Biomedical subjects

Xianchen Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Xianchen Liu.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Sleep disturbances and correlates of children with autism spectrum disorders.

This study examined sleep patterns, sleep problems, and their correlates in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Subjects consisted of 167 ASD children, including 108 with autistic disorder, 27 with Asperger's syndrome, and 32 with other diagnoses of ASD. Mean age was 8.8 years (SD = 4.2), 86% were boys. Parents completed a self-administered child sleep questionnaire. Results showed that average night sleep duration was 8.9 h (SD = 1.8), 16% of children shared a bed with parent. About 86% of children had at least one sleep problem almost every day, including 54% with bedtime resistance, 56% with insomnia, 53% with parasomnias, 25% with sleep disordered breathing, 45% with morning rise problems, and 31% with daytime sleepiness. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that younger age, hypersensitivity, co-sleeping, epilepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma, bedtime ritual, medication use, and family history of sleep problems were related to sleep problems. Comorbid epilepsy, insomnia, and parasomnias were associated with increased risk for daytime sleepiness. Results suggest that both dyssomnias and parasomnias are very prevalent in children with ASD. Although multiple child and family factors are associated with sleep problems, other comorbid disorders of autism may play a major role.

Asperger Syndrome↗

PubMed2006

Sleep and youth suicidal behavior: a neglected field.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sleep undergoes substantial changes during adolescence and suicide risk begins to increase during this period as well. This review focuses on recent literature on the relationship between sleep and suicidal behavior and proposes directions for future research. RECENT FINDINGS: Adolescent sleep is characterized by widespread sleep restriction, irregular sleep schedules, daytime sleepiness, and elevated risk for sleep disturbances. More research on adolescent sleep and psychosocial impairment, psychiatric disorders, and suicidal behavior has been conducted. Suicidal psychiatric patients had more sleep disturbances including insomnia, hypersomnia, or nightmares than nonsuicidal patients. Shorter rapid eye movement latency and increased rapid eye movement activity have been noted to be a marker of suicidality in psychiatric patients. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that insomnia, nightmares, and sleep insufficiency are associated with elevated risk for suicide. Although the link between insomnia and suicidal behavior appears to be mediated by depression, existing data suggest an independent predictive role of nightmares in future suicidal behavior. SUMMARY: Sleep loss or disturbances are likely to signal an increased risk of future suicidal action in adolescents. Large-scale prospective studies and neurobiological studies are needed for a better understanding of the complex relationship between sleep, psychopathology, and youth suicidal behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Clinical features of depressed children and adolescents with various forms of suicidality.

