Stability of self-reported psychopathic traits in at-risk adolescents in youth welfare and juvenile justice institutions.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-reported stability of psychopathic traits in adolescents in residential care (both child welfare and juvenile justice placed juveniles) and potential influencing factors. METHODS: We applied the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory (YPI) in a sample of 162 adolescents (M = 15.0 years, SD = 1.3) over a mean time interval of 11 months (min. 6, max. 21 months, SD = 3.14). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in YPI total score nor in the three underlying dimensions Grandiose-Manipulative (GM), Callous-Unemotional (CU), and Impulsive-Irresponsible (II) between t1 and t2. Furthermore, approximately 70% of the adolescents showed no clinically significant reliable change on the YPI total score (as measured with the reliable change index), 15% improved, 15% deteriorated. The strongest predictor for psychopathic traits at t2 were psychopathic traits at t1. Additional predictors for higher levels of general psychopathic traits was male sex, for CU-traits male sex and lower levels of internalizing mental health problems, and for II-traits higher levels of externalizing mental health problems. Generally, the three reliable change groups (increase, no change, decrease) did not seemed to differ on relevant factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results add to the findings that psychopathic traits are relatively stable in this at-risk group over approximately a 1-year time interval. Research with a longer follow-up time and more time points is warranted to better interpret these results.

The relationships between gender, psychopathic traits and self-reported delinquency: a comparison between a general population sample and a high-risk sample for juvenile delinquency.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that youths with high psychopathic traits have an earlier onset of delinquent behavior, have higher levels of delinquent behavior, and show higher rates of recidivism than youths with low psychopathic traits. Furthermore, psychopathic traits have received much attention as a robust indicator for delinquent and aggressive behavior in both boys and girls. However, there is a notable lack of research on gender differences in the relationship between psychopathic traits and delinquent behavior. In addition, most of the studies on psychopathic traits and delinquent behavior were conducted in high-risk samples. Therefore, the first objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between psychopathic traits and specific forms of self-reported delinquency in a high-risk sample for juvenile delinquency as well as in a general population sample. The second objective was to examine the influence of gender on this relationship. Finally, we investigated whether the moderating effect of gender was comparable in the high-risk sample for juvenile delinquency and the general population sample. METHODS: Participants were 1220 adolescents of the German-speaking part of Switzerland (N = 351 high-risk sample, N = 869 general population sample) who were between 13 and 21 years of age. The Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory (YPI) was used to assess psychopathic traits. To assess the lifetime prevalence of the adolescents' delinquent behavior, 15 items derived from a self-report delinquency instrument were used. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between gender, psychopathic traits and self-reported delinquency across both samples. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that psychopathic traits are related to non-violent and violent offenses. We found no moderating effect of gender and therefore we could not detect differences in the moderating effect of gender between the samples. However, there was a moderating effect of sample for the relationship between the callous and unemotional YPI scale and non-violent offenses. In addition, the regression weights of gender and sample were, for non-violent offenses, reduced to non-significance when adding the interaction terms. CONCLUSIONS: Psychopathic traits were found to be present in a wide range of youths (i.e., high-risk as well as general population sample, young children as well as adolescents, boys as well as girls) and were related to delinquent behavior. The influence of age and YPI scales on self-reported delinquency was more robust than the influence of gender and sample. Therefore, screening for psychopathic traits among young children with psychosocial adjustment problems seems relevant for developing effective intervention strategies.

