Immunological Effects of an Add-On Physical Exercise Therapy in Depressed Adolescents and Its Interplay with Depression Severity.

Background: Pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) have gained attention in the pathophysiology and treatment of depressive disorders. At the same time, the therapeutic effect of physical activity seems to work via immunomodulatory pathways. The interventional study "Mood Vibes" analyzed the influence of exercise on depression severity (primary endpoint) in depressive adolescents; the influence of PICs on the clinical outcome was analyzed as a secondary endpoint.

[Effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapy in children and juveniles - results of a pilot study].

Question: The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents has yet to be studied sufficiently in Germany. Because psychodynamic psychotherapy aims to reduce symptoms in both the short and long term - besides achieving other long-term goals - in this paper we present results focusing on whether symptoms and problem behavior can be improved within 25 h of outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy taking place in a practice. Moreover, it addresses whether a positive change of life quality can be achieved in the same timeframe.

Factor structure of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) in adolescent females.

Despite substantial evidence for the fit of the 3- and 4-factor models of Psychopathy Checklist-based ratings of psychopathy in adult males and adolescents, evidence is less consistent in adolescent females. However, prior studies used samples much smaller than recommended for examining model fit. To address this issue, we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of 646 adolescent females to test the fit of the 3- and 4-factor models.

[Epidemiological data on personality dimensions in the psychopathy of adolescent boys and girls - results of the Cologne GAP study].

Objective: This paper evaluates epidemiological data on psychopathy dimensions among adolescents.

Method: The Psychopathy Checklist Youth Version (PCL:YV) was administered to a forensic sample of 169 boys and 172 girls, to a clinical sample of 30 boys and 63 girls, and to a community sample of 119 male and 116 female pupils. Analysis was based on three different conceptualizations of psychopathy.

[The differentiation between identity crisis and identity diffusion and its impact on treatment].

The differentiation between an identity crisis, a transient phenomenon that usually results (after resolution) in a well-integrated identity with flexible and adaptive functioning, and an identity diffusion that is viewed as a basis for subsequent personality pathology, has a major impact on the selection of a treatment method. A new treatment method (Adolescent Identity Treatment, AIT), a modification of Transference Focused Psychotherapy, was developed to treat adolescents with identity diffusion in order to improve their relationships with friends, parents, and teachers and to help them acquire positive self-esteem, clarify life goals and establish a stable identity. In a case study we describe the basic approaches of AIT in assessment and treatment.

[Psychopathy, temperament and antisocial behaviour in girls].

Objective: This study addresses the question whether temperament and character differ between antisocial incarcerated girls with and without psychopathy. Furthermore, it enquires whether this model discriminates between groups with varied psychopathy symptoms.

Method: 170 incarcerated girls aged 14 to 17 years were examined using the German version of the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI 12-18) and the Psychopathy Checklist Youth Version (PCL:YV).

The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and psychopathy in adolescent male and female detainees.

Although ADHD and CD are apparent risk factors for adult psychopathy, there are three distinct perspectives regarding their relationships to psychopathy: (1) ADHD may contribute uniquely to the development of psychopathy or (2) its contribution may reflect its high comorbidity with CD. Alternatively, (3) the comorbid presence of ADHD and CD may confer unique risk for the development of psychopathy. Although prior adult studies have yielded conflicting findings, no prior studies of adolescents address this issue.

Factor structure of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: youth version in German female and male detainees and community adolescents.

Substantial evidence exists for 3- and 4-factor models of psychopathy underlying patterns of covariation among the items of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in diverse adult samples. Although initial studies conducted with the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) indicated reasonable fit for these models in incarcerated male adolescents in the United States and the United Kingdom, only one published study has addressed the factor structure of PCL:YV psychopathy in female adolescents, and no prior studies have addressed it outside of these countries. We used confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the factor structure underlying PCL:YV scores in 314 incarcerated (143 male, 171 female) and 193 in-school (99 male, 94 female) adolescents, ages 14 to 19 years.

[Transference focused psychotherapy for adolescents: a preliminary communication].

