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PubMed2005

Psychiatric diagnoses and behaviour problems from childhood to early adolescence in young people with severe intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: While general population studies indicate an increase in the rate of psychiatric disorder in adolescence, little is known about the course of mental health and behaviour problems between childhood and adolescence in young people with severe intellectual disabilities. METHOD: From a sample of 111 children with severe intellectual disability who had been identified from the registers of six special schools at 4-11 years of age, 82 were traced and reassessed 5 years later at the age of 11-17 years. Behaviour problems were assessed by means of parental interviews conducted in the family home and parent and teacher questionnaires. Parental reports of psychiatric diagnoses were checked against health records. RESULTS: With most behaviour problems, including aggression, destructive behaviour and self-injury, there was little difference in rates between the two assessment occasions. However, in spite of this overall pattern of stability, the rates of some behaviour problems, including overactivity, showed significant reductions between childhood and early adolescence. Persistence rates for most behaviour problems appeared comparable to those reported for similar behaviours in general population studies of children. There was no significant difference in the proportion of cases with psychiatric diagnoses between the two assessment occasions, although brief psychotic episodes emerged in three cases in adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the prevalence of mental health and behavioural problems in young people with severe learning disabilities remains relatively stable between childhood and adolescence, although some specific behaviour problems diminish. However, a small minority of children may develop severe psychiatric disorders in adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Exploring rare patient behaviour with sequential analysis: an illustration.

AIMS: To illustrate the application of sequence analysis to the study of rare patient behaviour in physician-patient dialogue. The rare behaviour in question here is patients' expression of emotional cues and concerns. We investigate which physician behaviours precede and follow such expressions. METHODS: Thirty-five cancer-patient consultations performed by four oncologists (two male and two female) were analysed. The consultations were coded with the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Sequence analysis by means of Sequential Data Interchange Standard (SDIS) and the Generalized Sequential Querier (GSEQ) was applied to the coded data. Lag analysis (using RIAS categories) was applied to associate the given behaviour (patient 'concerns') with target behaviours (physician utterances). RESULTS: For female physicians the significantly associated behaviour before the patient's expression of concern was reassurance, while male physicians also applied facilitation behaviour. After patients' expression of concern both reassurance and facilitating behaviour were shown by physicians of both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Sequence analysis appears to be a clinically meaningful and statistically sound method for analysing are patient utterances and associated physician behaviour.

Communication↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioural studies of MHC-congenic mice.

Behavioural studies of MHC-congenic mice and rats have focused primarily on mate choice and the ability to discriminate between strains by their urine odours, but these strains may differ in other behaviours, such as activity and ultrasonic vocalizations. Ivanyi (1978, Proc. Roy. Soc. Lord. 202, 117-158) has reviewed the physiological differences associated with the MHC, many of which could influence behaviour. We have started a systematic study of behavioural development and adult behaviour in MHC-congenic mice. A developmental test battery (growth, rate, locomotion, grooming, eye opening, ultrasonic vocalizations, etc.) was used to examine differences between C57BL/6J vs. B6-H-2bml and C57BL/10SnJ vs. B10.BR/sgSnJ mice. A test battery of spontaneous behaviours (activity, exploration, ultrasonic vocalizations, etc.) was used to examine behavioural differences between adult C57BL/6J vs. B6-H-2bml; and C57BL/10SnJ vs. B10.BR/sgSnJ mice. Differences in development and in adult behaviours between these MHC-congenic strains is discussed in relation to possible neural, endocrine and immune system differences. Future studies will compare MHC-congenic mice on levels of anxiety, sociosexual behaviour and on learning paradigms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Osmotic stress mimics effects of vasopressin on learned behaviour.

