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Emotional and behavioural problems in subgroups of children with chronic illness: results from a large-scale population study
- Authors:
- HYSING M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 35(4), July 2009, pp.527-533.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background Children with chronic illness are known to have an increased risk of emotional and behavioural problems. In the present population-based study children with asthma, neurological disorders and other chronic illnesses were compared with children without chronic illnesses to assess differences in psychological presentation across illness groups. A total of 537 children with parent-reported chronic illness in the Bergen Child Study were categorized into three groups: asthma, neurological disorders and other chronic illnesses. Emotional and behavioural problems were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. All three illness groups had an increased rate of emotional and behavioural problems, as well as increased probability of a psychiatric disorder compared with children without a chronic illness. Most children with asthma and other chronic illnesses did not have emotional and behavioural problems, and effect sizes were small in both groups. In children with neurological disorders the effect sizes ranged from moderate to large, with emotional problems, inattention hyperactivity and peer problems being the most frequent problems. The increased rate of emotional and behavioural problems in children with chronic illness, especially neurological disorders, emphasizes the importance of early detection of mental health problems in these children.
Factor analysis of the Montgomery Aasberg depression rating scale in an elderly stroke population
- Authors:
- FARNER Lasse, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(11), November 2009, pp.1209-1216.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a widely used instrument for the measurement of change in depressive symptoms. This study aimed to explore the construct validity of the MADRS using factor analysis and to examine whether symptom clusters of depression after stroke are associated with any patient characteristics. A sample of 163 stroke patients was assessed, with information collected from patients’ records. Factor analysis identified three distinct factors: anhedonia, consisting of items associated with loss of interest, emotional withdrawal, suicidal thoughts and loss of appetite; sadness, consisting of items associated with observed and self-rated sadness and pessimism; agitation, consisting of inner tension, lack of concentration and loss of sleep. The study concluded that anhedonia is related to cognitive impairment, sadness to neurological impairment due to the stroke, and agitation is probably an indifferent factor that could be related to anxiety in combination with a variety of physical health problems.
Mental health problems in Norwegian school children placed out-of-home: the importance of family risk factors
- Authors:
- HAVNEN Karen Skaale, JAKOBSEN Reidar, STORMARK Kjell Morten
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 15(3), July 2009, pp.235-250.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The main aim of this article is to explore the association between mental health problems in children placed out-of-home and family risk factors reported as reasons for placement. The sample consisted of 109 Norwegian children aged 6-12 years. Mental health problems were assessed by the Revised Rutter scales reported by the parents and the teachers shortly after placement. On the basis of the reported reasons for placement, three risk indexes were constructed: parental risk, interactional risk, and child neglect and abuse risk. The analyses showed that 70% or more of the placed children had symptoms of mental health problems, boys more often than girls. Parental risk and interactional risk each accounted for a significant part of the variance in the children's mental health, while child neglect and abuse did not. The data, however, indicated that children placed out-of-home mainly due to parental risk had less mental health problems than other children, while children placed due to interactional risk or child neglect and abuse had more problems. The study indicates that family-related reasons for placement reported by the child welfare workers are important indicators for assessing mental health problems in children placed out-of-home.
The experience of loneliness: main and interactive effects of interpersonal stress, social support and positive affect
- Authors:
- AANES Mette M., MITTELMARK Maurice B., HETLAND Jorn
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 11(4), November 2009, pp.25-33.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Loneliness is a mediating factor between the relationship of chronic interpersonal stress and psychological distress. Alleviating loneliness could reduce psychological distress even in the face of chronic interpersonal stress, and it is plausible that positive affect and social support may moderate chronic interpersonal stress-loneliness, as well as having a direct effect on loneliness. In a community based sample of 3733 Norwegian adults, direct and moderating effects of positive affect and social support were explored. Adding to a body of evidence suggesting a need for mental health promotion intervention research aimed at simultaneously reducing interpersonal stress and increasing social support, this study showed significant interrelations between interpersonal stress, loneliness, positive affect and social support, thus confirming stress, affect and social support are strong predictors of loneliness. The authors conclude that interventions to increase positive affect and social support may decrease loneliness due to direct affects, but cannot be expected to moderate the chronic interpersonal stress-loneliness relationship.
The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) is associated with informant stress
- Authors:
- NYGAARD Harald A., NAIK Mala, GEITUNG John T.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(11), November 2009, pp.1085-1191.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to assess the association between informant stress and appraisal of patients’ cognitive functioning as reported by the IQCODE, which is designed to measure cognitive changes over time as perceived by an informant. Routinely collected data from a geriatric outpatient department during the period 1995 to 1998 were analysed, and the relationship between IQCODE and categorised Relative Stress Scale (RSS), an instrument to detect stress in caregivers, and informant groups and patient age was studied. The study concluded that IQCODE is associated with informant stress and that categorisation of RSS score into groups of low, intermediate and high risk or psychiatric morbidity can be a valuable contribution to a more meaningful application of RSS in general practice.