Spotting Cheetahs: Identifying Individuals by Their Footprints

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is Africa's most endangered large felid and listed as Vulnerable with a declining population trend by the IUCN1. It ranges ...

N∕a′an ku sê Research Programme

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely prescribed to treat depression. Although these drugs presumably have the same mechanism of action, they vary in several clinically important ways, including how long they remain in the body and the extent to which they interfere with the metabolism of other medications. This article reviews the pharmacologic differences among SSRIs and how these differences may affect various aspects of treatment, such as dosing, administration, and discontinuation. Understanding the distinct properties of SSRIs may help primary care physicians to design the most appropriate therapeutic plan for individual patients.

Selecting a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor: Clinically Important Distinguishing Features.

We sought to further understand depression, a common, disabling condition with considerable ramifications for the workplace, including higher costs, absenteeism, and reduced work performance.

The community initiative on depression: report from a multiphase work site depression intervention.

The identification of the schizophrenia prodrome remains a clinical challenge. We analyzed the clinical course of the prodromal symptoms of 24 patients with first-time diagnosis of schizophrenia over a two year period. Their progress was tracked over three years. Patients in the study group reported to mental health care providers years before the schizophrenia diagnosis with subtle, but consistent, alterations in perception and behavior. Furthermore, they received an axis I diagnosis and were prescribed medications, which suggest that they constitute a distinct clinical population.

Identification of the schizophrenia prodrome in a hospital-based patient population.

This study examined factors influencing the prognosis of patients with different prodromal manifestations of schizophrenia and the association of diagnosis and antipsychotic treatment with the frequency of future acute inpatient care.

Factors associated with the prodromal progression of schizophrenia that influence the course of the illness.

Schizophrenia is characterized by diminished insight, which fluctuates with disease progression. Insight deterioration in the prodrome of schizophrenia is poorly understood. Despite pharmacologic treatment, including early interventions, there is a high risk of relapse and need of acute care in schizophrenia patients.

The dynamics of insight in the prodrome of schizophrenia.

Many chairs come to their position without the benefit of previous experience in the role of leading an academic department. The American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry (AACDP) identified the need for a manual designed to help a new chair get started. The "tool kit" that emerged contains sections that describe the AACDP, outline key issues and responsibilities of a department chair, and review a variety of resources available to assist a new chair. The manual is used to supplement orientation sessions at AACDP meetings and is given to new chairs who are unable to attend these sessions.

A tool kit for new chairs.

To determine if boarding home placement of patients with schizophrenia decreases the need for acute inpatient treatment, during and after the placement.

Benefits of boarding home placement in patients with schizophrenia.

Psychiatrists have formed organizations for more than 100 years. The focuses of these organizations include education, clinical specialty, research, treatment modality, and psychiatrist identity. Psychiatrists in Canada and Britain also have formed organizations. These organizations and the pathways to specialty certification differ from their American counterparts. A number of examples of national and international collaboration between psychiatric organizations leading to positive outcomes can be cited.

Psychiatry: organized and disorganized.

The prodromal period leading to schizophrenia has been the focus of significant interest in recent years. This is due not only to the possibility of identification of preschizophrenic states but also to the potential for improving prognosis as a result of early intervention. There are many approaches to the identification of the schizophrenia prodrome. Interventions in the prodromal period have met with various degrees of success. In this article, the authors present an overview of the literature reflecting the development of the prodromal concept and its implications for early identification. They also discuss various interventions proposed for this period and some ethical considerations related to these interventions. Despite the growing body of knowledge in this field, there is a need for more research data to support the establishment of treatment guidelines. Future directions of research are also discussed.

Toward a better identification and treatment of schizophrenia prodrome.

Balance, safety, and passion: three principles for academic leaders.

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Why I like being an academic psychiatrist.

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Warum ich gerne eine akademische Psychiater.

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Following dramatic range and population declines, the cheetah is Africa's most endangered large felid. In Namibia, private land managers still trap cheetahs but increasingly consider moving animals instead of killing them. Across Africa, managers have translocated perceived conflict carnivores for decades, but rarely evaluated their actions. We analyse the outcomes of 15 cheetah translocations (for 23 adults and 10 dependent offspring) into free-range environments in Namibia. We released cheetahs at an average distance of 419.6 km ± 216.1 km SD (range: 71-816 km) after captive periods ranging from 1-1,184 days (350.6 days ± 439.0 days SD). An individual's ability to survive the first year predominantly determined the overall translocation success of 40%. Post-release conflict and homing had less impact on success. Cheetah survival was lowest in the first three months after release. Human persecution (50% of deaths) and spotted hyaenas (29% of deaths) had the highest effect on survival. The degree of habituation to humans acquired during captivity significantly influenced chances of survival. Cheetahs surviving the initial post-release period (∼90 days) often settled into ranges and females reproduced successfully. However, all individuals exhibited extensive movements, frequently roaming >4,000 km(2) in the first six months after release (with a maximum of 19,743 km(2) in 112 days), resulting in low release site fidelity. Soft release and larger recipient area size did not improve site fidelity. Based on these outcomes, we evaluated which unfenced conservation areas in Namibia could potentially receive cheetahs. We found that there are currently few public and/or private reserves large enough to contain the movement profiles we observed in this study. This suggests that most translocations will result in cheetahs re-entering farmlands where they face a high risk of persecution. In conclusion, translocations into unconfined areas can successfully conserve individual cheetahs. Due to high mortality and unpredictable outcomes, however, conservation efforts need to focus on improving tolerance of cheetahs in commercial livestock and game farming areas in order to reduce the number of indiscriminately trapped animals.

Stuart Munro

N∕a′an ku sê Research Programme

Spotting Cheetahs: Identifying Individuals by Their Footprints