Validity and Reliability Study of the Chinese (Traditional) Version of the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Toddlers (DECA-T).

Background: The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Toddlers (DECA-T), which is one of the few standardized, norm-referenced behavioral rating scales related to young children's mental health, resilience, and social-emotional development, was developed for toddlers aged between 18 and 36 months.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the clinimetric properties of the Chinese (Traditional) version of the DECA-T (C-DECA-T) using a classical test theory analysis and an item response theory analysis.

Methods: Seventy-five community-based toddlers aged from 18 to 36 months and 50 clinic-based participants recruited in hospitals in northern Taiwan participated in this study.

Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS-C).

Introductions: This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS-C) among depression patients in Taiwan.

Methods: To validate the SDS-C, two samples were selected: Sample 1 (n = 78) consisted of patients diagnosed with Depressive Disorder, while sample 2 (n = 63) consisted of a nondepressive population. Sample 1 was evaluated with SDS twice with 7-14 days interval to measure test-retest reliability.

Differential effects of olanzapine and clozapine on plasma levels of adipocytokines and total ghrelin.

Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have been associated with an increased liability for weight gain and metabolic side effects. Among SGAs, clozapine and olanzapine had great liability to induce weight gain and metabolic adverse reactions. Leptin, adiponectin, and total ghrelin play important roles in energy homeostasis and are suggested to be biomarkers of metabolic disturbances.

Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and quality of life of mothers of school-aged children: the roles of child, mother, and family variables.

This study examined the impact of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in children and mothers, opposition problems in children, maternal depression, and perceived family support on the quality of life (QOL) of mothers. Mothers of children in one elementary school were contacted. The relationship between sociodemographic variables, the levels of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in children and mothers, oppositional symptoms in children, maternal depression, perceived family support, and maternal QOL were examined.

Prevalence, correlates, and risk perception of HIV infection among heroin users in Central Taiwan.

We investigated the prevalence and correlated factors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among heroin users attending methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs in Central Taiwan, and explored the degree of risk perception of HIV infection among the participants. Our study participants were 781 heroin users seeking treatment at the MMT program at Tsaotun Psychiatric Center in Taiwan. The presence of HIV antibodies was identified by microparticle enzyme immunoassay and confirmed by western blot.

High prevalence but low awareness of hepatitis C virus infection among heroin users who received methadone maintenance therapy in Taiwan.

Background: This study investigates the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among heroin dependent individuals who received methadone maintenance therapy in Taiwan. Also, we investigate users' awareness of HCV.

Methods: Participants were 773 heroin users entering the methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program at Tsaotun Psychiatric Center in Taiwan.

Medical education in Taiwan.

Taiwan's medical education system bears a close relationship with its colonial and post-colonial history. Since the late nineteenth century, Western medicine, Chinese medicine, and the practice of the other forms of traditional healing have encountered complex transactions with the state and one another, eventually evolving into the present medical system. Nowadays, the mainstream form of medical education in Taiwan is a 7-year Western program; other forms of medical education include a 5-year graduate program and traditional medicine programs.

Weight gain and ghrelin level after olanzapine monotherapy.

Background: The present study aimed to explore the association between weight gain and ghrelin among schizophrenic patients under olanzapine treatment. The relationships among weight gain and adiponectin, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were also investigated.

Methods: This case-control study recruited 66 schizophrenic patients from the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in central Taiwan.

The validation study and application of stratum-specific likelihood ratios in the Chinese version of SPAN.

The Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) is a validated self-rating scale used in the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A shorter version of the DTS was developed to serve as a diagnostic screening tool. A four-item scale, the SPAN (named for its principal four items: Startle, Physiological arousal, Anger, and Numbness), was then developed.