Oppositional defiant behavior toward adults and oppositional defiant behavior toward other children: evidence for two separate constructs with mothers' and fathers' ratings of Brazilian children

Background:  Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to determine if oppositional defiant behavior (ODB) toward adults and oppositional defiant behavior toward other children were constructs distinct from each other as well as from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder–hyperactivity/impulsivity (ADHD-HI), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder–inattention (ADHD-IN), and academic competence.
Methods:  Mothers and fathers rated the occurrence of the DSM-IV oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms where the target was an adult (e.g., argues with adults) and the ODD symptoms where the target was another child (brothers, sisters, or peers) (e.g., argues with other children) along with ADHD-IN, ADHD-HI, and academic competence in a sample of 894 Brazilian children on the Portuguese version of the Child and Adolescent Disruptive Behavior Inventory (CADBI).
Results:  The ODB-Adults' and ODB-Children's factors showed invariance (i.e., equality of like item loadings, intercepts, residuals; as well as like factor variances, covariances, and means), convergent validity, and discriminant validity from each other as well as from ADHD-IN, ADHD-HI, and academic competence between mothers' and fathers' ratings.
Conclusions:  With the Portuguese parent version of the CADBI, the evidence indicated that ODB-Adults and ODB-Children represent two constructs rather than one. The distinction between ODB-Adults and ODB-Children allows for a more specific study of the development of ODB in children.     

Impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle habits and mental health symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Canada

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic created an environment of restricted access to health and recreation services. Lifestyle habits including sleep, eating, exercise, and screen use were modified, potentially exacerbating adverse mental health outcomes. This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle habits and mental health symptoms in paediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Canada.MethodsAn online survey was distributed across Canada to caregivers of children with ADHD (children aged 5 to 18 years) assessing depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), ADHD (SNAP-IV), and lifestyle behaviours. Data were analyzed by gender (male/female) and age category (5 to 8, 9 to 12, and 13 to 18 years). Spearman’s correlations between lifestyle habits and mental health outcomes were conducted.ResultsA total of 587 surveys were completed. Mean child age was 10.14 years (SD 3.06), including 166 females (28.3%). The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 indicated that 17.4% and 14.1% of children met criteria for moderately severe to severe depression and anxiety symptoms respectively. Children met SNAP-IV cut-off scores for inattention (73.7%), hyperactivity/impulsivity (66.8%), and oppositional defiant disorder (38.6%) behaviours. Caregivers reported changes in sleep (77.5%), eating (58.9%), exercise (83.7%), and screen use (92.9%) in their ADHD child, greatly impacting youth. Sleeping fewer hours/night, eating more processed foods, and watching TV/playing videogames >3.5 hours/day correlated with greater depression, anxiety and ADHD symptoms, and exercising <1 hour/day further correlated with depression symptoms (P<0.01).ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in less healthy lifestyle habits and increased mental health symptoms in Canadian children with ADHD. Longitudinal studies to better understand the relationship between these factors are recommended.     

Psychiatric comorbidities of children with elimination disorders

Enuresis and encopresis can be stressful for children and parents. We investigated the comorbid psychiatric disorders and the emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with elimination disorders. A total of 97 children and adolescents (aged 4–17 years) with an elimination disorder participated in this study. The elimination disorder group consisted of three subgroups: 50 subjects with enuresis nocturna, 26 with encopresis, and 21 subjects with enuresis + encopresis. The control group with no elimination disorder comprised 50 healthy subjects. All children were interviewed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Comorbid psychiatric disorders were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The most common diagnosis was attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, followed by oppositional defiant disorder. The highest rate of psychiatric comorbidity was observed in the enuresis + encopresis subgroup, followed by the enuresis nocturna and encopresis subgroups. All the subgroups had higher total difficulties scores than the control group. Screening for psychiatric disorders should be performed for all children with incontinence.     

