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Psychosis is a type of mental illness that affects your thoughts and feelings. It’s usually associated with schizophrenia, but there are some differences. Both disorders involve unusual or irrational thoughts, but they don’t always have the same effects on behavior. There are many causes of psychosis, and it can vary in severity from person to person. If you think you may have either of these conditions, talk to your doctor right away. They could be indicators of something much more serious that needs immediate attention — like schizophrenia. In this article, we explain the differences between schizophrenia and psychosis so you can know if you have one or the other. Psychosis Psychosis is a mental state characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and other disturbances in thinking and/or behavior. This can happen when you’re tired, have a fever, or are suffering from another medical condition. Or it may be a side effect of certain medications. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they’re often temporary. However, if you have a family history of schizophrenia, it might be something to keep an eye out for. The causes of psychosis are many, but they often involve disruptions in the brain. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder both cause a disruption in the brain’s ability to process information. But the exact cause of psychosis is still unknown. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a long-term brain condition that affects how you think, feel, and behave. It’s usually diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood and can get worse over time. Symptoms usually begin between ages 13 and 25. Schizophrenia is the most common mental illness in the world. About 1% of the population has the illness, but it can affect anyone, regardless of race, class, or gender. It’s a serious condition that can have a huge impact on your life. People with schizophrenia may have unusual or irrational thoughts and feelings. Or they may experience a loss of sense of self. Your symptoms may look similar to other disorders, like bipolar disorder or depression. That’s why it’s important to get diagnosed by a doctor. Use BetterHelp Promo Code to test yourself for this disorder. What is the difference between schizophrenia and psychosis? Psychosis is a condition where you have unusual thoughts and feelings. Schizophrenia is a long-term brain condition that affects how you think, feel, and behave. People with schizophrenia may also hear voices or have unusual sensory experiences, like seeing things that aren’t there. But it may also affect your language skills, memory, and how you interact with the world. People with schizophrenia are often very sad or withdrawn. This can make it hard to get treatment. You may feel alone or embarrassed because of your symptoms. But you don’t have to keep these feelings to yourself! You can let your friends and family know you need help. You can also find support online. Schizophrenia Test, can help to detect the disorder. Schizoaffective Disorder Schizoaffective disorder is a type of bipolar disorder that includes symptoms of both depression and psychosis. Schizoaffective disorder has no specific cause; it’s just a catch-all term for a group of related disorders. The term “schizoaffective” comes from the Greek words schizo (split) and affectio (suffering). That’s because people with this condition experience symptoms of both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. People with schizoaffective disorder have episodes of depression, mixed with episodes of psychosis, like hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there. Depression episodes can last longer, and they often come and go. Usually, someone with bipolar disorder has one episode throughout their lifetime. But sometimes people with schizoaffective disorder experience a continuous pattern of alternating depression and psychosis. That’s when they might be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depression Bipolar disorder is a serious, long-term condition that involves having mood swings. Sometimes people with bipolar disorder cycle between periods of feeling very happy, or “manic,” and feeling very sad, or “depressed.” If your mood swings last for weeks or longer, you have bipolar disorder. And if your mood swings come and go, without any long-term pattern, you have a manic episode. Although there’s no cure for bipolar disorder, it can be controlled with medication. If you’re diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible. It can help you live a happier, healthier life. Delusion and Hallucination A delusion is a false idea (or “delusion”) that shows up in your thoughts. For example, if you have paranoid delusions, you may think that others are out to get you. Or if you have religious delusions, you may believe that God is talking to you. A hallucination is seeing something that isn’t really there. It can happen in both your thoughts and your senses. People with schizophrenia may have hallucinations, like hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there. Or they may have delusions, like believing that you have a disease or that the government is after you. Treatment for Psychosis and Schizophrenia If you have schizophrenia, you’ll need to take your symptoms seriously and get treatment right away. Treatment can help you manage your symptoms and live a normal, happy life. If you have psychosis, it’s important to get treatment right away. You might be fine or you might be at risk of developing schizophrenia. The earlier you get treatment, the better. That way, your symptoms will be easier to manage and you won’t have as many chances to develop full-blown schizophrenia. There are several types of treatment for psychosis and schizophrenia. Medications are usually the first line of treatment. Some people need to be treated with antipsychotic drugs, which are used to control their symptoms. Conclusion Psychosis is a type of mental illness that affects your thoughts and feelings. It’s usually associated with schizophrenia, but there are some differences. Psychosis is a condition where you have unusual thoughts and feelings. Schizophrenia is a long-term brain condition that affects how you think, feel, and behave. People with schizophrenia may hear voices or have unusual sensory experiences, like seeing things that aren’t there. But it may also affect your language skills, memory, and how you interact with the world. People with schizophrenia are often very sad or withdrawn. This can make it hard to get treatment. You don’t have to keep those feelings to yourself! You can let your friends and family know you need help. You can also find support online.

