Psychiatric inpatient treatment of childhood schizoaffective disorder

Psychiatric inpatient treatment of a child with multiple life-threatening symptoms, including suicidal behavior and food refusal, is described. Changes in symptomatology were monitored by applying research scales and research interview methods during the course of intervention. The process that led to the diagnosis of childhood schizoaffective disorder is discussed.     

The long-term effects of childhood maltreatment experiences on subsequent illicit drug use and drug-related problems in young adulthood

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine the associations between (a) childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect) and subsequent illicit drug use and (b) childhood maltreatment and drug-related problems in young adulthood.MethodsWave 1 and Wave 3 public-use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used. Logistic regressions, controlling for adolescent drug use and other important family and peer contextual processes, were estimated to determine the associations between (a) childhood maltreatment experiences and subsequent illicit drug use and (b) childhood maltreatment and drug-related problems in young adulthood.ResultsAmong the participants, 31.9% reported some form of childhood maltreatment. Childhood physical abuse was associated with a 37% (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.80) increase in illicit drug use during the 30 days prior to the Wave 3 survey, a 48% (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.16, 1.89) increase in illicit drug use during the year prior to the Wave 3 survey, and a 96% (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.40, 2.76) increase in drug-related problems in young adulthood. The latter two associations persisted even after controlling for illicit drug use in adolescence. Neglect among females was associated with a higher likelihood of past year illicit drug use in young adulthood (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.002, 1.71). However, this association was not significant once the effect of illicit drug use in adolescence was statistically controlled for.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that childhood maltreatment is related to subsequent illicit drug use and drug-related problems in young adulthood and that some of these associations differ by gender. Implications for preventive intervention are discussed.     

Prenatal diagnosis of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency.

Prior to the development of the DNA-based technology reliable prenatal diagnosis of G6PD deficiency was not possible. We show that, using PCR amplification and restriction endonuclease digestion, prenatal diagnosis is possible. We have now been able to determine that the male fetus of a mother heterozygous for G6PD Mediterranean had inherited the maternal X chromosome with the normal G6PD gene.