High Intercorrelations Research Articles

A Perspective on the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scale Project

The articles in this issue by Nichols (2006/this issue) and Rogers, Sewell, Harrison, and Jordan (2006/this issue) provide evaluations and critiques of the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales developed by Tellegen et al. (2003) to reduce the high intercorrelations typically found among MMPI–2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) Basic scales and to correspondingly improve the discriminate validity of these scales. This manuscript provides another perspective that acknowledges that it would be premature to discontinue the use of the standard MMPI–2 basic scales until more research has been accumulated on the RC Scales. However, it is also proposed that the RC Scales are an innovative and important contribution that holds substantial potential for addressing a number of significant limitations in the MMPI–2 and thereby improving the assessment of psychopathology with this instrument.

Comparative QSAR modeling of CCR5 receptor binding affinity of substituted 1-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-piperidinyl amides and ureas

The present QSAR study attempts to explore the structural and physicochemical requirements of substituted 1-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-piperidinyl amides and ureas for CCR5 binding affinity using linear free energy-related (LFER) model of Hansch. QSAR models have been developed using electronic (Hammett σ), hydrophobicity ( π), and steric (molar refractivity and STERIMOL L, B1, and B5) parameters of phenyl ring substituents of the compounds along with appropriate dummy variables. Whole molecular descriptor like partition coefficient (log P calcd) was also tried as an additional descriptor. Statistical techniques like stepwise regression, multiple linear regression with factor analysis as the data preprocessing step (FA-MLR), partial least squares with factor analysis as the preprocessing step (FA-PLS), principal component regression analysis (PCRA), multiple linear regression with genetic function approximation (GFA-MLR), and genetic partial least squares (G/PLS) were applied to identify the structural and physicochemical requirements for the CCR5 binding affinity. The generated equations were statistically validated using leave-one-out technique. The quality of equations obtained from stepwise regression, FA-MLR, FA-PLS, and PCRA is of acceptable statistical range (explained variance ranging from 71.9% to 80.4%, while predicted variance ranging from 67.4% to 77.0%). The GFA-derived models show high intercorrelation among predictor variables used in the equations while the G/PLS model shows lowest statistical quality among all types of models. The best models were also subjected to leave-25%-out crossvalidation.

Low Cerebrospinal Fluid Glutamate and Glycine in Refractory Affective Disorder

Glutamatergic dysregulation has been documented in schizophrenia but has received less systematic study in affective illness. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the excitatory amino acids glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulator, glycine (GLY) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography in 32 patients with refractory affective disorder (16 female/16 male, 12 bipolar I, 12 bipolar II, and 8 unipolar) and in 14 age-matched controls. There was a significant reduction in CSF glutamate and glycine in patients versus controls. A diagnosis by sex interaction was present for CSF glycine with lower levels in female patients compared to female controls. Levels of the excitatory amino acids were highly inter-correlated in patients, but not in controls. In patients studied after 6 weeks of lamotrigine, there was a trend for CSF glutamate levels to increase. These data suggest that in patients with refractory affective disorder, excitatory amino acids are dysregulated, as exemplified both by the decreased CSF glutamate and glycine and their high intercorrelation compared to controls. Further controlled study of glutamatergic dysregulation and its relationship to the pathophysiology of affective disorders and potential mechanism of action of mood stabilizers appears indicated.

THE CLASSIC: Quantitative Computed Tomography of Vertebral Spongiosa: A Sensitive Method for Detecting Early Bone Loss after Oophorectomy

THE CLASSIC: Quantitative Computed Tomography of Vertebral Spongiosa: A Sensitive Method for Detecting Early Bone Loss after Oophorectomy

How does crime pay? The differentiation of criminal specialisms by fundamental incentive