Massage Healing Massage healing is one of the best ways to speed up your recovery after surgery. Massage healing increases blood flow and reduces scar tissue by relaxing muscles. Moreover, increased circulation will help your body absorb nutrients and decrease stress. These are just a few of the many benefits of massage therapy. If you want to learn more about how massage therapy can help you recover from surgery, read on! Here are some benefits of tantric massage therapy for you. Continue reading to discover how massage can help your health. Improved circulation is one of the most common benefits of massage. The increased blood flow and temperature promote better circulation, reducing swelling and allowing for full relaxation and stretching. In addition, improved circulation will also promote a faster recovery. This will ultimately increase your muscle strength and allow you to heal faster. And because it also enhances your immune system and improves your circulation, massage can have a positive impact on your health and well-being. The removal of waste products through massage helps the body heal faster. It works by stimulating the lymphatic system, which is responsible for moving waste products out of the body and into the bloodstream. Increasing the amount of blood flow will increase the availability of oxygen for the body. Insufficient energy can cause delayed healing and the weakening of your muscles. Increasing the oxygen levels in your muscles can help speed up the recovery process. And it will help your body maintain a healthy muscle tone. The body's recovery from exercise is also improved by massage. Massage increases blood flow, which allows muscles to heal more quickly. As a result, your body can recover more quickly. The muscles will have more energy and less fatigue. It is important to increase your recovery time after a workout. By boosting your blood flow and increasing the temperature of your muscle tissues, massage helps your muscles to heal faster and more effectively. This will reduce the chance of injury. Massage can reduce pain and improve the immune system. It can reduce swelling by increasing blood flow. It also helps improve muscle strength. This can help with recovery. It improves your blood flow, which is vital to preventing injuries. As a result, your muscles will heal faster. They will be healthier than ever! This is one of the greatest benefits of massage. It is important to get a massage if you have a muscle injury. Massages increase blood flow, which helps improve recovery. Massages can help your muscles heal from injuries. It helps them feel better and have more energy. This can speed up their recovery. Massage can speed up your recovery from injuries. Massage can speed up your recovery from muscle pain. By getting more blood flow, you can avoid this pain. By removing the blockages and preventing the aches and pains caused by inflammation, massage can help your body heal. Massage benefits go beyond pain relief. It can help improve your recovery from injury by reducing muscle tension and tightness. It can also boost your immune system. Your recovery will be slowed if you lack energy. In addition, massage can improve your recovery. Massage can increase blood flow and lower your risk of infection. This will help you recover from a physical ailment more quickly. This will give you more energy to do other activities. Another benefit of massage is that it increases the amount of oxygen in your body. For proper recovery after an injury, your body will need more oxygen. Massage can help increase oxygen levels and speed up recovery. During the healing process, a massage will improve your recovery process by removing the tightness. It will help you recover faster and avoid future pains. You will also feel more comfortable after a massage. You will find your life easier and more enjoyable. Massages increase the flow of oxygen through the body. When you receive a massage, capillaries form around a muscle, which increases the amount of oxygen in the body. Increasing the amount of oxygen in your body will increase your healing. This is especially important if you suffer from acute pain. Massage can help prevent the onset and progression of arthritis and other conditions. By reducing the pain, massage will improve your recovery.

Additional file 3. Adapted Meeting Effectiveness Assessment.

Additional file 3. Adapted Meeting Effectiveness Assessment.

Additional file 4. Semi-Structured Interview Protocol.

