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Maternal and environmental characteristics as predictors of child behavior problems and cognitive competence.

Maternal and environmental characteristics as predictors of behavioral problems and cognitive competence in 505 Israeli kindergarten children were investigated. Events in closer temporal proximity to assessments of functioning appeared more predictive than those in early infancy. Findings support the need to include variables reflecting maternal characteristics in any prediction of child outcome and to consider the sex of the child in selection of variables.

Achievement↗

School-based prevention of problem behaviors.

Sex and violence are the major sources of morbidity and mortality among American youth. Problem-behavior prevention programs based in schools have been found to be feasible, acceptable, and desirable to school personnel, parents, and students for improving students' health status and educational outcomes.

Adolescent↗

An evaluation of functional variables affecting severe problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation by using the Questions about Behavioral Function Scale (QABF).

We examined the functions of five severe problem behaviors in a sample of 417 institutionalized persons with mental retardation by using the Questions About Behavior Function Scale. The behaviors we examined included self-injurious behavior, aggression, stereotypies, pica, and rumination. The most common function for all behaviors except aggression was nonsocial. Aggression, however, was maintained by external environmental contingencies. Particular items of the Questions About Behavior Function Scale were identified as more frequently occurring and critical in ascertaining behavioral function. Implications of these results for developing more effective treatment plans are discussed.

Adult↗

Behavior problems in preschool children: a review of recent research.

Research on the prevalence, course, and correlates of behavior problems in preschool children was examined. Prospective epidemiological studies and follow-up studies of clinical/high risk samples indicate that serious externalizing problems identified early often persist. Negative, inconsistent parental behavior and high levels of family adversity are associated with the emergence of problems in early childhood and predict their persistence to school age. Studies are examined from a developmental perspective and integrated with research on optimal parent-child relationships. The severity of initial problems and family context are related to different developmental outcomes.

Child↗

Basal plasma beta-endorphin in prepubertal sons of alcoholics and drug addicts: lack of association with problem behaviors.

Several reports have speculated that variations in beta-endorphin functioning may actually proceed the development of alcoholism and other drug use disorders, and is consequently a genetic mechanism of some etiologic importance. The goal of this investigation was to determine whether differences in basal plasma beta-endorphin concentrations could be confirmed in prepubertal children naive to alcohol and drugs, yet at parental risk for alcoholism, or drug dependence. Consequently, we have examined fasting basal plasma beta-endorphin concentrations in a sample of prepubertal sons of alcoholic fathers and compared them to both our existing sample of sons of drug dependent fathers and normal control boys. In addition, we examined the relationship between plasma beta-endorphin concentrations and maternal reports of problem behaviors posited to be related to the liability for alcoholism or drug abuse. The results reveal no differences in fasting basal plasma beta-endorphin concentrations. Although the at-risk groups differ significantly from normal boys having elevated scale scores for internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, no association between plasma beta-endorphin and these behavioral risk factors could be found. Overall, the results fail to support an inherited 'opioid deficiency hypothesis' for the development of alcoholism or drug dependence.

Alcoholism↗

Multiple pituitary hormone abnormalities, fever, behavioral problems, seizures and apnoic spells in a 6-year old girl.

UNLABELLED: A 6-year old girl was examined having two years previously presented a transient Cushing's syndrome, followed by recurrent hyponatremia, attributed to inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH). The brain MRI showed no abnormalities on repeated examinations, except for a suggestion of empty sella syndrome. During the past two years she also presented recurrent episodes of a prolonged febrile illness of unknown origin. All investigations related to infectious, autoimmune neoplastic diseases, histiocytosis-X or neurosarcoidosis were negative and the fever was characterized as central. The patient also presented episodes of tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonias and behavioral problems (alternating states of irritability, sleepiness and apathy, optic and hearing illusions and phobias) with or without hyponatremia. Her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination was not indicative of encephalitis and the encephalogram (EEG) showed only slowing of background activity. At the age of 4.75 years she, started to have recurrent episodes of hypopnoea/apnoea with severe desaturation and hypercapnia, occasionally requiring intubation and ventilation. She also developed unilateral miosis corneal ulceration and bilateral ptosis (oculo-sympathetic paresis). Repeat brain MRI and CT scans of the mediastinum excluded organic causes of apnoeas and of oculo-sympathetic paresis, such as neuroblastoma or lymphoma. Furthermore, on a 24 hour electrocardiogram recording, using power spectral analysis, significantly reduced heart rate variability was observed, by comparison with age-specific normal ranges. Thus the apnoeas, ptosis, miosis and temperature instability were attributed to autonomic dysfunction. During the same period, the patient presented significant growth retardation and growth hormone (GH) deficiency was confirmed during two provocative tests (peak GH levels: 3.1 and 2.9 ng/ml (normal>10). Moreover, thyrotropin (TSH) deficiency and persistent hyperprolactinemia were detected. She was started on hGH and thyroxine. She was also put on fluid restriction and increased sodium intake for her SIADH. She was advised to use O2 administration by mask in case of apnoeas. The child died at age 6 6/12 years as a result of apnoea during sleep. IN CONCLUSION: Multiple pituitary hormonal abnormalities, together with symptoms of autonomic neuropathy (apnoeas, ptosis, miosis, tachycardia, temperature instability) and encephalopathy (seizures, myoclonias and behavioral problems) developed in a 4-year old girl. The suggested diagnoses were: 1. Neurometabolic disorder, 2. Mitochondrial disorder, 3. Post infectious autoimmune process.