Most attempts to determine offence specialisms have not benefited from any formal psychological framework of behavioural differentiation. Bandura's framework (Social foundations of thought and action, 1986) of the fundamental incentives to human action offers an interesting perspective on what might underlie differential patterns of offending. The framework draws attention to the distinction between Material, Power/Status, and Sensory incentives, leading to the hypotheses that crimes which share any one of these incentives will be more likely to be committed by the same person, as revealed through high inter-correlations, but be less highly correlated with crimes with different fundamental incentives. To test these hypotheses the correlations between 42 offending behaviours as self-reported by 185 convicted young offenders were examined. A Multidimensional Scaling analysis of the inter-correlations revealed three distinct styles of offending that could be related to Bandura's Material (Cronbach's α = 0.94), Power/Status (α = 0.90) and Sensory (α = 0.76) incentives. The identification of this psychological basis for the differentiation of criminal styles provides a model for considering offenders' patterns of specialisation which is of value both in clarifying the aetiology of different types of crime and in considering which crimes may be behaviourally equivalent when trying to link them to a common offender or infer offender characteristics from crime scene information. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Connections between climatic variables and the growth and needle dynamics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Estonia and Lapland

The relationships between climatic variables and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growth and needle dynamics were studied in three stands in Estonia and in four stands located near the northern timberline in Lapland. The trees sampled in Estonia had low correlations with the analysed climatic variables (air temperature, precipitation and indices of atmospheric circulation). Moreover, the weak cross-correlation of the time-series of the Estonian sample trees indicated that Scots pine is affected mainly by local factors in that region. In Lapland, however, height increment and needle production correlated strongly among trees within a stand (mean r=0.45 and 0.46, respectively) and between stands (r=0.32 and 0.37). Radial increment also showed a high inter-correlation among the trees within a stand in Lapland (r=0.45). Both height increment and needle production were strongly influenced by the temperature regime of the previous summer in Lapland (mean r=0.64 and 0.64, respectively). Radial increment was correlated with the mean July temperature of the current year (mean r=0.29). The correlations between the indices of atmospheric circulation and tree attributes were weak, while the strongest correlation was between the Ponta Delgada NAO index (PD-NAO) and height increment and needle production in Lapland. Height increment, needle production and radial increment have increased since the 1990s in the trees growing in Lapland. This may indicate a positive effect of climate warming on tree growth in Lapland. In Estonia, where climatic conditions do not limit tree growth, the climate warming seems not to directly influence the growth and needle dynamics of Scots pine.

The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS)

SUMMARY The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS; Bride, Robinson, Yegidis, & Figley, 2004) is an easy to administer 17-itemself-report measure of secondary trauma. Bride et al. (2004) reported a measure of three domains of traumatic stress specifically associated with secondary exposure to trauma: intrusion, avoidance, and arousal. The STSS was reported to have high levels of internal consistency reliability and indicated evidence of convergent, discriminant, and factorial validity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reliability and validity of the STSS with a national, random sample of mental health social workers. To assess the fit of the data to the three-factor structure proposed by Bride et al., a confirmatory factor analysis was performed on data from 275 social workers who indicated exposure to client trauma. The model fit the data adequately although high factor intercorrelations strongly suggest a unidimensional scale. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis of a unidimensional scale and a second order factor analysis yielded similar results. Findings indicate the need for further scale validation. Challenges remain for measuring and distinctly differentiating between secondary trauma symptoms of arousal, avoidance, and intrusion. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Safety cultural divergences among management, supervisory and worker groups in Hong Kong construction industry

This study investigates the relationship between peoples’ behaviors, attitudes and perceptions towards safety culture and to compare safety culture divergences among three levels of construction personnel: top management, supervisory staff and frontline worker by conducting safety culture survey. The questionnaire comprising general information and 36 safety attitude statements were distributed to 423 construction personnel working in ten different construction sites in Hong Kong. The results from this study indicate that the 8 testable factors, including organizational commitment and communication, line management commitment, supervisor’s role, personal role, worker’s influence, risk taking behavior, obstacles to safe behavior and accident reports, have high inter-correlations and the three groups of respondents hold quite different regarding safety culture. These findings can give invaluable indication to the construction personnel to have better understanding of safety culture in Hong Kong construction industry.

Validation of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a Low-Income African American Sample of Medical Outpatients.

The psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) are well established with primarily Caucasian samples. However, little is known about its reliability and validity with minority groups. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the BDI-II in a sample of low-income African American medical outpatients (N=220). Reliability was demonstrated with high internal consistency (.90) and good item-total intercorrelations. Criterion-related validity was demonstrated. A confirmatory factor analysis supported a hierarchical factor structure in which the BDI-II reflected 2 first-order factors (Cognitive and Somatic) that in turn reflected a second-order factor (Depression). These results are consistent with previous findings and thus support the use of the BDI-II in assessing depressive symptoms for African American patients in a medical setting.

