A study of disruptive behavior disorders in Puerto Rican youth: I. Background, design, and survey methods.

Objective: This is the first of two related articles on a study carried out between 2000 and 2003 designed to assess the prevalence, associated comorbidities, and correlates of disruptive behavior disorders in two populations of Puerto Rican children: one in the Standard Metropolitan Areas of San Juan and Caguas in Puerto Rico, and the other in the south Bronx in New York City.

Method: This article provides the study's background, design, and methodology. Probability samples of children ages 5 to 13 years were drawn at the two sites (n = 2,491).

Impact of comorbid anxiety in an effectiveness study of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.

Objective: To assess the impact of comorbid anxiety on treatment for adolescent depression in an effectiveness study of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A).

Method: A randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 1, 1999, through July 31, 2002. Sixty-three depressed adolescents, ages 12 to 18, received either IPT-A or treatment as usual delivered by school-based mental health clinicians.

Improving recognition of adolescent depression in primary care.

Objective: To address the following questions: (1) What evidence (ie, psychometric data collected in pediatric primary care, patient outcome data) exists for the various methods used to identify adolescent depression in primary care? and (2) What identification practices are currently in use?

Data Sources: We systematically searched MEDLINE for English-language articles using specific search terms and examined relevant titles, abstracts, and articles.

Study Selection: We reviewed 1743 MEDLINE abstracts. Seventy-four articles were pulled for examination, with 30 articles meeting full criteria.

Adolescent axis I and personality disorders predict quality of life during young adulthood.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the prospective association of adolescent Axis I mental disorder and personality disorder (PD) with young adult quality of life (QOL) in the general population.

Methods: Seven hundred fifty mothers and youths participating in a prospective longitudinal community-based study were interviewed. Mental disorders were measured at a mean age 16 years.

Sex differences in subclinical and DSM-IV pathological gambling: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Background: To examine sex differences in DSM-IV subclinical and pathological gambling in nationally representative data of the US population.

Method: Data come from a large (n = 43093) representative sample of the adult US population.

Results: The lifetime prevalence rate of DSM-IV pathological gambling was 0.

Diagnosis of comorbid psychiatric disorders in substance users assessed with the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders for DSM-IV.

Objective: The authors used the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders for DSM-IV (PRISM-IV) to test the reliability of DSM-IV-defined disorders, including primary and substance-induced disorders, in substance-abusing subjects.

Method: Substance-abusing patients (N=285) from substance abuse/dual-diagnosis treatment settings and mental health treatment settings participated in test and blind retest interviews with the PRISM-IV, which includes specific guidelines for assessment of substance abusers.

Results: Kappas for primary and substance-induced major depressive disorder ranged from 0.

The impact of borderline personality disorder and anxiety on neuropsychological performance in major depression.

Previous studies of neuropsychological performance in borderline personality disorder (BPD) have exhibited mixed results. The high rate of co-occurring major depressive disorder (MDD) in BPD makes it difficult to specify whether neuropsychological deficits in BPD predominantly reflect co-occurring MDD or unique aspects of their psychopathology. To address this issue, 22 participants with borderline personality disorder and concurrent major depressive disorder (BPD-MDD) and 33 participants with MDD and no concurrent personality disorder were compared on a neuropsychological battery that assessed seven domains of performance: general intellectual functioning, motor skill, psychomotor speed, attention, memory, working memory, and executive function.

Habit learning and anorexia nervosa: a cognitive neuroscience hypothesis.

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by abnormal behaviors involving eating and weight that are impressively resistant to change. The persistence of these behaviors likely plays an important role in the high relapse rate after initial treatment. Persistent, stereotyped behaviors are also characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Evolutionary conservation and mutational spectrum of BMPR2 gene.

A variety of mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2) have been identified in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. In this study, using our BMPR2 mutation database and BMPR-II protein sequences from eight distantly related species, we defined the relationship among evolutionary conservation, mutation frequency and mutation distribution. As a whole, BMPR2 is evolving slower than the average for mammalian protein-encoding genes.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and early-onset substance use disorders.

In recent years, there has been an increased recognition of the common comorbidity of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorder (SUD) among adolescents and adults. ADHD can be an important factor in the pathogenesis and maintenance of SUD; moreover, retrospective studies suggest that treating ADHD during childhood may prevent the development of SUD. In addition, treatment of ADHD among adults, and possibly adolescents, with SUD can reduce their risk of relapse.

Paper and voice MAYSI-2: format comparability and concordance with the voice DISC-IV.

The authors examine the comparability of paper and voice formats of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) as well as each format's concordance with the Voice Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) among adjudicated youth. Comparability is assessed among 248 youths admitted to a South Carolina Assessment Center. Mean scores and alpha coefficients are calculated, and area under the curve and positive and negative predictive values are used to compare concordance to the DISC.

