SIMULATED MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD APPLIED TO NON-GAUSSIAN AND NONLINEAR MIXED EFFECTS AND STATE–SPACE MODELS

The paper presents an overview of maximum likelihood estimation using simulated likelihood, including the use of antithetic variables and evaluation of the simulation error of the resulting estimates. It gives a general purpose implementation of simulated maximum likelihood and uses it to re‐visit four models that have previously appeared in the published literature: a state–space model for count data; a nested random effects model for binomial data; a nonlinear growth model with crossed random effects; and a crossed random effects model for binary salamander‐mating data. In the case of the last three examples, this appears to be the first time that maximum likelihood fits of these models have been presented.     

Physician executives explore "new science" frontier. Bridging the communications gap between medical staff and administration.

Physician executives are well positioned to take on a new leadership role: chief technology officer. Discover how you can combine your medical/scientific knowledge and business know-how to help usher in a new age of technological innovation.     

THE CLINICAL AND THEORETICAL IMPACT OF A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF FAMILY THERAPY IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA

The paper discusses the practical and theoretical implications of the results of a controlled treatment trial. Family therapy was compared with individual, supportive psychotherapy for the management of severe eating disorder. Family therapy was markedly more effective in achieving improvement in one of four subgroups of patients: (a): those with early onset, short duration; (b) early onset, duration more than 3 years; (c) late onset, after the age of 18 years; (d) those with bulimia nervosa. The therapies used are described, as are the changes in clinical practice arising from the study. Theoretical considerations concerning notions of family structure, the family life-cycle and symptomatic and family change are also discussed.     

The Political Economy of FEMA Disaster Payments

We find that presidential and congressional influences affect the rate of disaster declaration and the allocation of FEMA disaster expenditures across states. States politically important to the president have a higher rate of disaster declaration by the president, and disaster expenditures are higher in states having congressional representation on FEMA oversight committees. Election year impacts are also found. Our models predict that nearly half of all disaster relief is motivated politically rather than by need. The findings reject a purely altruistic model of FEMA assistance and question the relative effectiveness of government versus private disaster relief.     

From Colonialism to Ultranationalism: History and Development of Career Counseling in Malaysia

This article documents the development of career counseling in Malaysia from 1957—when the British colonizers departed—to 2000. Although counseling, psychology, and psychiatry had their roots in mental health and medical environments, career counseling had its origins in the system of schooling and has now spread widely to business and industry. This article presents information on the historic and economic context of the development of career counseling, an exploration of the educational system from which career counseling was born, the cultural elements that have formed career counseling in the Malaysian context, and the application of M. Pope's (1995, 2000) stage development model to the development of career counseling in the Malaysian context.     

Subjective Quality of Life Among Individuals who are Homeless: A Review of Current Knowledge

The purpose of this article was to review the current literature on subjective quality of life (SQOL) in individuals who are homeless, with a focus on differences in SQOL (a) between homeless individuals and the general population, (b) based on housing situation, and (c) associated with demographic characteristics (such as age and gender), physical and mental health, and external variables such as service program type. A literature search was conducted of the online databases PubMed and PsycInfo for relevant studies published from January 1981 to August 2011. Although this review showed that individuals who are homeless tended to have lower levels of SQOL compared to the general population or housed individuals, it was also evident that our current understanding of the relationships between SQOL and various demographic, health, and other variables is based on very limited information. More information about the relationships between various characteristics and experiences of individuals who are homeless and SQOL is clearly needed to aid researchers, service providers, and policy-makers in addressing the needs of this population and examining the effectiveness of interventions to end homelessness and improve health among homeless individuals.     

Keep the Tool-Box Open for Social Justice: Comment on Kitzinger and Wilkinson

We argue that psychology is not ill-suited to confronting problems of inequality and injustice, and that psychologists are, in fact, quite capable of activist science. The parameters of psychology need to be considered as being broader than mental health pronouncements regarding various targeted minority groups. At a time when empirical claims are being wielded as tools by both sides of the same-sex marriage debate, activist psychologists should not relinquish their own various strategies for challenging the status quo. The authors provide examples of tactics and tools that have been used and continue to be used by feminist and other progressive psychologists both to transform psychology and to work toward equality and social justice.