Cyberbullying among male adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Prevalence,correlates, and association with poor mental health status

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence rates and multilevel correlates of cyberbullying victims and perpetrators among male adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Taiwan. The relationships between cyberbullying involvement and depression, anxiety, and suicidality were also examined. The experiences of cyberbullying victimization and perpetration in 251 male adolescents with ADHD were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlates of cyberbullying victims and perpetrators. The relationships between cyberbullying involvement and depression, anxiety, and suicidality were examined using multiple regression analysis. A total of 48 (19.1%) and 36 (14.3%) participants reported that they were cyberbullying victims or perpetrators, respectively. Those who had increased age and a higher parental occupational socioeconomic status, and reported more severe traditional passive bullying victimization were more likely to be cyberbullying victims. Those who had increased age and combined-type ADHD, and reported lower BAS reward responsiveness, more severe Internet addiction and more severe traditional passive bullying perpetration were more likely to be cyberbullying perpetrators. Cyberbullying victims reported more severe depression and suicidality than those who were not cyberbullying victims. A high proportion of male adolescents with ADHD are involved in cyberbullying. Clinicians, educational professionals, and parents of adolescents should monitor the possibility of cyberbullying involvement among male adolescents with ADHD who exhibit the cyberbullying correlates identified in this study.     

Sensory processing dysfunctions as expressed among children with different severities of intellectual developmental disabilities

High frequency of sensory processing dysfunctions (SPD) is prevalent among children with intellectual developmental disabilities and contributes to their maladaptive behaviors. However, the knowledge about the expressions of SPD in different levels of IDD severity is limited. As SPD may reduce adaptive responses and limit participation, this knowledge should be elaborated. The purpose of the present study was to examine the specific expressions of sensory processing among children with different severity levels of IDD. Participants were 91 children aged 4-9 years with mild, moderate severe-profound and IDD. Their parents completed the short sensory profile (SSP). According the results, SPD were manifested across all levels of IDD. Groups differed in specific behaviors related to sensory stimuli. The highest percentage of children with severe sensory processing difficulties was found among children with mild and sever IDD level. SPD may characterize children with all severity levels of IDD. Nevertheless, the probability that children with a specific IDD level will be more vulnerable to specific aspects of SPD emphasizes the need for early evaluation and intervention to address the specific sensory needs of children with different IDD levels. This may enhance their development, performance and participation in daily living.     

Éléments pour une psychopathologie du virtuel : le harcèlement virtuel

Aim

Cyberbullying particularly affects teenagers, among whom 12% report being victimized. Current research explores the psychopathogenic issues of cyberbullying, and its risk factors, but little research has analysed the processual aspects of this phenomenon and what differentiates cyberbullying from the more classic forms of harassment. In this article we propose to determine the specific features and mechanisms of cyberbullying.

Functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior exhibited by children with fragile X syndrome

The efficacy of function-based interventions for the treatment of severe problem behavior exhibited by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is well established. However, few studies have reported on behavioral interventions in fragile X syndrome (FXS) specifically. The present study is a consecutive case-series analysis that reports on functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior of nine children with FXS. Assessment findings were consistent with previous research indicating that among individuals with FXS, problem behavior is more commonly maintained by escape from demands and access to tangible items, relative to the broader population of individuals with IDD. Functional analysis-based behavioral interventions resulted in a mean reduction in problem behavior of 95.2% across the nine participants. Additionally, generalization of treatment effects from controlled clinical settings to home, school, and community was demonstrated. The current findings suggest that function-based behavioral interventions shown to be effective with the broader population of individuals with IDD are also effective for individuals with FXS. Our results in combination with those of previous studies describing functional analysis outcomes provide additional evidence for a unique functional behavioral phenotype for severe problem behavior in individuals with FXS. Implications of study findings for early intervention and prevention of problem behavior in children with FXS are discussed.     

Cyberbullying among students with intellectual and developmental disability in special education settings

Objective: To explore the types, prevalence and associated variables of cyberbullying among students with intellectual and developmental disability attending special education settings.

Methods: Students (n = 114) with intellectual and developmental disability who were between 12–19 years of age completed a questionnaire containing questions related to bullying and victimization via the internet and cellphones. Other questions concerned sociodemographic characteristics (IQ, age, gender, diagnosis), self-esteem and depressive feelings.

Results: Between 4–9% of students reported bullying or victimization of bullying at least once a week. Significant associations were found between cyberbullying and IQ, frequency of computer usage and self-esteem and depressive feelings. No associations were found between cyberbullying and age and gender.

Conclusions: Cyberbullying is prevalent among students with intellectual and developmental disability in special education settings. Programmes should be developed to deal with this issue in which students, teachers and parents work together.     