The present study aims to improve our understanding of overgeneralized goal setting among suicidal adolescents. A sample of 127 suicidal and non-suicidal adolescents were recruited from the local community and completed a task to assess features of their idiographic goals, a behavioral task assessing narrative style, an interview assessing the current presence and history of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, as well as measures of depression symptom severity, anxiety, and hopelessness. Participants completed questionnaires assessing self-injurious thoughts and behaviors at 3- and 6-month follow-ups after baseline assessment. We plan to examine descriptive characteristics of goal specificity and additional goal features, estimate the reliability and validity of the goals task, and examine the interrelationships between goal specificity and goal features. We also aim to explore the association between the goal specificity and SI cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Ultimately the current study can help clarify the role of overgeneralized goal setting in adolescent suicidality and findings could potentially provide support for augmenting treatment interventions.

Additional file 2. Adapted Performance Measures for the Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration.

Additional file 4. Semi-Structured Interview Protocol.

Additional file 2. Adapted Performance Measures for the Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration.

We build from justice and negotiation scholars’ historical interest in interpersonal interactions and reciprocity to develop the notion of interactional justice congruence, which refers to the degree of reciprocity in negotiation dyad members’ respectful and truthful treatment of one another. Yet, media richness theory holds that media differ in their provision of social cues and ability to interpret subjective information such as justice perceptions. Integrating social exchange theory tenets with media richness theory, we examine how communication medium influences the effects of negotiators’ interactional justice congruence on their dyadic economic and social-psychological outcomes. Moderated polynomial regression and response surface analyses of data from 199 face-to-face and virtual negotiation dyads revealed that face to-face dyads’ relationship conflict and outcome inequality were minimized when negotiators’ interpersonal and informational justice perceptions were congruent—even if both negotiators perceived one another be disrespectful or deceptive. Virtual negotiation dyads did not experience this benefit. This suggests justice functions differently at the dyadic level in negotiations, such that justice needs to be similarly perceived by both face-to-face negotiators in order to produce dyadic benefits.

Additional file 1. TIDieR Checklist

BackgroundThere is a dearth of literature on how different domains of sitting time relate to other health behaviours. Therefore, this study aimed to explore these associations in a sample of office workers.Methods7170 Northern Irish Civil Servants completed an online survey which included information on workday and non-workday sitting time in five domains (travel, work, TV, computer-use, leisure-time), physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. An unhealthy behaviour score was calculated by summing the number of health behaviours which did not meet the current guidelines. Multinomial regressions examined associations between unhealthy behaviour score and each domain of sitting time.Results≥7 hours sitting at work and ≥2 hours TV viewing on a workday both more than doubled the odds of partaking in ≥3 unhealthy behaviours [Odds ratio, OR = 2.03, 95% CI, (1.59–2.61); OR = 2.19 (1.71–2.80)] and ≥3 hours of TV viewing on a non-workday nearly tripled the odds [OR = 2.96 (2.32–3.77)].ConclusionsHigh sitting time at work and TV viewing on a workday and non-workday are associated with increased odds of partaking in multiple unhealthy behaviours. Interventions need to focus on these domains and public health policy should consider sitting time as an important health behaviour.

Hurricane Charley made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida on 13 August 2004 as a category 4 hurricane, devastating North Captiva Island. The hurricane caused a breach to occur to the southern end of the island, which naturally healed itself over the course of three years. By 2008, the cut was completely repaired geomorphologically. LiDAR data analysis shows the northern half of the island has been subjected to persistent erosion from 1998–2018, while the southern half experienced accretion since 2004, including the complete closure of the “Charley cut”. The maximum volume of sediment erosion in the northern sector of the island (R71–R73) from 2004–2018 was −85,710.1 m3, which was the source of southern accretion. The breached area of the island (R78b–R79a) obtained 500,163.9 m3 of sediments from 2004–2018 to heal the cut made by Hurricane Charley. Along with LiDAR data analysis, Google Earth Pro historical imageries and SANDS volumetric analysis confirmed the longshore transport of sediments from the northern to the southern end of the island. Winter storms are mainly responsible for this southerly longshore transport and are hypothesized to be the main factor driving the coastal dynamics that restored the breach and helps in widening the southern end of North Captiva Island.

