Department Of Behavioral Sciences Research Articles

SELFLESS SERVICE AND THE CHOICE OF INCLUSION

AbstractThe author, the Associate Dean for Programs and Administration in the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, first met Frances Hesselbein as Academy Professor, Director of the Eisenhower Leader Development Program, and Deputy Department Head in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy, West Point: “Frances arrived at West Point on a bright autumn day to speak with cadets and local Girl Scout troops on the meaning of service and I was the lucky one assigned to be her personal escort… I’d heard about truly transformational leaders who have a special quality of making every individual they encounter feel like the most important person in the room. This is exactly how Frances treated everyone she met regardless of title or status. I felt like a 4‐star general that day and many times since.”

GRACE IN CHARACTER, FRANCES HESSELBEIN’S WAY

AbstractThe author founded the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, designed and directed the Leadership Development Program at the Yale School of Management, and was Head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point, retiring as a Brigadier General. He worked directly with Frances Hesselbein at West Point, and recounts that “anyone who knew Frances reveled in her respect for others—one of the Army’s key values. But her ability to demonstrate those values in her controlled, polite, graciousness to others was truly remarkable. In the 21 years, I was privileged to know her, I studied her intently as a leader. Her grace gave her the ability to influence others gently but firmly—“no one can say ‘no’ to Frances” was a popular adage, and the absolute truth.”

The Sociology of Bullying: Power, Status and Aggression Among Adolescents by ChristopherDonoghue (ed), New York: New York University Press, 2022, ISBN 9781479803903, 344 pp, $30.00 (pb)

In The Sociology of Bullying Power, Status and Aggression Among Adolescents, Christopher Donoghue brings together scholars within the field of sociology of bullying to show the advantage of incorporating sociological approaches for understanding bullying. The sociological approaches bring new questions and understandings and show the complex interplay of various processes, layers and factors that needs to be accounted for when approaching bullying. The advantage of incorporating sociological perspectives is clearly shown as the book offers both empirical examples and theoretical insights. While the book does not argue that sociology is better than psychology, it stands clear after reading the book that narrow individualistic views on bullying does no longer hold as bullying is a complex phenomenon. The content of the book is organized into 15 chapters. Some chapters are more theoretically oriented whereas others include both empirical and theoretical aspects. While every chapter addresses one key topic in more detail, more than one aspect can also be covered in one chapter. A broad division of the key topics can be outlined in the following way: Definitions and how to methodologically approach bullying (Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 8); The role of status in bullying (Chapters 3, 7, 8); Homophobic and gendered norms and how they are executed through bullying practices (Chapters 4, 5, 6); Social difference in bullying (Chapter 9); Interactionist perspectives addressing how peer and school cultures matter in bullying (Chapters 10, 11); A sociological lens on anti-bullying programmes or “when anti-bullying programmes meet peer and school cultures” (Chapters 6, 11, 12, 13), and; A discussion on the psychological perspective on bullying (Chapters 14, 15). Some chapters stand alone, offering a crucial contribution on its own. Other chapters are set in dialogue with each other showing the complexity, different layers and the importance of the context. For instance, status is viewed as crucial in bullying (Chapter 3) but aiming for higher status might decrease over time (Chapter 7). Status processes can also be associated with bullying taking place among friends (Chapter 8). Likewise, in a review of prevention and intervention programmes (Chapter 12), we get an overview of what works in practice. However, we also discover that future anti-bullying work needs to consider culture and various microprocesses (Chapters 11, 12, 13) as they affect bullying and anti-bullying work. There is also a discussion on the psychological perspective on bullying from various positions (Chapters 14, 15). This book is thoroughly written and provides great insight into the sociology of bullying. It offers a range of key topics, perspectives and concepts on how our culture contributes to bullying. Perhaps the reader is a little left alone in guiding themselves among these different layers and approaches. On the other hand, showing the palette of approaches and considerations increases the need for exploration through empirical questions (Chapter 2) on what is going on in the context. In that way, the book does not prescribe a new dominant view but rather increases the urgent need for sociological approaches in bullying work. Although the book aims to shift the North American/US national conversation on bullying, sociological perspectives are also needed – and used – elsewhere in the world. Maybe there could have been an outlook and dialogue with international scholarship in this area. This book is not only useful for researchers within the field of school bullying but also for scholars, policymakers and educators dealing with anti-bullying work and policies. Camilla Forsberg is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning at Linköping University, Sweden. Her research has focused on childrens's perspectives on bullying, how identity processes and social categories are related to bullying and more recently school level factors and school climate in general.

