This overview of available instruments underscores the complexity of the construct and might assist researchers to select an appropriate instrument for their research needs. Finally, it points to the need for more integrative theorizing and research on MiL.

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The degradation of a commercial linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) surfactant was examined kinetically in a trickling filter, which allowed simultaneous chemical determinations in the aqueous phase (e.g., DOC) and in the gas phase (CO2). About 60% of the carbon applied as LAS was released as CO2, whereas 15% remained as DOC in the eluate of acclimated trickling filters. The biomass was analysed after the experiment, and it was found to have sorbed about 23 mg LAS/g of dry biomass; this represented about 3% of the LAS applied to the filter. The LAS and the eluates from the trickling filter were further analysed by HPLC and UV and IR spectrometry. The residual carbon from acclimated filters contained no LAS‐like material (HPLC), which was obviously subject to quantitative biotransformation. The residual material comprised >50 polar metabolites, some of whose UV spectra differed from that of LAS, and most or all of which were sulfonated. These nondegraded metabolites included carboxylated dialkyltetralinesulfonates and sulfophenylcarboxylates. These residual materials showed no detectable toxicity to algae or Daphnia, and did not significantly lower the surface tension of water.

The standard procedure to examine the biodegradability of a (group of) compound(s) in a trickling filter is a continuousflow system. In this test, nondegraded metabolites from a commercial linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) surfactant are detected (Kolbener, Baumann, Leisinger, and Cook; accompanying paper). This procedure has now been augmented by two phases in closed cycle to give a test for refractory organic carbon (ROC test). First, the concentration of nondegraded metabolites was increased by readdition of LAS to the solution being cycled through the filter. Second, the concentrated residues were further recycled till the net dissolved organic carbon (DOC) stabilised at a finite value and the net released CO, stabilised at about zero. The organic compounds remaining at this phase of the experiment were considered recalcitrant and could be examined by global (e.g., DOC) and specific (e.g., HPLC) assays. Four different commercial preparations of LAS were examined, as were the (4-su1fophenyl)undecane homologue (C, l-LAS), the (4-sulfophenyl)dodecane homologue (C ,,-LAS), and some related compounds. The four commercial LAS preparations contained different levels of impurities (2% to about 17%, according to the producers), which were largely dialkyltetralinesulfonates (DATS) and branched-chain alkylbenzenesulfonates (bABS). The refractory organic carbon (ROC) remaining after biodegradation varied from 3 to 14%. The results were a characteristic of the LAS under study and were independent of the source of the biomass used in the experiment. Residues were examined by HPLC, and 50 to 100 peaks were observed, which were usually characteristic of the LAS studied. No peak has been conclusively identified. We consider the recalcitrants to represent carboxylated DATS and carboxylated bABS.

The present paper gives a review of diary methods in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. After a brief discussion of the history and the development of the diary method a description of the methodology and technology of diaries in their scientific and practical uses is given. The main part of the paper presents an overview of instruments used in research and practice in clinical psychology concerning mood and affectivity, anxiety disorders, pain, psycho-physiological states, eating disorders and alcoholism. Additionally, methodological advantages and problems of these tools are discussed. Finally strategies for the assurance and enhancement of the methodological quality of diary data are discussed. The paper comes to several conclusions: (1) although many instruments have been developed during recent years for research and practical aims, they are concerned with only a few of the many clinical phenomena; (2) although some diaries achieve favourable psychometric results, the reliability and validity of most of the instruments has not yet been explored in a satisfactory manner; (3) although most diaries would also be useful for practical reasons, many deal with research aims. Therefore, future work should focus on practical use as well as on psychometric testing. Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. INTRODUCTIONThe diary approach is important as an assessment and intervention strategy in various areas of clinical and psychotherapeutic research and practice. Historically, this approach started with the cognitive turn in psychology and behaviour therapy in the early 1960s; new technologies of investigation (e.g. micro-computers, palm-tops) and of data analysis (e.g. computerized techniques) during the * Correspondence to: Dr A-R. Laireiter, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria.1990s made diaries into a very intensively used methodology in psychology and psychotherapy (Fahrenberg and Myrtek, 1996;Foster et al., 1999). At present, two methodological strategies can be differentiated: (1) structured instruments relying on standardized questionnaires, and (2) narrative diaries using qualitative self-disclosure documents that become content analysed for scientific use. Numerically and scientifically the first group is much more important and is not only used in clinical psychology but also in various other fields of psychology (personality; Buse and Pawlik, 1996; social psychology;Reis and Wheeler, 1991; coping research;Eckenrode and Bolger, 1995; personal Duck, 1991;Laireiter and Thiele, 1995; developmental psychology;Shapiro and Cole, 1999; psychophysiology; Fahrenberg and Myrtek, 1996). The present paper deals with diaries in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. It starts from a short historical note on the developmental roots of this approach. In a second step the technology of diaries is introduced. The main part of the paper gives an overview of the most important instruments in the six major areas of applic...