Supplemental material, Supplemental_Document_1 for Multidisciplinary shock team is associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing ECPR by Katarzyna Hryniewicz, Michael Hart, David Raile, Yale Wang, Michael Mooney, Karol Mudy, Peter M Eckman, Michael A Samara, Jay Traverse, Benjamin Sun, David M Williams, Kelly J Wilson, Matthew Pavlovec, Miranda Kunz, Danielle Lyon and Ivan Chavez in The International Journal of Artificial Organs

Supplemental material, IJAO_Hart_Supplemental_Table_1 for Multidisciplinary shock team is associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing ECPR by Katarzyna Hryniewicz, Michael Hart, David Raile, Yale Wang, Michael Mooney, Karol Mudy, Peter M Eckman, Michael A Samara, Jay Traverse, Benjamin Sun, David M Williams, Kelly J Wilson, Matthew Pavlovec, Miranda Kunz, Danielle Lyon and Ivan Chavez in The International Journal of Artificial Organs

Supplemental material, IJAO_Hart_Supplemental_Table_2 for Multidisciplinary shock team is associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing ECPR by Katarzyna Hryniewicz, Michael Hart, David Raile, Yale Wang, Michael Mooney, Karol Mudy, Peter M Eckman, Michael A Samara, Jay Traverse, Benjamin Sun, David M Williams, Kelly J Wilson, Matthew Pavlovec, Miranda Kunz, Danielle Lyon and Ivan Chavez in The International Journal of Artificial Organs

Businesses are shutting down rapidly because of the huge withstanding debts, Forbe's hasstated. It has been observed that numerous businesses are constantly struggling to manage the great amount of debt that they have. Not a single business can deny the fact that they have taken loans from the financial institutions in order to help the business in various crucial aspects. Without a business loan, it is impossible to succeed. However, as the owner of a business, chances are that you are going to feel overwhelmed due to the increasing burden of the huge loan amounts especially if you are not able to make the consistent payments in accordance to the stipulated time. In such a situation, it is a good idea to consider a business debt consolidation loan. The program of debt consolidation permits to combine the different balances, which you owe, into one payment and one rate of interest.Debt consolidationis responsible for lightening the burden that you have by making the repayment of the loan amount attainable. However, the process of debt consolidation is surrounded by a lot of misinformation, which can force you to have a misunderstanding about the process. Given below is a list of the significant facts, which each and every business owner should know about debt consolidation.

Introduction. Poor communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals negatively impact patient outcomes and quality of care. Due to the nature of the care environment, emergency departments (EDs) are particularly susceptible to this problem. Developing interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is critical to managing complexity and improving ED care. One factor limiting efforts to create IPCP is the low level of physician engagement. The purpose of this project was to explore strategies implemented by rural EDs to promote physician participation in IPCP. Methods. The setting for this work was a HRSA-sponsored project, Shaping Systems, which involved a quality improvement collaborative designed to promote nursing’s capacity to develop IPCP in the ED setting of four rural North Carolina hospitals. Qualitative data were collected through participation in collaborative meetings, site visits, and structured interviews with participating site team members. Data were reviewed using content analysis, coded, and analyzed across cases to identify a list of strategies and report contextual factors related to improving physician engagement. Results. Strategies for engaging physicians were found at all participating sites with similar strategies noted at multiple sites. Successful approaches were grouped into structural, logistical, interpersonal, and quality improvement related strategies. Contextual factors that served as barriers or facilitators of these strategies were also reported. The result is a toolkit that includes strategies as well as the contextual factors that influence their applicability and success. Discussion/Conclusion. The results of this project were shared with participating EDs both to confirm their validity and so they could learn from each other to improve physician engagement in their efforts to create IPCP and improve the quality of care in their settings. Nursing leaders and others can use this toolkit as needed to address similar issues with physician engagement in their EDs.

