Co-occurring Conditions Research Articles

Emotionally valenced stimuli impact response inhibition in those with substance use disorder and co-occurring anxiety and depression symptoms

BackgroundSubstance use disorder (SUD) is associated with impaired response inhibition. Given the deficits in emotion regulation associated with SUD, it is unclear if this impairment is exacerbated by emotionally valenced stimuli. Co-occurring conditions may further exacerbate these impairments as many co-occurring conditions further impact emotion regulation. It was hypothesized that negative stimuli may further impact response inhibition for this population. MethodsThe current study used the stop-signal task to examine response inhibition to negative, neutral and positive stimuli in a sample of those with a history of SUD and co-occurring depression and anxiety symptoms. ResultsResponse inhibition was poorer for negative stimuli relative to neutral stimuli. There was no difference between negative and positive stimuli. Depression severity moderated the difference between response inhibition for negative and neutral stimuli. At elevated depression, response inhibition was worse and there was no difference across emotional stimuli. At low depression, there was a significant difference between negative and neutral stimuli. This effect was not found for anxiety symptoms. LimitationsStudy participants presented with polysubstance use of varying duration and amount. It is unclear whether findings are attributed to specific substances, or substance use broadly. Additionally, happy, angry, and calm facial emotions were used to represent positive, negative, and neutral valences respectively. It is unclear whether these findings are generalizable to other emotional expressions. ConclusionResults suggested that emotionally valenced stimuli affected response inhibition among those with low symptom severity. At elevated symptom severity, response inhibition to all stimuli were impaired.

Current Approaches to the Pharmacologic Treatment of Core Symptoms Across the Lifespan of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

There are no approved medications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core symptoms. However, given the significant clinical need, children and adults with ASD are prescribed medication off label for core or associated conditions, sometimes based on limited evidence for effectiveness. Recent developments in the understanding of biologic basis of ASD have led to novel targets with potential to impact core symptoms, and several clinical trials are underway. Heterogeneity in course of development, co-occurring conditions, and age-related treatment response variability hampers study outcomes. Novel measures and approaches to ASD clinical trial design will help in development of effective pharmacologic treatments.

Family accommodation of anxiety in a community sample of children on the autism spectrum

Anxiety is recognised as one of the most common co-occurring conditions for individuals with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, with approximately 40 % of children on the spectrum receiving a clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. To date, research has tended to focus upon understanding presentation and evaluating treatment, with little focus on assessing systemic factors, such as the way that family members accommodate the anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parent and child anxiety levels and child autism characteristics on the four domains of family accommodation; Participation, Modification, Distress, and Consequence. A community sample (n = 132) of parents of children on the spectrum completed questionnaires on their child’s autism characteristics and anxiety symptomatology as well as their own levels of anxiety and family accommodation behaviours. Regression models identified specific aspects of child anxiety as well as parent anxiety as predictive of family accommodation, with the child’s difficulties with uncertainty being a consistent predictor of all four domains. Clinical and research implications of this study, including the importance of understanding similarities or differences in the nature and consequence of family accommodation in children on the autism spectrum, are discussed.

Impact of Pre-Existing Migraine and Other Co-Morbid or Co-Occurring Conditions on Presentation and Clinical Course Following Deployment-Related Concussion.

