Showing papers in "Child Psychiatry & Human Development in 1993"
TL;DR: The extent and nature of bullying among South Australian primary school children and their self appraisals of peer relations were investigated and the tendency to be victimised correlated negatively with self appraisal of the number of friends, popularity, happiness at school and feelings of safety at school.
Abstract: The extent and nature of bullying among South Australian primary school children and their self appraisals of peer relations were investigated in a survey of 412 primary school children between the ages of 7 to 13 years. It was found that 10% of boys and 6% of girls were subject to peer group bullying and for 8% of such children the bullying episodes lasted 6 months or more. Factor analysis of styles of interpersonal relating amongst children identified three independent factors including a tendency to bully, to be victimised and to act in a pro-social manner. The tendency to be victimised correlated negatively with self appraisals of the number of friends, popularity, happiness at school and feelings of safety at school. The findings are discussed in relation to research linking negative self appraisals of interpersonal competence with isolation and proneness to depression in later years.
182 citations
TL;DR: A new conceptual model of parental overprotection is presented which takes into account child, parent, family, socio-cultural, environmental and resiliency factors.
Abstract: Dimensions of parental overprotection are clarified in a critical review of the research and clinical literature. An indulgent style of parenting is distinguished from an overprotective parent-child relationship. Differential antecedents and outcomes are proposed for each of these forms of parent-child interaction. Measures of protection are reviewed. A new conceptual model of parental overprotection is presented which takes into account child, parent, family, socio-cultural, environmental and resiliency factors. Directions for future research are suggested.
119 citations
TL;DR: Children reared in homes headed by homosexual and heterosexual mothers were compared with respect to the mothers' and children's attitudes towards marriage, procreation and homosexuality.
Abstract: Children reared in homes headed by homosexual and heterosexual mothers were compared with respect to the mothers' and children's attitudes towards marriage, procreation and homosexuality. The mothers did not prefer their children to be homosexual; they desired them to marry and procreate. This was expressed more unambiguously for their sons. The children mirrored these expectations, boys with greater frequency than the girls. Most of the children expressed reservations about having a homosexual mother.
55 citations
TL;DR: The higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders than epidemiologically and of insecure attachment suggest at-risk relationships and marital difficulties and medical severity correlated with life stress.
Abstract: Children with inflammatory bowel disease and their parents were assessed for DMS-III diagnoses, maternal attachment, marital relationship, life stresses, illness severity and cognitive/affective profile. Eleven of 15 children and 21 of 27 parents had psychiatric diagnoses. Three children were suicidal. Thirteen of 15 mothers had insecure attachment. Marital difficulties and medical severity correlated with life stress. The higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders than epidemiologically and of insecure attachment suggest at-risk relationships.
41 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that abused children are at specific risk of developing depression and suicidality and that a subgroup of those with early-onset depression may have acquired the disorder concurrent with parental abuse.
Abstract: Child guidance clinic cases were reviewed for abuse history, diagnosis, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. Many depressed abused children were found to have been previously diagnosed exclusively with conduct-related versus affect disorders. The results suggested that abused children are at specific risk of developing depression and suicidality and that a subgroup of those with early-onset depression may have acquired the disorder concurrent with parental abuse.
37 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that parents and teachers may mistake the symptoms of ADHD for side effects of MPH, and this misconstrual may contribute to the poor acceptance of and compliance with taking MPH.
Abstract: In a double-blind methylphenidate placebo trial for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), side effects were reported on both placebo and methylphenidate (MPH), and many side effects were similar to the symptoms of ADHD. We suggest that parents and teachers may mistake the symptoms of ADHD for side effects of MPH, and this misconstrual may contribute to the poor acceptance of and compliance with taking MPH.
36 citations
TL;DR: The authors stress a multi-modal and intergenerational approach to the treatment of grandparent-headed families from the case files of a suburban child, guidance clinic.
