Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!purdue!haven!udel!princeton!pucc!PSYCH@TCSVM From: harnad@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Stevan Harnad) Newsgroups: sci.psychology.digest Subject: PSYCOLOQUY V1 #15 (Psychopharm. Newsletter 486 lines) Message-ID: <9011202305.AA13925@phoenix.princeton.edu> Date: 21 Nov 90 01:13:47 GMT Sender: VMNNPOST@pucc.Princeton.EDU (Listserv to Netnews Gateway) Organization: Listserv to Netnews Gateway at pucc.Princeton.EDU Lines: 480 Approved: PSYCH@TCSVM PSYCOLOQUY Tue, 20 Nov 90 Volume 1 : Issue 15 APA Division 28 (Psychopharmacology) Newsletter ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 10:24 EST Original_From: MVAX::WOOD(Ron Wood) From: General Delivery Subject: Please announce discussion group DIV28@gwuvm Behavioral and psychopharmacologists now can subscribe to a an electronic discussion group/ bulletin board. This is effort by the Division of Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse and by the Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association to provide an easy means of rapid communication within the division and among behavioral and psychopharmacologists. You may enroll by sending a note via bitnet to LISTSERV@GWUVM that says: sub div28 firstname lastname. If you are an internetter or need further help, ask Cheri Fullerton of the science directorate for help: apasdcf@gwuvm. Ron Wood is maintaining a directory of email, phone and fax numbers for the division. He will add new listings to the directory, and forward a request to subscribe to the listserver, if members send their information to him at wood@nyumed or wood@mvax.med.nyu.edu. Please note that the list and directory is open (not limited to APA members). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Ronald Wood, Env Med, NYU Med Ctr, Longmeadow Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987 | | Phone: (914) 351-4249 or (212) 340-7300 x5264 FAX: (914) 351-4825 | | E-Mail: Wood@NYUMED (Bitnet), Wood@MVAX.MED.NYU.EDU (Internet) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charlotte_Olson@ub.cc.umich.edu Subject: Div. 28 Newsletter This is the text of the APA Div. 28 Newsletter, Fall 1990 Volume 23, #3 PRESIDENT'S LETTER Klaus Miczek President, Division 28 Psychopharmacologists live a paradoxical life. Like other scientists who study perplexing phenomena, they are readily intrigued by novel methodologies, technological advances and bold ideas, but as soon as an unorthodox explanation is advanced, skepticism prevails. Psychopharmacologists eagerly seek opportu- nities that may yield new insights; we admire innovative concepts and methods. And yet, any serious researcher sports a healthy dose of criticism towards his own and his colleagues' work. Momentary titillation with some far-flung way of defining the drug action on behavior and on brain often yields to a disci- plined approach providing solid information through well-estab- lished methods. The lay public views scientists alternatingly as reckless--and sometimes ruthless--adventurers without limit or respect for the sacrosanct, and then again as saviors shedding light into the frightful darkness of the unknown. Admiration for the detailed understanding of complicated actions of drugs on behavior alternates with confusion when too much detail is given. Scientists are expected to be experts with a great deal of in- depth information and thought of highly when they focus on a specific set of problems; and yet, there is the image of the renaissance-scientist who excels in many areas, who intelligently approaches a broad range of issues and problems. Most scientists fight a life-long battle between being a disciplined, narrowly focused specialist without becoming oblivious to the rest of the real world, and being a broadly educated intellectual with inter- ests and knowledge in many fields of human enterprise without becoming a dilettante. To this picture of contradictions and paradoxes, psychophar- macologists add new dimensions that are unique to them. They combine concepts and methods from psychology, biology and pharmacology, but too often none of these parent disciplines view a psychopharmacologist as a fully legitimate offspring. Here is the world of clinical problems and the various treatment options, and there is the world of molecular analysis of drug receptors. It is a common pitfall to solve complex behavioral problems by reducing them to a molecular problem, only to discov- er that psychopharmacology usually deals with dynamic multideter- minant interacting systems. The essential psychopharmacological paradox is, of course, the drug-behavior interaction itself. Whenever an exciting, new, therapeutically-promising substance arrives, its undesirable side-effects, abuse liability or risk