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Psychosocial and behavioral functioning among pediatric brain tumor survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the psychosocial and behavioral functioning, as described by patient, parent and teacher, of a cohort of adolescents who have been previously treated for a brain tumor. METHODS: A cohort of 32 patients, 12-18 years old, were evaluated between 1 and 5 years post-treatment for brain tumor during the patient's regularly scheduled follow-up clinic appointment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Self-Report questionnaire and the Parent-Report of the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC) were administered to the patient and to one of the patient's parents, respectively. In addition, the BASC Teacher-Report was completed by the patient's teacher. Descriptive statistics were generated; binomial distribution analyses were carried out to assess whether the proportion of individuals with impaired performance on each measure exceeded normative expectations. RESULTS: Comparison of the proportion of patients with elevated scores to normative expectations indicated no excess of elevated scores on any of the BASC scales of the Self-Report. However, parents endorsed items in the areas of attention problems and leadership; teachers endorsed items concerning learning problems; and both parents and teachers endorsed items indicative of somatization behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Parent and teacher feedback indicate some level of psychosocial and behavioral morbidity for adolescents treated for a brain tumor; this finding contrasts with adolescent Self-Report indicating no difficulties in behavioral and psychosocial functioning. The extent to which these vulnerabilities impact quality of life and the discrepancy between reporters should be assessed in follow-up studies with a larger cohort of patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI): psychometric evaluation and future applications.

The Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI) clinical scales were developed via an empirical item selection approach and have been used widely to measure aspects of psychosocial functioning of patients with epilepsy. However, these empirically derived clinical scales have not been assessed psychometrically using a modern item response theory-based model. The goals of this study were to: (1) evaluate how items in each clinical scale performed in such a way as to represent the underlying constructs being measured; and (2) derive a shorter version while maintaining measurement precision. WPSI item response data from 145 adults with epilepsy collected for an evaluation study of an intervention to pact negative attributional style in epilepsy were used. The dichotomous Rasch model suitable for the true-false response choices was used to analyse each clinical scale separately. Most items within each scale fit the measurement model well, with very few exceptions. All items, therefore, were retained. A method, based on computerised adaptive testing (CAT), is offered for shortening the WPSI using a psychosocial outcomes item bank derived from the study. Individuals' specific levels of functioning are used to derive measures of their psychosocial functioning with a minimum number of items.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Prognostic significance of psychopathology in treated opiate addicts. A 2.5-year follow-up study.

Two different methods for assessing psychopathology in opiate addicts were compared as predictors of long-term treatment outcome: (1) categorical psychiatric diagnosis using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia--Lifetime Version and the Research Diagnostic Criteria and (2) global rating of psychiatric impairment using the Psychiatric Severity scale of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Follow-up interviews were completed 2.5 years after treatment seeking in 76% of a sample of 361 opiate addicts. Five dimensions of treatment outcome were assessed, including current functioning, psychosocial adjustment, substance use impairment, legal problems, and medical disability. Most lifetime psychiatric disorders with a prevalence of greater than 10% were significantly related to the outcome dimensions of current functioning and/or psychosocial adjustment and were unrelated to substance use impairment, legal problems, and medical disability. The ASI Psychiatric Severity rating more robustly predicted poorer functioning in the same two areas and less severe legal problems. While controlling for ASI Psychiatric Severity, the only Research Diagnostic Criteria diagnosis that remained significantly related to treatment outcome was major depression, suggesting that, as regards their prognostic characteristics, the other diagnoses are accounted for by a global underlying severity dimension.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Health-related quality of life of severely obese children and adolescents.

