Chia-Chen Chao

Sleep disorders in Taiwanese children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

To assess obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared with a control group. The ADHD was diagnosed based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, version IV (DSM‐IV) criteria on successively seen elementary school children aged 6–12 years referred to a psychiatric clinic for suspected ADHD. A standardized interview (Kiddie‐SADS‐E), parents and teacher questionnaires, neuropsychological testing, and nocturnal polysomnography were completed for each child. Eighty‐eight children (77 boys) with ADHD and 27 controls were involved in the study. Fifty children with ADHD (56.8%) had an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) >1 event h−1 and 17 (19.3%) had an AHI >5 event h−1. Nine children (10.2%) had a periodic limb movement index (PLMI) >5 events h−1. There is one child with AHI >1 and none with a PLMI > 5 in the control group. In the test of variables of attention (TOVA), the response time was significantly worse in ADHD with sleep disorders than those without them. The child behavior checklist (CBCL) showed a significant difference between groups in the hyperactivity subscale. The diagnostic criteria for ADHD based on DSM‐IV do not differentiate between children with or without sleep disorders. Evaluation of sleep disorders should be considered before starting drug treatment for ADHD.

Psychosocial adjustment among pediatric cancer patients and their parents

Abstract Children with cancer face both physical and psychosocial challenges. However, there is not enough empirical evidence in Taiwan regarding how they and their families cope with their illness. The purpose of the present study was to explore the psychosocial impact of cancer on target children and their families as well as the degree of depression experienced by these children. Twenty‐four pediatric cancer patients, aged 8 through 17 years, completed the Chinese version of Children Depression Inventory (CDI). Both these patients and 18 parents completed questionnaires about their psychosocial adjustment since the diagnosis of cancer. The results showed: (i) patients did not perceive significant changes in their psychosocial adjustment, whereas parents indicated significantly lower mood of patients and a slight decrease in the number of friends; (ii) both parents and siblings showed positive adjustment; and (iii) there was neither significant difference on the CDI scores between the pediatric cancer patients and a normative group, nor significant relationships between patients’ CDI scores and demographic characteristics of both patients and their parents, parenting attitudes, as well as variables related to the illness. Lastly, the results are discussed in terms of issues of methodology and instruments. Possible direction for further investigations is suggested.

Behavioral parent training for Taiwanese parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract It has been observed that it is relatively difficult for children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to follow social rules and behave in a socially desirable manner. The ADHD children in Chinese culture, which emphasizes Confucian values, might encounter even greater adjustment difficulties. The purpose of the present study is to implement a behavioral parent training program in a Confucian environment and examine its effectiveness. Twenty‐three ADHD preschoolers (age: 3–6 years) and their parents were selected to participate in the present study. Fourteen of these 23 parents completed a 10‐session parent training program. Parent ratings of ADHD/oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms and problem behaviors at home were collected at the first, fourth, sixth, seventh, and tenth sessions. Three instruments were used to evaluate treatment outcome: the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale‐Parent Form, Child Attention Profile, and Home Situations Questionnaire. The results showed that both ADHD/ODD symptoms and home behaviors of these 14 children improved significantly after the parent training. There was also a significant decline in the severity of symptoms and problem behaviors at home with the progression of training. These findings support the effectiveness of this parent training program for parents of ADHD children in an environment of Confucianism. Limitations of the present study and future direction for research are discussed.

Gender Differences in the Cooperative, Competitive, and Individualistic Social Values of Children

Development descriptive research has often been summarized as indicating that girls more often value cooperative resource distributions and less often value competitive resource distributions than boys. However, there is considerable inconsistency in these findings that may be the result of measurement difficulties. The first study examined the gender differences using a measure designed to assess cooperative, competitive, and individualistic social values among 3- to 12-year-old children more adequately. The results indicated that (1), the girls less often prefered relative resource distributions (i.e., more often preferred individualistic resource distributions) compared to the boys, but (2) when children preferred relative resource distributions, girls most frequently preferred cooperative resource distributions (i.e., equality), while boys most frequently preferred competitive resource distributions (superiority). The second study examined whether gender differences in these social values exist prior to the age of 6 and simply were not fully demonstrated among the young children in the first study because of the cognitive demands of the task. The results revealed gender differences similar to those observed among the older children in the first study, when young children completed a modified form of the task that reduced the cognitive demands of the task. The compatibility with other findings and the implications for gender difference research on other behaviors are discussed.

Cooperative, Competitive, and Individualistic Social Values Among 8- to 12-Year-Old Siblings, Friends, and Acquaintances

Developmental research has suggested that children behave differently toward siblings, friend.s, and acquaintances. This investigation compared the cooperative, competitive, and individualistic resource allocation preferences among 8- to 12-year-old siblings, friends, and acquaintances. The findings indicated more frequent cooperative and less frequent competitive preferences among siblingx and friends than among acquaintances, consistent with several sociobioiogical and social psychological predictions. In addition, verbal reports provided some support for the validity of the cooperative, competitive, and individualistic social value construct and evidence of differencial expectations of the resource allocation preferences of siblings, friends, and acquaintances. Finally, the verbal predictions of the partners preferences do not support either the false consensus bias or the triangle effect noted in the previous research with pairs of relatively unacquainted individuals.