Differences between preschool children with ODD, ADHD, and ODD+ADHD symptoms

BACKGROUND: This study examines differences between children (ages 3 to 6 years) who have the symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) with or without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADHD alone, and a nonODD/ADHD comparison group. Parent (N=595) and teacher (N=538) ratings were obtained for children attending the same community early childhood programs and for youngsters evaluated in an outpatient clinic (N=224) using a DSM-IV-referenced rating scale. RESULTS: Differences between symptom groups varied depending on how they were configured (teacher versus parent ratings) and setting (clinic versus community). In general, the ODD+ADHD group received the highest (and the comparison group the lowest) ratings of severity for the symptoms of other disorders, difficulties with peers, and developmental deficits. Moreover, the clinical impact of comorbidity was largely additive. Differences between youngsters with ODD versus ADHD symptoms were most apparent for teacher-defined groups in the community sample and parent-defined groups in the clinic sample. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings provide preliminary evidence for the notion that ODD and ADHD may constitute distinct clinical entities in preschool-aged children and suggest that informant may be an important consideration in the formulation of diagnostic criteria.     

Association between breastfeeding and breathing pattern in children: a sectional study

Objectiveto determine the prevalence of mouth breathing and to associate the history of breastfeeding with breathing patterns in children.Methodsthis was an observational study with 252 children of both genders, aged 30 to 48 months, who participated in a dental care program for mothers and newborns. As an instrument of data collection, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the children's mothers assessing the form and duration of breastfeeding and the oral habits of non-nutritive sucking. To determine the breathing patterns that the children had developed, medical history and clinical examination were used. Statistical analysis was conducted to examine the effects of exposure on the primary outcome (mouth breathing), and the prevalence ratio was calculated with a 95% confidence interval.Resultsof the total sample, 43.1% of the children were mouth breathers, 48.4% had been breastfed exclusively until six months of age or more, and 27.4% had non-nutritive sucking habits. Statistically significant associations were found for bottle-feeding (p < 0.001) and oral habits of non-nutritive sucking (p = 0.009), with an increased likelihood of children exhibiting a predominantly oral breathing pattern. A statistically significant association was also observed between a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding and a nasal breathing pattern presented by children.Conclusionan increased duration of exclusive breastfeeding lowers the chances of children exhibiting a predominantly oral breathing pattern.     

家长培训合并哌醋甲酯治疗对注意缺陷多动症障碍患儿家庭关系的影响

目的 了解家长培训合并哌醋甲酯治疗对注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）患儿家庭关系的干预效果。方法 对59 例ADHD 患儿家长进行为期5 周的家长培训,在培训前后使用Conners 儿童行为问卷（父母用）、ADHD 和对立违抗障碍（ODD）症状分级父母评量表、照料者压力问卷、亲子关系自评量表、儿童自我意识量表等进行评估。结果 和基线相比,培训后Conners 儿童行为问卷总分、品行问题及焦虑因子分下降,ADHD症状分级父母评量表各因子分（注意缺陷、多动、冲动）和对立违抗行为均有下降,照料者压力问卷总分下降,亲子关系自评量表总分、儿童自我意识量表总分以及躯体外貌属性、智力和学校行为因子分提高,以上差异均有统计学意义（P结论 ADHD 患儿家长培训能促进亲子间发展良好关系,减轻家长育儿压力。     

Development and psychometric assessment of the collaborative care for attention-deficit disorders scale.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and assess the validity and reliability of the Collaborative Care for Attention-Deficit Disorders Scale (CCADDS), a measure of collaborative care processes for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who attend primary care practices. METHODS: Collaborative care was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct. The 41-item CCADDS was developed from an existing instrument, review of the literature, focus groups, and an expert panel. The CCADDS was field tested in a national mail survey of 600 stratified and randomly selected practicing general pediatricians. Psychometric analysis included assessments of factor structure, construct validity, and internal consistency. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 51%. Most respondents were male (56%), 46 years old or older (59%), and white (69%). Common factor analysis identified 3 subscales: beliefs, collaborative activities, and connectedness. Internal consistency reliability (coefficient alpha) for the overall scale was .91, and subscale scores ranged from .80 to .89. The CCADDS correlated with a validated measure of provider psychosocial orientation (r = -.36, P < .001) and with self-reported frequency of mental health referrals or consultations (r = -.24 to -.42, P < .001). CCADDS scores were similar among physicians by race/ethnicity, gender, age group, and practice location. CONCLUSIONS: Scores on the CCADDS were reliable for measuring collaborative care processes in this sample of primary care clinicians who provide treatment for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Evidence for validity of scores was limited. Future research is needed to confirm its psychometric properties and factor structure and provide guidance on score interpretation.     

