Behaviour problems in adult women with Rett syndrome

Background Despite considerable interest in the genetic, physical and neurological aspects of Rett syndrome (RS), there have been few studies of associated behavioural and emotional features. Furthermore, few case studiesor surveys have included adult women with RS. The main aim of the present study was to compare behaviour problems in a sample of women with RS against data from normative samples. Methods The primary carers of 50 women with RS completed the community version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Results Women with RS were rated as having lower levels of irritability, hyperactivity and inappropriate speech behaviours than normative samples of adults with intellectual disability. Conclusions A number of factors may affect the presentation of behaviour problems in women with RS (e.g. cognitive impairments or physical disabilities). Therefore, more research is needed in order to generate information about the behavioural phenotype of RS. The implications of the present data for future research are also discussed.     

Does the Child Behavior Checklist juvenile bipolar disorder phenotype identify bipolar disorder?

BACKGROUND: A profile of Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL) T-scores>or=70 on the attention problems, aggression, and anxious/depressed subscales has been proposed to identify juvenile bipolar disorder(JBD). We tested this hypothesis in a population-based sample. METHODS: Data for this analysis come from a birth-records-based twin sample having semi-structured interview and CBCL data (N=1,346). We compared prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviors in CBCL-JBD and non-CBCL-JBD subjects. Twin modeling assessed genetic and environmental contributions to CBCL-JBD. Associations with DRD4 and DAT1 were examined using chi-square tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of CBCL-JBD was 2.5%. No subjects with CBCL-JBD met criteria for bipolar or other mood disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects had more oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder(CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). The CBCL-JBD profile was uncommon in these disorders. CBCL-JBD subjects more frequently endorsed suicidal behaviors. The CBCL-JBD profile was heritable and associated with the number of DAT1 9-repeat 3' untranslated region alleles. CONCLUSIONS: The CBCL-JBD phenotype does not correspond with a semi-structured interview assessment of JBD. ADHD, CD, and ODD are common in children with CBCL-JBD but do not account for the profile. Increased suicidal behaviors indicate substantial impairment in CBCL-JBD subjects.     

武警部队医学生心理健康状况调查

目的　了解武警部队医学生心理健康状况 ,探讨增进武警部队学员心理健康的对策。方法　采用症状自评量表 (SCL - 90 )为工具 ,对随机抽取的 312名武警医学生进行心理健康状况测试。结果　武警医学生SCL - 90各项因子分普遍低于武警军人组和国内常模青年组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;总均分 1.39± 0 .34,低于武警军人组 (1.4 7± 0 .4 2 ,P <0 .0 1)。结论　武警医学生心理健康状况优于武警军人和国内常模青年组。但仍存在问题 ,部队教育工作者应根据武警院校学员特点 ,积极开展心理卫生教育 ,以提高军校学员整体心理素质     

Behavior Problems in Children With Diabetes: Disentangling Possible Scoring Confounds on the Child Behavior Checklist

Objective: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; T. M. Achenbach,1991), when used to assess the behavior of children with diabetes,may contain confounds because some behavioral items can havea physiologic etiology, and may skew reports of behavioral disturbance. Methods: Two techniques were used to disentangle possible scoringconfounds in the behavioral ratings of children with and withoutdiabetes: (1) the Somatic Complaints scale was deleted, or (2)Diabetes Items, identified a priori with 89% agreement by ninemedical personnel, were deleted. Results: As expected, with traditionally scored protocols, childrenwith diabetes obtained higher Internalizing and Total BehaviorProblem scores than controls. This group difference persistedwhether the Somatic Complaints scale or the Diabetes Items weredeleted. Conclusions: Compared to controls, children with diabetes obtainedmildly elevated scores on six of the eight CBCL scales, regardlessof scoring method, suggesting that their mildly elevated behavioralprofile is not confounded by physiologic symptomatology.     

Differences in Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) Scores before and during Pandemic in a Population-Based Sample: Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study

The COVID-19 pandemic is known to influence the dietary habits of adults, but results for adolescents in studies are ambiguous. The present work aimed to analyze the differences in the scores of the Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) before and during the pandemic in the Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study population. The PLACE-19 Study was conducted during the pandemic among a population of 2448 students recruited from secondary schools in all regions of Poland using a random quota sampling. The participants were required to complete an AFHC consisting of 23 items pertaining to food purchase, preparation, and consumption habits. Current habits (during the pandemic) and previous habits were assessed and scored separately. The total (p = 0.001), purchase (p < 0.001), and consumption scores (p = 0.014) indicated that the AFHC scores during the pandemic were higher than before. For questions on purchase habits, a lower number of respondents reported eating in a restaurant, eating takeaway meals, having lunch away from home, or buying pastries, cakes or crisps. For questions on preparation habits, an greater number of respondents reported that they usually avoided eating fried food and tried to keep their overall sugar intake down, but fewer respondents said they tried to have low-fat desserts. For questions on consumption habits, a lower number of respondents reported that they usually ate a dessert or pudding if one were available and a larger number said they made sure to eat at least one serving of vegetables or salad a day and at least three servings of fruit most days. Based on the obtained results, it may be stated that although there was an increase in the AFHC scores during the pandemic, a similar share of respondents showed improved or worsened food habits, and a similar share changed their food habits from healthy to unhealthy and from unhealthy to healthy. At the same time, a majority of changes were associated with purchase habits, which were probably forced by lockdowns and the resultant restrictions in eating out or grocery shopping.     