OBJECTIVE: To examine various forms of suicidality specified in DSM-IV and their clinical characteristics in a large sample of children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHOD: Subjects included 553 children and adolescents (aged 7.0-14.9 years) recruited between April 2000 and December 2004 from 23 mental health facilities in Hungary. Subjects received standardized clinical evaluations and best-estimate consensus DSM-IV diagnoses of MDD. All subjects were in a current episode of MDD at their assessment date. RESULTS: Approximately 68% of the sample had recurrent thoughts of death, 48% had suicidal ideation, 30% had suicide plan, and 12% had attempted suicide. Compared with nonsuicidal peers, suicidal children and adolescents were more severely depressed, had more depressive symptoms, and more likely had comorbid disorders. However, depressed children and adolescents with various forms of suicidality were very similar in clinical characteristics. Feelings of worthlessness, depressed mood, psychomotor agitation, and comorbid separation anxiety and conduct disorders were independent correlates of at least 1 form of suicidality. Only feelings of worthlessness was related to all 4 suicidal behaviors, after adjustment for other depressive symptoms, comorbid disorders, and demographics. CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics differ between nonsuicidal and suicidal children and adolescents but are very similar across various forms of suicidality. Feelings of worthlessness may play a central role in the development of suicidal behavior. Interventions toward the enhancement of self-esteem and amelioration of underlying psychopathology may be crucial for the prevention of suicide attempts in depressed children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Life events, psychopathology, and suicidal behavior in Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about risk factors of suicidal behavior among Chinese adolescents. This study examined the associations between negative life events, psychopathology, and suicidal behavior in rural adolescents of China. METHODS: A total of 1362 adolescent students in a rural prefecture of China completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning suicidal behavior, psychopathology, life events, and demographics. Data analyses were conducted using multivariate logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Females were more likely to report suicidal ideation than males (22.0% vs. 17.5%). While the rate of suicide attempt was slightly higher in younger males (12-15 years) than in females (4.7% vs. 3.1%), the rate was higher in older females (16-18 years) than in males (12.7% vs. 9.5%). Suicide attempters reported more negative life events during the past year than suicidal ideators and non-suicidal adolescents. Academic stress and family conflicts were the major stress domains of adolescents at risk for suicidal behavior. A significant dose-response relationship was observed between the number of life events and suicidal behavior. Negative life events were also associated with increased risk for internalizing and externalizing problems. Both internalizing and externalizing problems were significantly associated with elevated risk for suicidal behavior after negative life events were controlled. LIMITATIONS: This is a cross-sectional study. Longitudinal study is warranted to examine the roles of life stress in adolescent suicidal behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who experienced more negative life events are at increased risk for suicidal behavior. Both internalizing and externalizing problems mediate the effect of life events on adolescent suicidal behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Age of attaining nocturnal bladder control and adolescent suicidal behavior.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal enuresis and delayed attainment of nocturnal bladder control are associated with increased risk for psychopathology in children and adolescents. It has long been known that psychopathology is a major risk factor for youth suicide. However, no studies have examined the association between the age of attainment of nocturnal bladder control and adolescent suicidal behavior. METHODS: A community sample of 1920 adolescents aged 11-16 years from one prefecture of mainland China participated in the study. Parents completed a structured questionnaire including adolescents' developmental history, suicidal behavior, depressive symptoms, aggressive behavior, and family environment. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression models indicated that attaining nocturnal bladder control after 3 years was significantly associated with increased risk for adolescent suicidal behavior, after controlling for a number of child and family covariates. A dose-response relationship between the age of attaining nocturnal bladder control and suicidal behavior was observed (OR=2.1 for children attaining bladder control at 3-4 years and OR=3.6 for children attaining bladder control at 5 years or later). Mediating models indicated that depression and aggressive behavior mediated, at least in part, the effect of delayed nocturnal bladder control on suicidal behavior. LIMITATIONS: This is retrospective study. Suicidal behaviors were reported by parents. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed nocturnal bladder control may be an earlier neurodevelopmental predictor of youth suicidal behavior. Further research is suggested to explore earlier neurodevelopmental risk factors and potential mechanisms of youth suicidal behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Suicidality and correlates among rural adolescents of China.

PURPOSE: Despite high rates of suicide in rural youths of China, little is known about the epidemiological characteristics of suicidal behaviors among this group of population. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of suicidality among Chinese adolescents. METHODS: An epidemiological survey was conducted in a sample of 1,362 adolescents from 5 high schools in a prefecture of Shandong, China. We obtained data using a structured questionnaire asking about suicidal behaviors, life stress, locus of control, depression, aggression, and individual and family characteristics. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 19% of the sample reported having suicidal ideation, and 7% reported having made a suicide attempt during the past 6 months. The prevalence rates of suicidal behaviors significantly increased over age. Female adolescents were more likely to report suicidal ideation than males, and older females (ages 16-18) were more likely to report suicide attempts than older males. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that female gender, older age, boarding in school, life stress, depression, and external locus of control were significantly associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation, while older age, life stress, external locus of control, poor academic performance, depression, and aggression were related to suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal behaviors are common problems in rural adolescents of China. Female adolescents are particularly prone to report suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as they age. Multiple psychosocial factors are associated with suicidal behaviors, and psychopathology and life stress may play major roles in suicidal behaviors among rural adolescents of China.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Psychopathology associated with suicide attempts among rural adolescents of China.

