Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Reality Testing”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources

Couples' experiences of predictive testing and living with the risk or reality of Huntington disease: a qualitative study.

A qualitative study, based on family systems theory, was undertaken in order to gain a better understanding of the impact of predictive testing and of living with the risk or reality of Huntington disease (HD), on couple relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 couples; in 9 couples the at-risk partner had undergone testing, and of these, 4 were already affected with HD. At-risk partners in the remaining five couples had not been tested. Interview transcripts were analyzed to obtain a range of themes, which reflect the salient experiences of these couples in relation to HD. Most couples reported that receiving a predictive test result had little or no adverse effect on their relationship. However for two couples who separated after the at-risk partner received a non-carrier result, emotional factors associated with years of living with the HD risk, rather than the result itself, were regarded as having caused irreparable damage to the relationship. For two couples who have remained together since the diagnosis of one partner, loyalty was identified as the main factor contributing to the continuance of the relationship. The separations of the other two couples in which one partner was diagnosed were attributed to emotional distancing, and to the obsessive behavior of the affected partner. The findings of this study highlight both the individuality and the complexity of psychological effects on the intimate relationships of couples who live with the risk or reality of HD, and provide important insights for professionals offering support to these couples.

Adult↗

The role of simulator immersion on learning and transfer of decision-making skill in sport.

Virtual reality has become popular in sport and other domains because it can immerse the user within a sporting context and solve logistical problems for additional off-field training. There is limited evidence, however, of whether immersion is crucial for learning and transfer. This study compared training of decision-making skill between 360-degree video virtual reality (360VR) and two-dimensional video. Twenty-eight Australian Rules Football players were randomly assigned to one of three training groups: 360VR, two-dimensional video, and control. Across four weeks, participants in the training groups were exposed to decision-making scenarios consisting of visual, contextual and auditory cues. Performance was assessed pre- and post-training with virtual reality and field-based decision-making tests. Results indicated that the two-dimensional video training group showed significantly superior decision-making in the field-based transfer test compared to 360VR and control groups post intervention. There was also indication that two-dimensional video training was superior to the control post intervention in the virtual reality test. Findings indicate that immersion created in virtual reality is not an underpinning mechanism for learning and transfer, rather the use of perceptual information is crucial. 360VR may facilitate uptake through engagement, but two-dimensional video is adequate for learning and transfer of decision-making to the field.

Humans↗

[The Rorschach's test for heroin addicts treated by methadone: from reality to imaginary].

The aim of this study was to analyze the role of the imaginary and its link with reality among 30 subjects treated by methadone. The Rorschach test was proposed to 30 heroin addicts treated by methadone, over an average 7 months. The formal answers (used preferentially in the 30 results, though often inappropriately) and socializing landmarks involving considerable individual investment, we were able to identify two ways of working within the same protocol. The first relies most on conformity and adaptation and tries to put the imaginary aside. The second is a more projective, unorganized approach evidencing the influence of the imaginary. This specific imaginary activity could not be assimilated with the traditional "lack of fantasy" observed in heroin addicts. It would be interesting to examine the course of this approach over a longer period.

Adult↗

Standardizing tests of mouse behavior: reasons, recommendations, and reality.

As more investigators with widely varying backgrounds enter the field of mouse behavioral genetics, there is a growing need to standardize some of the more popular tests because differences between laboratories in the details of behavioral testing and the pretesting environment can contribute to failures to replicate results of genetic experiments. It is argued here that we have sufficient knowledge to warrant a wise choice of a short list of standard strains and even details of apparatus and protocols for several kinds of behavioral tests. Equating the laboratory environment does not appear to be feasible. Instead, we need to learn what kinds of behavioral tests yield the most stable results in different labs and what kinds are most sensitive to the ubiquitous variations among test sites. Methods for making an informed choice of sample size for evaluating interactions between the laboratory environment and genotype are available and should be utilized in standardization trials. New resources for convenient sharing of data will greatly aid in collaborative and comparative studies involving several sites. Like the sequencing of an entire genome, test standardization is something that needs to be done only once if it is done properly, and the work will then benefit the field of behavioral and neural genetics for many years.

Animals↗

Acquisition of basic fiberoptic intubation skills with a virtual reality airway simulator.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a virtual reality (VR) airway simulator (the AccuTouch Virtual Reality Bronchsocopy Simulator; Immersion Medical, Gaithersburg, MD) can be used to teach residents basic fiberoptic intubation (FOI) skills effectively. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: University anesthesiology department. INTERVENTION: Supervised training was done using a VR airway simulator. MEASUREMENTS: Time to intubation before and after a 4-day training period using an adult VR FOI scenario and time to intubation using a fresh human cadaver two weeks after the training experience were measured. MAIN RESULTS: Residents were able to significantly improve time to intubation in the VR scenario (114 vs 75 seconds; P = 0.001). Novices differed from experienced attending anesthesiologists in time to intubation in the VR scenario, before but not after training (114 vs 79 seconds compared with 75 vs 72 seconds). Novices who had been trained with the simulator performed significantly faster in the cadaver than novices who had not (24 vs 86 seconds; P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was no difference in time to intubation in the cadaver between trained novices and experienced attending anesthesiologists (24 vs 23 seconds; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of a VR airway simulator enables anesthesia residents to acquire basic FOI skills comparable to those of experienced anesthesiologists in a human cadaver.

