Claudia Ines Scheuer

ABR and auditory P300 findings inchildren with ADHD

Auditory processing disorders (APD), also referred as central auditory processing disorders (CAPD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) have become popular diagnostic entities for school age children. It has been demonstrated a high incidence of comorbid ADHD with communication disorders and auditory processing disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate ABR and P300 auditory evoked potentials in children with ADHD, in a double-blind study. Twenty-one children, ages between 7 and 10 years, with a primary diagnosis of ADHD, participated in this experiment. Results showed that all children had normal ABR with normal latency for wave V. Results also showed that among 42 ears combined 52.38% did not have P300. For the medicated subjects we observed that among 28 ears, 42.85% did not have P300 and for the non-medicated 71.43% (N = 14 ears) did not have P300. Our results suggest that the medicated subjects had more presence of P300 (57.15%) than the non-medicated group (28.57%), though the absence of these potentials were high among the group--52.38%.

Quality of life in siblings of autistic patients

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) among siblings of autistic patients. METHODS Casuistic: siblings of autistic patients (n = 31) and, as a control group, siblings of patients with speech disorder (n = 30). INCLUSION CRITERIA age between 7 and 11 years old; absence of current mental disorder; regular attendance to school. EXCLUSION CRITERIA antecedents of clinical or psychiatric diseases; disabilities (visual, auditive or motor); antecedents of cognitive and/or intelligence disabilities. Instruments included a questionnaire which evaluated the quality of life in a subjective way. RESULTS it was observed worse QoL among siblings of autistic patients (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION The hypothesis that the quality of life was compromised in children (aged 7 to 11) by the presence of an autistic sibling was confirmed, and was worse than that of siblings of children with speech disorders.

Tempo de latência para a leitura: influência da freqüência da palavra escrita e da escolarização

PURPOSE: To verify the influence of frequency of written words and schooling on latency time for reading. METHODS: Seventy-four children of both genders from 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades of public school (m=9.6y), without developmental alterations or scholar difficulties complaints took part of this study. It was carried out a loud voice reading test of isolated words with a program especially created for this study. These words were characterized by low and high frequency, varying in regularity, extension and syllabic complexity. Latency time was measured in milliseconds. RESULTS: Data showed that latency time was shorter for the reading of frequent words and there was an interaction between grade and type of word. The negative correlation between latency time and number of correct answers was significant only for low frequency words in 3rd and 4th grades. CONCLUSION: Frequency had different influences on latency time and accuracy of reading, when words characteristics and schooling were taken into account.

Tempo de latência e exatidão para leitura e nomeação em crianças escolares: estudo piloto

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o tempo de latencia e o numero de acertos para estimulos equivalentes em nomeacao de figuras e leitura de palavras isoladas em voz alta, considerando os atributos do material escrito (frequencia de ocorrencia e extensao da palavra). Os participantes foram criancas de 2a a 4a series do ensino fundamental de uma escola publica e municipal da cidade de Sao Paulo, sem alteracoes gerais de desenvolvimento, de linguagem e escolares. A prova de leitura foi constituida por 32 palavras, balanceadas por frequencia de ocorrencia no material escrito e extensao da palavra. A prova de nomeacao foi constituida por figuras com nomes equivalentes as palavras da prova de leitura. Os estimulos foram apresentados individualmente na tela de um computador com software especifico para analise do tempo de latencia e das respostas. Foram analisados o numero de acertos e o tempo de latencia para as respostas. Para o tempo de latencia, foi observada a influencia das variaveis do material escrito, ou seja, palavras de baixa frequencia e de maior extensao foram acessadas mais lentamente por todas as criancas. Quanto ao numero de respostas corretas, nao houve diferenca estatistica entre as series escolares na prova de leitura. Porem, com a idade e a escolarizacao, as criancas tornam-se mais rapidas para iniciar a leitura de palavras isoladas e para nomear figuras equivalentes.

Comparação do tempo de latência entre nomeação e leitura em escolares

Latency time between word reading and naming picture tasks is compared. Seventy-four children, grades 2, 3 and 4 grades of a primary public school, without developmental complains and without schooling difficulties, participated. Word reading and naming picture with equivalent stimuli were applied. Latency time, registered in a computational program, was the period between stimuli presentation and the beginning of the childs oral response. Results show that children from all grades spend longer latency time for naming. Difference in grades was observed only for reading. Psycholinguistics traits of the stimuli affect in different manners the word and picture processing. Tasks have a common denominator which is more evident in stimuli frequency.

SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire): identificação de características comportamentais de crianças leitoras

The purpose of this study was to verify behavioral characteristics of children with typical reading development by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). This brief questionnaire is a useful measure in psychopathology applied to children and young people from 4 to 16 years. The SDQ is divided in five subscales: prosocial behavior problems, hyperactivity, and emotional, conduct and relationship problems. The participants were parents and teachers of 74 children, attending 2nd,, 3rd, or 4th grades in a public school in the city of Sao Paulo. The children had no general development and language disorders, and scholars problems. Parents and teachers answered the questionnaires. The answers to the SDQ differed between parents and teachers, and regarding to childrens gender and grade. These differences may reflect communication and behavioral changes resulting from experienced situations in childrens present developmental stage.

