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The consequences of Conduct Disorder for males who develop schizophrenia: associations with criminality, aggressive behavior, substance use, and psychiatric services.

Men with schizophrenia are at increased risk, as compared to the general population, for criminal offending and to have displayed Conduct Disorder (CD) before age 15. The present study examined the consequences of CD among a sample of 248 men with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder, aged, on average, 39 years old. Participants were intensively assessed at discharge from the hospital and four times during the subsequent two-year period. CD was associated with criminality and substance misuse among first-degree male relatives and substance misuse among female relatives. In childhood and adolescence, CD was associated with poor academic performance, substance abuse, and physical abuse. In adulthood, the diagnosis of CD and each CD symptom were associated with increased non-violent and violent criminal offending, after adjusting for life-time diagnoses of substance misuse disorders. CD was not associated with homicide. CD was associated with life-time diagnoses of alcohol and drug abuse and/or dependence. During the 24 month follow-up period, CD and the number of CD symptoms were associated with aggressive behavior, controlling for life-time diagnoses of substance use disorders, substance misuse measured objectively and subjectively, medication compliance, and obligatory care. CD was associated with an earlier age at onset of schizophrenia and at first admission to hospital, and with length of time spent in hospital. During the two-year follow-up period, neither the diagnosis of CD nor the number of CD symptoms was associated with levels of positive and negative symptoms assessed five times, compliance with medication, substance use, or readmission. The results are interpreted to suggest that CD is a distinct co-morbid disorder that runs parallel to the course of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Surgical management of Graves disease in childhood and adolescence: an institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children. Medical therapy, radioiodine ablation, and thyroidectomy are all treatment options. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of operative therapy, we updated our operative experience with pediatric Graves disease at a single tertiary care center. METHODS: The medical records of children <18 years old who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves disease between 1986-2003 were reviewed. RESULTS: We identified 78 patients (median age, 13.8 years; 87% female). The most common presenting signs and symptoms included heat intolerance (61%), decreased academic performance (50%), tremor (49%), and ophthalmopathy (43%). All patients had clinical and laboratory evidence of autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. Sixty-nine percent chose operative therapy because of failure of medical therapy or adverse drug reactions. Near-total thyroidectomy was the most common surgical procedure performed (65%). Pathology demonstrated previously unrecognized thyroid malignancies in 4 (5%) patients. Operative morbidities were transient and included hypoparathyroidism (6%) and recurrent laryngeal nerve neuropraxia (1%). Three (4%) patients who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy developed recurrent hyperthyroidism; all were treated successfully with radioiodine ablation. Of patients presenting with ophthalmopathy, 85% noted improvement postoperatively, while 1 (3%) patient experienced worsening of symptoms. Only 5% developed new-onset Graves ophthalmopathy after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Near-total thyroidectomy for Graves disease in children is safe and effective when performed by experienced thyroid surgeons. In addition to relief of systemic symptoms, the majority of patients presenting with Graves ophthalmopathy experienced improvement of their ocular disease after operation. In 5% of patients, surgical management allowed for detection and treatment of clinically occult thyroid malignancies.

Adolescent↗

Motor ability: protective or risk for school injuries?

The study aims were to assess the independent contribution of motor ability to the incidence of school injuries. The study included 2057 pupils in grades 3-6 of primary schools in a city in the north of Israel. A surveillance system gathered information about injuries that occurred on school premises or during school related activities and required medical treatment or caused limitation of usual activities. Children provided information on sensation seeking, self-appraisal of health, academic performance, physical activity, and dominant hand; anthropometric measurements and motor ability tests were performed. The incidence of injury events was 4% (95% CI=3.2-5.0). Injuries increased with increased balance and agility, but there were no differences according to reaction time. No other study variables were associated with the incidence of injuries. Our findings of an increase in the incidence of injuries with better motor ability may express differences in exposure to risk situations between children with better and poorer motor abilities.

Child↗

Criteria for acceptance to preprofessional dietetics programs vs desired qualities of professionals: an analysis.

The objectives of this analysis were to examine the literature and compare and contrast (a) qualities preferred in preprofessional dietetics students by directors of internships and approved preprofessional practice programs (AP4s), (b) characteristics needed to succeed in a scientific field, (c) traits emphasized by dietetics training programs compared with those most valued by employers, (d) skills needed by high-level managerial dietitians and those in business and communications, and (e) qualities dietitians have aspired to develop for increased competitiveness in the marketplace. Even though the revised Standards of Education have been in place since 1988, recent evaluation of criteria for internship and AP4 admission has shown traditional emphasis on academic performance and the importance of work experience. Success in scientific pursuits has been linked with more than innate intelligence; a drive for success and enthusiasm for learning are also involved. Internships foster mostly technical learning, so development of skills in human and conceptual areas are somewhat lacking. These skills, which have been identified as valuable to employers, need greater development or more consistent identification in the selection and training process. Perhaps serious consideration should be given to applicants for preprofessional programs who have shown leadership qualities through extracurricular activities or who have given themselves the opportunity to develop and improve these skills. Such students might hasten the metamorphosis of dietetics practitioners toward improved levels of compensation and professional fulfillment.

