Biomedical subjects

G Esser

Publications and source records attributed to G Esser.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Depressive disorders and conduct disorders in childhood and adolescence. Prevalence, course, and risk factors].

Mental disorders belong to the most frequent disorders in the community and lead to noticeable functional impairments. The lifetime prevalence of clinical depression (ICD-10 diagnoses F33, F34) up to age 25 is 12.7%, showing a female-male ratio of 2:1. From adolescence onwards, persistence rates of depressive disorders are comparably as high as those found in externalizing disorders. Subclinical depression (ICD-10 subthreshold disorders) at ages 8 and 13 increases the risk for later clinically relevant mental disorders. Conduct disorders (ICD-10 diagnoses F91, F92) are the most frequent mental disorders in children and adolescents with lifetime prevalence rates of 22.4% up to age 25. Conduct disorders show unfavorable courses beginning at preschool age. Precursors of later disorders can be detected as early as toddlerhood. Adverse family factors in childhood and early externalizing problems of the child were most predictive for later conduct disorders. Therefore, the need for early prevention of conduct disorders is highlighted. The focus should be on families with low socioeconomic status (objective: strengthening family and child resources). For depressive disorders, we recommend testing and evaluating the indicated prevention programs in adolescence (objective: strengthening the resources of the adolescent).

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

The management of chronic tinnitus: comparison of an outpatient cognitive-behavioral group training to minimal-contact interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Using a randomized group design, the efficacy of an outpatient cognitive-behavioral Tinnitus Coping Training (TCT) was compared to two minimal-contact (MC) interventions. METHODS: TCT was conducted in a group format with 11 sessions (total n=43). One MC [MC-E (education), n=16] consisted of two group sessions in which education on tinnitus was presented and self-help strategies were introduced. The second MC [MC-R (relaxation), n=16] comprised four sessions. Besides education, music-supported relaxation was suggested as self-help strategy and audiotapes with relaxing music were provided. Furthermore, a waiting-list control group was installed (WC, n=20). Data were assessed at baseline (pretherapy) and at posttherapy period. Only TCT was additionally evaluated at a 6-month and a 12-month follow-up. Several outcome variables (e.g., awareness of tinnitus) were recorded in a tinnitus diary. Tinnitus coping and disability due to tinnitus were assessed by questionnaires. Subjective ratings of improvement were also requested from the patients. Furthermore, inventories of psychopathology were given to the patients. RESULTS: Findings reveal highly significant improvements in TCT in comparison to the control group (WC). MC interventions do not differ significantly from each other, but are superior to WC in a few domains of outcome. Outcome in TCT is somewhat superior to combined MC interventions in two domains of data, but not regarding disability reduction. Effect sizes, nevertheless, indicate distinct differences in degree of improvement, with TCT achieving the best results. CONCLUSIONS: A sequential scheme for the treatment of chronic tinnitus is discussed on the basis of cost-effectiveness considerations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

[Analysis of EEG coherence in examination of an automation deficit in reading-spelling disorder--a pilot study].

OBJECTIVES: Do dyslexic children exhibit a general automatizational deficit as well as a phonological deficit? METHODS: In 16 children aged 9-11 years the reaction time, the number of mistakes and EEG (19 scalp electrodes) were measured in three experiments (verbal and nonverbal). The EEG data was baseline-corrected and after a fast fourier transformation, analyzed with the coherence tool of the Brainvision Software. RESULTS: The dyslexic group made more mistakes than the control group on all tasks but their reaction times were significantly longer only on the verbal tasks. There were no coherence differences on the nonverbal task. On the language-dependent tasks the dyslexics showed higher total-frontal and lower left-frontal coherences only in the theta-frequency range, while in the alpha and beta frequency ranges coherences did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: A language-dependent cognitive automatizational deficit in the dyslexic group is assumed that is depicted by the higher synchronization of total-frontal coherences (involvement of the central executive) and is based on the less established functional coupling of cortical subsystems for language processing.

Brain Mapping↗

PubMed2002

[Motor, cognitive and socio-emotional development of 11-year-olds with early childhood risk factors: late sequelae].

OBJECTIVES: The investigation of the impact of early childhood risk factors on developmental outcome at the age of 11 years. METHODS: The onset and course of developmental and behavioral disturbances were examined in a prospective longitudinal study of a sample of 362 children born with different risks. Organic (obstetric complications) and psychosocial risks (family adversity) were varied in a two-factorial design. Measures of motor, cognitive and social-emotional outcome were obtained from 341 children aged 11 years (168 boys, 173 girls, corresponding to 94.2% of the initial sample). Previous assessments had been conducted at the ages of 3 months, and again at the ages of 2, 4 1/2 and 8 years. RESULTS: The negative impact of early risk factors persisted into late childhood. Rates of developmental and behavioral disturbances in high-risk children were up to three times higher than in non-risk children. Both organic and psychosocial risks contributed to adverse outcomes. While organic complications were related to disturbances in motor and cognitive development, the detrimental effects of psychosocial adversity pertained to social-emotional functioning. Late sequelae of pre- and perinatal complications were found especially in cognitive outcome and school performance. The cumulative effect of early risks was best explained by summing up the single risk effects. CONCLUSIONS: Early risk factors have specific and long-term sequelae resulting in adverse school outcomes at later ages.

