Lore Van Damme

Gender differences in psychiatric disorders and clusters of self-esteem among detained adolescents.

Detained minors display substantial mental health needs. This study focused on two features (psychopathology and self-esteem) that have received considerable attention in the literature and clinical work, but have rarely been studied simultaneously in detained youths. The aims of this study were to examine gender differences in psychiatric disorders and clusters of self-esteem, and to test the hypothesis that the cluster of adolescents with lower (versus higher) levels of self-esteem have higher rates of psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was assessed in 440 Belgian, detained adolescents using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV. Self-esteem was assessed using the Self-perception Profile for Adolescents. Model-based cluster analyses were performed to identify youths with lower and/or higher levels of self-esteem across several domains. Girls have higher rates for most psychiatric disorders and lower levels of self-esteem than boys. A higher number of clusters was identified in boys (four) than girls (three). Generally, the cluster of adolescents with lower (versus higher) levels of self-esteem had a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders. These results suggest that the detection of low levels of self-esteem in adolescents, especially girls, might help clinicians to identify a subgroup of detained adolescents with the highest prevalence of psychopathology.

Self-Reported Psychopathic Traits and Antisocial Outcomes in Detained Girls: A Prospective Study

This study examines the usefulness of self-reported psychopathy scores in predicting various antisocial outcomes in a sample of detained girls (n = 95, M age = 16.25). Psychopathic traits at baseline were measured by the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Other self-report tools were completed at baseline and 6 months after discharge to assess violent and nonviolent offending, reactive and proactive aggression, and alcohol/drug use. Only occasionally a significant relationship between the APSD total score and these antisocial outcomes was revealed, though the APSD total score did never remain a significant predictor after controlling for past offenses, aggression, and alcohol/drug use. Altogether, these findings suggest that the APSD total score is of restricted usefulness in predicting antisocial outcomes among detained girls. This overall conclusion is consistent with past research using the APSD and other tools and suggests that one should rethink the role of psychopathy measures for risk assessment purposes among detained youths.

The Limited Prosocial Emotions Specifier for Conduct Disorder Among Detained Girls A Multi-Informant Approach

This study examines the prevalence and clinical usefulness of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) specifier “with Limited Prosocial Emotions” (LPE) in detained girls. Detained girls (N = 85; Mage = 16.24) and their parents were interviewed with a structured diagnostic interview to identify girls with conduct disorder (CD), and both informants completed the Antisocial Process Screening Device to assess the LPE specifier. Psychiatric disorders other than CD, aggression, and offending were assessed through standardized self-report tools. Different approaches were used to deal with diagnostic information from multiple informants. The prevalence of CD + LPE girls was lower when using self-report (12.9%) compared with parent-report (38.8%), suggesting that parents indeed are important to identify CD + LPE girls. However, including parental information did not result in a better differentiation between CD + LPE and CD-only girls. Specifically, the LPE specifier only enabled to identify a group of seriously antisocial girls with higher levels of proactive aggression, though solely when using self-report.

The unique relation of childhood emotional maltreatment with mental health problems among detained male and female adolescents.

Mounting evidence indicates that emotional maltreatment is at least as harmful as physical and sexual abuse. Notwithstanding their high occurrence among detained adolescents, the link between emotional maltreatment and mental health problems in these youths is not well researched. This study, therefore, was designed to examine the unique link between emotional maltreatment and mental health problems, with particular attention to gender differences. Well validated self-report measures of maltreatment experiences (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and mental health problems (Youth Self Report) were completed by 341 detained adolescents (156 boys, 185 girls) aged 12 to 18 years. As expected, girls reported higher levels of maltreatment experiences and internalizing and externalizing mental health problems than boys. Blockwise multiple linear regression analyses indicated that in both genders emotional abuse was uniquely and positively associated with internalizing and externalizing mental health problems, over and above the influence of other types of maltreatment. Furthermore, sexual abuse was uniquely related with internalizing problems in girls only, whereas only in boys this type of abuse was uniquely related with externalizing problems. Detained adolescents who have been the victim of emotional abuse in combination with another type of maltreatment may be the worst subgroup in terms of mental health problems. Therefore, emotional maltreatment experiences in adolescents who offend should receive more research and clinical attention.

Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument for mental health needs of youths in residential welfare/justice institutions: identifying gender differences across countries and settings

Abstract This study examines the use of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) for mental health needs among 1643 youngsters in residential welfare/justice institutions in Europe and the USA, identifying gender differences across countries and settings. Overall, the MAYSI-2 appeared to be a reliable instrument among these youngsters, with only some scales falling (slightly) below the threshold of acceptable internal consistency. Girls (vs. boys) in Belgian/USA justice institutions and Swiss mixed welfare/justice institutions displayed higher scores for the angry–irritable, depressed–anxious, somatic complaints, suicide ideation scales. Also, detained girls from Belgium and Switzerland reported higher scores for traumatic experiences. No gender differences were revealed among adolescents in German welfare institutions. Our findings suggest that the MAYSI-2 may serve as a useful mental health screening instrument among youngsters in welfare/justice institutions and that girls in justice institutions and mixed welfare/justice institutions form a particularly vulnerable population with regard to mental health problems.

Risk and protective factors for alcohol use among school-going adolescents in Montevideo (Uruguay)

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore risk and protective factors for alcohol use among school-going adolescents in Montevideo (Uruguay). Design/methodology/approach A self-report survey was administered to 331 school-going adolescents in Montevideo (Uruguay) (Mage=13; SD=0.05), using the alcohol screening instrument of the Uruguayan National Drug Board to assess adolescents’ alcohol use (yes/no), a screening instrument for psychopathology and resilience (the adolescent self-report) and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Findings Logistic regression analyses identified antisocial behaviour, substance use and negative emotionality (F2), disruptive and dysregulated behaviour (F8), higher age and recent death of a close relative as risk factors, while the number of close friends was identified as a protective factor for past year alcohol use (yes/no). No straightforward relationship was found between schools and the risk for the past year alcohol use. In addition, age, F2, F8 and recent death of a close relative appeared to be the most robust predictors. Research limitations/implications The study was the first in Uruguay to relate adolescents’ alcohol use to risk and protective factors. Given the cross-sectional nature of the study, causal relationships could not be determined. Originality/value The study provides preliminary recommendations for policy makers and other stakeholders involved in youth affairs on core elements to focus on school-, community- and family-based alcohol prevention programmes for adolescents.