for neurotoxicity are uncovered without much delay. The recent episode with MDMA illustrates this point. While much of psychopharmacological research attempts to develop and improve much-needed therapeutic agents and delineate the benefits of drugs, equally strong ef- forts are expended to deal with the horrifying and ruinous side of drugs, the diabolic cycle of violence and futility surrounding addictive substances. The September riots in the USSR after the supply of cigarettes ran out demonstrate the personal and social trauma of withdrawal from such a "non-drug" as tobacco. Of course, my paradoxical comments are flavored by living during the last decade near the "hub of the solar system", where people come to expect only the best but are most stingy when it comes to providing the adequate resources. Which reminds me of the Epicu- rean paradox: "Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dis- pense with its necessaries." CUNNINGHAM, HOWELL RECEIVE YOUNG PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIST AWARD, 1990 Larry D. Byrd Committee on Nominations The Young Psychopharmacologist Award for 1990 was shared by Dr. Kathryn A. Cunningham of the University of Texas and Dr. Leonard L. Howell of Emory University. The award, sponsored by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Division of Psychopharmacolo- gy, was presented at the annual meeting of the American Psycho- logical Association in Boston. Each awardee received a check for $500.00, an engraved plaque, and reimbursement of expenses to attend the meeting and to deliver an address. Dr. Cunningham, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Texas in Galveston, presented an address entitled "Central Seroto nin Function and the Neuropsychopharmacology of Cocaine." She received undergraduate training at the University of Houston in psychology, mathematics and philosophy, and received two years of graduate training in chemistry and biology at the University of Houston. Her graduate training continued with Dr. James Appel in psychology at the University of South Carolina, and she was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 1985. During her tenure with Dr. Appel, she conducted experiments on the mechanisms of action underlying the discriminative-stimulus properties of cocaine, and phencyclidine, and initiated studies with opiates and ergot alkaloids that led to her dissertation research. She studied and correlated the efficacy of several serotonin antagonists to inhibit the binding of labeled LSD with the abilities of those antagonists to block the discriminable effects of the same doses of the drug. The research combined new analytic techniques from widely different but equally important disciplines including biochemistry, pharmacology and psychology, and provided in vivo confirmation of what had been observed in vitro. Her more recent research at the University of Texas is particularly relevant to cocaine abuse and the neuropharmacology of cocaine. In these studies, Dr. Cunningham used electrophysiological procedures to analyze the effects of cocaine and related substances on seroto- nergic systems. The work demonstrates Dr. Cunningham's ability to learn additional techniques and confirms her continuing inter- est in solving persistent scientific problems. Dr. Howell, a native of Georgia, received his undergraduate training in chemistry at Emory University prior to entering graduate studies in psychology, biochemistry and physiology at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Howell's research for his graduate degrees was conducted with squirrel monkeys at the Yerkes Research Center of Emory University in the laboratory of Dr. Larry Byrd. The experiments investigated the behavioral effects of drugs and a comparison of the effects of cocaine and non-pharmacological, environmental stimuli on schedule-controlled performance. His Master's thesis earned him recognition and the Sigma Xi Research Award for the year at the Georgia Institute of Technology in recognition of the outstanding quality of his research. Upon completion of the Ph.D. requirement in 1985, he moved to Harvard Medical School where he studied with Dr. William Morse for approximately two years. During his tenure at Harvard, he devised and developed a plethysmographic system for measuring respiratory function in rhesus monkeys in order to study the effects of opioids, methylxanthines and other drugs on respirato- ry parameters. His address to the APA convention, entitled "Behavioral and Respiratory Effects of Methylxanthines in Mon- keys," focused primarily on the behavioral and respiratory ef- fects of caffeine and related methylxanthines in this prepara- tion. His research has investigated the role of adenosine in mediating caffeine's effects and the