Affective Symptoms↗

PubMed2001

Differential development of infants at risk for psychopathology: the moderating role of early maternal responsivity.

The development of behaviour problems in infants born with biological risk (low birthweight) and psychosocial risk (psychosocially disadvantaged family) was studied in a sample of 347 children (171 males, 176 females) at the ages of 2, 4:6, and 8 years. In the search for factors that moderate the effects of early risks, the role of early responsive caregiving was examined. Results indicate that infants at psychosocial risk exhibited both more externalizing and internalizing problems across ages than infants not at psychosocial risk, while no overall differences were apparent between normal- and low-birthweight groups. With one exception, no interactions between biological and psychosocial risk factors emerged, suggesting that their simultaneous effect is largely additive. Maternal responsivity was found to moderate the effects of low birthweight on hyperkinetic and internalizing problems as well as to influence the consequences of family disadvantage on total problems. These findings stress the importance of early parenting in the behavioural development of at-risk children.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2001

Child development after maternal tocolysis with beta-sympathomimetic drugs.

The psycho-social development of both preterm and term children whose mothers reported tocolytic treatment was assessed at the ages of 2, 4.5, and 8 years. Term children exposed to tocolysis showed a higher rate of psychiatric disorders as well as poorer cognitive and motor performance than controls. In the preterm children no adverse impact of tocolysis could be found. The results are discussed concerning possible ways in which tocolytic treatment may influence child development. Restrictions because of the preliminary character of this study and the need of further prospective studies to clarify the developmental impact of tocolysis are also considered.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

PubMed2001

[Mother-child interaction and externalizing disorders in elementary schoolchildren].

OBJECTIVES: The behavior of eight-year-old children with externalizing disorders (ADHD and CD) in interaction with their mothers was examined. METHODS/RESULTS: Mothers of ADHD children were more restrictive and negative towards their children and showed less adequate control than did mothers of normal children. ADHD children paid less attention, were less assertive and helpless, and were more impulsive than controls. CD children were more negative towards their mothers, and were more aggressive and provocative than normal children, while their mothers were more impatient. CONCLUSIONS: An interaction between aggressive child behavior and maternal restrictiveness contributed to increased conduct problems. Hyperactivity was enhanced by the interaction between the impulsive behavior of the child and the aversive maternal response.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Epidemiology and prognosis of specific disorders of language and scholastic skills.

Data from a prospective longitudinal study on the development of children born at biological and psychosocial risk were utilised to examine language and learning abilities of 320 children at ages 4.5 and 8 years. Following the research criteria of the ICD-10, specific developmental disorders of speech and language and specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills were diagnosed. Data were also provided for a clinical and general low achievement group according to less stringent criteria. Frequencies in the risk population were low for specific disorders (ICD-10) (0.6%-3.7% depending on age and type of disorder). Higher frequencies were found when a clinical definition (0.6%-13.6%) or overall low achievement score (0.6%-18.6%) was chosen. The impact of well-documented organic and psychosocial risks was analysed. Organic risk affected language abilities at 4.5 years of age but neither language nor learning abilities at 8 years of age. Psychosocial aspects of a child's environment proved to be associated with both specific language and learning abilities. Stability of language disorders, association between language and reading/spelling disorders as well as gender effects were investigated.

Achievement↗

PubMed2000

Behavioral sequelae of perinatal insults and early family adversity at 8 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective longitudinal study investigated the simultaneous impact of early biological and psychosocial risk factors on behavioral outcome at school age. METHOD: A cohort of 362 children born between 1986 and 1988 with different biological (perinatal insults) and psychosocial risk factors (family adversity) was followed from birth to school age. When their children were aged 8 years, parents of 89.0% of the initial sample completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: More externalizing as well as internalizing problems were found in children born into adverse family backgrounds, whereas no differences at broad-band syndrome level were apparent between groups with varying obstetric complications. Children with family risk factors had higher scores on 5 of the 8 CBCL scales (including attention, delinquent, and aggressive problems), whereas children with perinatal risk factors had more social and attention problems than children in the nonrisk groups. With one exception, no interactions between risk factors emerged, indicating that perinatal and family risk factors contributed independently to outcome. The differences between risk groups applied irrespective of gender. CONCLUSIONS: The adverse impact of family adversity clearly outweighed the influence of obstetric complications in determining behavioral adjustment at school age.