Medication Non-Compliance in Patients with Schizophrenia Due To Familial, Environmental and Socio-Cultural Factors

Introduction: In schizophrenia, non-compliance with treatment leads to the disease burden in the community. It is considered as a challenge worldwide due to the need for long-term treatment and additional associated factors in Schizophrenia. Aim: The goal of the study is to identify patients with treatment non-compliance in schizophrenia and determine the related factors from environmental, socio-cultural and familial perspectives. Place and Duration: The study was carried out at the department of Behavioral Sciences, PGMI /AMC / LGH Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2021 to April 2022. Methods: The study included 100 patients with non-compliance to treatment in schizophrenia who visited the relevant psychiatric departments. For the research a descriptive cross-sectional design was chosen with non-random, purposive sample selection technique being utilised. Prior to the study, ethical approval from the authorities and informed consent from patients were obtained. Educated patients completed questionnaires whereas uneducated patients asked their relatives to provide such information on questionnaires. Results: Out of 100 participants, 56 were males and 44 were females, with a ratio of 1.4:1. The participants mean age was 32.25 ± 11.1. About 23% of them were uneducated, and above sixty percent (61%) had a family income < 20,000 PKR rupees per month. A substantial percentage of family-members (15%) were unaware of their role and that of their family members, and the majority (77%) stated that people made a negative contribution. Factors contributing to treatment non-compliance included belief as a major life event (6%), perception about the disease being incurable (25%), lack of nearby treatment access (76%), migration (8%), forgetting an appointment with medical professional (18%), discontinuation of medication on the advice of a faith healer (16%), discontinuation of medication due to social stigma (14%), no follow-up being arranged (22%), and refusal to continue treatment (13%). Conclusions: The study aimed to identify the possible reasons for medication non-compliance in patients of schizophrenia from environmental, socio-cultural and familial perspectives. Many factors have been recognised that contribute indirectly or directly to the treatment non-compliance. Keywords: Non-Compliance, Compliance and Schizophrenia.

Factors of Depression and its Prevalence among Pregnant Females Attending Antenatal Clinics in Pakistan

Depression is a disorder that affects the persons mood and its incidence is one in four females occurs at any time in their lives, so it's no wonder that pregnant women are also affected by this condition. However, depression during pregnancy is often misdiagnosed as fluctuations in a woman's hormone levels are believed to be the cause of many of these changes. In the hope that a diagnosis can, be made at a very early stage and that preventive measures can be taken later, the first step is to govern the pervasiveness of depression in pregnant females. The available evidence of depression in pregnancy varies widely. We need relatively short estimates to determine the severity of a depressive illness and develop a coping strategy for disorders of depression. Aim: To access the depression prevalence among pregnant females admitted to the gynecology department. Place and Duration: In the Psychiatry department of Behavioral Sciences PGMI/AMC/LGH, Lahore and Timergara Psychiatry Clinic in Pakistan for the duration of six months from September 2021 to February 2022. Methods: Data were gathered from 250 pregnant women by randomly collecting samples during their antenatal visits. The Depression Standard Scale named the "Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression," was used and depression was labelled if score greater than 7 on the Standard Rating Scale. The analysis of the result was performed using the SPSS program and chi-square test. Results: The incidence of depression in gravid females was 82%. The study found 45 (18%) completely normal, 100 (40%) mild depression, 65 (26%) moderate depression, 28 (11.2%) had severe depression, and 12 (4.3%) were very severe depression. 0.013 was a statistically significant value of P. Conclusion: The data showed increased prevalence of depression among pregnant females in Pakistan, reaching 82%. Depression is much common in younger females, those with fewer births and pregnancies, and those living in a shared family system. Keywords: Depression; Prevalence; Pregnancy and Prenatal period; Psychiatric disorders and Mood disorders.