It has been suggested that arginine vasopressin (AVP) is involved in the retention of learned responses, in addition to its classical physiological functions of water retention and modulation of blood pressure. AVP administered subcutaneously (s.c.), intraventricularly or intracerebrally can prolong extinction of active avoidance behaviour and can enhance retention in inhibitory (passive) avoidance. These effects have been interpreted as a direct action of AVP on the central nervous system to facilitate memory consolidation. AVP also has facilitatory effects on cognitive function in humans, and marked deficits in AVP function have been associated with certain types of psychopathology. Alternative hypotheses for the behavioural actions of AVP have involved motivational constructs such as arousal, and our recent work has focused on the role of arousal resulting from the activation of peripheral visceral signals in the behavioural effects of peripherally administered AVP. The development of a specific antagonist for AVP, 1-deaminopenicillamine-2-O-methyl tyrosine arginine vasopressin (dPTyr(Me)AVP), which can reverse the behavioural effects of exogenously administered AVP, has provided a powerful tool for examining the role of AVP in the behavioural responses produced by physiological challenges known to release vasopressin. However, the relationship between the behavioural effects of exogenously administered AVP and the behavioural function of endogenously released AVP has not been evaluated. We report here that a potent peripheral osmotic stimulus, the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of hypertonic saline, at doses known to release AVP both centrally and peripherally, will produce behavioural effects similar to those of exogenously administered AVP. Furthermore, the prolongation of active avoidance induced by this osmotic stimulus is reversed by pretreatment with dPTyr(Me)AVP, suggesting that endogenously released AVP may also produce behavioural effects.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Environmentally mediated synergy between perception and behaviour in mobile robots.

The notion that behaviour influences perception seems self-evident, but the mechanism of their interaction is not known. Perception and behaviour are usually considered to be separate processes. In this view, perceptual learning constructs compact representations of sensory events, reflecting their statistical properties, independently of behavioural relevance. Behavioural learning, however, forms associations between perception and action, organized by reinforcement, without regard for the construction of perception. It is generally assumed that the interaction between these two processes is internal to the agent, and can be explained solely in terms of the neuronal substrate. Here we show, instead, that perception and behaviour can interact synergistically via the environment. Using simulated and real mobile robots, we demonstrate that perceptual learning directly supports behavioural learning and so promotes a progressive structuring of behaviour. This structuring leads to a systematic bias in input sampling, which directly affects the organization of the perceptual system. This external, environmentally mediated feedback matches the perceptual system to the emerging behavioural structure, so that the behaviour is stabilized.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1997

Cardiovascular and behavioural effects of intracerebroventricularly administered tachykinin NK3 receptor antagonists in the conscious rat.

