations of metabolic demand. However, the widespread distribution of these channels suggests that they might influence cellular physiology and animal behavior under metabolic control conditions. As a comprehensive behavioral description of Kir6.2 KO mice under physiological control conditions has not yet been carried out, we subjected Kir6.2 KO and corresponding wild-type (WT) mice to a test battery to assess emotional behavior, motor activity and coordination, species-typical behaviors and cognition. The results indicated that in these test situations Kir6.2 KO mice were less active, had impaired motor coordination, and appeared to differ from controls in their emotional reactivity. Differences between KO and WT mice were generally attenuated in test situations that resembled the home cage environment. Moreover, in their home cages KO mice were more active than WT mice. Thus, our results suggest that loss of Kir6.2-containing K(ATP) channels does affect animal behavior under metabolic control conditions, especially in novel situations. These findings assign novel functional roles to K(ATP) channels beyond those previously described. However, according to the widespread expression of K(ATP) channels, these effects are complex, being dependent on details of test apparatus, procedure and prior experience.

Analysis of an addictions treatment system.

A treatment system consisting of an assessment/referral service, a detox, a mission, a hospital recovery unit, and three recovery homes was examined using a retrospective client-tracking approach over 1 year. There were 4,187 admissions to the system accounted for by 1,522 individuals; system users tended to be males, unmarried, unemployed, and in their 30s and 40s. The best predictor of readmission to the system after treatment was prior system use. Use patterns and referral data indicated that perceived gatekeepers (i.e., detoxication and assessment services) were not consistently coordinating the system and that more socially stable clients appeared to be more likely to be involved with non-addiction specific services (i.e., medical, general counselling).

Promises to keep. An evaluator's perspective on employee assistance programs.

This paper presents a critical review of the rapidly expanding literature concerning employee assistance programs (EAPs). Several essential features of EAPs are identified and the assumptions underlying these components are examined. The latter section of this report offers some tentative suggestions for correcting this situation so that the EAP movement will no longer suffer from the lack of a firm database upon which to build more coherent and defensible theories and programs.

Value comparisons between alcoholics, nonalcoholics, and therapists.

The values of clients, alcoholics and nonalcoholics (N = 118), were compared to the values of therapists (N = 45). Value comparisons were also made between alcoholics and nonalcoholics as well as between these subgroups and therapists. Distinctive value patterns emerged which were peculiar to therapists and to clients and differentiated them from each other. Value priorities of therapists were those which loaded on factors of self-expansion, competence, and other directedness, whereas the value priorities of clients were those which load on factors of self-constriction, religious morality, and inner-directedness. Few values were found to discriminate between the alcoholic and nonalcoholic. The alcoholic placed a higher value on "self-control," "social recognition," and "a sense of accomplishment" than the nonalcoholic. The results are discussed in the light of a deprivation hypothesis and the implication they have for therapeutic intervention with the alcoholic.

Values of adolescent drug abusers.

Values of adolescent drug abusers are measured with the Rokeach Value Survey and compared with the values of the parents and peers of drug abusers. Relatively few significant differences are found between groups, and there is a marked level of concordance between pairs of groups: .86 to .96. There is, however, a relatively low level of agreement within groups (.16 to .36), and the suggestion is made that focusing on the differences between value systems of users and their significant others may be of limited programmatic utility.