Research advance in autistic traits in non-affected population of autism spectrum disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

Autistic traits including social reciprocal deficits, communication deficits and stereotyped behaviors, are manifested not only in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, but also in general population. In recent years, there has much research related to autistic traits. This article summarizes research advance of autistic traits in ASD relations and general population.

Study on the detection rate and risk factors regarding non-suicidal serf-injurious behavior in middle school students / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the prevalence and risk factors of non-suicidal self-injury in middle school students.Methods 1312 middle school students of Pengzhou and Santai were selected to fill in a Risky Behavior Questionnaire for Adoluscents (RBQ-A),Family Environment Scale ( FES ),Center for Epidemiological Survey,Depression Scale (CES-D),Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC),Social Support Scale for Adolescents (SSSA) and self-administered questionnaire.In all the research subjects,1288 were qualified for the study in April 2011 before the risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury were identified by logistic regression.Results In 1288 middle school students,22.67％ had a history of non-suicidal self-injury,with 22.70％ in boys and 22.64％ in girls.63.36％ of students had injured themselves through variouslyways,more seen in boys (26.88％) than in girls (11.36％ ) who cut or burnt themselves.The scores of ASLEC and CES-D in non-suicidal self-injury group appeared higher than that in the control group and the score of SSSA was found higher in the control group.The main risk factors for non-suicidal self-injuries were family conflict,depressive emotion,negative life events and receiving less social support.Conclusion The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury among middle school students in Pengzhou was high,whicn called for more attention.

Influence factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms in children and adolescents after Wenchuan earthquake in China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was to analyze the mental health status of the children and adolescents from the areas struck by Wenchuan earthquake and to understand the factors that may have impact on their mental health after exposing to the earthquake.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subjects of this survey were students (8 - 16 years old) from Chendu, Dujiangyan, Beichuan and Wenchuan districts which were the most severely affected areas in the earthquake. We analyzed the subjects' mental health conditions after Wenchuan earthquake by using a general questionnaire that was composed of the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) and Depression Self-rating Scale for Children (DSRSC). Students are investigated 7341 case, 7387 case, 7395 case after 3, 6, 24 months. The data were analyzed with logistic regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The CRIES-13 scores were (27.51 ± 12.26), (23.54 ± 12.79) and (21.35 ± 12.59) (F = 28.842, P ≤ 0.05) and the DSRSC scores were (11.79 ± 5.73), (10.94 ± 5.50) and (10.75 ± 5.27) (F = 17.084, P ≤ 0.05) 3, 6 and 24 months after the earthquake, respectively. The risk factors associated with depression 3, 6, 24 months after the earthquake were gender (female) (OR values were 2.14, 2.72, 2.31; 95%CI values were 1.01 - 3.03, 1.10 - 5.01, 1.02 - 4.58), age (less than 12 years old) (OR values were 1.97, 2.22, 1.93; 95%CI values were 1.43 - 3.17, 1.02 - 3.54, 1.32 - 3.27), having family member injury and death (OR values were 2.19, 2.45, 2.35; 95%CI values were 1.04-2.89, 1.16-2.08, 1.02 - 2.79), desperation (OR values were 2.24, 2.09, 2.16; 95%CI values were 1.00 - 2.54, 1.70 - 2.58, 1.00 - 4.56). The risk factors associated with PTSD 3, 6, 24 months after the earthquake were gender (OR values were 2.16, 2.94, 1.96; 95%CI values were 1.36 - 2.53, 1.36 - 2.53, 1.06 - 3.92), age (less than 12 years old) (OR values were 3.51, 2.62, 1.92; 95%CI values were 1.22 - 5.40, 1.14 - 4.93, 1.08 - 3.35), having teachers and schoolmates injury and death (OR values were 2.32, 2.48, 2.36; 95%CI values were 1.17 - 2.48, 1.30 - 2.72, 1.02 - 2.85), having family member injury and death (OR values were 2.73, 2.21, 1.85;95%CI values were 1.67 - 3.61, 1.04 - 3.15, 1.05 - 2.38), witnessing injury (OR values were 2.17, 2.36, 2.34; 95%CI values were 1.15 - 3.65, 1.17 - 2.67, 1.02 - 3.67), witnessing death (OR values were 1.98, 2.39, 1.71;95%CI values were 1.10 - 2.56, 1.14 - 3.70, 1.57 - 3.88), desperation (OR values were 2.02, 1.94, 2.02; 95%CI values were 1.67 - 2.35, 1.66 - 2.27, 1.82 - 2.26).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The symptoms of PTSD and depression of young survivors from the earthquake-struck areas had gradually alleviated 3, 6, 24 months after the earthquake. Age (less than 12 years old), gender (female), having family member injury and death, witnessing injury and death, and desperation were the main risk factors that affected the children and adolescents mental health.</p>

A twin study on genetic and environmental factors of children's prosocial behavior / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Using quantitative genetic analysis of twin study design to explore the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the prosocial behaviors of children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-seven twin pairs from Chengdu area aged 6-16 were studied using parental information of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). SPSS13.0 and Mx software were used to analyze data, including nonparametric test, Pearson correlation, genetic analyses, etc.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Female children score higher than males on their prosocial behavior (Ps< 0.05), except less than 11 age group; (2) Shared environmental factors were the most important for children's prosocial behaviors(C=0.48,95%CI:0.09-0.73),then the genetic factors (A=0.27,95%CI:0-0.66) and the unshared environmental factors(E=0.25,95%CI:0.18-0.35); (3)Female and those who scored higher on their fact/ideal family adaptability and cohesion scored higher in their prosocial behaviors (r:0.17-0.29). On the contrary, those who had extreme conditions during pregnancy/ perinatal period or whose caretaker had discordant opinions on parenting scored lower (r: -0.16 to 0.28).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Children's prosocial behaviors were influenced by genetic and environmental factors including family function and parenting environment, and genetic impact differs in different age and sex.</p>

A twin study on intelligence and processing speed heritability of children and adolescent / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of the genetic and environmental factors on intelligence of children and adolescent from the Southwest China Prospective Twin Registry (SCPT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The intelligence was investigated by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) in 333 twin pairs aged 6-16 years. The effects of genetic and environmental factors on IQ were analyzed by using structural equation modeling (SEM) and correlation analysis method. The effects in different sex and age groups in this population were also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genetic influence accounted for 0.43 of total IQ variance and 0.37 of verbal IQ in 6-16 years old children and adolescent, but there was no significant genetic effect on performance IQ. The heritability of children aged 10-16 years was higher than that of those aged 6-10 years (total IQ: 0.82 vs 0.00, verbal IQ: 0.80 vs 0.00, performance IQ:0.51 vs 0.00). In males the heritability of verbal IQ (0.47) was higher than that in females (0.05). The shared environmental influences accounted fo r the majority of variance of performance IQ in both males and females.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is moderate heritability on the total IQ and verbal IQ, while shared environmental factors played important roles on the variance of performance IQ. The heritability of IQ, verbal IQ and performance IQ are higher in older children and adolescent than that in younger children.</p>