This article describes transference focused psychotherapy and its treatment strategies for the psychoanalytic treatment of severe personality disorders. The specific modifications proposed for the treatment of adolescent patients with this disorder are discussed. Elaborately, we dwell on the assessment phase for evaluating adolescents with the specific modifications regarding contract setting and inclusion of parents and caregivers in the beginning of und during psychotherapy.

[Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and personality disorders in treated in-patient and incarcerated adolescents].

Prevalence and comorbidity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and personality disorders (PD) were studied in a sample of juvenile in-patients (n = 43) and a sample of detained adolescents. The prevalence of ADHD showed no difference between detainees and in-patients, but significantly more incarcerated girls than boys reported ADHD-symptoms. PD and comorbid PDs were significantly more prevalent in the detained sample: whereas the in-patient juveniles fulfilled more often criteria for passive-avoidant and obsessive-compulsive PD, the detainees showed more antisocial PD (ASPD) and narcissistic PD.

Examining relations between psychopathology and psychopathy dimensions among adolescent female and male offenders.

Aim: This study was performed to investigate relations between psychopathology and psychopathy in adolescent female and male detainees.

Method: We examined 91 male and 123 female adolescent detainees (aged 14-19) for psychopathology -using the Youth Self Report, the Overt Aggression Scale-Modified and a Conduct Disorder Self Report Scale- and for psychopathic dimensions using the psychopathy checklist youth version (PCL:YV). Based on a linear regression analysis we compared the specific associations between psychopathology and psychopathy in both male and female delinquent juveniles.

[Treatment of an 11-year-old child with elements of the dialectical behavioral therapy for adolescents].

When a psychiatric disorder during childhood is on the verge of becoming chronic despite intensive early and guideline-based psychotherapy, the diagnostic classification according to research results ought to be reconsidered. By means of this case review it should be discussed which diagnostic and therapeutic procedure is appropriate, taking into account the stage of development and the pathology of the patient. This paper encourages sharpening the eye towards phenomena that--with respect to some disorders--can easily be ignored and be misinterpreted as typically conflict neurotic.

Early traumatization and psychopathy in female and male juvenile offenders.

Childhood traumatization is expected to have a significant impact on the development of antisocial and aggressive behavior in adulthood. Psychopathy as a syndrome that can predict future violent and aggressive behavior in adults is therefore believed to be associated with early traumatization. The association between early childhood victimization and violence might at least be mediated through psychopathy.

Dimensional assessment of personality pathology in female and male juvenile delinquents.

A developmental perspective implies similar personality pathology dimensions for adolescents and adults. The present study examined the applicability of a dimensional approach in incarcerated delinquent female and male juveniles using the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology-Basic Questionnaire (DAPP-BQ). A sample of detained adolescents (n = 146) was compared to adolescent students (n = 98) and a healthy control group of adults (n = 82).

Motives for maternal filicide: results from a study with female forensic patients.

The objective of this study was to examine different motivational factors, leading mothers to commit neonaticidal, infanticidal or filicidal acts. This study was based on data gathered through a retrospective chart review of all filicidal women admitted to the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in New York State (MHFPC) between 1976 and 2000 (n=57). Because our sample was drawn from MHFPC records it excludes filicidal mothers who went directly to prison.

[Less severe sexual child abuse and its sequelae: are there different psychic and psychosomatic symptoms in relation to various forms of sexual interaction?].

A typology of less severe sexual encounters was used to analyze short and long term sequelae of sexual abuse via intimate skin contact. Well known theoretical approaches on the harmful effects of sexual abuse were tested. Do we find different peri- and posttraumatic reactions dependent upon varied forms of sexual interactions with children? A cluster analysis was calculated with symptom variables that were described in 141 child statements taken out of written expert opinions.

[The psychopathy-concept and its psychometric evaluation in childhood and adolescence].

In accordance with Robert Hare's concept, over twenty years the word psychopathy is used to describe a specific combination of affective and interpersonal traits in adults as subtype of antisocial personality disorder. Recently in North America personality traits of psychopathy have also been studied in juveniles (and children). The Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL-YV) was developed to take the special conditions of adolescents into account and focuses on assessing personality dimensions from age 12 upwards.