Pediatric Symptom Checklist Scores Research Articles

Impact of Parenting Styles and Socioeconomic Status on the Mental Health of Children.

Background The relationship parents share with their children is unique and very important for their overall growth and development. Parenting is classified into the following four types: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. This study aimed to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status and parenting styles adopted by parents and compare various factors affecting the mental health status of children. Methodology An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 480 students from four different schools in Valsad, Gujarat, India. The chief parenting style of both parents was determined, and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) scores were calculated for the students. Data were analyzed and various tests of significance were performed. Results There was a highly significant association between various parenting styles adopted by both parents and the PSC score of children. Interparental consistency showed a lower score on the PSC scale. There was a moderate positive correlation between an authoritarian parent and the poor mental health status of the child. As age advanced, children were seen to experience more emotional and psychological troubles. The education of the mother had a significant association with the well-being of the child. However, there was no impact of socioeconomic status on parenting style and PSC score. Conclusions Poor parenting technique contributes to various psychological problems in children with advancing age. The involvement of healthcare facilities in this field at the earliest will ensure a better environment for the child to grow and learn.

Associations of Pediatric Symptom Checklist Scores with Sexual Activity and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Urban Adolescents.

To assess the association between the Youth Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 (YPSC-17) and adolescents' reports of ever having sex and with having positive testing results for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Analyzed electronic data from primary care clinics for 27,901 adolescents aged 13-17 years with responses to the YPSC-17 and urine screen results for gonorrhea/chlamydia. On the YPSC-17 in total 8.3% screened positive. Over one quarter (26%) reported ever having sex and 11% of sexually active youth had a positive STI test. Logistic regression analyses revealed increased odds of sexual activity among those positive on the YPSC-17 total (aOR 1.87, 95% CI 1.68-2.08) or any subscale (INT-aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.32-1.55; EXT-aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.40-1.88; ATT-aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.47-1.90). In addition, sexually active youth with positive EXT (aOR 1.41 95% CI 1.00-1.98) scores were more likely to have STIs. The YPSC-17 can identify adolescents with heightened risks for STIs.

Psychosocial assessment and quality of life assessment in children with congenital heart in a developing country

BackgroundFew studies have examined the clinical utility of a brief psychosocial screening questionnaire and assessing the health-related quality of life as part of routine care in a pediatric cardiology clinic.Subject and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months duration involving 224 patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD) aged 4–18 years and their parents to fulfill Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) and Health related – Quality Of Life (HR-QOL) score. Statistical analysis of reliability of these scores among the studied population was carried using Cronbach’s alpha value.ResultsThe studied population with CHD, aged 4–18 years with a mean ± standard deviation of 99.48 ± 43.37 months. They were 54.5% males (n = 122) and 45.5% females (n = 102). Internalizing problems were identified by PSC in 12.95% of patients (n = 29), Cyanosis was found to be the only significant independent risk factor for developing internalizing defects (p < 0.001). Quality of school functioning was the most affected domain in HR-QOL. While, the quality of social functioning remained good in the majority of cases. Cronbach’s alpha value coefficient of PSC and HR-QOL scores were 0.846 and 0.900 respectively, reflecting good to excellent reliability of these scores within the studied population.ConclusionsChildren with CHD have increased need for psychosocial assessment for improvement of their quality of life.

Effect of foot reflexology on behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children

Foot reflexology is safe and suitable for preschoolers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of foot reflexology on behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children. As many as 31 preschool children in Nurul Islam Kindergarden involved in pre-experimental study with one group pre-test and post-test design using Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist Score (PPSC). Foot reflexology was applied 30 min every day for 4 consecutive days on April 22–April 25, 2019. Paired t -test and Wilcoxon was used to analyze behavioral and emotional problems. Foot reflexology can reduce emotional problems (95% CI: 2.466–4.309; p = 0.001), attention problems (95% CI: 0.349–1.256; p = 0.001) and parental challenges, but there was no effect on behavioral problems (CI: −0.174 to 0.293; p = 0.566). Foot reflexology is useful for reducing preschool children's behavioral and emotional problems, especially emotional and attention problems. Future study is expected to use control group and measurement of cortisol, endorphins, dopamine, acetilcholine, etc. were not carried out before and after foot reflexology massage for future study.

