![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 37 to 61 of 79. Go back in thread:
Posted by owenus32 on September 3, 2004, at 21:51:13
In reply to Re: Assess the level of depressive symptoms » Dr. Bob, posted by 4WD on September 1, 2004, at 19:43:20
I've dropped any idea od a social life whatsoever. I stopped AA and I am glued to the PC or books when not at work. Wow. I don't even think about it much but that test made me think.
Posted by Lonely on September 3, 2004, at 23:55:46
In reply to Re: Assess the level of depressive symptoms, posted by owenus32 on September 3, 2004, at 21:51:13
Fortunately, I was aware of some isolation and didn't like it but felt somewhat incapable (or unworthy?) of much social life. I'm trying to remedy that but it's actually real work to do so! Just got an email from a friend suggesting a Sun. aftn. trip to museum and I'm full of reasons not to go, among them my AA spouse. On the other hand I had a wonderful (although it took a lot of effort) time with an old colleague and friend yesterday when we went swimming and ate dinner together. It was a real booster and as my therapist pointed out today, I need more of those. The internet is a wonderful excellent tool for connecting with people I would otherwise not know but there's nothing like face-to-face arm-around-the-shoulder contact.
> I've dropped any idea od a social life whatsoever. I stopped AA and I am glued to the PC or books when not at work. Wow. I don't even think about it much but that test made me think.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 9, 2004, at 0:22:49
In reply to Re: Follow depressive symptoms and quality of life, posted by Dr. Bob on September 2, 2004, at 2:30:09
> Also, a measure of health-related quality of life is now available for testing:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/sf-36.plOK, I've reset the data file and removed the "beta" designation. Next is a measure of stress expected from life events:
http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/srrs.pl
Bob
Posted by badhaircut on September 9, 2004, at 15:26:08
In reply to Re: stress from life events, posted by Dr. Bob on September 9, 2004, at 0:22:49
> Next is a measure of stress expected from life events: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/srrs.pl
•1•
I realize in the 1960s questionnaires were usually sexist, but this is 2004. The last item, "Wife begin or stop work," can easily be made more inclusive. Would Elsevier object? We can adapt it so working moms with stay-at-home dads (for example) can answer this item, too.
If the precise figure for debt has been updated (I assume it has), these throwback terms can be, too.•2•
"Change in church activities". Again, we can excuse mild bigotry in the '60s, but for here & now, why not substitute "religious" for "church"? Surely it won't render the score meaningless if a non-Christian is allowed to answer this item.•3•
I still feel that not giving any information on how to interpret the CES-D or the SF-36 makes them less useful and more problematic even just for monthly self-tracking. (The justification given was that mentioning a cut-off score could confuse someone into thinking they had a medical diagnosis.)
But not giving any interpretive information about the stressful events score renders it, well, useless. Is 250 good? Is 40 bad? If it's just for tracking every 6 months and my score is 800, I'll be dead from a heart attack before I get to take it again. One item not considered on the SRRS: Getting an unexplained high score on an internet stress test! :DBob, I realize you're adding these things as a neat expansion of P-B, but providing completely dead-end numbers for deeply personal issues is likely to frustrate and confuse test-takers. Especially since people coming to this site are likely to be already upset in some way. I feel that plain-language interpretative information is needed for each of these tests. Such explanations exist at other prominent web sites that offer these tests (like the Mayo Clinic), and they can emphasize that no score is by itself diagnostic.
A link to this thread, while nice, is just not sufficient.
I'm being critical, so here's a hug. I love P-B, and I'm very glad you put so much into it.
-bhc
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 9, 2004, at 17:37:40
In reply to 'Wife' ?! – and other quibbles, posted by badhaircut on September 9, 2004, at 15:26:08
> I realize in the 1960s questionnaires were usually sexist, but this is 2004. The last item, "Wife begin or stop work," can easily be made more inclusive.
Good idea, I'll make it "spouse" like it is in other items.
> "Change in church activities". Again, we can excuse mild bigotry in the '60s, but for here & now, why not substitute "religious" for "church"?
Here, however, I think I'd rather leave it, since it's possible a change in other religious activities might not require the same social readjustment.
> not giving any interpretive information about the stressful events score renders it, well, useless. Is 250 good? Is 40 bad?