Depression among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Associated Factors and its Prevalence

Introduction: The depression and diabetes both are important community health concerns. Depression is a common comorbid disease in diabetic patients. The goal of this analysis was to assess the depression prevalence in diabetic patients and to recognise the numerous influences related with it. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Place and Duration: In the Psychiatry and Medicine department of Behavioral Sciences, LGH Lahore, Pakistan and Psychiatry Alfalah diagnostic centre, Azhar Medical Plaza Timergara for the duration of six months from July 2021 to December 2021. Methods: The patients with diabetes mellitus who visited the OPD Internal Medicine Department and Psychiatry department were referred for a psychiatric assessment. 140 total patients were studied for 6-month period. Face-to-face interviews were directed to collect the clinical profile and sociodemographic data of the subjects. To classify and describe depression; Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was applied. The percentage, frequency, multivariate regression and test were applied. Results: The total depression prevalence was 30.2% and institute to be higher significantly in women (p = 0.008), subjects on insulin treatment (p = 0.028), diabetes mellitus >15 years (p = 0.049) and patients with uncontrolled blood glucose levels (p = 0.018) even after treatment. A regression analysis found that the type of treatment, blood glucose level, gender, and type of treatment were independent forecasters of depression in patients with DM. The subjects treated with insulin were 4 times additional probable to develop depression (CI: 2.129 - 8.865, OR = 4.344, p <0.001). Conclusion: About a quarter of diabetic patients had depression. Influences such as long duration of diabetes mellitus, female gender, uncontrolled diabetes and therapy with insulin increase the danger of rising depression in patients with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, routinely assessment of depression in diabetic patients is essential. Keywords: Prevalence, Diabetes and Depression.

Integrity with the “EYE” (SZEM) of law enforcement - or the law enforcement-specific features of solid morality in the service of corruption prevention

This book, which the dear reader takes with interest in his/her hands, is not written in the usual style, although in terms of its content it can be said that it is a well-crafted volume of studies. The topic itself is not ordinary. The term ‘SZEM’ model certainly reminds many people of something else than solid morality measurement. However colleagues with knowledge in academia, on the other hand, will know that we are talking about Ajzen and Fishbein’s model, one of the known theories of predicted behavior for predicting behavior (e.g., unhealthy behaviors), which has been used successfully in several areas, e.g. in social psychology, transport psychology. The volume of studies and the brigade of the elaborative work were prepared by dr. Malét-Szabó Erika and prof. dr. Ákos Münnich, furthermore we can thank the the colleagues of Professor Münnich at the University of Debrecen, who put together the content. In addition to these, dr. Judit Hegedüs, head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences at University of Publice Service Faculty of Law Enforcement, presents the practical experiences of the model.

2020 and 2021 Cullen & Fraumeni Awards Presented At ASPO's 45th Annual Meeting

2020 and 2021 Cullen & Fraumeni Awards Presented At ASPO's 45th Annual Meeting

COVID-19 Greatly Increases Mortality Risk for Schizophrenia Patients, Research Shows

COVID-19 Greatly Increases Mortality Risk for Schizophrenia Patients, Research Shows

The Impact of Safe Harbor Legislation on Court Proceedings Involving Sex Trafficked Youth: A Qualitative Investigation of Judicial Perspectives