Reliability of the Social Skills Rating System for Preschool Children in Iran

The purpose was to investigate stability and internal consistency of the Social Skills Rating System in a group of 304 (161 boys and 143 girls) ages 3 to 65 yr. (M=4.7, SD= 1.0) preschool children in Iran. Test-retest reliability and Cronbach coefficients alpha were high; moderate to high intercorrelations were obtained between subdomains while low interrater correlations were obtained.

Profiles of ortho-polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, hexachlorobenzene, and Mirex among male Lake Ontario sportfish consumers: the New York State Angler Cohort Study

Great Lakes sportfish consumption is a recognized human exposure source to environmental organochlorine compounds. Using data collected as part of the New York State Angler Cohort Study, 203 males were considered with regard to history of Lake Ontario sportfish consumption and sera levels of 57 ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, hexachlorobenzene, and Mirex. Consumption of six species of highly contaminated Lake Ontario sportfish during the years 1980 to 1990 was considered. Exposure was weighted by average annual frequency of consumption, whole-fish PCB estimates, and meal size to determine a continuous index of exposure. This index was dichotomized to compare “consumers” to “nonconsumers” in several procedures. Recovery and lipid-adjusted serum values for PCB congener IUPAC Nos. 138+163 (rsp=0.3), 183 (rsp=0.3), 187 (rsp=0.4), and 188 (rsp=0.3) and Mirex (rsp=0.4) were significantly correlated with the index of fish consumption (P<0.001). A logistic regression model, using forward stepwise selection procedures (α in/out=0.002/0.004), was employed to account for high intercorrelations among organochlorine predictor variables. Mirex was the sole statistically significant predictor variable of “consumer/nonconsumer.” A one-unit increase in log Mirex was associated with a 92.0% increase in the odds of having reported sportfish consumption (OR=1.92, 95%CI=1.43, 2.58). Age, body mass index, cigarette smoking, water/wildfowl consumption, and year of sampling were considered covariates. The results of this study support the premise that long-term dietary consumption of Lake Ontario sportfish, even at comparatively low levels, contributes significantly to the body burden of organochlorine compounds in western New York anglers and sportsmen.

No correlation between moving phosphene and motor thresholds: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal stability of moving phosphenes and to assess whether moving phosphene thresholds (PTs) correlate with motor thresholds (MTs). Small moving sensations, so-called moving phosphenes, are perceived when V5, an area important for visual motion analysis, is stimulated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). However, it is still a matter of debate if V5 phosphenes are stable sensations across measurements and if they are a reasonable index of the cortical excitability of V5. Currently, MT is more commonly used as an index of global cortical excitability. However, previous studies have indicated that stationary PTs are suitable alternatives when the primary visual cortex is stimulated by TMS. Using paired-pulse TMS, stationary and moving PTs and applying single pulse TMS, MTs were measured in 11 subjects. PTs were retested in nine subjects 5-7 days later. Stationary and moving PTs were stable within subjects across the two sessions and showed a high inter-correlation. Conversely, PTs and MTs did not correlate. Our results are in agreement with previous studies showing that excitatory measurements of one specific cortex cannot be generalized to the excitability of the whole cortex. Thus, we propose specific measures for cortices of interest: PT for visual experiments and MT for motor experiments.

Associations between perinatal interventions and hospital stillbirth rates and neonatal mortality

Background: Previous studies suggest that high risk and low birthweight babies have better outcomes if born in hospitals with level III neonatal intensive care units. Relations between obstetric care, particularly...