specific role of different adenosine-receptor subtypes in this system. Dr. Howell is presently an Associate Scientist at the Yerkes Research Center of Emory University where his research on the respiratory effects of drugs is funded through a First Award of 5 years' duration. * * * ACTION ALERT * * * CAST ALL YOUR APPORTIONMENT VOTES FOR DIVISION 28! The American Psychological Association's legislative body is the Council of Representatives. In order for a division, state association, or coalition to have a seat on Council, it must receive no less than 0.50% of the total apportionment votes cast. In early November, you will receive the annual apportionment ballot from APA. This ballot provides each member with ten votes, which can either be allocated totally to one division or distributed among several divisions. Individuals who cast all ten of their votes for a single division can have a large impact; as Figure 1 illustrates, the number of members casting all ten votes for Division 28 was very highly correlated with the total votes cast for Division 28. (1st graph in printed version placed here) Fig. 1. Correlation of 10-point votes with total votes cast for Division 28, 1983-90. The number of ten-point votes was less highly correlated, however, with the percent of total apportionment votes cast (see Figure 2). Together, these results suggest that representation depends substantially on both the number of ten-point votes cast and the number of members in each entity seeking representation. In the 1990 apportionment balloting, Division 28's percent of total APA votes was 0.63%--a value clearly above the 0.50% threshold; but the 1990 figure dropped from 0.74% in the previous year. Another decline of this size in the upcoming balloting would place us dangerously close to losing our Council Represen- tative. Ergo, please cast all ten of your votes for Division 28, and encourage colleagues to vote likewise. (2nd graph in printed version placed here) Fig. 2. Correlation of 10-point votes with % of total APA votes, 1983-90. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Herbert Barry Centennial Liaison Officer The Division 28 Centennial Liaison, Herb Barry, encourages members to plan programs and presentations pertaining to the APA centennial celebration. This celebration begins with the 1991 meeting in San Francisco and climaxes at the 1992 meeting in Washington, DC. Division 28 will soon begin obtaining oral histories from a few members who have been leading participants in the founding of the Division in 1966 and its history since then. We plan to prepare printed publications that summarize the historical information obtained from these interviews and other sources. Their value will be increased by oral or written recol- lections of any interesting aspect of Division 28 history by any members. We encourage all members to make this contribution to the project. MINUTES, DIVISION 28 ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING, AUGUST 13, 1990 Stephen T. Higgins Secretary, Division 28 1. President Bob Balster convened the meeting at 2:05 p.m., with approximately 18 Division members attending. Minutes of the August, 1989 Business Meeting as published in the Fall 1989 Newsletter were approved. 2. President Balster announced the results of the 1990 election of Division officers: President-elect: Ron Wood Member at Large: Marilyn Carroll Council Representative: Steve Fowler 3. President Balster noted that the Division is exploring the possibility of a new APA journal in psychopharmacology. A Divi- sion Publications Committee has been established to look into this matter and will report to the Division Executive Committee in May, 1991. 4. President Balster commented on the Division's continued involvement with the APA Central Office, mentioning recent dis- cussions with Lew Lipsitt and colleagues of the APA Science Directorate. It was noted that Dr. Lipsitt and colleagues met with the Division Executive Committee on 8/9/90. The importance of developing good relations with the new officers in the APA Central Office was emphasized. 5. Alice Young, for Jack Henningfield, reported that Division 28 remains in good financial status with a balance of $12,614.25 as of December 31, 1989. Please forward to Jack Henningfield the names of any contact persons in pharmaceutical companies or other industries who may support the Division's requests for corporate donations. 