Comparative, clinical feasibility study of three tools for delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy for mild to moderate depression and anxiety provided on a self-help basis

Background In response to a research recommendation made by a UK healthcare policy agency (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)), this study compared the effectiveness of computer‐based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with other self‐help treatment options for mild to moderate depression and anxiety.Method Comparative, clinical feasibility study of three self‐help CBT tools with six‐month follow‐up. Out of an initial sample of 180 adults referred by their general practitioners, 100 met the inclusion criteria and after consenting to take part were allocated one of three self‐help CBT tools: the Beating the Blues® (BtB) computer programme;¹ workbooks on overcoming depression and anxiety; and the Livinglifetothefull free access internet website.²Results Only 50 of the 100 consented participants completed the allocated intervention protocols, however, drop‐out rates were not significantly different between the groups of participants allocated each of the three self‐help CBT tools. Adults aged over 24 years (χ² = 14.5; df = 2; P = 0.001) and with symptom duration greater than four years (χ² = 3.96; df = 1; P = 0.047) were significantly more likely to complete any of the three interventions. There was a highly significant reduction in mean Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure (CORE–OM) score at week eight compared to entry in all three groups (t (49) = 9.150; P ≤0.001). Adjusting for entry scores, there was no significant difference between the three groups in CORE–OM score improvement at week eight. There was no significant association between CORE–OM score improvement at week eight and number of general practitioner (GP) consultations at six months. There was no significant association between whether participants completed the programme and number of GP consultations at six months.Conclusions The results demonstrated that within a two‐month follow‐up period, three different tools delivering self‐help CBT all produced significant clinical benefit for adults with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. The study had limited statistical power, but none of the modalities for delivering supported self‐help CBT appeared superior to another. There was no evidence to suggest that any of these interventions would be likely to reduce subsequent service uptake. Nevertheless, this pilot study has shown sufficient benefit from each of the self‐administered CBT tools to justify larger trials of their use.     

Relationships between trophic organization of benthic communities and organic matter content in Tyrrhenian Sea sediments

The organic content of sediments, often considered as an important trophic source for the benthos, can be used as a measurement of the trophic status of marine ecosystems. Soft-bottom communities were studied between Leghorn and Elba Island, from 5 to 500 m depth. Total biomass and trophic structure (percent dominance of trophic guilds) were related to organic carbon content and C/N ratio of sediments. Sediment organic matter, depending on its quantity and quality, could act as a food source or a stress source for the community.     

Novel and Transgenic Food Crops: Overview of Scientific Versus Public Perception

Recombinant DNA technology offers opportunities to develop new products in many different fields, including agriculture and the agro-food area. Transgenic plants with improved agronomic traits currently grow in field trials and a few varieties have already reached the European market. By and large, new technologies raise both concerns and expectations and modern biotechnology is no exception. Indeed, a voluntary moratorium on experiments involving recombinant DNA molecules was called for in 1974. At the present time, although a majority of academic and industrial scientists agree that transgenic food crops pose no risk for the environment or human health, some others believe that certain applications of modern plant biotechnology are hazardous. In particular, deliberate releases of genetically modified plants are regarded as risky. There is also a disparity between expert and lay perception of r-DNA technology applications to food crops, which makes public information a difficult task. This paper aims at exposing these conflicting points of view on the agricultural applications of modern biotechnology. We also propose some recommendations pertaining to public information in Europe. It appears that consensus conferences might be a good approach to stimulate public information and public debate in Europe, although this approach has to be adapted to the cultural context of each country.     

Seasonal changes in the stable isotope values of lake-dwelling chironomid larvae in relation to feeding and life cycle variability

1. We studied seasonal changes in the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of larval Chironomus anthracinus and C. plumosus from the profundal sediments of four contrasting lakes. 2. Pronounced seasonal changes in both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were evident in chironomid larvae of both species from two summer‐stratified, eutrophic lakes: Esthwaite Water and Wyresdale Park. Changes were most marked in the larvae of C. plumosus and in larvae from greater depths. In contrast, neither C. anthracinus in summer‐stratified but mesotrophic Schöhsee, nor C. plumosus in polymictic Großer Binnensee, showed marked seasonality in larval stable isotope ratios. 3. The particularly strong ¹³C‐depletion of larvae from the stratified, eutrophic lakes is attributed to a significant contribution of methane‐derived carbon to their diets. Feeding by larvae on isotopically light methanotrophic bacteria appears to occur mainly when autumn overturn of the water column restores oxygenated conditions to the sediment surface. At this time both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of larvae decreased sharply. 4. Changes in the mean stable isotope ratio of the larval populations can also occur when larger, more isotopically light, larvae pupate and emigrate from the population to hatch as imagos. This effect can induce seasonal changes in larval isotope values even in lakes in which there is no evidence of a significant involvement of methane‐derived carbon in their diets. Variations in emergence patterns between species and between lakes may generate differences in the seasonal pattern of change in stable isotope ratios in larval populations. 5. Our results emphasise the importance of adequate seasonal sampling if stable isotope ratios are to be used as biomarkers to study the role of key groups, such as chironomid larvae, in the trophic structure of lakes.