Biomedical subjects

F C Verhulst

Publications and source records attributed to F C Verhulst.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Predicting change in problem behavior from child and family characteristics and stress in referred children and adolescents.

A three-wave longitudinal study design with two 6-month intervals was used to examine the stability and change in Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problem behavior among children and adolescents referred to outpatient mental health services. Our results indicated high stabilities for parent ratings of child psychopathology across a 1-year interval. Additionally, we found decreases in the level of problem behavior. Interindividual differences in change were found for Total Problems and Externalizing behavior but not for Internalizing. While both the child's temperament and intelligence level and family relations were related to the initial level of parent-rated problem behavior, only intermediary stressful life events had an influence on the rate of change of child psychopathology.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Predicting adolescent mental health service use in a prospective record-linkage study.

OBJECTIVE: To test to what extent demographic variables and parent-reported problems and competencies in early adolescence predict incidence of mental health service use across a 5-year period in the general population. METHOD: Data on parent-reported problem behavior (Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL]), gathered on 2,496 Dutch young adolescents, aged 10 to 12 years in 1989-1990, were linked to psychiatric case register data over the years 1990-1994. Cox proportional hazards models were used to predict the incidence of using mental health services from problem behavior, competencies, and demographic covariates. RESULTS: Almost all CBCL problem scales predicted the incidence of mental health service use significantly. The effect was constant over time for most scales, but it decreased over time for others. CBCL Activities, gender, and one-parent family were significant predictors after accounting for the problem levels. All effects were similar for boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: In many cases, there is a remarkable delay between the awareness of the adolescent's problems and seeking and/or receiving professional help. Longitudinal studies that use continuous information on service use yield a more comprehensive picture of the utilization of mental health services than studies that aggregate the information over the follow-up period.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Continuity of psychopathology in youths referred to mental health services.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stability and predictive strength of behavioral and emotional problems in childhood and adolescence. METHOD: A referred sample (N = 1,652), aged 4 to 18 years at initial assessment, was followed up after a mean interval of 6.2 years. Problem scores derived from Child Behavior Checklist, Youth Self-Report, and Teacher's Report Form at initial assessment (T1) were related to scores on the same instruments at follow-up (T2). RESULTS: Correlations between T1 and corresponding T2 problem scores averaged 0.41 intrainformant (range 0.22-0.61) and 0.22 interinformant (range -0.09-0.57). Stabilities were similar across gender, and larger for Externalizing versus Internalizing scores, except on youths' self-reports. Psychopathology scores at follow-up were predicted by corresponding T1 scores. Girls were predicted to have higher T2 Somatic Complaints, Anxious/Depressed, Thought Problems, and Internalizing scores than boys. Children younger at intake were predicted to have higher scores than older children on T2 Social and Attention Problems. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate continuity of specific behavioral and emotional problems in clinically referred children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Pubertal maturation and the development of behavioural and emotional problems in early adolescence.

Development of problem behaviour in early adolescence was predicted from change in pubertal stage and timing of pubertal development. Parent-reported (Child Behavior Checklist) and self-reported (Youth Self-Report) problem behaviour, pubertal stage and life events were assessed twice from a community sample of nearly 1300 Dutch children, aged 10-12 years at T1 and 12-14 years at T2. Pubertal change was a significant predictor of development in most parent-reported problems. Once initial differences in problems had been accounted for, the slower the progress in pubertal development, the higher the problem score at T2. Development of self-reported problems was independent of pubertal change. Pubertal timing predicted development of two parent-reported and three self-reported problem scales. Of the parent-reported problems, early maturation was associated with a decrease in boys' social problems and attention problems. Late maturing increased girls' social problems. Of the self-reported problems, early maturation was associated with an increase in girls' withdrawn and delinquent behaviour. Late maturing increased boys' attention problems. We conclude that pubertal development has small but significant effects on the development of problem behaviour in early adolescence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Problems reported by parents of children in multiple cultures: the Child Behavior Checklist syndrome constructs.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare syndromes of parent-reported problems for children in 12 cultures. METHOD: Child Behavior Checklists were analyzed for 13,697 children and adolescents, ages 6 through 17 years, from general population samples in Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Greece, Israel, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States. RESULTS: Comparisons of nine cultures for subjects ages 6 through 17 gave medium effect sizes for cross-cultural variations in withdrawn and social problems and small effect sizes for somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior. Scores of Puerto Rican subjects were the highest, whereas Swedish subjects had the lowest scores on almost all syndromes. With great cross-cultural consistency, girls obtained higher scores than boys on somatic complaints and anxious/depressed but lower scores on attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior. Although remarkably consistent across cultures, the developmental trends differed according to syndrome. Comparison of the 12 cultures across ages 6 through 11 supported these results. CONCLUSIONS: Empirically based assessment in terms of Child Behavior Checklist syndromes permits comparisons of problems reported for children from diverse cultures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Experiences of parents of childhood cancer survivors: a qualitative analysis.