Cadaver↗

Correlation between static automated and scanning laser entoptic perimetry in normal subjects and glaucoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of scanning laser entoptic perimetry with static automated perimetry as a noninvasive instrument for screening for glaucomatous damage in visually asymptomatic subjects within the central 60 degrees (diameter) of vision. DESIGN: A masked cross-sectional study comparing entoptic perimetry to achromatic threshold perimetry. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three subjects and controls from the Sharp Rees-Stealy Hospital and the Shiley Eye Center at the University of California, San Diego. TESTING: Virtual reality-based entoptic perimetry was compared with achromatic threshold perimetry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each testing session, we compared the presence of a disturbance in the entoptic perimetry stimulus with the presence of defects in visual function as measured by Humphrey automated visual field perimetry. RESULTS: Scanning laser entoptic perimetry reasonably estimates the overall visual field loss for moderate-to-severe scotomas as measured by the pattern deviation in standard visual field perimetry. Scanning laser entoptic perimetry has a sensitivity from 27% to 90% and a specificity from 50% to 100% for screening moderate-to-severe visual field defects caused by glaucoma within the central 60 degrees diameter of vision. CONCLUSIONS: Scanning laser entoptic perimetry may be an effective and inexpensive screening test in hospitals and community clinics for diagnosing visual field loss caused by glaucoma.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

Overall image of nuclear tests and their human effects at Semipalatinsk: an attempt at analyses based on verbal data.

The present paper is part of an attempt at finally reconstructing the realities of nuclear tests and their human effects near Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan. As a first step, it tries to reconstruct the overall image of nuclear tests and their human effects. Our data are 199 written testimonies of those affected by radiation, which were collected in 2002 and 2003. We statistically processed them, and categorized those words and expressions, which occurred most frequently in the testimonies, and obtained some forty categories, which represent the experiences, feelings, desires of those affected by radiation. Next, we conducted a principal component analysis of the categories. The result shows: (1) The experiences of the nuclear tests are arranged along the time axis, with direct experiences of the nuclear tests forming one coherent part of the perception and memory, and with other subsequent experiences forming another. (2) Of the latter, we can discern a core of the experiences on human effects such as "disease," "death," "family," "radiation," and so on. (3) And around this core, we see two different trends: one pointing to the current distress and plight, and the other pointing to future fear and hope.

Adult↗

Reality perceptions of television: a preliminary comparison of emotionally disturbed and nonhandicapped children.

The performance of emotionally disturbed children was compared to that of nonhandicapped children on a newly developed measure of perceived television reality, the Videotest. Emotionally disturbed children scored significantly lower than the comparison group even when IQ was controlled, indicating that handicapped children are less able to distinguish between what is real and what is not real on television. Implications for behavioral effects and possible remedial action are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Reality orientation training in an amnesic: a controlled single-case study (n = 572 days).

'Reality orientation training' (ROT) is a well-established therapy used with the elderly, especially those with dementia. It aims to improve orientation and reduce negative behaviours, e.g. confusion. ROT has been recommended for non-demented patients with acquired neurological impairment. However, this suggestion has not been investigated further in controlled trials. This paper describes an informal 24 h ROT programme with an amnesic subject (H.J.). It combined single-case experimental designs derived from behaviour therapy. Target behaviours were items of temporal orientation--current time/time of day, year, season, month and day of week. Orientation regarding the current date was not trained, and thus served as control variable for non-specific effects (e.g. spontaneous recovery). In order to improve oriented behaviour in different relevant situations outside the clinic, we chose 24 h ROT instead of formal therapeutic sessions. The patients' spouse offered 24 h ROT at home 7 days a week. This consisted of reminding the patient of orientation information, e.g. the current day of the week in different situations. Furthermore, negative behaviours such as irrelevant questions were ignored. The patients' spouse was trained and supervised to carry out this task in 27 sessions each lasting 10 min. For 14 weeks supervision was provided twice a week in the clinic (i.e. 2 x 10 min). Afterwards the spouse continued to apply ROT at home without further supervision in two follow-up periods. As expected, learning was slow but reliable. Generalization of improvement to another setting was shown (home vs clinic). Stable therapeutic gains over a long follow-up period could be demonstrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗

Psychological testing and pilot licensing.

This article reviews contemporary trends in the psychological testing of pilots. It is written in the particular context of draft European Joint Aviation Authorities licensing proposals which, in certain circumstances, envisage psychological testing for pilot licensing purposes. The article aims to clarify issues relating to the validity, reliability, and value of pilot psychological testing in this particular context. It is first suggested that the entire domain is characterized by terminological and methodological confusion. The economic and other benefits of psychological testing are contrasted with the potential risks, including abuse and the use of tests in circumstances for which they were never designed. Reference also is made to cultural differences that potentially may impact on the practical realities of psychological testing--especially within the European context, where the debate is presently at its most intense.

