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PubMed2000

Thought disorder index of Finnish adoptees and communication deviance of their adoptive parents.

BACKGROUND: Diverse forms of thought disorder, as measured by the Thought Disorder Index (TDI), are found in many conditions other than schizophrenia. Certain thought disorder categories are primarily manifest during psychotic schizophrenic episodes. The present study examined whether forms of thought disorder qualify as trait indicators of vulnerability to schizophrenia in persons who are not clinically ill, and whether these features could be linked to genetic or environmental risk or to genotype-environment interactions. The Finnish Adoptive Study of Schizophrenia provided an opportunity to disentangle these issues. METHODS: Rorschach records of Finnish adoptees at genetic high risk but without schizophrenia-related clinical diagnoses (N = 56) and control adoptees at low genetic risk (N = 95) were blindly and reliably scored for the Thought Disorder Index (TDI). Communication deviance (CD), a measure of the rearing environment, was independently obtained from the adoptive parents. RESULTS: The differences in total TDI between high-risk and control adoptees were not statistically significant. However, TDI subscales for Fluid Thinking and Idiosyncratic Verbalization were more frequent in high-risk adoptees. When Rorschach CD of the adoptive rearing parents was introduced as a continuous predictor variable, the odds ratio for the Idiosyncratic Verbalization component of the TDI of the high-risk adoptees was significantly higher than for the control adoptees. CONCLUSIONS: Specific categories of subsyndromal thought disorder appear to qualify as vulnerability indicators for schizophrenia. Genetic risk and rearing-parent communication patterns significantly interact as a joint effect that differentiates adopted-away offspring of schizophrenic mothers from control adopted-away offspring.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Externalizing symptomatology among adoptive youth: prevalence and preadoption risk factors.

The extent of symptomatology related to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) was examined in a statewide sample of adopted youth, aged 4-18 years (n = 808). The use of normed questionnaires in a nonclinical sample decreased biases associated with past research on adopted children. According to parental report, a striking number of the youth qualified as manifesting significant symptom levels of externalizing behavior problems: 21% met symptom cutoffs for ADHD (with or without ODD) and 20% met criteria for ODD (with or without ADHD), for a combined total of 29% of the sample. A number of parent-reported, preadoptive risk factors distinguished these groups from one another and from the nonexternalizing youth. The clearest associated factors included histories of preadoption abuse/neglect, later age of adoption, prenatal drug exposure, and placement in multiple foster homes prior to adoption. We discuss implications regarding both etiology and current controversies surrounding the disproportionate levels of behavioral difficulties in adopted youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Personality resemblances in adoptive families when the children are late-adolescent or adult.

Members of 220 families who had adopted one or more children from a Texas home for unwed mothers at least 14 years ago completed the California Psychological Inventory and the Thurstone Temperament Schedule. Consistent with other recent adoption studies in Minnesota and Texas, there was very little resemblance between parents and adopted children or between adoptive siblings (average correlations about .05). The presence of a biological relationship raised correlations a little, but only a little, to about .15, suggesting that much of the explanation for personality variation must lie in within-family environmental variation or nonadditive genetic effects. In an earlier study, young adopted children appeared to be better adjusted, on the average, than biological children in the same families. This was no longer true for the late-adolescents and young adults of the present study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Implications of the restricted range of family environments for estimates of heritability and nonshared environment in behavior-genetic adoption studies.

Group and individual-difference adoption designs lead to opposite conclusions concerning the importance of shared environment (SE) for the child outcomes of IQ and antisocial behavior. This paradox could be due to the range restriction (RR) of family environments (FE) that goes with adoption studies. Measures of FE from 2 of the most recent adoption studies indicate that RR is substantial, about 67%, which corresponds to the top half of a normal FE distribution. RR of 67% cuts effect sizes and R2 statistics by factors of 3 and 2-2.5, respectively. Because selection into an adoption study in inherently a between-family process and assuming that comparable restriction of genetic (G) influences are absent, estimates of SE, G, and nonshared influences will be substantially biased, respectively, down, up, and up by RR. Corrections for RR applied to adoption studies indicate that SE could account for as much as 50% of the variance in IQ.

Adoption↗
PubMed2005

Language development in preschool-age children adopted from China.