Adolescent Siblings of Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities With and Without Comorbid Mental Health Problems: A Preliminary Comparison of Sibling Perceptions

Introduction: The presence of comorbid mental illness in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has been shown to have additional negative impact on parents and caregivers. However, the impact of such dual diagnoses on typically developing siblings has yet to be examined. Methods: Parents and typically developing adolescent siblings of a child with IDD from 49 families completed online surveys about the presence or absence of comorbid mental illness, target-child behavior problems, impact on the family, and sibling emotions toward the child with IDD. T-tests were used to compare results of families with a child with both IDD and MI and families with a child with IDD only. Results: Parents reported more behavior problems in children with comorbid IDD and MI, and a greater overall impact on the family. Adolescent siblings in the comorbid IDD/MI group reported higher levels of hostility, anxiety, and dysphoria toward their sibling, though there were no group differences in positive affect. Hierarchical linear regression results found that group membership was uniquely related to sibling dysphoria beyond target-child behavior problems. Conclusions: Having a brother or sister with comorbid mental illness and IDD seems to contribute to more negative feelings from adolescent siblings, though the absence of MI does not relate to more positive feelings. Results suggest that families of children with IDD/MI may need to be more proactive in fostering healthy sibling relationships.     

Neurobiological underpinnings of cyberbullying: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study

There is a dearth of research that has investigated the neural correlates of cyberbullying, using task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and, specifically, in a real‐time context such as observing cyberbullying scenarios. This article presents pilot data from a novel protocol designed to undertake such research with the overall aim being to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of cyberbullying via task‐based fMRI (tb‐fMRI)) in passive cyberbystanders. Young adults (N = 32, 18 to 25 years old) viewed six negative (cyberbullying) and six neutral stimuli from the Cyberbullying Picture Series (CyPicS) while undergoing tb‐fMRI. Our results revealed 12 clusters of significantly greater blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent (BOLD) responses (family wise error corrected p _FWE < .05) in participants when viewing cyberbullying stimuli compared to neutral stimuli, across a distributed network of regions including left and right middle temporal gyrus, default mode network hubs, left and right posterior cerebellum/vermis, and putamen. Further analysis also revealed greater BOLD response in females compared to males, as well as in those with no prior experience of cyberbullying compared to those with prior experience (despite gender), when viewing the cyberbullying stimuli compared to the neutral stimuli. These results bring us closer to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings that may be associated with cybervictim/bully status and outcomes.     

Mass Screening for Severe Problem Behavior among Infants and Toddlers In Peru

INTRODUCTION: Severe behavior problems among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are a major barrier to integration in the community. Recent research suggests that these behaviors often begin very early in life and might be prevented by early identification and intervention (Rojahn, Schroeder, & Hoch, 2008). The current paper presents a method of mass screening for early signs of severe behavior problems among infants and toddlers in Peru. METHODS: A Parental Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ) which asks 15 questions, each related to a risk factor for severe behavior problems, based on past research on IDD, was used by veteran parents to interview 341 new parents who had been solicited by TV, radio, and public service announcements across the country. Of these, 262 were recruited and enrolled in a longitudinal study in which they will be followed for 12 months, to see if at-risk children actually will develop severe behavior problems. An extensive initial interdisciplinary evaluation was given to each child. Consumer satisfaction questionnaires were given to the parents as to their attitude toward the screening method. RESULTS: Data from the Interdisciplinary Evaluations of the sample suggest a very high hit rate (96%) by the screening instrument (PCQ). Consumer satisfaction was 98%, suggesting that the method was tolerated well by parents. DISCUSSION: The PCQ is a brief and efficient method to screen infants and toddlers at risk for severe behavior problems. The data also suggest that parents suspect these problems at a very early age. Early intervention thus seems a feasible strategy to intervene before these problems become deeply ingrained as children develop.     

An evaluation of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for children under age 5

Severe problem behaviors such as self-injury and aggression are frequently observed in young children under age 5 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Although early identification of problem behavior is critical to effective intervention, there are few standardized measures available that identify severe problem behavior in this population. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C; Aman & Singh, 1994) is a rating scale that measures the severity of a range of problem behaviors commonly observed in individuals with IDD. While it has been used with children under 5, investigations into the fit of the ABC-C for this population are sparse. The purpose of the present study was to report on ABC-C scores in a sample of 97 children under age 5 with problem behavior. Analyses included evaluating differences in scores between age groups, comparing sample norms to established norms for older children, and conducting a confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicated differences in mean scores based on age with younger children generally scoring higher on some subscales of the ABC-C. Furthermore, the original 5-factor structure of the ABC-C was not fully supported. In general, the ABC-C may over- or underestimate behavior problems in younger children; therefore more extensive investigation into the utility of the ABC-C for children under age 5 is warranted.     