To describe the clinical presentation and early clinical course of a sample of deployed U.S. military service members following concussion, underscoring the impact of pre-existing migraine and other co-occurring conditions. It is important to obtain a comprehensive clinical history to identify evidence of underlying migraine and other health conditions which may contribute to an individual's presenting symptoms influencing early management and outcomes following concussion. Early outcome measures assessed include headache treatment response and fitness for return to duty. Acute concussion is reported to result in an array of somatic, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. It is well established that these symptoms are not specific for concussion and may result from exacerbation of pre-existing or underlying medical conditions and factors. Although most symptoms attributable to concussion resolve within days to weeks, there is evidence that persistent symptoms beyond that specific recovery time may be attributable to factors other than concussion. Military populations are at risk for a number of recognized co-morbid and co-occurring conditions, as well as special situational and psychosocial factors which may influence symptoms and clinical course following concussion. In addition, combat-related concussion frequently occurs in the setting of a blast or military vehicle accidents thus causing concurrent injuries where musculoskeletal injuries may contribute to the clinical presentation. The resultant acute stress reaction, secondary to the traumatic experience associated with concussion, may also cause or aggravate underlying psychological co-morbidities that may influence presenting symptoms. Prior studies identified co-morbidities associated with chronic post-concussive syndrome, which we find are also present during the early phase following deployment-related concussion, thereby influencing presentation and impacting recovery. This retrospective chart review was intended to demonstrate the presence and potential impact of co-morbid and co-occurring conditions contributing to symptoms following concussion, especially migraine due to its high prevalence among post-traumatic headaches. Retrospective chart review was performed by the treating neurologist of 40 service members following concussion in the deployed environment. Clinical symptoms and co-morbid and co-occurring conditions including evidence of pre-existing migraine identified during comprehensive neurologic evaluations were collected. Both pre-deployment/pre-traumatic and post-traumatic headache features supporting migraine and early instituted headache management and treatment response are described. Rates of return to duty in this sample were also tabulated. Headaches were the most frequently reported acute symptom following concussion in this deployed service member population (38/40 patients [98%]), followed by insomnia, tinnitus, impaired concentration, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, impaired balance, depression, and hearing loss. Co-occurring acute injuries, acute stress reaction, and recent onset medication overuse were the most frequent co-occurring conditions identified by the treating neurologist as potentially contributing to the service member's presentation. Chronic co-morbidities identified included chronic headache, anxiety/depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Service members with 3 or more identified co-morbidities or co-occurring conditions were more likely to require evacuation from theater. Pre-deployment headaches were reported by 25/40 [63%] service members, with 5/40 [12.5%] reporting known prior personal history of migraine. Of those reporting pre-deployment headaches, 21/25 [84%] described migraine features and/or triggers, though most [(15/25) 60%] reported as infrequent. Daily post-traumatic headaches were frequent (26/38 [68%]) and associated with typical migraine features and/or triggers. Of those treated with triptans (16/40 patient [42%]), most (12/16 patient [75%]) showed positive treatment response. Concussion in the deployed settings does not occur in isolation, with co-morbid and co-occurring conditions being common. Presence of multiple co-morbidities appears to influence clinical course and overall recovery. Post-traumatic headaches are often phenotypically fully consistent with migraine, and appear related to pre-existing migraine if supported by detailed pre-deployment headache history suggesting same. Careful and comprehensive history taking and evaluation is invaluable in identifying associated conditions including migraine, potentially helping clinicians with more accurate symptom attribution, diagnoses, and improved clinical management following acute concussion.

The Effectiveness of Complex Non-Pharmacological Treatment in Patients with Episodic Migraine and Neck Pain

Introduction: Comorbidities and co-occurring conditions contribute to the overall burden of migraine. Treatment co-occurring condition is an important part in providing optimal care. Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of complex non-pharmacological treatment and impact it on daily activities and concomitant anxiety and depression in patients with episodic migraine and co-occurring neck pain. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 56 patients with episodic migraine (with aura 18 and 38 without aura) and co-existing neck pain, 21 men, 35 women, age from 18 to 55 years. Examination including radiography of the cervical spine, visual analogue scale for the pain, “HIT-6”, Beck Depression Inventory and Spilberger-Hanin’s anxiety scale. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to compare the data. Results: Patients were divided into two treatment groups: the first group of patients 28 patients received only the specified complex of manual therapy, second group - 28 patients underwent a set of manual therapy and acupuncture. After treatment in first group observed decrease of frequency and severity of migraine attacks and a reduce number of days with a headache, but level of anxiety and depressive manifestations less decreased. In second group was more significant reduce the intensity, duration and frequency of migraine, more significant dynamics of anxiety disorders and general well-being. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological treatment neck-pain syndrome in patients with episodic migraine not only to be effective in symptomatic control of pericranial muscles tension but influence on decrease of frequency and severity migraine attacks. Adding acupuncture to manual techniques more significant reduce pain syndrome and psychological disorders that possible lead to reduce drug intake.