This study examined the language development of 55 preschool-age children adopted from China who had resided in their permanent homes for approximately 2 years or longer. Slightly over 5% of the children scored below average on 2 or more measures from a battery of standardized speech-language tests normed on monolingual English speakers. However, the vast majority scored within or well above the average range on 2 or more measures. Contrary to other reports on the language development of internationally adopted children, the results suggest that "second first language" acquisition proceeds rapidly in the majority of preschool-age children adopted as infants and toddlers. For the children in the sample who scored below average, results indicated that they were among the children who had been exposed to English for the least amount of time. The results of this study demonstrate both the robustness of the language system in the majority of adopted children from China as well as slower growth in a small subset of lower performers in the 1st years after adoption.

Adoption↗
PubMed2003

Differential roles of VLA-4(CD49d/CD29) and LFA-1(CD11a/CD18) integrins and E- and P-selectin during developing and established active or adoptively transferred adjuvant arthritis in the rat.

The role of the integrins VLA-4 and LFA-1 and of the selectin adhesion molecules in autoimmune arthritis was investigated. Adjuvant arthritis was induced in Lewis rats by active immunization (s.c.) with Mycobacterium butyricum or by adoptive transfer of immune T cells. With active adjuvant arthritis, Lewis rats develop maximal polyarticular joint inflammation and migration of radiolabelled (111In and 51Cr) blood neutrophils and monocytes to the joints 14 days post Mycobacterium butyricum immunization. Using blocking monoclonal antibodies we osbserved that at this stage monocyte recruitment was dependent (85%) on P-selectin plus VLA-4 (alpha4B1) and neutrophil recruitment depended (> 80%) on P-selectin plus LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18). E-selectin played a minimal role in inflammatory cell recruitment to the already inflamed joint. In contrast, during the development of active adjuvant arthritis, blockade of P-selectin beginning at day 5 post-immunization had no effect on subsequent arthritis. However, E-selectin blockade at this stage reduced arthritic scores by 70% (P < 0.01) and combined E-selectin plus VLA-4 blockade prevented development of arthritis. Either treatment nearly abolished neutrophil and monocyte recruitment to joints at day 14 and prevented cartilage damage. VLA-4 blockade alone was less effective. Adoptive T-cell transfer of adjuvant arthritis to naive rats employed spleen/lymph node lymphocytes from Mycobacterium butyricum immunized rats stimulated with Concanavalin A in vitro (48 h). E-selectin +/- P-selectin blockade had no effect on the development of adoptive arthritis. However, VLA-4 integrin blockade inhibited adoptive arthritis severity by 55% (P < 0.01). LFA-1 blockade had no effect. In adoptive adjuvant arthritis, inhibition of arthritis clinically and by histology was essentially complete (> 90%) when E- and P-selectin blockade was combined with VLA-4 blockade. Thus, in the development of actively induced arthritis E-selectin plays an important role, likely mediating early antigen reactive T-cell recruitment to joints. In contrast, VLA-4 and multiple selectin mechanisms are involved in arthritis induction by ex vivo restimulated arthritogenic T cells. Furthermore, in actively induced adjuvant arthritis, P- and E-selectin and VLA-4 are differently important in the initiation of arthritis, and at the time of fully developed joint inflammation.

Adoptive Transfer↗
PubMed2001

Psychological assessments before and after treatment of early puberty in adopted children.

UNLABELLED: Early puberty is frequently observed in adopted children. This randomized trial treated 30 adopted children with early puberty and short stature with either gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) alone or in combination with growth hormone (GH) for 3 y. Before the start of treatment (T1) in the trial and at discontinuation (T2) the children and their parents underwent a psychological evaluation. At the start of treatment the children did not have increased levels of behavioural or emotional problems as assessed by the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). During treatment the CBCL scores did not increase. Self-perception of the children appeared to be normal, and after 3 y a significantly higher score for acceptance by peers was observed. At T1, an overestimation of future height was present in 80% of the children and 17% of the parents. Lower family stress was observed at T1 and T2 compared with reference values. Intelligence quotient levels decreased significantly during treatment. The findings are discussed with reference to the reported levels of behavioural and emotional problems in adopted children and the psychosocial effects of precocious puberty. CONCLUSION: This psychological evaluation did not reveal any consistent abnormalities in adopted children with early puberty. Treatment with GnRHa with or without GH did not increase emotional and behavioural problems in adopted children, nor was their self-perception decreased.

