Use of the behavior problem checklist with psychotic adolescents.

Compared teacher ratings on the Behavior Problem Checklist of 56 adolescents who (a) were clinically diagnosed as schizophrenic (psychotic) and (b) had an adjustment reaction of adolescence (nonpsychotic). The schizophrenics tended to be rated as more deviant on both the flag items and Inadequacy–Immaturity dimensions of the checklist, whereas the adjustment reaction group was rated higher on the Conduct Problem and Socialized Delinquency dimensions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing the validity of self-reports of behavior in a smoking in children investigation.

As part of a large longitudinal study designed to evaluate certain social psychological strategies to deter smoking in children, a search for a means of increasing the validity of self-reports of smoking led to the development of a 3-step procedure. In 2 separate experiments, experimental groups of 86 13-yr-old children were first shown how specimens of their saliva could be analyzed for nicotine content by a mass spectrometer. The children were requested to produce saliva specimens. Finally, self-reports of smoking behavior were obtained. In the control groups of 84 Ss, only self-reports of smoking behavior were obtained. Results suggest that this procedure significantly increased the validity of self-reports of smoking behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of alcoholics' self-reports of drinking behavior with reports of collateral informants.

Collected 6-mo posthospitalization follow-up data from 52 alcoholics and their collateral informants. Ss' self-reports and collateral reports of Ss' drinking were highly correlated when Ss had been either mostly abstinent or mostly drunk throughout the follow-up period. Findings suggest that (a) alcoholics who have been hospitalized for detoxification generally provide reliable self-reports of their posttreatment drinking behavior, and (b) gathering data from collateral informants is an effective method for corroborating alcoholics' self-reports of drinking behavior. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comorbidity of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents.

Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents are reviewed, including differential diagnosis, assessment of symptoms, family history data, developmental features, and clinical correlates. Findings indicate that 15.9% to 61.9% of children identified as anxious or depressed have comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders and that measures of anxiety and depression are highly correlated. Family history data are inconclusive. Differences emerged among children with anxiety, depression, or both disorders. Anxious children were distinguishable from the other 2 groups in that they showed less depressive symptomatology and tended to be younger. The concurrently depressed and anxious group tended to be older and more symptomatic. In this group, the anxiety symptoms tended to predate the depressive symptoms. Findings are discussed in the context of a proposed developmental sequence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Type A behavior in children, adolescents, and their parents.

This study examines the relations of Type A scores of parents to Type A scores of their children. Parents' Type A behavior was measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS; Jenkins, Zyzanski, & Rosenman, 1979) and the Framingham scale (FS; Haynes, Levine, Scotch, Feinleib, & Kannel, 1978). Children completed the Hunter-Wolf (HW; Wolf, Sklov, Wenzl, Hunter, & Berenson, 1982) Type A behavior scale. Parent–child correlations were found for father–son pairs only: Fathers' FS scores and overall JAS scores as well as the speed and impatience and the hard-driving competitiveness factors were all found to be related to sons' overall HW Type A scores and the restlessness/aggression factor. These results indicate that fathers may play an important role in the development of Type A behavior in their sons. Parental influences on the development of Type A behavior in daughters remain unclear. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Imaginary audience behavior in children and adolescents.

The Imaginary Audience Scale (IAS), consisting of 2 subscales—the Transient Self (TS) and the Abiding Self (AS) scale—was administered to 697 Ss at the 4th-, 6th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade levels. The scale assesses young people's willingness to reveal different facets of themselves to an audience. Some of the Ss were given the test twice to obtain reliability data, and some of the other Ss were also tested on measures of self-esteem and locus of control (e.g., Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children) to obtain validity data. Results show that the IAS has reasonable reliability and construct validity. Results also show that 8th graders were significantly less willing than older or younger Ss to reveal their transient and abiding selves to an audience. Girls tended to be more reluctant than boys to reveal themselves to an audience. Results support the imaginary audience construct and warrant further use of the IAS. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perspectives on child behavior problems: Comparisons of children's self-reports with parent and teacher reports.

Associations among parents', teachers', and children's self-reports of internalizing and externalizing child behavior problems were examined in two studies. In the first, both teachers' and parents' reports were modestly and independently associated with children's self-reported behavior problems. In the second, mothers' and fathers' reports of their children's behavior problems were moderately associated with parents' self-reports of their own psychological symptoms as well as with their children's self-reports of their behavior problems. Implications of these studies for the use of multiple perspectives in the assessment of children's behavior problems are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents: Negative affectivity and the utility of self-reports.