Abstract: In today's complex society where dissolution of the nuclear family has become commonplace, grandparents are playing an increasingly significant role in the nurturing of their young grandchildren The authors studied twelve randomly selected grandparent-headed families from the case files of a suburban child, guidance clinic Comparisons were made among the cases in terms of a number of factors, most significantly, elements of treatment including therapeutic issues, modalities and outcomes The authors stress a multi-modal and intergenerational approach to the treatment of these families
33 citations
TL;DR: Adults and adolescents, who as children, received day or residential treatment were followed up ten years after treatment completion, and individuals demonstrating higher levels of personal and social adjustment at initial assessment were functioning better at outcome.
Abstract: Adults and adolescents, who as children, received day or residential treatment were followed up ten years after treatment completion. No differences were found between the two treatment modalities on follow-up ratings of personal and social adjustment. This pattern was not influenced by gender, IQ, or presenting problem. Overall, about two-thirds of the children demonstrated improvement at follow-up. As expected, individuals demonstrating higher levels of personal and social adjustment at initial assessment were functioning better at outcome. However, the magnitude of therapeutic gain was not significantly different for mild versus moderate-to-severe presenting problems. Suggestions for future research are included.
33 citations
TL;DR: It has been hypothesized that parents of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder exhibit specific traits, and patients with OCD were more likely to perceive their mothers as overprotective than depressives, and less likely to perceived their fathers as demanding than patients with panic.
Abstract: It has been hypothesized that parents of patients with obsessive compulsive disorder exhibit specific traits. 320 consecutive inpatient admissions who met criteria for OCD, depression, and panic disorder checked a list of adjectives to describe their parents. Patients with OCD were 1) less likely to perceive their mothers as disorganized than depressives, 2) more likely to perceive their mothers as overprotective than depressives and 3) less likely to perceive their fathers as demanding than patients with panic.
30 citations
TL;DR: It is found that parents and patients agreed significantly on all nine subscales of the Dimensions of Temperament Survey—Revised, suggesting that the observation of temperament remains concordant even in parent/child dyads often characterized by significant conflict.
Abstract: Fifty-six adolescents meeting DSM-III-R criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and major depression, were asked to complete self-assessments of temperament using the Dimensions of Temperament Survey—Revised (DOTS-R). Parents independently rated their children using a parent version of this scale. We found that parents and patients agreed significantly on all nine subscales. This high correlation suggests that parents' perceptions of their adolescents' temperaments concur with the adolescents' self-perceptions. These findings suggest that the observation of temperament remains concordant even in parent/child dyads often characterized by significant conflict.
30 citations
TL;DR: More delinquent teens were more likely to view conventional peers, delinquent peers and lifestyles, or no one at all as influencing their sense of self and identity, and be less likely to perceive parents and other adults as influential.
Abstract: The relationship between delinquent involvement and the perceived importance of a variety of others in influencing, creating, and sustaining identity was explored in four subsamples (n = 238) of teens of varying levels of official delinquency. More delinquent teens were more likely to view conventional peers, delinquent peers and lifestyles, or no one at all as influencing their sense of self and identity. They were less likely to perceive parents and other adults as influential.
TL;DR: Two scales concerning use of transitional objects and fear of going to sleep, showed statistically significant correlations with self-reports of nightmares, loneliness, depression, and previous physical and sexual abuse.
Abstract: The prevalence among college age adults (N=184) of transitional objects and pre-sleep preparation rituals and their relationship to mental health was investigated. Two scales concerning use of transitional objects and fear of going to sleep, showed statistically significant correlations with self-reports of nightmares, loneliness, depression, and previous physical and sexual abuse. Forty-six students scoring in the highest 15% of the distribution of scores for each scale were compared with students in the lowest 15% on the MAACL and SCL-90-R. High scoring students showed significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, hostility, and interpersonal sensitivity.