Which better predicts conduct problems? The relationship of trajectories of conduct problems with ODD and ADHD symptoms from childhood into adolescence

BACKGROUND: To assess the co-occurrence in deviant trajectories of parent-rated symptoms of conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from age 4 to 18 years old in a general population sample of Dutch children. METHODS: Developmental trajectories of CD, ODD, and ADHD were estimated in a sample of 1,016 males and 1,060 females. Children's disruptive problem behaviors were rated at 5 time-points. The co-occurrence patterns between the deviant CD trajectory, and the high ODD and high ADHD trajectory were studied for males and females separately. RESULTS: Four percent of males and 2% of females followed a deviant CD trajectory. Six percent of the sample followed a high ODD trajectory, and 5% a high ADHD trajectory. Engagement in the deviant CD trajectory was predicted by ODD and ADHD in females, but only by ODD in males. CONCLUSIONS: Although ADHD co-occurs with CD, the association between ADHD and CD is largely accounted for by accompanying ODD. Gender differences should be taken into account in understanding the onset of CD.     

儿童注意缺陷多动障碍共患病及功能损害研究

目的 评估注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)患儿共患病及功能损害发生情况,并探讨其与核心症状(注意缺陷、多动冲动)的相关性。方法 疑诊为ADHD 的319例儿童作为研究对象,由父母完成Vanderbilt父母评定量表(VADPRS),根据美国精神病学会制定的《精神障碍诊断和统计手册》第四版(DSM-IV)进行诊断及分型,根据VADPRS进行共患病筛查及功能损害评估。同时对各型ADHD患儿共患病和功能损害情况进行比较,对其与核心症状的关系进行相关性分析。结果 319例儿童中,196例诊断为ADHD,其中注意缺陷型(ADHD-I)84例,多动冲动型(ADHD-HI)35例,混合型(ADHD-C)77例。123例不满足ADHD诊断标准。ADHD儿童共患病(对立违抗性障碍、品行障碍、情绪障碍)发生率显著高于非ADHD儿童(63.8% vs 37.4%, P<0.05)。ADHD-C组对立违抗和品行障碍发生率高于ADHD-I组(P<0.05)。对立违抗、品行障碍及情绪障碍的阳性条目数与两个核心症状群阳性条目数有弱相关性(P<0.01)。ADHD组总功能损害发生率显著高于非ADHD组(89.8% vs 74.8%, P<0.05)。ADHD-C组功能损害发生率显著高于ADHD-I组和ADHD-HI组(P<0.05)。注意缺陷阳性症状条目数与学习问题、同胞关系损害及组织活动问题有弱相关性(P<0.01),多动冲动阳性症状条目数仅与同胞关系损害有弱相关性(P<0.01)。结论 ADHD组儿童共患病及功能损害发生率高,以ADHD-C组最显著。ADHD核心症状严重程度可以影响共患病及功能损害的发生。未达到ADHD诊断标准的疑诊儿童也有较高的其他精神障碍和功能损害发生率,临床上也要重视对此类儿童的干预。     

Does height catch-up in schoolchildren have an effect on bone mass in adolescents? Analysis in a Brazilian birth cohort

