Validity of a multidimensional comprehensive psychosocial screening instrument based on the ESC cardiovascular prevention guidelines:Evidence from the general and cardiovascular patient population

Aim To evaluate the psychometric properties and validity of the updated version of the Dutch multidimensional Comprehensive Psychosocial Screening Instrument in patients with coronary heart disease and the general population, based upon guideline recommendations from the European Society for Cardiology. Method 678 participants (Mage = 48.2, SD = 16.8; 46% male) of the Dutch general population and 312 cardiac patients (Mage = 65.9, SD = 9.9; 77% male) who recently received percutaneous coronary intervention completed the Comprehensive Psychosocial Screening Instrument and validated questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), Type D personality (DS14), hostility (CMHS), anger (STAS-T), trauma (SRIP), and chronic work and family stress (ERI, MMQ-6). Results Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed that the eight screened risk factors were best measured as separate entities, rather than broader indications of distress. Inter-instrument agreement, assessed with the intraclass coefficient (ICC) and the screening accuracy indicators (receiving operator characteristic [ROC] curves, sensitivity, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive values [PPV; NPV]) were good for most screened risk factors. PPV was low in low prevalence risk factors like anxiety, trauma, and depression. Conclusion Overall, the current version of the Comprehensive Psychosocial Screening Instrument has an acceptable performance in both populations, with a fair to excellent level of agreement with established full questionnaires. Besides a few suggestions for further refinement, the screener may be implemented in primary care and cardiological practice

Some New Aspects of Microstructural Design of β-Si₃N₄ Ceramics

Abstract A new possibility in tailoring microstructures and properties of silicon nitride ceramics is demonstrated by the use of fine b-Si3N4 powders. Fine powders were produced by a plasmachemical synthesis and by crystallisation of amorphous Si3N4 in the presence of an oxide nitride liquid. A wide range of microstructures can be obtained depending on sintering and powder characteristics. At low sintering temperatures microstructures consisting of nanosized, equiaxed grains were obtained, whereas at high temperatures or long sintering times microstructures consisting of fine needle like grains were formed. Microstructural analysis revealed a high anisotropic grain growth of the b grains in the fine grained materials.</jats:p