Factor structures obtained by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) often turn out to fit poorly in confirmative follow-up studies. In the present study, the authors assessed the extent to which results obtained in EFA studies can be replicated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in the same sample. More specifically, the authors used CFA to test three different factor models on several correlation matrices of exploratively obtained factor structures that were reported in the literature. The factor models varied with respect to the role of the smaller factor pattern coefficients. Results showed that confirmatory factor models in which all low EFA pattern coefficients were fixed to zero fitted especially poorly. The authors conclude that it may be justified to use a less constrained model when testing a factor model by allowing some correlation among the factors and some of the lower factor pattern coefficients to differ from zero.Multifactor psychological scales and tests are very common measurement tools that are widely used in research and in practical applications. Psychological knowledge is, for a large part, founded on such psychometric instruments. Most multifactor tests and measurement instruments are initially developed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (Gorsuch, 1983), which produces a set of factor pattern coefficients on, usually, orthogonal factors based on the correlations between the items of the test. If one wants to investigate whether the factor structure of the test can be replicated in a new study, one could, in principle, perform EFA on the new data. Subsequently, one

Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) induces depressive symptoms in 50-Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is a technique used to study serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) brain function in mood disorders. In this paradigm, 5-HT function is temporarily lowered by deprivation of its precursor L -Tryptophan (Trp), an amino acid essential for 5-HT synthesis. It has been suggested that behavioral response to ATD might be informative about the pathophysiology of clinical depression and the mechanisms mediating antidepressant efficacy.A number of studies have demonstrated that ATD temporarily induces depressive symptoms in remitted depressive patients treated with antidepressant medication (Delgado et al. 1990; Spillman et al. 2001). The recurrence of symptoms appears to be highest in subjects treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (Delgado et al. 1990(Delgado et al. , 1994(Delgado et al. , 1999.However, not all patients react to ATD; even in SSRItreated patients, ATD exacerbates symptoms in 50-60% of investigated patients (Van der Does 2001a). This raises the question of what factors determine response to ATD. It has been argued that induced depressive

Do men and women construe basic values in the same way? The authors investigate possible gender differences in value meaning at three levels: 2 dimensions that organize value systems, 10 motivationally distinct values, and 45 value items. They assess differences across and within diverse cultures and perform multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) and Procrustes analyses on responses to a value survey by 11,244 respondents in eight cultural regions (Chinese East Asia, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Israel, Japan, Latin America, and the United States). Statistical fit indices and inspection of graphic representations reveal neither cross-culturally consistent gender effects on value meaning nor Gender × Culture interactions. The implications of these findings for theories of gender effects and for the cross-cultural study of gender differences in value importance are discussed.

Objective. Sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis (SCCH) is a rare, debilitating, chronic inflammatory disorder of the anterior chest wall due to a chronic sterile osteomyelitis of unknown origin, often associated with characteristic skin lesions of palms and soles: pustulosis palmoplantaris. SCCH goes often unrecognized for years before the diagnosis is established and treatment instituted. The objective of this study was to trace the diagnostic paths of patients with SCCH and to investigate the consequences associated with diagnostic delay. Methods. Data were collected through structured interviews of 52 patients with a clinically, scintigraphically, and radiologically established diagnosis of SCCH. Results. The majority of patients presented with swelling and/or pain in the sternocostoclavicular region and/or limited movement of the shoulder girdle. Pustulosis palmoplantaris was present in ϳ30% of patients. The disease went unrecognized for a median of 3.5 years. Patients were often seen by at least 3 members of the medical profession before the diagnosis was suspected and eventually established. Lack of recognition of the clinical manifestations of the disease and delay in diagnosis were associated with important physical, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences affecting quality of life. Conclusion. SCCH remains an ill-recognized disease despite its characteristic clinical features. A low level of awareness of the disorder leads to a delay in diagnosis, which has a significant impact on various aspects of quality of life. Awareness should be raised for this disorder, enabling timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment to prevent the irreversible physical and psychological sequelae associated with the protracted untreated state.

Knowledge on cross-cultural quality of life (QOL) and illness perceptions may help women with breast cancer cope more effectively. The self regulation model (SRM) guided the current exploratory longitudinal pilot-study. Central to SRM is the perception of health threats and their effects on QOL. Illness perceptions and QOL were assessed in 22 Dutch and 21 Japanese patients with breast cancer who filled out questionnaires before, 1 week, and 8 weeks after the first chemotherapy course. The questionnaires assessed QOL and illness perceptions. Patients' scores were compared with groups of patients with other chronic somatic illnesses (asthma, diabetes). Patients in both samples reported major impact of chemotherapy on global health status, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, constipation and diarrhea. Differences between Japanese and Dutch patients were limited to social functioning and financial problems. Japanese patients expressed stronger concerns about their illness than Dutch patients. Results of the Japanese and Dutch patients with breast cancer differed from data in patients with asthma on consequences, timeline, concern and emotional response. Results of Japanese patients differed from patients with type 2 diabetes on timeline and concern, whereas Dutch patients differed on timeline and consequences. Japanese and Dutch breast cancer patients have-overall-similar illness perceptions and QOL responses and are aware of the typical characteristics of their disease. The results support the feasibility of cross-cultural psychosocial research in oncology and offer implications for clinical interventions which impact on self-efficacy to empower patients with breast cancer.