Child↗

PubMed1998

Mutagenic properties of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthaline-1-hydroperoxide, a model compound for organic peroxides in Diesel exhaust.

The genotoxicity of the organic peroxide 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthaline-1-hydroperoxide (or tetraline-1-hydroperoxide, THP) was investigated in the Ames assay without a metabolic activating system using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98, TA 100, and TA 102. THP served as a model compound for higher organic peroxides, which can arise from autoxidation of hydrocarbons, e.g. in Diesel exhaust. While THP induced no mutagenic response in S. typhimurium TA 98, it was directly mutagenic in strains TA 100 and TA 102. These data, along with findings on mutagenic properties of other alkyl hydroperoxides, suggest that such compounds deserve further investigation regarding their genotoxic potential and occurrence in the environment.

Models, Chemical↗

PubMed1998

At risk for language disorders? Correlates and course of language disorders in preschool children born at risk.

The language abilities of 324 children of an at-risk population were investigated at age 2 and 4.5 y. Modified research criteria of the ICD-10 for specific developmental disorders of speech and language were applied. Frequencies between 4% and 7%, depending on age and type of disorder, were diagnosed among children whose performance on the language measure was only 1 instead of ICD-10's 2 SD below group mean, but the discrepancy measure of 1 SD between non-verbal language score and language measure was retained. Psychosocial aspects of a child's environment proved to be better predictors of later language disorders than obstetric complications. Stability of specific language disorders was on the whole fairly low, but children who perform below age level on language measures remained at risk. Gender differences are almost compensated by the age 4.5 y.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1998

[Risks and protective factors in early childhood development: empirical findings].

A common result of many studies of children at risk for developmental disorder is the heterogeneity of individual reactions to adversity. One attempt to explain the differential outcome of children at risk lies in the assumption of protective factors. In a prospective study of 362 infants the significance of pre- and perinatal complications (early biological risks) and of adverse family living circumstances (early psychosocial risks) on child development at 4 1/2 years was examined. Additionally, to study the interplay between risk and protective factors a number of mother-child and family characteristics potentially favourable to early development were assessed. Results indicated that early risk factors made a significant contribution to child development at preschool age. Using multiple risk indices, between 10 and 20% of the variance of the developmental outcome at 4 1/2 years was explained. Significant predictors of later developmental disorders were neonatal seizures and very low birth weight among the biological risks and low educational level of the parents, early parenthood and unwanted pregnancy among the psychosocial risks. The contribution of early protective factors to developmental outcome, however, was only limited. The high overlap with risk factors, the low specific predictive power and the lack of a moderator effect question the theoretical usefulness of a global concept of protective factors. However, when interactions between specific risk and protective factors were studied, there was evidence of a buffer effect of a successful early mother child interaction.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗

PubMed1997

Developmental outcome of infants born with biological and psychosocial risks.

The significance of prenatal and perinatal complications (biological risk) and of family adversity (psychosocial risk) on early child development was examined in a prospective study. Developmental outcome of 350 infants was assessed by measures of motor, cognitive, and social-emotional functioning at 3, 24, and 54 months. Results indicated a differential impact of risk factors on specific outcomes. Whereas psychosocial risks became more prominent with growing age and were related to poorer child outcome in all areas of functioning, biological risks decreased in influence and predominantly resulted in poorer motor development. The contributions of biological and psychosocial risks on outcomes were additive. A number of individual risk factors emerged as significant predictors of later maladaptation.

Affective Symptoms↗

PubMed1997

Psychiatric disorders in adult patients with early-treated phenylketonuria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine psychiatric disorders in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) and to test whether biochemical control, intellectual functioning, white matter abnormalities visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or style of parenting influence psychopathology. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 35 PKU patients 17 to 33 years of age (mean: 22.2). From a total of 67 patients, 3 patients were selected because of other causes of possible brain damage. Then 35 patients were randomly drawn with comparison with a control sample (n = 181) from an epidemiologic study. METHODS: We used a standardized, highly structured, face-to-face interview; intelligence quotient (IQ) test; cranial MRI (n = 26); and monitoring of plasma phenylalanine. RESULTS: The overall rate of psychiatric disorders was 25.7% in PKU patients and 16.1% in controls. This difference was not statistically significant. The pattern of psychiatric disturbances was different for PKU patients and controls (Fisher's exact test): in PKU patients, externalizing disorders were reduced (PKU: not present, controls: 7.8%), whereas internalizing disorders (PKU: 25.7%, controls: 8.3%) were increased. International Classification of Diseases, version 10, diagnoses were predominantly those of the depressive category and more frequent in women (8 of 18 females and 1 of 17 males). A correlation between IQ and both biochemical control up to 12 years of age and school education of parents was confirmed. No correlation was found between the severity or pattern of psychiatric disturbances and school education of parents, biochemical control, IQ, or the extension of MRI-visible, white matter abnormalities. It was found that a restrictive controlling style of parenting is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a psychological perspective for the development of psychiatric symptoms in PKU. Thus, optimizing medical treatment necessary to prevent brain damage should be accompanied by psychiatric monitoring and psychological support for the families.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

[Mannheim Rating Scales for the analysis of mother-child interaction in toddlers].