Inter-generational role investments of great-grandparents: consequences for psychological well-being

Identity theory suggests that individuals who perceive their family roles as salient and feel competent in their performance have greater psychological well-being than others. This paper assesses the ways in which aspects of parent, grandparent and great-grandparent role investments affect self-esteem, levels of depression and affect-balance. The 188 respondents with an average age of 73 years were participants in the University of Southern California Longitudinal Study of Generations and occupied all three roles at the time of measurement. They self-assessed quality of performance, importance to one's identity and satisfaction in their family roles. Overall, levels of role investment declined consistently with greater lineage distance from parent to great-grandparent. Latent correlations showed that parent role investment was most highly associated with well-being, followed by investment in grandparent and great-grandparent roles. Structural equation modelling, however, revealed no unique effects on well-being for any of the three roles (as a result of high inter-correlations). All three role structures formed a single meta-construct that was positively related to psychological well-being. It is concluded that the strength and consequences of inter-generational role investments were hierarchically structured by relational proximity, but also manifested in a single integrated family identity, which suggests that there are two competing and complementary views of family role structures in later life.

Common and Country-Specific Dietary Patterns in Four European Cohort Studies

The association between diet and cancer, predominantly investigated univariately, has often been inconsistent, possibly because of the large number of candidate risk factors and their high intercorrelations. Analysis of dietary patterns is expected to give more insight than analysis of single nutrients or foods. This study aimed to develop and apply a common methodological approach to determine dietary patterns in four cohort studies originating in Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy. Food items on each of the food frequency questionnaires were aggregated into 51 food groups, defined on the basis of their position in the diet pattern and possible relevance to cancer etiology. Exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze dietary patterns. Using a standardized approach, 3-5 stable dietary patterns were identified, explaining 20-29% of total variance in consumption of the food groups. Two dietary patterns, which explained most of the variance, were consistent across the studies. The first pattern was characterized by high consumption of (salad) vegetables, the second by high consumption of pork, processed meat and potatoes. In addition, a few specifically national food patterns were identified. Sensitivity analyses showed that the identified patterns were robust for number of factors extracted, distribution of input variables and energy adjustment. Our findings suggest that some important eating patterns are shared by the four populations under study, whereas other eating patterns are population specific.

Associations of plasma fibrinogen assays, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 with previous myocardial infarction

The association of plasma fibrinogen with myocardial infarction (MI) may (like that of C-reactive protein, CRP) be a marker of subclinical inflammation, mediated by cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). There are well-recognized discrepancies between commonly performed fibrinogen assays. Increased ratio of clottable fibrinogen to intact fibrinogen (measured by a recently developed immunoassay) has been proposed as a measure of hyperfunctional fibrinogen, and is elevated in acute MI. To compare the associations of intact fibrinogen and four routine fibrinogen assays (two von Clauss assays; one prothrombin-time derived; and one immunonephelometric) in a case-control study of previous MI. Cases (n=399) were recruited 3-9 months after their event; 413 controls were age- and sex- matched from the case-control study local population. Intact fibrinogen was measured in 50% of subjects. All routine fibrinogen assays showed high intercorrelations (r=0.82-0.93) and significant (P<0.0001) increased mean levels in cases vs. controls. These four routine assays correlated only moderately with intact fibrinogen (r=0.45-0.62), while intact fibrinogen showed only a small, nonsignificant increase in cases vs. controls. Consequently, the ratio of each of the four routine assays to the intact fibrinogen assay was significantly higher (P<0.0003) in cases vs. controls. Each fibrinogen assay correlated with plasma levels of CRP and IL-6 (which were also elevated in cases vs. controls). Each routine fibrinogen assay remained significantly elevated in cases vs. controls after further adjustment for C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. These data provide evidence for acquired, increased hyperfunctional plasma fibrinogen in MI survivors, which is not associated with markers of inflammatory reactions. The causes and significance of these results remain to be established in prospective studies.

Speech evaluation and swallowing ability after intra‐oral cancer

In this study, four methods of postoperative speech evaluation are compared for 19 persons with oral cancers who have undergone oral surgery and/or radiotherapy. The Munich Intelligibility Profile was used for intelligibility testing and semiquantitative scoring by novice listeners. Expert ratings were done on the Therapy Outcome Measure (TOM) Phonological Disability form. For self‐evaluation, the EORTC QLQ‐C30 and the Head and Neck module was used. Swallowing function was scored on the TOM Dysphagia form. There was a high intercorrelation between the results of subjective speech evaluation by experts and non‐experts and the intelligibility test, but no correlation with any of these methods could be shown for the self‐evaluation by the participants. Voice quality seemed to have an influence on non‐expert scores. Swallowing was a more severe problem for our group than speech impairment.