As the prognosis of childhood cancer improves, so does concern for the quality of survival. Because childhood cancer affects the entire family, insight is needed into the late consequences for parents and how they cope with it. For this purpose, a qualitative research method was used because this method enables a description of what it is like to live through childhood cancer in all its aspects. Parents whose child survived cancer were interviewed in depth about the late consequences of the disease. To maximize contrast in parental experience and in coping with the disease, variational sampling was used. Results indicated that parents experienced changes of a definitive and long-lasting nature as a result of cancer in their child. In spite of the child's survival, feelings of loss and perseveration of problems prevailed. To cope with late sequelae, characteristic strategies were identified including the position parents adopt a life or death perspective on the final outcome of the disease, the extent to which they express emotions, and the use of family planning and parenting behavior. Coping strategies used had not only an effect on the individual parent but also on the other family members. Parents who used coping strategies in a non-extreme way appeared to be functioning well. Implications for patient care and research are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1998

Longitudinal genetic analysis of problem behaviors in biologically related and unrelated adoptees.

The genetic and environmental influences on problem behaviors at two assessment points, three years apart, and their stability were studied in a sample of international adoptees, initially aged 10 to 15 years. Parents of 111 pairs of adopted biological siblings, 221 pairs of adopted nonbiological siblings and 1484 adopted singletons completed the Child Behavior Checklist (75 pairs, 154 pairs and 1080 singletons respectively at second assessment). At first assessment, genetic factors accounted for more than 50% of the variance in the Externalizing, Aggressive Behavior, Attention Problems and Social Problems scales. Shared environmental influences explained 40% of the variance in the Total Problem scale and less for all other scales. Nonshared environmental influences were most important for the Internalizing scale and its subscales, and for the Thought Problems and Delinquent Behavior scales. At the second assessment, genetic factors explained most of the variance in the Total Problem, Externalizing and Aggressive Behavior scales, while nonshared environmental influences explained most of the variance in all other scales. Shared environmental influences explained 33% of the variance in the Internalizing scale and less for the other scales. The stability of the Externalizing scale over time was caused mostly by genetic factors, while nonshared environmental factors mostly caused the stability of the Internalizing scale.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Psychopathology in young adults with congenital heart disease. Follow-up results.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of a wide range of behavioural and emotional problems long-term (> 9 years) after surgical correction for congenital heart disease in infancy and childhood. METHODS: The problem scores on the Young Adult Self-Report of 166 19-25-year-old adults with congenital heart disease were compared with those of subjects of similar age from the general population. RESULTS: On most Young Adult Self-Report scales no differences were found between the mean problem scores of the congenital heart disease-adults and reference peers. On only two Young Adult Self-Report scales (i.e. Somatic Complaints and Strange) and the total problem score were significant though small differences found between the mean problem scores of the congenital heart disease adults and reference peers. No significant relationship was found between cardiac diagnosis and problem behaviours in congenital heart disease adults. No relationship was found between IQ scores and problem behaviours in congenital heart disease adults. CONCLUSION: Overall, it can be concluded that the results of the congenital heart disease adults were not unfavourable, since the differences in mean (total) problem scores between the congenital heart disease sample and reference group were small and limited to only two specific problem areas.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Prediction of behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents with operated congenital heart disease.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to determine which medical variables were predictors of long-term behavioural/emotional outcome after surgical correction for congenital heart disease in infancy and childhood. METHODS: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to predict parent-reported behavioural/emotional problems in 125 10-15 year-old congenital heart disease children from: (1) biographical status (2) medical history (3) heart surgery (4) short-term post-operative course and (5) number of heart operations and (6) extra cardiac concomitant anomalies. RESULTS: Higher CBCL total problem scores at follow-up were associated with a greater number of heart operations and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (< 22 degrees). 'Internalizing problems' were associated with a greater number of heart operations, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, a short gestational age, low systemic oxygen saturation, and older age at surgical repair. 'Externalizing problems' were associated with a greater number of heart operations only. CONCLUSION: Several medical variables were significant predictors and can be used to identify those congenital heart disease children who are at risk of long-term behavioural/emotional maladjustment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Quantitative genetic analysis of internalising and externalising problems in a large sample of 3-year-old twins.

