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Biomedical subjects

M M Moretti

Publications and source records attributed to M M Moretti.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Self-other representations and relational and overt aggression in adolescent girls and boys.

Aggressive behavior in girls has received far less attention than similar problems in boys. This study examined self-representation, and others' representation of self, as predictors of relational aggression, overt aggression, and assaultive behavior in 32 girls and 52 boys, 10 to 17 years of age, referred for assessment due to significant aggressive and delinquent behavior problems. As predicted, negativity of self-representation predicted relational aggression in girls but not boys. Negativity of self-representation also predicted overt aggression and assaultive behavior in both girls and boys. Parental representations of self were not predictive in this sample; however, negativity of peer representations of self, was associated with increased relational aggression in girls and decreased relational aggression in boys. Negativity of peer representations of self also predicted overt aggression and assaultive behavior in both girls and boys. Results suggest that the evaluation of self-other representations may be valuable in the assessment of risk for gender specific patterns of aggression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescents with conduct disorder: sex differences and onset patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To examine sex differences in the rate and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma exposure, and onset patterns in youth with conduct disorder (CD). METHOD: Youth admitted to a clinical facility for severe behaviour problems completed the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents--Revised (DICA-R) to assess the presence of CD and PTSD. RESULTS: Over one-half of CD youth reported exposure to trauma, yet only 17% met criteria for PTSD. PTSD was more frequent in CD girls (28%) than in boys (10%), and girls experienced greater symptom intensity and anhedonia, difficulty feeling love or affection, and disturbance of sleep and concentration. Girls more frequently reported sexual assault, while boys were more likely to report accidents, physical assaults, and witnessing the death of a loved one. Retrospective reports indicated that PTSD tended to develop subsequent to CD. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to trauma is common among CD youth; however, diagnostic procedures should be adapted for increased sensitivity to PTSD. The development of CD may increase the risk for PTSD, particularly in girls, by exposing youth to situations in which they are traumatized. The role of trauma in CD should be routinely examined by clinicians and warrants further research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Suicidal ideation in an adolescent clinical sample: attachment patterns and clinical implications.

This study investigated the relationship between attachment patterns and suicidal ideation in a clinical sample of adolescents. Participants (n = 116) were assessed on level of current ideation through self-report questionnaires. Lethality of methods contemplated was also rated on a subset of the sample (n = 16) who, in addition to endorsing current suicidal ideation, presented a plan on a diagnostic interview. Quality of attachment to care-givers based on a semi-structured clinical interview was assessed using Bartholomew's two-dimensional, four-category model of attachment. Categorical analyses indicated that youth with predominantly fearful or preoccupied attachment were more likely to endorse suicidal ideation than were predominantly secure or dismissing youth. Severity of suicidal ideation was positively correlated with ratings of fearfulness and negatively correlated with ratings on the secure and dismissing patterns. Greater lethality in methods of contemplated suicide was positively correlated with preoccupied tendencies. The importance of attachment theory for understanding the factors underlying suicidal ideation in troubled youth is discussed and implications for therapeutic intervention are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The treatment of conduct disorder: perspectives from across Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a synopsis of treatment programs for conduct-disordered children in Canada. METHOD: Five groups of authors from British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick describe their approaches to the treatment of children with conduct disorder. RESULTS: All programs emphasize the needs to use multimodal treatment schemes, including day and short-term residential care, and to base programs on identified factors associated with the development of conduct disorder. CONCLUSION: Specific forms of treatment of conduct disorder are promising but are often hampered by social and political agendas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The effects of hemispheric asymmetries and depression on the perception of emotion.

The present study investigated hemispheric asymmetries in the perception of positive and negative emotion. The moderating effect of depression on hemispheric asymmetries was also examined. Forty undergraduates were presented with happy and sad faces using a bilateral visual half-field design. Subjects were classified as depressed or nondepressed based on scores on the Beck Depression Inventory. For nondepressed subjects, a right hemisphere advantage emerged for the speed of processing open and close-mouth sad expressions. For depressed subjects a right hemisphere advantage emerged for the speed of processing open-mouth sad expressions. In addition, a right hemisphere advantage for accuracy in identifying sad expressions was found for all subjects. No visual field differences were found for processing happy expressions.

