Validation of the Short Parallel and Extra-Short Form of the Heidelberg Figural Matrices Test (HeiQ).

Figural matrices tests are frequently used to measure fluid intelligence. The HeiQ-an operation-oriented figural matrices test-was developed to tackle limitations of previous matrices tests, mainly the possibility of excluding distractors based on superficial features instead of actively solving the items. However, allowing for a total administration time of 60 min for the assessment of one construct is not feasible in many study designs.

[Socio-medical assessment: an inventory of the Medical Service of the Federal Employment Agency].

Introduction: The Medical Service of the Federal Employment Agency is responsible for socio-medical assessments of clients whose ability to work in the labor market is in question. Data about the Medical Service, its structure, and its performance were previously only available within the Federal Employment Agency.

Methods: In October 2023, data from the Medical Service containing information on the employee structure, clients, and orders were extracted from three data systems, processed, and analyzed.

Evaluation of a Primary E-Health Intervention for People with Alcohol Use Disorder: Clinical Characteristics of Users and Efficacy.

In Germany, only about 10% of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are treated by the professional help system. "The First 30 Days without Alcohol", an interactive e-health intervention, was developed to support people with "alcohol problems" to abstain from alcohol. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of the approach, the program's target group, if and why it is effective.

Unemployment and Substance Use: An Updated Review of Studies from North America and Europe.

Since the industrial revolution, the relationship between unemployment and psychiatric disorders has been a subject of high interest. Currently, regarding the correlation between unemployment and substance-use disorders (SUDs), only older, often isolated and fragmented research results are available in the literature. This review was based on an extensive literature search of the European and North American literature in most relevant databases for "unemployment" and "substance use" related to "drugs", "alcohol", "nicotine", and "tobacco" between November 2022 and January 2023, according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines.

Construction and Validation of the HeiQ: An Operation-Oriented Figural Matrices Test.

Figural matrices tests are among the most popular and well-investigated tests used to assess inductive reasoning abilities. Solving these tests requires the selection of a target that completes a figural matrix among distractors. Despite their generally good psychometric properties, previous matrices tests have limitations associated with distractor construction that prevent them from realizing their full potential.

Psychiatric Morbidity, Utilization and Quality of Mental Health Care in Long-Term Unemployed People.

Research has shown complex interactions between unemployment and mental health. However, the prevalence of specific mental disorders, utilization of mental health care services and influences on help-seeking behavior have been investigated surprisingly little in the past. In this study, we investigated a sample of long-term unemployed people in a cooperation program of the local unemployment agency and a psychiatric university hospital in a larger city in Germany.

Examining barriers to participation in further and continuing education in Germany: Why a regional perspective is (still) important.

Further and continuing education is not only important for individual employability, but also for regional development. Therefore, improving participation in further and continuing education and removing barriers to participation are key concerns of regional education governance. The present study was conducted in a peripheral region of Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany, where the annual participation rate in continuing education is relatively low compared to other geographic areas in Germany.

Treatment outcome, cognitive function, and psychopathology in methamphetamine users compared to other substance users.

Background: The rising number of people using methamphetamine leads to an increasing need for treatment options for this patient group. Evidence-based research on the efficacy of treatment programs for methamphetamine users is limited. Due to specific characteristics of methamphetamine users, the question arises whether established treatment methods for individuals using other substances can be effective for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence as well.

How are apprentice satisfaction and concerns changing as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic?

For more than a year, the coronavirus pandemic has severely restricted everyday life. This has had an impact on the economy, on working life and on the organisation of school routines. Apprentices in dual vocational training have been doubly challenged as they have had to cope with changes both at work and at vocational school.

Psychiatric Comorbidity and Stress in Medical Students Using Neuroenhancers.

Pharmacological neuroenhancement (PN) is a common healthcare problem at least among students. PN seems to be associated with stressful situations. There is a lack of data about personal characteristics, comorbidities, and coping strategies regarding stress and factors of resilience in students and medical staff.

Recent advances in the treatment of opioid use disorders-focus on long-acting buprenorphine formulations.