1. In the conscious rat, three tachykinin NK3 receptor antagonists, namely SR142801 ((S)-(N)-(1-(3-(1-benzoyl-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-3-yl)pro pyl)-4-phenylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-methylacetamide), R820 (3-indolylcarbonyl-Hyp-Phg-N(Me)-Bzl) and R486 (H-Asp-Ser-Phe-Trp-beta-Ala-Leu-Met-NH2) were assessed against the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) effects induced by senktide, a selective NK3 receptor agonist, on mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and motor behaviour. 2. Senktide (10-650 pmol per animal; i.c.v; n = 4-16) at the lowest dose caused a significant fall in MAP (-10 +/- 6 mmHg), while at the highest doses (100 and 650 pmol), senktide caused a rise in MAP (9 +/- 3 and 12 +/- 1 mmHg, respectively) when compared to vehicle. The intermediate doses (25 and 65 pmol) had no effect on MAP. The highest two doses caused a tachycardia of 62 +/- 15 and 88 +/- 8 beats min(-1), respectively. The dose of 65 pmol had a biphasic effect on HR, an initial bradycardia of 47 +/- 12 beats min(-1) followed by a tachycardia of 46 +/- 14 beats min(-1). The lowest doses caused either a rise of 52 +/- 10 beats min(-1) (25 pmol) or no effect (10 pmol) on HR. All doses of senktide caused similar increases in face washing, sniffing and wet dog shakes except at the dose of 100 pmol, when wet dog shakes were more than double those observed with the other doses. 3. The antagonist SR142801 (100 pmol -65 nmol per animal; i.c.v.; n = 6-8) caused increases in MAP at the highest two doses (6.5 and 65 nmol) while HR, dose-dependently, increased (23 +/- 6 to 118 +/- 26 beats min[-1]) and the onset dose-dependently decreased. The (R)-enantiomer, SR142806 (100 pmol - 65 nmol per animal; i.c.v.; n = 6-8) only caused rises in MAP (13 +/- 2 mmHg) and HR (69 +/- 11 beats min[-1]) at the highest dose. These drugs had no apparent effect on behaviour, except for the highest dose of SR142801 which increased sniffing. The antagonist R820 (650 pmol - 6.5 nmol per animal; i.c.v.; n = 6) had no effect on MAP or HR and only increased sniffing behaviour at 6.5 nmol. At 650 pmol (n = 6), R486 had no effect on any variable, but at 3.25 nmol, i.c.v. (n = 4) a delayed tachycardia and a significant increase in all behavioural variables were observed. 4. The cardiovascular responses induced by 6.5 nmol SR142801 and 25 pmol senktide were inhibited by R820 (6.5 nmol, 5 min earlier i.c.v.). In contrast, R820 failed to affect the central cardiovascular and behavioural responses induced by 10 pmol [Sar9, Met(O2)11]substance P, a NK1 receptor selective agonist. The senktide-induced behavioural changes were not inhibited by R820 (6.5 nmol, i.c.v.) while R486 (650 pmol, i.c.v.) blocked both the cardiovascular and behavioural responses to 25 pmol senktide. A mixture of antagonists for NK1 (RP67580; 6.5 nmol) and NK2 (SR48968; 6.5 nmol) receptors injected i.c.v. did not affect the cardiovascular response to SR142801. Cross-desensitization was shown between the central responses to SR142801 and senktide, but not between SR142801 and [Sar9, Met(O2)11]substance P. 5. The antagonists SR142801 and SR142806 (6.5-650 nmol kg(-1); n = 5-7), given i.v., did not evoke any cardiovascular or behavioural changes, except a delayed bradycardia for SR142806 (650 nmol kg[-1]), and also failed to inhibit the increase in MAP evoked by senktide (4 nmol kg(-1), i.v.). However, at the highest dose, both drugs slightly reduced the senktide-induced tachycardia. 6. Although the present data are consistent with the in vitro pharmacological bioassays and binding data, showing that SR142801 is a poor antagonist at rat peripheral NK3 receptors, they suggest that SR142801 has a partial agonist action at these receptors centrally. A separation of the cardiovascular and behavioural effects mediated by central NK3 receptor activation was achieved with SR142801 and R820 but not with R486. These results could be explained by the existence of NK3 receptor subtypes in the rat or by the differential activation and inhibition of the same receptor protein linked to the production of different second messengers. Differences in the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties of the antagonists cannot be excluded at this time.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Investigation of stretching behaviour induced by the selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist, Ro 04-6790, in rats.