Feasibility,acceptability and effects of dance therapy in stroke patients: A systematic review

IntroductionStroke is the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in adults, with balance and gait disturbances representing the main limitations of body functions. Dance therapy (DT) has shown positive effects in older adults and in patients with neurological pathologies. This systematic review aims to examine the feasibility, acceptability and effects of DT in stroke rehabilitation, specifically on functional gains of gait and balance.MethodsA systematic search was carried out for articles published in the MEDLINE, PEDro, Web of Science, Scopus and CINHAL in February 2021 and updated in April 2021. Results: Eight studies were included (2 clinical cases, 5 case series and 1 randomized controlled trial), 7 of them in patients with chronic stroke and only 1 in subacute stroke phase. The most widely used dance modality was tango and ballet, with sessions ranging from 30 to 110 min. DT seems to show positive effects on post-stroke body functions and activities such as gait and balance. Reported dropout rates are inconsistent, no adverse effects were reported, and participant satisfaction was high.ConclusionGiven the heterogeneity and uneven quality of the included studies, strong conclusions cannot be put forward on the effectiveness of DT in post-stroke body function and activities. Nevertheless, DT seems to be safe and acceptable therapy for patients, and no adverse effects have been reported. More studies with a high level of evidence and feasibility are needed to determine the patient profile, the characteristics of the intervention, the participation rate and the role of the rehabilitation professional most likely to generate optimal benefit.     

Autism spectrum disorder and vitamin D status: A cross-sectional study of children in a developing country in Southeast Asia

BackgroundDetermine the prevalence and risk factors of vitamin D deficiency (<35 nmol/L) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and explore the association between vitamin D deficiency with ASD severity and behavioural symptoms.MethodCross-sectional study of children with ASD at a tertiary hospital. Children with vitamin D deficiency (<35.0 nmol/L) were treated (1200IU cholecalciferol, daily for 3 months). ASD severity was determined via the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (CARS-2); and behavioural symptoms via the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist, 2nd Edition (ABC-2). Scores were compared between the vitamin D deficient and non-deficient groups.ResultsThere were 103 participants (85.4 % male). Mean age: 6.2 years (SD = 2.4), 19 % were vitamin D deficient and 42 % were insufficient. Mean vitamin D concentration was 45.8 nmol/L (SD = 13.5). Female gender was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (OR 5.05, 95 % CI: 1.56, 16.31, p = 0.007). Post-vitamin D treatment, there was a significant reduction in CARS-2 scores (p < 0.05), but not ABC-2 scores.ConclusionsNearly two-thirds (61 %) of Malaysian children with ASD have vitamin D deficiency (19 %) and insufficiency (42 %). Vitamin D treatment among vitamin D deficient children with ASD resulted in improvement in ASD symptom severity but not behavioural symptoms.     

Validity of the Oral Behaviours Checklist: correlations between OBC scores and intensity of facial pain

The first purpose of this study was to translate the Oral Behaviours Checklist (OBC) into Dutch and to examine its psychometric properties. The second purpose was to examine the correlations between scores on the OBC and facial pain, while controlling for the possible confounding effects of psychosocial factors, such as stress, depression, somatisation and anxiety. The OBC was translated, following the international RDC/TMD consortium guidelines. Its psychometric properties were examined by assessing the test–retest reliability and concurrent validity [correlations between the OBC and the previously developed Oral Parafunctions Questionnaire (OPQ)]. Participants were 155 patients with TMD (77% female; mean age and s.d. = 43·6 and 14·4 years). The translation of the OBC into Dutch proceeded satisfactorily. The psychometric properties of the Dutch OBC were good; test–retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0·86, P < 0·001). Concurrent validity was good: the correlation between the OBC and OPQ was high (r = 0·757, P < 0·001), while the correlations between individual items ranged from 0·389 to 0·892 (P < 0·001). Similar to previous Dutch studies using the OPQ, no significant correlation was found between oral parafunctions and facial pain (r = 0·069, P = 0·892). No significant correlations could be found between oral parafunctional behaviours and facial pain.