Integrative Cognitive Rehabilitation TeleECHO to Treat Brain Injury with Co-occurring Conditions

To assess the effectiveness of training professionals on integrative cognitive rehabilitation psychotherapy (ICRP) for people living with brain injury (PLWBI) and co-occurring issues using teleECHO.

Discovering novel disease comorbidities using electronic medical records.

Increasing reliance on electronic medical records at large medical centers provides unique opportunities to perform population level analyses exploring disease progression and etiology. The massive accumulation of diagnostic, procedure, and laboratory codes in one place has enabled the exploration of co-occurring conditions, their risk factors, and potential prognostic factors. While most of the readily identifiable associations in medical records are (now) well known to the scientific community, there is no doubt many more relationships are still to be uncovered in EMR data. In this paper, we introduce a novel finding index to help with that task. This new index uses data mined from real-time PubMed abstracts to indicate the extent to which empirically discovered associations are already known (i.e., present in the scientific literature). Our methods leverage second-generation p-values, which better identify associations that are truly clinically meaningful. We illustrate our new method with three examples: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Optic Neuritis. Our results demonstrate wide utility for identifying new associations in EMR data that have the highest priority among the complex web of correlations and causalities. Data scientists and clinicians can work together more effectively to discover novel associations that are both empirically reliable and clinically understudied.

Predictors of behavioral health service utilization in a medicaid enrolled sample of emerging adults

Emerging adults (EA), individuals between the ages of 15-26, face many challenges in their transition to a new developmental stage, especially those with behavioral health concerns who do not receive the supports they need. Many EA drop out of services at 18, which is likely due in part to the need to transition to the adult service system and the lack of available transition support services in child/adolescent service systems. Though this is a clear disparity, research on EA service utilization, especially those enrolled in Medicaid and with co-occurring conditions, is rare. This paper begins to address this gap by examining variables at age 17 that predict the service utilization of continuously Medicaid enrolled EA at age 18. Data came from an administrative dataset. The sample had 4,548 EA and 53% were female, 50% identified with a minority group, and 19% were child-welfare involved. Exploratory logistic regression analyses were used. Minority EA had lower odds of utilizing services at age 18. EA involved with child welfare had greater odds of utilizing services at age 18. EA with at least one Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and at least one mental health disorder at 17 had a higher likelihood of service utilization at 18, the opposite was true for EA with only SUDs. These findings identified predictors of service utilization for an understudied sample—EA enrolled in Medicaid. Results provided preliminary evidence that EA with SUD diagnoses access behavioral health services differently than those without a SUD diagnosis, and that it is fruitful to examine subgroups of EA when seeking to understand their service utilization patterns. Identifying predictors of service utilization during the transition period from the child to the adult system can help inform systems interventions to retain EA in services.

Rural women's first-person perspectives on the role of mental health in substance use.

Some evidence suggests that co-occurring conditions may be more prevalent among rural populations. Rural women face limited behavioral health care, social barriers, and structural vulnerability that heighten their risk for co-occurring conditions. This qualitative study examines the first-person narratives of rural women to identify their perspectives on the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptoms. Investigators performed secondary analysis of transcripts from intervention sessions (n=87) from incarcerated, rural women who were using drugs (n=24) who took part in an intervention based on motivational interviewing using a thematic analysis approach. In this sample of low-income Appalachian women in the rural USA, many described their substance use as emerging from a desire to escape mental health symptoms emerging from life stress and trauma. Although many remarked on their desire to 'deal with' the issues at the root of their mental health symptoms, they possessed limited options for formal treatment, let alone resources for coping. Instead, they encountered stigmatizing discourses about addiction that inadvertently reinforced their poor self-worth, only furthering substance use and confusing their sense of themselves. These findings demonstrate the importance of creating pragmatic strategies to make behavioral health treatment available to rural women, in combination with larger programs that address the social conditions putting women at risk for poor mental health and substance use.

