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The ability to flexibly adapt to deviations from optimal performance is an important aspect of self-control. In the present study, the authors present first evidence that the personality trait action versus state orientation ( Kuhl, 2000) modulates the ability of adaptive control adjustments in response to experienced conflicts. Sixty-two German individuals with extreme scores on the action-state dimension performed a response interference task, that is, 31 extreme action-oriented individuals (30 females; Mage = 20.35 years) and 31 extreme state-oriented individuals (20 females; Mage = 23.23 years), respectively. Action-oriented individuals displayed a stronger conflict adaptation effect as evidenced by a stronger reduction of interference on trials following conflict. These results were further corroborated by a correlational analysis including a sample of 105 participants: the higher the score on the action-state dimension, the lower the interference effect following conflict (i.e., stronger conflict adaptation). The results provide evidence that even low-level, bottom-up-driven processes of self-control such as conflict adaptation are systematically moderated by individual differences in control modes and provide insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying action versus state orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In German inpatient psychosomatics per diem lump sums will be introduced as reimbursement rates by 2013. It was the aim to calculate total inpatient costs per case for the psychosomatic treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa and to identify cost predictors. Method: The sample comprised of 127 inpatients. Cost calculation was executed from the hospital's perspective, mainly using microcosting. Medical records provided data on patient characteristics and individual resource use. Two generalized linear models with gamma distribution and log link function were estimated to determine cost predictors by means of demographic data, comorbidities, and body-mass-index at admission. Results: Inpatient costs amounted to 4,647 €/6,831 US$ per case (standard deviation 3,714 €/5,460 US$).The admission BMI and 'Disorders of Adult Personality and Behavior' were significant cost predictors ( p < 0.05). Discussion: The formation of patient groups within the diagnosis anorexia nervosa should be oriented towards the determined cost predictors. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The problem of identifying idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) patients who are at risk of sudden death is still unsolved. The presence of autonomic imbalance in patients with IDC might predict sudden death and tachyarrhythmic events. The aim of this study was to analyze the suitability of blood pressure variability (BPV) compared to heart rate variability (HRV) for noninvasive risk stratification in IDC patients. Methods: Continuous noninvasive blood pressure and high-resolution electrocardiogram were recorded from 91 IDC patients for 30 minutes. During a median follow-up period of 28 months (range: [17-38] months), 14 patients died due to sudden death or necessary resuscitation due to a life-threatening arrhythmia. HRV and BPV analyses were performed in time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear dynamics. Using the Mann-Whitney U test and Cox regression, we estimated the accuracy of clinical and nonclinical parameters in discriminating high-risk from low-risk patients. Results: Dynamics of blood pressure regulation was significantly changed in high-risk patients, indicating an increased BPV. BPV indexes from nonlinear symbolic dynamics revealed significant univariate (sensitivity: 85.7%; specificity 77.9%; area under receiver-operator characteristics [ROC] curve: 87.8%) differences. In an optimum multivariate set consisting of two clinical indexes (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, New York Heart Association) and one nonlinear index (symbolic dynamics), highly significant differences between low- and high-risk IDC groups were estimated (sensitivity of 92.9%, specificity of 86.5%, and area under ROC curve of 95.3%). Conclusion: Diastolic BPV indexes, especially those from symbolic dynamics, appear to be useful for risk stratification of sudden death in patients with IDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]