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PubMed2006

Media-based behavioural treatments for behavioural problems in children.

BACKGROUND: Many approaches are used to address behavioural problems in childhood including medication or, more usually, psychological treatments either directly with the child and/or his/her family. Behavioural and cognitive-behavioural interventions have been shown to be highly effective but access to these treatments is limited due to factors such as time and expense. Presenting the information parents need in order to manage these behaviour problems in booklet or other media-based format would most likely reduce the cost and increase access to these interventions. OBJECTIVES: To review the effects of media-based cognitive-behavioural therapies for any young person with a behavioural disorder (diagnosed using a recognised instrument) compared to standard care and no-treatment controls. SEARCH STRATEGY: The following electronic databases were systematically searched: CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to August 2005), EMBASE (1980 to August 2005), PsycINFO (1887 to August 2005), CINAHL (1982 to August 2005), Biosis (1985 to August 2005) and Sociofile (1974 to August 2005). References in all selected trials were checked for other trials and experts in the field were contacted for additional information. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials (e.g. trials which used sequential randomisation) of media-based behavioural treatments for behaviour problems in children. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Abstracts and titles of studies identified from searches of electronic databases were read to determine whether they met the inclusion criteria. Full copies of those possibly meeting these criteria from electronic or other searches were assessed by the reviewers and queries were resolved by discussion. Data were analysed using RevMan 4.2. MAIN RESULTS: Eleven studies including 943 participants were included within this review. In general, media-based therapies for behavioural disorders in children had a moderate, if variable, effect when compared with both no-treatment controls with effects sizes ranging from -0.12 (-1.65, 1.41) to -32.60 (-49.93, -15.27) and as and adjunct to medication with effect sizes ranging from -2.71 (-5.86, -0.44) to -39.55 (-75.01, -4.09). Significant improvements were made with the addition of up to two hours of therapist time. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: These formats of delivering behavioural interventions for carers of children are worth considering in clinical practice. Media-based interventions may, in some cases, be enough to make clinically significant changes in a child's behaviour, and may reduce the amount of time primary care workers have to devote to each case. They can also be used as the first stage of a stepped care approach. Consequently this would increase the number of families who could possibly benefit from these types of intervention, releasing clinician time that can be reallocated to more complex cases. Media-based therapies would therefore appear to have both clinical and economic implications as regards the treatment of children with behavioural problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Cognitive behavioural interventions for sleep problems in adults aged 60+.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sleep problems in adulthood increases with age. While not all sleep changes are pathological in later life, severe disturbances may lead to depression, cognitive impairments, deterioration of quality of life, significant stresses for carers and increased healthcare costs. The most common treatment for sleep disorders (particularly insomnia) is pharmacological. The efficacy of non-drug interventions has been suggested to be slower than pharmacological methods, but with no risk of drug-related tolerance or dependency. Cognitive and behavioural treatments for sleep problems aim to improve sleep by changing poor sleep habits, promoting better sleep hygiene practices and by challenging negative thoughts, attitudes and beliefs about sleep. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural interventions in improving sleep quality, duration and efficiency amongst older adults (aged 60 and above). SEARCH STRATEGY: The following databases were searched: MEDLINE (1966 - October 2001); EMBASE (1980 - January 2002), CINAHL ( 1982 - January 2002; PsychINFO 1887 to 2002; The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2002); National Research Register (NRR [2002]). Bibliographies of existing reviews in the area, as well as of all trial reports obtained, were searched. Experts in the field were consulted. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials of cognitive behavioural treatments for primary insomnia where 80% or more of participants were over 60. Participants must have been screened to exclude those with dementia and/or depression. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Abstracts of studies identified in searches of electronic databases were read and assessed to determine whether they might meet the inclusion criteria. Data were analysed separately depending on whether results had been obtained subjectively or objectively. MAIN RESULTS: Six trials, including 282 participants with insomnia, examined the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural treatments (CBT) for sleep problems in this population. The final total of participants included in the meta-analysis was 224. The data suggest a mild effect of CBT for sleep problems in older adults, best demonstrated for sleep maintenance insomnia. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: When the possible side-effects of standard treatment (hypnotics) are considered, there is an argument to be made for clinical use of cognitive-behavioural treatments. Research is needed to establish the likely predictors of success with such treatments. As it may well be the case that the treatment efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy itself is not durable, the provision of "top-up" sessions of CBT training to improve durability of effect are worthy of investigation.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour?

