Behavioural Emotional Difficulties Research Articles

A-27 A Pediatric Case Study of Neurodevelopmental Disorder Associated with Complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Abstract Objective The corpus callosum is a major white matter pathway of the brain that coordinates the transfer of information between both cerebral hemispheres. Children with complete agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy, and genetic abnormalities. Method This case study presents the neuropsychological profile of a 6-year-old girl in the 1st grade who was born with complete ACC and presented with a history of attention problems and behavioral-emotional difficulties. Results Neuropsychological testing revealed mild to severe deficits in attention, executive functioning, and self-regulation in the context of average intellectual functioning and broadly average to above-average academic achievement. Conclusions School recommendations included establishing a 504 plan and weekly counseling sessions with the school social worker in order to provide accommodations to support the child’s attention difficulties in the academic setting. Recommendations for genetic testing and ongoing monitoring by the patient’s neurologist were suggested given the higher rates of genetic abnormalities and seizures in children with ACC as these conditions can adversely impact neurodevelopmental outcomes. Medication management, as well as private behavior therapy with a parent-training component, were recommended for interventions to address the child’s deficits with attention and behavioral regulation. This case study demonstrates the need for prompt neuropsychological evaluation for children with ACC in order to more efficiently facilitate access to targeted assessments and treatments that can lead to improved outcomes.

Evaluation of Suicide Attempt due to Drug Poisoning in a 7 -Year -Old Girl: A Case Report

Introduction: Suicidal behavior is a worrying issue in children and is a very important indicator of emotional distress in children. Suicide is uncommon in children before puberty. Case Report: Here, a case of a 7-year-old girl who committed suicide by drug poisoning was reported. The child's behavior was assessed using a child behavior checklist (CBCL), in which aggressive behavioral problem was the most important. Her mother had a history of suicide attempts, generalized anxiety, and major depressive disorder over the past year, and her father was a drug abuser. Conclusion: Mental disorders in parents and tensions in the family may be associated with behavioral-emotional difficulties in children and it can lead to dangerous behaviors such as suicide attempts. It is most important to describe the factors that lead to suicide attempt among children and intervention that my help these children.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): neurobehavioral profile, indications for diagnosis and treatment.

It is now known that exposure to alcohol in utero produces a wide spectrum of morphological and behavioural outcomes in the offspring, commonly referred as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). A large body of literature documents cognitive deficits and behavioural-emotional difficulties in children with FASD. Researchers have found that individuals with FASD often experience a range of adverse life outcomes, called secondary disabilities, which include disrupted school experience, troubles with the law, confinement, inappropriate sexual behaviours on repeated occasions, and alcohol/drug related problems. Additionally, despite considerable data published on cognitive and behavioural disabilities in children with FASD, relatively little information is available on behavioural or pharmacological interventions for alcohol affected children. This paper will provide a comprehensive review of the neuropsychological and behavioural effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, including a discussion of the emerging neurobehavioral profile. Finally, we will summarize published intervention studies of FASD focusing on their strengths and weaknesses.

The nature of caregiving in children of a parent with multiple sclerosis from multiple sources and the associations between caregiving activities and youth adjustment overtime

This study explored youth caregiving for a parent with multiple sclerosis (MS) from multiple perspectives, and examined associations between caregiving and child negative (behavioural emotional difficulties, somatisation) and positive (life satisfaction, positive affect, prosocial behaviour) adjustment outcomes overtime. A total of 88 families participated; 85 parents with MS, 55 partners and 130 children completed questionnaires at Time 1. Child caregiving was assessed by the Youth Activities of Caregiving Scale (YACS). Child and parent questionnaire data were collected at Time 1 and child data were collected 12 months later (Time 2). Factor analysis of the child and parent YACS data replicated the four factors (instrumental, social-emotional, personal-intimate, domestic-household care), all of which were psychometrically sound. The YACS factors were related to parental illness and caregiving context variables that reflected increased caregiving demands. The Time 1 instrumental and social-emotional care domains were associated with poorer Time 2 adjustment, whereas personal-intimate was related to better adjustment and domestic-household care was unrelated to adjustment. Children and their parents exhibited highest agreement on personal-intimate, instrumental and total caregiving, and least on domestic-household and social-emotional care. Findings delineate the key dimensions of young caregiving in MS and the differential links between caregiving activities and youth adjustment.