6. Steve Fowler reported on matters relating to Division mem- bership: (1) He noted approval by the APA Membership Committee of the following five new Division 28 Fellows: Brenna Bry, Linda Hernandez, Mary Jeanne Kallman, Henry Marcucella, and Timothy Schallert. (2) The decision to initiate a $5.00 annual dues for Division membership appears to have decreased membership by perhaps 100 members, but that effect appears to be ending. Steve projects an increase of approximately 100 new members in the next year. (3) We now have 28 Newsletter Affiliate members; those who are eligible to become full members of the Division should be encouraged to do so. (4) Steve noted that to ensure that the Division maintains a representative on the APA Council, members need to allocate 10-point votes to the Division. (5) Members are encouraged to nominate new Fellows. Names should be forward- ed to Steve Fowler. 7. Larry Byrd reported on Division Nominations. (1) Kathryn A. Cunningham and Leonard L. Howell shared this year's Division 28 Young Psychopharmacologist Award. (2) Larry encouraged Division members to continue nominating deserving Division members for APA and Division 28 Awards. Deadlines for nominations are about the same as for paper submissions for the APA meeting. (3) Dr. Lou Harris has been nominated for Distinguished Affiliate Status in Division 28. Dr. Harris was nominated by Larry; the nomination was seconded by Steve Fowler and unanimously approved. The Division will try to nominate a Distinguished Affiliate annually. Nominees should be outstanding scientists from other disciplines or countries. (4) The Division nominated C.R. Schuster for the APA Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, Travis Thompson for the APA Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award, and Warren Bickel for the APA Distinguished Contributions by a Young Psychologist Award. (4) The Division wants to continue nominat- ing members for APA Boards and Committees. Please forward names of nominees to Larry. 8. President Bob Balster proposed a change in the Division bylaws in order to change the Division name from the Division of Psychopharmacology to the Division of Psychopharmacology and Sub- stance Abuse. A change in Article 1 of the bylaws permits such a name change. After some discussion of the merits of this propos- al, it was approved by a vote of 14 in favor and 4 against, thereby meeting the 2/3rds mandatory number of positive votes. 9. President-elect Klaus Miczek read the list of nominees for Division Officers for the 1991 election. Lewis Seiden and Maxine Stitzer will run for President, and Alice Young and John Grabow- ski for Member-at-Large. The slate of officers was approved. 10. President Balster thanked Warren Bickel for his fine job as Division 28 Program Chair for the 1990 meeting; Dave Penetar and Nancy Ator will serve as Program Chairs for the 1991 and 1992 meetings, respectively. 11. President Bob Balster noted that the Division 28 Committee on Curricula Development for Training Psychologists in Psycho- pharmacology is continuing to meet as are the Neurobehavior and Toxicology Committee and the Centennial Committee. With regard to the latter committee, H. Barry is in the process of conducting an oral history of Division 28 for the Centennial. 12. President Balster was given a warm round of applause in appreciation for his efforts on behalf of Division 28 during his tenure as president. The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m. APA COUNCIL MEETING: AUGUST, 1990 John Grabowski Division 28 Representative to Council The APA Council of Representatives met on August 9 and 12 during the Annual APA Meeting in Boston. This brief report will summarize the meeting agenda and the preliminary 1991 budget. The Council approved a number of items concerning structure and function of new boards and committees, including those relat- ed to the new Education Directorate. (This rounds out the com- plement of Directorates). Items were passed to improve systems for processing of students, members, and fellows. There was discussion about increasing member participation in Divisions. It was noted once again that of the more than 70,000 members, only about 40% belong to divisions. Active participation by members of Division 28 can have an effect, and it is important. The benefits of APA's activity generally, and Division membership in particular, are numerous; some of these are reflected in the directives of the Council of Representatives. These include the strong lobbying efforts to assure the best environment for both scientists and clinicians. The APA has been particularly effec- tive in assuring continued and stable funding for research funds for ADAMHA, on one hand, and assuring equity for clinicians (vis- a-vis physicians and others), on the other hand. The Council voted unanimously to support opposition to the concept of "English Only" laws, efforts to improve the lot of the homeless, and provision of care for those with chronic mental illness. The Council also voted to support the development of Behavioral and Social Sciences Directorate within the NSF. In February, 1990, the APA