Agreement of adolescent ratings with mother ratings and teacher ratings of ADHD symptom groups: A correlated trait-correlated method minus one analysis

This study examined the level of agreement of adolescent ratings with mother ratings, and adolescent ratings with teacher ratings of the inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) symptom groups of ADHD. A total of 214 adolescents provided self-ratings of IA and HI, and their IA and HI were also rated by their mothers and teachers. The correlated trait-correlated method minus one model was applied, with adolescent ratings as the reference method, and the other two ratings as the non-reference methods. The findings indicated no additional variance in adolescent ratings for IA and HI that could not be accounted by mother ratings of IA and HI, respectively. In contrast, there was additional variance in adolescent ratings for IA and HI that could was not accounted by teacher ratings of IA and HI, respectively. The findings suggest that when diagnosing ADHD in adolescents, their reports of their own ADHD behaviors are not needed when mother reports of such behaviors are used.     

Family Routine Moderates the Relation Between Child Impulsivity and Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms

Although child impulsivity is associated with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, few studies have examined whether family processes moderate this association. To address this gap, we tested whether child-reported family routine moderated the relation between child hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) and ODD symptoms among a sample of low-income, urban, ethnic-minority children (N = 87, 51% male). Child HI and ODD symptoms were assessed using parent and teacher reports. HI also was indexed by a laboratory task. Family routine was assessed using child self-report. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that family routine moderated child HI. Among children with higher levels of teacher-reported HI symptoms, lower levels of family routine were associated with higher levels of teacher-reported ODD symptoms compared to children with lower levels of teacher-reported HI symptoms. Children who self-reported higher levels of family routine were rated as low on teacher-reported ODD symptoms, regardless of teacher-reported HI levels. Parent report and laboratory measures of child HI did not produce significant interactions. Lower levels of family routine may confer risk for ODD symptoms among low-income, urban, ethnic-minority children experiencing higher levels of HI.     

Associations of Maternal Prenatal Smoking with Early Childhood Physical Aggression,Hyperactivity-Impulsivity,and Their Co-Occurrence

This study investigated associations between maternal prenatal smoking and physical aggression (PA), hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI) and co-occurring PA and HI between ages 17 and 42 months in a population sample of children born in Québec (Canada) in 1997/1998 (N=1745). Trajectory model estimation showed three distinct developmental patterns for PA and four for HI. Multinomial regression analyses showed that prenatal smoking significantly predicted children’s likelihood to follow different PA trajectories beyond the effects of other perinatal factors, parental psychopathology, family functioning and parenting, and socio-economic factors. However, prenatal smoking was not a significant predictor of HI in a model with the same control variables. Further multinomial regression analyses showed that, together with gender, presence of siblings and maternal hostile reactive parenting, prenatal smoking independently predicted co-occurring high PA and high HI compared to low levels of both behaviors, to high PA alone, and to high HI alone. These results show that maternal prenatal smoking predicts multiple behavior regulation problems in early childhood.     

Internalization of the thin ideal among low-income ethnic minority adolescent girls

Internalization of the thin ideal has been thought to occur disproportionately among Caucasian, upper-class girls and women. The current research challenges this view by assessing thin-ideal internalization among low-income ethnic minority girls (N = 48). This research identifies differences between low-income ethnic minority adolescent girls who highly internalize the thin ideal (HI) and those who have lower internalization of thinness (LI). Results indicate that HI and LI groups do not differ based on ethnicity or weight categorization. Body satisfaction, competence, and perceived sociocultural pressure were analyzed as individual differences between HI versus LI participants. Those in the LI group have higher athletic competence and body satisfaction ratings for weight compared to the HI group. By identifying differences in thin-ideal internalization in this understudied population, factors that may protect someone from endorsing the thin ideal may be discovered.     