Who is not coming to clinic? A predictive model of excessive missed appointments in persons with multiple sclerosis

Background: Missed appointments can have negative effects on several facets of healthcare, including disruption of services, worse patient health outcomes, and increased costs. The influence of demographic and clinical factors on missed appointments has been studied in a number of chronic conditions, but not yet in multiple sclerosis (MS). Engagement in healthcare services is a particular concern with this population, given the complexity of the condition. Furthermore, excessive missed appointments has emerged as a risk factor for suboptimal adherence to disease modifying therapies (DMTs), prompting further exploration into this issue and whether a tool could be developed to triage possible interventions for persons with MS on DMTs who are missing their appointments. As such, this study aimed to investigate the rate and factors associated with missed appointments among a large national sample of persons with MS and develop a predictive model of excessive missed appointments.Methods: Administrative data from 01/01/2013 to 12/31/2015 were extracted from the VA MS Center of Excellence Data Repository. Variables not related to excessive missed appointments, defined as missing more than 20% of scheduled appointments, in bivariate analyses (p > 0.20) were excluded. Remaining baseline co-occurring conditions, demographic, and healthcare utilization variables were entered into a logistic regression model, using a backward elimination criteria of p < 0.05. Calibration and discrimination of the model were assessed. An initial predictive score was generated based on the value of the variable and its β-value from the final model.Results: The number of missed appointments ranged from 0 to 84 over a two-year period. Over 59% missed at least one appointment, though only 4.28% had excessive missed appointments. Seven variables were retained in the model: adherence to DMTs, age, distance, histories of post-traumatic stress disorder, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emergency visits. Predictive scores ranged from -6.42 to 0.96 (M = -2.61, SD = 1.15). The final model had good discrimination, calibration, and fit.Conclusions: By using this model and accompanying score, clinicians could have a good chance of predicting individuals who will miss more than 20% of their appointments and triaging interventions.

Traumatic brain injury and sleep disturbances in combat-exposed service members and veterans: Where to go next?

To synthesize the current evidence on sleep disturbances in military service members (SMs) and veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). An electronic literature search first identified abstracts published from 2008-2018 inclusively referencing sleep, TBI, and military personnel from Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Persian Gulf veterans. Selection criteria eliminated studies on non-combat TBI, open or penetrating injuries, and articles where the relationship between sleep and TBI was not directly examined. Articles on all military branches and components, those currently serving and veterans-ranging from medical chart reviews to clinical trials, were included. Forty-one articles were selected for full text-review. Twenty-four papers estimated the prevalence of sleep disturbances in TBI. Eight studies demonstrated the contribution of common co-occurring conditions, most notably posttraumatic stress disorder, to the relationship between disrupted sleep and TBI. Ten studies differentiated sleep profiles between military SMs and veterans with and without acute TBI and detected significant differences in sleep disturbances across the course of injury. Longitudinal studies were scarce but helped to establish the temporal relationship between sleep disturbances and TBI and isolate sleep-related mechanisms influencing TBI prognosis. Only three studies reported on interventions for improving sleep quality and TBI symptoms. Systematic research testing assessments and interventions that target sleep disturbances for improving sleep, TBI symptoms, and long-term functional outcomes were identified as critical knowledge gaps. Findings unequivocally establish that sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in SMs and veterans with TBI. However, studies testing the effectiveness of treatments for improving sleep in military groups with TBI have been limited and their results inconsistent. This review highlights a critical opportunity for advancing military medicine through future research aimed at identifying and testing sleep-focused treatments in SMs and veterans with combat-related TBI.