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of height catch-up at school age on the bone mass of adolescents of a Brazilian birth cohort.MethodsA cohort study using data obtained from the three moments (birth, 7/9 years and 18/19 years of age) of the Cohorts-RPS study. Height catch-up was defined based on the difference between the schoolchild's z-score and birth z-score. The adolescents’ bone mineral mass was analyzed using the z-score index for the lumbar spine measured by dual emission X-ray absorptiometry. A theoretical model was developed for the proposed analysis using directed acyclic graphs paired through the nearest-neighbor matching propensity score using the STATA software, version 14.0. The level of significance was set at 5%.ResultsOf the 297 studied children, 24.5% achieved height catch-up. The bone mass below the expected for age was observed in 5.39% of the subjects. The mean lumbar spine z-score was ?0.34 (±1.01). After the adjustment, no effect was observed between height catch-up at school age and bone mass in adolescents (Coeff = 0.598; 95% CI ?0.117 to 1.313; p = 0.101).ConclusionEven using the directed acyclic graphs and the causal inference method by adjusting the propensity score, the height catch-up did not seem to affect bone mass in adolescents, a result perhaps related to the sample size.     

Associations between child disciplinary practices and bullying behavior in adolescents

Objectiveto investigate associations between different types of child disciplinary practices and children and adolescents’ bullying behavior in a Brazilian sample.Methodscross-sectional study, with a school-based sample of 10- to 15-year-old children and adolescents. Child disciplinary practices were assessed using two main subtypes: power-assertive and punitive (psychological aggression, corporal punishment, deprivation of privileges, and penalty tasks) and inductive (explaining, rewarding, and monitoring). A modified version of the Olweus Bully Victim Questionnaire was used to measure the frequency of bullying.Results247 children and adolescents were evaluated and 98 (39.7%) were classified as bullies. Power-assertive and punitive discipline by either mother or father was associated with bullying perpetration by their children. Mothers who mostly used this type of discipline were 4.36 (95% CI: 1.87-10.16; p < 0.001) times more likely of having a bully child. Psychological aggression and mild forms of corporal punishment presented the highest odds ratios. Overall inductive discipline was not associated with bullying.Conclusionsbullying was associated to parents’ assertive and punitive discipline. Finding different ways of disciplining children and adolescents might decrease bullying behavior.     

The comorbidity of ADHD in the general population of Swedish school-age children

This study examined patterns of comorbid/associated diagnoses and associated problems in a population sample of children with and without DSM-III-R attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Half (N = 409) of a mainstream school population of Swedish 7-year-olds were clinically examined, and parents and teachers were interviewed and completed questionnaires. The children were followed up 2-4 years later. Eighty-seven per cent of children meeting full criteria for ADHD (N = 15) had one or more and 67% at least two--comorbid diagnoses. The most common comorbidities were oppositional defiant disorder and developmental coordination disorder. Children with subthreshold ADHD (N = 42) also had very high rates of comorbid diagnoses (71% and 36%), whereas those without ADHD (N = 352) had much lower rates (17% and 3%). The rate of associated school adjustment, learning, and behaviour problems at follow-up was very high in the ADHD groups. We concluded that pure ADHD is rare even in a general population sample. Thus, studies reporting on ADHD cases without comorbidity probably refer to highly atypical samples. By and large, such studies cannot inform rational clinical decisions.     

Classes of disruptive behaviour in a sample of young elementary school children

BACKGROUND: The objectives were to (1) classify young children to groups differing in disruptive behaviour, (2) determine whether the patterns of disruptive behaviour in these groups are in accordance with the conceptualisation of disruptive disorders as described in DSM-IV, and (3) optimise the classification of children in groups. METHODS: Disruptive behaviour of 636 seven-year-old elementary schoolchildren was assessed with the CBCL/4-18. Using CBCL items rated as very consistent with DSM-IV categories Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, latent class analyses were applied to identify classes of children differing in patterns of disruptive behaviour. RESULTS: Three classes were identified: (1) high levels of oppositional defiant problems (ODD problems) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems (ADH problems) and intermediate levels of Conduct problems; (2) intermediate ODD problems and ADH problems and low levels of Conduct problems; (3) low levels on all disruptive behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: No classes were identified in which children had symptoms of only Conduct problems, only ODD problems or only ADH problems. Covariates (socio-economic status, gender, parenting stress) improved the classification of children. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for classification, identification of children at risk, prevention and treatment of disruptive behaviour in young children.     

