Neurodevelopmental outcome after prenatal exposure to opiates

To study the developmental effects of prenatal exposure to opiates, a prospective follow up study of 34 drug-exposed (opiates and nicotine) and 42 reference infants (nicotine exposure only) was conducted from January 1992 to September 1995. At the time of delivery, 12 of 34 mothers used opiates without medical control. Twenty-two mothers participated in a methadone maintenance programme. At 1 year, the average Griffiths Developmental Quotient (DQ) was lower in the drug-exposed group (mean: 100.5 vs. references 107.9; P < 0.001). This difference was mainly due to lower subscales “locomotor” (mean 100.8 vs. 111.4; P < 0.05) and “intellectual performance” (mean 100.8 vs. 108.5; P < 0.05) in the drug-exposed group. Severe developmental retardation mean DQ (−2 SD) was diagnosed in 2 drug-exposed infants. Mild developmental retardation (mean DQ: 1 SD– > 2 SD) was found in 7 drug-exposed and in 3 reference infants (P < 0.05). Neurological abnormalities were found more frequently in the drug-exposed group (11 vs. 3 infants; P < 0.01). Among the opiate-exposed infants, the subscales “hearing and speech” and “intellectual performance” were lower in the uncontrolled drug-using than in the methadone group. The 17 fostered infants showed no difference in developmental outcome compared with the 10 infants living with their biological parents (mean DQ: 100.0 versus 101.3). Conclusions At 1 year infants prenatally exposed to opiates are at risk for mild psychomotor developmental impairment. Received: 1 August 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 15 January 1998     

1396名小学3～6年级儿童适应行为的评价研究

目的通过对儿童适应行为的评价，探讨儿童适应技能发展的现状及规律。方法采用美国精神迟滞学会编制的适应行为量表（AAMD—ABS），对1396名（男性709人，女性687人）3～6年级小学生进行评价。结果儿童的正常适应行为的评价得分随年龄的增长而增加；同年级女生的得分要高于男生。与1994年资料相比，第一、二因子的得分显著增加，而第三因子的得分有所降低。结论儿童的适应能力随年龄的增长而提高，并且在男、女生之间存在着一定的差异；与10年前相比，也有明显的提高，但是不良适应行为有增加的趋势。     

耶鲁抽动症整体严重度量表对抽动障碍患儿的临床评估

目的引进耶鲁抽动症整体严重度量表(YGTSS)并评估其与临床症状轻重的关系，以及以量表积分在观察者间的一致性。 方法2001年7月至2002年6月成都市儿童医院全文翻译YGTSS，未予修改，观察72例抽动患儿YGTSS总积分与临床抽动症状严重度分型的关系和该量表积分进步率与治疗后症状改善程度的关系(临床效度检验)，观察24例患儿该量表运动和发声抽动数量、频度、强度、复杂性、干扰性5个维度积分及总积分在观察者间一致性。 结果抽动患儿该量表总积分与临床抽动症状严重度分型之间和该量表积分进步率与治疗后症状改善程度之间有较好的效度(F值分别为59.31和124.44，P均<0.01)，运动和发声抽动数量、频度、强度、复杂性、干扰性5个维度积分及总积分的组内相关系数(ICC)值均大于0.7，显示较好的观察者间一致性。 结论耶鲁抽动症整体严重度量表中译本具有较好的信度和效度，是衡量抽动症状严重程度的工具之一。     

Symptom dimensions in recent-onset schizophrenia and mania: a principal components analysis of the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale

Previous four- and five-factor solutions of the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) suggested the possibility of an affective dimension in psychosis. A principal components analysis was used to analyze psychiatric symptom data rated on an expanded 24-item version of the BPRS. BPRS data were collected during a period of acute psychotic and affective illness with 114 young adult, recent-onset schizophrenia and schizoaffective patients and 27 bipolar manic patients. Principal components analyses of the 18-item and 24-item BPRS indicated a four-factor solution was the most interpretable. Principal components analysis of the 24-item BPRS produced a clear mania factor characterized by high loadings from items added to the 18-item BPRS, which included elevated mood, motor hyperactivity, and distractibility. This factor solution suggests that the 24-item BPRS allows for an expanded assessment of affective symptoms relating to a manic dimension. Potentially important symptoms that were added to the traditional 18-item version, namely suicidality, bizarre behavior, and self-neglect, also make clear contributions to other factors.     

Adolescent hyperactivity and general psychopathology

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between activity and psychopathology in adolescents. A total of 289 high school students completed the Symptom Check List-90-R (SCL-90-R) and Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) in December 1998. The WURS was used to measure the students' activity level and the SCL-90-R was used as a measure of general psychopathology. Forty-one students (14.18%) scored higher than 46, the cut-off point for differentiation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from the general population according to Ward's report, in the WURS (WURS(+)). The WURS(+) students scored significantly higher than the WURS(-) students in all the subscales of SCL-90-R. The prevalence rate of adolescent WURS(+) in this study is 14.18%. This result shows that ADHD adolescents have overlapping symptoms with depression.     

