This community contains the ePrints and eTheses produced by the Psychology staff and students. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/30 2017-06-01T07:13:25Z 2017-06-01T07:13:25Z Muehlan, Holger Wilson, J T Lindsay Von, Steinbuchel Nicole http://hdl.handle.net/1893/25436 2017-05-31T23:02:21Z 2016-02-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A Rasch Analysis of the QOLIBRI Six-Item Overall Scale Authors: Muehlan, Holger; Wilson, J T Lindsay; Von, Steinbuchel Nicole Abstract: Objective: The Quality Of Life after BRain Injury (QOLIBRI) consortium has developed a short six-item scale (QOLIBRI-OS) to screen health-related quality of life after traumatic brain injury. The goal of the current study is to examine further psychometric qualities of the Quality Of Life after BRain Injury-Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) at the item level using Rasch analysis with particular emphasis on the operating characteristics of the items. Method: A total of 921 participants with traumatic brain injury were recruited. The analysis sample was restricted to 795 participants with Glasgow Coma Score and Glasgow Outcome Score–Extended available in order to ensure a well-characterized sample. Results: Overall fit statistics indicate sufficient reliability of the QOLIBRI-OS. The assumption of unidimensionality could be confirmed with reservation. The range of item locations is small, whereas item thresholds cover a wide range of the latent trait. The majority of parameter estimations for all class intervals of the respective test are in accordance with the model assumptions. Conclusion: The results show that, despite marginal misfits to the model, the six items representing the QOLIBRI-OS could establish a Rasch scale.

2016-02-01T00:00:00Z Muse, Kate McManus, Freda http://hdl.handle.net/1893/25426 2017-05-31T22:24:58Z 2016-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Expert Insight into the Assessment of Competence in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: A Qualitative Exploration of Experts' Experiences, Opinions and Recommendations Authors: Muse, Kate; McManus, Freda Abstract: To offer insight into how cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) competence is defined, measured and evaluated and to highlight ways in which the assessment of CBT competence could be further improved, the current study utilizes a qualitative methodology to examine CBT experts' (N = 19) experiences of conceptualizing and assessing the competence of CBT therapists. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore participants' experiences of assessing the competence of CBT therapists. Interview transcripts were then analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis in order to identify commonalities and differences in the way CBT competence is evaluated. Four superordinate themes were identified: (i) what to assess, the complex and fuzzy concept of CBT competence; (ii) how to assess CBT competence, selecting from the toolbox of assessment methods; (iii) who is best placed to assess CBT competence, expertise and independence; and (iv) pitfalls, identifying and overcoming assessment biases. Priorities for future research and ways in which the assessment of CBT competence could be further improved are discussed in light of these findings.

2016-05-01T00:00:00Z Swanson, Vivien Keely, Alice Denison, Fiona http://hdl.handle.net/1893/25405 2017-05-30T22:13:38Z 2017-05-26T00:00:00Z

Title: Does body image influence the relationship between body weight and breastfeeding maintenance in new mothers? (Forthcoming/Available Online) Authors: Swanson, Vivien; Keely, Alice; Denison, Fiona Abstract: Objectives  Obese women have lower breastfeeding initiation and maintenance rates than healthy weight women. Research generally focuses on biomedical explanations for this. Psychosocial factors including body image and well-being after childbirth are less well understood as predictors of breastfeeding. In obese and healthy weight women, we investigated changes in body image between 72 hrs post-delivery and 6–8 weeks post-natal, studying how women's body image related to breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. We also investigated how psychological distress was related to body image.  Design  Longitudinal semi-structured questionnaire survey.  Methods  Body image and psychological distress were assessed within 72 hrs of birth and by postal questionnaire at 6–8 weeks, for 70 obese and 70 healthy weight women initiating exclusive (breastmilk only) breastfeeding or mixed feeding (with formula milk) in hospital. Breastfeeding was re-assessed at 6–8 weeks.  Results  Obese women were less likely to exclusively breastfeed in hospital and maintain breastfeeding to 6–8 weeks. Better body image was related to maintaining breastfeeding and to lower post-natal psychological distress for all women, but education level was the most significant predictor of maintenance in multivariate regression including body image and weight status. Body image mediated, but did not moderate the relationship between weight and breastfeeding maintenance. Body image was lower overall in obese women, but all women had low body image satisfaction around childbirth, reducing further at 6–8 weeks.  Conclusions  Health professionals should consider women's body image when discussing breastfeeding. A focus on breast function over form may support breastfeeding for all women.

2017-05-26T00:00:00Z Ainge, James A Tamosiunaite, Minija Worgotter, Florentin Dudchenko, Paul http://hdl.handle.net/1893/864 2017-05-30T02:21:23Z 2007-09-05T00:00:00Z

Title: Hippocampal CA1 place cells encode intended destination on a maze with multiple choice points Authors: Ainge, James A; Tamosiunaite, Minija; Worgotter, Florentin; Dudchenko, Paul Abstract: The hippocampus encodes both spatial and nonspatial aspects of a rat's ongoing behavior at the single-cell level. In this study, we examined the encoding of intended destination by hippocampal (CA1) place cells during performance of a serial reversal task on a double Y-maze. On the maze, rats had to make two choices to access one of four possible goal locations, two of which contained reward. Reward locations were kept constant within blocks of 10 trials but changed between blocks, and the session of each day comprised three or more trial blocks. A disproportionate number of place fields were observed in the start box and beginning stem of the maze, relative to other locations on the maze. Forty-six percent of these place fields had different firing rates on journeys to different goal boxes. Another group of cells had place fields before the second choice point, and, of these, 44% differentiated between journeys to specific goal boxes. In a second experiment, we observed that rats with hippocampal damage made significantly more errors than control rats on the Y-maze when reward locations were reversed. Together, these results suggest that, at the start of the maze, the hippocampus encodes both current location and the intended destination of the rat, and this encoding is necessary for the flexible response to changes in reinforcement contingencies.

2007-09-05T00:00:00Z