Validation of the Inventaire du Milieu Familial Questionnaire (French version of the Infant/Toddler HOME) into the Brazilian Portuguese language

ObjectiveTo validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Family Environment Assessment questionnaire (Inventaire du Milieu Familial).MethodsThe validation process was carried out in two stages. First, translation and back-translation were performed, and in the second phase, the questionnaire was applied in 72 families of children between 0 and 24 months for the validation process. The tool consists of the following domains: mother's communication ability; behavior; organization of the physical and temporal environment; collection/quantity of toys; maternal attitude of constant attention toward her baby; diversification of stimuli; baby's behavior. The following was performed for the scale validation: 1 – content analysis (judgment); 2 – construct analysis (factorial analysis – Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, Bartlett, and Pearson's correlation tests); 3 – criterion analysis (calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient, intraclass correlations, and split-half correlations).ResultsThe mean age of the children was 9 ± 6.7 months, and of these, 35 (48.6%) were males. Most correlations between items and domains were significant. In the factorial analysis of the scale, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values were 0.76, Bartlett's test showed a p-value < 0.001, and correlation between items and domains showed a p-value < 0.01. Regarding the validity, Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89–0.94). The intraclass correlation among the evaluators was 0.97 (0.96–0.98) and split-half correlations, r: 0.60, with p < 0.01.ConclusionsThe Portuguese version of the Inventaire du Milieu Familial showed good to excellent performance regarding the assessed psychometric properties.     

Irritability in an open-door pediatric psychiatric emergency service in a middle-income country

BackgroundIrritability is a main reason for referral of a child to a pediatric emergency. Few psychiatric services are dedicated to care for children and adolescents in middle income countries. Thus, there is not a clear picture about the real needs of an emergency unit to optimize the service's demands. This study aims to describe a sociodemographic profile of children and adolescents in a psychiatric emergency service due to complaints of irritability.MethodsIn total, 2,255 medical records were reviewed from patients referred within a year at an emergency department of a mental health service for children and adolescents. Patients with and without irritability were compared in terms of sociodemographic features, psychiatric complaints and associated somatic and psychiatric disorders.ResultsAbout 30% of youths attending at this service had irritability. Most were boys (67%) with an average age of 12.6 years (±3.9). Irritability was associated with a diagnosis of mood disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.LimitationsThere are concerns about the setting in which data was collected, since it might have some time restrictions and data imprecision.ConclusionIrritability was a frequent complaint taking children and adolescents to the emergency department. This symptom co-occurs with several psychiatric disorders. These findings support the trans-nosographic view of irritability, in particular its co-occurrence with neurodevelopmental disorders.     

学龄前儿童听处理评估量表在注意缺陷多动障碍儿童中的应用研究

目的 利用学龄前儿童听处理评估量表(以下称“听处理评估量表”)探讨学龄前注意缺陷多动障碍(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,ADHD)儿童的听处理(auditory processing,AP)特征。方法 41例ADHD及41例典型发育(typically developing,TD)儿童进行听处理评估量表、SNAP-Ⅳ评定量表及学龄前持续性注意力测试(Conners’Kiddie Continuous Performance Test,K-CPT)评估，分析比较两组儿童听处理评估量表得分差异及其与SNAP-Ⅳ评定量表和K-CPT结果的相关性。结果 ADHD组儿童听处理评估量表总分及除视觉注意维度外的其他维度得分高于TD组(P<0.05)。ADHD儿童中，SNAP-Ⅳ评定量表的注意缺陷维度得分与听处理评估量表总分(r_{s 30条}=0.531;r_{s 27条}=0.627)及其听觉解码(r_s=0.628)、听觉注意(r_s=0.492)、沟通交流(r