Developing confidence in mental health students to recognise and manage physical health problems using a learning intervention

Globally, there is increased recognition of a higher prevalence of physical ill health and mortality in individuals with mental health problems. A review of the literature highlighted the need to address deterioration in physical health of those with mental health problems through better recognition and management on the part of mental health nurses. However, mental health nurses have been found to lack confidence and be unsure of their role within this area. The aim of the project was to develop pre-registration mental health students' confidence to be able to recognise and manage physical health deterioration through the use of high fidelity human patient simulation, the development of contextualised clinical scenarios and additional theory around the A to E mnemonic structured assessment. The project involved 95 third year mental health student nurses, using a self-rating pre and post intervention questionnaire to measure their perceived confidence levels and to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning intervention. Findings demonstrate improved overall confidence levels in recognising and managing physical health deterioration in human patient simulators displaying mental health problems.     

Biomechanical characteristics of handstand walking initiation

BackgroundThe initiation in human locomotion is defined as the transition between upright stance and steady-state gait. While past literature abundantly investigated the initiation in bipedal gait, the initiation of handstand walking remains unexplored.Research questionThe current study aims to characterise the centre of pressure (CoP) and centre of mass (CoM) trajectory of handstand walking initiation as well as the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters and balance strategy of this task. Also, the study examined the CoP trajectory similarity within- and between-participants using a coefficient of multiple correlation analysis.MethodsNineteen gymnasts took part in this study. Handstand walking initiation trials were recorded using force plates and a stereophotogrammetric system. CoM and CoP trajectories were analysed during the Baseline, Preparation and Execution phases of the motor task.ResultsWe found that to successfully perform the handstand walking initiation, a shift of the CoM forward and towards the stance hand is required as a result of a lateral and posterior CoP shift. All participants performed a similar CoP pattern in the mediolateral direction, whereas two anteroposterior CoP displacement strategies were identified across participants based on different timing execution of posterior CoP shift. While CoP and CoM kinematic differences were identified during the Preparation Phase due to the adopted strategy, no significant difference was found in the Execution Phase for the spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics.SignificanceA better understanding of the required CoP/CoM patterns and balance control provides the basis for further neuromechanics research on the topic and could contribute to individualise training protocols to improve the learning of the task.     

Measuring the expressed emotion in Chinese family caregivers of persons with dementia: Validation of a Chinese version of the Family Attitude Scale

BackgroundExpressed emotion (EE) captures the affective quality of the relationship between family caregivers and their care recipients and is known to increase the risk of poor health outcomes for caregiving dyads. Little is known about expressed emotion in the context of caregiving for persons with dementia, especially in non-Western cultures. The Family Attitude Scale (FAS) is a psychometrically sound self-reporting measure for EE. Its use in the examination of caregiving for patients with dementia has not yet been explored.ObjectivesThis study was performed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the FAS (FAS-C) in Chinese caregivers of relatives with dementia, and its validity in predicting severe depressive symptoms among the caregivers.MethodsThe FAS was translated into Chinese using Brislin's model. Two expert panels evaluated the semantic equivalence and content validity of this Chinese version (FAS-C), respectively. A total of 123 Chinese primary caregivers of relatives with dementia were recruited from three elderly community care centers in Hong Kong. The FAS-C was administered with the Chinese versions of the 5-item Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Revised Memory and Behavioral Problem Checklist (RMBPC).ResultsThe FAS-C had excellent semantic equivalence with the original version and a content validity index of 0.92. Exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor structure for the FAS-C (hostile acts, criticism and distancing). Cronbach's alpha of the FAS-C was 0.92. Pearson's correlation indicated that there were significant associations between a higher score on the FAS-C and greater caregiver burden (r = 0.66, p < 0.001), poorer mental health of the caregivers (r = −0.65, p < 0.001) and a higher level of dementia-related symptoms (frequency of symptoms: r = 0.45, p < 0.001; symptom disturbance: r = 0.51, p < 0.001), which serves to suggest its construct validity. For detecting severe depressive symptoms of the family caregivers, the receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curve had an area under curve of 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69–0.87, p < 0.0001). The optimal cut-off score was >47 with a sensitivity of 0.720 (95% CI = 0.506–0.879) and specificity of 0.742 (95% CI = 0.643–0.826).ConclusionsThe FAS-C is a reliable and valid measure to assess the affective quality of the relationship between Chinese caregivers and their relatives with dementia. It also has acceptable predictability in identifying family caregivers with severe depressive symptoms.