The Impact of Attachment-Disrupting Adverse Childhood Experiences on Child Behavioral Health

To describe patterns of overall, within-household, and community adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among children in vulnerable neighborhoods and to identify which individual ACEs, over and above overall ACE level, predict need for behavioral health services. This was a cross-sectional study that used a sample of 257 children ages 3-16years who were seeking primary care services with co-located mental healthcare services at 1 of 2 clinics in Chicago, Illinois. The outcome variable was need for behavioral health services (Pediatric Symptom Checklist score ≥28). The independent variables were ACEs, measured with an adapted, 28-item version of the Traumatic Events Screening Inventory. Six ACE items were individually predictive of a clinical-range Pediatric Symptom Checklist score after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates: emotional abuse or neglect (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.32-6.52, P<.01), natural disaster (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.18-12.76, P=.02), forced separation from a parent or caregiver (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.50-5.83, P<.01), incarceration of a family member (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.20-4.93, P=.01), physical attack (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.32-6.11, P<.01), and community violence (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.18-4.65, P=.01). After adjusting for overall ACE level, only 1 item remained statistically significant: forced separation from a parent or caregiver (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.19-5.01, P=.02). ACEs that disrupt attachment relationships between children and their caregivers are a significant predictor of risk for child emotional or behavioral problems.

Behavior Problems in Physically Ill Children in Rwanda.

ABSTRACT:Objectives:Childhood behavior problems are underidentified in low- and middle-income countries. This study sought to systematically screen for behavior problems among children receiving medical care in Rwanda and investigate factors associated with behavior problems in this cohort.Methods:The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) was translated into Kinyarwanda, following best practices. Children aged 5.9 to 16 years admitted to the inpatient ward of a referral hospital or seen in the outpatient department (OPD) were screened using the PSC. All PSC-positive children and every third PSC-negative child were referred for definitive assessment by a child mental health specialist.Results:Among 300 eligible children, 235 were recruited; none refused. PSC scores were positive in 74 of 234 cases (32%, 95% confidence interval 26%–38%); a total of 28 of 74 (40%) PSC-positive children completed mental health assessments. Of these, 16 (57% of those assessed, and 7% of the 235 who were screened) required treatment or further assessment; none of the PSC-negative children did. Screening sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 71%, with favorable receiver operating characteristics curve and internal consistency. In a multivariate analysis, higher PSC scores were associated with OPD care, central nervous system trauma or infection, and indices of malnutrition and with the use of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM).Conclusion:Behavior problems are common among Rwanda children seen in a referral hospital, particularly in the OPD, and are associated with use of TCAM. The Kinyarwanda PSC showed favorable screening characteristics and resulted in some 7% of children accessing needed mental health care.

Validation of the Traumatic Events Screening Inventory for ACEs.

Our purpose in this study was to adapt and validate the Traumatic Events Screening Inventory (TESI) as a primary-care childhood adversity screening tool for children living in vulnerable neighborhoods using a community-partnered approach. In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, we used a sample of 261 children (3-16 years old) who were seeking services at a Federally Qualified Health Center with colocated behavioral health services in Chicago and had a positive Pediatric Symptom Checklist screen result or received a referral for behavioral health evaluation. The TESI was adapted as a screening tool to be sensitive to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) unique to the clinic communities. ACEs were mapped by zip code with objective neighborhood crime data, and latent class analysis was performed to identify ACE subgroups. The mapping validation suggested face validity for geographic overlap between participant ACEs and objective violent-crime occurrence. With latent class analysis, we identified 3 ACE subgroups: (1) high ACE (18.0% of the sample; polyvictimization and/or maltreatment), (2) moderate ACE (52.1%; violent environments), and (3) low ACE (29.9%; few adverse experiences). Membership in the high-ACE subgroup was associated with higher odds of a clinically significant Pediatric Symptom Checklist score (odds ratio = 3.83) and clinical-level attention problems (odds ratio = 3.58) even after accounting for child resilience and parent depression. ACEs play a significant role in predicting a need for behavioral health services among children seeking primary-care services. The community-adapted TESI is a valid ACE screening tool.

Effect of gluten-free diet and compliance on quality of life in pediatric celiac disease patients.