CONTEXT: One in 7 US children and adolescents is obese, yet little is known about their health-related quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: To examine the health-related QOL of obese children and adolescents compared with children and adolescents who are healthy or those diagnosed as having cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study of 106 children and adolescents (57 males) between the ages of 5 and 18 years (mean [SD], 12.1 [3] years), who had been referred to an academic children's hospital for evaluation of obesity between January and June 2002. Children and adolescents had a mean (SD) body mass index (BMI) of 34.7 (9.3) and BMI z score of 2.6 (0.5). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Child self-report and parent proxy report using a pediatric QOL inventory generic core scale (range, 0-100). The inventory was administered by an interviewer for children aged 5 through 7 years. Scores were compared with previously published scores for healthy children and adolescents and children and adolescents diagnosed as having cancer. RESULTS: Compared with healthy children and adolescents, obese children and adolescents reported significantly (P<.001) lower health-related QOL in all domains (mean [SD] total score, 67 [16.3] for obese children and adolescents; 83 [14.8] for healthy children and adolescents). Obese children and adolescents were more likely to have impaired health-related QOL than healthy children and adolescents (odds ratio [OR], 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-8.7) and were similar to children and adolescents diagnosed as having cancer (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8-2.3). Children and adolescents with obstructive sleep apnea reported a significantly lower health-related QOL total score (mean [SD], 53.8 [13.3]) than obese children and adolescents without obstructive sleep apnea (mean [SD], 67.9 [16.2]). For parent proxy report, the child or adolescent's BMI z score was significantly inversely correlated with total score (r = -0.246; P =.01), physical functioning (r = -0.263; P<.01), social functioning (r = -0.347; P<.001), and psychosocial functioning (r = -0.209; P =.03). CONCLUSIONS: Severely obese children and adolescents have lower health-related QOL than children and adolescents who are healthy and similar QOL as those diagnosed as having cancer. Physicians, parents, and teachers need to be informed of the risk for impaired health-related QOL among obese children and adolescents to target interventions that could enhance health outcomes.

Adolescent↗

Full recovery from schizophrenia: the prognostic role of premorbid adjustment, symptoms at first admission, precipitating events and gender.

A number of long-term studies of course and outcome in schizophrenia report that about a fourth of the cases show good clinical and social recovery. However, very few studies have been carried out examining the main characteristics of schizophrenia patients who have fully recovered according to a strict definition of 'full recovery'. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to compare a group of 17 fully recovered schizophrenia patients (Group A) with a group of 33 patients (Group B) with current symptoms of schizophrenia on several prognostic factors that have been associated with a good outcome. These clinical groups were matched groupwise with a similar mean on two variables: age range at onset of illness and age at time of interview. Duration of illness (length of time from age of onset of illness to time of assessment) was 22.4 years in group A and 21 years in group B. Mean GAS scores were 72.2 and 46.5, respectively. Positive symptoms (delusions and disorganized behavior) at admission predicted an unfavorable outcome. The results confirmed the prognostic significance of several clinical and demographic factors. However, a good premorbid adjustment did not show significant predictive power, but showed substantial association in the predicted direction. In addition, a clear sex difference was found: women report a significantly better premorbid functioning and demonstrate a more favorable psychosocial functioning than men.

Acute Disease↗

Physical and behavioral health of Medicaid children in two southern states.

OBJECTIVES: As the primary insurer of children in the United States, Medicaid covers at least one in four US children. Information on the health and behavioral health needs of this group of children is critical to plan, deliver, and monitor services accordingly. METHODS: Parent interview data from a representative sample of Medicaid children in two Southern states were used to generate information from standardized questionnaires on physical health status, chronic illnesses, physical functioning, emotional and behavioral symptoms, and psychosocial functioning. RESULTS: The levels of physical and behavioral health and co-occurring problems were higher than other estimates available on the general population. CONCLUSIONS: The high levels of health problems among Medicaid-enrolled children need attention in the current struggles over Medicaid reform. Support for improving screening, referral, and integration of services is discussed, as well as the importance of monitoring service system performance in this era of managed care.

Adolescent↗

Chronic fatigue syndrome: sociodemographic subtypes in a community-based sample.

Most chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) studies are based on information about patients from primary or tertiary care settings. These patients might not be typical of patients in the general population. This investigation involved examinations of individuals with CFS from a community-based study. A random sample of 18,675 in Chicago was interviewed by telephone. Individuals with chronic fatigue and at least four minor symptoms associated with CFS were given medical and psychiatric examinations. A group of physicians then diagnosed individuals with CFS, who were then subclassified based on three sociodemographic categories--gender, ethnicity, and work status. Sociodemographic subgroups were analyzed in terms of symptom severity, functional disability, coping, optimism, perceived stress, and psychiatric comorbidity. Women, minorities, and nonworking individuals with CFS reported greater levels of functional disability, symptom severity, and poorer psychosocial functioning than men, Caucasians, and working individuals, suggesting sociodemographic characteristics may be associated with poorer outcomes in urban, community-based samples of CFS individuals.