Adoption↗
PubMed2005

Observing relationships in Finnish adoptive families: Oulu Family Rating Scale.

Adoption studies were intended to separate genetic from environmental "causal" factors. In earlier adoption studies, psychiatric diagnostic labels for the adoptive parents were used as a proxy for the multiple dimensions of the family rearing environment. In the Finnish Adoption Study, research design provided the opportunity to study directly the adoptive family rearing environment. For this purpose 33 sub-scales were selected creating what we call Oulu Family Rating Scale (OPAS, Oulun PerheArviointiSkaala). In this paper, the manual for scoring of these sub-scales is presented.

Adoption↗
PubMed2003

Using and not losing the messages from the adoption experience for donor-assisted conception.

The debate about the information needs of donor-conceived people is reaching an important stage. The recent Government consultation about providing information on sperm, egg and embryo donors (Department of Health, 2001) has meant that the subject is receiving much public attention. More importantly, it is becoming increasingly evident that donor-conceived people themselves are beginning to have a voice about their experience of not being able to access basic information about their genealogical heritage. Gollancz (2001) raised some pertinent issues about the rights and needs of donor-conceived people to have access to identifying information about their genetic parents. Recent research is also providing powerful messages about the information needs of donor-conceived people. For example, the study by Turner and Coyle (2000) of 16 donor-conceived adults between the ages of 26 and 55 asked about identity experience, including issues of secrecy and disclosure of their donor-conceived status, and also investigated the experience of trying to trace and search for a genetic father (the donor), the current perception of donor insemination and how families could manage openness versus secrecy. The findings identify many similarities between adopted and donor-conceived people. But in what ways is adoption similar to donor conception? And can donor conception learn anything from adoption? This paper will explore some of the relevant lessons learned from adoption to draw out some of the issues, experiences and dilemmas shared by adopted people, donor-conceived people and their families, using the findings of The Children's Society's research study.

Adoption↗
PubMed2004

International adoption: infectious diseases issues.

Nearly 220,000 children have been adopted from other countries by American parents since 1986. Approximately 65,000 children have arrived from China and Russia, mostly in the past 6 years. Most of these children reside in orphanages before adoption, where they may experience malnutrition, environmental deprivation, neglect, and exposure to infectious diseases. After arrival to the United States, international adoptees should undergo specialized screening evaluation for infectious diseases and other conditions. Infectious conditions of special concern include hepatitis B and C, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus infection, tuberculosis, and presence of intestinal parasites. Before the adoption occurs, the infectious disease consultant may be asked to assist the primary care provider and the adoptive family with advice about travel and review of preadoptive medical records. After the adoption, the infectious diseases consultant may be asked to assess the adequacy of the child's vaccination record from the birth country and to assist in screening, evaluation, and management of infectious diseases.

Adoption↗
PubMed1994

The impact of previous sexual abuse on children's adjustment in adoptive placement.

This article explores the effects of previous sexual abuse on the adjustment of children in adoptive placement. A conceptual model is used to interpret the findings of a study comparing the adoptive placements of 35 sexually abused children with the placements of 113 children who had no identified history of sexual abuse. Data were gathered from the children's case records. Results indicate that sexually abused children experienced more moves when in care, increased frequency of disrupted adoptive placements, greater behavioral difficulties, and more attachment problems than the comparison group. This article examines the interaction of sexual abuse and adoption issues and discusses the implications of the findings for social work practice with sexually abused children and their adoptive families.

Adoption↗
PubMed1994

Reunions between adoptees and birth parents: the adoptive parents' view.

This article looks at the reactions of adoptive parents to reunions between their adopted children and the children's birth parents. The focus is on how adoptive parents feel the reunion affects the family's integrity. Three types of family responses are identified: (1) closed, (2) divided, and (3) open. Acceptance of the differences between families created by adoption of children and those created by childbirth was a factor in the families' openness. Closed families saw no difference, and reunion suggested to the adults that they had failed as parents. Parents in open families understood the difference in families, saw the children as separate, and felt no threat to their competence as parents. Families' need for boundaries is examined, and the way the concept of family is constructed is discussed. Implications for the practice of adoption are considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Negative outcomes of interethnic adoption of Mexican American children.