Maintaining regional competitiveness and economic viability for Port Bustamante - Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, required improved accessibility to “Post Panamax” (too large to pass through the Panama Canal) container vessels. Removal of the northern portion of the shallow coral reef at Rackham’s Cay, which was partially obstructing the western end of the east ship channel, was proposed. This aesthetically valuable reef was used by local fishermen and comprises part of the declared Palisadoes – Port Royal Protected Area. The proposal to transplant certain of the benthic species was advanced to mitigate loss of viable reef components. Between December 2001 and February 2002, sixty thousand items, consisting of reef building massive and branching corals; gorgonians; urchins (Diadema and Tripneustes spp.) and Thalassia meristems were relocated. During dredging, sedimentation rates from suspended solids in the water column were 0.003 g/cm2/day at the control site and 0.008 g/cm2/day at the dredge site. Coral cover in the relocation area increased from 15% to 20% while bare substrate decreased from 27% to 21%. This paper documents the mitigation required; some factors controlling the ecology of Rackham’s Cay reef; the methodology of the relocation process; and the level of post-dredging survivorship of relocated corals. Political and economic realities of some proposed developments often override ecological considerations. Transplantation of important marine benthic species although time consuming, technically challenging, and expensive, may be one way for developers and ecologists to achieve sometimes disparate goals. This project cost US$1.7 million. The “items” moved were neither unique nor endemic and remain vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic impacts. This project increased public awareness and interest regarding the ecological and economic importance of reef ecosystems. It is anticipated that future coastal and inland developments will benefit from the lessons taught by these mitigative interventions. Para mantener la competitividad regional y la viabilidad económica del Puerto de Bustamante - Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, se requería mejorar la entrada de buques de contenedores “Post Panamax” (nombre dado a los buques que son demasiado grandes para pasar por el canal de Panamá). Se propuso remover la parte norte del cayo coralino Rackham que obstruía parcialmente el lado oeste del canal del este. Este arrecife, estéticamente valioso, era usado por pescadores y forma parte del Área Protegida Palisadoes – Port Royal. Se propuso transplantar algunos organismos bentónicos para mitigar las pérdidas de elementos arrecifales. Entre diciembre 2001 y febrero 2002, se reubicó unos 60 000 organismos de corales constructores de arrecifes masivos y ramificados, gorgonaceos, erizos (Diadema y Tripneustes spp.) y meristemos de Thalassia. Durante el dragado las cantidades de sedimentos en suspensión fueron de 0.003 g/cm2/día en el sitio testigo y 0.008 g/cm2/día en el sitio de dragado. La cobertura de coral aumentó en el sitio de reubicación de 15% a 20% mientras que el sustrato desnudo disminuyó de 27% a 21%. En este trabajo se documentan los requerimientos para la mitigación; algunos factores que controlan la ecología del arrecife del Cayo Rackham; la metodología del proceso de reubicación; y el nivel de supervivencia de corales reubicados. Es común que se dé más importancia a consideraciones políticas y económicas de algunas propuestas de desarrollo que a las consideraciones ecológicas. El transplante de especies marinas bentónicas importantes, aunque consume mucho tiempo, es técnicamente desafiante y costoso, es una forma en que los “desarrollistas” y los “ecologistas” pueden alcanzar objetivos dispares. Este proyecto costó EEUU$1.7 millones. Los organismos trasladados no eran únicos ni endémicos y siguen siendo vulnerables a impactos naturales y antropogénicos. Sin embargo, este proyecto aumentó la percepción e interés en la importancia ecológica y económica de los arrecifes coralinos. Se anticipa que futuros proyectos de desarrollo costeros y de tierra adentro se van a beneficiar de las lecciones aprendidas durante esta intento de mitigación.

Potential impacts of a US/Mexico trans-boundary oil spill Objectives Discuss the plan and exercise developed by the US and Mexico to manage an oil spill that migrates across the international boundary and requires a responsible spiller to address the pollution from an un-controlled blowout in a coordinated and effective response. Methods The US Government and Mexico have cooperated for over a two decades to develop the MEXUS plan and exercise for a trans-boundary spill. The genesis is a result of the 1979 Ixtoc blowout and spill which originated in the Bay of Campeche and impacted the US. The plan was written based on near shore and shoreline response where critical response resources would need to transit the border and many responsible party management issues would challenge a response. This assumption has changed with the deep-water drilling and production in the Gulf of Mexico. Results The deep water oil and gas industry has moved into deeper water farther from shore and several operators are now just less than 50 miles from the international boarder but 200 + miles from the closest land. The MEXUS plan had not really contemplated an uncontrolled deep-water blowout in the central Gulf of Mexico such a short distance from the international boarder. Some of the alternative response technologies have a potential to impact the economic zone of either Mexico or the US. This poses major logistical and regulatory challenges that need to be worked before an incident occurs to make timely decisions during a response. Mexico and the US made a decision in 2014 to seek a responsible party with operations in the area described and conduct a multiyear planning and exercise process to answer many of these critical questions. How this helps Because of this work, coordination processes and industry continuity questions will be addressed and contingences are being developed to address many response questions.