1. The present study examined the effects of the selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist 4-amino-N-(2, 6 bis-methylamino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-benzene sulphonamide (Ro 04-6790) on locomotor activity and unconditioned behaviour in male Sprague Dawley rats (230-300 g). 2. In non-quantified behavioural observations, animals treated with Ro 04-6790 (3, 10 or 30 mg kg(-1), i.p) showed no overt behavioural signs except a dose-dependent reduction in locomotor activity and a behavioural syndrome of stretching, yawning and chewing. The latter behaviour was most pronounced between 30 and 90 min following the administration of Ro 04-6790. 3. Detailed analysis of the stretching and yawning behaviour showed that Ro 04-6790 (3, 10 or 30 mg kg(-1), i.p.) dose-dependently induced stretching. The number of stretches observed following treatment with either Ro 04-6790 (10 mg kg(-1) i.p.) or Ro-04-6790 (30 mg kg(-1), i.p.) was significantly greater than that observed in saline-treated rats. The yawning behaviour, however, was not dose-dependent nor was the number of yawns in any of the drug treated groups significantly greater than in those treated with saline. 4. Pretreatment (30 min) with the non-selective muscarinic antagonists scopolamine (0.1, 0.3 or 1 mg kg(-1), i.p.) and atropine (0.3, 1 or 3 mg kg(-1), s.c.) but not methylatropine (1, 3 or 10 mg kg(-1), s.c) significantly inhibited stretching induced by Ro 04-6790 (30 mg kg(-1), i.p.). 5. The dopamine D2-like receptor antagonist, haloperidol (0.03, 0.1 or 0.3 mg kg(-1), s.c.) given at the same time as Ro 04-6790 (30 mg kg(-1), i.p.) had no effect on the stretching induced by the 5-HT6 antagonist. 6. These data suggest that systemic injection of the 5-HT6 antagonist, Ro 04-6790, produces a stretching behaviour that appears to be mediated by an increase in cholinergic neurotransmission in the CNS and which could be a useful functional correlate for 5-HT6 receptor blockade. There is no evidence for dopamine D2-like receptor involvement in this behaviour.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2006

Health behaviour of persons with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Postal survey. OBJECTIVE: To describe the health behaviour of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community and the relationships between health behaviour, respondent/injury characteristics, and health-related variables: the presence and number of secondary impairments, readmissions in rehabilitation centre and hospital, and perceived health. SETTING: Members of the Dutch Association of Patients with SCI. METHODS: The frequency of health behaviours, that delay or prevent secondary impairments, was assessed by means of a 22-item, self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire was also focused on 13 secondary impairments. RESULTS: The frequency of engaging in health behaviour varied considerably between the respondents. Variance was observed between and within the health behaviours measured. The respondents did not frequently engage in pressure relief methods when sitting/driving in their wheelchair. Almost no statistical differences were observed between health behaviour of subgroups of respondents based on respondent/injury characteristics. However, the total health behaviour scores increased significantly with increasing age and pressure sore prevention was significantly more applied in persons with a complete lesion. Health behaviour was significantly more applied in respondents who had one or more secondary impairments. CONCLUSION: As secondary impairments are prevalent among persons with SCI and education on a healthy lifestyle is a core component of every rehabilitation programme, it is of great importance to rigorously test the efficacy of health behaviours promoted during rehabilitation. Therefore, longitudinal research is recommended.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Attentional bias and addictive behaviour: automaticity in a gambling-specific modified Stroop task.

AIMS: This study examined the relationship between attention and gambling behaviour by measuring the level of Stroop interference towards gambling-related words in a group of regular poker machine players. DESIGN: A 3 x 2 repeated measures experimental design was employed. The type of word presented (neutral, drug or gambling) was the within-subjects factor and the level of impaired control (high or low) over gambling behaviour was the between-subjects factor. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of poker machine players (n = 60), varying in their frequency of play, were split into two groups based on their level of subjective impaired control over their gambling behaviour (high or low). MEASUREMENTS: A computerized gambling-specific modified version of the Stroop task was used to assess response latencies. The test comprised three word categories: gambling, drug and neutral. The Scale of Gambling Choices (SGC) was used to assess participants' level of impaired control over gambling behaviour. FINDINGS: It was found that the participants who had difficulty in controlling their gambling behaviour (the low control group) took significantly longer to name the colour of the words relating to poker machine gambling, whereas those who had good control over their gambling behaviour (the high control group) did not show any significant differences across the three word categories. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the previous finding that people with a problem behaviour or emotion take longer to colour-name words relating to the area of their concern. The current study extends previous work that has investigated the role of cognitive distortions and biases in the area of addictive behaviour. The current study confirms McCusker & Gettings's findings, but by avoiding the mental disorder conceptualization facilitates theoretical understanding of addictive behaviour. Implications for past models and theories of the Stroop as well as future research directions are discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Involvement of histamine H3 receptors in scratching behaviour in mast cell-deficient mice.

