Headache and recurrent abdominal pain: a controlled study by the means of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)

Headache and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) are common disorders in children and adolescents, frequently referred to paediatricians. Both disorders show similarities in trigger and comorbid factors, their burden on family and individual life, and a paroxysmal trend with risks of chronicization over time. However, very few studies have compared directly headache and RAP. The main aim of this study was to compare the psychological profile of headache and RAP patients vs. healthy controls. A total of 210 children and adolescents [99 boys, 111 girls; age range 4-18 years; mean age (m.a.) = 11.04, SD 4.05] were assessed: 70 headache patients (m.a. 12.4 years; SD 2.9; F = 35, M = 35), 70 RAP patients (m.a. 9 years; SD 3.6; F = 30, M = 40) and 70 controls (m.a. 11.7 years; SD 4.6; F = 46, M = 24). The diagnoses had been made according to international systems of classification both for headache (ICHD-II criteria) and RAP (Rome II criteria). The psychological profile had been made according to the Child Behaviour Checklist 4-18 (CBCL). anova one-way analysis was used to compare CBCL scales and subscales between groups. Headache and RAP showed a very similar trend vs. control for the main scales of the CBCL, with a statistically significant tendency to show problems in the Internalizing scale (anxiety, mood and somatic complaints) and no problems in the Externalizing (behavioural) scale. Only for the Attention Problems subscale migraineurs showed a significant difference compared with RAP. In conclusion, headache and RAP show a very similar psychological profile that should be considered not only for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, but also from the aetiological aspect.     

Effectiveness of modified parent training for mothers of children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder on parental confidence and children’s behavior

Aim: This study used parent training (PT), with modifications to smaller groups and shorter schedules (PTSS), for mothers of children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). The usefulness of PTSS was evaluated according to the parent’s confidence and child’s behavior by questionnaire. Method: PTSS was used on 14 mothers of 14 children with PDD of preschool to elementary school age, and performed in small groups of 3-4 mothers each. One PTSS course comprised six consecutive sessions and was completed within three months. The sessions consisted mainly of training for parenting skills, understanding the children’s inappropriate behaviors, and helping the children adapt to school. The effectiveness of PTSS was assessed by changes in the scores for confidence degree questionnaire for families (CDQ) and the child behavior checklist (CBCL), determined before and after each course. Results: The average CDQ scores increased for 17 of 18 items after completion of the PTSS course in all 14 mothers. The change was statistically significant in five items. Increases in average CDQ scores were also seen in 10 of 18 items assessed in fathers, although none were significant. The CBCL total T-score decreased in 10 of 14 children (71.4%). The remaining four children showed an increased CBCL total T-score. Conclusion: These results indicated that PTSS is useful based on changes in the parents’ CDQ scores and children’s CBCL scores.     

Developmental outcome in a group of twins: Relation to perinatal factors and general movements

Background

The quality of general movements (GMs) has proven to have predictive value for the developmental outcome, but this has not yet been studied in twins.

The effects of maternal stress and child language ability on behavioral outcomes of children with congenital hearing loss at 18-24months

Background

Prior studies have shown that children with congenital hearing loss have increased rates of behavior disorders. Child hearing loss has also been reported to be associated with increased maternal stress. Little is known about the behavior or the predictors of behavioral outcomes of children with hearing loss identified early and receiving Early Intervention services.

Aim

The objective of this study was to identify the behavioral outcomes in early identified children with hearing loss and control hearing children at 18-24 months of age and to examine the impact of stress on early behavior development. It was hypothesized that children with hearing loss will have more behavior problems, and maternal stress will be associated with child behavior problems.

Study design

Prospective observational.

Subjects

Children with and without congenital hearing loss and their mothers.

Outcome measures

The Parenting Stress Index and the Child Behavior Checklist.

Results

Children with hearing loss had increased scores for withdrawn and internalizing behavior. In multivariate analyses after adjusting for hearing loss, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay, and socioeconomic status, maternal stress independently contributed to higher scores for internalizing behavior, externalizing behavior, and total behavior problems.

Conclusion

Maternal stress is an important correlate of behavior problems for children with hearing loss and should be considered by Early Intervention providers.     

The Child Behavior Checklist‐Dysregulation Profile predicts substance use,suicidality, and functional impairment: a longitudinal analysis

Background: Recent studies have identified a Child Behavior Checklist profile that characterizes children with severe affective and behavioral dysregulation (CBCL‐dysregulation profile, CBCL‐DP). In two recent longitudinal studies the CBCL‐DP in childhood was associated with heightened rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders, among them bipolar disorder, an increased risk for suicidality, and marked psychosocial impairment at young‐adult follow‐up. This is the first study outside the US that examines the longitudinal course of the CBCL‐DP. Methods: We studied the diagnostic and functional trajectories and the predictive utility of the CBCL‐DP in the Mannheim Study of Children at Risk, an epidemiological cohort study on the outcome of early risk factors from birth into adulthood. A total of 325 young adults (151 males, 174 females) participated in the 19‐year assessment. Results: Young adults with a higher CBCL‐DP score in childhood were at increased risk for substance use disorders, suicidality and poorer overall functioning at age 19, even after adjustment for parental education, family income, impairment and psychiatric disorders at baseline. Childhood dysregulation was not related to bipolar disorder in young adulthood. The CBCL‐DP was neither a precursor of a specific pattern of comorbidity nor of comorbidity in general. Conclusions: Children with high CBCL‐DP values are at risk for later severe, psychiatric symptomatology. The different developmental trajectories suggest that the CBCL‐DP is not simply an early manifestation of a single disease process but might rather be an early developmental risk marker of a persisting deficit of self‐regulation of affect and behavior.     

