Publications by authors named "Ana Ortin"

Objectives: An Antisocial Behavior index (ASB-I) for children (ages 5 to 15) was previously developed by obtaining clinician ratings of the seriousness or severity of various behaviors with the goal of improving assessment of antisocial behaviors (ASB) longitudinally. We extend the instrument for use in late adolescence/young adulthood, as socially unacceptable conduct manifests differently across developmental stages. As in the original study, this extension (the ASB-I YA) is based on independent ratings of ASB seriousness/severity during late adolescence/young adulthood (16 to 28 years) made by nine experienced clinicians.

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Young adulthood is a major transition period, particularly challenging for those with mental disorders. Though the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders is especially high, young adults are less likely to receive mental health treatment than younger and older individuals. Reasons for this mental health treatment gap are multifold and range from individual- to system-level factors that must be taken into consideration when addressing young adult mental health needs.

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Sexual attraction (SA), the earliest stage of sexual orientation, is scarcely studied. This prospective study examined, over 3 years, prevalence, changes in SA, and the role of context, among 946 Puerto Rican youth, aged 11-13 years at initial assessment in the South Bronx (SBx), New York City, and Puerto Rico (PR). Overall, 98.

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Background: For decades, economists and sociologists have documented intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic disadvantage, demonstrating that economic, political, and social factors contribute to 'inherited hardship'. Drawing on biological factors, the developmental origins of adult health and disease model posits that fetal exposure to maternal prenatal distress associated with socioeconomic disadvantage compromises offspring's neurodevelopment, affecting short- and long-term physical and mental health, and thereby psychosocial standing and resources. Increasing evidence suggests that mother-to-child influence occurs prenatally, in part via maternal and offspring atypical HPA axis regulation, with negative effects on the maturation of prefrontal and subcortical neural circuits in the offspring.

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