Affect↗
PubMed1995

Conduct disorder and substance use disorder: comorbidity in a clinical sample of preadolescents and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the rate of comorbidity between conduct disorder and substance use disorder in a clinical sample using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents--Revised. METHOD: Examined the pattern of conduct disorder symptoms, including type, number, and severity, in conduct-disordered youth diagnosed with, and without a comorbid substance use disorder. RESULTS: The examination revealed no significant differences in the incidence of comorbidity between younger (aged 10 to 13) and older (above age 13) youth. Among youth who met criteria for conduct disorder, 52% also met criteria for a substance use disorder. Odds ratios indicated that the probability of comorbidity of conduct and substance use disorders was higher in the younger group. CONCLUSION: Substance abuse and dependence tend to develop rapidly following first use, suggesting that a slim window of opportunity exists to prevent substance disorders once drug use has begun.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Long term outcome of an attachment-based program for conduct disorder.

There is increasing concern among professionals and the public about the level of violence and antisocial behaviour among our youth. This has been coupled with confusion and a sense of helplessness about which types of interventions are most effective in responding to these difficulties. Some professionals and advocacy groups are calling for tougher disciplinary responses to violence and antisocial behaviour, including changes in the Young Offenders Act. Yet, such interventions are rarely effective in producing the desired reductions in these behaviours. Other professionals have called for better forms of treatment. However, few treatments have been shown to be effective in bringing about long term reductions either in aggressive behaviour or in the concomitant psychological difficulties experienced by these youths. In this paper, a description is presented of an approach to understanding conduct disorder that focuses on attachment as an organizing principle of behaviour and affect. Also, a description is presented of a community-oriented program that is based on attachment theory, as well as the results of the program evaluation at six, 12 and 18 months following discharge. The findings replicate and extend earlier findings reported by Holland et al (1) on the effectiveness of this approach.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Attachment and conduct disorder: the Response Program.

An increasing number of youths are being identified as suffering from behavioural problems that cause difficulties in their family and peer relations which in turn reduces their chances of academic and vocational success. There is growing concern regarding their level of aggressiveness. The common diagnosis given to these disaffiliated youths is conduct disorder. To date, most treatment programs for conduct disorder have been unsuccessful. A review of recent studies indicates that the disruption of attachment may be an important feature that underlies the wide range of symptoms that are typically found in youths with conduct disorder. A community-oriented program designed to ensure long term care for these youths is described in this paper, and the findings of a six month follow-up evaluation are presented. Results indicated that communities, caregivers, and youths responded positively to the program; caregivers reported significant reductions in a broad range of psychiatric symptoms in youths, and youths reported a significant reduction in symptoms of conduct disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The effect of nifedipine therapy on fetal and placental Doppler waveforms in preeclampsia remote from term.

Twenty patients with preeclampsia at a gestational age of 26 to 35 weeks were treated with oral nifedipine until delivery. The mean oral daily dose was 45.1 +/- 11 mg/day (range, 40 to 80 mg/day). Fetal aorta, internal carotid artery, umbilical artery, and uteroplacental Doppler flow velocity waveforms were recorded before treatment and then serially. The mean nifedipine concentration at the time of the Doppler studies was 60.3 ng/ml (range, 10 to 90 ng/ml). The use of nifedipine therapy was associated with a significant decrease in both maternal systolic blood pressure (baseline, 154 to 135 mm Hg, p less than 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (baseline, 100 to 88 mm Hg, p less than 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the resistance index between baseline and postnifedipine Doppler studies in either the fetal or uteroplacental vessels. The use of oral nifedipine to control blood pressure in preeclampsia does not affect the resistance indices in fetal or uteroplacental vessels as measured by the Doppler technique.

Administration, Oral↗