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K S Rowe

Publications and source records attributed to K S Rowe.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Norms for parental ratings on Conners' Abbreviated Parent-Teacher Questionnaire: implications for the design of behavioral rating inventories and analyses of data derived from them.

Despite the wide usage of Conners' 10-item Abbreviated Parent-Teacher Questionnaire (APTQ), normative data for parental ratings on the APTQ are rare. Moreover, its psychometric properties as a "stand alone" behavioral rating instrument have yet to be examined in detail. Using data from parental ratings for 6,841 children aged 5 to 14 years, this paper reports the psychometric properties of the APTQ and provides normative and prevalence estimates for four age cohorts (5 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 14 years) by gender. In presenting the findings, the paper highlights key methodological issues endemic to the design of behavioral rating inventories like the APTQ and the analysis of data derived from them. These issues are illustrated and discussed in terms of their implications for the measurement and determination of prevalence estimates of problem behaviors in child psychology and child psychiatry. The need to revise the design, content, and response formats of child behavior rating inventories is stressed.

Adolescent↗

Synthetic food coloring and behavior: a dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether there is an association between the ingestion of synthetic food colorings and behavioral change in children referred for assessment of "hyperactivity." PARTICIPANTS: From approximately 800 children referred to the Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne) for assessment of suspected hyperactivity, 200 were included in a 6-week open trial of a diet free of synthetic food coloring. The parents of 150 children reported behavioral improvement with the diet, and deterioration on the introduction of foods noted to contain synthetic coloring. A 30-item behavioral rating inventory was devised from an examination of the clinical histories of 50 suspected reactors. Thirty-four other children (23 suspected reactors, 11 uncertain reactors) and 20 control subjects, aged 2 to 14 years, were studied. DESIGN: A 21-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study used each child as his or her own control. Placebo, or one of six dose levels of tartrazine (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 mg), was administered randomly each morning, and behavioral ratings were recorded by parents at the end of each 24 hours. RESULTS: The study identified 24 children as clear reactors (19 of 23 "suspected reactors," 3 of 11 "uncertain reactors," and 2 of 20 "control subjects"). They were irritable and restless and had sleep disturbance. Significant reactions were observed at all six dose levels. A dose response effect was obtained. With a dose increase greater than 10 mg, the duration of effect was prolonged. CONCLUSION: Behavioral changes in irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance are associated with the ingestion of tartrazine in some children. A dose response effect was observed.

Adolescent↗

The relationship between inattentiveness in the classroom and reading achievement (Part A): methodological issues.

Conclusions drawn from recent reviews of research concerned with relationships between child behavior disorders and learning difficulties highlight major methodological and analytical problems that have plagued empirical research in the field. This paper (Part A) identifies and discusses some of these problems, including those associated with the design and use of psychometric instruments, cutoff scores, and statistical modeling techniques. The paper provides a contextual rationale for the choice of methods and statistical models used in a large explanatory study of the relationship between inattentiveness in the classroom and reading achievement, reported in Part B.

Achievement↗

The relationship between inattentiveness in the classroom and reading achievement (Part B): an explanatory study.

Findings from an explanatory study of the relationship between inattentiveness in the classroom and reading achievement are reported for a sample of 5,000 students (age, 5-14 years) drawn from a normal school population. Results of structural equation modeling showed that regardless of family socioeconomic status, age, and gender, students' inattentiveness had strong negative effects on their achievement as well as on their attitudes toward reading and reading activity at home. Moreover, the findings indicated strong reciprocal effects, suggesting that whereas inattentive behaviors lead to reduced achievement, reading achievement--mediated by attitudes and reading activity at home--leads to increased attentiveness in the classroom. The strategic implications of the findings are discussed.

Achievement↗

Synthetic food colourings and 'hyperactivity': a double-blind crossover study.

Of 220 children referred for suspected 'hyperactivity', 55 were subjected to a 6 week trial of the Feingold diet. Forty (72.7%) demonstrated improved behaviour and 26 (47.3%) remained improved following liberalization of the diet over a period of 3-6 months. The parents of 14 children claimed that a particular cluster of behaviours was associated with the ingestion of foods containing synthetic colourings. A double-blind crossover study, employing a single-subject repeated measures design was conducted, using eight of these children. Subjects were maintained on a diet free from synthetic additives and were challenged daily for 18 weeks with either placebo (during lead-in and washout periods) or 50 mg of either tartrazine or carmoisine, each for 2 separate weeks. Two significant reactors were identified whose behavioural pattern featured extreme irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbance. One of the reactors did not have inattention as a feature. The findings raise the issue of whether the strict criteria for inclusion in studies concerned with 'hyperactivity' based on 'attention deficit disorder' may miss children who indicate behavioural changes associated with the ingestion of food colourings. Moreover, for further studies, the need to construct a behavioural rating instrument specifically validated for dye challenge is suggested.

Adolescent↗

Food additives.

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Australia↗

Double-blind randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of intravenous gammaglobulin for the management of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

A double blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 71 adolescents aged 11-18 years. Inclusion in the trial required fulfilment of the diagnostic criteria, (Fukuda et al., 1994). Three infusions of 1 gm/kg (max 1 litre of 6 gm/100 ml in 10% w/v maltose solution) were given one month apart. The dummy solution was a 10% w/v maltose solution with 1% albumin of equivalent volume for weight. Efficacy was assessed by difference in a mean functional score including school attendance, school work, social activity and physical activity, between baseline, three months and six months after the final infusion. There was a significant mean functional improvement at the six month follow-up of 70 adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome of average duration 18 months. There was also a significant improvement for both groups from the beginning of the trial to the six month post infusion follow-up. Adverse effects were common with both solutions but not predictive of response. Neither solution could be identified by recipients.

Adolescent↗