> I feel that plain-language interpretative information is needed for each of these tests. Such explanations exist at other prominent web sites that offer these tests (like the Mayo Clinic)
1. I've seen interpretations elsewhere, but I want to look into how they were arrived at before adding them here, too.
2. IMO, it's not useless if it helps people track their stress level or correlate it with other aspects of how they're doing.
If 250 were "bad" and 200 were "so-so", would that mean someone shouldn't get married so as not to do something that would be "bad" for them?
> I'm being critical, so here's a hug. I love P-B, and I'm very glad you put so much into it.
Thanks, and I'm glad you care enough to want this done well.
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 13, 2004, at 18:14:43
In reply to Re: stress from life events, posted by Dr. Bob on September 9, 2004, at 0:22:49
> Next is a measure of stress expected from life events:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/srrs.plOK, I've reset the data file and removed the "beta" designation. Next is a measure of social support:
http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mos-sss.pl
Unless anyone has any suggestions, I think this will be it for now, let's see how this goes for a while...
Bob
Posted by 64bowtie on September 18, 2004, at 15:35:17
In reply to Re: stuck in loop, posted by gardenergirl on September 3, 2004, at 1:16:31
> Why do I find that song in my head how..."here I am stuck in the middle with you..."
>
> ;)
>
> ggGG,
Was that a rhetorical question??? ...or what???
Rod
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 18, 2004, at 17:14:38
In reply to Re: social support, posted by Dr. Bob on September 13, 2004, at 18:14:43
> I think this will be it for now
Except that I also thought I'd group them together in a new area called Watch Yourself. As in watch yourself (how you do) over time...
And provide a way for those who want to fill out any of the questionnaires regularly to have the server remind them by email. How does that sound?
Bob
Posted by gardenergirl on September 18, 2004, at 23:34:46
In reply to Re: stuck in loop, posted by 64bowtie on September 18, 2004, at 15:35:17
Actually I was shooting for humorous comment, but perhaps that would have required me to sing the song versus post. And Babble isn't set up for that yet, thank Dog. And given the lyric just before the line I quoted, I was afraid of posting something uncivil...
:)
gg
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 19, 2004, at 15:18:35
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself, posted by Dr. Bob on September 18, 2004, at 17:14:38
> I also thought I'd group them together in a new area called Watch Yourself. As in watch yourself (how you do) over time...
Well, here it is:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/watch
Let me know what you think,
Bob
Posted by gardenergirl on September 22, 2004, at 22:40:04
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself, posted by Dr. Bob on September 19, 2004, at 15:18:35
I don't know exactly why, but when I see those words "Watch Yourself" in the link on each page, I feel like I am being warned against some unknown bad event. Like "watch out!" So the name is a bit weird for me. I suppose Monitor Yourself just doesn't have the same cache. I don't know what would be better or even if I would prefer it be changed at this point just because of my psyche, but just thought I'd mention it.
Thanks,
gg
Posted by Lonely on September 22, 2004, at 23:40:05
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself...name is odd for me, posted by gardenergirl on September 22, 2004, at 22:40:04
Y'know ... I had the same thoughts and feelings but a little stronger. My very, very first reaction is just like you said "watch out" and my immediate response to that is a cross between feeling threatened and insulted. I really don't care for the phrase at all. It does not give off any warmth in the emotional sense. In fact, I haven't even gone to the latest one because I'm put off, in part, by the title. I don't know what phrase Dr. Bob could use either but it should come across more as a help or aid in helping me understand myself. That at least smacks of compassion. Right now it's definitely a negative. Ugh!
> I don't know exactly why, but when I see those words "Watch Yourself" in the link on each page, I feel like I am being warned against some unknown bad event. Like "watch out!" So the name is a bit weird for me. I suppose Monitor Yourself just doesn't have the same cache. I don't know what would be better or even if I would prefer it be changed at this point just because of my psyche, but just thought I'd mention it.
> Thanks,
> gg
Posted by Dinah on September 23, 2004, at 10:11:16
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself...name is odd for me, posted by gardenergirl on September 22, 2004, at 22:40:04
I agree. I thought "watch yourself" was the standard parental warning to a child that they were heading onto thin ice, or would be in big trouble when they got home. Not that I ever remember *giving* it. But I think I remember *getting* it.
