Use of the Child Behavior Checklist in an Israeli adolescent psychiatric unit

This article deals with the Hebrew version of an instrument for the diagnosis of psychopathology in young adolescents: the Child Behavior Checklist and the associated Child Behavior Profile developed by Achenbach (1978). We report on a study of the reliability and validity of the checklist and its suitability for use with severely disturbed adolescents in Israel. Parents of 130 adolescents, 89 healthy and 41 sick, participated in the research. The scales were found to be valid in that two-thirds of the items were correctly assigned by clinicians in Israel to their respective scales; it is internally consistent as measured by the Cronbach coefficient; and it is reliable in distinguishing between patient and control groups. Scores for control adolescents in Israel were found to be very similar to norms in the United States, the Netherlands and Chile. This finding may have important implications for cross-cultural research.     

Changes in the mouthful weights of familiar foods with age of five years,eight years and adults

For effective mastication and swallowing, to take optimum mouthful food regularly is necessary. The purpose of this study is to compare the weights and the variance of a mouthful food between children and adults. We studied mouthful weight and the coefficient variation in 5-year-old children (n = 10), 8-year-old children (n = 10) and adults (n = 10) while they were eating rice, bread, sausage and apple on two different days. The test foods were served in random order 2–4 hours after lunch. Each portion was weighed before and after each bite to measure the mouthful weight, and the weight of the last bite of each portion was eliminated from the data. The mean weight and coefficient variation in each subject were calculated. The results showed the mean weight was largest in the adults, intermediate in the 8-year-old children, and smallest in the 5-year-old children for all test foods (ANOVA). Moreover, the mean coefficient variation among the weights of the groups revealed that mouthful weight within an individual varied most widely in the 5-year-old children and most narrowly in the adults, and that 8-year-old children could show the same coefficient variation of mouthful weight as adults in rice and apple (Steel-Dwass test). Our results suggest that mouthful weight becomes larger and more regularly with age.     

Intracerebroventricular LHRH relieves behavioral deficits due to vomeronasal organ removal

Contact between the sexes in many species is known to produce hormonal changes in the male [increases in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and/or testosterone] that can be interpreted as due to an intracerebral release of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH). In some circumstances, these hormonal changes appear to depend on an intact vomeronasal sensory system. Exogenous LHRH is also known to facilitate mating behavior in several species. We show here that LHRH delivered into the cerebral ventricles can restore some mating behavior lost when the vomeronasal organs are removed from sexually inexperienced male hamsters. The results are consistent with our working hypothesis that intracerebral LHRH release is an intermediate in the facilitation of mating behavior by vomeronasal sensory input.     

岳麓区小学中高年级学生问题行为调查

目的 了解小学生早期问题行为的发生与发展，为开展相关教育提供帮助。方法 采用《问题儿童早期发现测验》(PPCT)对长沙市岳麓区部分小学四～六年级学生146名进行调查。结果 146名学生中，有20名(13．70％)存在不同程度的问题行为，男生的问题行为较女生更多，六年级学生出现的问题行为更严重。结论 小学中高年级学生问题行为的产生与其身心发展的不均衡、自控力下降以及所处环境的影响有关。     

Effect of two preventive programs on oral health knowledge and habits among Brazilian schoolchildren

Abstract – The effect upon dental health knowledge and dental health behavior of a comprehensive and a less comprehensive preventive program was compared in a 3-yr follow up study. The comprehensive program included active participation of the students and parental involvement. The study group consisted of 186 Brazilian schoolchildren 13 yr of age at the start of the program. A reference group from another school of similar socioeconomic level was included in the analyses. The data were collected from questionnaires filled in by the children under surveillance after the completion of the program. Significant differences in knowledge as well as in reported behavior were observed. The children enrolled in the comprehensive program in general scored higher in dental health knowledge than did those in the less comprehensive program. However, the latter group of children seemed to have acquired more correct knowledge during the period than had the control and reference children. Similar results were obtained concerning reported dental health behavior.     

Health-seeking behavior and the meaning of medications in Balochistan, Pakistan

A wide variety of health care options--home-based, indigenous, and cosmopolitan--exists in northern Balochistan, Pakistan. This paper examines health-seeking behavior in the area of mother and child health for villagers in this pluralistic medical setting. The analysis of a specific series of illness episodes shows that the majority of cases obtain treatment from different medical systems for a single episode. Interest in medications takes precedence over practitioners, and the meaning the villagers attach to such substances is explored. Long-established patterns of behavior relating to indigenous medicine continue to occur when cosmopolitan medicine is utilized. Information presented here helps to explain problems in utilization of cosmopolitan pharmaceuticals and delineates areas for future health programme activity.     