Phonetically inaccurate spelling among learning-disabled, head-injured, and nondisabled young adults

We applied the Boder and Jarrico (1982, The Boder Test of Reading-Spelling Patterns, New York: Grune & Stratton) criteria to the WRAT spelling list and examined the phonetically inaccurate spelling error patterns of learning-disabled (LD), head-injured (HI), and nondisabled young adults. Phonetically inaccurate (PI) errors were reliably rated (interrater r = .94) and were correlated significantly more strongly with dysphasic errors (r = .33) than with dyscopia (r = .16). ANOVA showed that LD and HI, which did not differ, made significantly more PI errors than both nondisabled and HI. These results indicate that PI errors reflect an underlying language disorder. The results also suggest that PI errors are more frequent in brain-related disorders. Finally, when group differences in cognitive ability are statistically controlled, PI errors are more common only among LD persons.     

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in an adult sample: Associations with Cloninger’s temperament and character dimensions

Relationships between C.R. Cloninger’s temperament and character dimensions and the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms of inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) were examined in 231 adults from the general population. Regression analyses that predicated overall ADHD, IA and HI by the seven temperament/character dimensions revealed: IA was predicted positively by Harm Avoidance and negatively by Self-Directedness; HI was predicted positively by Persistence; and overall ADHD was predicted negatively by Self-Directedness. These findings are also interpreted in terms of current theories of ADHD, and the related original and revised versions of Gray’s reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) of personality.     

Behavioral Characteristics of DSM-IV ADHD Subtypes in a School-Based Population

From an ethnically diverse sample of 2,744 school children, 221 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [123 (4.5%) predominantly inattentive (IA), 47 (1.7%) predominantly hyperactive/impulsive (HI), and 51 (1.9%) combined type (C)] were identified using teacher ratings on a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) (DSM-IV) symptom checklist. Subjects were compared to 221 controls on teacher ratings of behavioral, academic, and social functioning. The results revealed relatively independent areas of impairment for each diagnostic group. The IA children were impaired in all areas, but were rated as displaying more appropriate behavior and fewer externalizing problems than HI or C children. The HI group displayed externalizing and social problems, but was rated as no different than controls in learning or internalizing problems. The C group demonstrated severe and pervasive difficulties across domains. These findings support the validity of the DSM-IV ADHD subtypes; all ADHD groups demonstrated impairment relative to controls, but show different patterns of behavioral characteristics.     

The effects of pre- and postweaning rearing conditions on latent inhibition and partial reinforcement extinction effect in male rats

Male rats were either handled daily or left undisturbed (nonhandled) during the first 21 days of life. At weaning (Day 22) animals in each early treatment condition were assigned to two housing conditions, isolated or grouped, creating four early/late treatment conditions: Handled-Grouped (HG), Handled-Isolated (HI), Nonhandled-Grouped (NHG), and Nonhandled-Isolated (NHI). At maturity, all animals were tested in the latent inhibition (LI, Experiment 1) and the partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE, Experiment 2) paradigms. In LI, animals receiving prior nonreinforced preexposure to a stimulus (PE) show subsequently retarded conditioning to that stimulus as compared to nonpreexposed (NPE) controls. In the PREE, partially reinforced (PRF) animals exhibit higher resistance to extinction as compared to continuously reinforced (CRF) controls. LI and PREE were obtained in the HG condition, but were impaired in NHG and HI animals. The pattern of impairment was different in the two conditions. The absence of LI in NHG males was due to increased suppression in the PE group, whereas in HI males, was due to decreased suppression in the NPE group. Likewise, the attenuation of the PREE in NHG males stemmed primarily from decreased resistance to extinction in the PRF group, whereas in HI males, it resulted from increased resistance to extinction in the CRF group. The combination of nonhandling and isolation led to the reinstatement of both LI and PREE: normal LI and PREE were obtained in the NHI animals. These results demonstrate that early rearing experience interacts with later experience differentially depending upon the later experience.     

