The current state of preimplantation genetic diagnosis technology is presented, as are the biological principles and medical procedures that make it possible. The arguments of both proponents and those with social and ethical reservations about the broader implications of the technique are carefully reviewed, and the limitations of the dominant medical model approach to the technique are exposed. A discussion of reproductive autonomy in light of emerging testing applications of PGD not directly related to the avoidance of serious genetic abnormalities in the resulting child demonstrates the complexity of both clinical decision-making and public policy formulation with regard to PGD. Recently proposed legislation in Canada reflects such complexities, and highlights the lack of social consensus on the appropriate uses of, and restrictions on, PGD. A variety of "soft law" instruments, notably professional codes of practice and research guidelines implemented by institutional ethics committees, may mitigate some of the uncertainty surrounding PGD in Canada, but their limited applicability and espousal of the medical model approach render questionable their capacity to reconcile tolerance of pluralism with respect for human life, diversity, and reproductive autonomy.

A differential diagnosis between head injury and depression is critical to ensure proper treatment and appropriate interventions. Knowledge about this can only aid counseling psychologists' work with this population and, identifying a measure that can assist in this process is essential. The purpose of this study is to measure the utility of the Dean — Woodcock Neuropsychological Assessment System (D-WNAS) in distinguishing individuals with head injury from those who have a primary diagnosis of depression, and general neurological impairment. Participants included 433 adults (222 males, 211 females) between the ages 20-55 years of age (mean = 35.3 years, SD = 10.97 years) from the Midwestern United States. During the individual's treatment in the neuropsychological laboratory, each person was administered the following: the Dean-Woodcock Structured Interview (Dean & Woodcock, 1999), mental status exam, the Woodcock Johnson — Revised Tests of Cognitive Ability (WJ-R COG; Woodcock & Johnson, 1989b), the Woodcock Johnson — Revised Tests of Achievement (WJ-R ACH; Woodcock & Johnson, 1989a), and the Dean-Woodcock Sensory Motor Battery (DWSMB; Dean & Woodcock, 1999). This study indicates that responses to D-WNAS can be used to reliably classify adults into groups of depression, head injury, and general neuropsychological impairment. In particular, responses to the D-WSMB portion of the D-WNAS can be used to reliably classify adults into groups of depression, head injury, and general neuropsychological impairment. Classification results revealed that the original grouped cases were classified with 62.6 % (p < .001) accuracy and with 73.2% overall accuracy when the head injury and general neurological impairment groups were combined and compared to depression and normative groups. The WJ-R COG and WJ-R ACH were not as reliable as the D-WSMB at predicting group membership. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Clinical neuropsychologists who assess patients following mild closed head injury (CHI) are often asked to offer an opinion whether there is evidence of malingering. Factors that impact the ability of a person to intentionally portray impairment are quite important since mis-diagnosis of malingering can result in delayed treatment. In this study knowledge of the sequelae of mild CHI was provided to normal college students in an effort to change reporting of symptoms and influence the type of malingering strategy used when completing the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI). Subjects were randomly assigned to either a prior knowledge malingering group (PK;N=57), no prior knowledge malingering group (NPK;N=58), or control group (CON;N=61). The results showed that PK subjects endorsed more general and attention/concentration symptoms than NPK or CON subjects. The results also showed PK subjects were as likely to be detected by the NSI lie scale as NPK subjects. Thus, the NSI lie scale demonstrated sensitivity to malingering despite subjects having brief instruction about mild CHI. Also, having prior knowledge did not result in significantly different strategies when completing the NSI. Instead, both malingering groups reportedly used exaggeration and attempted to be consistent as frequent strategies. / Department of Educational Psychology

This study has developed and evaluated two instruments, a questionnaire, the Grief Diagnostic Instrument, and an interview, the Grief Diagnostic Interview to detect and measure the extant state of grief in general practice patients. These instruments investigate grief from past, present and impending death and non-death related losses occurring directly to the patient, as well as caused indirectly through experiencing grief in sympathy with the grief of others. The unique feature of these instruments is that they investigate grief from all losses rather than merely a single loss. The questionnaire was demonstrated to be a concise, valid, reliable and sensitive measure, and acceptable to general practice patients. It is suitable for epidemiological studies to detect a broad range of losses and to investigate the prevalence and severity of grief in general practice patients. It is also suitable for comparing the course and severity of grief between losses and identifying commonalities and differences. The interview was found to be an acceptable and valid instrument for undertaking clinical studies. Suggestions for further evaluation of the instruments, and for their uses in grief research and as clinical tools have been proposed. The findings that 2/3 of the general practice population studied were experiencing loss and that over 1/4 of all subjects were suffering moderate or severe grief, demonstrate grief to be a previously unrecognised significant mental health issue for general practice. The most frequently encountered loss categories were 'quality of life', 'death', 'separation' and 'job'. Non-death related losses accounted for 4/5 of all the losses detected. The lack of recognition of grief by subjects was demonstrated, particularly relating to migration and relocation. The hypothesis that loss and grief are under diagnosed and under treated in general practice is supported. This indicates the need for a new paradigm of loss and grief in general practice and for large-scale studies to investigate grief in general practice patients and the detection rate by general practitioners. / Thesis (M.D.)--Department of General Practice, Department of Public Health, 2003.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, Los Angeles, 2005. / Adviser: Stuart A. Kirk. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brandeis University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 29, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2004. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph.D.) OGI School of Science & Engineering at OHSU, July 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-216).

No description available.

M.Tech. / It has been well documented in literature that at least 80% of the general population will suffer from lower back pain or dysfunction at one stage in their lives. Recent literature suggests Sacroiliac joint dysfunction to be a common cause of lower back pain. Clinical interest in the dysfunction and the consequences of this joint being a major cause of lower back pain is growing, as more biomechanical clinicians are finding Sacroiliac joint disorders to be a common occurrence in clinical practice (Pool-Goudzwaard, Vleeming, Stoekart, Snijders and Mens, 1998). Sacroiliac syndrome is characterised by loss of joint play or altered mobility in the Sacroiliac joint‟s range of motion, and is usually associated with altered structural relationships in the region of the Sacroiliac joint (Grieve, 2001). This loss of normal movement is often adjusted by Chiropractors to regain normal mobility, however the correct diagnosis of the loss of mobility is required to induce the correct treatment. Motion palpation has been scrutinised by many researchers who widely questioned its inter-tester reliability. As yet there has been no consensus as to a „gold standard‟ for motion palpation of the Sacroiliac joint. This study aims to reconfirm the inter-examiner reliability of two such motion palpation tests, i.e. Gillet‟s motion palpation and the Standing Flexion test. One hundred participants underwent a double blind experimental study where the results from eight different examiners were recorded to obtain the reliability of the tests. Four examiners tested the participants using Gillet‟s motion palpation and four examiners used the Standing Flexion test. The results were recorded as either right, left or no restriction. The results were then compared and correlated. There was no statistically significant reliability found in either of the two tests. The mean reliability for the Standing Flexion test was found to be 59.31% while the Gillet‟s Motion Palpation produced a mean reliability of 56.38%. These two values are considerably lower than the expected 80% indicating low reliability between the two tests.