For a quantitative genetic study of pre-school problem behaviours, we have collected data with the Child Behavior Checklist for 2 and 3-year-old children (CBCL 2/3). Questionnaires were completed by mothers of 3620 twin pairs: 633 monozygotic males, 581 dizygotic males, 695 monozygotic females, 519 dizygotic females and 1192 dizygotic opposite sex twin pairs. The genetic and environmental influences on the Externalising and Internalising Problem scales were estimated, simultaneously with sex differences and sibling interaction effects. Genetic factors explained most of the observed variance for both Externalising and Internalising Problems. Cooperative sibling interactions were found for Externalising Problems, indicating that twins reinforce each other's behaviour. Sex differences in genetic architecture were found for Externalising Problems. Genetic factors explained 75% of the variance in girls and 50% in boys. Shared environmental influences were only of importance in boys. For both problem scales, non-shared environmental factors accounted for 25 to 32% of the variance. The observed variances of Internalising Problems could be adequately explained by genetic and nonshared environmental factors, with genetic factors accounting for 68% of the variance.

Child Behavior↗

PubMed1998

Frequency of parental report of problem behavior in children decreases with increasing maternal age at delivery.

Child behavior problems were assessed in 1377 3-yr.-old twin pairs with the Child Behavior Check List from Achenbach (translated into Dutch language by Verhulst). The association between problem scores and maternal age at delivery of the twins was analyzed with statistical control for several potential confounding variables: birth weight of twins, maternal smoking during pregnancy, being breast or bottle fed and socioeconomic status. After controlling for all available confounding covariates, a significant linear effect for maternal age was left. Especially Externalizing behavior problems as well as the separate categories that constitute Externalizing, i.e., Aggressive, Oppositional, and Overactive, appeared to decrease continuously with increasing maternal age. This was true for both boys and girls as well as for first and secondborn twins. Evidence in support of a biological explanation of the association between maternal age and child behavior problems, is presented.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

The relationship between mutual family relations and child psychopathology.

The associations of the mutual mother-child, father-child, and mother-father relationship and various patterns of family relations with child psychopathology were investigated in a sample of 137 families referred to outpatient mental health services. Assessment of the relative association of the different family dyads showed that both the mother-child and the mother-father relationship were related to child problem behaviour. However, whereas the mother-child relationship was consistently more related to externalising behaviour, the mother-father relationship was particularly related to internalising behaviour. Our findings gave clear support for the cumulative risk model: having more negatively qualified relationships was associated with more problem behaviour. Furthermore, our results suggested a protective influence of the parent-child relationship: having one or two positive parent-child relationships was associated with less problem behaviour. No support was found for the cross-generational coalition hypothesis. Implications for future research are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

[Being raised by lesbian parents or in a single-parent family is no risk factor for problem behavior, however being raised as an adopted child is].

Modern reproductive techniques and alternative family structures (with single or homosexual parents and adoption situations) raise questions about the consequences for the growing children involved. Genetic links appear to be less important for the functioning of a family than a strong wish for parenthood; parents who have become parents only through great efforts display a better quality of parenthood than average natural parents. Characteristics of the parent/parents, such as paedagogic qualities, and the quality of the parent-child relationship appear more important than the type of family. Published results of research reveal no reason why lesbian families should be judged differently from heterosexual ones as family types for the raising of children. The main negative factor for the functioning of the child growing up in a single-parent family is the marriage conflicts that have led to the single-parent situation; being raised by a single parent in itself has no adverse effect. Raising adopted children from other countries makes far greater demands on the adoptive parents than parents of biological children have to meet. The raising of a foreign adopted child by a single parent entails additional risks for the child's development. Data on the development of children in alternative family structures frequently concern exceptionally competent parents, which may have biased the findings.

Adoption↗

PubMed1997

The prevalence of DSM-III-R diagnoses in a national sample of Dutch adolescents.

BACKGROUND: We estimated the 6-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Dutch adolescents, using standardized, internationally available, and replicable assessment procedures, and assessed sex differences and comorbidity of diagnoses. METHODS: In phase 1, the parent, self-report, and teacher versions of the Child Behavior Checklist screened a sample representative of 13- to 18-year-olds from the Dutch general population. In phase 2, the parent (P) and child (C) versions of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) provided DSM-III-R diagnoses for a selected subsample of 780 subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of any disorder was 21.5% for the DISC-C and 21.8% for the DISC-P. There was little overlap between subjects identified as having a disorder by the DISC-P and the DISC-C; only 4% met the criteria for any disorder on both. The most common disorders were simple phobia, social phobia, and conduct disorder. The most frequent comorbid diagnoses were anxiety and mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Although prevalences of more than 21% for DISC-C- and DISC-P-derived diagnoses seem high, many adolescents with DSM-III-R diagnoses functioned quite well. The prevalence of any DSM-III-R diagnosis based on the DISC-C or DISC-P, in combination with the criterion for a definite case, was 7.9%.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Understanding childhood (problem) behaviors from a cultural perspective: comparison of problem behaviors and competencies in Turkish immigrant, Turkish and Dutch children.