Self-reported depression and anxiety were examined in 233 inpatient children (aged 6–17 yrs) diagnosed with either an anxiety disorder or a depressive disorder. Depressed children reported more problems related to a loss of interest and low motivation, and they had a more negative view of themselves. Anxious children reported more worry about the future, their well-being, and the reactions of others. The groups did not differ in the degree of depressed affect reported in terms of being sad, lethargic, bothered by things, or feeling alone and isolated. Findings suggest that a general negative affectivity component is common to both anxiety and depression disorders and measures. Results demonstrate that anxiety and depression in children have distinguishing features that can be measured by common self-report instruments, and the findings indicate that one factor that may distinguish between anxiety and depression in children is positive affectivity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression, pain, and pain behavior.

Examined the degree to which depression predicted pain and pain behavior by administering the Beck Depression Inventory to 114 male and 93 female low back pain patients (mean age 41.6 yrs). Observations of pain behaviors during physical examination, ratings of pain, and measures of activity level and medication intake were taken on each S. Regression analyses revealed that depression and physical findings were the most important predictors of pain and pain behavior. Although the proportion of variance attributed to depression was modest, it was significant even after controlling for demographic and medical status variables. Ratings of pain severity and use of sedatives/hypnotics were higher among females than males, and depressed Ss were more likely than others to be taking narcotic medications. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Latent variable analysis of coping, anxiety/depression, and somatic symptoms in adolescents with chronic pain.

Reports of adolescents' coping with recurrent pain, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and somatic complaints were obtained from a sample of 164 adolescents with recurrent abdominal pain and their parents. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that coping consisted of 3 nonorthogonal factors: Primary Control Engagement Coping (problem solving, emotional expression, and emotional regulation), Secondary Control Engagement Coping (positive thinking, cognitive restructuring, acceptance, and distraction), and Disengagement Coping (denial, avoidance, and wishful thinking). Structural equation modeling using latent variables revealed that secondary control engagement coping predicted lower levels of anxiety/depression symptoms and somatic complaints, and disengagement coping was related to higher levels of anxiety/depression and somatic complaints. Implications for understanding child and adolescent coping with pain are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuroendocrine reactivity, internalizing behavior problems, and control-related cognitions in clinic-referred children and adolescents.

Literature on neuroendocrine-behavior relations suggests that cortisol reactivity to social challenge may be associated with children's internalizing problem behavior. To explore this possibility, and the role of control-related beliefs, 102 7–17 yr-old clinic-referred children were studied. Measures of problem behavior, depression and anxiety, and control-related beliefs were collected, and Ss' saliva was sampled before and after a parent–child conflict task. Neuroendocrine activation (i.e., cortisol increase) in response to the interaction task was associated with Ss' (1) social withdrawal, social anxiety, and social problems; (2) socially inhibited behavior during the task; and (3) low levels of perceived social contingency and high levels of external attributions for personal successes and failures. Our findings are among the first to link children's behavioral response to social challenge, neuroendocrine activation, cognitions, and psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Managing procedural pain in children with burns. Part 1: Assessment of pain in children

Managing procedural pain in a child involves multiple factors, including how to evaluate the pain. This process is more difficult with children because of differences in cognitive and physical development. A multidimensional model for the assessment of pain in a pediatric burn patient is presented along with recommendations based on various levels of development.     

The relation between anxiety sensitivity and depression in children and adolescents referred for anxiety

Research conducted with adult samples suggests that anxiety sensitivity is positively related to depression (Otto et al., 1995, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 10, 117-123). The Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI, Silverman et al., 1991, Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 20 162-168) was used in this study to provide an examination of the relation between anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and depression in a sample of children and adolescents (N = 234) referred for anxiety disorders. A significant correlation between depression and anxiety sensitivity was found. This relation remained statistically significant when controlling for other aspects of anxiety (i.e. worry, physiological anxiety, and concentration). The similarities between these findings and findings obtained with adults are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research.     

Competence, reticence, and helping by children and adolescents.

