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Biomedical subjects

Robert A Ouvrier

Publications and source records attributed to Robert A Ouvrier.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Conversion disorder in Australian pediatric practice.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence and clinical features of children presenting to Australian child health specialists with conversion disorder. METHOD: Active, national surveillance of conversion disorder in children younger than 16 years of age during 2002 and 2003. RESULTS: A total of 194 children were reported on. The average age was 11.8 years; 23% were younger than 10 years of age. Presentations were complex, with 55% presenting with multiple conversion symptoms. The most common presentations were disturbance of voluntary motor function (64%), sensory symptoms (24%), pseudoseizure (23%), and respiratory problems (14%). Hospital admission was required for 70%, with an average stay of 10.2 days. Antecedent stressors were also reported in 62% and a history of mental health concerns in 42%, with 14% of children taking psychotropic medications for comorbid anxiety or depression. The incidence of conversion disorder in Australian specialist child health practice is estimated to be between 2.3 and 4.2/100,000. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion disorder is associated with a significant burden for the child, family, and the health system. This study emphasizes the comorbidity with anxiety, depression, and symptoms of pain and fatigue. It also highlights the potential impact of "commonplace" stressors such as family conflict and children's loss of attachment figures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Development and validation of a novel rating system for scoring standing foot posture: the Foot Posture Index.

INTRODUCTION: The limitations of clinical methods for appraising foot posture are well documented. A new measure, the Foot Posture Index is proposed, and its development and validation described. METHODS: A four-phase development process was used: (i) to derive a series of candidate measures, (ii) to define an appropriate scoring system, (iii) to evaluate the validity of components and modify the instrument as appropriate, and (iv) to investigate the predictive validity of the finalised instrument relative to static and dynamic kinematic models. Methods included initial concurrent validation using Rose's Valgus Index, determination of inter-item reliability, factor analysis, and benchmarking against three dimensional kinematic models derived from electromagnetic motion tracking of the lower limb. RESULTS: Thirty-six candidate components were reduced to six in the final instrument. The draft version of the instrument predicted 59% of the variance in concurrent Valgus Index scores and demonstrated good inter item reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.83). The relevant variables from the motion tracking lower limb model predicted 58-80% of the variance in the six components retained in the final instrument. The finalised instrument predicted 64% of the variance in static standing posture, and 41% of the variance in midstance posture during normal walking. CONCLUSION: The Foot Posture Index has been subjected to thorough evaluation in the course of its development and a final version is proposed comprising six component measures that performed satisfactorily during the validation process. The Foot Posture Index assessment is quick and simple to perform and allows a multiple segment, multiple plane evaluation that offers some advantages over existing clinical measures of foot posture.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Chronic axonal neuropathy with triosephosphate isomerase deficiency.

A patient with triosephosphate isomerase deficiency resulting from compound heterozygote mutation is described. Chronic axonal neuropathy was identified on clinical and neurophysiologic grounds and confirmed by sural nerve biopsy. This report describes the first biopsy-proven case confirming that peripheral neuropathy can occur with triosephosphate isomerase deficiency.

Axons↗
PubMed2004

Cognitive screening for young children: development and diversity in learning contexts.

SYSTEMS is a screening tool of general cognitive functioning for school-aged children that entails cognitive manipulation and information skills. Our aim was to extend the test for 4- and 5-year-old children at preschool to estimate theoretical starting points in typical cognitive profiles, which are critical in the early years. Participants (N = 1164, girls/boys, 50%) were 4 to 11 years old (mean 7.9, SD 2.2) at preschools and schools in diverse socioeconomic areas of Sydney, Australia. Children's responses created the normative database, and the parameters were derived from curve estimation and regression procedures. The results suggest that cognitive screening is reliable and valid for younger and older children and show a nonlinear relation of children's test scores with age, which is characteristic of rapid change for younger children. The characteristic curve with the best fit to the data had a theoretical starting point before school age, at around 3 years of age. The findings are discussed in light of alternative models and the clinical and educational applications.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Test reliability and stability of children's cognitive functioning.

This study addresses the test reliability of a screening test and stability of children's cognitive functioning. Children aged 5 to 8 years in western Sydney were assessed on three occasions. The first assessment provided a baseline, with the second assessment at 2-, 4-, or 12-week intervals. The final assessment was 4 weeks later. Indicators of reliability and stability suggested that a distinction can be made between test reliability and the phenomenon (cognitive functioning) stability Cognitive functioning was assessed using the School-Years Screening Test for the Evaluation of Mental Status (SYSTEMS). The findings have implications for indicators of reliability and stability of cognitive assessments in developmental research and clinical practice.

Child↗