Council voted unanimous support for organizations that protect science, scientists, and the conduct of research with animals; at the August meeting, the Council voted unanimously to support APA endorsement of the 1990 AAAS resolution on the Use of Animals in Research, Testing, and Educa- tion. The APA is unquestionably among the largest and most formidable organizations lobbying on behalf of continued research with animals. An issue of particular importance to Division 28 is that of "prescription privileges" for psychologists. Division 28's position has been that psychologists generally, and clinical psychologists in particular, would do well to have at least rudimentary understanding of behavioral pharmacology/psychophar- macology. This is true independent of the specific issue of prescribing privileges. In this vein, the Division has supported an effort to develop educational programs. Your representative stated this position clearly in the Council meeting in support of a Proposal for an APA Task Force on Psychopharmacology. It was noted in particular that the Task Force should be heavily loaded with Division 28 members familiar with the issues and science. This item, which was sponsored by Patrick DeLeon, passed. Issues concerning fees and finances were discussed at length. The most distressing item was that basic dues will increase for the coming year--to $155 for a regular membership. Divisional fees are additional. This increase is part of a grand plan for increments over time to accommodate inflation, new programs, and growth. Your representative argued strongly that not all growth is good growth; golden oratory not withstanding, the dues increase passed! A provision was included, however, specifying that the increase would be offset with a credit for those who order APA journals. Special assessments such as those levied on clinicians and some clinical researchers by the Prac- tice Directorate also will increase. Parenthetically, it should be noted that some "science members" (treatment researchers who are nonclinicians) of Divi- sion 28 pay the extra fees. It must be emphasized on behalf of the Director and staff members of the Practice Directorate that they have shown a strong allegiance to the science of psychology and application of science in practice; thus, these funds are not wasted. Ironically, the Practice Directorate now calls on our Division for advice as often as, or more often than, does the Science Directorate. The Science Directorate has done more, and can do more, for behavioral scientists, psychological scientists, and behavioral neuroscientists than most other organizations in which they hold membership. The APA is numerically and finan- cially powerful; the Council and APA central offices generally take the "right positions" on issues of importance to Division 28 members. This is more likely to occur if you are active in the Division and make known your interests and needs, which can then be conveyed to the Council and APA staff members. The proposed budget for the coming year is approximately $39 million and includes neither surplus nor deficit. For copies of the budget materials, please write to John Grabowski, Ph.D. Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Univ. of Texas Health Science Center, 1300 Moursund, Rm. 341, Houston, TX 77030. The February, 1991 meeting will be my last as your Council representative, and I will provide a summary of observations in the spring issue. Steve Fowler has been elected as the new Council Representative and will take up the Division 28 banner in August of 1991. A NEW JOURNAL: BRIEF REPORT John Grabowski Council Representative Dr. Gary Vandenbos, APA Director of Publications, initiated discussions in February (APA Council Meeting) with John Grabow- ski, Division 28, on development of an APA-based psychopharmacol- ogy journal. This issue was discussed at the Executive Committee meeting in May. Cautious forward movement was encouraged. Grabowski submitted a proposal to Dr. Bruce Overmeir, member of the APA Publications Board, which was received enthusiastically. Grabowski agreed at the August Executive Committee meeting to ------------------------------ PSYCOLOQUY is sponsored by the Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association (202) 955-7653 Co-Editors: (scientific discussion) (professional/clinical discussion) Stevan Harnad Perry London, Dean, Cary Cherniss (Assoc Ed.) Psychology Department Graduate School of Applied Graduate School of Applied Princeton University and Professional Psychology and Professional Psychology Rutgers University Rutgers University Assistant Editors: Malcolm Bauer John Pizutelli Psychology Department Psychology Department Princeton University Rutgers University End of PSYCOLOQUY Digest ******************************