H.C.M. Didden

Psychometric qualities of a tetrad WAIS-III short form for use in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disability

Abstract Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of a Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-based Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – third edition (WAIS-III) short form (SF) in a sample of individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) (N = 117; MIQ = 71.34; SDIQ = 8.00, range: 52–85). Methods: A full WAIS-III was administered as a standard procedure in the diagnostic process. Results: The results indicate an excellent reliability (r = 0.96) and a strong, positive correlation with the full WAIS-III (r = 0.89). The SF correctly identified ID in general and the correct IQ category more specifically in the majority of cases (97.4% and 86.3% of cases, respectively). In addition, 82.1% of the full scale IQ (FSIQ) estimates fell within the 95% confidence interval of the original score. Conclusions: We conclude that the SF is a reliable and valid measure to estimate FSIQ. It can be used in clinical and research settings when global estimates of intelligence are sufficient.

Early Signs and Early Behavioral Intervention of Challenging Behavior

This chapter summarizes research on the emergence of challenging behavior and early behavioral intervention for the treatment of challenging behavior in young children with Intellectual Disability (ID). Biological and learning theories related to the emergence of challenging behavior and risk factors for challenging behavior, which include a variety of constitutional (e.g. intelligence quotient, syndrome, adaptive behavior deficits) and environmental variables (e.g. reinforcement contingencies), are reviewed. Literature related to precursor behaviors that reliably predict challenging behavior is also reviewed. Data support the use of behavioral intervention to reduce challenging behavior in young children with ID. A two-phase model involving functional analysis followed by function-based treatments appears to produce the largest effect sizes. Additional research is required to establish the utility of preventing challenging behavior by reducing risk factors and/or through the treatment of precursor behavior. Future research should also aim to more fully explore child characteristics that might predict intervention outcomes.

Investigating the validity of a structured interview protocol for assessing the preferences of children with autism spectrum disorders

Purpose: To investigate the congruent validity of a structured interview protocol for assessing the preferences of seven children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: Using the structured interview protocol described by Green et al., parents were asked to provide a rank ordering of their childs preferred foods, drinks, toys and sensory stimuli. The resulting rank order was then compared to the results of a multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessment by calculating the Spearman rank order correlation coefficients. Results: The results revealed a high level of correspondence between the rank orderings of both assessments for four of the six participants for food and drink items and four of the seven participants for play items and sensory stimuli. Conclusion: Results support the use of the structured interview protocol to determine the preferences of children with ASD. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Substance Use Disorders

Based on the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health approximately 46% of individuals (aged 12 and older) report lifetime use of illicit drugs, 69% report lifetime use of cigarettes, and 83% report lifetime use of alcohol. Less than 10% of the population, 22 million Americans, meet criteria for a current diagnosis of substance dependence or abuse (SAMSHA, 2002). Of these individuals, 7.7 million may require treatment for a drug use disorder and 17.6 million may require treatment for an alcohol use disorder. The estimated social costs of substance use disorders are in excess of

Substance use and abuse in individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning: An introduction to the special section

300 billion, including costs of treatment, related health problems, absenteeism, productivity loss, crime and incarceration, and education and prevention. Of these costs, treatment and prevention efforts are significantly less costly than the cost of incarceration and crimes (SAMSHA, 1997). A study in California estimated that every dollar spent on substance abuse treatment saves

Unmodified extinction for childhood sleep disturbance

7 in costs related to health, crime, and work productivity (Delaney, Gable, & Kendell, 2000). Substance use disorders are classified by the American Psychiatric Association (1994) as two distinct, but often cooccurring, disorders: substance dependence and substance abuse.

Professional development improves staff's implementation of rehabilitation programmes for children with severe-to-profound intellectual disability.