TL;DR: Clinical data which address advances in understanding the diagnostic indicators and resulting psychopathology in victims of the Armenian earthquake are presented and theory about the processing of trauma in children and adolescents is reviewed.
Abstract: The impact of the Armenian earthquake of 1988 on children and adolescents screened through the National Mental Health Research Center in Spitak, Armenia, is discussed. The earthquake caused close to 20,000 deaths, almost two-thirds of which were children and adolescents. Clinical data which address advances in understanding the diagnostic indicators and resulting psychopathology in victims of the Armenian earthquake are presented. Current theory about the processing of trauma in children and adolescents is reviewed, with recommendations for future research in this area.
TL;DR: Preschizophrenics were found to display more frequent negative affect between the ages of 5–7, but this difference disappeared in the 8–10 year age group, which represents the first directly observed evidence of developmental deviance in preschizophrenic subjects before the age of 11.
Abstract: This study used an interpersonal coding scheme to compare the childhood behavior of adult-diagnosed schizophrenics and their nearest in age, normal sibling Subjects consisted of 14 preschizophrenics (11 male and 3 female) and 14 sibling controls (8 male and 6 female) depicted in home movies between the ages of five and ten inclusive Data were analyzed in two age groups: 5–7 vs 8–10 Preschizophrenics were found to display more frequent negative affect between the ages of 5–7, but this difference disappeared in the 8–10 year age group This finding is consistent with existing literature on affect development and represents the first directly observed evidence of developmental deviance in preschizophrenic subjects before the age of 11
TL;DR: This article traces how denial is used by parents with AIDS and by their children in residential placement.
Abstract: Many children require placement before they reach maturity because their parents died of AIDS. This article traces how denial is used by parents with AIDS and by their children in residential placement.
TL;DR: The association between biochemical parameters and conduct disorder (CD) was studied in 22 boys admitted to a residential center and levels of three-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, Homovanillic acid, and HVA were significantly lower in CD youth under age 12.0 years.
Abstract: The association between biochemical parameters and conduct disorder (CD) was studied in 22 boys admitted to a residential center. Three-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels were significantly higher in prepubertal CD youth than in pubertal/post pubertal CD youth. Homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were significantly lower in CD youth under age 12.0 years than in non CD youth under age 12.0 years. The implications of these biodevelopmental findings in the study of CD are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, problematic features of making decisions related to the assessment and treatment of children, highlighting the importance of the diagnostic procedure in determining the need and type of therapy, are discussed in terms of the reliability of assessors, evaluation techniques, information sources, and children's functioning in different settings.
Abstract: This paper presents the problematic features of making decisions related to the assessment and treatment of children, highlighting the importance of the diagnostic procedure in determining the need and type of therapy. Difficulties in assessing children are discussed in terms of the reliability of assessors, evaluation techniques, information sources, and children's functioning in different settings. Unique, complicating childhood characteristics are depicted: most disorders' normative basis in children's development; rapid, continuous change; gaps between cognitive, affective, behavioral, and chronological developmental stages; and high spontaneous recovery rates. Within an emphasis on the therapist's need for self-awareness and flexibility of child assessment and treatment methods, decision-making guidelines to evaluate the need for therapy are suggested and case examples are provided.
TL;DR: This paper compared 23 children with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis to a matched sample of healthy children to find the rate of separation anxiety disorder was significantly higher in the children with ESRD.
Abstract: This paper compared 23 children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis to a matched sample of healthy children. The rate of separation anxiety disorder was significantly higher in the children with ESRD. In their family environments, mothers of ESRD children reported significantly lower independence and achievement orientation than mothers of control children.
TL;DR: Only in psychiatry does it seem that the role assigned the physician is that he prevent a specific patient's death as much as that he treat the patient's underlying fatal disease.