The study investigated the predictive value of pro-social behaviour for developmental pathways of behavioural and emotional problems at kindergarten age. One hundred and sixty children participated in the study at the ages of 5 and 6. Teachers and parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; children completed the Berkeley Puppet Interview at both assessment points. Single-informant data were aggregated to enhance the reliability and validity of data. Gender and parental educational status were controlled. Symptoms (conduct problems, hyperactivity and emotional symptoms) and pro-social behaviour were moderately stable over time. Compared to girls, boys showed higher levels and increases of conduct problems and hyperactivity and lower levels of pro-social behaviour. Lower parental educational level was associated with higher levels and increases in hyperactivity. Although pro-social behaviour was cross-sectionally associated with behavioural and emotional symptoms, pro-social behaviour did not predict changes in conduct problems or hyperactivity over time. However, children with above average emotional symptoms and above average pro-social behaviour at Age_5 showed the highest level of emotional symptoms at Age_6. The results indicate that low levels of pro-social behaviour are associated with children's externalising behaviour problems, but that for children with high levels of emotional symptoms, higher levels of pro-social behaviour should also be considered as a risk factor. In sum, our results suggest mainly homotypic pathways of internalising and externalising symptoms across kindergarten age, but indicate that the assessment of pro-social behaviour yields additional information regarding the developmental pathways of emotional symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed1977

Different behavioural patterns induced by apomorphine: evidence that the method of administration determines the behavioural response to the drug.

The behavioural effects of s.c. injected apomorphine was studied on habituated rats in a test-box designed to measure 8 different components of behaviour. Apomorphine, 1 mg/kg, induced two different behaviours: The "G-type" of behaviour characterized by compulsive gnawing and the "LS-type" of behaviour characterized by increased locomotion, sniffing and repetitive head and limb movements. G-type behaviour was induced when apomorphine, dissolved by heating, was injected s.c. into the flank of the animal. LS-type behaviour was induced both when apomorphine, dissolved by heating, was injected s.c. into the neck and when it was dissolved by heating together with a high concentration of ascorbic acid (1 mg/ml) and injected s.c. into the flank. G-type behaviour could not be elicited by changing the dose which induced LS-type behaviour or vice versa. We therefore conclude that these different behavioural effects of apomorphine were not dose--response effects but were elicited by at least two different synaptic mechanisms in the brain. Experimentally induced changes from one of these apomorphine-induced behaviours to another can therefore not merely be interpreted as a change in the intensity of the behavioural response as is done in e.g. commonly used stereotypy rating scales.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Stress alters caffeine action on investigatory behaviour and behavioural inhibition in the mouse.

A lot of studies have demonstrated that the physiological action of drugs can be modified by stressors. The present study investigates the effects of stressors on caffeine action on investigatory behaviour and behavioural inhibition in C57Bl6/J mice. For 6 consecutive days, the mice were subjected to one stressful procedure each day consisting on days 1 and 3 of immersion in cold water for 10 periods of 10s each, on days 2 and 5 of a restraint stress for 2 periods of 5 min each, and on days 3 and 6 of placing the animals in a lit openfield for a 10-min period. Saline or caffeine (30, 60 or 120 mgkg-1) were i.p. administered immediately after the last stressful experience, and the animals were tested behaviourally 10 min later. Their behaviour was compared to that of unstressed mice injected with either saline or caffeine. The results show that: (1) in saline-treated mice, stress decreased the investigatory behaviour and increased the behavioural inhibition; (2) in unstressed mice, caffeine decreased the investigatory behaviour in a dose-dependent manner; moreover, behavioural disinhibition, which appeared at low doses of the drug, did not at higher doses; (3) in stressed mice, the dose-dependent action of caffeine was almost abolished and the drug elicited, whatever the dose, a slight increase of the investigatory behaviour and a strong behavioural disinhibition. It is concluded that stress antagonizes the inhibitory action of caffeine on the investigatory behaviour and potentiates its action on behavioural disinhibition. The results are discussed in terms of interaction of stress and caffeine on the dopaminergic system.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Behavioural knowledge, causal beliefs and self-efficacy as predictors of special educators' emotional reactions to challenging behaviours.