Examined the relation between age and helping in an experimental study in which 256 1st-, 4th-, 7th-, and 10th-grade children and adolescents directly observed an emergency and had the opportunity to intervene. A 2nd study was then conducted, using 256 1st-, 4th-, 7th-, and 10th-grade children and adolescents as Ss, in which an emergency was clearly staged, in order to elicit comments about factors that may inhibit helping. Results of Study 1 were consistent with earlier findings of a curvilinear relationship between age and helping among children and early adolescents, with 4th and 10th graders helping the victim of an injury significantly more than 1st and 7th graders. Significantly more help was given to a toddler than to an age peer and to a person whose injury appeared serious enough so that he or she could not get up unaided. Results obtained from Study 2 suggest that helping by younger Ss was inhibited by fear of possible inadequacy, and helping by adolescents was inhibited by fear of disapproval and/or sensitivity to the possible embarrassment felt by potential recipients. Reticence was expressed least where the potential recipient was a toddler. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender differences in anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.

Gender differences in anxiety were examined in a large sample of adolescents that included 1,079 who had never met criteria for any disorder, 95 who had recovered from an anxiety disorder, and 47 who had a current anxiety disorder. Participants were examined on a wide array of psychosocial measures. There was a preponderance of females among current and recovered anxiety disorder cases, but not among those who had never experienced an anxiety disorder. The female preponderance emerges early in life, and retrospective data indicate that at age 6, females are already twice as likely to have experienced an anxiety disorder than are males. Psychosocial variables that were correlated with both anxiety and gender were identified. Statistically controlling for these variables did not eliminate the gender differences in prevalence or anxiety symptom means. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Medical crisis intervention with children and adolescents with chronic pain.

A specific application of medical crisis counseling (Pollin 1994, 1995)—a time-limited, clinical intervention for individuals with a chronic illness—is presented for work with children and adolescents who are experiencing chronic pain. Particular emphasis is placed on the meaning patients make of their illness experience and the role of explanatory models of chronic pain in shaping the psychosocial experience of patients. An integrated biological and psychosocial approach to understanding and treating pain is emphasized. A conceptual framework and set of strategies for treating chronic pain and addressing the common fears and concerns that arise for patients are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Plasma GABA in children and adolescents with mood, behavior, and comorbid mood and behavior disorders: a preliminary study

Plasma GABA concentrations (pGABA) were measured in 115 inpatients (aged 7-17) with child psychiatric disorders. Group mean pGABAs were compared for 38 patients with mood disorders only (MOOD), 29 with behavior disorders only (BEH), 48 with comorbid mood and behavior disorders (MOOD + BEH), and 14 normal controls (CON, aged 14-17). The BEH group was characterized by (a) high mean pGABAs (157 vs. 133 pmol/ml), (b) lower mean pGABAs in BEH subjects who had been receiving pharmacotherapy with SSRIs or other medications (p < 0.026), and (c) decreased pGABA with increasing age (p = 0.019). These features were not found in controls or in groups of patients with mood disorders (MOOD or MOOD + BEH). Elevated mean pGABA in the BEH group appeared specifically in patients with comorbid CD and ADHD, not in patients with ADHD or CD alone (p = 0.004). No patient in BEH (or CON) had pGABA below 100 pmol/ml, but low pGABAs were found in 15% of MOOD patients (who had no behavior disorder) and in 16% of MOOD + BEH patients. Pharmacotherapy did not change pGABAs in the MOOD or the MOOD + BEH groups. No pGABA differences were found among the anxiety disorders, either alone or with mood or behavior comorbidity. The finding that plasma GABA levels are elevated in nonmedicated behavior disorders that present in the absence of mood disorders, and appear to lower following medication treatments, merits increased attention to the pharmacological study of nonaffective behavior disorders.     

Parental reports of seasonal mood and behavior changes in children

This paper reviews the therapeutics of migraine in the context of the clinical problem and its prevalence. General principles of pharmacotherapy for symptomatic and preventive medications are provided. Two new drugs, sumatriptan (recommended for acute symptomatic therapy), and valproic acid (recommended for migraine prevention), are reviewed. The clinical effectiveness and the mechanisms of action of these drugs are discussed.     

A longitudinal look at the relation between depression and anxiety in children and adolescents.

Elementary school students (n?=?330) and their parents (n?=?228) participated in a 3-year longitudinal study of the temporal relation between anxiety and depressive symptoms in children. Every 6 months, children and parents completed depression and anxiety questionnaires for a total of 6 waves. Structural equation modeling revealed that individual differences on all measures were remarkably stable over time. Nevertheless, high levels of anxiety symptoms at 1 point in time predicted high levels of depressive symptoms at subsequent points in time even after controlling for prior levels of depression symptoms. These findings were consistent across self- and parent reports. Results support the temporal hypothesis that anxiety leads to depression in children and adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)