Dietetics↗

Cognitive-behavioral remediation of problem solving deficits in children with acquired brain injury.

The inability to problem solve can have a deleterious impact on a student's academic performance and social adjustment. Children with an acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk for deficits in problem solving skills. This case study and series of multiple baseline experiments examined the effects of a multi-component cognitive-behavioral training program on the remediation of problem solving deficits in five children with ABI. Results indicated that the training program resulted in a substantial decrease in errors on a computerized problem solving task used to monitor problem solving performance during baseline and treatment. In addition, significant improvements were found on two of four standardized measures of problem solving abilities. Finally, students, parents and teaching staff reported a high degree of satisfaction with and generalization of the training program.

Brain Injuries↗

Caring for adolescents and families in crisis.

Nurses are likely to see adolescents and their families in a variety of practice settings. Recognizing the youth and family at risk is significant in helping them resolve a stressful situation by mobilizing resources and strengthening coping and problem-solving skills. This article has focused on several areas, including suicide and depression, sex-related issues, substance abuse, and poor academic performance. Helping the youth and family in crisis challenges the nurse to use astute assessment skills that support a patient-centered crisis intervention model. During a time when cost-effective mental health care is a necessity, this model offers nurses an opportunity to provide quality health care.

Adolescent↗

The learning disorders of adolescence: organic and nonorganic failure to strive.

As students proceed through late elementary and junior high school, academic demands change drastically. The altered requirements may give rise to seemingly new learning disorders or may aggravate or modify a preexisting recognized dysfunction. This article discusses common areas of disability in this age group, developmental complications, and academic performance delays, and presents guidelines for assessment and management.

Adolescent↗

Central nervous system leukemia.

With one exception, the risk and severity of neurotoxicity is directly proportional to the number of therapeutic modalities used. Three are worse than two, and two are worse than one. Combinations of therapeutic modalities which include CNS RT appear to be the most neurotoxic. The least neurotoxic combination of two modalities appears to be the IT MTX with high-dose intravenous MTX. Thus far, high-dose MTX appear to be the safest single modality, in terms of acute, subacute, and delayed neurotoxicity. The improved outcome in intellectual and academic performance in the NCI-191/CCG-134P conjoint trial of the CCSG and the Pediatric Branch described above (see section of Presymptomatic CNS Therapy) appears to confirm this observation. Whether triple IT chemotherapy will have the same result remains to be established. If CNS RT must be combined with MTX therapy, the least neurotoxic approach appears to be to administer these modalities in sequence, IT MTX, or high-dose intravenous MTX followed by CNS RT. MTX given during or after CNS RT appears from the clinical data to be more likely to produce severe neurologic sequelae. An ultimate goal would be to avoid both ionizing RT and IT chemotherapy. To this end, the NCI/CCSG study has demonstrated that this may be possible, except for those patients who are at the highest risk for CNS relapse despite conventional CNS prophylaxis. Meanwhile, for presymptomatic therapy, either cranial RT (18 Gy total dose at 120-180 cGy per day) in conjunction with IT MTX, or frequent IT chemotherapy with MTX, cytarabine, and hydrocortisone combined and administered throughout induction, consolidation, and maintenance is eminently justified in the majority of children with ALL. On a worldwide basis, chemoradiotherapy with cranial RT and IT MTX remains the established method of preventing overt CNS leukemia. The benefits of this intervention, in terms of prevention of symptomatic CNS leukemia, prolongation of complete remission, and increased cure rates, are clearly worth the risks.

Child↗

Direct entry midwifery education. Evaluation of program innovations.

During the 1996-1997 academic year, the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, in partnership with North Central Bronx Hospital, implemented the first direct entry (DE) midwifery education program to be preaccredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Five DE midwifery students were admitted and graduated. During their one-year course of studies, these students were provided supplementary didactic and clinical instruction in the medical sciences and basic health skills in addition to the identical course of midwifery studies offered to their registered nurse-student peers. The experience of students and faculty during this first year was that there was no significant difference in academic performance between the DE and nurse-midwifery students. Moreover, once oriented to the clinical environment, DE students progressed through the clinical practicums, and acquired entry-level midwifery skills, at a pace equivalent to that of their nurse peers and consonant with all expectations of safe practice. In addition, the Basic Health Skills and Integrated Medical Science course offerings served as effective instructional supplements to the curriculum by providing DE students with an opportunity to equalize their knowledge base with that previously acquired by registered nurse-prepared students; an unanticipated discovery was that some nurse-midwifery students could equally benefit from enrollment in these courses.

