ABSTRACT
This study examined the relation between internalizing and externalizing symptoms in two groups of prepubertal boys (with and without multiple chronic tic disorder) with diagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents and teachers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher's Report Form (TRF), respectively. Children were carefully evaluated for the absence of a chronic tic disorder. Boys with ADHD and chronic multiple tic disorder (ADHD/+tics) received significantly higher (p = .0032, Bonferroni correction) scores for the Anxious/Depressed, Thought Problems, and Attention Problem scales of the CBCL and the Delinquent Behavior, Thought Problems, and Somatic Complaints scales of the TRF than did boys without chronic tic disorder (ADHD/-tics). Although many of the individual items that differentiated (p < .05) the two groups of boys pertained to behaviors that characterize motor tics, obsessions, or compulsions, the ADHD/+tics group exhibited higher rates of anxious behavior (CBCL) and obscene language (TRF) than did the ADHD/-tics group. Anxiety/depressive symptoms were associated with aggressive/oppositional behavior in both samples. Children with mild tic disorder were more similar (CBCL) to ADHD/-tics boys than they were to children with more severe tic disorder. The relatively higher rate of comorbidity in the ADHD/+tics group suggests that tics may be a marker for more severe symptomatology in clinic-referred samples of children with ADHD. Furthermore, these data suggest that it is not the presence, per se, but rather the severity of tic disorder that is associated with higher rates of emotional and behavioral disturbances.
Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/diagnosis , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/psychology , Tourette Syndrome/diagnosis , Tourette Syndrome/psychology , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/complications , Child , Chronic Disease , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Humans , Male , Severity of Illness Index , Tourette Syndrome/complicationsABSTRACT
Although children with chronic illness are at greater risk for decreased psychological adjustment than physically healthy children, little is known about the factors that lead to increased risk. Eighty-one children with asthma between the ages of 6 and 14 years and their parents participated in a study to determine the relative contribution of background variables (age, gender, and socioeconomic status), recent stressful life events, and illness severity to psychological adaptation. Overall 11.5% of the children had CBCL Total Behavior Problems scores above the 98th percentile. Multiple regression revealed that lower SES, negative life change, and high illness severity were predictive of less optimal psychological adjustment. The results highlight the need for interventions to improve coping with both disease and nondisease issues.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Asthma/psychology , Life Change Events , Adolescent , Age Factors , Asthma/diagnosis , Asthma/pathology , Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Child , Chronic Disease , Desensitization, Immunologic , Female , Humans , Male , Respiration Disorders/physiopathology , Respiration Disorders/psychology , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The psychological, functional, and family impact of brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis was assessed in a cross-sectional follow-up study. Eighty-four percent of parents described the initial bracing period in stressful terms. Establishing a daily routine facilitated coping with bracewear treatment. While bracewear did not necessarily affect participation in many common activities, subjects perceived limitations in sports, physical activities, and social events. There was no evidence of overt psychopathology among the subjects, although the initial bracewear period was associated with lower levels of self-esteem. Recommendations that can minimize the stresses attendant to bracewear treatment are given.
