Características socioemocionales de los adolescentes superdotados. Ajuste psicológico y negación de la superdotación en el concepto de sí mismo.

1. Analizar el ajuste emocional de los adolescentes superdotados. 2. Analizar un grupo de variables socio-emocionales: alteraciones psicopatológicas entre la población superdotada, nivel de autoestima, nivel de satisfacción vital, negación de la superdotación y exploración de los sentimientos de las personas superdotadas en relación a su especial capacidad. Se estudió a 74 personas superdotadas, con edades comprendidas entre 10 y 19 años, de los cuales, 56 eran varones y 18 eran mujeres. Se llevó a cabo un procedimiento formal de invitación a centros y asociaciones. La medida de las distintas variables tuvo lugar a lo largo del curso académico 2003-2004. La aplicación de la batería de pruebas siguió un riguroso orden con el fin de que la aplicación de pruebas fuese lo más homogénea posible. La administración de las escalas se llevó a cabo en el centro o asociación correspondiente durante el horario extra-académico, proporcionando tiempo suficiente para contestar con libertad y proporcionando las directrices oportunas para su correcta realización. Inventario YSR de Achenbach: para la evaluación del desajuste psicológico y alteraciones psicopatológicas; escala de Rosenberg: para la evaluación de la autoestima en general; SWLS (Satisfaction With Life Scale): para la medida de la satisfacción vital; escala para la medida de la negación de la superdotación en el concepto de sí mismo; escala para la medida de los sentimientos frecuentes en las personas superdotadas. El ajuste psicológico de las personas superdotadas de la muestra ha sido satisfactorio: no se han encontrado evidencias empíricas de la existencia de niveles de psicopatología. Tampoco se han encontrado diferencias significativas entre el grupo de varones y de mujeres. Los participantes en este estudio han mostrado niveles significativos de negación y ocultación de la superdotación. Por último, se han encontrado relaciones significativas entre el nivel de negación de la superdotación y los niveles de autoestima y satisfacción vital. Se proponen algunas sugerencias generales para fomentar el bienestar socioemocional de las personas superdotadas: la formación del profesorado sobre las características y necesidades educativas de los alumnos superdotados, favorecer la aceptación social del superdotado, trabajar en la escuela la aceptación de las diferencias e intentar ofrecer una imagen más adaptada a su realidad y más exenta de prejuicios sociales.

Las dislalias funcionales : análisis comparativo.