Posted by Catgirl on September 23, 2004, at 19:09:03
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself...name is odd for me, posted by gardenergirl on September 22, 2004, at 22:40:04
> I don't know exactly why, but when I see those words "Watch Yourself" in the link on each page, I feel like I am being warned against some unknown bad event. Like "watch out!" So the name is a bit weird for me. I suppose Monitor Yourself just doesn't have the same cache. I don't know what would be better or even if I would prefer it be changed at this point just because of my psyche, but just thought I'd mention it.
> Thanks,
> ggI agree with the negative conotation. "Watch Yourself" feels threatening.
Posted by gardenergirl on September 23, 2004, at 20:18:23
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself...name is odd for me, posted by Catgirl on September 23, 2004, at 19:09:03
And here I was thinking I was just making GG associations again. Which aren't loose, but can appear to be since my brain works in mysterious ways. :-)
Guess this one is more straightforward.
gg
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 24, 2004, at 0:15:00
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself...name is odd for me, posted by gardenergirl on September 23, 2004, at 20:18:23
Posted by Catgirl on September 24, 2004, at 20:27:07
In reply to Re: OK, back to the drawing board, better ideas? (nm), posted by Dr. Bob on September 24, 2004, at 0:15:00
Chart your progress?
Boring, but less threatening!
Posted by Lonely on September 24, 2004, at 20:58:20
In reply to Re: OK, back to the drawing board, better ideas?, posted by Catgirl on September 24, 2004, at 20:27:07
Hmmm, looking at a dictionary of synonyms online ... similiar words to "watch" in the sense in which it's being used could include:
Ascertain (Maybe too formal)
Check (This is almost as bad as "watch yourself"
Detect (I don't like it)
Determine
Discover (this carries more of the implied meaning, no?)
Find
Learn
SeeDiscover more about yourself?
Discover your progress?
See where you are now?
Learn more about yourself?Maybe another person can pick up the ball and run more with this!
> Chart your progress?
>
> Boring, but less threatening!
Posted by gardenergirl on September 24, 2004, at 22:53:51
In reply to Re: OK, back to the drawing board, better ideas? » Catgirl, posted by Lonely on September 24, 2004, at 20:58:20
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 27, 2004, at 8:37:03
In reply to Re: Watch Yourself...name is odd for me, posted by gardenergirl on September 22, 2004, at 22:40:04
> when I see those words "Watch Yourself" in the link on each page, I feel like I am being warned against some unknown bad event.
FYI, partly the idea was that mental illness can in fact lead to unknown bad events... Anyway, thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone, keep them coming!
Bob
Posted by Susan47 on September 27, 2004, at 8:45:11
In reply to Re: unknown bad events, posted by Dr. Bob on September 27, 2004, at 8:37:03
I like the Watch Yourself, it's attention-grabbing and after seeing it several times, reminds me of the importance of doing just that. Thanks.
Posted by Susan47 on September 27, 2004, at 8:46:33
In reply to Re: unknown bad events, posted by Susan47 on September 27, 2004, at 8:45:11
Posted by Dinah on September 27, 2004, at 10:50:13
In reply to Babbletrac? Progress tracker? You View? (nm), posted by gardenergirl on September 24, 2004, at 22:53:51
And perhaps the Watch Yourself is a regional thing, but around here it really is a parental warning reserved for public occasions with private consequences to follow.
Posted by Lonely on September 27, 2004, at 11:29:11
In reply to Re: unknown bad events, posted by Dr. Bob on September 27, 2004, at 8:37:03
Yes, mental illness can lead to unknown bad events but I would prefer not to plant any triggers in that direction. Not that the title would cause such a thing, just another negativity for me. In another posting I mentioned a concept called "Appreciative Inquiry" which is sort've based on the Pygmallion effect - people respond to images other people have of them. In a sense, I think that using more neutral or pleasant terms/descriptors is a more positive approach.
> > when I see those words "Watch Yourself" in the link on each page, I feel like I am being warned against some unknown bad event.
>
> FYI, partly the idea was that mental illness can in fact lead to unknown bad events... Anyway, thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone, keep them coming!
>
> Bob
Posted by AuntieMel on September 27, 2004, at 16:57:59
In reply to I like Babbletrac, posted by Dinah on September 27, 2004, at 10:50:13
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Administration | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.