Family Court ReviewVolume 58, Issue 4 p. 1115-1115 ErratumFree Access The Impact of Safe Harbor Legislation on Court Proceedings Involving Sex Trafficked Youth: A Qualitative Investigation of Judicial Perspectives This article corrects the following: The Impact of Safe Harbor Legislation on Court Proceedings Involving Sex Trafficked Youth: A Qualitative Investigation of Judicial Perspectives Ginny Sprang, Jennifer Cole, Christine Leistner, Sarah Ascienzo, Volume 58Issue 3Family Court Review pages: 816-831 First Published online: July 27, 2020 First published: 27 October 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12519AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat In Sprang et al. (2020), the article was published with an incomplete author list and biography. They are completely listed below. Ginny Sprang, Jennifer Cole, Christine Leistner, and Sarah Ascienzo. Ginny Sprang, Ph.D., is a Professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky, and the Executive Director of the UK Center on Trauma and Children. Dr. Sprang's work investigates child trauma, the commercial sexual exploitation of minors, victimization, and secondary traumatic stress. Her work involves the creation of translational tools, and development and implementation of evidence based practices to treat those exposed to these traumatic experiences. Jennifer Cole, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research with an appointment in the College of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Science. She is also affiliated with the University of Kentucky Center on Trauma and Children. Dr. Cole's research interests are victimization and substance abuse. Christine Leistner, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and Health Services Administration at California State University, Chico. Dr. Leistner is a public health scientist with a focus in the areas of sexual assault, sex trafficking of minors, childhood adversity and trauma, and sexual and relationship well-being. Dr. Leistner is an active member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and is a Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission Member in Butte County, CA. She is also involved in local-level organizational efforts focused on preventing childhood trauma and improving public health outcomes related to trauma in Butte County, CA. Sarah Ascienzo, Ph.D., LCSW is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at North Carolina State University. Dr. Ascienzo's work is aimed at mitigating the adverse impact of direct and indirect trauma exposure on individuals and communities. Her research primarily focuses on issues related to treatment outcomes, implementation, vicarious trauma, and the role of social context in trauma responses. Dr. Ascienzo's research, training and implementation activities are informed by over 15 years of clinical practice experience, during which she worked extensively with child welfare and juvenile justice-involved youth who had experienced complex trauma and sexual violence. The online version has been corrected. We apologize for this error. REFERENCE Sprang, G., Cole, J., Leistner, C., & Ascienzo, S. (2020). The impact of safe harbor legislation on court proceedings involving sex trafficked youth: A qualitative investigation of judicial perspectives. Family Court Review, 58(3), 816– 831. Volume58, Issue4October 2020Pages 1115-1115 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Prevalence and risk factors of domestic violence and its impacts on women’s mental health in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Objective:To assess the prevalence of domestic violence, associated risk factors, and its impacts on women’s mental health in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan.Methods:This is a sequential explanatory strategy that is a mixed-method research design was conducted at Department of Behavioral Sciences, Karakoram International University Gilgit from January 2017 to June 2018 on 160 married women. Quantitative data were collected using Karachi domestic violence screening scale and mental health inventory and qualitative data were collected through interview guides. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results:Married women in GB reported higher levels of domestic violence (88.8%; psychological (69.4%), physical (37.5%) & sexual (21.2%). Abused women reported lower levels of mental health (t=3.19, p=0.00); psychological wellbeing (t=2.03, p=0.04), general positive affect (t=2.09, p=0.03), and life satisfaction (t=2.39, p=0.01) and higher levels of psychological distress (t=3.27, p=0.00), anxiety (t=3.06, p=0.00), depression (t=2.60, p=0.01), and loss of emotional/behavioral control (t=3.05, p=0.00) as compared to non-abused women. Risk factors behind domestic violence were identified as; poverty, the influence of in-laws, second marriage, stepchildren, forceful intimate relationships, husband’s irresponsibility, and addiction, and handicapped children.Conclusions:We found higher level of domestic violence, associated risk factors, and poor mental health of abused women in GB.