Adolescent↗

Long-term prosthodontic follow-up and revisional treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate: case presentation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the need for regular life-long follow-up care of cleft lip and palate patients to maintain adequate masticatory function, speech, and esthetics, thereby supporting psychosocial function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initial and revisional prosthodontic treatments over a period of 32 years in a patient with a bilateral cleft lip and palate are described. RESULTS: Despite an initial dentition of poor health and prognosis and suboptimal patient cooperation, it was possible to arrive at an improved clinical and radiologic state of oral health by the end of the observation period. CONCLUSION: Regular life-long prosthodontic follow-up with adequate maintenance and revisional treatments should be regarded as an essential part of the long-term care for subjects with clefts.

Adult↗

The outcome of adolescent eating disorders: findings from an international collaborative study.

Within the International Collaborative Outcome Study of Eating Disorders in Adolescence (ICOSEDA) we studied the clinical features, treatment, and outcome in consecutive cohorts of adolescent patients at five sites in former West Berlin and East Berlin, Zurich, Sofia and Bucharest. A total of N = 242 patients were followed up after a mean interval of 6.4 years in young adulthood. Using semi-structured interviews it was found that on average the patients were in either inpatient or outpatient treatment for 30% of the entire period between first admission and follow-up. Across the five sites 70% recovered from the eating disorder and a similar rate showed good or fair psychosocial functioning and no other psychiatric disorder. However, the combination of these three criteria showed that at follow-up only every second former patient was a mentally healthy and psychosocially well functioning person. The univariate and joint consideration of a large list of predictors lead to the conclusion that individual prognosis of the course of adolescent eating disorders is a hazardous undertaking.

Adolescent↗

Spinal cord injury medicine. 5. Preserving wellness and independence of the aging patient with spinal cord injury: a primary care approach for the rehabilitation medicine specialist.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights consideration and treatment of individuals with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI). It is part of the chapter on SCI medicine in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on the challenges of chronic disease prevention, diagnosis, therapeutic options, and the resultant impact on the person with long-term SCI. With cardiovascular disease becoming a leading cause of mortality in this population, risk factor modification through weight, lipid, and glucose control becomes more important. Likewise, bowel dysfunction increases with duration and severity of SCI. Conservative and surgical management options are discussed. Musculoskeletal repetitive trauma injuries occur commonly in long-term SCI but can be prevented with appropriate lifestyle or equipment modifications. These and other conditions occurring in the person with long-term SCI are closely related to psychosocial function with resultant social isolation, depression, and substance abuse. Thus, identification and surveillance of these comorbidities are addressed, with an emphasis on prevention. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize the unique medical, psychosocial, and functional needs of the individual with long-term SCI.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Health status assessment in rheumatoid arthritis. I. Further work on the validity of the sickness impact profile.

In a cross-sectional, longitudinal study, 99 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) completed a well established health status measure, the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), for diagnosis specific evaluation. Using traditional and self-reporting data, we examined SIP relationships that described physical functioning. They related closely to clinical measures. Psychosocial functioning measured by SIP related specifically to mental health and arthritic pain. Importantly, the SIP was sensitive to 1-year pre and posttreatment changes showing both improvement and deterioration. When applied to patients with RA SIP categories could be more appropriately aggregated, e.g., Home management included in the Physical dimension and Communication omitted from the Psychosocial.

Adult↗

Neuropsychological performance and quality of life of 10 year survivors of childhood medulloblastoma.

