Mental health treatment seeking by military members with posttraumatic stress disorder : findings on rates, characteristics, and predictors from a nationally representative Canadian military sample

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify rates, characteristies, and predictors of mental health treatment seeking by military members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: Our sample was drawn from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey-Canadian Forces Supplement (CCHS-CF) dataset. The CCHS-CF is the first epidemiologic survey of PTSD and other mental health conditions in the Canadian military and includes 8441 nationally representative Canadian Forces (CF) members. Of those, 549 who met the criteria for lifetime PTSD were included in our analyses. To identify treatment rates and characteristics, we examined frequency of treatment contact by professional and facility type. To identify predictors of treatment seeking, we conducted a binary logistic regression with lifetime treatment seeking as the outcome variable. Results: About two-thirds of those with PTSD consulted with a professional regarding mental health problems. The most frequently consulted professionals, during both the last year and lifetime, included social workers and counsellors, medical doctors and general practitioners, and psychiatrists. Consultations during the last year most often took place in a CF facility. Treatment seeking was predicted by cumulative lifetime trauma exposure, index traumatic event type, PTSD symptom interference, and comorbid major depressive disorder. Those with comorbid depression were 3.75 times more likely to have sought treatment than those without. Conclusions: Although a significant portion of military members with PTSD sought mental health treatment, 1 in 3 never did. Trauma-related and illness and (or) need factors predicted treatment seeking. Of all the predictors of treatment seeking, comorbid depression most increased the likelihood of seeking treatment.

Science and technology of rubber reclamation with special attention to NR-based waste latex products

A comprehensive overview of reclamation of cured rubber with special emphasis on latex reclamation is depicted in this paper. The latex industry has expanded over the years to meet the world demands for gloves, condoms, latex thread, etc. Due to the strict specifications for the products and the unstable nature of the latex as high as 15% of the final latex products are rejected. As waste latex rubber (WLR) represents a source of high-quality rubber hydrocarbon, it is a potential candidate for generating reclaimed rubber of superior quality. The role of the different components in the reclamation recipe is explained and the reaction mechanism and chemistry during reclamation are discussed in detail. Different types of reclaiming processes are described with special reference to processes, which selectively cleave the cross links in the vulcanized rubber. The state-of-the-art techniques of reclamation with special attention on latex treatment are reviewed. An overview of the latest development concerning the fundamental studies in the field of rubber recycling by means of low-molecular weight compounds is described. A mathematical model description of main-chain and crosslink scission during devulcanization of a rubber vulcanizate is also given.

Stress and depression in informal caregivers of patients with bipolar affective disorder

This study aims to establish the stress and depression´s prevalence in informal primary caregivers of patients with bipolar affective disorder of the Clínica de Nuestra Señora de la Paz (Bogotá, Colombia). The sample consisted of 40 informal primary caregivers who were tested by several tools: a survey filter, a sociodemographic record, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Daily Stress Questionnaire. Results indicate that there is much more presence of depression than of daily stress in the sample. 

Reaching and teaching the child with autism spectrum disorder : using learning preferences and strengths.

Manual que ofrece un enfoque positivo a la comprensión y la educación de los niños con autismo. Ofrece una mayor comprensión de la perspectiva y el comportamiento de un niño con autismo y explora cómo pueden utilizarse sus preferencias de aprendizaje, fortalezas e intereses para facilitar el aprendizaje y aumentar la motivación. La autora ha utilizado una mezcla de teorías de la personalidad, inteligencias múltiples y aprendizaje para crear un método de trabajo, Aprendizaje Preferencias y Fortalezas (LPS), para el desarrollo de habilidades de aprendizaje para la vida independiente en niños con autismo entre dos y doce años. Describe los principios básicos, preferencias de aprendizaje y los puntos fuertes típicos de los niños con autismo y ofrece una estructura de programa detallado, pero flexible, basada en estos conceptos. Fácil de seguir, se describen en cada capítulo actividades y orientaciones junto con ejemplos e ilustraciones.

Language laterality, handedness and empathy in a sample of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

Resumen tomado de la publicación

Spanish validation of the Family Questionnaire (FQ) in families of patients with an eating disorder

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and its relationship with disgust vulnerability and conscientiousness

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

A educação inclusiva e a hiperactividade no jardim de infância

RESUMO: Propomos com este trabalho conhecer e aprofundar conhecimentos, através duma investigação-acção, relativamente à problemática em estudo - Perturbação de Hiperactividade com Défice de Atenção (PHDA). Também procurámos mostrar, através da intervenção, que o educador pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento e aprendizagem de uma criança com um diagnóstico de PHDA. Realizámos uma pesquisa bibliográfica sobre esta Perturbação, com uma breve perspectiva histórica, sobre o que é a PHDA, o diagnóstico, os subtipos e problemas associados e a intervenção em crianças com esta problemática. Pesquisámos, também, estratégias educativas de como actuar a nível pedagógico com esta criança e com o grupo onde se encontra incluída. Demos uma grande centralidade ao trabalho empírico, através da pesquisa documental, observações, entrevistas e sociometria. De seguida, elaborámos um projecto de investigação-acção, para o grupo onde a criança está incluída, utilizando estratégias de educação inclusiva, de modo a colmatar problemas comportamentais e de aprendizagem, derivados de défices de atenção e de concentração do grupo, através do grupo. Todo este processo deu resultados positivos, a nível dos comportamentos sociais e das aprendizagens académicas do grupo e do aluno desencadeador do Trabalho Projecto. Obrigou a uma acção, reflexão, acção que desencadeou uma procura e experimentação sistemática para dar resposta aos problemas surgidos, o que ajudou ao meu desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional e a uma vontade de investir mais e melhor no desencadeamento de práticas de educação cada vez mais inclusivas. ABSTRACT: With this paper, we want to learn, using the investigation-action, about the team we are working with, that is Perturbation of Hyperactivity and Deficit of Attention (PHDA). We also want to show that it is possible to help the children with the PHDA in their learning process using the right intervention. We searched for different opinions on this team, its history, how to diagnostic it and the different problems that this children can have. We also search for different strategies to teach the students with this problem as well as the others of the group. We gave special attention to the empirical work. For this reason we used the documental research, the observation, interviews and sociometry. After this we prepared the action research project for the group of children that work with the PHDA child. To do so, we used different inclusion strategies so that we could help him improving his behavior and learning process using the help of other students. On the end we had positive results in the behavior and also in the learning process with the group and the student who we based this work on. We used action/reflection/action that helped us to find out about the PHDA and the different strategies to try to solve this problem. All of this helped me as a teacher and as a person. It gave me the will to keep looking for better and different inclusive strategies.