Aerospace Medicine↗

The behaviour of tumour cells of ovarian carcinomata under in vitro conditions and the coincidence with clinical controllability of tumours.

The clinical significance of in vitro cytostatics testing, based on 96 patients with ovarian carcinomata over a 4-year period (1976-1979) is reported. Cell cultivation and short-time incubation are used for the purpose. The cytostatic effect are ascertained by microscopic comparative tests and determination of 3H-thymidine and -cytidine incorporation. The results obtained by in vitro methods coincide to about 70%. Ovarian carcinomata are most frequently sensitive to Adriblastin and least frequently to DTIC. The correlation rate between in vitro test results and clinical reality was 83%. The clinical significance of cytostatics testing in vitro consists in --the individualisation of the tumour chemotherapy, --the possibility of a prognostic estimate, --the ascertainment of causes of chemotherapy failure, --the prevention of useless therapeutic trials on the patient.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Reality discrimination, reality monitoring and disposition towards hallucination.

This investigation tested the hypotheses that individuals disposed towards hallucination are deficient in the meta-cognitive skills of reality discrimination and reality monitoring, and that there is a strong correlation between the measures of these skills. Normal subjects scoring high or low on a scale measuring predisposition towards hallucination were tested on an auditory signal detection task. High scorers on the scale were found to differ from low scorers on a measure of perceptual bias but not on a measure of sensitivity. The same groups of subjects were tested on a reality monitoring measure in which they were required to monitor two different types of word: words they were required to listen to, and words they were required to listen to on some trials and imagine on others. On a surprise frequency test it was found that high scorers did not differ from low scorers on their ability to accurately count the memories of words they had heard. It was also found that both high scorers and low scorers overestimated the number of times they had heard words when they had also been required to imagine these words on tests; however, high scorers made this error to a significantly greater extent. A strong correlation was found between reality discrimination and reality monitoring measures for high scorers, but no correlation was found for low scorers.

Adult↗

Visual spatial abilities and fall risk: an assessment tool for individuals with dementia.

Risk of falling is a major concern of long-term care facilities with residents diagnosed with dementia. Use of a brief cognitive assessment focusing on visual spatial abilities could be one strategy in the prevention of falls in residents with dementia. The objective of this study was to determine if a clock test could predict a risk of falls in residents diagnosed with dementia. Three hundred sixty-four individuals with dementia participated (92 men and 272 women; ages 37 to 100, mean 80.5 years, median 83 years). Each participant was given the Reality Comprehension Clock Test (RCCT) three times, and Mini Mental-Status Examination (MMSE) two times to determine criterion-related validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency; and to set and evaluate a risk of falls score based on the Visual Spatial Score (VSS) component produced by the RCCT. Significant findings included .72 (p < .01) correlation between the RCCT and the MMSE, .90 (p < .01) correlation between the first administration of the RCCT and the second administration of the RCCT; an alpha of .95 (p, < .001) and an F value of 7.6 (p < .001) producing a risk of falls initial VSS of 5 or lower compared to 9 or greater. Chi-square of 6.3 for 30 days (p,< .01), 11.08 for 60 days (p < .01) and 13.3 for 90 days (p < .01) indicated a significant difference in the number of falls occurring in the high risk group (VSS of 5 or lower) compared to the low/ no risk group (VSS of 9 or higher). A risk factor analysis suggested that residents in the higher risk group were three times more likely to have fallen than residents in the low risk group. Knowing a resident's visual spatial ability offers health care providers an opportunity to implement a resident-specific intervention that addresses their cognitive ability and visual spatial deficit that may reduce the resident's risk of falling.

Accidental Falls↗

[Virtual surgical planning in liver surgery].

UNLABELLED: The operability of a liver tumour depends on its three-dimensional relation to the intrahepatic vascular trees which define autonomously functioning liver (sub-)segments. The aim of our study was to establish a computer-based three-dimensional volumetric operation planning system for the liver. METHODS: Using data from routine helical CT scans the three tissue subclasses of liver parenchyma, liver vessels and liver tumour were segmented semiautomatically. A dedicated segmenting tool was established using region growing algorithms in combination with an "intelligent" border finder. Visualisation is performed by the "Heidelberg Raytracer". The vascular trees are visualised as 3D graphs. Pseudoconnections between portal and hepatic venous trees are separated automatically. Security margins are calculated and the system presents a virtual resection proposal. RESULTS: The 3D anatomy of the liver can be visualised in high quality resulting in good depth perception. Security margins are demonstrated. Dependent liver parenchyma can be recognized automatically on the basis of the vascular trees. The system offers a individualised resection proposal including the tumour, security margin and dependent liver parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional presentation of the individual liver anatomy of a given patient facilitates the perception of the pathology. Virtual reality combined with artificial intelligence allows calculation of complete resection protocols, which can be quantified and modified interactively. This will make operation planning more objective; patient selection may be improved, and in cases of difficult tumour localisation different resection strategies may be tested. Thus virtual reality in liver surgery will improve teaching, surgical training and planning. It may lead to improved surgical care.

Algorithms↗