The controlled treatment outcome studies that examined the efficacy of EMDR in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder have yielded a range of results, with the efficacy of EMDR varying across studies. The current study sought to determine if differences in outcome were related to methodological differences. The research was reviewed to identify methodological strengths, weaknesses, and empirical findings. The relationships between effect size and methodology ratings were examined, using the Gold Standard (GS) Scale (adapted from Foa & Meadows, 1997). Results indicated a significant relationship between scores on the GS Scale and effect size, with more rigorous studies according to the GS Scale reporting larger effect sizes. There was also a significant correlation between effect size and treatment fidelity. Additional methodological components not detected by the GS Scale were identified, and suggestions were made for a Revised GS Scale. We conclude by noting that methodological rigor removes noise and thereby decreases error measurement, allowing for the more accurate detection of true treatment effects in EMDR studies.

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Results suggest that WM was enhanced in both groups of older adults with MCI. Cogmed was better on one core WM measure and had higher ratings of satisfaction. The Sham condition declined on adjustment.

The purpose of this study was to address the question: Is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) comparable to the original MMPI in its applicability to the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Vietnam combat veterans? The question was addressed by administering both the original MMPI and MMPI-2 to 29 subjects classified as meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; DSM-III-R) criteria for PTSD and comparing MMPI and MMPI-2 scores in terms of: degree of association, code-type congruence, diagnostic hit rates (when compared to two other clinical samples, and one normal sample), and congruence of the Keane PTSD Scale (PK). Results reveal highly significant correlations between MMPI and MMPI-2 basic scales for the PTSD sample as well as congruence in 2-point codes comparable to previous studies. The MMPI-2 was found to identify effectively PTSD subjects from the other groups. Results also showed a high degree of association between the MMPI and MMPI-2 in regard to PK scores, although minor differences were found in PK raw scores between the two tests. Overall, the findings suggest a high degree of comparability between the MMPI and MMPI-2 in the assessment of PTSD.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting up to one million individuals in the US. Sleep disturbances, typically in sleep maintenance, are found in up to 88% of these individuals and are associated with a variety of poor outcomes. Despite being common and important, there are few data to guide clinical care. We conducted a six week, randomized, controlled trial of eszopiclone and placebo in thirty patients with PD and insomnia. Patients with other primary sleep disorders (PSG defined) were excluded. The primary outcome was total sleep time (TST) and secondary measures included wake after sleep onset (WASO), number of awakenings and quality of sleep, among others. The groups did not significantly differ on TST, but significant differences, favoring eszopiclone, did emerge in number of awakenings (p=.035), quality of sleep (p=.018) and in physician rated CGI improvement (p=.035). There was also a trend towards significance in WASO (p=.071). There were no significant differences between groups in measures of daytime functioning. The drug was well tolerated, with 33% of patients on eszopiclone and 27% of patients on placebo reporting adverse events. Though modest in size, this is the first controlled study of the treatment of insomnia in patients with PD. Eszopiclone did not increase total sleep time significantly but was superior to placebo in improving quality of sleep and some measures of sleep maintenance which is the most common sleep difficulty experienced by patients with PD. Definitive trials of the treatment of sleep disorders in this population are warranted.

This study set out to clarify the association of apathy and depression in dementia as well as apathy's association with basic (ADLs) and instrumental (IADLs) activities of daily living and quality of life. 68 outpatients with mild dementia were assessed on apathy, depression, global cognition, traditional ADLs/IADLs, complex daily living activities requiring intact executive functioning (DAD: Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale), and quality of life. The sample was stratified into high and low global cognition groups and compared. While no relationship was found between scores on apathy and depression in the high cognition group, there was a significant relationship between apathy and depression in the low cognition group. Further, high and low cognition groups differed in the relationship between apathy and ability to perform basic and complex activities of daily living. Specifically, in the high cognition group, increased apathy was correlated with diminished ability to perform traditional IADLs as well as those activities requiring intact executive functioning (i.e., DAD). In the low cognition group, increased apathy was associated with poor performance on traditional ADLs and IADLs, but was not related to performance on independent daily activities demanding good executive functioning. Finally, increased apathy was significantly associated with worse quality of life, but this held for the high cognition group only, suggesting that dementia patients with better cognition have insight into their deficits and, perhaps, experience poor quality of life as a result.

The relationship of the NEO-PI to personality disorders was evaluated in a clinical population. Eighty subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were given this measure, along with the MCMI-II and PTSD and combat scales. Two questions were addressed: (1) What is the relationship of NEO-PI domains and facets to personality disorders?; and (2) What is this scale's relationship to PTSD problems? Results support previous studies that employed a clinical population, but with lower correlation coefficients. For the most part, then, the NEO-PI domains and facets correlated in expected ways with the MCMI-II. On PTSD measures, N accounted for the majority of the variance, but other domains were entered when independent regression equations were calculated to account for different personality disorders.

This study is an extension of previous research on distinctions among Vietnam combat veterans and other similar veterans. Efforts were made to distinguish among three types of inpatient veterans: (a) those with a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and combat experience; (b) those with a diagnosis other than PTSD and with combat experience; and (c) non-PTSD, noncombat patients. Two hundred Vietnam-era veterans were administered an assessment battery within 2 weeks of admission. The battery included background variables, preservice ratings, service ratings, current adjustment ratings, and psychometric variables. Results showed no differences among the groups on premorbid variables. PTSD veterans, however, responded in a more pathological direction on psychometric and adjustment variables. A discriminant analysis using these variables correctly classified 85% of the veterans in the three groups. Also, the PTSD of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory subscale was cross-validated. Last, for the total combat veterans group, time spent in combat was highly correlated with a variety of PTSD variables.