This case control study examined the relationship between psychopathological profiles and self-reported suicide attempts among rural adolescents of China. Cases consisted of 142 adolescents who reported a suicide attempt in the past 6 months in a questionnaire survey (n=1365). An equal number of adolescents without reporting a suicide attempt, matched on age, gender, and school class, were selected from the same survey sample as controls. The Youth Self Report (YSR) was used to assess psychopathological profiles for suicide attempters and matched controls. Results indicated that 73% of suicide attempters had at least one behavioral/emotional syndrome, significantly higher than in controls (30%). Logistic regression analyses showed that anxiety/depression (OR = 3.68) and aggression (OR = 5.02) were each significantly associated with increased risk of suicide attempts after controlling for other behavioral problems. These findings demonstrated the independent contribution of anxiety/depression and aggression to suicide attempts in Chinese adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Sleep patterns and sleep problems among schoolchildren in the United States and China.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep patterns and sleep problems in children are not only influenced by a large number of biological and psychologic factors but also by cultural and social factors. Little is known about similarities and differences in sleep patterns and sleep problems among children across countries. We attempted to compare sleep patterns and sleep problems among schoolchildren from 2 countries with distinctive cultural contexts: the United States and China. METHODS: The data come from 2 cross-sectional surveys in 3 elementary schools of Jinan City, People's Republic of China, and 3 elementary schools from a suburban school district in southeastern New England, United States. The Chinese sample consisted of 517 elementary school children (grades 1 to 5), and the US sample consisted of 494 elementary school children (grades kindergarten through 4). We used the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) to assess children's sleep patterns and sleep problems as reported by parents. Parents of the Chinese sample completed a Chinese version of the CSHQ. RESULTS: For children in both the US and Chinese samples, reported bedtime was delayed and sleep duration decreased with increasing age. Compared with the US children (grades 1-4), Chinese children went to bed approximately half an hour later (9:02 vs 8:27 pm) and woke up half an hour earlier (6:28 vs 6:55 am), resulting in an average sleep duration that was 1 hour less (9.25 vs 10.15 hours). Chinese children were rated significantly higher than the US children on almost all CSHQ scales, indicating more sleep problems in Chinese children. Common sleep problems observed for all children were difficulty falling asleep, having a fear of sleeping in the dark, sleep talking, restless sleep, teeth grinding during sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Shorter daily sleep duration was associated with difficulty falling asleep, struggling at bedtime, and trouble sleeping away for the US children, and with going to bed at different times and having a fear of sleeping alone for Chinese children. Short sleep duration was a main predictor of daytime sleepiness for Chinese children, whereas restless sleep and snoring predicted daytime sleepiness for the US children. CONCLUSIONS: As reported by parents, children in China went to bed later and woke up earlier and their sleep duration was 1 hour shorter than the US children. Chinese children were reported to have more sleep problems than their US counterparts. Daytime sleepiness was determined by sleep duration only for those who slept insufficiently. Unique school schedules and sleep practices may contribute to the differences in the sleep patterns and sleep problems of children from the United States and China.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Sleep habits and insomnia in a sample of elderly persons in China.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine sleep habits, insomnia, and hypnotic use in the elderly in China. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional survey in 5 cities of Shandong, mainland China in 1997. PARTICIPANTS: Among 1,820 individuals aged 65 and older who were sampled, 1,679 (92.2%) were interviewed at home, including 770 men and 909 women. MEASUREMENTS: Asleep and demographic questionnaire that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used for interviews. RESULTS: Average bedtime of participants was 9:18 PM (SD = 2.2 hours), and morning rise time was 5:42 AM (SD = 1.0 hour). Reported night sleep duration was 7.1 hours (SD = 1.6) without age and sex differences. Regular napping was more common in men than in women (44.2% vs 28.0%). Of the sample, 32.9% reported frequent insomnia symptoms, and 8.9% had insomnia symptoms with daytime consequences. Multivariate analysis indicated that age 75 years and older (odds ratio = 2.0), female sex (odds ratio = 1.4), unmarried status (odds ratio = 1.7), frequent napping (odds ratio = 1.5), and poor perceived health (odds ratio, = 2.1) were associated with elevated risks for insomnia. Hypnotic use during the past month was reported by 6.5% of the sample; women were 2 times as likely as men to use hypnotics. CONCLUSION: Sleep patterns in Chinese elderly may be characterized by going to bed early and waking up early. Insomnia symptoms are as common among Chinese as among Western elderly. Further study is warranted to examine the association between insomnia and aging per se in Chinese elderly.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Sleep and adolescent suicidal behavior.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Suicide risk begins to increase during adolescence. Adolescents do not get enough sleep and are also at risk for many sleep disturbances. This study examined the association between sleep patterns and sleep problems and adolescent suicidal behavior. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire survey of adolescents attending school was conducted in one prefecture of Shandong Province, People's Republic of China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,362 adolescents attending school (mean age 14.6 years, 60% males) participated in the survey. MEASUREMENTS: Respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire that asked about sleep patterns, sleep problems, suicidal behavior, depressive symptoms, and demographic characteristics of the family and adolescent. RESULTS: Overall, 19.3% of the sample reported having suicidal ideation, 10.5% having suicide attempts in the past 6 months, 16.9% having insomnia symptoms, 2.3% having taken hypnotic medication, and 48.9% having experience of nightmares in the past month. Mean night sleep duration was 7.6 hours (SD = 0.8). Logistic regression analyses showed that sleeping less than 8 hours at night (OR = 2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-7.81) and frequent nightmares (OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.76-3.35) were significantly associated with increased risk for suicide attempts after adjustment for age, sex, father's occupation, and depressive symptoms and that nightmares (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.20-2.38) were also significantly related to suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the association between short sleep duration and nightmares and suicidal behavior and highlight the potential role of sleep intervention in the prevention of adolescent suicide.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Coping strategies and behavioral/emotional problems among Chinese adolescents.