Relationship between Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-second version and psychiatric disorders in youths in welfare and juvenile justice institutions in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that it is important to have well-standardized procedures for identifying the mental health needs of youths in welfare and juvenile justice institutions. One of the most widely used tools for mental health screening in the juvenile justice system is the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-second version (MAYSI-2). To contribute to the body of research examining the utility of the MAYSI-2 as a mental health screening tool; the first objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between the MAYSI-2 and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) in a sample of Swiss youths in welfare and juvenile justice institutions using a cross-sectional design. Secondly, as the sample was drawn from the French-, German- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland, the three languages were represented in the total sample and consequently differences between the language regions were analyzed as well. The third objective was to examine gender differences in this relationship. METHODS: Participants were 297 boys and 149 girls (mean age = 16.2, SD = 2.5) recruited from 64 youth welfare and juvenile justice institutions in Switzerland. The MAYSI-2 was used to screen for mental health or behavioral problems that could require further evaluation. Psychiatric classification was based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to predict (cluster of) psychiatric disorders from MAYSI-2 scales. RESULTS: The regression analyses revealed that the MAYSI-2 scales generally related well to their corresponding homotypic (cluster of) psychiatric disorders. For example, the alcohol/drug use scale identified the presence of any substance use disorder and the suicide ideation scale identified youths reporting suicide ideation or suicide attempts. Several MAYSI-2 scales were also related to heterotypic (cluster of) psychiatric disorders. For example, the MAYSI-2 scale alcohol/drug use, was positively related to any disruptive disorder. Furthermore, the results revealed gender differences in the relationship between the MAYSI-2 and K-SADS-PL (e.g., in the boys' subsample no MAYSI-2 scale was significantly related to any affective disorder; whereas, in the girls' subsample the MAYSI-2 scales depressed-anxious and somatic complaints were significantly related to any affective disorder). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, The MAYSI-2 seems to serve well as a first-stage screen to identify service needs for youths in welfare and juvenile justice institutions in Switzerland. Its effectiveness to identify the presence of (cluster of) psychiatric disorders differs between genders.

Long-acting methylphenidate has an effect on aggressive behavior in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Aggression is frequently observed in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy with regard to oppositional and aggressive behavior of a new long-acting methylphenidate preparation (Medikinet retard, MPH-MR), with equal portions of the immediate-release and the sustained-release active substance, and especially to look at correlations between either teacher or parent assessment of aggression and ADHD sub-symptomatology. METHODS: Eighty five children and adolescents (6-16 years) were investigated in a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial over 5 weeks under a treatment with MPH-MR using symptom checklists for ADHD, oppositional-defiant and conduct disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). RESULTS: A total of 64.9% of the children showed oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD) symptoms. A statistically significant effect was found in the group treated with MPH (verum-group). On the basis of Cohen's criteria, high effects were found for aggressive symptoms in school (d = 1.0), but not in the afternoon (d = 0.4). There were also lower effect sizes for more severe aggressive symptoms. We found characteristic correlations between ODD/CD symptoms and the ADHD subscale hyperactivity/impulsivity compared to the subscale inattention. CONCLUSIONS: Long-acting MPH is effective in the treatment of oppositional-defiant and aggressive behavior, especially concerning milder symptoms. The expected correlation between impulsivity and aggressiveness could be confirmed.

Platelet 5-HT uptake in boys with conduct disorder.

Dysregulation of serotonergic function has been found to be associated with aggression in animals, human adults and adolescents. However, studies with children have shown conflicting results. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the kinetic characteristics (Vmax and Km) of 5-HT uptake in platelets are different in children with the diagnosis of conduct disorder according to ICD-10 and healthy age-matched controls. In addition to the standardized assessment of general psychopathology, methods assessing narrowband aggressive symptoms (Child Behavior Checklist) and emotional reactivity to an experimentally induced provocation (Taylor's competitive reaction time task) were used in both groups. We found a trend for a lower mean Vmax of platelet 5-HT uptake in 14 conduct-disordered boys compared with healthy controls (n=15). If, however, 2 patients with a low degree of aggression and emotional reactivity were excluded, the difference became significant (mean=4.27, SD=3.49 in patients and mean=8.45, SD=4.63 in controls). A significant negative correlation was found between parent-rated aggression scores and Vmax (r=-0.41, p < 0.05, n=29). These data suggest that dysfunction of 5-HT transport mechanisms might be associated with specific behavioral symptoms in conduct-disordered children.

Temperament and disruptive behavior disorders.

