Biomedical subjects

R B Noll

Publications and source records attributed to R B Noll.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Adjustment in the peer system of adolescents with cancer: a two-year study.

Evaluated the psychosocial adaptations of adolescents with cancer who were primarily off treatment (n = 19, ages 11-18) as compared with matched classroom controls in a 2-year longitudinal study on indices of (a) teacher, peer, and self-perceptions of social reputation; (b) multiple measures of popularity and friendships; and (c) self-reported feelings of loneliness, depression, and self-concept. Adolescents with cancer continued to have a social reputation as being more socially isolated, but no significant differences were identified on multiple measures of social acceptance or the self-reported feelings. In general, adolescents with cancer were similar to peers on numerous dimensions of psychological functioning manifesting minimal discernable psychosocial late effects.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1993

Predictors of behavior problems in three-year-old sons of alcoholics: early evidence for the onset of risk.

We investigated risk factors in a population-based sample of alcoholic (father) and comparison families with 3-year-old sons. Alcoholic and comparison parents did not differ in socioeconomic status (SES), education, years married, family size, or cognitive functioning. Antisocial behavior and depression were significantly greater in alcoholic parents. High risk children were more impulsive than comparison children, but there were no differences in developmental age, IQ, or behavior problems. A higher percentage of high-risk children were rated in the extreme clinical range for behavior problems than were comparison children. For alcoholic families, mothers' ratings of their children's total behavior problems, externalizing behavior problems, and internalizing behavior problems were predicted by mothers' lifetime alcohol problems, current depression, and family SES. Father variables failed to predict children's behavior problems. Maternal variables were stronger predictors of their 3-year-old sons' problem behaviors than were paternal variables.

Achievement↗

PubMed1992

Social interactions between children with cancer or sickle cell disease and their peers: teacher ratings.

We evaluated the social reputation of children with cancer (nonprimary brain tumors) (n = 26) children with a primary malignancy involving the central nervous system (n = 15), and children with sickle cell disease (SCD) (n = 33) using a standardized measure of social reputation, the Revised Class Play (RCP). Each child's classroom teacher completed the RCP, an instrument designed to assess sociability-leadership, aggressive-disruptive, and sensitive-isolated interpersonal qualities. Matched-pairs analyses comparing the child with chronic illness to one peer in each class who was the same gender/race and the closest date of birth showed children with cancer were nominated more often for sociability-leadership roles and less often for aggressive-disruptive roles. Brain tumor survivors were nominated more often for sensitive-isolated roles. Children with SCD were not significantly different from peers. Findings suggest that the stressful life events associated with cancer or SCD did not have a significant negative impact on social adjustment for school-aged children with these diseases. The data demonstrate the critical need for appropriate controls when evaluating psychosocial morbidity and chronic illness. Better understanding of the processes of resilience for these children who are routinely exposed to heightened stress provides an opportunity to improve the competence of other high-risk youth.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

CNS prophylaxis of childhood leukemia: what are the long-term neurological, neuropsychological, and behavioral effects?

Current medical treatments for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved the outlook to where more than 50% can be expected to survive five years or more. The use of CNS prophylaxis has contributed in a significant way to these improved survival statistics by reducing the likelihood of CNS relapses. The literature relating to the potential adverse psychological consequences of CNS prophylaxis, which include cranial radiation therapy (CRT), is reviewed and analyzed. The majority of published papers of children in first remission report that CNS prophylaxis, which include both CRT and intrathecal methotrexate, results in a variety of learning problems in many children who were younger than age 5 when treated. The available literature on the social, emotional, and educational sequelae of childhood ALL is also reviewed.

Brain↗

PubMed1991

Differences in the child-rearing practices of parents of children with cancer and controls: the perspectives of parents and professionals.

Obtained self-reports of parenting practices from fathers and mothers of 24 children with cancer, and 24 controls using the Child-Rearing Practices Report (CRPR). Cancer patients were primarily in long-term remission and represented a typical pattern of childhood malignancies. Same age/sex controls were recruited from the classrooms of the children with cancer. In addition, CRPR ratings were obtained from experts in pediatric oncology based upon their prediction of how a parent of a child with cancer would respond. The experts predicted differences in the areas of overinvolvement, discipline, worry about the child, nutritional concerns, and use of supernatural explanations. Results from parents showed surprising similarity between the parents of children with cancer and control parents, and disagreement with the experts. Discussion focuses on explanations for this apparent contradiction.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Peer relationships and adjustment in children with cancer.

Evaluated the psychosocial adaptations of children with cancer (n = 24, ages 8-18) as compared with same classroom controls on indices of (a) peer- and self-perceptions of sociability, aggression, and social isolation; (b) overall popularity; (c) mutual friendships; (d) feelings of loneliness; and (e) self-concept in multiple domains. Although the peer report data showed that children with cancer had a social reputation as significantly more socially isolated, no significant differences were found for their popularity, number of mutual friends, loneliness, or self-worth. Findings suggest that children with cancer have a reputation as more socially isolated, but differences were not found on measures of acceptance by peers, self-concept, or loneliness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Social interactions between children with cancer and their peers: teacher ratings.

