ABSTRACT
Background: This study quantified and compared weekday and weekend patterns of device-measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior between youth with pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls for the purpose of informing future PA behavior change interventions. Methods: Participant data were obtained from 3 ongoing observational studies, and the sample included 40 participants with pediatric MS and 41 controls. Light PA (LPA), moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary behavior data were collected using activity monitors (ActiGraph LLC) over 1 week. The main analysis involved a 2-way mixed factor analysis of variance with group as a between-subjects factor (pediatric MS vs control) and day as a within-subjects factor (weekday vs weekend day). Results: There was no group by day interaction from the analysis of variance for percentage of activity monitor wear time spent in LPA, MVPA, or sedentary behavior. There was no effect of group for LPA, MVPA, or sedentary behavior. There was an effect of day of week on percentage of day spent in LPA, MVPA, and sedentary behavior. Conclusions: These results suggest that youth with pediatric MS and controls were less physically active and more sedentary on weekends than on weekdays, but there were no differences between groups in PA and sedentary behavior overall or by day of the week. Physical activity interventions may be more successful by initially targeting weekend day activity.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the longer-term outcomes of children diagnosed with selective mutism (SM) and/or social anxiety disorder (SAD); two anxiety disorders characterized by difficulties speaking in social situations despite being able to speak in other contexts. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to descriptively evaluate the long-term SM and SAD diagnostic and symptom severity outcomes in a clinical youth sample. METHODS: Retrospective follow-up interviews were conducted with 31 parents of children/youth aged four to 14 years previously referred to a specialized anxiety clinic and diagnosed with SM and/or SAD (mean follow-up 4.2 years). Clinician and parent-report measures were used to determine follow-up diagnosis and symptom severity. RESULTS: The majority (71%; n=22) of participants still met criteria for SM and/or SAD. Of these, 11 had SAD only; nine had a comorbid diagnosis of SM and SAD; and two had SM only. At follow-up 42% (n=13) were receiving school supports. Close to half (48%; n=15) of parents continued to express concerns about their child's anxiety. Almost all (90%, n=28) youth had attempted some form of treatment, with group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) reported as the most common form of treatment tried (48%, n=15). Almost thirty percent (29%, n=9) reported taking anxiety medications in the past with several (13%, n=4) still on medications at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Study results suggest that symptoms of SM and SAD persist in the longer-term. Further investigation into the differences between diagnostic groups and their long-term treatment outcomes is clearly warranted.
CONTEXTE: Nous en savons peu sur le résultat à long terme des enfants ayant reçu un diagnostic de mutisme sélectif (MS) et/ou de trouble d'anxiété sociale (TAS); deux troubles anxieux caractérisés par des difficultés à parler dans des situations sociales, malgré la capacité de parler dans d'autres contextes. OBJECTIF: Cette étude rétrospective visait à évaluer de façon descriptive le diagnostic de MS et de TAS à long terme ainsi que les résultats de la gravité des symptômes dans un échantillon clinique d'enfants. MÉTHODES: Des entrevues de suivi rétrospectives ont été menées auprès de 31 parents d'enfants/adolescents âgés de 4 à 14 ans, précédemment adressés à une clinique spécialisée en anxiété et ayant reçu un diagnostic de MS et/ou de TAS (moyenne du suivi à 4,2 ans). Les mesures des cliniciens et des déclarations des parents ont servi à déterminer le diagnostic et la gravité des symptômes au suivi. RÉSULTATS: La majorité (71%; n = 22) des participants satisfaisaient encore aux critères du MS et/ou du TAS. Sur ceux-ci, 11 avaient le TAS seulement; 9 avaient un diagnostic comorbide de MS et de TAS, et 2 avaient le MS seulement. Au suivi, 42% (n = 13) bénéficiaient de soutiens scolaires. Près de la moitié (48%; n = 15) des parents exprimaient encore des préoccupations au sujet de l'anxiété de leur enfant. Presque tous (90 %, n = 28) les jeunes avaient essayé une forme de traitement quelconque, et déclaraient que la thérapie cognitivo-comportementale (TCC) était la forme de traitement la plus communément essayée (48%, n = 15). Près de 30 pour cent (29%, n = 9) ont dit avoir pris des médicaments contre l'anxiété par le passé, et plusieurs (13%, n = 4) en prenaient encore au moment du suivi. CONCLUSION: Les résultats de l'étude suggèrent que les symptômes du MS et du TAS persistent à long terme. Plus de recherche sur les différences entre les groupes diagnostiques et leurs résultats de traitement à long terme est clairement indiquée.