Theoretical models and emerging empirical data suggest that the emotional reactions of staff to challenging behaviours may affect their responses to challenging behaviours and their psychological well-being. However, there have been few studies focusing on factors related to staff emotional reactions. Seventy staff working in educational environments with children with intellectual disability and/or autism completed a self-report questionnaire that measured demographic factors, behavioural causal beliefs, behavioural knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, and emotional reactions to challenging behaviours. Regression analyses revealed that behavioural causal beliefs were a positive predictor, and self-efficacy and behavioural knowledge were negative predictors of negative emotional reactions to challenging behaviours. Staff with formal qualifications also reported more negative emotional reactions. No other demographic factors emerged as significant predictors. The results suggest that behavioural causal beliefs, low self-efficacy and low behavioural knowledge may make staff vulnerable to experiencing negative emotional reactions to challenging behaviours. Researchers and clinicians need to address these issues in staff who work with people with challenging behaviours.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1980

Stereotyped behaviour, alternative behaviour and collateral effects: a comparison of four intervention procedures.

The effects of four procedures (i.e. a mild slap to the forearm, differential reinforcement of an alternative behaviour (DRA), overcorrection plus DRA, and a mild slap plus DRA), on a sterotyped behaviour, an alternative behaviour, and collateral self-injurious behaviours of a profoundly retarded five-year-old girl were assessed in a modified multiple baseline, reversal design. A mild slap resulted in rapid suppression of target and nontarget behaviours. During DRA, a slight increase was achieved in the target behaviour. However, no suppression of the other behaviours were evidenced. Overcorrection plus DRA proved relatively ineffective both in suppressing the target stereotyped behaviours and in accelerating the alternative behaviour. The most effective procedure was mild slap plus DRA. Near zero suppression of the stereotyped behaviour was attained on the first day of implementation, collateral self-injurious behaviours were virtually eliminated, and alternative behaviour increased dramatically. There was some evidence for generalisation across trainers, settings, and time.

Behavior Therapy↗

PubMed2005

Person Focused Training: a model for delivering positive behavioural supports to people with challenging behaviours.

BACKGROUND: Person Focused Training is introduced as a model of service delivery for people with severe challenging behaviours. It is defined as training and supporting staff to conduct functional assessments and to design and implement positive behavioural support for specific individuals with challenging behaviours. METHOD: Longitudinal outcome data are presented from 138 behaviour support plans developed by staff over a seven year period were analysed to determine reductions in frequency of challenging behaviours. Degree of behaviour change was determined across topography of behaviour, gender, age, level of disability, location of residence and role of course participant. RESULTS: Results indicate that the implementation by staff of behaviour support plans are associated with significant improvement in 77% of cases at an average follow-up of 22 months after implementation of support plans. Only location of residence was identified as related to reduction in challenging behaviours with large residential centres being associated with lower rates of behavioural improvement. CONCLUSIONS: It is argued that Person Focused training may represent an alternative to existing models of supporting individuals with challenging behaviours. The implications of front-line staff designing and implementing behaviour support plans for the organisation of services and the role of the clinical psychologist are considered.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Types of nursing home residents with self-destructive behaviours: analysis of the Harmful Behaviours Scale.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the types of self-destructive behaviours identified by the Harmful Behaviours Scale (HBS) and the variables associated with them. METHOD: A cross sectional survey involving 647 residents in 11 nursing homes in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The following instruments were used: Harmful Behaviours Scale (HBS); Behavioural Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale; Functional Assessment Staging Scale; Resident Classification Index; Health of the Nation Outcome Scale; Even Briefer Assessment Scales for Depression; Abbreviated Mental Test Scale; and the suicide item from the Structured Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Diagnosis of dementia was obtained from nursing home records. RESULTS: Latent class analysis of the HBS identified four groups of residents, described as 'aggressive resistant' (34.9%), 'food refusal' (26.8%), 'behaviourally disturbed' (5.4%) and a 'non-symptomatic' group (33.0%) with little self-destructive behaviour. The behaviourally disturbed group engages in a widespread combination of direct and indirect self-destructive behaviours and displays other behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. In contrast, the food refusal group whose only behavioural symptom was refusal to eat and drink had the most cognitive impairment and did not show higher levels depression or suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: We have found three groups of residents with self-destructive behaviours and each group is associated with a different pattern of variables.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Predictors of smoking behaviour: an application of Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour.