Human Factors Capstone Research at the United States Air Force Academy

Prior studies have shown research projects completed as part of undergraduate curricula are not only becoming more commonplace, but they also provide substantial benefit to student learning. Given this evidence, the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership (DFBL) at the United States Air Force Academy has recently required capstone research for every cadet in the behavioral sciences major. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the human factors program has structured the capstone experience within the Warfighter Effectiveness Research Center (WERC) in DFBL. Even though some research experience has been a longstanding requirement in the human factors program for many years, the capstone sequence has led to a shift in what undergraduates are accomplishing in and out of the classroom. In addition to examples of current projects, we provide several recommendations for academic institutions to implement capstone projects.

Results of ALIVE: A Faith-Based Pilot Intervention to Improve Diet Among African American Church Members

Results of ALIVE: A Faith-Based Pilot Intervention to Improve Diet Among African American Church Members Elizabeth Lynch, PhD, Erin Emery-Tiburcio, PhD, Sheila Dugan, MD, Francine Stark White, MDiv, Clayton Thomason, JD, LaDawne Jenkins, MA, Catherine Feit, Elizabeth Avery-Mamer, MA, Yamin Wang, MA, Laurin Mack, PhD, and Alan Ragland, DMin What Is the Purpose of This Study? • The ALIVE intervention is a church-based dietary intervention to increase vegetable consumption among African American church members that was designed by a partnership between researchers, African American pastors, and church leaders in the Chicagoland area. • The ALIVE intervention reflected local community knowledge and values because it was designed and delivered by pastors and church members using a community-based participatory research approach. • The ALIVE study measured the feasibility of implementing and evaluating the ALIVE intervention. What Is the Problem? • African Americans have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease than other racial groups. Improving diet in African Americans could reduce this disparity. • Dietary interventions have been less successful with African Americans than other subgroups possibly owing to insufficient cultural tailoring and skepticism about medical research among African Americans. • A promising cultural tailoring strategy is to conduct interventions in the trusted setting of the Black church. A number of dietary interventions have been conducted in Black churches and many have resulted in increased vegetable consumption but few have been designed and/or conducted in partnership with church community members. • A community-based participatory approach to intervention development and implementation has the potential to increase church member engagement and intervention effectiveness. What Are the Findings? • The ALIVE intervention resulted in a mean increase of one vegetable serving over 9 months as well as improvements in total diet quality and reductions in weight and blood pressure. • ALIVE was successfully adapted to a range of church settings. Who Should Care Most? • African American congregations. • Health professionals. • Researchers and community members interested in reducing health disparities. [End Page 3] Recommendations for Action • Health disparity researchers should use a community-based participatory research approach to develop culturally tailored interventions to improve health equity. • Programs aimed at reducing health disparities and promoting wellness should leverage preexisting social structures and values within subgroups to promote education and motivation for health behavior change. [End Page 4] Elizabeth Lynch Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center Erin Emery-Tiburcio Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center Sheila Dugan Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush University Medical Center Francine Stark White Third Baptist Church of Chicago Clayton Thomason Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center LaDawne Jenkins Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center Catherine Feit Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center Elizabeth Avery-Mamer Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center Yamin Wang Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center Laurin Mack Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center Alan Ragland Third Baptist Church of Chicago Copyright © 2019 Johns Hopkins University Press

Strengthening Policy-Relevant Tobacco Research Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned.

Strengthening Policy-Relevant Tobacco Research Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned Carla J Berg, PhD, MBA, Carla J Berg, PhD, MBA Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA Corresponding Author: Carla J. Berg, PhD, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 524, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Telephone: 404-727-7589; Fax: 404-727-1369; E-mail: cjberg@emory.edu Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar James F Thrasher, PhD, MA, MS, James F Thrasher, PhD, MA, MS Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SCDepartment of Tobacco Research, Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Mexico Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Joaquin Barnoya, MD, MPH, Joaquin Barnoya, MD, MPH Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MS Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Joanna E Cohen, PhD, Joanna E Cohen, PhD Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Wasim Maziak, PhD, Wasim Maziak, PhD Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Harry Lando, PhD, Harry Lando, PhD Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Jeffrey Drope, PhD, Jeffrey Drope, PhD Department of Economic and Health Policy Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Raul Mejia, MD, PhD, Raul Mejia, MD, PhD Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad, Buenos Aires, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Kristie Foley, PhD, MS, Kristie Foley, PhD, MS Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Rima Nakkash, DrPH, MPH, Rima Nakkash, DrPH, MPH Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar ... Show more Geoffrey T Fong, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS, Geoffrey T Fong, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS Department of Psychology and School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaOntario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Linda E Kupfer, PhD, MA, Linda E Kupfer, PhD, MA Center for Global Health Studies, Division of International Science Policy ,Planning and Evaluation, John E Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Rachel Sturke, PhD, MPH, MIA, Rachel Sturke, PhD, MPH, MIA John E Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Mark Parascandola, PhD, MPH Mark Parascandola, PhD, MPH Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 21, Issue 8, August 2019, Pages 1140–1143, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty117 Published: 05 June 2018 Article history Received: 20 May 2018 Accepted: 04 June 2018 Published: 05 June 2018