Dar unas orientaciones de tipo teórico y práctico sobre las diferentes dislalias, centrándose exclusivamente en la dislalia funcional. 3 niños, dos de 6 años y un niño de 8. Dos van a la escuela de Salvatierra (Álava) y el otro a una escuela de Vitoria. Trabajo centrado en la dislalia funcional, pues es la que se presenta con más frecuencia en el aula, especialmente en los primeros años escolares, y a la que el profesor debe hacer frente, en la medida de sus posibilidades. El trabajo consta de dos partes, una parte teórica y otra práctica. La parte teórica comienza destacando, muy brevemente, la incidencia que tiene el lenguaje en el aprendizaje escolar y el escaso interés que s ele ha venido prestando hasta ahora a cualquier trastorno del lenguaje. A continuación el autor hace una clasificación de los principales trastornos del lenguaje, para después centrarse en la dislalia, recogiendo su concepto, frecuencia y clasificación. Una vez vista la etiología pasa al tratamiento, haciendo hincapié en los ejercicios apropiados para cada dislalia. La segunda parte esta dedicada al objetivo primordial de este trabajo: la presentación de varios casos de niños que tienen un tipo concreto de dislalia funcional muy frecuente, el rotacismo, haciendo una especia de estudio comparativo de los mismos. Para ello h elaborado una prueba a partir de varias láminas de dibujos que contiene el fonema defectuoso, es este caso la 'r' (fuerte y suave), en todos los lugares de la palabra. Se trata de que el niño simplemente nombre el dibujo representado. Con todo esto se trata de explorar los tres tipos de lenguaje (dirigido, repetido y espontáneo) para ver en cuál de ellos cometen más fallos. El tiempo de duración del estudio fue aproximadamente de una hora. Estudio comparativo. 1) La dislalia no es un trastorno grave, aunque ello depende en gran medida de la causa que la provoca, así como de la rapidez del diagnóstico y tratamiento. 2) Todo diagnóstico debe ser completo, y por tanto no debe reducirse exclusivamente a un estudio del lenguaje del niño, sino que debe abarcar todos aquellos factores que influyen en el habla (inteligencia, psicomotricidad, respiración, tono y relajación, percepción y orientación espacial, discriminación auditiva, etc.). 3) Para que el tratamiento tenga éxito, ha de ser integral, y, conviene iniciarse cuanto antes. No puede limitarse únicamente a reeducar las articulaciones deficientes (tratamiento directo), sino que además debe tratar otros aspectos que puedan perjudicar la articulación en el caso de que no sigan un desarrollo normal, y para ellos existen diversidad de ejercicios hechos en forma de juego. 4) Tanto para el diagnóstico como para el tratamiento es necesario un equipo interdisciplinar que abarque todos los aspectos que inciden en la articulación. 5) El ambiente que rodea al sujeto, especialmente el escolar y el familiar, determina en gran medida el éxito del tratamiento de la dislalia. La actitud de colaboración y comprensión de la familia es un factor favorable. 6) Es necesaria una buena relación interpersonal entre el terapeuta y el niño, de forma que se cree un ambiente estimulante y gratificante para el muchacho.

En pro de la reconstrucción de la República Dominicana y de Dominica.

Título anterior de la publicación : Boletín de la Comisión Española de la UNESCO

Activities for social skills development in deaf children preparing to enter the mainstream

A sample of regular education teachers was surveyed to assess the social skills of recently mainstreamed students from oral deaf programs in their classrooms. In addition, a curriculum of social skills activities was developed to help prepare students from oral deaf schools to enter the mainstream.

Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus minimus) distribution and habitat use in a montane forest landscape of western Newfoundland, Canada

Once abundant, the Newfoundland Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus minimus) has declined by as much as 95% since 1975. Underlying cause(s) of this population collapse are not known, although hypotheses include loss of winter habitat and the introduction of red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) to Newfoundland. Uncertainties regarding habitat needs are also extensive, and these knowledge gaps are an impediment to conservation. We investigated neighborhood (i.e., within 115 m [4.1 ha]) and landscape scale (i.e., within 1250 m [490.8 ha]) habitat associations of Gray-cheeked Thrush in a 200-km² study area in the Long Range Mountains of western Newfoundland, where elevations range from 300-600 m and landcover was a matrix of old growth fir forest, 6- to 8-year-old clearcuts, coniferous scrub, bogs, and barrens. Thrushes were restricted to elevations above ~375 m, and occurrence was strongly positively related to elevation. Occurrence was also positively related to cover of tall scrub forest at the neighborhood scale, and at the landscape scale showed curvilinear relations with the proportion of both tall scrub and old growth forest that peaked with intermediate amounts of cover. Occurrence of thrushes was also highest when clearcuts made up 60%-70% of neighborhood landcover, but was negatively related to cover of clearcuts in the broader landscape. Finally, occurrence was highest in areas having 50% cover of partially harvested forest (strip cuts or row cuts) at the neighborhood scale, but because this treatment was limited to one small portion of the study area, this finding may be spurious. Taken together, our results suggest selection for mixed habitats and sensitivity to both neighborhood and landscape-scale habitat. More research is needed on responses of thrushes to forestry, including use of older clearcuts, partially harvested stands, and precommercially thinned clearcuts. Finally, restriction of thrushes to higher elevations is consistent with the hypothesis that they have been impacted by squirrels, because squirrels were rare or absent at these elevations.