The aim of the present paper was to verify the basic assumptions underlying the theory of planned behaviour for the prediction of cigarette smoking intentions and behaviour among adults of the general population (study 1) and a group of pregnant women (study 2). Each study was developed based upon Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour. In both studies, baseline data was collected at home with trained interviewers and with the use of paper and pencil questionnaires. The self-report on behaviour was obtained 6 months (study 1) and between 8 and 9 months (study 2) after baseline data collection. In study 1, for smokers, perceived behavioural control, attitudes and subjective norm were explaining intention, whereas perceived behavioural control and habit were the most important predictors of behaviour. In study 2, smoker's intentions was mainly under the influence of perceived behavioural control and attitude, whereas behaviour was predicted by perceived behavioural control only. The present studies suggest that promotional programmes should help smokers to know and develop their will-power regarding non-smoking of cigarettes and should be informed of the effort required in order to modify smoking behaviour.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

The physiology of wandering behaviour in Manduca sexta. II. The endocrine control of wandering behaviour.

Removal of the prothoracic glands early during the 5th instar of Manduca sexta prevented the larvae from wandering and from further development. Infusion of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) into these larvae induced wandering behaviour. In intact larvae, induction of precocious wandering behaviour required a 20-HE infusion lasting longer than 5 h. Infused 20-HE induced maximal response (90%) when delivered at a rate of 0.06 micrograms g-1 body weight h-1. At considerably higher concentrations (0.25 micrograms g-1 h-1 larvae performed brief, erratic behaviour or omitted wandering entirely. The latency between appearance of 20-HE and the onset of wandering was dose-dependent with a minimum of 11 h following infusion at 0.1 micrograms g-1 h-1. Latency was not affected by the duration of 20-HE infusion. The duration of induced wandering behaviour was proportional to the duration of 20-HE infusion. Minimal wandering behaviour lasted 2 h following 20-HE infusions at 5 h, while infusions lasting 11 h induced 9 h of wandering behaviour. Several lines of evidence suggest that the effects of 20-HE accumulate over time and directly determine the duration of wandering behaviour. Many larvae exhibited a series of temporally distinct locomotor periods following various 20-HE infusion protocols, suggesting that a series of separate exposures to 20-HE can result in corresponding serial bouts of locomotion. Responsiveness to 20-HE appeared to be principally modulated by juvenile hormone. Allatectomy of 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae removed juvenile hormone (JH) precociously from these stages and was followed several days later by precocious wandering behaviour. Likewise, application of the JH mimic, EGS, prior to 20-HE exposure or at the start of it, could prevent the behavioural induction. During the 5th instar, 20-HE became increasingly effective in inducing wandering as larvae grew larger than 5 g, the size at which JH normally begins to disappear from the haemolymph. Allatectomized 5th instar larvae responded directly to 20-HE a day sooner than larvae with normal JH titres, but before day 2 the effects of 20-HE on wandering behaviour appear to be indirect, requiring a latency greater than 24 h. Several processes, of which the elimination of JH is the last, appear to be required before 20-HE can induce wandering behaviour.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Antipsychotic medication for challenging behaviour in people with learning disability.

BACKGROUND: The term 'challenging behaviour', in the absence of psychiatric disorder, encompasses a wide range of behaviours that may be harmful to people or property, may be difficult to manage and may limit access to community facilities. Antipsychotic medications have been used to modify such behaviours in people with learning disability, but there is little evidence to suggest that the benefits outweigh the risks. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication for people with learning disability and challenging behaviour. SEARCH STRATEGY: Biological abstracts, the Cochrane Library, the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Register, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycLIT were searched. Further references were sought from published trials and pharmaceutical companies. Trials were reliably identified and data extracted. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials of antipsychotic medication versus placebo. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Reviewers independently evaluated and analysed data on an intention to treat basis. Data were evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks as longer follow-up data were not available. Reviewers assumed that those subjects lost to follow-up had a bad outcome. MAIN RESULTS: Only three randomised controlled trials could be included in the analyses. These provided no evidence of whether antipsychotic medication helps or harms adults with learning disability and challenging behaviour. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is limited data on this important issue and more research is urgently needed.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Drug-induced reinstatement of heroin- and cocaine-seeking behaviour following long-term extinction is associated with expression of behavioural sensitization.