BACKGROUND: Although the roles of histamine H3 receptors have been studied in several tissues such as the brain, lung, spleen, colon and peripheral sensory nerve endings, the involvement of H3 receptors in skin responses particularly in relation to scratching behaviour are not well documented. OBJECTIVES: This work was performed to study the effects of histamine H3 antagonists on scratching behaviour in mast cell-deficient mice. METHODS: Histamine H3 antagonists iodophenpropit and clobenpropit, histamine and substance P were injected intradermally into the rostral part of the back of mast cell-deficient (WBB6F1 W/Wv) and wild-type (WBB6F1+/+) mice and scratching behaviour was measured for 60 min. The effects of H1 antagonists on scratching behaviour induced by H3 antagonists were also investigated. RESULTS: Intradermal injection of iodophenpropit and clobenpropit at doses of 10 and 100 nmol per site caused significant increases in scratching behaviour in both mast cell-deficient and wild-type mice. Histamine also caused a dose-related increase in the incidence of scratching behaviour, and a significant effect was observed at a dose of 100 nmol per site in both mast cell-deficient and wild-type mice. Substance P was also effective in causing scratching behaviour in both mast cell-deficient and wild-type mice. However, histamine H1 antagonists diphenhydramine and chlorphenamine failed to inhibit H3 antagonist-induced scratching behaviour in both types of mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that intradermal injection of H3 antagonists induces scratching behaviour and that chemical mediators other than histamine seem to be involved in the response.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Increasing on-task behaviour through interruption-prompting.

This study was designed to assess the effects of response-contingent interruption-prompting of stereotypic behaviour on on-task behaviour, inactivity and inappropriate behaviour. Also, the relationship between these behaviours was investigated. Five individuals with severe intellectual disability and autism participated. Data were collected within a reversal design. The results showed a statistically significant increase of on-task behaviour when interruption-prompting of stereotypic behaviour was in effect. Inactivity was statistically related to inappropriate behaviour. In terms of the continuous effort to identify procedures that are least intrusive for the client to attain behaviour improvement, it is suggested that interruption-prompting of stereotypic behaviour may be a reasonable choice for practicians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Behavioural and emotional problems in children with intellectual disability attending special schools in Cape Town, South Africa.

A sample of 355 children with intellectual disability (ID) attending special schools in Cape Town, South Africa, were assessed on the Developmental Behavioural Checklist--Teacher Version (DBC-T). A prevalence rate of 31% for psychopathology was found. Boys manifested more behaviour problems than girls, especially in relation to disruptive, self-absorbed and antisocial behaviours. Children with severe and profound levels of ID showed more behavioural difficulties than those in the mild and moderate categories. Specific behaviour problems were self-absorbed and autistic behaviours in children with profound ID, communication problems and anxiety in those with severe ID and antisocial behaviour in children with mild ID. Epilepsy, but not cerebral palsy was associated with higher total behaviour scores. Ambulant children were more disruptive and antisocial, while non-ambulant children were more anxious. Non-verbal children had higher scores on all of the subscales except for disruptive behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The role of oxytocin release in the paraventricular nucleus in the control of maternal behaviour in the sheep.