Autobiographical and semantic memory of adolescent drug users

CONTEXTO: Transtornos psiquiatricos na infância e adolescencia podem prejudicar o acesso as memorias de fatos e eventos ocorridos durante esse periodo. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as memorias autobiografica e semântica de adolescentes usuarios e nao usuarios de drogas. METODOS: Participaram de cada grupo 25 adolescentes do genero masculino, com idades entre 13 e 17 anos. Dois questionarios foram aplicados: Kihlstrom e Schacter (1995), que avalia a memoria semântica e Borrini et al. (1989), que avalia a memoria autobiografica. RESULTADOS: O grupo de usuarios de drogas apresentou maior dificuldade para acessar as memorias autobiografica (p = 0,0205) e semântica (p = 0,0057). CONCLUSOES: Algumas hipoteses podem ser levantadas: usuarios apresentam complicacoes cognitivas que dificultam o acesso as memorias de longo prazo, e tambem outras causas relacionadas a dinâmica do uso de drogas.

Linguagem e memória autobiográfica de adolescentes usuários de drogas

OBJETIVO: Resgatar, por meio da linguagem, a memoria autobiografica de adolescentes usuarios de drogas/alcool. METODOS: Participaram do estudo 25 adolescentes usuarios e 25 nao usuarios de alcool/drogas com idades entre 13 e 17 anos, do sexo masculino. Apos coleta da linguagem oral, a analise deste material foi baseada no modelo que privilegia a estrutura discursiva em cenario, complicacao, resposta interna, tentativa, consequencia e reacao. RESULTADOS: O grupo de usuarios produziu menos tentativa (p=0,010), consequencia (p= 0,030) e reacao (p= 0,023), indicando diferente perfil na linguagem de ambos os grupos. CONCLUSAO: O perfil da memoria autobiografica de adolescentes usuarios de drogas e diferente do de adolescentes nao usuarios. Este dado pode estar relacionado ao comprometimento no funcionamento cognitivo e/ou de linguagem, assim como de aspectos sociais e psiquicos, ocasionando interrupcoes na sequencia da lembranca.

Tempo de latência e características da nomeação de figuras de crianças com transtorno da leitura

The aim of this study was to verify latency time and the properties for the picture labelling in children with reading disorders and children with typical reading development. The sample was composed of 20 children with reading disorders (age mean=8,3 y) and 25 children without reading disorders (age mean=8,6 y), from both genders. The picture labelling test was made up of 96 pictures, divided into stimuli groups, with equivalent balance to written words: frequency of occurrence of the written word, word extension and complexity for Portuguese spoken in Brazil. The pictures were presented on a computer screen and children were asked to name the pictures. The latency time and the responses were registered in a program designed specially for this study. The responses were analyzed according to criteria of specific literature. No statistical differences were observed between readers and non-readers related to the processing time, however, results pointed to more correct answers in the reader group. Non-readers have more phonological errors than readers. In conclusion, the latency time is similar between the subjects. However non-readers can show difficulties in picture naming, especially as to selection of phonological properties of the picture naming, which result in errors in labelling.

Oral communication self-perception in drugs users adolescents

Rev Bras Psiquiatr. 2006;28(4):339-42 effects of milnacipran on anxiety, it has been reported to be efficacious in the treatment of depression in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Six outpatients (4 males, 2 females) diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV and intense anxiety symptoms, although not meeting the criteria for any DSM-IV anxiety disorder, were studied in order to determine the efficacy of milnacipran in reducing anxiety symptoms in this population. All patients were under treatment with clozapine for refractory schizophrenia. The mean age of the subjects was 35 ± 5 years. The mean daily doses of clozapine and milnacipran were 700 mg and 100 mg, respectively. All subjects were submitted to blood workups as recommended for clozapine-treated patients. No hematologic abnormalities were found in this group. The efficacy of milnacipran in reducing anxiety symptoms, as characterized according to the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), which was applied before treatment (T0), after 4 weeks of treatment (T4) and after 8 weeks of treatment (T8). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was also applied at T0, T4 and T8 in order to evaluate possible worsening of schizophrenia symptoms due to treatment with the antidepressant. Comparisons between groups were made using paired Student’s t-tests. Table 1 shows the demographic data for the patients treated with milnacipran, as well as variations between T0 HAM-A and BPRS scores and those obtained at T4 and T8. The mean HAMA scores decreased significantly (p = 0.014) from T0 (32 ± 7) to T4 (27 ± 9), remaining stable between T4 and T8 (28 ± 10; p = 0.523). From T0 to T8, a trend toward decreasing HAM-A was found (p = 0.069). The mean BPRS score remained virtually unchanged (p = 0.087) from T0 (71 ± 18) to T4 (67 ± 21), from T4 to T8 (66 ± 24) (p = 0.884) and from T0 to T8 (p = 0.326). No patient reported adverse effects related to the treatment. Clearly, the small size of our sample precludes generalization, and studies involving larger samples are needed to confirm these findings. However, our results suggest that milnacipran might be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in the fourth week of use, and this effect might be maintained until the eighth week of use. In addition, the tolerability profile and the low potential for drug interactions presented by milnacipran could make it a very useful alternative for treating anxiety in patients using clozapine, without the risk of drug interactions and worsening psychotic symptoms.