1. |
- Hoekstra, P J, et al.
(författare)
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Emotional development in children with tics: a longitudinal population-based study.
- 2013
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Ingår i: European child & adolescent psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1435-165X .- 1018-8827. ; 22:3, s. 185-192
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Children with tics often experience accompanying problems that may have more impact on their well being and quality of life than the tics themselves. The present study investigates characteristics and the course of associated problems. In a population-based follow-up study, we investigated the developmental trajectory of children with and without tics when they were 7-9years old. Parents and teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) when the children were 7-9years (wave 1) and 4years later (wave 2). Using strict criteria, we identified 38 children with tics in the cohort of 4,025 children (0.94% of the total cohort) with a preponderance of boys (78.9%). 22 children (57.9%) in the group with tics had only motor tics, and 16 (42.1%) had both motor and vocal tics. Children with tics had significantly higher parent- and teacher-rated SDQ total difficulty scores and subscale scores in both waves. Children with tics experienced an increase in emotional problems and in peer problems between the first and the second wave. This study in a general population indicates that the presence of tics is associated with a range of internalizing and externalizing difficulties, as well as problems in peer relationships. Moreover, our study indicates that emotional and peer problems tend to increase over time in the group of children with tics.
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2. |
- Ekornas, Belinda, et al.
(författare)
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Anxiety disorders in 8-11-year-old children: Motor skill performance and self-perception of competence
- 2010
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Ingår i: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY. - : Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 0036-5564 .- 1467-9450. ; 51:3, s. 271-277
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates motor skill performance and self-perceived competence in children with anxiety disorders compared with children without psychiatric disorders. Motor skills and self-perception were assessed in 329 children aged 8 to 11 years, from the Bergen Child Study. The Kiddie-SADS PL diagnostic interview was employed to define a group of children with an anxiety disorder without comorbid diagnosis, and a control group (no diagnosis) matched according to gender, age, and full-scale IQ. Children in the anxiety disorder group displayed impaired motor skills and poor self-perceived peer acceptance and physical competence compared with the control group. Two-thirds of the anxious boys scored on the Motor Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) as having motor problems. The present study demonstrated impaired motor skills in boys with "pure" anxiety disorders. Anxious children also perceived themselves as being less accepted by peers and less competent in physical activities compared with children in the control group.
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3. |
- Ekornas, Belinda, et al.
(författare)
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PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDRENS PEER RELATIONSHIPS: DISCREPANCIES IN SELF-PERCEIVED SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE IN CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. - : Guilford Press. - 0736-7236 .- 1943-2771. ; 30:6, s. 570-582
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This population-based study investigated self-perception of social acceptance in children with emotional or behavioral disorders, and whether their perceptions were in line with parent/teacher reports of peer relationship problems. Children with behavioral disorders (n = 145) emotional disorders (n = 118), and a comparison group (n = 4,344) were selected from an 11-13-years-old population (n = 5073). Children with emotional disorders reported poorer social acceptance than children with behavioral disorders, also when adjusted for parent/teacher ratings of peer problems, confirming the negative self-perception reported in previous clinical studies. Self-perceptions of children with behavioral disorders were lower than in the comparison group and not inflated according to parent/teacher reports. The results emphasize the importance of peer-relations in both disorder groups.
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4. |
- Lundervold, Astri J, et al.
(författare)
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Teacher reports of hypoactivity symptoms reflect slow cognitive processing speed in primary school children.
- 2011
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Ingår i: European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1018-8827 .- 1435-165X. ; 20:3, s. 121-126
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mediating effect of cognitive processing speed on the ability of a primary school child to achieve his/her full potential of intellectual functioning emphasizes the importance of methods to detect “slow” children. Primary school teachers may be the first to have concerns about inattentive pupils who show symptoms of hypoactivity, but may find the symptoms difficult to interpret. In the present study we ask if a primary school teacher’s report of hypoactivity symptoms can be explained by the child’s performance on tests of processing speed. The 255 children included in the present study were part of the first wave of the Bergen Child Study, in which teachers completed a questionnaire including two hypoactivity items from the Five to Fifteen (FTF) questionnaire. Processing speed was measured by the Processing Speed Index (PSI) from the WISC-III, 1–2 years after the teacher rating. Teachers reported “certainly true” on at least one FTF item of hypoactivity for 11.8% of the children. These children obtained lower scores on the PSI than the remaining children in the sample. The PSI accounted for a considerable proportion of the variance of teacher reports on the FTF item “difficulty getting started on a task/activity”. The risk of a PSI score below 85 was increased in children with teacher-reported hypoactivity symptoms. The results indicate that teacher reports of hypoactivity symptoms reflect slow cognitive processing speed and should be followed up by a psychometric examination. Still, future studies are needed to improve detection and treatment of children with slow processing speed.