Learning and memory in holocaust survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder

Background: Impairments in explicit memory have been observed in Holocaust survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder. Methods: To evaluate which memory components are preferentially affected, the California Verbal Learning Test was administered to Holocaust survivors with (n = 36) and without (n = 26) posttraumatic stress disorder, and subjects not exposed to the Holocaust (n = 40). Results: Posttraumatic stress disorder subjects showed impairments in learning and short-term and delayed retention compared to nonexposed subjects; survivors without posttraumatic stress disorder did not. Impairments in learning, but not retention, were retained after controlling fir intelligence quotient. Older age was associated with poorer learning and memory performance in the posttraumatic stress disorder group only. Conclusions: The most robust impairment observed in posttraumatic stress disorder was in verbal learning, which may be a risk factor for or consequence of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. The negative association between performance and age may reflect accelerated cognitive decline in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Self-esteem and coping in children with developmental coordination disorder

This study investigated self-esteem in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Fifteen children between the ages of 8 and 12 years diagnosed with DCD were compared with a typically developing group comprising 30 children with average and good motor abilities, using measures of perceived competence, social support and self-esteem. The types of coping strategy generated in response to example vignettes were also compared. There was no significant difference between the groups in global self-esteem, but the children with DCD reported lower athletic and scholastic competence than their typically developing peers. No difference was found between the groups in level of perceived social support. The DCD group generated fewer coping strategies overall, but more passive and avoidant strategies than the typically developing children. The implications of the study are discussed with regard to future research directions, such as the investigation of the effects of motor skill intervention on self-esteem and the development of strategies to protect children's self-esteem.

Expressive versus receptive language skills in specific reading disorder

Despite ample research into the language skills of children with specific reading disorder no studies so far have investigated whether there may be a difference between expressive and receptive language skills in this population. Yet, neuro-anatomical models would predict that children who have specific reading disorder which is not associated with movement or attention difficulties, would have lower receptive language skills than expressive. This study investigates the difference between expressive and receptive language skills in a sample of 17 children with specific reading difficulty aged between 7 and 12 years. They were administered a battery of two receptive and two expressive language measures. The results showed that as the neuro-anatomical model would predict, the children scored significantly lower on tests of receptive than on tests of expressive language skills.

Developing social interaction and understanding in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a groupwork intervention

Background: Difficulties with social interaction and understanding lie at the heart of the communication disorder that characterises the autism spectrum. This study sought to improve social communication for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by means of a groupwork intervention focusing on social and emotional perspective-taking, conversation skills, and friendship skills. It also aimed to address some of the limitations of previous interventions, including a lack of generalisation to other settings, so as to maximise inclusion in the community. Method A group of 46 high functioning children and adolescents with ASD (38 boys, 8 girls, age range 6-16 years) were allocated to one of 6 intervention groups. Each group met over a period of 12-16 weeks for a minimum of one 1 1/2-hour weekly session aimed at promoting key areas of social interaction and understanding, supported by home-based practice. Results: Significant gains were achieved in comparison with a normative population, and individual parent ratings showed marked and sustained changes in the key areas targeted in the group sessions. Conclusion: Social communication in children and adolescents with ASD can be enhanced through the use of a groupwork intervention addressing social interaction and understanding.

Mothers' attributions following their child's diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder: exploring links with maternal levels of stress, depression and expectations about their child's future

Although the impact of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) on the family is well recognized, the way mothers attempt to make sense of the diagnosis is largely unexplored. However, in other disabilities, attributions have been shown to predict a variety of outcomes including maternal wellbeing and engagement in treatment. Using Weiner's (198S) three-dimensional model, 16 mothers were interviewed to examine the nature and impact of their beliefs about their child's ASD using semi-structured interviews and measures of depression, parenting stress and expectations for their child's future. The findings suggested that mothers made a diverse and complex range of attributions that were consistent with Weiner's dimensions of locus of cause, stability and controllability. The nature of their attributions reflected particular difficulties associated with ASDs, such as uncertainties regarding cause and prognosis. Taking account of mothers' search for meaning will better enable professionals to support families following diagnosis.

Attention processes in children with movement difficulties, reading difficulties or both

Reading difficulties (RD) and movement difficulties (MD) co-occur more often in clinical populations than expected for independent disorders. In this study, we investigated the pattern of association between attentional processes, RD and MD in a population of 9 year old school children. Children were screened to identify index groups with RD, MD or both, plus a control group. These groups were then tested on a battery of cognitive attention assessments (TEA-Ch). Results confirmed that the occurrence of RD and MD was greater than would be predicted for independent disorders. Additionally, children with MD, whether or not combined with RD, had poor performance on all attention measures when compared with typically developing children. Children with RD only, were no poorer on measures of attention than typical children. The results are discussed with respect to approaches proposed to account for the co-occurrence of disorders.