PURPOSE: Survivors of medulloblastoma, the most frequently occurring malignant brain tumor of childhood, suffer neuropsychological damage in the first decade after diagnosis. Cognitive performance, psychosocial functioning and quality of life were assessed in medulloblastoma survivors in the second decade after diagnosis. METHODS: Ten year survivors were evaluated with a battery of neuropsychological tests, and self-report questionnaires regarding quality of life and emotional functioning. Clinical variables examined included the patient's age at diagnosis, duration since diagnosis, treatment, and complications. RESULTS: Sixteen medulloblastoma survivors [mean age at diagnosis: 7.2 years, range: 1-15 years; 6 males] were tested at a mean age of 22.2 years [range: 13.6-27.9 years]. All survivors had been treated with craniospinal radiation therapy; nine were treated with chemotherapy. Significant impairments were identified in more than 50 of survivors on tests within all neuropsychological domains, including attention, memory, visuospatial abilities, motor functioning, language, and executive functioning. Significant impairments were also identified in all psychosocial domains examined, including employment, ability to drive an automobile, participation in normal education, independent living, and dating history. Most importantly, quality of life scores, reported by both survivors and their caretakers, were in the normal range. CONCLUSION: Survivors of childhood medulloblastoma frequently suffer severe persistent deficits in a wide-range of neuropsychological functional domains. Nevertheless, survivors and their families do not report impaired quality of life. These severe neuropsychological and psychosocial deficiencies justify further attempts to reduce or delay the use of craniospinal radiation therapy for childhood medulloblastoma.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Family functioning and psychopathology among adolescents with severe emotional disturbances.

Family psychosocial functioning and its relation to psychopathology among adolescents with severe emotional disturbances (SED) was assessed. Subjects were 353 adolescents with SED, ages 12-18, and their parents. During a semi-structured interview, adolescents were administered Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III), Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Child Version (DISC-C), and the Self-Derogation Scale. Parents were administered FACES-IIII and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a phone interview. Results indicated that on the FACES-IIII cohesion dimension, both parents and adolescents perceived their family relations as more disengaged and less connected than did normative families (p less than .001). In contrast, only parent FACES-IIII adaptability scores were significantly more extreme than a normative sample (p less than .01). Additionally, both parent and adolescent cohesion scores were significantly correlated with adolescent psychopathology measures: DISC-C conduct disorder (p less than .01), depression (p less than .05), alcohol/marijuana (p less than .01), and CBCL externalizing symptoms (p less than .01). These relationships did not deviate from linearity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Psychosocial impairment is significant in young referred children with and without psychiatric diagnoses and cognitive delays--applicability and reliability of diagnoses in face of co-morbidity.

"Subthreshold" psychiatric symptoms with clinically significant psychosocial impairment are a diagnostic problem. They may reduce the reliability of classifications and the communicative value of diagnostic descriptions when specific diagnostic categories cannot be applied. This study was undertaken in order to test the reliability and applicability of psychiatric diagnoses and psychosocial functioning scores as well as differences in psychosocial impairment in children referred to a neuropsychiatric outpatient unit. Two hundred and nineteen young children were diagnosed on all ICD-10 axes, except Axis V. First, reliability was tested with moderate to good results for psychiatric diagnoses (Kw = 0.55 and 0.73) and psychosocial impairment (ICC 1.1 = 0.71). Additional specification of the criteria for some of the Axis I diagnoses reduced the number of children with "subthreshold" conditions without a psychiatric diagnosis. Second, the severity of psychosocial impairment differed significantly between five psychiatric groups. Children with "subthreshold" conditions were as impaired psychosocially as those with hyperkinetic disorder and more so than children with emotional, social, and emotional and behavioural disorders. High chronological age, low IQ, low level of social skills, and psychiatric group (PDD) predicted psychosocial impairment. Third, the "subthreshold" group often had language problems (14 out of 18 children) unless they were mentally retarded.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

