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Problem Index (problem + index)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences83%

Terms modified by Problem Index

  • problem index score
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    Selected Abstracts

    Preference Conditioning in Healthy Individuals: Correlates With Hazardous Drinking

    ALCOHOLISM, Issue 6 2010
    Iris M. Balodis
    Background:, Conditioned reward is a classic measure of drug-induced brain changes in animal models of addiction. The process can be examined in humans using the Conditioned Pattern Preference (CPP) task, in which participants associate nonverbal cues with reward but demonstrate low awareness of this conditioning. Previously, we reported that alcohol intoxication does not affect CPP acquisition in humans, but our data indicated that prior drug use may impact conditioning scores. Methods:, To test this possibility, the current study examined the relationship between self-reported alcohol use and preference conditioning in the CPP task. Working memory was assessed during conditioning by asking participants to count the cues that appeared at each location on a computer screen. Participants (69 female and 23 male undergraduate students) completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) as measures of hazardous drinking. Results:, Self-reported hazardous drinking was significantly correlated with preference conditioning in that individuals who scored higher on these scales exhibited an increased preference for the reward-paired cues. In contrast, hazardous drinking did not affect working memory errors on the CPP task. Conclusions:, These findings support evidence that repeated drug use sensitizes neural pathways mediating conditioned reward and point to a neurocognitive disposition linking substance misuse and responses to reward-paired stimuli. The relationship between hazardous drinking and conditioned reward is independent of changes in cognitive function, such as working memory. [source]

    Behavioral Outcomes for Substance-Exposed Adopted Children: Fourteen Years Postadoption

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2008
    LCSW, Thomas M. Crea Ph.D.
    From a life course perspective, studies of cumulative disadvantage often identify early risk factors as predictors of poor outcomes. This study examined the influence of prenatal substance exposure on children's externalizing behaviors at 14 years postadoption. Using Wave 4 data from the California Long-Range Adoption Study, the authors employed growth curve modeling to examine behavioral trajectories of 275 children as influenced by foster care status, age at adoption, and gender. Outcomes are measured using a shortened Behavioral Problem Index. Prenatal exposure predicted elevated behavior problems that increased normatively compared with nonexposed children, and were not found to trigger the negative behavior sequelae once feared. Foster children tended to fare better over the life course than those adopted through other means, except for children adopted at older ages. Adopted children's problem behaviors may be directly associated with the success of their placements. The authors discuss implications for practice and future research. [source]

    A 10-year follow-up after transurethral resection of the prostate, contact laser prostatectomy and electrovaporization in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia; long-term results of a randomized controlled trial

    BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2010
    Robert J. Hoekstra
    Study Type , Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1b OBJECTIVE To compare long-term results of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), contact laser prostatectomy (CLP) and electrovaporization of the prostate (EVAP) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1996 and 2001, a prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 150 men with LUTS suggestive of BPH, who had a prostate volume of 20,65 mL and a Schäfer's obstruction grade of ,2. Outcome variables were the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life (QoL) question, Symptom Problem Index (SPI), BPH Impact Index (BII), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), prostate volume, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, morbidity and mortality. In 2008 we carried out a long-term follow-up in these patients. Long-term values were compared with preoperative values for each treatment group (Wilcoxon signed-rank test), differences among groups were analysed (Kruskal,Wallis test) and actuarial failure-rates of the interventions were determined (Kaplan-Meier analysis). RESULTS Although we could account for 91% of the initial participants in 2008, 66 (44%) patients (29 TURP, 20 CLP and 17 EVAP) were available for follow-up measurements after a mean (range) of 10.1(6.9,12.7) years Among the three treatment groups, there were no significant differences in IPSS, QoL, SPI, BII, Qmax, PSA level and prostate volume. The IPSS, QoL, SPI and BII were still improved (P < 0.05) from values before treatment for all treatments. Only in the TURP group were the long-term results of Qmax still improved (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was comparable among the treatments. The 10-year actuarial failure rates (95% confidence interval) were 0.11 (0.03,0.20), 0.22 (0.10,0.35) and 0.23 (0.11,0.35) for TURP, CLP and EVAP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS After a mean follow-up of 10.1 years, there were similar and durable improvements in IPSS, QoL, SPI and BII for patients with LUTS suggestive of BPH after TURP, CLP and EVAP. Between the treatment groups there were no statistically significant differences in Qmax, PSA levels and prostate volume at any time during the follow-up. However, only patients treated with TURP showed minimal durable improvements in Qmax. There was no statistically significant difference in success rate and mortality rate among the three treatments. [source]

