International HIV Dementia Scale: Screening for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders in Occupational Settings

This study investigated whether the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) can be used to screen for milder forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in occupational health settings. It explored first; the effect of demographic variables on IHDS performance in a sample of HIV-negative employees and second; the extent to which the IHDS can differentiate between milder forms of HAND in HIV-infected employees. Data from 476 HIV-negativeand 90 HIV-positive individuals indicated that; although clinicians need to be sensitive to the effect of education and test-language proficiency; separate norms based on socio-demographic variables are not required in this context; and that the IHDS shows promise for identifying milder forms of HAND in this HIV-positive sample; with ?10 the recommended cut-off for further referral. In conclusion; there is support for the IHDS to screen for HAND where this may impact on safety-critical tasks in the workplace

Levels of anxiety and hostility in South African Navy divers.

This study aimed to describe the levels of anxiety and hostility in a group of 45 SA Navy divers, by analysing their scores on an Anxiety Scale and Hostility and Directed Hostility Questionnaire. Results indicate that divers experience average anxiety compared with the norm groups. They have a higher urge for acting out their hostility, and are more critical of others than the norm group. Their overall hostility scores are higher than that of the general population. To determine if this differs from other naval personnel, the diver group was compared to a sample of 40 general navy sailors and 20 sport divers. The navy divers' scores displayed a higher urge to act out than the general navy, which in turn scored higher than the sport divers. Both the navy divers and general navy groups had higher total hostility scores than the civilian divers. It is concluded that the results are contextually appropriate, but not meaningful for selection of navy divers.