Medical decision making: a selective review for child psychiatrists and psychologists.

Physicians, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, show variability and inaccuracies in diagnosis and treatment of their patients and do not routinely implement evidenced-based medical and psychiatric treatments in the community. We believe that it is necessary to characterize the decision-making processes of child and adolescent psychiatrists using theories and methods from cognitive and social sciences in order to design effective interventions to improve practice and education. This paper selectively reviews the decision-making literature, including recent studies on naturalistic decision making, novice-expert differences, and the role of technology on decision making and cognition.

Psychopathology among New York city public school children 6 months after September 11.

Context: Children exposed to a traumatic event may be at higher risk for developing mental disorders. The prevalence of child psychopathology, however, has not been assessed in a population-based sample exposed to different levels of mass trauma or across a range of disorders.

Objective: To determine prevalence and correlates of probable mental disorders among New York City, NY, public school students 6 months following the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack.

Sexual compulsivity among heterosexual college students.

A growing body of literature suggests that an association exists between sexual compulsivity and participation in sexual behaviors that are high risk in terms of HIV/STD infection. In most of these studies, sexual compulsivity has been measured using the Sexual Compulsivity Scale. As yet, sexual compulsivity has only been assessed with this scale among individuals who are members of high risk groups for HIV infection or who are HIV-positive.

Sexual health among male college students in the United States and the Netherlands.

Objectives: To assess differences in sexual health behaviors, outcomes, and potential sociocultural determinants among male college students in the United States and the Netherlands.

Methods: Survey data were collected from random samples of students from both national cultures.

Results: American men were more likely to report inadequate contraception, HIV/STD infection, and unintended pregnancy than were Dutch men.

Gender differences in psychiatric disorders at juvenile probation intake.

Objective: We identified gender differences in psychiatric disorders among youths at probation intake.

Methods: We measured disorders with the Voice Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children among 991 randomly selected youths (200 girls) at probation intake in 8 Texas counties. Logistic regression analyses predicted diagnostic clusters by gender, adjusting for demographics and offense characteristics.

Use of psychotropic medications for patients with office visits who receive a diagnosis of panic disorder.

Objective: We sought to examine trends in the medication management of panic disorder from a nationally representative sample of visits to psychiatrists and primary care physicians in office-based practice.

Method: We analyzed physician-reported data from the 1992-1995 and 1996-1999 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, focusing on medication management of panic disorder by primary care physicians and psychiatrists. Rates for which doctors prescribed medication for patients with a diagnosis of panic disorder were compared over the course of time to identify changes in medication management between physician groups.

Disclosure of a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

Objective: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common psychiatric disorder with a prevalence of 1%-2% in the general population. BPD also has the potential to cause significant distress in the lives of patients with BPD and their families. The diagnosis of BPD, however, is often withheld from patients.

Examining sexual health discourses in a racial/ethnic context.

Sexual health is a complex, multidimensional construct. In analyzing race and ethnicity in sexual health, this article examines 2 domains of discourse: (1) preventive sexual health, a public health oriented domain of discourse concerned with the prevention of disease, and (2) eudaemonic sexual health, a domain of discourse concerned with attainment of sexual pleasure within a moral context. Research on the sexual health of ethnic minority populations is typically focused on preventive sexual health.

Screening for emergent risk and service needs among incarcerated youth: comparing MAYSI-2 and Voice DISC-IV.

Objective: To examine associations between the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Present State Voice Version (DISC-IV) and the extent to which they overlap in identifying youths with mental health concerns.

Method: Among 325 New Jersey and South Carolina correctional youths, associations were examined using receiver operating characteristic analyses and logistic regression (binomial and multinomial).

Results: MAYSI-2 subscales generally mapped best onto homotypic DISC-IV disorders; however, many subscales mapped almost as well onto heterotypic disorders.

Asthma among homeless children: undercounting and undertreating the underserved.

Background: In the United States, children of color, children who live in urban medically underserved communities, and children whose families have limited economic resources have excessively high rates of asthma. The identification of high-risk subgroups of underserved children is crucial for understanding the determinants and scope of the childhood asthma epidemic and for developing successful interventions.

Objective: To determine the population prevalence of asthma among homeless children.

Response to methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and manic symptoms in the multimodal treatment study of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder titration trial.

Objective: Recent reports raise concern that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and some manic symptoms may worsen with stimulant treatment. This study examines the response to methylphenidate in such children.

Methods: Data from children participating in the 1-month methylphenidate titration trial of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD were reanalyzed by dividing the sample into children with and without some manic symptoms.