Clinical Competence↗

Follow-up data their use in evidence-based decision-making.

Experience with certain perinatal interventions, such as supplemental oxygen and dexamethasone, leads to the conclusion that follow-up data are needed to be well informed about the safety of certain perinatal interventions. Experience with indomethacin suggests that follow-up data also are regarded by some clinicians as a necessary aspect of evidence about effectiveness. Ideally, clinical trials of perinatal interventions might involve collection of data about neonatal predictors of outcome (such as a neuroimaging study and a standardized neurologic assessment); several developmental and neurologic assessments before school entry; a comprehensive evaluation of the child's cognitive function, behavioral competencies, and academic performance at 7 to 8 years of age; serial detailed assessments of the family psychosocial functioning; and an inventory of resources available for the child. Many clinical trials have not included follow-up after the neonatal period, and in such cases information about the effect of the intervention on participants' HRQL is incomplete. The approach taken in several recent trials, in which the outcome of interest is neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months, attempts to strike a balance between a theoretical ideal (a comprehensive, longitudinal follow-up through school age) and a follow-up regimen that is not prohibitively expensive. Such trials include follow-up during the first 1 to 3 years of life, when major disabilities can be identified reliably, thereby providing moderately informative data about participants' eventual quality of life, related to the presence or absence of major disability. If, however, there is reason to suspect that the intervention has effects on the developing brain, follow-up after school entry may provide additional evidence pertinent to the risks and benefits of the intervention.

Child Development↗

African American adolescents: adaptational processes and socioeconomic diversity in behavioural outcomes.

The study was concerned with determining the relationship of economic diversity to stress reactivity. Parental ratings of competence and behavioural problems were obtained for very young adolescents following a long-term and highly acute stress: the Atlanta youth murders. Intellectual and identity-formation data obtained both before and after the crisis were analyzed with the parental ratings of youth competence and behavioural problems. Consistent socioeconomic status (SES) links between the manifestation of behavioural problems and the display of competencies were obtained; lower income (LI) youths manifested more problems and fewer competencies. The findings were more pronounced for LI males. Personal identity was a significant predictor of school competence. School self-esteem was a predictor of academic performance. The manifestation of behavioural problems was significantly predicted by cognitive performance variables. The findings are discussed in terms of variations in adaptational strategies mediated by socioeconomic status and psychological factors.

Achievement↗

Declines in IQ scores and cognitive dysfunctions in children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia treated with cranial irradiation.

Intellectual and other neuropsychological dysfunctions have been observed in survivors of childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). The possible relationship of therapy to these dysfunctions was investigated in a prospective study of children with newly diagnosed ALL seen at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. They were evaluated with standardised intelligence tests during the first month of treatment and periodically thereafter. There were two therapy schedules--one using standard drugs for induction and maintenance, the other a more intensive schedule. Central-nervous-system prophylaxis (2400 rad cranial radiation and six doses of intrathecal methotrexate) was given to all. Significant reductions were found in overall IQ score for the majority of children, younger patients being most affected. More extensive testing of surviving children, with and without decline in IQ, all of whom were normal on the first test, revealed patterns of functional deficits and residual strengths that could not be characterised with IQ testing alone. These deficits, which could affect learning and academic performance, were not seen in six children studied years after receiving similar chemotherapy that included intrathecal and oral methotrexate but not cranial irradiation.

Adolescent↗

Depression in adolescents growing pains or true morbidity?

This review discusses the prevalence and characteristics of depression in childhood and adolescence. Depression in this age group is a major public health concern, but is often under-recognised and dismissed as 'growing pains'. Interviewing the patient and their parents is essential for accurate diagnosis and structured interviews may be helpful. Prevalence increases with age. Risk of recurrence is high and is influenced by family conflict. Childhood onset depression has a 60-70% risk of continuing into adulthood and 20-40% develop bipolar disorder within 5 years. The nature of the disorder is affected by family history and symptoms vary with age. Comorbidity is common and influences treatment choice and long-term outcome. It is hoped that complications such as poor academic performance, impaired social functioning, and substance abuse may be prevented by early intervention.

Adolescent↗

Hypnosis as an adjunct therapy for asthma: case report.