Oxytocin (OT) release within the brain is thought to play a major role in inducing maternal behaviour in a number of mammalian species but little is known about the sites of release which are important in this respect. We have investigated whether the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is a site of OT action on maternal behaviour in the sheep. In vivo microdialysis and retrodialysis was used to determine whether OT is released in the region of the PVN during the post-partum induction of maternal behaviour and if its release at this site can stimulate maternal behaviour in non-pregnant animals. In vivo sampling showed that OT concentrations increased significantly in the region of PVN at birth. When OT was retrodialysed bilaterally into the PVN (1 or 10 microM) of multiparous ewes treated with progesterone and oestradiol to stimulate lactation, maternal behaviour was induced in a significant number of animals (1 microM, 6/8 and 10 microM, 5/8) compared with controls (0/8 ewes). Similar infusions of the ring structure of OT, tocinoic acid (TOC-10 microM), also induced maternal behaviour in a significant proportion of animals (5/6 ewes) as did intracerebroventricular (ICV) OT (6/8 ewes) and artificial stimulation of the vagina and cervix (VCS, 8/9 ewes). On the other hand, vasopressin (AVP) 1 microM did not induce maternal behaviour in any ewes and a 10 microM dose only induced it in 2/8 animals. The neurochemical changes accompanying the above treatments were also investigated. Noradrenaline concentrations increased in the PVN after the retrodialysis administration of OT 1 microM and 10 microM, TOC 10 microM and AVP 1 microM, OT ICV and VCS. Dopamine concentrations were also increased by OT 10 microM, TOC 10 microM, AVP 1microM and OT ICV. Aspartate and glutamate concentrations were significantly reduced by retrodialysis infusions of OT 1 microM and AVP 1 and 10 microM but not by any other treatment. Finally, the retrodialysis infusion of OT and TOC, as well as ICV OT, significantly increased plasma OT release whereas AVP infusions did not. These results provide evidence that OT is released in the PVN during parturition and is important for the induction of maternal behaviour. It seems probable that OT release at this site has a positive feedback effect on both parvocellular and magnocellular OT neurons to facilitate co-ordinated OT release both in central OT terminal regions (to facilitate maternal behaviour) and peripherally into the blood (to facilitate uterine contractions/milk let down). The potential functional roles for the actions of OT on monoamine and amino acid transmitter release in the PVN are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Role of self-efficacy and behaviour change.

Behaviour change is an important concept in relation to health promotion and disease prevention. Self-efficacy has been identified as an important determinant of health behaviour, future health behaviour and health behaviour change. In order to effectively facilitate behaviour change, it is essential that interventions are research based, and emphasize the utility of theory in practice. The effective practice of health promotion and disease prevention requires a full understanding of the processes of patient behaviour. This article presents the role of the nurse in influencing health-related behaviour change. Self-efficacy and related but distinct theories that underpin behaviour change are discussed. The empirical evidence that supports the link between self-efficacy and predictions of health behaviours is also examined.

Health Behavior↗
PubMed2003

A role for the periaqueductal grey in opioidergic inhibition of maternal behaviour.

Opiates are known to be involved in the regulation of various events surrounding parturition and lactation, such as maternal behaviour in rats. The onset of this behaviour has been closely linked to opiate action in the medial pre-optic area, where administration of morphine disrupts maternal behaviour during lactation. By combining the use of Fos protein immunohistochemical detection and pharmacological manipulations, in the present paper we show that the periaqueductal grey (PAG) is another region critically involved in the opioidergic blockade of maternal behaviour. According to our observations, a critical level of morphine-induced activation of the rostral lateral PAG appears to be required to inhibit maternal behaviour in lactating rats. This hypothesis was further confirmed in experiments showing that morphine's inhibitory effect on maternal responsiveness was blocked by unilateral naloxone injection into the rostral PAG, but not into nearby regions of the mesencephalic reticular nucleus. Therefore, only a partial inhibition of the opiate's effect on the rostral PAG was needed to block the inhibitory effect of morphine on maternal behaviour. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether the rostral lateral PAG plays a role in the natural onset of maternal behaviour, playing a complementary role to the medial pre-optic area, or merely inhibits maternal behaviour in response to this specific pharmacological challenge. Conversely, the present findings may well reflect a more general role of the PAG, seemingly providing an important piece of information for proposing a hitherto unexplored concept of the PAG as an important centre for the selection of adaptive behavioural responses.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of risk factors for emergence distress and postoperative behavioural changes in children following general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Emergence distress commonly occurs in children recovering from the immediate effects of general anaesthesia. This study was performed to (1) examine whether parental presence in the operating room during emergence from anaesthesia reduces the incidence or severity of emergence distress behaviour, and (2) assess psychosocial risk factors, including child temperament and sleep behaviour, for development of emergence distress. METHODS: A randomized and controlled trial of parental presence at emergence was conducted in 100 ASA class I and II children having general anaesthesia for inguinal or penile surgery. Children in the study group had a parent present at induction and emergence of anaesthesia, while children in the control group had a parent present only at induction. Emergence and postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) behaviour was monitored using both the Operating Room Behaviour Rating Scale (ORBRS) and a 7-point Likert type cooperation scale. RESULTS: One-way anovas showed no significant differences between the control group and the study group on emergence distress behaviour. The frequency of negative postoperative behavioural changes at 1 and 4 weeks postsurgery was low in both groups. Children described as clingy/dependent (chi2 = 5.57, P < 0.06) and children with frequent temper tantrums (chi2 = 7.44, P < 0.02) were more likely to have emergence distress behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Parental presence during emergence from anesthesia did not decrease the incidence or severity of emergence distress behaviour in children. Young children and children with a history of temper tantrums or separation anxiety may be more likely to develop such behaviour.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2002