The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviour following long-term extinction of intravenous (i.v.) drug self-administration (an animal model for craving) and long-term behavioural sensitization. Rats were allowed to self-administer heroin (50 microg/kg per inj., 14 daily sessions), cocaine (500 microg/kg per inj., 10 daily sessions) or saline. Following a 3-week extinction period, reinstatement tests were performed to evaluate priming effects of amphetamine, cocaine and heroin on nonreinforced drug-seeking behaviour. In addition, the occurrence of long-term behavioural sensitization in rats with a history of heroin or cocaine self-administration was determined. Heroin-seeking behaviour was reinstated by heroin (0.25 mg/kg), amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) and cocaine (10 mg/kg). In addition, animals with a history of heroin self-administration displayed locomotor sensitization to both heroin and amphetamine. Cocaine-seeking behaviour was reinstated by cocaine and amphetamine, but not by heroin. Interestingly, locomotor sensitization to amphetamine, but not heroin, was observed in animals with a history of cocaine self-administration. In other words, the induction of drug-seeking behaviour following a prolonged drug-free period was found to be associated with the expression of long-term behavioural sensitization. These data provide experimental evidence for a role of behavioural sensitization in the incentive motivation underlying drug-seeking behaviour. If drug hyperresponsiveness would indeed be a crucial factor in drug-induced craving in human addicts, pharmacological readjustment of the neuroadaptations underlying drug sensitization may prevent relapse to drug use long after detoxification.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The Overt Behaviour Scale (OBS): a tool for measuring challenging behaviours following ABI in community settings.

OBJECTIVES: The Overt Behaviour Scale (OBS) was designed as a comprehensive measure of common challenging behaviours observed after acquired brain injury (ABI) in community settings. The OBS comprises 34 items in nine categories that measure aggression, inappropriate sexual behaviour, perseveration, wandering, inappropriate social behaviour and lack of initiation. The aim of the current study was to determine the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the OBS. METHOD: Two adult community-based samples of people with ABI were recruited. Sample 1 (n= 30) were concurrently evaluated on the OBS by two raters and again 1 week later to test stability. Other validating scales were also administered. Sample 2 (n= 28) were clients of the ABI Behaviour Consultancy who were treated for challenging behaviours and were administered the OBS before treatment commenced and then again 4 months later. RESULTS: Inter-rater reliability and stability coefficients for the OBS total score was strong (0.97 and 0.77, respectively). Initial evidence of convergent and divergent validity was shown by the differential pattern of correlations with other measures. Moderate-to-strong coefficients (range 0.37-0.66) were observed between the OBS and other measures that had behavioural content (i.e. Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory, Current Behaviour Scale, Neurobehavioural Rating Scale-Revised). Divergent validity was shown by the lack of correlation between the OBS and the sub-scales of these tools that do not measure challenging behaviour. Finally, responsiveness was demonstrated with a significant decrease in OBS scores in the expected direction over the 4-month period. This improvement was confirmed by corroborating evidence from key informants. CONCLUSION: The OBS shows promise as a reliable, valid and responsive measure that can be used for the systematic assessment of challenging behaviours in community settings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Suppressing calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity in the ventral tegmental area enhances the acute behavioural response to cocaine but attenuates the initiation of cocaine-induced behavioural sensitization in rats.

In the present experiments we administered an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist (CNQX), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (AP-5), or l-type calcium channel blocker (diltiazem) directly into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) before each of four daily systemic cocaine injections in order to assess their influence on the initiation phase of behavioural sensitization. Results indicated that pretreatment with CNQX or AP-5 impaired the initiation of cocaine-induced behavioural sensitization. Intra-VTA administration of diltiazem significantly increased the behavioural activation induced by an acute cocaine injection, but impaired the development of cocaine-induced behavioural sensitization. Because AMPA and NMDA receptors, as well as l-type calcium channels are calcium permeable, we also investigated the role of the calcium-activated second messenger calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII). Similar to the results obtained with diltiazem, administration of the CaM-KII inhibitor KN-93 into the VTA enhanced the acute behavioural response to cocaine but prevented the augmentation of cocaine-induced behavioural hyperactivity following repeated injections. Consistent with this finding, the behavioural hyperactivity produced by cocaine was markedly enhanced among homozygous alpha-CaM-KII knockout mice but the initiation of behavioural sensitization to cocaine was attenuated relative to wild-type mice. Separate experiments performed in rats demonstrated an increase in total protein levels of CaM-KII in the VTA 24 h after the last of seven daily injections of cocaine. Taken together, these results indicate that blocking l-type calcium channels or impairing CaM-KII activity in the VTA augments the acute behavioural hyperactivity induced by cocaine. The present findings also suggest that increased calcium influx through AMPA receptors, NMDA receptors and l-type calcium channels on dopaminergic neurons in the VTA contributes significantly to the initiation of behavioural sensitization by amplifying calcium signalling through CaM-KII.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Behaviour changes in dementia. 2: Are there behavioural syndromes?