A Mental Health-Physical Health-Violence (MPV) Syndemic Factor in Women with Mental Disorders.

This study extended research on syndemics for women with mental disorders by including self-reported mental and physical health conditions. Syndemics explain complex relationships among co-occurring conditions, and the social circumstances that influence their overlap. Data were from the baseline assessment of a randomized trial of Healthy Home, a nursing home-visit intervention for women with children. 172 adult women who were in mental health or substance use treatment completed measures (in Spanish or English) of anxiety, depression, violence during adulthood, physical health, and cigarette use. Structural Equation Modeling was used to evaluate a single-factor syndemic, and to test the relationships of theoretical predictors of the syndemic: income, number of children, women's abuse during childhood, mental health stigma, social support, and stress. Results supported a single factor syndemic model that explained variation in mental health, physical health, and violence during adulthood. Stress, β = .45, p < .001, and stigma, β = .22, p = .007, were related to the syndemic factor. There was evidence that self-reported mental and physical health share covariation, which suggested that integrated services for women with mental disorders may have synergistic effects on health. Findings suggest the need to develop and test interventions that address stress and stigma as a means of reducing health disparities for women with mental disorders.

Growth and physiological effects of single and combined Cu, NaCl, and water stresses on Atriplex atacamensis and A. halimus

Halophyte species have been proposed as suitable candidates for the phytostabilization of metal enriched sites in arid and semiarid ecosystems, but co-occurring conditions, such as salinity and water stress, can affect plant growth and colonization. In this work, we determined the effect of single and combined copper (Cu), salt (NaCl), and water stress on growth and tolerance strategies used by two xerohalophyte species of the genus Atriplex: Chilean A. atacamensis and European A. halimus. Seedlings of both species were subjected to 5 and 10 u M Cu, 0.5% NaCl, and 7.85 mM polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) in hydroponic cultures to create single and combined stress treatments. A single Cu stressor decreased growth parameters of both species, with a higher effect on A. atacamensis. Copper accumulation was higher in roots, which can be related to an increase of root non-protein thiols (NPT). Single NaCl had no negative effects on growth but increased leaf sodium (Na). Single PEG decreased shoot growth, especially in A. halimus, but had no effect on GSH expression. A combination of Cu, NaCl, and PEG further decreased growth parameters, but did not decrease glutathione, proline, or non-protein thiol expression. Atriplex atacamensis and A. halimus are affected differently by combined stresses, but both species show an active tolerance response to the presented conditions.

Specialist hospital treatment and care as reported by children with intellectual disabilities and a cleft lip and/or palate, their parents and healthcare professionals.

Research into hospital treatment and care of children with intellectual disabilities is extremely limited, but available literature points to difficulties. Some children have a co-occurring condition alongside an intellectual disability which requires ongoing treatment, such as a cleft lip/palate. To date, their experiences remain untapped. Semi-structured interviews with 23 participants; five children with intellectual disabilities (aged 11-16), their parents (n=9) and nine healthcare professionals working in cleft care. Thematic analysis determined patterns across the data. Three key themes were found: struggles (stress and distress, and power imbalance), tensions (perceived levels of choice and control in decision making, lack of training around intellectual disability assumptions and jargon) and good practice (appropriate communication and information, and tailored treatment). Good practice was evident, but was ad hoc. Individualized treatment and communication based upon children's needs are required as is further investigation into general anaesthetic induction for children with intellectual disabilities.

44.4 MANAGING TOURETTE'S DISORDER AND CO-OCCURRING ADHD

Tourette’s disorder is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by at least 2 motor and at least one vocal tic with the age of onset before age 18 years. In Tourette’s disorder, comorbidity is the rule rather than the exception, with up to 90 percent of affected individuals having at least one co-occurring condition. The most common co-occurring conditions include OCD and ADHD, although there are also increased rates of anxiety and mood disorders and other disruptive behavior disorders.

