Preliminary data on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Brazilian male and female juvenile delinquents.

The aim of the present investigation was to study the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a sample of delinquent adolescents of both genders and to compare the prevalence between genders. A total of 116 adolescents (99 males and 17 females) aged 12 to 19 on parole in the State of Rio de Janeiro were interviewed using the screening interview based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children -- Present and Lifetime (KSADS-PL). Data were collected between May 2002 and January 2003. Of 373 male and 58 female adolescents present in May 2002 in the largest institution that gives assistance to adolescents on parole in the city of Rio de Janeiro, 119 subjects were assessed (three of them refused to participate). Their average age was 16.5 years with no difference between genders. The screening interview was positive for psychopathology for most of the sample, with the frequencies of the suggested more prevalent psychiatric disorders being 54% for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 77% for conduct disorder, 41% for oppositional defiant disorder, 57% for anxiety disorder 57, 60% for depressive disorder 60, 63% for illicit drug abuse, and 58% for regular alcohol use. Internalizing disorders (depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and phobias) were more prevalent in the female subsample. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of illicit drug abuse between genders. There were more male than female adolescents on parole and failure to comply with the sentence was significantly more frequent in females. The high prevalence of psychopathology suggested by this study indicates the need for psychiatric treatment as part of the prevention of juvenile delinquency or as part of the sentence. However, treatment had never been available for 93% of the sample in this study.

[Quality of life evaluation in children and adolescents with chronic and/or incapacitating diseases: a Brazilian study]. / Evaluación de la calidad de vida en niños y adolescentes portadores de enfermedades crónicas y/o incapacitadoras: un estudio brasileño.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality of life in children and adolescents with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We administered the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), the Vineland Adaptative Behavior Scale (VABS) and the Autoquestionnaire qualité de vie enfant imagé (AUQEI) to a sample of 28 children with ALL, 28 children with JRA, and 28 healthy controls, aged 4 to 13 years old, who were diagnosed between 1 and 5 years previously. RESULTS: Slight differences were found in age between patients with ALL and those with JRA. No significant differences were found in time since diagnosis or in CGAS scores. A significant difference was found in VABS global scores, as well as in VABS communication domain scores. No significant differences were found in VABS daily living skills domain scores between patients with ARJ and healthy controls. No significant differences were found among the groups in VABS socialization domain scores or in AUQEI scores. CONCLUSION: In our study, chronically ill children clearly performed worse in adaptative behavior development. Nevertheless, their quality of life was similar to that of healthy controls. Appropriate methods to identify pediatric patients' perception of their illnesses and treatment should be urgently developed.

[Family dynamics of autistic children]. / Dinâmica familiar de crianças autistas.

We studied 15 families with autistics, 15 with Down's syndrome and 15 asymptomatic children. Patients' age ranged from 5 to 15 years-old. The parents of these three families' groups were appraised in regard to their family dynamics, to relate those symptoms to the functioning of an autistic family, in a comparative study. Details were provided of the families, the overall autistic features, the autistic's family, the family and the mental health, their limitations and difficulties throughout the vital cycle. An attempt was made to locate the factors that aid the family in hindering the healthy emotional development of its members. The field research was achieved by use of the instruments of the Family Dynamics Evaluation, (Carneiro, 1983). The data gathered were statistically compared. Considering the family population studied (n = 45), we found that the autistics' families and victims of Down's syndrome made it difficult to sustain the emotional health of group members. We conclude that the autistic's family dynamics caused difficulties to the emotional health of the group's members.

[Quality of life evaluation scale (AUQEI--Autoquestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé). Validity and reliability of a quality of life scale for children 4 to 12 years-old]. / Escala de avaliação de qualidade de vida: (AUQEI--Autoquestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé). Validade e confiabilidade de uma escalapara qualidade de vida em crianças de 4 a 12 anos.

It should take into account the pediatric context and the child's development moment to evaluate the quality of life in childhood from a standardized instrument. We present the questionnaire AUQEI validation by its application in 353 children, between 4 and 12 years-old, obtaining a cut off point of 48, internal consistency with a Crombach's alpha of 0.71 and construct validity (r = 0.497). With these psychometrical qualities, the scale shows its importance as a diagnostic tool.