As part of a prospective study on child development from birth to age 11 the Mannheim Rating Scales for the Analysis of Mother-Child Interaction in Toddlers was constructed. Ten-minute interactions of 352 mothers and their toddlers were videotaped in the laboratory and evaluated with micro- and macroanalytic techniques. The instrument consists of a combination of second-by-second codings and dimensional ratings of 5-second to 1 minute periods. Interrater reliability, assessed by having two raters analyze 16 mother-child dyads, proved satisfactory. Psychosocial risk showed different patterns from those at low risk. Interactions of mothers and daughters seemed to be more harmonious than interactions of mothers and sons.

Aggression↗

PubMed1996

[4 1/2 years later: Mannheim risk children of preschool age].

The present investigation was concerned with the impact of prenatal and perinatal complications (biological risks) and of family adversity (psychosocial risks) on developmental status at age 4 1/2. In a prospective study the developmental course of 362 children (including 210 high-risk children) was followed from birth to age 4 1/2 years. A multilevel approach was used to assess all relevant domains of functioning (i.e. motor, cognitive and social-emotional development). The goal was to obtain information about the effects of biological and psychosocial risks alone and together on outcome in the different domains of functioning. The results show that psychosocial risk factors posed the greatest threat to normal development. Children with psychosocial risks were significantly behind those without such risks in all areas of functioning. Biological risks mainly affected motor development, their negative effects on cognitive and social-emotional functioning having been largely compensated for by age 4 1/2. The extent of an adverse outcome was related to both the degree of risk load and the number of risk factors, whereas interactions among risks were of only minor relevance. An adverse outcome is not inevitable, however: Despite the risks most of the at-risk children showed normal development at age 4 1/2.

Affective Symptoms↗

PubMed1995

The management of chronic tinnitus--comparison of a cognitive-behavioural group training with yoga.

Two non-medical treatment strategies for chronic idiopathic tinnitus were evaluated in a randomized control group design. A cognitive-behavioural tinnitus coping training (TCT) was developed and compared to yoga and a self-monitoring control condition. Forty-three chronic tinnitus patients, were assessed at baseline, directly after therapy, and at 3 months follow-up. For evaluation, differential psychoacoustic variables were registered, a tinnitus diary as well as the Tinnitus Questionnaire and different measures of general well-being were used. Statistical analyses showed effects favouring the TCT treatment in comparison to the control and yoga treatment. The TCT-treated patients reported more satisfaction with the training than the yoga group. Participants in the self-monitoring control group were treated either by TCT or yoga after a waiting period. The outcome in this group was even better than in the experimental groups while yoga again showed rather poor effects.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1994

Estimating the change of carbon in the terrestrial biosphere from 18 000 BP to present using a carbon cycle model.

The authors used a global High Resolution Biosphere Model (HRBM), consisting of a biome model and a carbon cycle model, to estimate the changes of carbon storage in the major pools of the terrestrial biosphere from 18 000 BP to present. The climate change data to drive the biosphere for 18 000 BP were derived from an Atmospheric General Circulation Model. Using the AGCM anomalies interpolated to a 0.5 degrees grid, the HRBM data base of the present climate was recalculated for 18 000 BP. The most important processes which influenced the carbon storage include (1) climate-induced changes in biospheric processes and vegetation distribution, (2) the CO(2) fertilization effect, (3) the inundation of lowland areas resulting from the sea level rise of 100 m. Two scenarios were investigated. The first scenario, which ignored the CO(2) fertilization effect, led to total carbon losses from the terrestrial biosphere of -460 x 10(9) t. Scenario 2, which assumed that the model formulation of the CO(2) fertilization effect as used for preindustrial to present could be extrapolated to the glacial 200 microl litre(-1) (ppmv, parts per million per volume), gave a carbon fixation in the terrestrial biosphere of +213 x 10(9) t. The two scenarios were compared with CO(2) concentration data and isotopic ratios from air in ice cores. The results of Scenario 1 are not in agreement with the data. Scenario 2 gives realistic delta(13)C shifts in the atmosphere but the biospheric carbon storage at the end of the glacial period seems too large. The authors suggest that the low atmospheric CO(2) concentration may have favoured the C-4 plants in ice age vegetation types. As a consequence the influence of the low CO(2) concentration was eventually reduced and the glacial carbon storage in vegetation, litter, and soil was increased.

Journal Article↗