This study was carried out to describe strategies used to cope with stress and to explore the association between coping strategies and behavioral/emotional problems in a community sample of adolescents from Mainland China. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire incorporating the Chinese Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Youth Self-Report of Child Behavior Checklist, and a number of demographic questions. Results indicated that Chinese adolescents often used multiple coping strategies when faced with stress. Principal factor analysis followed by oblique rotation revealed two dimensions of coping strategies in Chinese adolescents: active coping and avoidant coping. A series of logistic regression analyses showed that avoidant coping was significantly associated with increased risk for internalizing and externalizing problems, but active coping was associated with reduced risk, after adjustment for child's age and sex and father's occupation. These findings provide evidence of the association between coping and mental health problems in Chinese adolescents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Agreement between parent and teacher reports on behavioral problems among chinese children.

Research has consistently shown low to moderate correlations between parent and teacher reports on children's behavioral problems in Western samples. Little is known about the agreement between parent and teacher reports on behavioral problems among Chinese children. The authors examined the agreement on behavioral and emotional problems in a community sample of 2836 Chinese children aged 6 to 11 years from Mainland China. Children's behavioral problems were assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF). Consistent with most previous studies in Western samples, our results indicated that parent-teacher agreement was low to moderate for attention, externalizing, and internalizing problems. Parent-teacher agreement was higher for attention and externalizing problems than for internalizing problems and decreased with increased behavioral problems. Child's gender, age, and academic performance and father's age were correlated with parent-teacher agreement on ratings of behavioral problems.

Achievement↗

PubMed2003

Bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems among Chinese school-aged children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems among Chinese school-aged children. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire survey of school-aged children was undertaken in Jinan city, People's Republic of China, in 2001. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 517 elementary-school children (mean age, 10.5 years; 47.4% boys) participated in the survey. MEASUREMENTS: The parents completed the Chinese version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and a number of questions that asked about bed sharing and characteristics of the family and child. RESULTS: The prevalence of regular bed sharing in Chinese school-aged children was as high as 18.2%. The rate of bed sharing did not differ between boys and girls but significantly decreased with age from 55.8% in 7-year-olds to 7.2% in 11- to 13-year-olds. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age, poor physical health of the child, and crowded housing were associated with an increased likelihood for the child's bed sharing with parents. Bedtime and total sleep duration did not significantly differ between children who shared beds and those who slept alone. Children who shared beds with their parents were reported to have more sleep anxiety and daytime sleepiness than children who slept alone. Bed sharing was not associated with parasomnias and breathing problems during sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Regular bed sharing in Chinese school-aged children was very common and significantly decreased with age. Crowded housing and poor physical health of the child increased the likelihood for children and parents to share beds. Bed sharing may exert influences on sleep quality rather than sleep quantity.