Aerosol optical depths over North Africa: 2. Modeling and model validation

An operational dust forecasting model is developed by including the Met Office Hadley Centre climate model dust parameterization scheme, within a Met Office regional numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. The model includes parameterizations for dust uplift, dust transport, and dust deposition in six discrete size bins and provides diagnostics such as the aerosol optical depth. The results are compared against surface and satellite remote sensing measurements and against in situ measurements from the Facility for Atmospheric Airborne Measurements for a case study when a strong dust event was forecast. Comparisons are also performed against satellite and surface instrumentation for the entire month of August. The case study shows that this Saharan dust NWP model can provide very good guidance of dust events, as much as 42 h ahead. The analysis of monthly data suggests that the mean and variability in the dust model is also well represented.

Heterosis for yield and its physiological determinants in wheat

Heterosis in hybrid wheat varieties produced using a chemical hybridising agent was assessed in field experiments. Hyno Esta and its parents were compared in factorial combinations of four-seed rates (25-300 seeds m(-2)) and two nitrogen fertilizer rates (0 and 200 kg N ha(-1)) in 2001/02 and again in 2002/03. Hyno Rista and Hyno Renta and their parents were compared at two-seed rates in 2001/02. Hyno Rista and its parents were added factorially to the Hyno Esta experiment in 2002/03, while Hyno Renta and Hybred and their parents were compared at two seed rates in 2002/03. Mid parent heterosis for grain yield was found in three hybrids and two of these showed high parent heterosis. High parent heterosis in Hyno Esta over a range of sowing densities was mostly exhibited in total biomass but also, in one of two years, in harvest index. High parent heterosis in Hyno Renta was associated more with harvest index than with biomass. The heterosis for biomass in Hyno Esta resulted from greater interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) than the male parent, with better radiation use efficiency than the female parent. In both seasons Hyno Esta achieved grain numbers per ear at least as high as the high parent for this trait (Audace), and combined this with mean grain weights at least as heavy as the high parent for mean grain weight (Estica). Much of the increased biomass and grain yield in the hybrid came late in the season as high parent heterosis was expressed for both maximum grain filling rate and grain filling duration. Heterosis was higher when nitrogen was applied than when withheld; only greater at lower seed rates when expressed in proportionate terms (e.g. as a percentage of the parents), rather than in absolute terms (e.g. t ha(-1)); and greater in the year with the cooler and wetter summer.

Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression 2. Impact on the mother-child relationship and child outcome

Background: Postnatal depression is associated with adverse child cognitive and socio-emotional outcome. It is not known whether psychological treatment affects the quality of the mother-child relationship and child outcome. Aims: To evaluate the effect of three psychological treatments on the mother-child relationship and child outcome. Method: Women with post-partum depression (n=193) were assigned randomly to routine primary care, non-directive counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy or psychodynamic therapy The women and their children, were assessed at 43, [8 and 60 months post-partum. Results: Indications of a positive benefit were limited. All three treatments had a significant benefit on maternal reports of early difficulties in relationships with the infants, counselling gave better infant emotional and behaviour ratings at 18 months and more sensitive early mother-infant interactions. The treatments had no significant impact on maternal management of early infant behaviour problems, security of infant-mother attachment. Infant cognitive development or any child outcome at 5 years. Conclusions: Early intervention was of short-term benefit to the mother-child relationship and infant behaviour problems. More-prolonged intervention may be needed. Health visitors could deliver this.

Neural response to emotional prosody in schizophrenia and in bipolar affective disorder

Background Evidence suggests a reversal of the normal left-lateralised response to speech in schizophrenia. Aims To test the brain's response to emotional prosody in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Method BOLD contrast functional magnetic resonance imaging of subjects while they passively listened or attended to sentences that differed in emotional prosody Results Patients with schizophrenia exhibited normal right-lateralisation of the passive response to 'pure' emotional prosody and relative left-lateralisation of the response to unfiltered emotional prosody When attending to emotional prosody, patients with schizophrenia activated the left insula more than healthy controls. When listening passively, patients with bipolar disorder demonstrated less activation of the bilateral superior temporal gyri in response to pure emotional prosody, and greater activation of the left superior temporal gyrus in response to unfiltered emotional prosody In both passive experiments, the patient groups activated different lateral temporal lobe regions. Conclusions Patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may display some left-lateralisation of the normal right-lateralised temporal lobe response to emotional prosody. Declaration of interest R.M. received a studentship from Neuraxis,, and funding from the Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester.

