Elizabeth Turf

Bio: Elizabeth Turf is an academic researcher from VCU Medical Center. The author has contributed to research in topics: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory & Psychometrics. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 3 publications receiving 58 citations.

Comparative Utility of Barona Formulae, Wtar Demographic Algorithms, and WRAT-3 Reading for Estimating Premorbid Ability in a Diverse Research Sample

Abstract: Various Barona formulae, a WTAR algorithm based on demographic data, and WRAT-3 oral reading methods of estimating premorbid ability were compared in a diverse research sample of 119 subjects. These methods were correlated with one another and with a modified version of the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices. Descriptive data are provided to illustrate advantages and disadvantages of various methods of estimating premorbid ability when no formal intellectual testing is available. While predicting premorbid ability for individual subjects involves varying degrees of error, we found that the revised Barona formula was superior to the original formula for subjects at the upper end of ability level. When researchers have screened out learning disability and have subject samples with few individuals likely to be of superior premorbid intelligence, oral reading scores are a reasonable measure of premorbid ability. Otherwise, researchers are advised to use both demographic and oral reading methods to estimate p...

A Cohort Study to Determine the Epidemiology of Estuary-Associated Syndrome

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Estuary-Associated Syndrome (EAS) is the name given to a potential illness characterized primarily by changes in an individual's cognitive abilities, including acute onset of memory loss or the sudden inability to solve simple problems. Other possible signs of illness include respiratory symptoms, skin rash, or gastrointestinal distress. This illness appears to arise following exposure to toxin produced by Pjiesteria piscicida, or other toxic dinoflagellates, that resides in estuary waters. In 1988, researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, observed the unusual death offish in laboratory tanks following exposure to water from the Pamlico River Estuary in North Carolina (Smith et al., 1988). A toxic dinoflagellate was identified in association with the fish deaths and researchers at North Carolina State University were able to reproduce the fish toxicity in a laboratory setting (Burkholder et al., 1992). The organism was named Pjiesteria piscicida (Lewitus et al., 1995; and Steidinger et al., 1996). In 1995, this dinoflagellate was found in the Chesapeake Bay (Lewitus et al., 1995) and more recently in creeks and rivers of Maryland and Virginia (Marshall, personal communication 1999; Grattan et al., 1998). It is now generally recognized that there is a complex of Pjiesteria-like dinoflagellates, including P. piscicida and an estimated ten or 11 similar organisms. These have been referred to as Pjiesteria-complex organisms and more recently as Pjiesteria-like organisms (PLOs). PLOs have a complex life cycle and reside in different forms in the sediment or the water column of estuarine waters. They appear to require live finfish or their secreta for transformation to a toxic phase with subsequent release of a powerful exotoxin(s). Because of the many different forms for these organisms, speciation is difficult and the accepted method depends on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Screening for PLOs in water samples is currently done using a light microscope with SEM performed if high concentrations of PLOs are seen. Different laboratories have developed molecular methods to identify these organisms in water samples and these methods are being tested (Oldach et al., 1998; Rublee et al., 1999). Work is also ongoing to develop a test to analyze released toxins.

Correlations for scores on the 180-item version of the MMPI-2 and the Neuroticism scale of the NEO-Personality Inventory.

Abstract: 64 normal adult controls (53 men, 11 women; M age 45.2 yr.) in a study of an estuary-associated syndrome were administered the MMPI-2-180 and the Neuroticism scale from the NEO-Personality Inventory. Pearson product-moment correlations between MMPI-2 scales and the Neuroticism scale were similar to those reviously reported using the full-length MMPI. Correlations between MMPI-2 scales, D, Pt, Sc, and Si, and NEO-PI Neuroticism (range .44 to .52) suggest that many psychiatric conditions are associated with psychological distress of the type individuals high in trait neuroticism are prone to experience.

A meta-analysis on the relation between fluid intelligence and reading/mathematics: Effects of tasks, age, and social economics status.

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the relations between fluid intelligence (Gf) and reading/mathematics and possible moderators. A meta-analysis of 680 studies involving 793 independent samples and more than 370,000 participants found that Gf was moderately related to reading, r = .38, 95% CI [.36, .39], and mathematics, r = .41, 95% CI [.39, 44]. Synthesis on the longitudinal correlations showed that Gf and reading/mathematics predicted each other in the development even after controlling for initial performance. Moderation analyses revealed the following findings: (a) Gf showed stronger relations to mathematics than to reading, (b) within reading or mathematics, Gf showed stronger relations to complex skills than to foundational skills, (c) the relations between Gf and reading/mathematics increased with age, and (d) family social economic status (SES) mostly affected the relations between Gf and reading/mathematics in the early development stage. These findings, taken together, are partially in line with the investment theory but are more in line with the intrinsic cognitive load theory, mutualism theory, and the gene-SES interaction hypothesis of cognition and learning. More importantly, these findings imply an integration model of these theories from an educational and developmental perspective: Children may rely on Gf to learn reading and mathematics early on, when high family SES can boost the effects of Gf on reading/mathematics performance. As children receive more formal schooling and gain more learning experiences, their reading and mathematics improvement may promote their Gf development. During development, the negative effects of low family SES on the relations between Gf and reading/mathematics may be offset by education/learning experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Cognitive reserve protects against cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: Cognitive reserve theory helps to explain the neuropsychological expression of neurologic disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease; Stern, 2006). Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disease characterized by information processing inefficiency and verbal learning and memory deficits. The current study is the first to investigate whether higher cognitive reserve moderates the relationship between MS and cognitive functioning. A word-reading proxy of premorbid intelligence was used to estimate cognitive reserve for 58 persons with MS and 43 healthy controls. Dependent measures of simple processing efficiency, complex information processing efficiency, and verbal learning and memory were administered. There were significant Group x Cognitive Reserve interactions for complex information processing efficiency and verbal learning and memory, such that persons with MS demonstrated deficits relative to controls at lower, but not higher, levels of reserve. No such interaction was found for simple processing efficiency. The protective influence of higher cognitive reserve against disease-related cognitive deficits is discussed.

Striatal and cortical midline circuits in major depression: implications for suicide and symptom expression.

Abstract: Background In major depression, the neural mechanisms underlying suicide related thoughts and behaviors as well as the expression of other depressive symptoms are incompletely characterized. Evidence indicates that both the striatum and cortical midline structures (CMS) may be involved with both suicide and emotional dysregulation in unipolar illness. The aim of this study was to identify striatal–CMS circuits associated with current depression severity and suicidal ideation (SI) as well as a history of self-harm. Methods Twenty-two male subjects with recurrent unipolar depression were studied using functional MRI. All subjects were unmedicated and without current psychiatric comorbidity. Correlational analyses were used to determine whether striatal–CMS functional connectivity was associated with any of the three clinical variables. Results A network involving the bilateral striatum and anterior CMS was found to be associated with depressive symptom severity. Current SI was associated with a similar but less extensive circuit in the left hemisphere. A distinct striatal motor/sensory network was associated with self-harm behaviors, but not current SI or depression severity. Conclusions The striatal–anterior CMS circuit likely plays a significant role in the expression of depressive symptoms and SI. In contrast, a striatum–motor/sensory cortex network may be a trait marker of suicide-related behaviors. If replicated, this result might eventually lead to the development of a biomarker that would be useful for studies of pharmacologic and/or psychotherapeutic suicide prevention interventions.