Journal Article↗

Central American adolescent acculturation and parental distress: relationship to ratings of adolescent behavior problems.

This study examined the relationship of acculturation and Central American adolescents' behavioral problems as reported by their parents. Cross-sectional survey data regarding demography, acculturation, and psychosocial functioning was examined among 112 urban adolescent immigrants, aged 12 to 17 years. Analysis indicated that, when parents and adolescents differed in acculturation, parents most frequently rated their adolescent with internalizing symptoms at a clinically elevated level. Parents' education and distress predicted parents' reports of adolescents' psychosocial problems beyond demographic factors, respondents' characteristics, and parents' and adolescents' acculturation. Higher relative acculturation among adolescents, but not parents, was the most robust predictor of parental distress scores, indicating that parental distress mediates the relationship between high relative acculturation of the adolescents and their psychosocial problems as reported by parents. Implications for research and clinicians conducting mental health interventions with Central American populations are briefly discussed.

Acculturation↗

Emotional and behavioral problems after pediatric liver transplantation: a quantitative assessment.

Several uncertainties regarding psychological problems in children who underwent liver transplantation and the need to differentiate these disturbances from those related to the underlying previous chronic liver disease itself exist. This background triggered the present pilot study to investigate, using quantitative assessment methods, the incidence and the type of emotional and behavioral disturbances after liver transplantation. Sixteen liver transplant recipients (aged 5.7-14.4 yr) and 12 age-matched controls with stable chronic liver disease were assessed through the parent report form of Child Behavior Checklist/ 4-18. The mean time elapsed since transplantation was 8.1 yr. No patient or family had received psychological support during chronic liver disease or at any phase of the transplantation process. Transplanted children scored within borderline range for Internalizing and Total Behavioral Problems and within pathological range for Competences, except for the Activity Scale. Transplanted children showed more Total Behavioral (p = 0.005) and Externalizing Problems (p = 0.0005) than controls. Both groups scored within the pathological range for Total Competences with no significant differences between the two groups. Our findings suggest that in the absence of support programs a psychological risk does exist for a long period of time, after transplantation. Regarding Total Behavioral Problems and Externalizing Problems, this risk is higher than in children with chronic liver disease.

Adolescent↗

Emotional and behavioral problems and severe academic delays among sheltered homeless children in Los Angeles County.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have estimated the extent of specific emotional, behavioral, and academic problems among sheltered homeless children. The objectives of this study were to describe such problems, identify those children with the problems, and evaluate the relationship between child problems and use of physical and mental health services. METHODS: From February through May 1991, 169 school-age children and their parents living in 18 emergency homeless family shelters in Los Angeles County were interviewed. To evaluate the answers, interviewers used standardized measures of depression, behavioral problems, receptive vocabulary, and reading. RESULTS: The vast majority (78%) of homeless children suffered from either depression, a behavioral problem, or severe academic delay. Among children having a problem, only one third of the parents were aware of any problem, and few of those children (15%) had ever received mental health care or special education. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all school-age sheltered homeless children in Los Angeles County have symptoms of depression, a behavioral problem, or academic delay severe enough to merit a clinical evaluation, yet few receive specific care. Programs targeted at sheltered homeless school-age children are needed to close this gap.

Child↗

Managing problem behaviors of elderly patients.

Professional as well as nonprofessional staff who work with the elderly in nursing homes must be reminded repeatedly that most problem behaviors are symptoms of such underlying problems as unresolved conflicts, the loss of normal, appropriate life roles, and the anticipation of illness and death. The author describes how those problems are reflected in such "senile" behaviors as incoherence, incontinence, ritualism, and inappropriate sexual behaviors. She believes the concept of personality regression under stress is a useful framework for helping staff understand and manage such behaviors. She illustrates how nonprofessional staff can help patients achieve a more satisfactory adjustment by using certain behavior modification techniques, by roleplaying, and by identifying feelings responsible for porblem behaviors and helping patients ventilate them.

Aged↗

Childhood behavior problems and bipolar disorder--relationship or coincidence?

A group of offspring at risk for Bipolar Disorder is compared to a Normal Control group whose parents had no psychiatric disorder and a group of offspring at risk for other, non-bipolar psychiatric disorder. Variables examined include childhood attention and behavior problems and psychopathology in young adulthood. Rates of childhood behavior and attention problems, and psychopathology and social/occupational impairment in young adulthood, were higher in the Bipolar Risk group than the Normal Control group, but no higher than in the non-bipolar (Combined Risk) group. Although childhood behavior and attention problems were significantly associated with other psychopathology in all three offspring groups, a unique relationship between childhood problems and young adult mood disorder was found only in the Bipolar Risk group.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of childhood problem behaviors in boys with subsequent schizophrenic, antisocial, and good adult outcomes.