BackgroundQuality of life (QOL) in children with celiac disease (CD) has been sparsely studied.AimsWe aimed to study QOL in pediatric CD and the effect of a gluten‐free diet (GFD) in a North Indian population.MethodsQOL was assessed at baseline and 6 months after GFD using a pediatric symptom checklist (PSC) score. The effect of GFD was assessed using a CD‐specific questionnaire on domains such as dietary compliance, parental behavior and perceptions, children's feeling, and difficulty identifying gluten‐free foods.ResultsA total of 60 CD children (age 6.03 ± 0. 42 years, range: 2–12 years, M:F 2:1) were prospectively enrolled. The median PSC score at baseline was 11.5 (2–35), which showed a statistically significant improvement after GFD to 2.5 (0–34) (P < 0.001). Significant concerns regarding specific domains emerged: difficulty in maintaining GFD 26.2%, at school 14.3%, at parties 43.2%, poor taste 11.4%, special diet a burden 28.5%, felt left out at school or friend's home 40.9%, felt different from other kids 40.9%, felt embarrassed to bring GFD to parties 54.6%, felt angry about following a special diet 56.8%, felt not invited out for meals because of CD 13.6%, and difficulty determining if food available was gluten free in 75%.ConclusionGFD has a significant impact on emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial domains in children with CD. Proper labeling of commercially available food items, counseling, and patient support groups are the need of the hour.

Use of the pediatric symptom checklist to screen for behaviour problems in children

Background: Behavioral and emotional problems comprising internalizing, externalizing and mixed disorders consist of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescents. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of emotional and behavioral disorders and to evaluate the usefulness of the pediatric symptom checklist (PSC) in identifying behavioral problems in children between ages of 4 and 12 attending OPD.Methods: Parents of 450 children between the ages of 4 and 12 attending pediatric OPD were randomly selected for the study after their valid informed consent, regarding awareness of psychosocial problems in their child with the help of 17-item pediatric symptom checklist (PSC)Results: Overall, 81(18%) children had at least 1 positive PSC-17 subscale or a positive PSC-17 total score. 27 (6%) children scored positive on the internalizing subscale, 36 (8%) scored positive on the externalizing subscale, and 36 (8%) scored positive on the attention subscale. Boys had higher PSC scores than girls for both school-aged (21% vs 16%) and preschool-aged children (15%vs 9%). Children from low socio economic status (20%), living with single parent (53%), nuclear family (21%), alcoholic father (28%) and single child (33%) are the risk factors associated with increased behavioral problems. Internalizing problems were seen more commonly in older children (10 - 12years), whereas attention and externalizing problems were more commonly seen in younger children (4 - 8 years).Conclusions: This study showed the extent of childhood emotional and behavioral problems. Use of the PSC offers an approach to the recognition of psychosocial dysfunction that is sufficiently consistent across groups and locales to become part of comprehensive pediatric care in virtually all out-patient settings. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for using primary care for recognizing, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders in children and adolescents.

Psychosocial dysfunction among adolescents who abuse substances in secondary schools in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Substance abuse has been associated with psychosocial dysfunction from previous reports; however, the prevalence and pattern of such morbidity is unknown in our environment. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of psychosocial dysfunction among adolescents who abuse substance. A case-control study was carried out among adolescents selected from five secondary schools in Abakaliki. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select the students and the World Health Organization student drug use questionnaire was used to screen respondents for substance abuse. Substance abusers and matched controls (non substance abusers) were assessed for psychosocial dysfunction using the 35-item Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC). Socioeconomic classification was done using the parental educational attainment and occupation. Two hundred and four students were abusers of one or more substances. The mean PSC score for substance abusers was 21.96 ± 10.77 whereas that for controls was 16.07 ± 8.69 (t = -6.74, P = 0.000). Eighty-nine individuals (43.7%) and 28 controls (13.9%) had PSC scores in the morbidity range of ≥ 28 for psychosocial dysfunction. This was statistically significant (χ2 = 13.57, P = 0.001). Prevalence of dysfunction was significantly associated with age group, gender, and socioeconomic class in both participants and controls. The prevalence of dysfunction was significantly higher in multiple abusers than the single abusers. The prevalence of psychosocial dysfunction is higher in adolescents abusing substance than in controls. Psychosocial dysfunction was however not related to age, gender, or social classes in the study population but was related to the abuse of multiple substances.