The study measures the survival rates of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus Jaecalis, methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli strain 0157:H7 on copper, steel, aluminum, and brass compared to the organisms' survival rate on non-metallic surfaces including glass and plastic. With increased prevalence of hospital acquired infections from antibiotic resistant or highly pathogenic organisms comes a greater importance to find means of lessening the possibility of survival of these organisms on high touch surfaces throughout the hospital. This data offers insight into whether the material of high touch surfaces makes a difference in the viability of problematic organisms in unsuspecting, yet communal places. The procedural set up consists of an inoculation of 50 uL of a 0.5 McFarland standard TSB suspension which mimics a droplet of contaminated fluid. Each droplet is inoculated onto an individual square, representing a single day period, of a grid system that divides the surfaces. The end point of survival is the point at which growth ceases upon the reconstitution of the droplet onto artificial growth media. CHROMagar is used to visually differentiate the organisms by color and rule out any possible misidentification of contamination from the environment or mishandling. This study produces a visual image of how long the bacteria survive and how much bacteria survived at what points in the course of the trial. The organisms have demonstrated significantly shorter survival times on copper and brass compared to other surfaces suggesting that these materials might be preferentially utilized for high touch surfaces.

The present article describes the nature, scope, and purpose of Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS). Emerging from behavioral psychology but expanding from those roots, CBS is based on contextual assumptions regarding the centrality of situated action, the nature of epistemology versus ontology, and a pragmatic truth criterion linked to the specific goal of predicting-and-influencing psychological events with precision, scope, and depth. These assumptions and goals explain the characteristic features of CBS including its environmentalism, focus on theory and principles, and its reticulated or networked program of theory development, research and practice. Domains of development include increased linkage to multi-dimensional and multi-level evolution science; development of principles that describe the interaction of behavior and symbolic events with genetic, epigenetic, and cultural dimensions; expansion of theoretical and model development to a broader range of areas of human complexity; advances in measurement theory and practice; the development of techniques and components linked to contextual processes and principles; broad testing of these methods; additional research on mediation and moderation; more concern for effectiveness and training; and enhancement of a diverse development community.

This study investigated the impact of defusion on a nonclinical sample ( n = 60) in the context of negative (e.g., “I am a bad person”) and positive (e.g., “I am whole”) self-statements. Participants were assigned to one of three experimental conditions (Pro-Defusion, Anti-Defusion, and Neutral) that manipulated instruc - tions about the impact of a defusion strategy. Defusion was also manipulated through the visual presentation of the self-statements, with each presented in three formats (Normal, Defused, Abnormal). Participants rated each self-state - ment for comfort, believability, and willingness. Although the instructions did not affect ratings, negative statements presented in the defused format de - creased discomfort and increased willingness and believability relative to the nondefused statements. The findings suggest using defusion strategies in coping with negative psychological content

The Breast Implant Lifetime Study at Virginia Tech, on which this thesis is based, seeks to develop methods and data for predicting the lifetime of saline-filled implants. This research developed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models to evaluate the stresses that are present in the silicone breast implant material under different loading situations. The FEA work was completed using the commercial codes PATRAN and ABAQUS. PATRAN was used for pre- and post-processing, while ABAQUS was used for the actual analysis and to add fluid and contact elements not supported by PATRAN. Many different loading situations and constraints were applied to these models, as well as variations in the material and model properties. Varying the Poisson's ratio of the implant material from 0.45 to 0.49 did not make a significant difference in the results. Changing the elastic modulus of the implant material from the modulus of a Smooth implant to the modulus of a Siltex implant had a noticeable effect on the stress results, increasing the maximum stresses by almost 8%. Changing the modulus of the surrounding tissue had marked effects as well, with stiffer tissue (E=300 psi) decreasing the implant's stresses by about 60% as compared to softer tissue (E=100 psi). A ten percent decrease in implant thickness yielded a 17% average increase in stress experienced by the implant. For both the 2.5" radius and the 4" radius tissue models, using CAX4 elements produced higher overall stresses in the tissue with the same loading conditions. However, in the 2.5" tissue model, the implant itself experienced less stress with the CAX4 tissue than the CAX3 tissue. In the 4" tissue model, the implant experienced more stress when surrounded by the CAX4 tissue elements. These models will be combined with implant fatigue data to develop a life prediction method for the implant membrane. Master of Science