Configural Frequency Analysis (CFA) Revisited — a New Look at an Old Approach

Configural frequency analysis (CFA) is a widely used method for the identification of types and syndromes in contingency tables. However, the type model of CFA shows some major deficiencies. In this paper, we propose an alternative modeling of types eliminating the shortcomings of CFA. Basically, a type is modeled as a combination of traits or symptoms that deviates from the pattern of association holding true for the complementary configurations of the contingency table. The new approach is formulated in terms of a log-linear model. It is shown that parameter estimation can be performed with methods known from the analysis of incomplete contingency tables. Test procedures for confirmatory analysis and methods for exploratory search for type configurations are developed. We illustrate the methodology with two practical examples.     

A New Look at Bimedial Prefrontal Leukotomy

Forty-four selected patients with “hard core” functional psychiatric illness were treated by bimedial prefrontal leukotomy, in which only the medial half of the prefrontal white matter of both frontal lobes was divided. This operation differs from the conventional or “standard” leukotomy which divides the entire prefrontal white matter. There were six patients with personality disorders, 25 psychoneurotics, 12 schizophrenics, and one with involutional melancholia. Forty-two of the 44 patients had thorough psychiatric follow-up, ranging from one to seven years postoperatively. They were assessed clinically and also on a point-rating scale of assessment.Seventy-six per cent of these patients had excellent or satisfactory outcomes. The most striking benefit was decrease in anxiety and tension.Modified leukotomy is a safe and effective method of reducing the symptoms of excessive tension, anxiety, fear or depression in patients with a variety of illnesses, including anxiety neurosis, phobic psychoneurosis, obsessional neurosis, neurotic or psychotic depressive reactions and schizophrenia. The operation should be considered in such neurotic, personality and psychotic illnesses when medical treatment has failed.     

Boron and Marine Life: A New Look at an Enigmatic Bioelement

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of boron, we review the oceanic biogeochemistry of boron as well as suitable analytical techniques for its determination. This overview includes aspects of biogeochemistry including geochemical stable isotope variations, uptake, transport, storage, nutritional value, toxicity, and distribution within biological materials, providing a framework for discussion of the role of boron in marine organisms, which remains largely enigmatic.