Pain behaviour in young immigrants having chronic pain: an exploratory study in primary care.

Pain behaviour can hamper rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to explore the phenomenon of pain behaviour in an unselected group of immigrant patients on >6 weeks of sick leave before and after a transcultural treatment programme in primary care. Anxiety about pain and pain behaviour-i.e. > or = 1.5 points on the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) scale with scores of 0-10-were noted before and after treatment. The sex-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for pain behaviour, before and after the treatment, were calculated using logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Forty-nine men and 102 women having a mean age of 38 years participated. Their mean sick leave was 46 weeks. All reported psychosocial stress, one-quarter were depressed and social functioning was generally low. The pain was mostly caused by muscular insertion lesions (entesopathies). The frequency of pain behaviour and anxiety about pain declined after treatment (from 68% to 54% and from 76% to 50% respectively). Duration of full-time sick leave and among men also decreasing social functioning were correlated with the UAB score. Those who reported persistent anxiety about pain, or men who were depressed, had higher scores. Only persons on full-time sick leave >1 year had a significant OR for pain behaviour before treatment (OR 3.23; 95% CI 1.17-8.85, adjusted for sex). After treatment, only persons reporting persistent anxiety about pain showed a significant OR for pain behaviour (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.49-6.23, adjusted for sex). In conclusion, pain behaviour was common in this group of immigrant patients < or = 45 years of age on long-term sick leave. Anxiety about pain and full-time sick leave for more than 1 year significantly predicted pain behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The behavioural effects of undernutrition in confined farm animals.

Results suggest that where the animal is unable to engage in functional feeding to reduce nutrient deficit, it may still continue to engage in feeding by directing its feeding behaviour to other alternative stimuli. If feeding is to be maintained where there are constraints on further intake, the alternative stimuli to food must be of sufficient incentive to prevent feeding being inhibited by other tendencies. Alternatives to food then are likely to be chosen on the basis of their sensory (incentive) qualities, and the precise form of feeding behaviour will depend on the interaction between the feeding tendency and the choice of available stimuli. Growing pigs offered single diets ad lib. and experiencing relatively mild deficits of specific-nutrients, may direct this behaviour towards pen-mates as alternative foraging stimuli, with blood resulting from this foraging activity acting as a further incentive to sustain the behaviour. If specific-nutrient deficits in growing pigs are generally mild then feeding may only be sustained in the presence of high incentives such as pen-mates. However, it is not always clear why stimuli such as pen-mates continue to attract foraging activity when they provide little of the deficient nutrients underlying the behaviour. Where the nutrient deficit is more extreme, such as in food-restricted sows and broiler breeders even stimuli with low incentive (e.g. chains, bars or walls) may be sufficient to maintain feeding tendency. The environment, by only allowing simple and non-complex behaviour to be performed, channels the expression of feeding behaviour into simple and repetitive stereotypic behaviours. Other behavioural processes such as arousal and sensitization may facilitate the marked persistence of stereotypies.

Animal Welfare↗