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether robust behavioural 'syndromes' can be identified from among the widely heterogeneous behavioural changes which occur in dementia. DESIGN: Longitudinal, prospective study with follow-up at 4 and 8 months. SETTING: Community settings in Oxfordshire, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 97 elderly people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia (in many cases confirmed by postmortem examination) and who were living at home with a carer. MEASURES: Each subject's behaviour was assessed in detail at each interview using the Present Behavioural Examination to assess subject's behaviour over the preceding 4 weeks. Seventeen key behaviour items which were both common and clinically important were selected for further analysis. RESULTS: Three syndromes were identified: (a) overactivity (walking more, walking aimlessly, trailing the carer or checking where the carer was); (b) aggressive behaviour (physical aggression, aggressive resistance, verbal aggression); (c) psychosis (anxiety, persecutory ideas and hallucinations). The same syndromes were found using data collected at three different time points and by using a variety of statistical techniques, confirming their robustness. CONCLUSIONS: Overactivity, aggressive behaviour and psychosis form three distinct behavioural syndromes in dementia.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Behaviour evaluation for risk-taking adolescents (BERTA): an easy to use and assess instrument to detect adolescent risky behaviours in a clinical setting.

UNLABELLED: To create an instrument to be used in an outpatient clinic to detect adolescents prone to risk-taking behaviours. Based on previous research, five identified variables (relationship with parents and teachers, liking going to school, average grades, and level of religiosity) were used to create a screening tool to detect at least one of ten risky behaviours (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other illegal drugs use; sexual intercourse and sexual risky behaviour; driving while intoxicated, riding with an intoxicated driver, not always using a seat belt, and not always using a helmet). The instrument was tested using the Barcelona Adolescent Health Survey 1993. A Receiver Operating Characteristics curve was used to find the best cut-off point between high and low risk score. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to detect at least one risky behaviour and for each individual behaviour. In order to assess its predictive value, the analysis was repeated using the Barcelona Adolescent Health Survey 1999. In both cases, analyses were conducted for the whole sample and for younger and older adolescents. Adolescents with a high-risk score were more likely to take at least one risky behaviour both when the whole sample was analysed and by age groups. With very few exceptions, the Behaviour Evaluation for Risk-Taking Adolescents showed significant odds ratios for each individual variable. CONCLUSION: The Behaviour Evaluation for Risk-Taking Adolescents has shown its potential as an easy to use instrument to screen for risk-taking behaviours. Future research must aim towards assessing this instrument's predictive value in the clinical setting and it's application to other populations.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1996

Social behaviour in sheep relates to behaviour and neurotransmitter responses to nociceptive stimuli.

Sheep in the field display differences in social behaviour. These differences allow a division into three social groups with distinct behavioural occurrences and frequencies. The behavioural and neurotransmission responses of each of these groups to aversive stimuli were compared. Behavioural responses were seen to both forelimb electric shocks and thermal heating of the nose in all groups. These responses changed with stimulus repetition in a group-dependent manner. Microdialysis probe studies of neurotransmitter release in the somatosensory cortex indicated neurotransmitter responses to stimuli in all animals that varied with both animal group and stimulus repetition. Group 1 animals, aggressive and socially active, showed increases in gamma amino-4-butyric acid (GABA) with initial stimulus presentation; this increased with stimulus repetition. Behavioural responses to the stimuli decreased with repetition and nonstimulus-related behaviours, during the course of the experiment, increased. Both of these appeared dependent upon GABA. Group 2 animals, moderately aggressive and socially active, released opioid-like peptides (OLP) upon initial exposure to stimuli but, with repetition, switched to using GABA. Group 3 animals, nonaggressive and socially inactive, released OLP with initial and repeat stimuli. In groups 2 and 3, both GABA and OLP appear to reduce stimulus-related behaviour, but OLP appeared to also reduce nonstimulus-related behaviour and GABA increased these. Changes were independent of animal liveweight. Glutamate was released in response to stimuli in all 3 groups and, with repetition, fell in groups 1 and 2 but increased in group 3. An animal's social behaviour and status may predict its response to a stimulus.

Animals↗