During the past decade, the topic of substance use and abuse by individuals with mild intellectual disability or borderline ntellectual functioning (MID-BIF; DSM-IV-TR, IQ 50–85) has received increasing attention in the literature as well as in linical practice. Substance use, especially the use of alcohol and tobacco, is widely spread in society, and is related to social onventions both for individuals with and without MID-BIF (Van Duijvenbode et al., 2015). Although not all substance use eads to adverse consequences, individuals with MID-BIF have been identified as a group at risk for negative consequences f the (ab) use of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. The (ab)use of substances may have a ange of somatic, psychological and social adverse consequences for these individuals, such as mental and somatic health roblems, problems concerning daily activities and relationships, and offending (see e.g., Lindsay et al., 2013; To, Neirynck, anderplasschen, Vanheule, & Vandevelde, 2014). Even though individuals with MID-BIF are increasingly recognized as a risk group for substance use disorders, still little s known about its prevalence and risk or protective factors. Until present, reliable data on prevalence on substance (ab)use n individuals with MID-BIF are lacking. This is not surprising given the challenges associated with assessing such rates, ncluding: (1) definition of MID-BIF group (inor excluding those with borderline intellectual functioning – IQ 70–85) or ubgroups (such as those with co-occurring mental health disorders), (2) definitions and scope (inor excluding use of obacco and/or prescribed medication) of substance (ab)use, (3) measurement issues (e.g., lack of valid instruments), and 4) problems associated with stigma and denial of substance related problems (by both users and their caregivers). Also, (5) revalence rates may have increased in recent years possibly due to increased integration in the community, or – alternatively due to increased awareness and attention by caregivers to such problems. Finally, it is likely that (6) differences between ountries in socio-economical factors, ID care and addiction treatment facilities and alcohol and drugs-related policies and egislation account for differences in prevalence rates among those with ID (Didden, VanDerNagel, & Van Duijvenbode, 2016; an Duijvenbode et al., 2015). Several reviews have shown that the evidence-base on the feasibility and effectiveness of interventions is still small see Didden et al., 2016; Kerr, Lawrence, Darbyshire, Middleton, & Fitzsimmons, 2013). Kerr et al. identified only 9 articles ublished between 1996 and 2011, most of which were of poor to moderate methodological quality in terms of design, eliability, sample size and description of procedures. Didden et al. concluded that only a small range of different interention approaches (i.e., psycho-education, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapies) have been used in he treatment of substance (ab)use in individuals with ID. In all cases, interventions were adapted – through e.g. simplified anguage, use of pictorial stimuli – to the needs of individuals with MID-BIF. These interventions were mostly implemented or reducing substance (ab)use in participants and no conclusions could be drawn on which elements contributed to the ffectiveness of an intervention. Alcohol and/or tobacco were targeted most often. As far as we know, interventions targeting llicit drugs or prescribed medications have not been reported in the literature. To be able to provide effective care and treatment, adequate recognition and assessment of both substance (ab)use and ID-BIF is warranted. This includes both identifying individuals with MID-BIF in addiction care (see e.g., To et al., 2014) as

Attentional bias in problematic drinkers with and without mild to borderline intellectual disability

Publisher Summary Unmodified extinction is an effective treatment for childhood insomnia. It is effective in reducing inappropriate bedtime behaviors (e.g., crying, repeatedly getting out of bed, and tantrums) that interfere with sleep onset and maintenance. These behaviors are often maintained by reinforcement in the form of parental attention and insufficient limit setting. These child behaviors often occur at bedtime and at waking up at night (night waking) or in the early morning. This treatment may also be effective in case of co-sleeping, whereby child and parent sleep in the same bed. There is no contraindication to the use of unmodified extinction. However, prior to starting an extinction procedure, any somatic, neurological, or other factor that may be responsible for bedtime and night-waking problems should be assessed and ruled out. There are many such factors, such as breathing difficulties, epilepsy, and melatonin synthesis disturbance.

Prelinguistic Milieu Teaching

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of supervisory feedback and self-management on the acquisition and generalization of correct implementation of rehabilition training programmes implemented by direct care staff. Design: A non-concurrent multiple baseline design across three trainer–trainee dyads was used. Methods: Three staff members were trained in how to implement one-to-one teaching programmes with four children with profound-to-severe intellectual disability. Staff received feedback and were taught to self-manage their (in)correct trainer behaviour. Results: Supervisory feedback and self-management increased the mean percentage correct entry behaviour and reinforcement during training. Trainers use of entry behaviour and reinforcement generalized across settings and trainees. As levels of response prompting for three trainers were already high during baseline, no firm statements could be made concerning its acquisition and generalization. Conclusion: Staff can improve the accuracy of training as a result of feedback and/or self-management procedures in the rehabilitation of children with severe disabilities.

Sibling relationships in individuals with Angelman syndrome: A comparative study

BACKGROUND Problematic drinkers favour the processing of alcohol-related stimuli at the cost of other stimuli and also find it difficult to disengage their attention from these stimuli. This is indicative of an attentional bias towards alcohol. The goal of this study was to examine this bias in problematic drinkers with and without mild to borderline intellectual disability (MBID) using both eye tracking methodology and behavioural data (i.e. reaction time (RT) data). METHOD Participants (N = 133) were divided into four groups based on (estimated) full scale intelligence quotient (IQ) and severity of alcohol use-related problems. The severity of substance use-related problems was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). The visual dot probe task was used to measure the attentional bias. We analysed both eye tracking data and behavioural data (i.e. RT data) of the visual dot probe task. RESULTS Problematic drinkers were not more likely than light drinkers to direct their attention towards pictures of alcoholic beverages, did not look at these pictures longer than light drinkers and did also not respond faster than light drinkers to probes replacing pictures of alcoholic beverages. However, the strength of the attentional bias varied profusely. CONCLUSION Taking the large variability in the strength of the attentional bias and the poor psychometric qualities of the measures into consideration, it is concluded that the use of these measures for clinical purposes is discouraged.