24.3 ANXIETY PRESENTATIONS IN YOUTH WITH ASD

Current data indicate that approximately 40 percent of children and adolescents with ASD will experience an anxiety disorder, and that anxiety has a profound impact on daily functioning in children. Presentations of anxiety in ASD can vary from mild to severe, with severe presentations resulting in severe consequences such as aggression, self-injurious behaviors, school refusal, and suicidal ideation. Managing anxiety requires a thoughtful approach that considers the overlapping symptoms between anxiety and other co-occurring conditions, the developmental level of the child, the availability of specialized psychotherapy providers, and knowledge of limited psychopharmacological evidence.

New and Preliminary Evidence on Altered Oral and Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Implications for ASD Diagnosis and Subtyping Based on Microbial Biomarkers.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological and developmental disorder characterized by behavioral and social impairments as well as multiple co-occurring conditions, such as gastrointestinal abnormalities, dental/periodontal diseases, and allergies. The etiology of ASD likely involves interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Recent studies suggest that oral and gut microbiome play important roles in the pathogenesis of inflammation, immune dysfunction, and disruption of the gut–brain axis, which may contribute to ASD pathophysiology. The majority of previous studies used unrelated neurotypical individuals as controls, and they focused on the gut microbiome, with little attention paid to the oral flora. In this pilot study, we used a first degree-relative matched design combined with high fidelity 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) gene amplicon sequencing in order to characterize the oral and gut microbiotas of patients with ASD compared to neurotypical individuals, and explored the utility of microbiome markers for ASD diagnosis and subtyping of clinical comorbid conditions. Additionally, we aimed to develop microbiome biomarkers to monitor responses to a subsequent clinical trial using probiotics supplementation. We identified distinct features of gut and salivary microbiota that differed between ASD patients and neurotypical controls. We next explored the utility of some differentially enriched markers for ASD diagnosis and examined the association between the oral and gut microbiomes using network analysis. Due to the tremendous clinical heterogeneity of the ASD population, we explored the relationship between microbiome and clinical indices as an attempt to extract microbiome signatures assocociated with clinical subtypes, including allergies, abdominal pain, and abnormal dietary habits. The diagnosis of ASD currently relies on psychological testing with potentially high subjectivity. Given the emerging role that the oral and gut microbiome plays in systemic diseases, our study will provide preliminary evidence for developing microbial markers that can be used to diagnose or guide treatment of ASD and comorbid conditions. These preliminary results also serve as a starting point to test whether altering the oral and gut microbiome could improve co-morbid conditions in patients with ASD and further modify the core symptoms of ASD.

Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Co-occurring mental health or psychiatric conditions are common in autism, impairing quality of life. Reported prevalences of co-occurring mental health or psychiatric conditions in people with autism range widely. Improved prevalence estimates and identification of moderators are needed to enhance recognition and care, and to guide future research. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature for publications between Jan 1, 1993, and Feb 1, 2019, in English or French, that reported original research using an observational design on the prevalence of co-occurring mental health conditions in people with autism and reported confirmed clinical diagnoses of the co-occurring conditions and autism using DSM or ICD criteria. For co-occurring mental health conditions reported with at least 15 datapoints (studies), we assessed risk of bias and we determined pooled estimates of prevalence for different co-occurring conditions in autism using random-effects models, and descriptively compared these with prevalence estimates for the general population from the literature (post hoc). We investigated heterogeneity in prevalence estimates using random-effects meta-regression models. This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42018103176. Of 9746 unique studies identified, 432 were selected for full-text review. 100 studies were eligible for inclusion in our qualitative synthesis, of which 96 were included in our meta-analyses. 11 categories of co-occurring conditions were investigated, of which eight conditions were included in the meta-analyses and three were descriptively synthesised (ie, trauma and stressor-related disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, and gender dysphoria). From our meta-analyses, we found overall pooled prevalence estimates of 28% (95% CI 25-32) for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; 20% (17-23) for anxiety disorders; 13% (9-17) for sleep-wake disorders; 12% (10-15) for disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders; 11% (9-13) for depressive disorders; 9% (7-10) for obsessive-compulsive disorder; 5% (3-6) for bipolar disorders; and 4% (3-5) for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Estimates in clinical sample-based studies were higher than in population-based and registry-based studies, and these estimates were mostly higher than those in the general population (post hoc). Age, gender, intellectual functioning, and country of study were associated with heterogeneity in prevalence estimates, yet remaining heterogeneity not explained was still substantial (all I2 >95%). Co-occurring mental health conditions are more prevalent in the autism population than in the general population. Careful assessment of mental health is an essential component of care for all people on the autism spectrum and should be integrated into clinical practice. Academic Scholars Awards, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; O'Brien Scholars Program, Slaight Family Child and Youth Mental Health Innovation Fund, and The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation via the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation.