Childhood problem behaviors for 145 boys seen in child guidance clinics were used to compare four adult outcome groups: antisocial men, schizophrenic subjects with good outcomes, schizophrenic subjects with poor outcomes, and subjects with good outcomes. Delinquent and aggressive factor scale scores distinguished the antisocial outcomes from the other groups. A preschizophrenic factor along with lower IQ separated schizophrenics with poor outcome from the others. Subjects with good outcomes had lower scores on factor scales, higher IQ, and less disturbed families. Schizophrenics with good outcomes were the most difficult to identify correctly.

Adult↗

A meta-analysis of intervention research with problem behavior: treatment validity and standards of practice.

Published intervention research to remediate problem behavior provides a major source of empirical evidence regarding standards of practice and the relative effectiveness of intervention strategies. A meta-analysis of the developmental disabilities literature for the years 1976 through 1987 was performed. Two measures of intervention effectiveness were employed to evaluate the relations between standards of practice, intervention and participant characteristics, and the treatment validity of different levels of intervention for a range of excess behaviors. The results largely failed to support several widespread assumptions regarding precepts of clinical practice. Suggestions were made concerning clinical-experimental research and publication practices to ensure that future work will provide a more conclusive base.

Adult↗

Reflection-impulsivity and behavioral problems in emotionally disturbed boys.

In order to investigate the difference in the behavioral problems presented by cognitively impulsive and reflective emotionally disturbed boys, the parents of 17 impulsive and 13 reflective boys in residential treatment were asked to rate their sons' behavior. Results indicated that in contrast to reflective emotionally disturbed boys, impulsives were more likely to talk of others blaming them unfairly, threaten to harm themselves, hit and bully other children, and be excessively rough in play. On the other hand, reflectives were more unwilling to talk with adults outside the family. Results were discussed in terms of supporting both previous research and Kagan and Kogan's (6) "fear of failure" hypothesis.

Achievement↗

The importance of a positive family history of alcoholism, parental rejection and emotional warmth, behavioral problems and peer substance use for alcohol problems in teenagers: a path analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test a hypothetical model of alcohol problems in German adolescents. Among 180 offspring, family history of alcoholism, parenting styles, behavioral and emotional problems, peer-group characteristics, feelings of self-esteem, behavioral problems and psychiatric comorbidity of the parents were examined. METHOD: Data were generated from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), in which families were randomly selected if 12-18 year old biological offspring were members of the household; a smaller group of subjects was selected from local outpatient treatment centers. Members of 133 families, including 180 (50.6% male) offspring who were appropriate for the current analyses, received personal semistructured diagnostic interviews and several self-rating questionnaires. Analyses compared offspring with alcohol problems (AP; n = 40) and with no alcohol problems (NAP; n = 140), and used structural equation modeling to test a hypothetical model. RESULTS: The comparisons revealed that the AP group had significantly more behavioral problems (e.g., aggression/delinquency), more perceived parental rejection and less emotional warmth, a higher amount of alcohol consumption, were more likely to associate with substance-using peers and more often received a diagnosis of conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder. Whereas the family history of alcoholism did not differ significantly between groups, parents of offspring with an alcohol use disorder had significantly more additional diagnoses on DSM-IV Axis I. The evaluation of the model supported the importance of aggression/delinquency and association with substance-using peers for alcohol problems in people. An additional diagnosis in the parents was directly and indirectly (through aggression/delinquency) related to alcohol problems of the adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that alcohol problems in the offspring are associated with several domains of influence in their environment. Prospective studies measuring both biological and environmental factors using sufficient sample sizes will be needed for optimal understanding of the development of alcohol problems in youth.

Adolescent↗

Changes in heritability across increasing levels of behavior problems in young twins.

The present study addresses the issue of differential heritability with increasing severity of parent-reported internalizing and externalizing behavior problems assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist. The sample includes 526 identical and 389 fraternal same-sexed twin pairs from five national birth cohorts, aged 5-6, 8-9, and 12-15 years. Heritability (h2), common environment (c2), and changes in these parameters as a function of proband score were analyzed by multiple regression models (Cherny et al., 1992). Internalizing and externalizing behavior showed significant heritability. A small increment in h2 and a reduction of c2 with increasing severity of externalizing behavior were independent of sex and age. For internalizing behavior h2 increased and c2 declined with increasing severity for the 5-6 and 8-9 year olds. Logarithmic transformation of scores lowered h2 and increased c2, particularly for externalizing behavior. The changes in heritability with severity were nonsignificant for the transformed variables.

Adolescent↗

Behavior problems of preschool children: dimensions and congenital correlates.

Factor analysis of a revised Behavior Problem Checklist for a sample of preschool children yielded six oblique primary factors and two orthogonal second-order factors. Scores on these factors were correlated with activity level, gross- and fine-motor incoordination, minor physical anomalies, and sociability. There were sex differences and factor differences in the resulting patterns of correlations. The patterns of correlations also indicated that the six primary factors could be collapsed into two broad (Conduct and Personality) and two narrow (Distractibility and Attention Seeking) factors.

Acting Out↗