Development of Questionnaires on Coping with Disease and Itching Cognitions for Children and Adolescents with Atopic Eczema

Background: There are numerous questionnaires for adults to assess coping with disease and quality of life in patients with atopic eczema, but there are hardly any for children and adolescents. This is surprising because the prevalence of atopic eczema is higher in these age groups than in adults. Moreover, the patients in this age range are in a sensitive phase of emotional development with many new demands (e.g. puberty, first partnership, choice of profession). Objective: Adaptation or development of questionnaires on coping with disease and itching cognitions for children and adolescents with atopic eczema. Methods: Based on existing questionnaires for adults, questionnaires on coping with disease and itching cognitions were designed for two age groups (7–12 years, 13–18 years). After several preliminary studies the final versions were tested in a group of 204 children and 168 adolescents. In addition to the questionnaires, the SCORAD (severity scoring of atopic dermatitis) was used. Results: Two-factor scale solutions resulted for both questionnaires for children. With respect to coping with disease (COPEKI), the scales ‘depressive mood/social anxiety’ and ‘itching-scratching circle/stress from the disease’ resulted. With respect to itching cognitions (JUCKKI), the scales ‘catastrophizing’ and ‘coping’ resulted. The internal consistency can be rated satisfactory to good (α = 0.72–0.91). Similar scales resulted for the adolescents (COPEJU, JUCKJU). With respect to coping with disease the following scales resulted: ‘depressive mood/itching-scratching circle’, ‘social anxiety’ and ‘stress from the disease’. Satisfactory to good values for Cronbach´s α (0.66–0.89) were found for these scales. High scale intercorrelations and moderate correlations with the SCORAD were observed both in children and adolescents. Comparing two severity groups (SCORAD <40 vs. ≧40) clear differences resulted especially in the questionnaires for the children. Conclusion: The questionnaires on coping with disease and itching cognitions provide two age-appropriate assessment tools to reliably measure different aspects of these constructs in children and adolescents. Sensitivity to change of the questionnaires is currently being examined.

An exploratory factor analysis of the Tail Suspension Test in 12 inbred strains of mice and an F2 intercross

To explore the genetic dimensions of the stress response in rodents, we tested 12 inbred strains of mice and an F2 intercross ( n=745) on the Tail Suspension Test (TST) and the Tail Suspension-Induced Hyperthermia (TSIH) paradigm. These selected 12 strains provide a representative sampling of the genetic heterogeneity of mousedom. An F2 intercross was derived from NMRI and 129S6 strains, which differ in their responses on the TST. Both inbred strains and F2 mice underwent a standardized protocol of automated TST with two sessions: (1) baseline and (2) imipramine TST. The duration of immobility and the body temperature after TST were recorded. The inbred strains were also tested in the Light–Dark Transition (LDT) test and in the Open Field Test (OFT), measuring the distance traveled, vertical movements, and center time as independent variables. The F2 mice were measured for core temperature after TST (TSIH). High intercorrelations among strain means were found for the LDT and OFT measures. Principal components analysis extracted four factors: “exploratory fear,” body weight, imipramine response on immobility, and “stress reactivity.” These dimensions were largely confirmed in the F2 population with one additional factor: imipramine response on TSIH. The results support a distinction between “stress reactivity” as measured by the TST and “exploratory fear” behavior as measured by the LDT and OFT.

Negative interactions in close relationships across the life span.

This article examines age differences in positive, but especially negative, interactions in close relationships. Two community-based representative samples of people from 13 to 96 years of age from the United States and Japan were used to explore these relationships. Analyses indicate stability across age in positive interactions but a general decline in negative interactions in both countries. Three possible explanations for this age difference in negative interactions were examined: social maturity, familiarity, and contact frequency. Results provide most support for the contact frequency explanation. And finally, intercorrelations across relationships, that is, spouse, mother, father, child, and same-gender best friend, indicate moderate to high intercorrelations across all ages with a slight increase among older Japanese age groups. These results can be summarized as lending support to a generalized reduction in negative interactions with age but exceptions are noted in specific relationships and cultural traditions.