Oral methadone or sublingual buprenorphine are first-line medications for pharmacotherapy of opioid use disorders (OUDs). Three long-acting buprenorphine depot or implant formulations are currently available for the treatment of OUDs: (1) CAM 2038 (Buvidal) for subcutaneous weekly and monthly application; (2) RBP-6000 (Sublocade™) as a monthly depot formulation; and (3) A six-month buprenorphine implant [Probuphine™]. The pharmacology, clinical efficacy and prospects of these medications are discussed.

Just "Like Coffee" or Neuroenhancement by Stimulants?

Pharmacological neuroenhancement (PN) is a topic of increasing importance and prevalence among students. However, there is a lack of differentiating PN substances, according to their psychoactive effects. In particular, there is a lack of data about PN by caffeinated drinks, even if coffee is a common and broadly used Neuroenhancer because of its cognitively enhancing effects regarding wakefulness, alertness and concentration.

Big Five Personality Traits Predict Successful Transitions From School to Vocational Education and Training: A Large-Scale Study.

Educational transitions play a pivotal role in shaping educational careers, and ultimately social inequality. Whereas parental socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive ability have long been identified as key determinants of successful educational transitions, much less is known about the role of socio-emotional skills. To address this gap, the present study investigated whether Big Five personality traits predict success in the transition from secondary school to vocational education and training (VET) above and beyond SES, cognitive ability, and other covariates.

Developing Cross-Cultural Short Scales Using Ant Colony Optimization.

This article demonstrates how the metaheuristic item selection algorithm ant colony optimization (ACO) can be used to develop short scales for cross-cultural surveys. Traditional item selection approaches typically select items based on expert-guided assessment of item-level information in the full scale, such as factor loadings or item correlations with relevant outcomes. ACO is an optimization procedure that instead selects items based on the properties of the resulting short models, such as model fit and reliability.

New wine in an old bottle? A facet-level perspective on the added value of Grit over BFI-2 Conscientiousness.

There is emerging consensus that Grit's two facets-perseverance of effort and consistency of interest-are best understood as facets of the Big Five dimension of Conscientiousness. However, an in-depth investigation on whether Grit's facet offer any added value over more established facets of Conscientiousness is absent from the literature. In the present study, we investigated whether Grit's facets are empirically distinguishable from three facets of Conscientiousness as conceived in the well-validated Big-Five Inventory 2 (BFI-2), namely, Organization, Responsibility, Productiveness.

Grit (effortful persistence) can be measured with a short scale, shows little variation across socio-demographic subgroups, and is associated with career success and career engagement.

Grit (effortful persistence) has received considerable attention as a personality trait relevant for success and performance. However, critics have questioned grit's construct validity and criterion validity. Here we report on two studies that contribute to the debate surrounding the grit construct.

Can telehealth reduce health care expenditure? A lesson from German health insurance data.

This study analyzes a telemedical program for chronic heart failure in Germany with respect to economic and treatment indicators. The program entails a routine data-based preselection of the insured and specific treatment intensities for low- and high-risk patients. This study complements previous research by considering differentiated end points such as mortality and rehospitalization as well as ambulatory, outpatient, and medication costs to account for potential cost shifts.

Pharmacological neuroenhancement and the ability to recover from stress - a representative cross-sectional survey among the German population.

Background: Pharmacological neuroenhancement (PNE) refers to the use of psychoactive substances without doctor's prescription to enhance cognitive performance or to improve mood. Although some studies have reported that drugs for PNE are also being used to cope with stressful life situations, nothing is known about the relationship of PNE and resilience, i.e.

Why do German physicians reject managed care?

Background: Approximately 20 years after the launch of managed care (MC) in Germany, the initial dynamics have turned into an MC backlash with a poor image for MC among physicians and the insured. Factors in MC contract rejection by physicians have not previously been studied systematically.

Objective: The objective of the study is to show that observed physician characteristics explain MC contract rejection in a quantitative model.

Construct Validity and Population-Based Norms of the German Brief Resilience Scale (BRS).

The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) measures the ability to recover from stress. To provide further evidence for construct validity of the German BRS and to determine population-based norms, a large sample ( = 1,128) representative of the German adult population completed a survey including the BRS and instruments measuring perceived stress and the resilience factors optimism, self-efficacy, and locus of control. Confirmatory factor analyses showed best model fit for a five-factor model differentiating the ability to recover from stress from the three resilience factors.