Experiments are reported that add to the growing literature on the voluntary provision of public goods. Information conditions are manipulated to address whether early findings of above-equilibrium contributions to a public good are a result of complete information regarding the symmetry of the game. No significant information effect was found. Further, by examining designs with an interior Nash equilibrium, this research suggests that the nonzero contributions observed in the previous dominant strategy environments, where the prediction was a zero level of provision of the public good, were not simply transitional errors as the system converged to a boundary equilibrium.

Aviation passenger screening has been used worldwide to mitigate the translocation risk of SARS-CoV-2. We present a model that evaluates factors in screening strategies used in air travel and assess their relative sensitivity and importance in identifying infectious passengers. We use adapted Monte Carlo simulations to produce hypothetical disease timelines for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 for travelling passengers. Screening strategy factors assessed include having one or two RT-PCR and/or antigen tests prior to departure and/or post-arrival, and quarantine length and compliance upon arrival. One or more post-arrival tests and high quarantine compliance were the most important factors in reducing pathogen translocation. Screening that combines quarantine and post-arrival testing can shorten the length of quarantine for travelers, and variability and mean testing sensitivity in post-arrival RT-PCR and antigen tests decrease and increase with the greater time between the first and second post-arrival test, respectively. This study provides insight into the role various screening strategy factors have in preventing the translocation of infectious diseases and a flexible framework adaptable to other existing or emerging diseases. Such findings may help in public health policy and decision-making in present and future evidence-based practices for passenger screening and pandemic preparedness.

Though there are effective psychological and drug treatments for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), many patients remain inadequately treated or untreated. Making effective self-treatment guidance available may increase the number of patients being helped. In this review, database and manual literature searches were performed of case studies, open and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of bibliotherapy, self-help groups, telecare and computer-aided self-help for OCD. We found no RCTs of bibliotherapy or self-help groups for OCD. Three open studies showed the efficacy of brief exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) instructions delivered by a live therapist by phone. A vicarious ERP computer program was effective in a small open study. Fully interactive computer-aided self-help by ERP for OCD was efficacious in two open studies and a large multicentre RCT, and in a small RCT compliance and outcome with that program was enhanced by brief scheduled support from a clinician. Although more research is needed, self-help approaches have the potential to help many more patients who would otherwise remain inadequately treated or untreated. Their dissemination could save resources used by health care providers. We propose a stepped care model for the treatment of OCD.

Treatment of neurosis is selectively surveyed, including physical methods. At least four differing aims of psychotherapeutic techniques can be distinguished—to produce a rewarding experience; to nurture self-knowledge; to allow confession or catharsis; and to effect a lasting change in behaviour. The report concentrates on the last two aims. Effects of psychological treatments are considered first by syndromes and then by procedures. Prognostic issues are defined and research strategies outlined. Further work is suggested, including the relief of acute neurotic distress before referral for specialist help, the combination of psychotropic drugs and psychological treatments, the application of specific psychotherapeutic techniques for defined ends, and elucidation of the active therapeutic ingredients in these methods.

Research in neurosis is reviewed from the standpoint of genetics, phylogenesis, physiology, epidemiology, and prognosis. Family and sociocultural variables are discussed, and experimental paradigms noted. Directions for further research are suggested in these areas, including perceptual and physiological reflex mechanisms triggered in neurosis and in normal people, cross-cultural longitudinal epidemiological studies of specific neurotic syndromes which are linked to family and social variables, factors governing illness behaviour, and field observations of family and marital pathology.

Aunque hay tratamientos psicológicos y farmacológicos eficaces para el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC), muchos pacientes reciben tratamiento inadecuado o no lo reciben en absoluto. Proporcionar una guía de auto-tratamiento eficaz puede incrementar el número de pacientes que reciben ayuda. En esta revisión, se realizaron búsquedas en bases de datos y manuales en las publicaciones de estudios de casos, ensayos al descubierto y ensayos controlados distribuidos al azar (ECDA) de biblioterapia, grupos de autoayuda, teleatención y autoayuda asistida por ordenador para el TOC. No encontramos ECDA de biblioterapia o grupos de autoayuda para el TOC. Tres estudios al descubierto mostraron la eficacia de instrucciones de exposición breve y prevención de rituales (EPR) dadas por un terapeuta en directo por teléfono. Un programa de ordenador de EPR vicaria fue eficaz en un pequeño estudio al descubierto. La autoayuda completamente interactiva asistida por ordenador por EPR para el TOC fue eficaz en dos estudios al descubierto y un gran ECDA multicéntrico, y en un ECDA pequeño el cumplimiento y la evolución con ese programa se reforzó por un apoyo breve programado de un clínico. Aunque se necesita más investigación, los enfoques de autoayuda tienen el potencial de ayudar a muchos más pacientes que, en otro caso, podrían recibir tratamiento inadecuado o no recibirlo en absoluto. Su difusión podría ahorrar recursos utilizados por profesionales sanitarios. Proponemos un modelo escalonado de atención para el tratamiento del TOC.

In an open study, ten people with phobia or panic disorder who could not travel repeatedly to a therapist accessed a computer-aided exposure self-help system (Fear Fighter) at home on the internet with brief therapist support by telephone. They improved significantly, and their outcome and satisfaction resembled those in patients with similar disorders who used Fear Fighter in clinics with brief face-to-face therapist support.

This study (part of a larger one whose main outcomes were reported by Marks, Lovell, Noshirvani, Thrasher, & Livanou, 1998) investigated the impact of exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring alone and combined on the individual symptoms of PTSD and on associated features. Exposure therapy was expected to act mainly on fear and avoidance, and cognitive restructuring mainly on detachment, restricted range of affect, and associated features of PTSD. Seventy-seven PTSD outpatients were randomly allocated to one of four treatments: 1) exposure alone; 2) cognitive restructuring alone; 3) combined exposure and cognitive restructuring; or 4) relaxation (placebo control). The active treatments were superior to relaxation in improving clusters of PTSD symptoms and associated features and some but not all individual symptoms and associated features of PTSD. Exposure and cognitive restructuring improved almost all individual symptoms similarly.