Irritable bowel syndrome: The role of psychosocial factors

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disorder of intestinal function characterized by variable symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. The spectrum of severity ranges from mild symptoms, not worthy of clinical attention, to intense and continuous symptoms associated with impaired health-related quality of life and high health care use. Psychosocial disturbance is commonly found among patients with irritable bowel, but until recently, its precise role in the disorder was uncertain. The data now suggest that irritable bowel is not a psychiatric disorder per se, but psychosocial factors including life stress, psychiatric comorbidity and abnormal illness behavior, among others, influence how the illness is experienced and acted upon. Patients with mild symptoms usually respond to education, reassurance, dietary modification and, when needed, antimotility agents. However, patients with more severe symptoms, who usually have greater psychosocial disturbance, will also require behavioral interventions, and possibly psychopharmacological agents. In sum, a graduated, multicomponent plan of care that includes dietary, behavioral and pharmacological treatments is recommended.     

Suppression of alcohol and saccharin preference in rats by a novel Ca2+ channel inhibitor,Goe 5438

The effect of the novel 1,4-dihydronaphthyridine Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor Goe 5438 (CI-951) on voluntary ethanol consumption was examined in selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) rats in a free choice two bottle preference test versus water. Intraperitoneally injected Goe 5438 dose-dependently (5, 10 or 20 µmol/kg, twice daily) inhibited ethanol and increased water intake over the 24 h period (injection day). The drug decreased ethanol preference, originally above 90%, by 6%, 19% and 45% at respective doses, on the injection day. That inhibitory effect of the highest dose of Goe 5438 on ethanol preference remained significant also on days 2 and 3 after injections (–51% and –18%, respectively). Goe 5438, in the highest dose, also tended to decrease granulated chow consumption during the injection day only. To further test whether the inhibition of ethanol preference is secondary to decrease in reinforcing properties of ethanol and not due to interference with satiety mechanisms, we compared the effect of two higher doses (10 and 20 µmol/kg, intraperitoneally, twice daily) of Goe 5438 on spontaneous preference for a non-caloric 0.04% saccharin solution in Sprague-Dawley rats. We observed a dose-dependent suppression of preference (by 44% and 58%, respectively) during the injection day, but not the subsequent 24 h period. However, Goe 5438 also significantly alleviated food pellet intake on the injection day. In conclusion, Goe 5438 produces potent and long-lasting inhibition of voluntary ethanol consumption, which may be secondary to attenuation of reinforcing properties of ethanol. Additionally, this particular Ca²⁺ channel inhibitor appears to have mild anorectic properties which may be conducive to acute suppression of alcohol intake.     

精神分裂症患者6～11岁子女行为问题及相关因素对照研究

目的探讨精神分裂症患者6~11岁子女行为问题及相关因素。方法对山东省11所精神病医院(科)1999年6月~2000年6月间住院,符合中国精神疾病分类方案与诊断标准第2版修订本精神分裂症诊断的患者6~11岁子女(研究组)217名及正常人群子女(对照组)191名,采用自编心理卫生相关问题调查表(包括50个项目),Achenback儿童行为问题问卷(CBCL),进行登门调查,对照研究。结果研究组男、女童CBCL总分为(10.05±7.83)及(11.26±14.07),差异无显著性(P>0.05),但男女童研究组均高于对照组,差异极显著(P<0.00)。CBCL因子得分及家庭环境、教养情况,研究组与对照组比较,差异有显著性。结论精神分裂症患者6~11岁子女行为问题较多,受生物、心理、社会等多方面因素影响。     

老年人健康行为与心理健康关系的调查

目的探讨老年人的健康行为与心理健康之间的关系。方法采用候玉波等编制的健康行为量表和症状自评量表（SCL-90）对300名老年人进行测试,并进行相关分析。结果不同年龄和文化程度老年人在健康行为与心理健康方面有显著性差异（P〈0.05）;参与活动与心理健康水平呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）;心理应激、不良生活习惯与心理健康呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）。结论积极参与各项活动、减少各种心理应激和建立良好的生活习惯有利于提高老年人的心理健康水平。