Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Psychosocial Function (psychosocial + function)
Selected AbstractsMothers' perceptions of children's quality of life following early diagnosis and treatment for retinoblastoma (Rb)CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2005Linda Sheppard Abstract We describe the Quality of Life (QoL) and IQ of survivors of retinoblastoma (Rb), both in relation to the normal population and between subgroups of Rb patients differing in relative risk (i.e. unilateral vs. bilateral disease). The sample included 54 children (28 males, age-range 8,16 years) and their mothers. Mothers completed standardized questionnaires to report their own QoL and that of their child. Children completed a brief IQ test. Compared with population norms, mothers reported lower levels of QoL for their child on total QoL and for sub-scales measuring Physical and Psychosocial function. Mothers reported their own QoL to be comparable or higher than norms on all but one of eight sub-scales (energy/vitality). Compared with population norms, children with no visual impairment scored in the normal range for tasks measuring Verbal IQ, but below the mean on tasks measuring Performance IQ. According to their mothers, survivors of Rb have excellent school attendance and take part in most school activities. However, based on standardized questionnaire, they show compromised QoL. We consider that excellent survival rates in Rb are matched with good QoL according to mothers' report. [source] Long-term outcome of pediatric obsessive,compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis and qualitative review of the literatureACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2004S. E. Stewart Objective:, To review the extant literature on the long-term outcome of child/adolescent-onset obsessive,compulsive disorder (OCD). Method:, Medline and Psychlit databases were systematically searched for articles regarding long-term outcomes of child/adolescent-onset OCD. Meta-analysis regression was applied to evaluate predictors and persistence of OCD. Results:, Sixteen study samples (n = 6,132; total = 521 participants) in 22 studies had follow-up periods ranging between 1 and 15.6 years. Pooled mean persistence rates were 41% for full OCD and 60% for full or subthreshold OCD. Earlier age of OCD onset (z = ,3.26, P = 0.001), increased OCD duration (z = 2.22, P = 0.027) and in-patient vs. out-patient status (z = 2.94, P = 0.003) predicted greater persistence. Comorbid psychiatric illness and poor initial treatment response were poor prognostic factors. Although psychosocial function was frequently compromised, most studies lacked comprehensive outcome measures. Conclusion:, Long-term persistence of pediatric OCD may be lower than believed. Future studies should include broader measures of outcome including symptomatic persistence and functional impairment in multiple domains. [source] Can personality traits help us explain disability in chronic schizophrenia?PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 5 2006ANDRÉS HERRÁN md Abstract, Psychotic features have been considered the main determinant of psychosocial function in schizophrenia. However, other variables are likely to affect dysfunction in these patients. The authors' hypothesis is that personality traits in outpatients with chronic schizophrenia differ from traits found in the healthy population and may be associated with disability in this disorder. A total of 62 patients with schizophrenia were evaluated with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Psychotic features were measured with the help of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Disability was assessed with the Disability Assessment Schedule (DAS). A total of 43 healthy subjects were used as controls for personality measurements. Normative data for the study population was also used to evaluate results in patients. Patients with schizophrenia had higher levels of neuroticism (median in percentile 65) and lower levels of extraversion (median in percentile 25) than the healthy population. Results of the TPQ showed higher harm avoidance and lower reward dependence levels compared to the healthy population. After multiple regression tests, negative symptoms were the strongest predictor of disability in patients with schizophrenia. Neuroticism contributed independently to the DAS overall behavior and global judgement subscales scores (more negative symptoms and higher neuroticism resulted in worse functioning), but not to the social role subscale. Outpatients with chronic schizophrenia showed high levels of neuroticism, harm avoidance, and introversion. Neuroticism significantly contributes to the long-term deficits found in patients with schizophrenia. [source] Effectiveness of Amitriptyline Versus Cough Suppressants in the Treatment of Chronic Cough Resulting From Postviral Vagal Neuropathy,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2006Anita Jeyakumar MD Abstract Objective: The objective of this prospective, randomized, controlled study (N = 28) was to evaluate the effectiveness of amitriptyline versus cough suppressants in the treatment of chronic cough resulting from postviral vagal neuropathy. Methods: Patients were selected based on a clinical history consistent with postviral vagal neuropathy and a history of an antecedent upper respiratory tract infection. All patients had been tried on antireflux medication (proton pump inhibitors) and had a negative chest x-ray before presentation. All were nonsmokers without a history of asthma. Patients on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were excluded from the study. All patients completed a pretreatment, validated cough-specific quality-of-life (QOL) survey. Patients were randomized by chart numbers to either 10 mg amitriptyline at bedtime or 10 to 100 mg/5 mL, 10 mL codeine/guaifenesin every 6 hours standing dose while awake. Both groups were instructed to complete 10 days of therapy and then asked to subjectively rate the reduction in the frequency and severity of their cough by 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, or 0% as well as completing the posttreatment cough QOL questionnaire. Those patients experiencing a 75% to 100% reduction were recorded as having a complete response, 25% to 50% a partial response, and 0% as having no response. Final results and the cough QOL survey were recorded and used for statistical analysis. Results: A majority of patients in the amitriptyline group achieved a complete response on the initial dose of 10 mg. None of the codeine/guaifenesin group achieved a complete response. The data were analyzed using a logistic regression model, and amitriptyline was found to be a highly significant predictor of a greater than 50% response when compared with codeine/guaifenesin (P = .0007). The same data were analyzed using a proportional odds model and similar results were noted. Conclusions: Chronic cough can have a profound impact on the psychosocial function of patients. The most common causes of a persisting cough in the absence of infection or chronic smoking are laryngopharyngeal reflux, asthma, particularly the cough variant, allergy, rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, and medications, in particular angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Currently, there are few effective treatments for cough with an acceptable therapeutic ratio and more selective drugs with a more favorable side effect profile are needed. This is this first prospective, randomized, controlled study comparing the effectiveness of amitriptyline versus codeine/guaifenesin for select cases of chronic cough resulting from suspected postviral vagal neuropathy. [source] Psychosocial problems and seizure-related factors in children with epilepsyDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2006B Hĝie In this study we describe psychosocial functions and seizurerelated factors in a population-based sample of children with epilepsy. Psychosocial problems (Achenbach scales), cognitive function, and socioeconomic status were studied in 117 children with epilepsy aged between 6 and 13 years (mean age 11y [SD 2y 1mo] and 10y 8mo [SD 2y]; 71 males, 46 females) and in randomly selected controls matched with 117 children for sex and age (mean age 11y 2mo [SD 2y 1mo] and 10y 5mo [SD 2y 4mo]; 69 males, 48 females). The children had partial (n=67), generalized (n=43), or undetermined (n=7) epilepsy syndromes, and partial (n=68), generalized (n=47), or other (n=2) main seizure types. Psychosocial problems were more common among children with epilepsy than controls (odds ratio 5,9) and significantly related to epilepsy syndrome, main seizure type, age at onset, and seizure frequency. Mothers and teachers reported males with epilepsy as having more problems than females. Females self-reported psychosocial problems, males did not. Psychosocial problems were common in childhood epilepsy. Females appreciated the problems more realistically than males. Psychosocial problems should be considered an integral part of epilepsy management. [source] | ||||||||||