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J H Beitchman

Publications and source records attributed to J H Beitchman.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

IQ and child psychiatric disorder.

The WISC-RIQ scores of 85 children between 7 and 12 years of age taken from the inpatient, outpatient and day care facilities of a Regional Treatment Centre were compared with the expected IQ scores of the standard normal population. In addition, analysis of variance techniques were used to test for an association between IQ variables and seven operationally defined symptom subtypes taken from the child's chart. Significant differences between the clinical sample and the standard normal population were found for the distribution and means for full scale IQ and verbal IQ but not performance IQ. In addition, significant associations were found between FSIQ and the level of aggressive symptoms, and between VIQ and the level of hyperkinetic and aggressive symptom subtypes. The importance of IQ variables and in particular VIQ in understanding the nature of childhood psychiatric disorder is emphasized. The implications of these findings for educational policy are discussed.

Aggression↗

Reliability of the Group for Advancement of Psychiatry Diagnostic Categories in Child Psychiatry.

A total of 403 multiple diagnoses were independently assigned to 41 patient protocols by 73 psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers to determine the levels of interrater reliability of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) diagnostic categories. With the exception of the psychotic disorders category, these diagnostic categories were found to have low levels of interdiagnostician reliability. Differences in the reliabilities across disciplines and levels of training were found. It is noted, however, that neither years of experience, kind of training, nor direct contact with the patient can be regarded as a substitute for improvements in the classification system itself. The importance of a reliable classification system for child psychiatry is emphasized and suggestions for improvements in the present GAP system are made.

Child↗

Seven-year follow-up of speech/language-impaired and control children: speech/language stability and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the 7-year outcome of speech/language (S/L) impaired and control children selected from a community sample at age 5 years. METHOD: Two hundred fifteen children completed a variety of speech and language tests at age 12 years. Children with S/L impairment were further classified as "speech only," "language only," or "speech and language impaired." RESULTS: More than 72% of children who had S/L impairment at age 5 remained impaired at age 12. Children with both speech and language problems were most likely to remain S/L impaired; 81% had some kind of S/L impairment at follow-up. Similarly, children with both expressive and receptive language impairment were more likely to show expressive or receptive impairment at follow-up than children with expressive impairment alone. One third of time 1 controls had S/L problems at follow-up, and of these 82% had speech impairment only. CONCLUSIONS: S/L impairment identified at age 5 has long-lasting effects. More pervasive problems were associated with poorer outcomes. Screening at age 5 may be useful, as most serious S/L problems that emerged by middle childhood could be identified at age 5. The effects of S/L treatment require further study.

Adolescent↗

Substance use disorders in young adults with and without LD: predictive and concurrent relationships.

This article reports on young people with and without learning disabilities (LD) and substance use disorders (SUD). Participants were assessed for LD at ages 12 and 19 and for SUD and psychiatric disorders at age 19. Participants with LD at ages 12 and 19 were more likely to develop an SUD or a psychiatric disorder compared to participants without consistent LD. Participants with LD at age 19 were more likely to have a concurrent SUD or psychiatric disorder compared to those without LD at age 19, while participants with LD at age 12 showed only a trend toward increased rates of SUD at age 19 when compared to participants without LD at age 12. Participants with and without LD did not differ in substance use, consumption levels, or onset history. In a multivariate model, adolescent LD was associated with a three-fold increased risk for SUD after behavioral problems and family structure had entered the model. Although these results provide some support for the notion that adolescents with LD are at increased risk for SUD, LD also appears to confer a general risk for adverse outcomes.

Adolescent↗

Child psychiatry, public health policy, and the aggregate burden of suffering.

We review the parameters for calculating the costs of illness and suggest a framework for understanding how these may apply to various psychiatric disorders of childhood. The costs of childhood psychiatric disorders can best be understood by looking at the prevalence of a given disorder, its duration and severity, whether it be episodic or stable, and how it impacts on the individual, family and community at large. These factors contribute to the "aggregate burden of suffering" associated with any given disorder.

Adolescent↗