    Posterior tibial nerve stimulation in patients with intractable interstitial cystitis

    BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004
    Jimao Zhao
    OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PPTNS) in patients with refractory interstitial cystitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS One man and 13 women (mean age 58.3 years) with suprapubic or perineal pain were enrolled in a prospective open study, in which they had 10 weekly sessions of PPTNS. Their mean duration of symptoms was 8.3 years. All patients were previously diagnosed as having interstitial cystitis according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria. The response to the treatment were assessed using voiding diary, visual analogue scale diary for a pain index, and the Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI), O'Leary/Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) and the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) quality-of-life questionnaire. RESULTS Of the 14 patients, 13 completed the 10 weeks of treatment with no complications; 12 continued treatment for a short period after the study. There were no statistically significant changes in pain scores, voiding frequency and volumes, or in the ICPI, ICSI and SF-36 scores. However, there was an improvement in some patients, with one having complete resolution of the pain. CONCLUSION Intermittent PPTNS in patients with refractory interstitial cystitis has no significant clinical effect over 10 weeks of treatment. [source]

    How American Children Spend Their Time

    JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, Issue 2 2001
    Sandra L. Hofferth
    The purpose of this article is to examine how American children under age 13 spend their time, sources of variation in time use, and associations with achievement and behavior. Data come from the 1997 Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The results suggest that parents' characteristics and decisions regarding marriage, family size, and employment affect the time children spend in educational, structured, and family activities, which may affect their school achievement. Learning activities such as reading for pleasure are associated with higher achievement, as is structured time spent playing sports and in social activities. Family time spent at meals and time spent sleeping are linked to fewer behavior problems, as measured by the child's score on the Behavior Problems Index. The results support common language and myth about the optimal use of time for child development. [source]

    Intravesical alkalinized lidocaine (PSD597) offers sustained relief from symptoms of interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome

    BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2009
    J. Curtis Nickel
    OBJECTIVE To assess the immediate and sustained relief of the symptoms of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBlS) after a consecutive 5-day course of treatment with intravesical alkalinized lidocaine (PSD597), and to characterize the pharmacokinetics of single and multiple doses of intravesical PSD597 in a subgroup of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 102 adult patients (99 women) with a clinical diagnosis of IC/PBlS were randomized from 19 centres in the USA and Canada to receive a daily intravesical instillation of PSD597 (200 mg lidocaine, alkalinized with a sequential instillation of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate solution, to a final volume of 10 mL) or placebo (double-blind), for 5 consecutive days. Patients were followed at intervals up to 29 days after the first instillation. Efficacy was assessed by changes in the Global Response Assessment (GRA), Likert scales for bladder pain, urgency and frequency, and validated O'Leary-Sant IC symptom and problem indices. RESULTS Significantly more patients treated with PSD597 rated their overall bladder symptoms as moderately or markedly improved on the GRA scale 3 days after completing the 5-day course of treatment (30% and 9.6%, respectively, for patients treated with PSD597 and placebo; P = 0.012). The treatment effects were also maintained beyond the end of treatment and are further supported by the secondary endpoints, including symptom and problem indices. The peak serum lidocaine concentration during the study was <2 µg/mL, and well below the toxic level (>5 µg/mL). CONCLUSION This preliminary study showed that PSD597 was effective for providing sustained amelioration of symptoms of IC/PBlS beyond the acute treatment phase. The drug was safe, well tolerated and devoid of the systemic side-effects often experienced with oral drug administration. Long-term studies are needed to determine the optimum regimen to maintain this favourable treatment effect. [source]