Compared children (ages 8-18) with cancer (n = 24) and matched classroom control children (n = 24) using a modified version of the Revised Class Play (RCP). A wide variety of malignancies were represented, except brain tumors. Childrens' classroom teachers completed the RCP, an instrument modified to obtain teachers' impressions of three fundamental dimensions of interpersonal style: sociability-leadership, aggressive-disruptive, sensitive-isolated. Relative to the matched controls, children with cancer were perceived by teachers as (a) less sociable and prone towards leadership and (b) more socially isolated and withdrawn. These findings suggest a need for long-term psychosocial interventions oriented towards peer relationships of children with cancer.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Identification of alcohol by smell among preschoolers: evidence for early socialization about drugs occurring in the home.

This study tested preschoolers' ability to provide accurate verbal associations to alcoholic beverage odors and whether this ability was related to parental drinking patterns and motivations. Older preschoolers performed better than younger preschoolers; photographic cues improved performance; children who correctly identified a substance by smell had socially appropriate knowledge of the culturally appropriate users of the substance; children reported liking substances that are used mainly by children and adults, and generally reported disliking substances whose use is legally limited to adults only; children were better at identifying substances they commonly use, but success at recognition of alcoholic beverages was related to heavier parental drinking and use of alcohol for escape reasons. Findings have implications for theories of socialization to drug use and for models of prevention.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1989

Long-term follow-up of biochemical and cognitive functioning in patients with mannosidosis.

Longitudinal assessments of three brothers with alpha-mannosidosis were performed biochemically by determining levels of leukocyte enzyme activity, and neurodevelopmentally by testing of general intelligence, language, visual spatial skills, and overall adaptive abilities. During the follow-up examination, enzyme activity was assessed in fibroblasts to evaluate the uniformity of biochemical deficits. The biochemical findings demonstrated profound deficits of leukocyte alpha-mannosidase that remained remarkably stable over time and were very similar to levels of the same enzyme activity in fibroblasts. The cognitive findings showed that the patients manifested mild cognitive deficits. Cognitive deficits were generally uniform with no signs of progressive deterioration, except receptive language abilities. Suggestions are made for careful follow-up of auditory abilities in patients with mannosidosis.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1988

Hypnotherapy of a child with warts.

Hypnosis was used to treat a 7-year-old female with 82 common warts. The lesions had been present for 12-18 months and were refractory to routine dermatologic treatment. Hypnotic suggestions were given for the facial warts to disappear before warts from the rest of the body. After 2 weeks, eight of 16 facial warts were gone, with no other changes. After three additional biweekly sessions, all 82 warts were gone. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of systematic wart removal in children. Discussion focuses on the relationship between psychological mechanisms and the immune system.

Anxiety↗

PubMed1986

Follow-up of language and cognitive development in patients with mannosidosis.

Three brothers with mannosidosis were assessed both biochemically by levels of enzyme activities and developmentally by serial testing of language and cognitive development. The findings indicated that while the leukocyte enzyme activity of alpha-mannosidase was exceptionally low, only mild intellectual deficits were present that did not progress during a two-year follow-up. These results do not substantiate the expected relationship between the severities of enzyme deficiency and developmental delays. Language and cognitive deficits appeared uniform with no areas of strengths or weaknesses. Deficits in development did not progress during a two-year follow-up.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1984

Complex visual hallucinations and cyclosporine.

Insidious loss of visual acuity and simultaneous onset of complex visual hallucinations were observed in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had recently received bone marrow transplantation and was being treated with prednisone and cyclosporine to suppress graft-v-host disease. Problems with visual acuity and visual hallucinations spontaneously ameliorated with reduction and termination of cyclosporine treatment. The complex visual hallucinations caused considerable psychological distress for the patient. These hallucinatory phenomena were placed within the framework of loss of control and decreased competence, often experienced by children with chronic illness. Recommendations for prompt therapeutic intervention were made.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aggression, antisocial behavior, and substance abuse in survivors of pediatric cancer: possible protective effects of cancer and its treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine aggression, antisocial behavior, and substance abuse in young adult survivors of pediatric cancer (PCS) relative to case control peers (CC). METHODS: We obtained self-reports of current aggression, antisocial behavior, and lifetime substance use from 26 PCS (time off-treatment, M: = 56 months) and 26 CC using the Antisocial Behavior Checklist and the Drinking and Drug History. A report of current aggression and antisocial behavior also was obtained from primary caregivers using the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: PCS self-reported significantly less illegal drug use and experimentation than CC. No significant differences emerged between groups for use of alcohol and tobacco nor for aggression and antisocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS: PCS are functioning as well as, or better than, CC in terms of aggression, antisocial behavior, and substance abuse. However, given the compromised health status of survivors, efforts should focus on further reduction of drug-related risk behaviors that may amplify organ damage or increase risk for further malignancies in this population.

Adolescent↗