Characteristics of adults with autism spectrum disorder who use residential services and supports through adult developmental disability services in the United States

BackgroundMany children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) need services and support across their lifespans. Currently many residential and community living supports are delivered through state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) service systems.MethodA random sample of 11,947 individual users of adult IDD services from 25 states that included 1,459 individuals with an autism diagnosis was analyzed for this study looking at demographic characteristics and living arrangements. Comparisons were made between adults with and without ASD who receive services through the IDD service system.ResultsOverall, individuals with an ASD diagnosis were younger on average, had a higher percentage of males, and had higher percentages of the No Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Severe ID categories compared to individuals without an ASD diagnosis. There was a significant association between the type of living arrangement and ASD status with a higher percentage of participants with ASD living in a family member’s home, but a lower percentage of people with ASD living in agency apartments, in their own home or an “other” living arrangement. However, with age, gender, and level of ID and challenging behavior taken into account, people with ASD had 29% higher odds of living in a family member’s home but 42% lower odds of living in their own home when compared to people with other developmental disabilities who received residential services through state IDD service systems.ConclusionsThere are key differences in access and utilization of residential services between people with ASD and people without ASD. While state developmental disabilities systems are serving individuals with ASD there are potential influences of state policies regarding ASD eligibility for various residential services. Implications for future research are discussed.     

Psychometric Properties of Two Measures of Crisis and Distress in Parents of Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Introduction: Parents and their children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) are under significant amounts of stress (Lecavalier, Leone & Wiltz, 2006). When stress escalates to crisis, some children with IDD are admitted to the emergency department or an inpatient unit. While existing measures evaluate stress over time, we lack a valid measure to assess the experience of crisis. The current study aimed to validate a measure of crisis in a clinical sample of parents of children with IDD. Validating such a measure will provide a precise depiction of a family’s perception of crisis and their relative distress, and improve communication between clinicians and families. Methods: Parents and caregivers of children and adolescents, age 5 to 17 and diagnosed with IDD including autism spectrum disorder completed measures, reporting on their level of caregiver strain (using the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire-CGSQ) and their current level of crisis (using the Brief Family Distress Scale-BFDS). Psychometric data from the BFDS and CGSQ were analyzed to examine aspects of reliability and validity. Results: Results from analyses indicated significant associations between the CGSQ and BFDS and excellent overall internal consistency within the CGSQ. Additionally, the BFDS detected differences between inpatient and outpatient conditions and validly categorized participants into crisis groups. Conclusions: Validation of the BFDS further demonstrates its clinical utility and continues to clarify the experience of parents of children with IDD in times of crisis. Future research should examine the role of problem behavior in crisis and the utility of the BFDS as a measure of change.     

Children's Rights, Parents' Prerogatives, and Society's Obligations

The thesis of this article is that parents do not need specifically defined rights. They have prerogatives that flow from the right of their children to nurturing and protective parenting. The idea of individual rights springs from the vulnerability of human beings in the face of stronger forces. The most vulnerable individuals are children. For this reason, human rights ought to begin with the rights of children in our society and in their families. This article discusses individual rights, society's expectations of parents and children, parental prerogatives and liabilities, parenthood as a developmental stage in the life cycle, parenthood as the foundation of society, and society's obligation to support parenthood.     

Psychiatric Presentations and Medication Use in Older Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

ObjectiveAdults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are living longer, yet research about the medical and psychiatric needs of older adults still lags behind that of younger individuals with IDD. The aim of this study was to assess age-related differences in the mental health presentations of adults with IDD.MethodsFully deidentified data for adults 30 years and older were extracted from the START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) Information Reporting System, a deidentified database housed at the Center for START Services. Caregivers and START team documents reported psychiatric diagnoses, service use, recent stressors, and challenging behaviors. t Tests, Mann Whitney U tests, χ² tests, and multinominal logistic regression models were used to compare the two age groups, 30–49 years (n = 1,188) versus 50 years and older (n = 464).ResultsOlder adults had more medical conditions, fewer reported psychiatric conditions, and were more likely to be taking more psychiatric medications compared to younger adults, after adjusting for demographic variables, disability level, and number of recent stressors.ConclusionAlthough older individuals reported fewer psychiatric diagnoses, they were more likely to take higher numbers of psychiatric medications and have more medical conditions. Clinicians and researchers ought to devote more attention to the healthcare needs of older adults with IDD, a vulnerable group exposed to polypharmacy and at risk of adverse events.     