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5. |
- Posserud, Maj-Britt, et al.
(författare)
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ASSERT - The Autism Symptom SElf-ReporT for adolescents and adults: Bifactor analysis and validation in a large adolescent population.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Research in developmental disabilities. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-3379 .- 0891-4222. ; 34:12, s. 4495-4503
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With a view to developing a brief screening instrument for autism symptoms in a general population of adolescents, seven items from the Asperger syndrome (and high-functioning autism) diagnostic interview were adapted for use as self-report in an online questionnaire for youths aged 16-19 years (N=10,220). The selected items target lack of social understanding (4 items) and rigid and repetitive behavior and interests (RRBI; 3 items). Factor analyses were performed, and the seven items were also validated against self-reported ASD diagnosis. Best statistical model fit was found for a bifactor model with one general factor and two domain specific factors tied to social difficulties and RRBI. Both the general and the domain specific factors were associated with self-reported ASD diagnoses. The scale (referred to as the Autism Symptom SElf-ReporT for Adolescents and Adults - ASSERT) had good screening properties with a receiver operating curve-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.87 and a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 15.8. Applying a modified scoring of the scale further improved the screening properties leading to a ROC-AUC of 0.89 and a DOR of 24.9. The ASSERT holds promise as a brief self-report screen for autism symptoms in adolescents, and further studies should explore its usefulness for adults.
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6. |
- Posserud, Maj-Britt, et al.
(författare)
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The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders: impact of diagnostic instrument and non-response bias.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0933-7954 .- 1433-9285. ; 45:3, s. 319-327
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A large part of the variability in rates of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across studies is non-aetiologic, and can be explained by differences in diagnostic criteria, case-finding method, and other issues of study design. AIM: To investigate the effects on ASD prevalence of two methodological issues; non-response bias and case ascertainment. We compared the findings of using a semi-structured parent interview versus in-depth clinical assessment, including an ASD specific interview. We further explored whether including information on non-responders affected the ASD prevalence estimate. METHOD: A total population of 7- to 9-year olds (N = 9,430) was screened for ASD with the autism spectrum screening questionnaire (ASSQ) in the Bergen Child Study (BCS). Children scoring above the 98th percentile on parent and/or teacher ASSQ were invited to participate in the second and subsequently in the third phase of the BCS where they were assessed for ASD using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA), and the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication disorders (DISCO), respectively. RESULTS: Clinical assessment using DISCO confirmed all DAWBA ASD cases, but also diagnosed additional cases. DISCO-generated minimum prevalence for ASD was 0.21%, whereas estimated prevalence was 0.72%, increasing to 0.87% when adjusting for non-responders. The DAWBA estimate for the same population was 0.44%. CONCLUSION: Large variances in prevalence rates across studies can be explained by methodological differences. Both information about assessment method and non-response are crucial when interpreting prevalence rates of ASD.
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7. |
- Ryland, Hilde K, et al.
(författare)
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Autism spectrum symptoms in children with neurological disorders.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1753-2000. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to assess symptoms associated with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with neurological disorders as reported by parents and teachers on the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), as well the as the level of agreement between informants for each child. METHODS: The ASSQ was completed by parents and teachers of the 5730 children (11--13 years) who participated in the second wave of the Bergen Child Study (BCS), an on-going longitudinal population-based study. Out of these children, 496 were reported to have a chronic illness, including 99 whom had a neurological disorder. The neurological disorder group included children both with and without intellectual disabilities. RESULTS: Children with neurological disorders obtained significantly higher parent and teacher reported ASSQ scores than did non-chronically ill children and those with other chronic illnesses (p<.01; ES = .50-1.01), and 14.1 % were screened above the positive cutoff score for ASD according to their combined parent and teacher ASSQ scores. Parent/teacher agreement over ASSQ scores for children with neurological disorders was moderate to high for the total score and for three sub scores generated from a factor analysis, and low to moderate for single items. CONCLUSIONS: The ASSQ identifies a high rate of ASD symptoms in children with neurological disorders, and a large number of children screened in the positive range for ASD. Although a firm conclusion awaits further clinical studies, the present results suggest that health care professionals should be aware of potential ASD related problems in children with neurological disorders, and should consider inclusion of the ASSQ or similar screening instruments as part of their routine assessment of this group.