南通市学龄前儿童心理行为问题及其影响因素的研究

目的 调查和分析南通市学龄前儿童心理行为问题及其影响因素,并比较不同等级幼儿园儿童在心理行为发育方面有无差异.方法 采用Achenbach儿童行为量表(Child Behavior Cheek List,CBCL)中国标准化版对南通市随机抽取四所不同等级幼儿园1 102例4～7岁学龄前儿童进行调查研究.结果 南通市学龄前儿童心理行为问题的分布情况为:优良26.95%,正常63.88%,不正常9.17%,与国内外报道的学龄前儿童行为问题检出率(5%～20%)基本一致[1-2].各幼儿园学龄前儿童行为问题检出率分别为:省示范3.47%,一类1.87%,二类16.10%,三类23,81%,省示范、一类、二类幼儿园的儿童行为问题检出率明显低于三类幼儿园,不同等级幼儿园中,学龄前儿童的心理行为问题差异有显著性(P＜0.05).多因素分析认为影响儿童心理行为问题发生的主要因素为:幼儿园、家庭是否重视儿童心理教育,父母文化程度,家庭情况,是否参加早教等.结论 学龄前儿童行为问题的发生是多因素交互作用的结果.各类幼儿园尤其是三类幼儿园的家长和老师要重视学龄前儿童的心理教育,通过各种途径减少儿童心理行为问题的发生.     

郑州市小学生行为问题现状调查及影响因素分析

目的 调查郑州市小学生行为问题现状及其影响因素,为其行为问题的预防和干预提供科学依据.方法2019年6月采用整群随机抽样法选取郑州市6所小学3 180名小学生,使用Achenbach儿童行为量表(CBCL)和自行设计的一般情况问卷评定后行统计分析.结果 发放问卷3 180份,2 832(89.1％)份合格,小学生行为问...     

The prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in institutionalized childcare clients

The objective of the study was to investigate the gender-specific prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents in out-of-home childcare, compared with patients in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions. The total population of clients in residential childcare institutions in Oslo, Norway, was investigated by the use of standardized questionnaires (Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report) and compared to all same-aged patients residing in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions in the same area at the same time. Boys in residential childcare had emotional and behavioural problem levels comparable to boys in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions, as measured by the questionnaires. Girls in residential childcare did not reach problem levels as high as those found in girls in psychiatric institutions, but problem levels were still well above those found in the general population. It was concluded that institutionalized childcare clients had a high prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems, as measured by Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report.     

Fathers' and mothers' perceptions of their child and maternal depressive symptoms

Fathers' reports concerning their children have seldom been considered in the previous studies on maternal depression and child development. The literature on parental reports in general suggests that discrepancies in mothers' and fathers' perceptions are associated with the psychological state of the parent and the gender of the child. As part of a prospective follow-up study, fathers' and mothers' perceptions of children's social competence and behavioural/ emotional problems were assessed by the Child Behavior Checklists (CBCLs) when the firstborn children were 8–9 years old. The depressive symptoms of the mothers were screened by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at the same time point. The level of children's social competence and behavioural/emotional problems reported by the fathers were analysed by background factors. The reports of both parents were explored by the gender of the child and by the presence of maternal depressive symptoms. The concordance of parental reports concerning child's social competence was high, but fathers usually reported lower problem levels than mothers, particularly for boys' problems. The presence of maternal depressive symptoms was associated with child's high problem levels from both fathers' and mothers' perspective. Parental ratings of children's externalizing problems in particular were associated with high maternal depressive symptom level.     

An Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the CBCL 6-18 in a Sample of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with co-occurring emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The Child Behavior Checklist 6-18 (CBCL; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) is an EBD measure that contains several norm-referenced scales derived through factor analysis of data from the general pediatric population. The psychometric properties of this widely used and well-researched measure have not been evaluated in samples of youth with ASD. This study evaluated the CBCL's internal structure, scale reliability, criterion-related validity, and diagnostic accuracy using archival data from a well-characterized sample of youth with ASD (N = 122). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the unidimensionality of the CBCL's syndrome scales and its internalizing-externalizing factor structure. Significance tests indicated that many scales discriminated between two subgroups: a group of individuals with ASD + EBD and a group with ASD alone. Diagnostic accuracy analyses indicated that the CBCL had good sensitivity but low specificity for detecting co-occurring disorders. Results supported the use of the CBCL in conjunction with other clinical data when assessing for EBD in youth with ASD.