Parents' reports of problem behaviors in 2,081 Dutch children, 3,127 Turkish children in Ankara and 833 Turkish immigrant children living in The Netherlands, aged 4-18 years, were compared. Dutch and Turkish versions of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used. Immigrant children were scored higher than Dutch children on 6 of the 11 CBCL scales, most markedly on the Anxious/Depressed scale. Immigrant children were scored higher than Ankara children on five CBCL scales. However, these differences were much smaller than those found between immigrant and Dutch children. Furthermore, immigrant children's Total Problem scores did not differ from those for Ankara children. Turkish immigrant children have very similar patterns of parent-reported problem behaviors to children living in Turkey, although both groups of Turkish children showed higher levels of parent-reported problem behaviors than Dutch children. The higher scores for Turkish children on the Anxious/Depressed scale compared with their Dutch peers may be explained by cultural differences in parental perception of children's problem behaviors, as well as the threshold for reporting them, or by cultural differences in the prevalence of problems, for instance as the result of cross-cultural differences in child-rearing practice. More research is needed to test the degree to which Turkish immigrant parents tend to preserve their cultural characteristics and child-rearing practices in Dutch society.

Achievement↗

PubMed1997

Accelerated longitudinal comparisons of aggressive versus delinquent syndromes.

Accelerated longitudinal analyses revealed both similarities and differences between the developmental trajectories of empirically based aggressive versus delinquent syndromes in childhood and adolescence. Syndromes were scored from standardized ratings obtained from parents five times at 2-year intervals for seven birth cohorts of Dutch children initially assessed at ages 4 to 10 years. Scores for both the aggressive and delinquent syndromes declined from ages 4 to 10. After about age 10 years, scores for the aggressive syndrome continued to decline, but scores for the delinquent syndrome increased until about age 17. The aggressive syndrome was significantly more stable than the delinquent syndrome. Long-term predictive correlations between matched subjects from different cohorts were as high as predictive correlations between scores obtained by the same subjects, thus supporting the validity of accelerated longitudinal analyses. The results highlight important developmental distinctions between aggressive versus delinquent conduct problems. Failure to distinguish between aggressive and delinquent conduct problems could generate misleading conclusions about their respective developmental courses and limit the generalizability of results.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Behavioral and emotional problems in young preschoolers: cross-cultural testing of the validity of the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3.

The cross-cultural validity of the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 2-3 (CBCL/2-3) was tested in three Dutch samples of children referred to mental health services, from the general population, and from a twin study. Six scales were derived from factor analyses and labeled Oppositional, Aggressive, and Overactive, which constituted a broadband Externalizing grouping; Withdrawn/Depressed and Anxious, which constituted a broadband Internalizing grouping; and Sleep Problems. Internal consistencies of the scales, their test-retest reliabilities, interparent agreement, discriminative power, predictive relations with problem ratings 2 years later, and relations to other instruments designed to measure general development and behavior problems were adequate, and highly comparable to psychometric properties in American samples. It was concluded that across languages and cultures behavioral/emotional problems of young preschoolers may be adequately assessed with the CBCL/2-3.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

PubMed1997

Cranial irradiation is the major cause of learning problems in children treated for leukemia and lymphoma: a comparative study.

Prophylactic treatment of the central nervous system (CNS) in childhood leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has negative effects on intelligence. We investigated the clinical significance of this finding by comparing the effect of different types of CNS prophylaxis on the survivor's learning capabilities. To isolate the effect of different types of CNS prophylaxis from other treatment and disease variables on learning problems, children treated for leukemia or NHL who received CNS prophylaxis with cranial irradiation (n = 30) or without cranial irradiation (n = 36) were compared with children treated for solid tumors who received systemic chemotherapy without any CNS treatment (n = 30) and with matched healthy controls (n = 265). The identification of learning problems was based on the school system's assessment. Parents and teachers reported on the child's educational status in a standardized way. Learning problems were found in 80% of children who received CNS prophylaxis with cranial irradiation. This was significantly higher than the 14% found in children treated with CNS prophylaxis without cranial irradiation (P < 0.000). The prevalence of learning problems in this latter group did not differ significantly from that in childhood cancer survivors without any form of CNS prophylaxis (20%) and in healthy matched controls (17%). We conclude that the high prevalence of learning problems in survivors of childhood leukemia and NHL is directly related to CNS prophylaxis with cranial irradiation and not to CNS prophylaxis per se or to other treatment and disease variables.

Central Nervous System↗