This article identifies concerns about four possible negative outcomes of interethnic adoption involving Mexican American children and non-Mexican American parents. A sample of 861 Mexican Americans age 18 or older were asked whether they agreed or disagreed that four outcomes result from interethnic adoption: (1) The child may have an ethnic identity conflict, (2) the child may forget his or her Latino background, (3) the child's participation in Latino cultural events may be limited, and (4) the child may not acquire the skills to cope with racism. Respondents' agreement with the likelihood of these outcomes was associated with a belief in the importance of structural and cultural barriers preventing Latinos from adopting; with higher levels of participation in Mexican American cultural events; and with income, education, and acculturation. However, agreement that the outcomes were likely did not necessarily reflect approval or disapproval of interethnic adoption. Suggestions are made for future research on Mexican American children adopted by non-Mexican American parents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

Gay and lesbian adoptive and foster care placements: can they meet the needs of waiting children?

Although the number of children in need of adoptive homes is growing, the number of prospective adoptive parents is decreasing. On the basis of an extensive review of relevant literature, the present study explored a potentially viable although controversial and little-researched option for increasing the pool of prospective parents: adoptions by gay men and lesbians. Data for this study were collected from child welfare workers and gay and lesbian adoptive and foster parents. A content analysis of the data suggests that gay men and lesbians experience considerable and seemingly unjustified obstacles in their efforts to become adoptive and foster parents. Major implications for practice and policy are offered, as are future directions for research.

Adoption↗
PubMed1992

Characteristics of adopted juvenile delinquents.

There have been many reports describing the uniqueness of adopted children and adolescents' delinquent behaviors in terms of both their delinquent characteristics and courts' treatment of them. A total of 43 adopted juveniles, 32 extrafamilial (1.0%) and 11 intrafamilial (0.3%) adoptions were initially identified out of 3,280 juvenile delinquents. The adopted subjects were then compared with the demographically matched and offense matched nonadopted subjects. The family variables, such as marital and employment status of parents, were significantly different. However, there were only a few discernible trends, and in general there were no significant differences between the adopted and nonadopted juveniles in terms of their offense characteristics and dispositions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Adoptive and biological families of children and adolescents with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: Using an adoption study design, the authors addressed the issue of genetics in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: This study examined the rates of ADHD and associated disorders in the first-degree adoptive relatives of 25 adopted probands with ADHD and compared them with those of the first-degree biological relatives of 101 nonadopted probands with ADHD and 50 nonadopted, non-ADHD control probands. RESULTS: Six percent of the adoptive parents of adopted ADHD probands had ADHD compared with 18% of the biological parents of nonadopted ADHD probands and 3% of the biological parents of the control probands. CONCLUSION: Results of this study lend support to the hypothesis that ADHD has a genetic component.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Adoption and adaptation.

A review of 5135 patients registered for their first psychiatric services at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute during the period 1969 to 1978 found 113 patients who had been adopted as children. While the representation of adoptees among Children's Service patients was somewhat higher than expected (5 per cent as against an expected 2.2 per cent), the representation of adoptees among adult patients (1.6 per cent) was actually below the expected rate (2.2 per cent in the population at large). Two thirds of the child adoptees were placed in their adoptive homes by the time they were 1 year old. There were no significant differences in psychiatric diagnoses assigned to adopted and nonadopted patients at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. The authors conclude that adoptees are not generally overrepresented in psychiatric samples, though it is true that they may be seen somewhat more frequently in child psychiatry clinics. The authors also conclude that, while adoption may serve as a focus for psychopathology in individual cases, adoption itself cannot be seen as specifically pathogenic.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Children in adoptive families: overview and update.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the past 10 years of published research concerning the 2% of American children younger than 18 years old who are adoptees. METHOD: Review recent literature on developmental influences, placement outcome, psychopathology, and treatment. RESULTS: Adoption carries developmental opportunities and risks. Many adoptees have remarkably good outcomes, but some subgroups have difficulties. Traditional infant, international, and transracial adoptions may complicate adoptees' identity formation. Those placed after infancy may have developmental delays, attachment disturbances, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Useful interventions include preventive counseling to foster attachment, postadoption supports, focused groups for parents and adoptees, and psychotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Variables specific to adoption affect an adopted child's developmental trajectory. Externalizing, internalizing, attachment, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms may arise. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can assist both adoptive parents and children.

Adoption↗