Impact of comorbid cannabis use on outcome in first episode psychosis.

AIM: Comorbid cannabis abuse is common in patients with early psychosis. Little is known about the effect of stopping cannabis use on positive, negative and depressive symptoms. Few studies have controlled for multiple substance use that may mask the specific role that cannabis plays in symptom outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether course and level of cannabis use negatively impacted early psychosis patient symptom profiles (positive, negative and depressive symptoms) over 24 months. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-two patients admitted to an early psychosis intervention programme in a naturalistic setting were followed across three time periods: initial presentation, 12 and 24 months. Patients' clinical characteristics (substance use, positive/negative symptoms and depressive symptoms) were assessed at each time period. RESULTS: There were no significant associations found between cannabis abuse and positive and negative symptoms. Continuation and discontinuation of cannabis use were not significant for cannabis or any other substance when compared to positive and negative symptoms. There was a significant interaction between cannabis and alcohol for depressive symptoms, where depressive symptoms were significantly higher in patients who abused cannabis without co-occurring alcohol abuse when compared to non-cannabis using patients. CONCLUSION: The current study findings indicate a complex interaction between cannabis and alcohol use in a sample of early psychosis patients across 24 months. More research is needed into the association between ceasing cannabis use and long-term outcome for early psychosis patients. Of particular importance is the interaction between level of cannabis and alcohol use as it is related to symptom outcome in early psychosis patients.

Validity of the Child Facial Coding System for the Assessment of Acute Pain in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the concurrent and discriminant validity of the Child Facial Coding System for children with cerebral palsy. Eighty-five children (mean = 8.35 years, SD = 4.72 years) were videotaped during a passive joint stretch with their physiotherapist and during 3 time segments: baseline, passive joint stretch, and recovery. Children's pain responses were rated from videotape using the Numerical Rating Scale and Child Facial Coding System. Results indicated that Child Facial Coding System scores during the passive joint stretch significantly correlated with Numerical Rating Scale scores (r = .72, P < .01). Child Facial Coding System scores were also significantly higher during the passive joint stretch than the baseline and recovery segments (P < .001). Facial activity was not significantly correlated with the developmental measures. These findings suggest that the Child Facial Coding System is a valid method of identifying pain in children with cerebral palsy.

A comparison of observers' and self-report pain ratings for children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine (1) the relationship between children's self-reports of pain and their different care providers' pain ratings, (2) the relationship between different care providers' ratings of pain in children with cerebral palsy (CP), and (3) whether the child's level of disability influences care providers' pain ratings. METHODS: Sixty-three children with CP were separated into 2 groups according to whether they were able to pass a self-report training task. Pain was rated using a Numerical Rating Scale and the Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist-Postoperative Version (NCCPC-PV). Children were observed during their regular physiotherapy sessions at 3 separate time segments (Baseline, Stretch Procedure, and Recovery). RESULTS: As anticipated, results showed that all observers reported significantly higher pain scores during a physiotherapy stretching procedure than the baseline and recovery segments. Observers' NCCPC-PV scores were significantly higher during the stretch procedure for the children who did not pass the self-report training task. Findings also indicated that parents tended to report significantly lower pain scores compared with both their children and other observers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings bring into question the accuracy of single-observer pain ratings for children with CP and possess implications for the management of pain in children with CP.

Global and specific behavioral measures of pain in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to validate global and behavioral observation methods for measuring pain in children with cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen children diagnosed with CP (2-21 years of age) and their primary caregivers participated in this study. Children and their caregivers were videotaped in their home before, during, and after a stretching exercise, and tests of cognitive and social development were administered. Children who were able to pass a training task were also asked to rate their experience of pain using a numerical rating scale (self-report NRS), but only 5 children (24%) passed so their self-report scores were not included. Healthcare professionals rated videotaped segments for each of the 3 time periods in a randomized order using an observer NRS and the Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist-Postoperative Version (NCCPC-PV). Raters trained in the Child Facial Coding System (CFCS) examined the same videotaped segments. RESULTS: Results showed significantly greater pain behavior (observer NRS, NCCP- PV) during the stretching procedure than during the baseline and recovery segments. There were no significant differences in CFCS scores, across time segments. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that children with CP express discernible pain behaviors regardless of cognitive or language ability. These results contribute to multidimensional assessment of pain in children with neurologic impairment.

Pain in children with cerebral palsy: common triggers and expressive behaviors.

To obtain parents' identification and description of the behaviors, health care procedures and daily living situations associated with pain in children with cerebral palsy (CP), surveys were sent to parents of children with CP recruited via a clinic case list and a parents' newsletter. Forty-three parents completed the survey. Results indicated that children's ability to communicate pain verbally did not influence whether or not their parent reported observing pain. Most children (67%) were reported to have displayed pain within the month prior to rating. All pain behaviors on the Non-Communicating Children's Pain Checklist (Dev Med Child Neurol 40 (1998) 340) were endorsed by some parents, and few additional pain behaviors were identified, suggesting that this instrument adequately samples the pain behavior of children with CP. Assisted stretching was the daily living activity most frequently identified as painful by parents (93% of those reporting pain), and the one with the highest mean pain intensity. Needle injection (40%) was the medical and nursing procedure most frequently identified by parents as painful for their children. Range of motion manipulation was the therapy most frequently identified as painful by parents (58%), and the one with the highest mean intensity. Parents are able to observe pain in their children with CP regardless of the child's verbal fluency. Knowledge of behaviors and painful situations identified by parents can facilitate management of pain in children with CP.