This study reports the effect of hypnotherapy in an asthmatic. The patient had moderately severe asthma with frequent attacks despite multiple medications. He received four weekly hypnosis sessions, and was then followed bimonthly for a year. The patient's course was followed by subjective daily scoring of wheezing severity, daily recording of peak expiratory flow rate by a Wright minispirometer, and once a month recording of his Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second/Forced Rate (MMRF). The severity rating showed improvement at one year when the start of therapy was compared to pretherapy (P less than .005). The daily peak flow rate averaged 486 liter/min before starting hypnotherapy and 502 liter/min after one year. There was no charge in the FEV1/FVC and MMFR before and after therapy. School attendance and academic performance may be a helpful adjunct in asthma therapy during adolescence.

Adolescent↗

Smoking among kibbutz youth. Patterns, perceptions, and determinants.

A population of 54 high-school-aged kibbutz youth in Israel were studied to assess their smoking habits. Twenty (37%) were smokers. Among the smokers, 15 (75%) smoked daily, with four smoking as many as 10-20 cigarettes per day. Nearly half of the group believed smoking affected their health and were interested in stopping their use of cigarettes. Smokers when compared to nonsmokers had more positive peer relations (chi 2 = 9.308; p less than 0.01), less positive relations with parents (chi 2 = 8.293; p less than 0.01), more boredom with kibbutz life (chi 2 = 3.468; p less than 0.10), and less involvement with a hobby, sport, or reading (chi 2 = 3.133, p less than 0.10). Parents' smoking habits, marital status of the parents, students' self-evaluation of their academic performance, and youths' age and sex did not differentiate smokers from nonsmokers.

Adolescent↗

Nursing students' approaches to studying.

The Approaches to Study Inventory (ASI), developed by Entwistle & Ramsden (1983), was administered to all nursing students at an Australian university (response rate = 67%). The purpose was to find out whether ASI constructs also apply to nursing students and to see whether nursing students change in their study approaches in the course of their nursing education. The ASI was construct validated through factor analysis. While it was possible to reconstruct a majority of the subscales based on individual items, only the meaning and reproducing study orientations were supported. These two orientations also demonstrated satisfactory levels of internal consistency for group comparisons. The authors conclude that the ASI is a useful and robust instrument for use in nursing education with respect to the two main study orientations. Ideally, nursing education should successively pave the way for an increase in meaning orientation scores (deep learning) and a reduction in reproducing orientation scores (surface learning). However, in this study there was no change in study orientations from first to third year. The association between meaning orientation scores and academic performance was weak.

Adolescent↗

A survey of resident selection procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the current procedures used in oral and maxillofacial surgery resident selection, to compare these selection procedures with those used 2 decades ago, to determine whether any differences exist in the selection procedures between 4-year certificate programs and programs that offer formal medical education, and to provide criteria to assist in the counseling of dental students on the application process for oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to the 106 oral and maxillofacial surgery graduate training programs accredited by the American Dental Association. To provide for a more direct comparison to the study completed in 1976, the current questionnaire was developed, using the original survey as a model. It was divided into 5 sections: general information, information obtained from the formal application and letters of recommendation, the interview, the decision process, and a retrospective view of past decisions. The results were tabulated and the Pearson chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance when comparing the 4-year certificate programs to the programs that offer formal medical education. RESULTS: Seventy-one responses (75.5%) from nonmilitary programs were returned and analyzed. Thirty-nine responses represented dual-degree (MD) programs. Factors that were considered very important when judging a candidate's written application included dental school class rank (76.1%), dental school basic science grades (70.4%), and dental school clinical grades (63.4%). Dual-degree programs placed a greater emphasis on predental basic science grades (P < .01) and dental national board scores (P < .05). When asked about prior resident selection, 86.7% of the respondents said they would select 80% of their former residents again. In addition, 89.9% of the respondents were satisfied with their current selection process. CONCLUSIONS: The procedures used to select oral and maxillofacial surgery residents are relatively constant among programs. Although the dual-degree and 4-year certificate programs use the same criteria for resident selection, the dual-degree programs place greater emphasis on predental academic performance and on the results of the national dental boards. Criteria used 22 years ago to select residents are still applicable, but there has been a shift in the importance of some variables.

Certification↗

Characteristics of fifth-grade children in relation to the type of after-school care.

Does the type of after-school care affect a fifth-grade child's self-perception, substance use, or school performance/attendance? Children in three types of care, self (n = 28), sibling (n = 20), and adult (n = 106), were recruited to address this question. Data were obtained via the Self-Perception Profile, self-report of risk-taking behavior, and school records. Self-care was significantly more prevalent in Caucasian (23%) and Hispanic (19%) families. No significant differences were found across care groups in self perception, academic performance, or attendance. Ten to twelve percent of children reported substance use in each care group, though the type of substance use differed across care group. These data suggest that type of after-school care is not related to increased risk but may be related to type of substance use.

Child↗