Amalgamating psychiatric services with polyclinic in a multispecialty service hospital

Background: Provision of multitude of medical services under one roof is a norm in modern hospitals. However, in many service hospitals, psychiatric services are still confined within the premises of psychiatric wards. Due to the social stigma attached to psychiatric care many psychiatric patients avoid visiting the psychiatric ward for mental health care. The main objective of this study was to improve attendance in the psychiatric outpatient department (OPD) by making it accessible and acceptable for the clientele in a busy multispecialty service hospital. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010. During the 1st year of the study (i.e., 2009), psychiatry OPD services continued in the psychiatry ward. From January 1, 2010, psychiatric OPD was shifted to polyclinic with a new name as “Department of behavioral sciences and deaddiction.” The data for the year 2009 and 2010 were compared using the Chi-square test. Results: There was a significant rise in the total number of new OPD patients from 522 to 1779 (P

Features and functionality of the Iterapi platform for internet-based psychological treatment

The purpose of this article is to describe an internet-based platform for improving symptoms and quality of life for people with psychological and behavioural health problems such as depression, anxiety, phobia, psychological trauma, hearing loss and tinnitus. The online platform, called Iterapi, was developed at the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning at Linköping University, Sweden and has been running for nearly two decades and used in many randomized controlled trials and outpatient treatments.The intention of this article is to share our experience with developing such a treatment solution and the process flow and elements of running internet-based psychological interventions. This will likely be of use to developers building similar services, therapists considering integrating such approaches in their practices and institutions, as well as researchers curious about the functions included on the platform and methodology used for running studies.We describe the security aspects of the platform, central concepts underlying its development, how the platform can be used in a study or treatment and the main features and functions the platform offers. We comment on practical considerations regarding blending of methods within the platform, such as self-help treatments with asynchronous communication and real-time text chat and video conversations. We also point out the advantages of using Internet-assisted treatments, the challenges that we have faced and future planned upgrades.Due to continuous development of the platform, its user-friendliness, accessibility across devices and numerous features, many research colleagues from Sweden as well as other countries such as Germany, United Kingdom, Romania and Israel have chosen to implement their own studies on the platform.

An interview with Don Hedeker

Don Hedeker was born in the late 1950s in Chicago, Illinois. He attended public schools in Chicago and did his undergraduate work at the University of Chicago, earning a degree in Economics in 1980. In 1981, he began graduate work in the Department of Behavioral Sciences, Committee on Research Methodology and Quantitative Psychology at the University of Chicago. He completed his dissertation in 1989 under the direction of Darrell Bock. In 1993, Don accepted a faculty position at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where he was promoted to tenured Associate Professor in 1996 and to Full Professor in 2001. He spent 20 years on the faculty at UIC, leaving in 2014 in order to return to the University of Chicago as a Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Don’s main expertise is in the development and dissemination of advanced statistical methods for clustered and longitudinal data. In addition to many methodological papers in these areas, Don has developed several freeware computer programs for statistical analysis of such data. To date, he has published over 180 papers and 1 book. Don is also an accomplished musician, and has played in bands since high school. This interview was conducted in honor of Don being awarded the 2015 Long-term Excellence Award from the Health Policy Statistics Section of the American Statistical Association. The interview took place in Don’s office at the University of Chicago on December 23, 2015.