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,Trait Impulsivity,and Externalizing Behavior in a Longitudinal Sample

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly comorbid with and predictive of externalizing behavior, yet is most often examined categorically, not dimensionally. We tested a recently proposed trait impulsivity model by dimensionally examining measures of childhood inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity separately as predictors of later externalizing behavior in an all-female longitudinal sample of 228 young women. We also examined influences of parenting and peer relations, given the transactional nature and importance of environmental factors. We analyzed the relative contribution of hyperactive/impulsive (HI) and inattentive (IA) symptoms of girls with and without childhood-diagnosed ADHD (M age?=?9.5; 140 ADHD and 88 Comparison) to the development of externalizing behaviors in adolescence (M age?=?14.2) and early adulthood (M age?=?19.6). Authoritarian parenting was examined as a moderator and adolescent externalizing behavior as a mediator of the relation between childhood HI and later externalizing behavior. Childhood HI symptoms significantly predicted multiple externalizing behaviors in adolescence and early adulthood, after accounting for IA and covariates (ΔR ² ranged from 2.6 to 7.5 %). Mother’s authoritarian parenting moderated this relation. Adolescent externalizing behavior mediated the relation between childhood HI symptoms and early adult externalizing behavior. In no case did childhood IA significantly predict externalizing behavior after accounting for HI symptoms. Findings support a trait impulsivity model, as HI symptoms, but not IA symptoms, significantly predicted later externalizing behavior. Results support the importance of dimensional predictors of developmental trajectories. We discuss implications for assessment, intervention, and future research.     

Prevalence and associated factors with body image dissatisfaction among adults in southern Brazil: A population-based study

We investigated the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and associated factors in Florianopolis, Brazil. BID was analyzed in a sample (N = 1720) of adults through the Figure Rating Scale. The independent variables were sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and morbidities. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was used. More men (14.2%) than women (6.1%) presented BID by being lighter than ideal (LI). Conversely, more women (66.6%) than men (46.3%) showed BID by being heavier than ideal (HI). BID by being HI was higher among older women, those with high BMI and those with a partner. In men, lower BMI and the presence of common mental disorders were associated with BID due to being LI. Advanced ages, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, and obesity were associated with BID due to being HI. We must consider different public health interventions for men and women to reduce BID in Brazilian adults.     

Prenatal Smoke Exposure Predicts Hyperactive/Impulsive but Not Inattentive ADHD Symptoms in Adolescent and Young Adult Girls

We examined the longitudinal associations between prenatal tobacco smoke exposure (PSE) and attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom domains in adolescence and young adulthood. A sample of girls with ADHD combined presentation (N = 93), ADHD predominantly inattentive presentation (N = 47), and matched comparisons (N = 88) was assessed prospectively. Symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI), inattention (IA), and oppositionality (oppositional defiant disorder) were measured via multiple informants 5 (M age = 14 years; retention rate = 92%) and 10 years (M age = 20 years; retention rate = 95%) following childhood ascertainment. PSE was captured via maternal self‐report. We used linear regressions to examine the prediction from PSE to both HI and IA in adolescence and early adulthood after stringent control of relevant confounding variables. PSE significantly predicted HI during adolescence and young adulthood across multiple informants but did not predict IA at either wave. Symptoms of HI may have partial etiological independence from IA symptoms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical activity in infants with Down syndrome receiving a treadmill intervention

Despite the recognized relevance of physical activity in the development and health of children, assessment of physical activity levels (PA-level) in infancy is limited, especially in infants with Down syndrome (DS). Increasing PA-level using a treadmill training (TMT) intervention may benefit infants with motor delays. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a higher intensity, individualized TMT protocol (HI) would elicit immediate and short-term higher PA-level in infants with DS than a lower intensity, generalized training protocol (LG).Thirty infants with DS were randomly assigned to the LG or the HI group. Training was terminated when the infants could walk three steps independently. Activity monitors were placed on infants’ trunks and legs for a 24-h period every other month during the intervention phase, and at set intervals 1-year post-independent walking onset. Data were analyzed to separate sedentary-to-light activity (Lowact) and moderate-to-vigorous activity (Highact).Overall our results demonstrate that infants receiving the HI TMT had higher levels of Highact than infants in the LG group, factoring out the activity produced by the intervention itself. Infants in the LG group spent more time in Lowact than the HI group. In addition, these results seemed to be retained during the post-intervention follow-up. Despite these exciting results, more work is needed to understand the relationship of the intensity of TMT on PA-level in infants with DS, and whether PA-level and TMT are related to motor milestone achievement and/or health benefits.     