Psychometric study of the test of variables of attention: Preliminary findings on Taiwanese children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract  Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental disorder in children. Unfortunately, reliable means of measuring attention and impulsivity to help with diagnoses are scarce. The test of variables of attention (TOVA) is a computer‐administered continuous performance test measuring attention and impulsivity, designed to avoid confounding arising from language processing skills or short‐term memory problems. Some evidence has indicated the TOVA can be useful in diagnosing ADHD. This study examines its validity and reliability in helping diagnose Taiwanese ADHD children. The study included 31 ADHD children (24 males, seven females) from a northern Taiwan childrens hospital and 30 normal controls (18 males, 12 females) from the local community. The TOVA and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were administered to all children. TOVA scores for omissions, commissions, response time, response time variability, D′ and ADHD scores were analyzed. Results showed a mean internal consistency of 0.81 for all six TOVA variables across conditions, with moderate convergent and discriminant validities. Groups showed significant differences in response time variability, D′ and ADHD scores, with the normal group outperforming the ADHD group. Significant group differences were also found in all CBCL subscale scores except somatic complaints. The ADHD group obtained a clinically significant score on the hyperactivity subscale of the CBCL. The findings partially support the usefulness of the TOVA in assessing attention and impulsivity problems for a Taiwanese sample. Future studies should increase the sample size, use multiple measures, and collect behavior ratings from both parents and teachers.

The effects of information-processing demands and social-situational factors on the social decision making of children

Abstract Previous research has consistently demonstrated age differences in cooperative, competitive, and individualistic social decision making. The present studies were designed to demonstrate that these age differences may result from the development of the requisite information-processing capabilities and social/situational factors. It was hypothesized that the limited information-processing systems of young children place constraints upon the social decisions available, but making a specific social decision was dependent upon sociocultural factors which influence the salience of aspects of the social situation or the expected contingencies of each social decision. Study 1 assessed the social decision making of 3- to 11-year-olds in two forms of a decision-making task (designed to manipulate the information processing demands of key social decisions) under two instructional sets (designed to manipulate the expected reward contingencies of key social decisions). Study 2 assessed the social decision making of 3- to 12-year-olds toward close friends or acquaintances (designed to manipulate the expected social contingencies) in the same two forms of the decision-making task. Age, the task form manipulation, and the social/situational manipulation influenced social decision making in each study in a manner consistent with the theoretical perspective A cognitive social learning interpretation, and the implications for the cognitive developmental influence upon social behavior, are discussed.

Apathy in late-life depression among Taiwanese patients.

BACKGROUND Apathy is defined as lack of motivation and occurs in a variety of neuropsychological disorders. The Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) has been shown to be valid and reliable for assessing apathy in depression but the validity and reliability of the Chinese version has never been examined. The aims of the study were to (1) evaluate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the AES in late-life depression and (2) evaluate the severity of apathy in late-life depression. METHODS We translated the AES into Chinese and used a cross-sectional design to evaluate apathy in elderly subjects. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) -IV criteria and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were applied for diagnosis and assessment. Three groups of subjects were recruited including one group (n = 31) of patients with major depressive disorder with current depression, the second group (n = 30) with major depressed disorder with remission, and the third group (n = 31) of healthy controls. Convergent validity was tested using four apathy-related items from the HDRS (loss of interest, psychomotor retardation, loss of energy, and loss of insight). Multiple forms of reliability (including internal consistency, test-retest, and interrater) and discriminant validity were examined. RESULTS We demonstrated that the internal consistency (coefficient alpha = 0.90) and test-retest reliability (p < 0.001) were satisfied. Discriminant validity of apathy severity among these three groups was significant. The convergent validity and correlation coefficients based on the four apathy-related items from the HDRS and AES were acceptable. CONCLUSION Apathy is a distinct syndrome which may be treatable when depression is effective managed. Further application of the Chinese version of the AES to study the association of apathy with other neuropsychological symptoms is necessary.

Psychological linguistics: A natural science approach to the study of language interactions

Kantor’s theoretical analysis of “psychological linguistics” offers a natural science approach to the study of linguistic behavior and interactions. This paper includes brief descriptions of (a) some of the basic assumptions of the approach, (b) Kantor’s conception of linguistic behavior and interactions, (c) a compatible research method and sample research data, and (d) some areas of research and application.

Manual of Instructions for Identifying and Analyzing Referential Interactions II

A set of procedures, based on J. R. Kantor’s analysis of referential linguistic interactions as a class of adjustive behavior, is presented for guiding raters in the analysis of videotapes showing two people talking to one another. The rater’s first task is to identify each interaction that involves a speaker’s initiation of a referent and a listener’s relevant reaction to it. To assist the rater, 14 guidelines, together with correct and incorrect examples and explanatory comments, are provided. The second task is to analyze some or all of the identified interactions in terms of their frequency of occurrence during a session, average duration, topography (verbal-vocal and gestural), and concurrent behaviors, plus the listener’s responses which are classified as narrative, mediative, or both. The rater also categorizes the time frame, reality dimension, persons, animals, objects and activities, and any associated feeling reactions. In addition, the rater surveys the speaker’s interactions in terms of their secondary linguistic function (secondary to the communicative function of language), as for example, to amuse, teach, persuade, and so on. Finally, the rater classifies the setting conditions prevailing during the sessions. Procedures are also provided for a complete two-way analysis of linguistic interactions, that is, when the listener also takes the role of the speaker by initiating a referent, and the speaker also responds as a listener. The basic recording forms used in making both a one-way and two-way analysis of linguistic referential interactions are included.