Quality of life issues among women with physical disabilities or breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess quality of life (QOL) and life satisfaction among women with physical disabilities or breast cancer, and to identify factors predictive of QOL and life satisfaction for women and men. QOL and life satisfaction differences were examined between women and men with physical disabilities and cancer, and between women with traumatic and chronic physical conditions. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design employing several QOL and life satisfaction measures was used. SAMPLE: Two hundred sixteen outpatient subjects (99 women, 117 men) with physical disabilities or cancer were studied. INSTRUMENTS: The Health Status Questionnaire-Short-Form 36 (SF-36), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT), Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). RESULTS: Women with traumatic conditions (amputation, spinal cord injury) reported poorer physical functioning and well-being, whereas women in the chronic (postpolio, breast cancer) group reported poorer health status. No significant gender differences were found with respect to QOL or life satisfaction. Whereas functional and emotional well-being were the strongest predictors of overall QOL for both men and women, self-perceived general health significantly predicted QOL for women (p < .05) and social well-being significantly predicted QOL for men (p < .01). Among men, life satisfaction was best predicted by marital status (p < .05), general health (p < .05), and social well-being (p < .01). The resulting QOL models had adjusted R2 values of .77 and .76 for women and men, respectively. Among women with traumatic conditions, functional well-being best predicted QOL (p < .01). Life satisfaction for women with chronic conditions was best predicted by age, education, and spiritual well-being. CONCLUSION: QOL as measured by the impact of illness on an individual is best predicted by physical and functional well-being. Satisfaction with one's life was best predicted by functional ability. Although functional and physical ability were the best predictors for both QOL and life satisfaction, social functioning made significant and substantive contributions to these constructs. Spinal cord injury had the most impact on physical functioning, whereas prostate cancer had the least. Psychosocial functioning was most affected by amputation and least affected by prostate cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Social functioning, psychological functioning, and quality of life in epilepsy.

PURPOSE: Part of our research intended to explain "Quality of Life" (QoL) differences between people with epilepsy. To this end, a series of already existing generic and disease-specific health status measures were used. In this study, they were considered as determinants of people's QoL, whereas QoL itself was conceived as a general "value judgment" about one's life. METHODS: From the records of four outpatient clinics, 210 persons with epilepsy were randomly selected. During their visit to the outpatient clinic, they completed a questionnaire assessing, among other things, health perceptions and social and psychological functioning. Additional information about their medical and psychosocial status was gathered from the patient files. Data were analysed by using a hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: In decreasing order of importance, "psychological distress," "loneliness," "adjustment and coping," and "stigma perception" appeared to contribute most significantly to the outcome QoL as judged by the patients themselves, regardless of their physical status. In the final model, none of the clinical variables (onset, seizure frequency, side effects of antiepileptic drugs) contributed significantly anymore to the patients' "quality-of-life judgement." Apparently the effect of other variables such as seizure frequency and health perceptions, medication and side effects, life fulfillment, self-esteem, and mastery is mediated by these variables. CONCLUSIONS: Because all of the variance in QoL of the patients was explained by the psychosocial variables included in this study, health professionals should be aware of the significance of the psychosocial functioning of the patients and the role it plays in the achievement of a good QoL. Both informal and professional support may be an adjunct to conventional treatment. In future research, this issue should be given high priority.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Adjustment and social behaviour in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the family's perspective.

This study employed secondary data analysis to explore family perceptions of adjustment and social behaviour in older adults (n = 51) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their relationship to published norms and patient self-report. According to the Katz Adjustment Scale for Relatives, these COPD patients had significantly higher levels of belligerence, negativism, helplessness, withdrawal, psychopathology, nervousness and confusion than reports from relatives of older adults from the general population. No differences were found in performance, expectation or dissatisfaction with socially expected activities, or performance of free-time activities. However, family members of COPD patients were significantly more dissatisfied with their relative's free-time activities. Although family perceptions of socially expected activities corresponded to patient descriptions of general and physical functioning (Sickness Impact Profile), patient perceptions of psychosocial functioning were independent of the family's. The results supported the tenet that older adults with COPD have difficulties with adjustment that may adversely affect social relationships, but were not consistent with the belief that the performance of socially expected or free-time activities is more impaired than in others of this age group. The data also suggested there may be some perceptual discrepancy between family and patient views of social behaviour.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Symptoms versus neurocognitive skills as correlates of everyday functioning in severe mental illness.

A critical review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies conducted from 2001-2005 investigating the relationship of symptoms and neurocognitive skills to everyday functioning in patients with severe mental illness was completed. Literature and bibliographic searches identified seven studies, which were grouped according to the methodology of measurement of everyday function selected: clinician-rated scales of psychosocial function based on patient and proxy report; performance-based measures of functional capacity; or competitive vocational success. Results of the review revealed that negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal, psychomotor slowing and blunted affect, and neurocognitive measures of attention, executive function, working memory, verbal memory and psychomotor speed, were most commonly linked to all three domains of everyday function. With the exception of one study, there was no evidence of a relationship between positive symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, and everyday function. The implications of these findings for guiding future research are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