H-reflex latency, index and conduction velocity in healthy probands

The HL, HI and HV were measured of 76 healthy persons at the age of 20 to 70 years. The length-dependent variation of the HL can be eliminated most favourable by calculating the HI. Because of the proved linear correlation between age and HI the use of age-specific HI-normal ranges is recommendable.     

Beyond de Tocqueville: The roles of vertical and horizontal individualism and conservatism in the 2004 U.S. presidential election

Individualism is a fundamental value to U.S. culture and democracy. We differentiate the horizontal from vertical dimension of individualism to predict voting in the 2004 presidential election. Horizontal individualism (HI) values equality and uniqueness, whereas vertical individualism (VI) values competition and achievement. In line with the value-expressive function of attitudes and voter–politician congruency principles, we show how and when HI and VI affect voters' attitudes and voting. A pilot study revealed that VI correlated with vote; those who scored higher on VI were more likely to vote for Bush. Study 1 replicated these findings with a broader sample and a regression approach. The influence of individualism was less predictive than VI in both studies. In Study 2, we proposed that the effect of VI and HI values on voting decisions is mediated by political conservatism, which in turn predicts voters' trait assessment of candidates and voting decision. Path analysis of the data from a national survey supported our expectation among respondents with high political involvement, the context in which value-expressive attitudes are more pronounced. Taken together, these studies advance our theoretical understanding of HI, VI, and individualism, as well as the process underlying the effect of values on decisions.     

Effects of daily environmental enrichment on memory deficits and brain injury following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in the rat

Environmental enrichment (EE) results in improved learning and spatial memory, as well as attenuates morphological changes resulting from cerebral ischemia in adult animals. This study examined the effects of daily EE on memory deficits in the water maze and cerebral damage, assessed in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, caused by neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Male Wistar rats in the 7th postnatal day were submitted to the Levine-Rice model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI), comprising permanent occlusion of the right common carotid artery and a period of hypoxia (90 min, 8%O(2)-92%N(2)). Starting two weeks after the HI event, animals were stimulated by the enriched environment (1h/day for 9 weeks); subsequent to the stimulation, performance of animals in the water maze was assessed. HI resulted in spatial reference and working memory impairments that were completely reversed by EE. Following the behavioral study, animals were killed and the hippocampal volume and cortical area were estimated. There was a significant reduction of both hippocampal volume and cortical area, ipsilateral to arterial occlusion, in HI animals; environmental stimulation had no effect on these morphological measurements. Presented data indicate that stimulation by the daily environmental enrichment recovers spatial memory deficits caused by neonatal hypoxia-ischemia without affecting tissue atrophy in either hippocampus or cortex.     

Preliminary evidence for reduced posterror reaction time slowing in hyperactive/inattentive preschool children

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with deficits in self-regulatory cognitive processes, some of which are thought to lie at the heart of the disorder. Slowing of reaction times (RTs) for correct responses following errors made during decision tasks has been interpreted as an indication of intact self-regulatory functioning and has been shown to be attenuated in school-aged children with ADHD. This study attempted to examine whether ADHD symptoms are associated with an early-emerging deficit in posterror slowing. Method: A computerized two-choice RT task was administered to an ethnically diverse sample of preschool-aged children classified as either “control” (n = 120) or “hyperactive/inattentive” (HI; n = 148) using parent- and teacher-rated ADHD symptoms. Analyses were conducted to determine whether HI preschoolers exhibit a deficit in this self-regulatory ability. Results: HI children exhibited reduced posterror slowing relative to controls on the trials selected for analysis. Supplementary analyses indicated that this may have been due to a reduced proportion of trials following errors on which HI children slowed rather than due to a reduction in the absolute magnitude of slowing on all trials following errors. Conclusions: High levels of ADHD symptoms in preschoolers may be associated with a deficit in error processing as indicated by posterror slowing. The results of supplementary analyses suggest that this deficit is perhaps more a result of failures to perceive errors than of difficulties with executive control.     