Measurement of mother-infant interactions and the home environment in a European setting: preliminary results from a cross-cultural study

Background Infant development is adversely affected in the context of postnatal depression. This relationship may be mediated by both the nature of early mother-infant interactions and the quality of the home environment. Aim To establish the usefulness of the Global Ratings Scales of Mother-Infant Interaction and the Infant-Toddler version of the Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment (IT-HOME), and to test expected associations of the measures with characteristics of the social context and with major or minor depression. Method Both assessments were administered postnatally in four European centres; 144 mothers were assessed with the Global Ratings Scales and 114 with the IT-HOME. Affective disorder was assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders. Results Analyses of mother-infant interaction indicated no main effect for depression but maternal sensitivity to infant behaviour was associated with better infant communication, especially for women who were not depressed. Poor overall emotional support also reduced sensitivity scores. Poor support was also related to poorer IT-HOME scores, but there was no effect of depression. Conclusions The Global Ratings Scales were effectively applied but there was less evidence of the usefulness of the IT-HOME. Declaration of interest None.

Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression - 1. Impact on maternal mood!

Background: Psychological interventions for postnatal depression can be beneficial in the short term but their longer-term impact is unknown, Aims To evaluate the long-term effect on maternal mood of three psychological treatments in relation to routine primary care. Method: Women with post-partum depression (n=193)were assigned randomly to one of four conditions: routine primary care, non-directive counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy or psychodynamic therapy. They were assessed immediately after the treatment phase (at 4.5 months) and at 18 and 60 months post-partum. Results: Compared with the control, ail three treatments had a significant impact at 4.5 months on maternal mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS). Only psychodynamic therapy produced a rate of reduction in depression (Structured Clinical interview for DSM III-R) significantly superior to that of the control. The benefit of treatment was no longer apparent by 9 months postpartum, treatment did not reduce subsequent episodes of post-partum depression. Conclusions: Psychological intervention for post-partum depression improves maternal mood (EPDS) in the short term. However, this benefit is not superior to spontaneous remission in the long term.

Impact of psychiatric disturbance on identifying psychiatric disorder in relatives: study of mothers and daughters

Previous studies have suggested that collecting psychiatric data on relatives in family studies by asking probands to provide information on them leads to a bias in estimates of morbidity risk, because probands' accounts are influenced by their own psychiatric histories. We investigated this in a UK sample and found that daughters' anxiety disorder histories did not influence their reports of anxiety disorder in mothers, but their history of mood disorder/alcohol dependence made them more sensitive in predicting mood disorder/alcohol dependence in mothers.

Efficacy of three screening instruments in the identification of autistic-spectrum disorders

Background Screening instruments for autistic-spectrum disorders have not been compared in the same sample. Aims To compare the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Children's Communication Checklist (CCC). Method Screen and diagnostic assessments on 119 children between 9 and 13 years of age with special educational needs with and without autistic-spectrum disorders were weighted to estimate screen characteristics for a realistic target population. Results The SCQ performed best (area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)=0.90; sensitivity. 6; specificity 0.78). The SRS had a lower AUC (0.77) with high sensitivity (0.78) and moderate specificity (0.67). The CCC had a high sensitivity but lower specificity (AUC=0.79; sensitivity 0.93; specificity 0.46). The AUC of the SRS and CCC was lower for children with IQ < 70. Behaviour problems reduced specificity for all three instruments. Conclusions The SCQ, SRS and CCC showed strong to moderate ability to identify autistic-spectrum disorder in this at-risk sample of school-age children with special educational needs.