In several studies on children with conduct disorder, difficult temperament in infancy was one of the major variables in the explanation of later aggressive behavior. According to these studies, subjects with a combination of high novelty seeking, low harm avoidance and low reward dependence (NS high, HA + RD low) should be most at risk for the development of disruptive behavior disorders. The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory was given to a clinical sample of 65 adolescent patients of both sexes with the diagnoses of conduct disorder (with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), emotional disorder (anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depressive disorder), eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia) or personality disorder (borderline and narcissistic personality disorder). High novelty seeking and low harm avoidance were significantly correlated with externalizing symptoms like aggression and delinquency. In conduct-disordered children and adolescents, we found significantly higher scores of NS compared to the other clinical groups and the normative population, and significantly lower scores of harm avoidance compared to the other clinical groups, but not compared to the normative population. The relative risk of having a conduct disorder was markedly higher in those children and adolescents with elevated scores of novelty seeking.

Discriminant validity of the child behaviour checklist CBCL-4/18 in German samples.

This study examined the discriminant validity of the German version of CBCL in two large samples of referred and non-referred children and adolescents which were matched for age, sex and socio-economic status. The combined sample that was used for statistical analysis consists of 2,058 referred and 2,058 non-referred boys and girls between 4 and 18 years of age (mean age: referred boys= 10.9 years, non-referred boys = 10.9 years, referred girls=11.3 years, non-referred girls=11.1 years). Referral status was used as validity criterion. Statistical procedures included Odds Ratios, Total Predictive Values, ROC analyses and discriminant analyses. Results indicated that the discriminant validity of the German version of CBCL is comparable to the original English version. With the use of CBCL Total Problem Score as predictor (cut-off T > or = 60) 83.8% of children and adolescents could correctly be classified (sensitivity 83.6%, specificity 83.9%). Symptoms of the "Attention Problems Scale" show the highest discriminative power to distinguish between disturbed and undisturbed children and adolescents.

[Utilization of psychological tests for diagnosis in German child and adolescent psychiatry: results of a survey]. / Zur Praxis der psychologischen Testdiagnostik in der deutschen Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie: Ergebnisse einer Umfrage.

92 inpatient and outpatient child and adolescent psychiatric institutions all over Germany were surveyed on practice and attitude towards psychological tests. Leading psychologists were contacted by mail and given a 15 item questionnaire. All institutions reported keeping at least a small test-inventory and using psychological tests in diagnostics. Half of the clinics carried out individual tests obligatory in the routine. Additionally, one third applied self-constructed instruments, which in the minority of cases had been psychometrically investigated or published. Computer-aided testing was established in one third of the institutions. Colleagues, test-compendia, scientific journals and the internet are quite often consulted for test-information. Intelligence measures are the most frequently administered test in child and adolescent psychiatry, while structured interviews are applied rarely. Among the highly frequent used individual tests were the Wechsler-Intelligence-Scales for children and adults, the CFT-scales, the projective Sceno-test and the d2-attention endurance test. One forth of the surveyed clinics reported refusal of individual or groups of tests, including projective and cognitive assessments. Thereby, ethic aspects were never mentioned as a reason for rejection. A range of diagnosticians reported to miss adequate measures for diverse constructs, e.g. learning disabilities. Furthermore, new norms and up-dates for regularly used instruments were often demanded. Some single survey-results also give reason for critically reviewing aspects of test-usage in German child and adolescent psychiatry.

[Brief report of working group OPD-CA (children and adolescents) Axis IV: structural standard]. / Werkstattbericht der Arbeitsgruppe Achse IV: Strukturniveau.

Apart from the structural differentiation of the body and its functions, the enlargement of the child's repertoire of possibilities to make experiences and to act is a manifestation of the development of the child's psychic structure which, advancing in years, may be considered as a treasure of all the experiences one has made with oneself, with the world and with the others. Structure will develop along with the interactional experiences with the world around us and becomes manifest in one's behaviour which may be witnessed and observed. The description of the psychic structure comprises three dimensions (perception of the self and of the objects, control, communication and bonding) which will be described by certain capabilities and will be assessed with the help of an anchoring example typical for each age which serves the purpose of clinical illustration. The adaptational achievement may then be assessed on the basis of a structural standard independent of age and may be ranged on a structural level. It appears that the exemplary description of different scopes of tasks typically to be performed at certain ages which serves as a basis for the assessment of the adaptational competence during childhood and adolescence seems to be a good policy. The purpose of our studies is the development of a valid instrument which is easy to handle in practice and which has a high interrater-reliability.

Intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) as biological marker for cerebral serotonin levels: effects of tryptophan depletion in healthy subjects.

RATIONALE: The intensity dependence of the auditory evoked potentials (AEP) has been suggested to be a specific biological marker of central serotonergic activity. OBJECTIVE: While previous studies used circumstantial evidence to support this hypothesis, we manipulated (decreased) cerebral levels of serotonin directly by using tryptophan depletion. METHODS: Twelve healthy young subjects were investigated using placebo and two different amino acid mixtures in a double blind cross over design on three different occasions. AEPs recorded during tryptophan depletion were analyzed by dipole analysis and regional sources using methods published in the literature. RESULTS: For none of the mixtures a significant effect of tryptophan depletion was found. There was a trend towards reduced intensity dependency after tryptophan depletion, especially in the right hemisphere. This reduction correlated with the amount of reduced tryptophan in plasma. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate, in contrast to earlier indirect studies, that the intensity dependence of AEPs is not a specific marker of central serotonergic activity.

[Incidence of psychiatric symptoms and somatic complaints in 4- to 10-year-old children in Germany as judged by parents--a comparison of norm-oriented and criteria-oriented models]. / Häufigkeit psychischer Auffälligkeiten und somatischer Beschwerden bei vier- bis zehnjährigen Kindern in Deutschland im Urteil der Eltern--ein Vergleich normorientierter und kriterienorientierter Modelle.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the frequency of behavioral/emotional problems and somatic complaints of children aged four to ten as rated by their parents. METHOD: The analysis is based on the PAK-KID study on behavioural and emotional problems and psychosocial competencies of children and adolescents in Germany. In a nationally representative sample of N = 1030 children aged four to ten years the parents rated their child using the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of the symptoms are presented. Additionally global prevalence rates based on three different models were calculated and compared. They range from 13.1% to 28.3%. The issues of defining cutoffs necessary for the calculation of prevalence rates are discussed.

[Mental disturbances in children and adolescents in Germany. Results of a representative study:age,gender and rater effects]. / Psychische Auffälligkeiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland--Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Studie: Methodik, Alters-, Geschlechts- und Beurteilereffekte.

METHOD: A study on behavioral and emotional problems and competence in children and adolescents in Germany (PAK-KID study) is described. It is the first nationwide representative survey of this kind of children and adolescents aged 4 to 18 years in Germany. For children aged 4 to 10 years the parents completed the German version of Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 4-18) developed by the Arbeitsgruppe Deutsche Child Behavior Checklist. Children and adolescents aged 11 years and older filled out the German version of the Youth Self-Report that is part of Achenbach's CBCL in addition to the parents completing the German version of the CBCL. A total of 2856 parent questionnaires and 1798 self-report questionnaires completed by children and adolescents were analyzed. RESULTS: The sample was representative with respect to the main sociodemographic variables. On all problem scales children and adolescents aged 11 to 18 years reported significantly more problems than their parents did. The frequency of internalizing problems (social withdrawal, somatic complaints, anxiety/depression) and delinquent behavior of children and adolescents reported by parents increased with the children's age, whereas aggressive behavior and attention problems decreased with age. Girls reported significantly more problems than boys on all internalizing scales of the Youth Self-Report. The effect was not totally replicated in the parent reports. In the parent reports, boys had more attention problems and more aggressive and delinquent behavior than girls.

[The value of different sources of information in evaluating psychiatric disorders in adolescence--a comparison of parental judgment and self-assessment by adolescents]. / Die Bedeutung unterschiedlicher Informationsquellen bei der Beurteilung psychischer Störungen im Jugendalter--ein Vergleich von Elternurteil und Selbsteinschätzung der Jugendlichen.

