Body awareness in preschool children with psychiatric disorder.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the body awareness of preschool children with a psychiatric disorder as measured by the test imitation of gestures (Bergès & Lézine, 1978), using the subsections for pointing to body parts (passive vocabulary) and naming body parts (active vocabulary). Seventy-seven children from 37 to 72 months of age with psychiatric disorders and 67 children without psychiatric disorders were matched for age and sex. A MANOVA indicated no significant interaction effects on the results between the sexes in the psychiatric group and the control group for passive vocabulary (F(1,150)=.59, p≥0.05) or for active vocabulary (F(1,150)=.61, p≥0.05). An ANOVA was conducted to determine the differences between the boys and girls for passive and active vocabulary, and the differences between the psychiatric group and the control group for passive and active vocabulary. No significant differences between the boys and girls for passive vocabulary (F(1,150)=1.968, p≥0.05) and active vocabulary (F(1,150)=1.57, p≥0.05) were found. There was a significant difference between the psychiatric and the control group for passive vocabulary (F(1,150)=9.511, p=0.002) and active vocabulary (F(1,150)=16.18, p=0.00009). The study provides support for the presence of language disorders associated with active and passive body awareness in children with psychiatric disorders compared to typically developing children.

Visual outcome in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis related uveitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and characteristics of uveitis in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as well as the nature of treatment and the risk factors for visual loss. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 52 patients with JIA, screened for uveitis between 1995 and 2005. The first group, presenting with symptoms of arthritis and uveitis, was diagnosed at screening. The second group presented with symptoms of uveitis, without any rheumatological complaints at the time of diagnosis. During follow-up, reactivation of uveitis and complications were registered and treated when indicated. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had symptoms of uveitis at time of presentation or developed uveitis at follow-up. Ten of this patient group had oligo-arthritis, 16 were antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive, 16 were girls. Three patients presented with ophthalmological symptoms without rheumatological complaints. In this group, complications were more pronounced. Treatment in all patients consisted of topical corticosteroids and dilating drops at different intervals. Visual acuity was good in most patients. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, the risk of uveitis was higher in ANA- positive girls with oligoarthritis. To reduce severe disease at presentation, earlier diagnosis of JIA, earlier referral for slit lamp examination and universal screening of vision in childhood are necessary.