How can psychosomatic physicians contribute to behavioral medicine?

In Japan, there is a unique clinical department, “Psychosomatic Medicine”, while there is not a department of behavioral science or behavioral medicine in medical schools. Although only eight medical schools have the department, psychosomatic physicians in the department have been involved with behavioral medicine. In the present manuscript, the author would like to introduce the contribution to behavioral medicine made by psychosomatic physicians in three aspects, education, clinical settings, and research, and propose some strategy for psychosomatic physicians to get more involved with behavioral medicine.

Short literature notices

What is wrong with thinking of oneself as the owner of one’s body, and with making our bodies available for rent or sale? These are the key questions in Anne Phillips’ book Our bodies. Whose property? Phillips is the Graham Wallas Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and pursues these questions by investigating rape, surrogacy, prostitution, and markets in human cells and organs. She explores similarities and differences in property and market thinking in these fields and investigates whether it is possible to hold a consistent conception of the human body and to find appropriate ways of regulating body work and body parts. Phillips criticizes the claim that we own our bodies and therefore can do what we want with it. She shows how such statements are used both to free from suppression as well as to exploit, and how both proponents and opponents of human body part markets have oversold the property paradigm. That my body belongs to me does not automatically mean that I can sell its parts in a market. Conversely, the transaction of money related to human cells or bodily reproductive services, such as surrogacy, does not necessarily mean an objectification or commodification of human beings. Through an extensive analysis of the human body markets Anne Phillips wants to highlight some of its dangers. In particular, she wants to show how the property paradigm favors mind over body and promotes the emphasis on individual choice, as this turns the focus away from important social issues. Body markets tend to drive out altruistic motives, weaken bonds of reciprocity, or make people less capable of viewing others as equal. I.e., altruism, reciprocity, and equality become subordinate as bodies become resources. Moreover, the property paradigm changes people’s selfconception, their choice sets, and it ‘‘damages the moral fabric of society,’’ Phillips claims. The book explores a variety of meanings of concepts like property, ownership, and transaction. It clarifies the difference between objectification, commodification, and self-ownership. She acknowledges that is too simple to say that ‘‘the body is special,’’ and, therefore, that it cannot be subject to economic transactions. Phillips’ criticism of the property paradigm and her suggested solutions are nevertheless based on a particular conception of the human body: we all have bodies, and in this we are equal. We are united in our common experience of living as embodied beings and in our shared bodily vulnerability. This basic equality is threatened by property and market thinking and makes Phillips opposed to the sale of cells and organs, and against commercial surrogacy. However, she accepts compensation for surrogacy and the donation of gametes. Presumed consent should be used to increase access to organs, she claims. In this book Phillips tries to find an alternative way to the traditional utilitarian, human rights, and ‘‘dignitarian’’ positions. Although her point of departure is partly a feminist position, she is also critical to some of these perspectives. Phillips’ critique of the existing positions is insightful and interesting, and her discussion of the property paradigm is well taken. Her presentation of the alternative, equality and reciprocity through all having bodies, however, is not very elaborate. This book is very relevant P. Kakuk (&) Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., P.O. Box 45, Debrecen 4032, Hungary e-mail: kakuk.peter@sph.unideb.hu

Abuse and Diversion of Gabapentin Among Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Users in Appalachian Kentucky

Gabapentin (Neurontin®) is FDA-approved as an adjunctive anti-epileptic for refractory partial seizures and as an analgesic for post-herpetic neuralgia. It is presumed to interact with calcium channels to regulate various neurotransmitter release (1) and is commonly prescribed off-label for other pain syndromes as well as mood and anxiety disorders (2), with few reports of abuse (2–5). However, with decreasing availability of commonly abused prescription opioids, it has been suggested that non-medical users of prescription opioids are substituting other licit (6) and illicit (7) drugs for abuse.