冲动性对吗啡诱导的条件性位置偏爱及行为敏感化的影响

许多研究显示, 冲动性与尼古丁、可卡因、海洛因等药物成瘾显著相关, 但它对吗啡成瘾的影响尚未见到报道。本实验考察冲动性对吗啡诱导的条件性位置偏爱及行为敏感化的影响。实验采用延迟奖赏模型将大鼠的冲动性区分为高、中、低三个水平, 每个水平设置吗啡处理组和盐水处理组。结果发现：动物对吗啡诱导的条件性位置偏爱的程度表现为低冲动组>中冲动组>高冲动组, 并且中、低冲动组动物形成了条件性位置偏爱而高冲动组没有形成这种偏爱; 在行为敏感化表达期, 与相应的盐水组比较, 高、中冲动组动物的吗啡运动激活效应显著, 而低冲动组没有达到显著水平。这些结果提示, 条件性位置偏爱任务中, 动物的冲动性越高, 吗啡的强化效应越低; 行为敏感化任务中, 动物的冲动性越高, 吗啡的运动激活效应越高。由此可见, 动物的冲动性对吗啡诱导的条件性位置偏爱及行为敏感化的影响存在差异。     

Effective warnings in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott false-memory paradigm: the role of identifiability

These experiments document that warnings can substantially reduce false memories in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm when the critical items are easily identifiable. Participants in a norming study identified the critical item after hearing a list of words. The lists with critical items that could be identified by the largest proportion of participants (high identifiable [HI] lists) and the smallest proportion of participants (low identifiable [LI] lists) were used in the experiment. Participants heard lists of words (e.g., bed, rest, doze) related to a critical item (e.g., sleep) and were warned about the nature of the lists before the study phase. The results indicated that warnings reduced false recognition of critical items for HI lists but not LI lists.     

Parent Ratings of ADHD Symptoms: Differential Symptom Functioning Across Malaysian Malay and Chinese Children

This study examined differential symptom functioning (DSF) in ADHD symptoms across Malay and Chinese children in Malaysia. Malay (N=571) and Chinese (N=254) parents completed the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale, which lists the DSM-IV ADHD symptoms. DSF was examined using the multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) structural equation modeling procedure. Although DSF was found for a single inattention (IA) symptom and three hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI) symptoms, all these differences had low effect sizes. Controlling for these DSF, Chinese children had higher IA and HI latent factor scores. However the effect sizes were small. Together, these findings suggest adequate support for invariance of the ADHD symptoms across these ethno-cultural groups. The implications of the findings for cross-cultural invariance of the ADHD symptoms are discussed.     

Aggressive interactions among female,semi-captive pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) increase within the hierarchy and after short-term removal of the male

Two trials were carried out to determine: (a) if there is a positive relation between the frequency of aggressive interactions among female pampas deer and their position within the hierarchy (HI), (b) if short-term removal of the male triggers an increase in the frequency of aggression, and (c) if the magnitude of this increase is related to the individual rank position of the female. Each of 19 breeding groups comprised one adult male and from four to six adult females. The HI was determined for each female and all aggressive interactions were recorded. These were recorded while the male was present (i.e., all of Trial 1 and the “with male” period in Trial 2) and after removal of the male (i.e., the “without male” period in Trial 2). The individual percentage change in the frequency of aggressive interactions after male removal was calculated. In Trial 1 the HI, the frequency of different types of aggressive interaction and the total of aggressive interactions were positively related (all: p < .001; General Linear Mixed Model [GLMM]). In Trial 2, the frequency of total aggressive interactions increased after male removal (F(1, 27) = 3.5; p < .001; GLMM). The individual percentage changes in aggressive interaction between periods were positively related to HI (F(6, 24) = 2.56; p = .05; GLMM). For female pampas deer maintained in breeding groups, we conclude that the frequency of aggressive interactions increases within the hierarchy. Aggression also increases after the short-term removal of the male, mainly among females of higher social status.