Beds↗

PubMed2003

Cigarette smoking, life stress, and behavioral problems in Chinese adolescents.

This study investigated a sample of 1360 Chinese adolescents. About 31% of boys and 3.7% of girls reported ever smoking. Smokers experienced more life stress than nonsmokers. Smoking was associated with increased risk for internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, but the association was markedly reduced after controlling for life stress

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Sleep duration, insomnia and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescents.

This study examined the associations among sleep duration, insomnia, and behavioral problems in a sample of 1359 Chinese adolescents. Participants completed a self-administrated questionnaire that included questions on sleep duration and insomnia symptoms and the Youth Self-Report of Child Behavior Checklist. It was found that adolescents who complained of insomnia reported sleep duration only half an hour shorter than did those without insomnia. Sleep duration did not differ among adolescents reporting three different types of insomnia (difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, and early morning awakening). Adolescents with insomnia reported more behavioral problems than did those without complaints of insomnia. After adjustment for age and sex, sleep duration of less than 7 h a day was significantly associated with most behavioral problems in those without complaints of insomnia but with only a few behavioral problems in adolescents reporting insomnia. Results suggest that sleep duration in adolescents with insomnia is short, but not as short as reported in previous clinical studies. Insomnia and short sleep duration are associated with a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

A cohort study of behavioral problems and intelligence in children with high prenatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure.

BACKGROUND: In 1978, about 2000 persons in Taiwan were poisoned when their cooking oil was contaminated during manufacture with heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls, which are toxic, very widespread pollutant chemicals. The chemicals cannot be metabolized or excreted, and 8 of the first 39 children born to affected women died. When examined in 1985, 117 surviving children were found to have ectodermal defects, developmental delay, and disordered behavior. We have continued to observe the children. METHODS: From 1992 through 1995, 118 children born between 1978 and 1985 (during or after their mothers' exposure) and 118 matched neighborhood control children had cognitive function measured yearly with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and behavioral problems measured with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist and the Rutter Child Behavior Scale A. RESULTS: The exposed children scored 3 points (P =.05) lower than control children for IQ; 3 points (P =.002) higher on the Child Behavior Checklist (an effect size similar to the sex difference); and 6 points (P<.001) higher on the Rutter scale (3 times the sex difference). Birth year x exposure interactions, testing whether children born long after the exposure were as affected as those born soon after, were small and not significant. Age x exposure interactions, testing whether the children improved relative to control children as they got older, were significant only for the Rutter scale. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to these compounds produces long-lasting cognitive and behavioral damage, but there is some evidence of recovery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Do children with falling blood lead levels have improved cognition?

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to lead at levels encountered by urban children impairs cognitive development. An observational study suggested improvement in IQ when blood lead level fell, but the only randomized trial of chelation showed no benefit in IQ. METHODS: We did a new analysis of the data from the clinical trial using change in blood lead level as the independent variable. The 741 children began with blood lead levels between 20 and 44 microg/dL, and were 13 to 33 months old at randomization to chelation or placebo. Blood lead levels were measured repeatedly, and cognitive tests were given at baseline, 6 months, and 36 months follow-up. RESULTS: By 6 months after randomization, blood lead levels had fallen by similar amounts in both chelated and placebo children, despite the immediate drops in the chelated group; there was no association between change in blood lead level and change in cognitive test score. Blood lead levels continued to fall. At 36 months follow-up, in the placebo group only, cognitive test scores had increased 4.0 points per 10 microg/dL fall in blood lead level from baseline to 36 months follow-up and 5.1 points from 6 to 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in scores in the placebo group only implies that factors other than declining blood lead levels per se are responsible for cognitive improvement; it is possible but less likely that succimer, the active drug, impairs cognition.

Chelating Agents↗