Learning Disorder Confers Setting-Specific Treatment Resistance for Children with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder–predominantly inattentive presentation (ADHD-I) and specific learning disorder (SLD) are commonly co-occurring conditions. Despite the considerable diagnostic overlap, the effect of SLD comorbidity on outcomes of behavioral interventions for ADHD-I remains critically understudied. The current study examines the effect of reading or math SLD comorbidity in 35 children with comorbid ADHD-I+SLD and 39 children with ADHD-I only following a behavioral treatment integrated across home and school (Child Life and Attention Skills [CLAS]). Pre- and posttreatment outcome measures included teacher-rated inattention, organizational deficits, and study skills and parent-rated inattention, organizational deficits, and homework problems. A similar pattern emerged across all teacher-rated measures: Children with ADHD-I and comorbid ADHD-I+SLD did not differ significantly at baseline, but between-group differences were evident following the CLAS intervention. Specifically, children with ADHD-I and comorbid ADHD-I+SLD improved on teacher-rated measures following the CLAS intervention, but children with ADHD-I only experienced greater improvement relative to those with a comorbid SLD. No significant interactions were observed on parent-rated measures—all children improved following the CLAS intervention on parent-rated measures, regardless of SLD status. The current results reveal that children with ADHD-I+SLD comorbidity benefit significantly from multimodal behavioral interventions, although improvements in the school setting are attenuated significantly. A treatment-resistant fraction of inattention was identified only in the SLD group, implying that this fraction is related to SLD and becomes apparent only when behavioral intervention for ADHD is administered.

Posttraumatic stress, panic disorder, violence, and recidivism among local jail detainees.

Most research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and offending has been conducted with special populations (e.g. veterans and female inmates) and generally overlooks the additive effect of panic disorder (PD) in offending patterns. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prevalence of PTSD and PD among jail inmates, while simultaneously examining the relationships between these disorders, offending types and frequency. A random sample of adults recently booked into a local county jail participated in the Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Evaluation-5 (CAAPE-5), a structured psychological assessment. The study sample was comprised of 200 male and 83 female inmates. Indications of PTSD were observed among 44.0 percent of male inmates and 57.8 percent of female inmates. Most male inmates (78.4 percent) with positive PTSD indications also met criteria for PD, with a similar proportion (78.1 percent) of female inmates also meeting criteria for both. The combination of PTSD and PD was not associated with offending frequency, but inmates presenting indications of both PTSD and PD were more likely to be charged with a violent offense relative to those with only PTSD. Inmates with PTSD who also have panic attacks may have a more severe condition with possible implications for other risks. Observations of these conditions among adults recently booked into local jails should coincide with each other. Few studies have examined mental health conditions among local jail detainees, despite the ever-present need to address them. The current study considers this important population and investigates the prevalence of co-occurring conditions.