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8. |
- Sivertsen, Børge, et al.
(författare)
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Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum problems: a longitudinal population-based study.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Autism. - : SAGE Publications. - 1362-3613 .- 1461-7005. ; 16:2, s. 139-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study examined the prevalence and chronicity of sleep problems in children who manifest problems believed to be typical of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Using data from a longitudinal total population study, symptoms of ASD, insomnia and potential explanatory factors were assessed at ages 7-9 and 11-13. Children were included in a group defined as having Autism Spectrum Problems (ASP) if they scored above a strict threshold on the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). Twenty-eight (0.8%) of 3700 children fulfilled the selected criteria for ASP at both waves, and the prevalence of chronic insomnia was more than ten times higher in these children compared to the controls. Children with ASP developed more sleep problems over time, with an incidence rate at wave 2 of 37.5% compared to 8.6% in the controls. The sleep problems were more persistent over time, with a remission rate of 8.3% compared to 52.4% in the controls. ASP was a strong predictor of sleep problems at wave 2 (OR = 12.44), and while emotional and behavioural problems explained a large proportion of this association, the effect of ASP on insomnia remained significant in the fully adjusted model (OR = 3.25). These findings call for increased awareness of sleep problems in children with ASP.
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9. |
- Ullebø, Anne Karin, et al.
(författare)
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The factor structure of ADHD in a general population of primary school children.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. - : Wiley. - 0021-9630. ; 53:9, s. 926-936
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To examine whether a bifactor model with a general ADHD factor and domain specific factors of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity was supported in a large general population sample of children. We also explored the utility of forming subscales based on the domain-specific factors. Methods: Child mental health questionnaires were completed by both teachers and parents of all children in grades 2-4 in Bergen, Norway. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the ADHD items of a modified version of the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire-IV (SNAP-IV) for 6,237 children. Results: The bifactor model showed very good model fit with a strong general ADHD factor and specific factors for impulsivity and inattention. The subfactors, especially hyperactivity, generated from the SNAP-IV ADHD items conveyed little unique variance in the model. Conclusions: The findings in this general population sample with a strong general ADHD factor in the bifactor model supports the view on ADHD as a unitary concept with specific domain factors for inattention and impulsivity, but not for hyperactivity. The bifactor model questions the utility of constructing ADHD subscales by the use of a simple sum score when using the SNAP-IV.
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10. |
- Wehling, Eike, et al.
(författare)
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Does it matter how we pose the question "How is your sense of smell?"
- 2014
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Ingår i: Chemosensory Perception. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1936-5802 .- 1936-5810. ; 7:3-4, s. 103-107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a rather large, and unfortunate, discrepancy in the outcome between self-reported and standardized assessment of olfactory function. Questions for self-evaluation are commonly used that provide no information of with what to compare (comparison target) one's olfactory function. We therefore investigated whether responses differed between an unspecific question and two questions providing comparison targets. Ninety-six healthy community-dwelling individuals (62.5 % women) aged 49-80 years evaluated their odor identification ability, followed by standardized assessment of odor identification ability. Results revealed that response patterns varied significantly depending on comparison target. While 81 % reported normal function when no further comparison target was presented, 69 % reported normal function when referring to age-related olfactory changes in identification ability. In turn, sensitivity of the accuracy of self-reported reduced odor identification ability (with standardized assessment as reference) increased from 11 to 37 %, whereas specificity decreased from 86 to 71 % when providing a comparison target. Accuracy of self-reported olfactory function can be increased by including a comparison target. However, standardized assessment is to be preferred over self-reported assessment, irrespective of how the question is formulated.
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