Data from the national representative epidemiologic survey (PAK-KID-study) assessed by the German versions of Achenbach'S Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self-Report of N = 1757 parents and their children aged 11 to 18 years are compared by using the corresponding Cross-Informant-Scales. On all problem scales adolescents report more problems than parents. For some scales the differences between girls and their parents are higher than between boys and their parents (social withdrawal, somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, attention problems, internalizing and total score). Averaged Pearson correlations of the eight subscales are in a moderate rage (r < 0.50). For all problem scales an agreement of 30% in the area of high problems (> PR95) is found. If one informant scores above PR95 the Relative Risk of the other one scoring in this range too is significantly higher than one for nearly all scales.

[Behavioral symptoms of children and adolescents in Germany, the Netherlands and USA. A cross-cultural study with the Child Behavior Checklist]. / Verhaltensauffälligkeiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland, den Niederlanden und den USA. Eine kulturvergleichende Studie mit der Child Behavior Checklist.

The goal of the study was a cross-cultural comparison of the parent ratings of behavior problems of children and adolescents aged 4-18 years in Germany, The Netherlands and the United States using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The analyses were undertaken in a German community sample (n = 1622) and a Dutch community sample (n = 2076). The results were compared with the data published by Achenbach for the national US sample. The analyses were based on the scales of the 1991 CBCL version and were performed for four age and sex groups (4- to 11-year-old boys/girls and 12- to 18-year-old boys/girls). In general, relatively minor differences could be detected between the three random samples. The range in the different samples was between -0.04 and 0.35, which is in line with other cross-cultural analyses using the CBCL. As long as no representative norms for Germany are available, the American norms can serve as an orientation for German studies using the CBCL.

[Reliability and factorial validity of the Child Behavior Checklist--an analysis of a clinical and field sample]. / Zur Reliabilität und faktoriellen Validität der Child Behavior Checklist--eine Analyse in einer klinischen und einer Feldstichprobe.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability (internal consistency), the correlations of the scale scores and the factorial validity of the German version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The analyses were performed in a sample of patients at two child and adolescent psychiatric facilities (N = 1653) and in a community sample (N = 1622). The analyses were based on the 1991 American version of the CBCL. The internal consistency of most of the scales was good to excellent (rtt > .80). The reliability of the scales "Withdrawn", "Somatic complaints" and "Social Problems" was not completely satisfactory (rtt > .70). The reliability of the syndrome scales "Thought Problems" and "Sex Problems" and the Competence Scales was unsatisfactory (rtt < .70). The internal consistency of the syndrome scales in the German and American samples was very similar. The correlations between the scales were predominantly in the lower range, with some in a medium range (rtt > .50). Factor analyses in the clinical sample confirmed that the syndrome scales had been well-designed. With the exception of the scales "Social Problems" and "Withdrawn", where the items have loadings on a common factor, the scales proved to be factorially valid.

Psychological problems of school-age German and Greek children: A cross-cultural study.

This study investigated psychological problems of 466 Greek and 790 German non-referred, non-migrant children aged 6-11 years using the Child Behavior Checklist. Comparisons between the two countries on the total behaviour problem scores, the total number of positive codings, the externalizing and internalizing scales and the social competence scales revealed a number of cultural differences. Greek children displayed consistently higher problem scores and lower scores on social and activities competence scores than the German children with the one exception of school competence. These results are discussed in relation to different intercultural attitudes, meanings and expectations of parents on their children.

[Psychological effects of military low altitude flight practice on children]. / Uber die psychischen Auswirkungen von militärischer Tiefflugtätigkeit auf Kinder.

In a 2-step epidemiological study child psychiatric disorders, psychophysiological reactions and psychosocial stressors of 376 children aged 4 to 16 were recorded in two regions of Westphalia (West-Germany) with different frequencies of military low-level flights. No essential impairment of the children's health was found. However, below a clinical level we noticed significantly higher anxiety syndromescores (and to some extent of depression syndromescores) and a tendency towards higher psychophysiological arousal in the high-noise area along with no differences in psychosocial stressors. Implications of these results and aspects of child-psychiatric assessment instruments' use are discussed.