The relationship between the severity of eating problems and intellectual developmental deficit level

Nutrition, essential in the daily living functions promoting life quality of persons with intellectual developmental deficits (IDD), is adversely affected by the highly prevalent eating problems in these persons. The current study explores the characteristics of eating problems in population of children with intellectual developmental disorders. We elaborate existing knowledge on the relationship of severity of eating/feeding disorders and intellectual handicap level in children who suffer from IDD. This study investigated differences in the kind of these disorders observed in children with IDD on three levels: mild, moderate, and severe/profound. Ninety-one children aged 4-9 participated in this study: 25 had mild IDD, 32 moderate IDD, and 34 severe/profound IDD. Feeding/eating functions were examined with the screening tool of eating problems (STEP) which was used as the main dependent measure (Matson & Kuhn, 2001). Results suggest that the prevalence of eating problems is higher than previously reported in the literature. Eating/feeding problems proved prevalent across all levels, in almost all of those with IDD, but certain categories of problems (i.e., skills and aspiration risk) are more prevalent among the group falling within the severe/profound range of intellectual disability.This finding makes a new important experimental contribution, suggesting that everyday functions such as eating/feeding be examined in all children with IDD and that clinical differences be considered in light of categorization according to IDD level. Results are discussed in light of the need to consider its implications for practice.     

Psychological problems following recovery from acute life-threatening illness

Counseling of a group of families in which a child had been stricken with a sudden, life-threatening illness is described. Although all children made good medical recoveries, family adjustment problems were marked; incomplete mourning, sense of helplessness and lack of control, and fantasies of death and return on the part of children and of parents were noted. Strategies for helping families cope with this variant of the vulnerable child syndrome are discussed.     

Interviews with children of persons with a severe mental illness—Investigating their everyday situation

Research on children of persons with a severe mental illness focuses predominantly on parents’ and others’ perceptions. Children of mentally ill parents form a vulnerable group that has not been adequately paid attention to in psychiatric care institutions. Comparatively little is known about the children's recognition of their parents and the everyday situation of these families. The aim of the study was to investigate experiences of their life situation in children 10–18 years of age in a family with a parent with a severe mental illness. Eight children were interviewed concerning their everyday life situation. The interviews were analysed inspired from using thematic analysis. From the analysis of the material emerged aspects concerning the following themes: need for conversation, love for their family, maturity, experience of fear and blame, feelings of loneliness, responsibility and associated stigma. This study highlights the situation experienced by children of severely mentally ill persons who also are parents. The study may be found to be a basis for inspiring structured interventions and treatments programmes including children of the adult patients seeking psychiatric treatment.     

Characteristics of Young Parents Investigated and Opened for Ongoing Services in Child Welfare

This study uses a national child welfare dataset to examine the profile of young parents who are the subject of maltreatment-related investigation and to identify which factors determine service provision from the child welfare system at the conclusion of the investigation. Specifically, it examines how workers in the child welfare system decide which young parents require ongoing services the conclusion of a maltreatment related investigation where other risk factors are also being assessed. It found that young parents are struggling with a number of issues including poverty, housing, mental health, violence and children who are exhibiting functioning concerns. Workers in the child welfare system provide ongoing services to young parents particularly in investigations where they have noted concerns around drug/solvent use, cognitive impairment, mental health issues, physical health issues and few social supports. The opportunity to target interventions for the specific concerns for this very vulnerable population is evident.     

Burden in adolescent children of parents with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Adolescent children of parents with schizophrenia are generally overlooked in studies of family burden. Few published data exist about this younger cohort compared to adult family members such as parents, spouses, and siblings. This pilot study aims to examine the types of burden described by adolescent children of parents with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. METHODS: Thirteen adolescents (9F: 4M) between the ages of 13 and 18 who had at least one parent diagnosed with schizophrenia were administered a semi-structured interview as part of a pilot project to examine burden in this group. Questions asked during the interview were directed at the subject's knowledge of the disorder, relationship with the parent, impact of the disorder on personal life, coping strategies used, and future concerns. RESULTS: Responses showed that the adolescents were uninformed about their parent's illness, had difficulties dealing with symptoms (positive and negative), were required to assume additional household responsibilities, and were concerned about their parent's future welfare. CONCLUSION: This pilot study illustrates that children of individuals with schizophrenia feel their lives are impacted by their parent's illness. More research is needed in this area to quantify and describe the types of burden experienced by this vulnerable group to ensure availability of adequate support.     

Abortion Aborted

Child analysis and child psychotherapy require constant attention to intrapsychic and intrafamilial processes. Bion's theories regarding unconscious functioning within groups are particularly useful for understanding progressive and regressive shifts within families. The concepts of work group and basic assumption modes in family groups are examined, as are group mentality and group culture. Clinical examples of work with parents of children in analysis and analytic therapy utilizing these concepts are provided. It is suggested that attention to the unconscious relations within a family can elucidate the unconscious object relations observed in children in treatment.