Abstract: Society's attitudes toward and treatment of the suicider are examined. The emotional and clinical impact suicide has on everyone, and its consequences to the hospital are detailed. Our unfortunate emphasis on “prevention” as against treating the disease process which causes the death is stressed. Also stressed is the psychiatrist's misplaced role in contrast to that of other physicians involved in a patient's death. Only in psychiatry does it seem that the role assigned the physician is that he prevent a specific patient's death as much as that he treat the patient's underlying fatal disease.
TL;DR: This study examined post treatment outcomes of 88 young adults who attended a psycho-educational center for moderately to seriously emotionally troubled children, finding over 60% made positive adjustment to adult life; the remainder were marginally functioning.
Abstract: This study examined post treatment outcomes of 88 young adults who attended a psycho-educational center for moderately to seriously emotionally troubled children. Over 60% made positive adjustment to adult life; the remainder were marginally functioning. Most subjects did not continue after high school with post-secondary education or vocational training nor did they or their parents receive individual and family therapy or supports from social services. Academic skills and parents' involvement in psycho-therapy were predictors of positive adjustment; child abuse was negatively correlated with adjustment.
TL;DR: A six-month-old who narrowly escaped surgery when the disorder was not recognized, and a complicated case from the neonatology intensive care unit are presented.
Abstract: Rumination is a relatively rare, potentially fatal syndrome in infants. This article reviews the historical and current treatment of rumination. Two cases are presented: a six-month-old who narrowly escaped surgery when the disorder was not recognized, and a complicated case from the neonatology intensive care unit. Environmental changes and enhanced mothering are described as being critical to correction of rumination and appropriate weight gain.
TL;DR: Previewing encourages expectant teenage mothers to represent future scenarios with the infant as a means of predicting and rehearsing adaptive outcomes, a skill essential for confronting the challenges of pregnancy.
Abstract: Even in the best of circumstances, pregnancy is a time of emotional upheaval. This is especially true for pregnant adolescents who are also attempting to adjust to pubertal status and to establish an identity independent from their family. Although research has focused on the etiology of teenage pregnancy, relatively few interventions consider the developmental obstacles encountered when treating pregnant teenagers. In particular, adolescents are cognitively unprepared to predict longterm outcomes, a skill essential for confronting the challenges of pregnancy. One new intervention, known as previewing, seeks to overcome this deficit. Previewing encourages expectant teenage mothers to represent future scenarios with the infant as a means of predicting and rehearsing adaptive outcomes.
TL;DR: An approach would emphasize the importance of social relationships, peer group associations, family interactions, and individual adjustment in the prevention of alcoholism among Native-Americans.
Abstract: Although Native-Americans represent a diverse population, alcoholism prevention programs need to apply general knowledge of alcohol use and misuse, rather than search for extraordinary cultural factors. Such an approach would emphasize the importance of social relationships, peer group associations, family interactions, and individual adjustment in the prevention of alcoholism among Native-Americans.
TL;DR: Reading, spelling, and arithmetic achievement of children treated in a day psychiatric hospital was examined over time and the majority of children fell in the average and above achievement group and progressed evenly over time.
Abstract: Reading, spelling, and arithmetic achievement of children treated in a day psychiatric hospital was examined over time. The results indicated that the majority of children fell in the average and above achievement group and progressed evenly over time. Almost none got worse and only a few made large gains. Organic impairment ratings appeared to distinguish the three performance groups within each subject area.
TL;DR: Soren Kierkegaard's concept of self is used to demonstrate some psychological phenomena of child sexual abuse victims to help them to create their own self and gradually come out of their abuse.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to use Soren Kierkegaard's concept of self to demonstrate some psychological phenomena of child sexual abuse victims. Their self is to a large extent determined by extreme outer circumstances i.e. the abuse and the abusers. In order to cope with the consequent psychological pain, such children employ powerful defense mechanisms which consequently, however, means that they remain longer in the abuse. Psychotherapies are attempts to help them to create their own self and gradually come out of their abuse. However, such creation of oneself is only carried out within their concretely traumatized self.