Neuropsychology consultation to identify learning disorders in children and adolescents: a proposal based on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning disorders are common neurodevelopmental conditions, occurring both idiopathically and in the context of other medical conditions. They are frequently comorbid with other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. Delayed identification and treatment have been associated with significant negative psychosocial consequences. The need for pediatric neuropsychologists to efficiently screen for learning disorders is likely to increase in the months and years following the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely disrupted access to educational services, especially for children who also face racial and economic disparities. In this paper, we describe a consultation model that can be used to screen for learning disorders and can be completed using both in-person and telemedicine visits. Implementation may result in earlier intervention for struggling children, increase access to neuropsychological services without increasing wait times for comprehensive evaluations, and provide opportunities for collaborations with other health professionals (e.g., pediatricians, therapists, psychiatrists, and neurologists).

What is a processing speed weakness? Importance of cognitive ability when defining processing speed in a child psychiatric population.

There is growing evidence that processing speed (PS) deficits in youth with neuropsychiatric conditions are associated with functional difficulties. However, there is no consistent definition of slower PS; specifically, whether slower PS should be defined as a discrepancy from same-aged peers (normative weakness) or as an intrapersonal deficit relative to overall cognitive ability (relative weakness). In a sample of clinically-referred youth, we calculated slower PS both ways and examined the impact on adaptive, academic, and psychopathology outcomes in relation to different levels of cognitive ability. Significant PS x cognitive ability interactions were found on adaptive and academic outcomes. A norm-based weakness in PS (PSI Standard Score <85) was associated with lower adaptive skills and lower academic skills regardless of cognitive ability. In the above average cognitive ability group, relatively lower PS (PSI >15 point difference from VCI) was associated with significantly lower academic performance. No significant associations were found for general psychopathology. Results suggest a normative weakness in PS impacts functional outcomes interactively and differently with level of general cognitive ability. Data suggest that higher cognitive ability may be somewhat protective from the impact of normatively weak PS on adaptive outcomes; however, youth across all abilities with normatively weak PS showed weaker academic performance. Second, children with high cognitive abilities and relatively weak PS showed discrepant performance compared to comparison group. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.

Long-term stability of the Child Behavior Checklist in a clinical sample of youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Evaluated the long-term stability of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a longitudinal clinical sample of youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), testing the hypothesis that the CBCL scales will show stability over time. Participants were 105 Caucasian, non-Hispanic boys with ADHD between the ages of 6 and 17 assessed at baseline and at a 4-year follow-up. Stability of CBCL scales were computed for dimensional (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs], Pearson correlations) and dichotomized scale scores (kappa coefficients and odds ratios [ORs]). Evidence was found for stability of the categorical and dimensional types of scores, as demonstrated by statistically significant stability of the Pearson correlation coefficients, kappas, and ORs. The robust findings obtained from ICCs and kappa coefficients document substantial stability for CBCL scales over time within individuals with ADHD. These results support the informativeness of the CBCL as a useful measure of longitudinal course in clinical samples of youth with ADHD.

Three-body recombination into deep bound states in a Bose gas with large scattering length.

An effective field theory for the three-body system with large two-body scattering length a is applied to three-body recombination into deep bound states in a Bose gas. The recombination constant alpha is calculated to first order in the short-distance interactions that allow the recombination. For a < 0, the dimensionless combination m alpha/(Planck's constant a(4)) is a periodic function of ln (absolute value a) that exhibits resonances at values of a that differ by multiplicative factors of 22.7. This dramatic behavior should be observable near a Feshbach resonance when a becomes large and negative.

Methodological complexities in the diagnosis of major depression in youth: an analysis of mother and youth self-reports.

OBJECTIVE: Considering the well-documented low level of agreement between youth and parent reports on the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), uncertainties remain as to the informativeness of discrepant youth and parent reports in clinical studies. To this end we evaluated whether morbidity and functional correlates on the diagnosis of MDD in youth vary by informant source. METHODS: The sample consisted of 186 pairs of independently assessed mother and youth self-reports on the diagnosis of MDD using structured diagnostic interviews ascertained in a large study of youth with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of both genders. Subjects were also assessed on measures of interpersonal, school, and family functioning as well as prior treatment history. RESULTS: The diagnosis of MDD endorsed by youth self-report only when compared with that reported by the mother was characterized by significantly: shorter duration episode, later age at onset, milder depression-associated impairment, less impairment in interpersonal functioning, lower rates of comorbid disorders, and decreased likelihood to receive any course of treatment for depression. The morbidity and dysfunction associated with MDD varied significantly by informant source, and followed a dose-response association with the highest morbidity associated with the concurrent reports of the youth and the mothers, followed by mother report alone, with the least morbidity and dysfunction when endorsed by youth alone. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that exclusive reliance on youth self-reports may identify a mild form of depression associated with limited morbidity and disability compared with that identified by parental reports.

Three-body recombination in bose gases with large scattering length

An effective field theory for the three-body system with large scattering length is applied to three-body recombination to a weakly bound s-wave state in a Bose gas. Our model independent analysis demonstrates that the three-body recombination constant alpha is not universal, but can take any value between zero and 67.9Planck's over 2pia(4)/m, where a is the scattering length. Other low-energy three-body observables can be predicted in terms of a and alpha. Near a Feshbach resonance, alpha should oscillate between those limits as the magnetic field B approaches the point where a-->infinity. In any interval of B over which a increases by a factor of 22.7, alpha should have a zero.

Some late nineteenth century perspectives on sex and emotional expression.

A review of nineteenth century popular literature indicates a deep and sustained public interest in sex differences in emotional expression. The conclusions advanced by popular writers included a catalog of perceived sex differences, reinforced by an essentialist philosophy that provided justification for the separation of sexual spheres and restrictions on political, educational, and vocational opportunities for women. Current scientific research on sex differences appears in popular media and is often presented in the context of an essentialist philosophy comparable with that which was dominant in the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, the subtleties and complexities of sex differences are not always communicated to the public and there is thus a potential for misinterpretation or even misuse.