Association of Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol with Psychosocial Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents with Obesity.

Children with obesity have worse psychosocial functioning compared to their non-overweight peers. Adult studies suggest that several metabolic factors may participate in the etiology of depression in obesity. We evaluated the association of several metabolic parameters with psychosocial dysfunction in children with obesity, through a retrospective review of electronic medical records in patients ages 6-17. All parents were asked to complete the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) questionnaire, a validated measurement of psychosocial dysfunction in children. PSC scores were available in 618 patients. Overall, 11.2% of patients had a PSC score ≥28, suggestive of psychosocial dysfunction. Non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was associated with a higher PSC score (p = 0.02), after adjusting for age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, and BMI z-score. Consistent with adult studies, in children and adolescents with obesity, non-HDL cholesterol may play a role in the etiology of psychosocial dysfunction. Further studies are warranted.

Prediction of HIV Virologic Failure Among Adolescents Using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist.

Psychosocial dysfunction is a risk factor for treatment non-adherence among children and adolescents. A previous study showed that high scores on the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) were associated with a history of HIV virologic failure. We assessed whether high scores on the PSC could predict virologic failure in HIV-infected youth. Caregivers of 234 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 16years were asked to complete a PSC at baseline. Elevated PSC scores were associated with virologic failure in the subsequent 6months. PSC scores may help guide resource utilization when viral load monitoring is limited.

Association of Second Hand Smoking with Mental Disorders in Children- An Egyptian Study

Background: Second hand smoke (SHS) might affect mental health of children as many mental disorders have an onset in youth, a time when SHS exposure is high. Objectives: Investigation of the potential association of SHS exposure with children’s mental health disorders. Methodology: Forty five SHS exposed Egyptian children were enrolled as group I; all of them had at least one smoking parent and or were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke while group II included thirty age and sex well matched controls, with neither history of parental smoking nor exposures to environmental tobacco smoke. For all studied children, complete history taking, thorough clinical examination, psychometric assessment using Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and IQ measurement were done. DSM IV TR criteria were used to confirm any suspected behavioral and or psychiatric disorder. Laboratory assessment of second hand smoke was carried out measuring urinary cotinine levels. Results: SHS exposed children had significantly higher mean value of urinary cotinine level, total PSC, and SDQ scores compared to controls (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05 respectively). Mean values of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), internalization, and externalization behaviors’ sub-scores of PSC were significantly higher in SHS children compared to controls. Meanwhile, mean values of emotion, conduct, ADHD, and peer problem SDQ subscores were higher in SHS children compared to controls but the comparison was only statistically significant for ADHD sub-score while prosocial problem sub-score was significantly lower in SHS children compared to controls. In studied SHS children, degree of smoking significantly positively correlated with PSC internalization behavior subscore and emotion subscore of SDQ while smoking index significantly positively correlated with ADHD subscore of SDQ. Meanwhile, prosocial subscore of SDQ and urinary cotinine level were significantly negatively correlated. In conclusion, SHS exposure significantly compromised mental health of the studied sample of Egyptian SHS exposed children.

Referral and Follow-Up After Mental Health Screening in Commercially Insured Adolescents

Although mental health screening is recommended for adolescents, little is known about the predictors of referral to mental health services or engagement in treatment. We examined predictors of mental health referral from primary care and service use for commercially insured youth who had been screened using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist or Youth-Pediatric Symptom Checklist. A retrospective chart review was conducted of commercially insured patients 14-17 years of age who were newly identified by the Pediatric Symptom Checklist or Youth-Pediatric Symptom Checklist at a well-child visit. Comparisons were made with propensity-matched negative adolescents meeting the same criteria. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine differences between positives and negatives and between referred and nonreferred positives. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of mental health referral for positive youth. Medical records of 117 positive and 110 negative youth were examined. Compared with negative youth, positive youth were significantly more likely to be referred for mental health treatment (p < .0001) and receive specialty mental health services (p < .0001). Of the positives, 54% were referred for mental health care and 67% of them accepted. However, only 18% completed a face-to-face mental health visit in the next 180 days. Pediatric Symptom Checklist score (odds ratio, 1.21; confidence interval, 1.03-1.42), parental or personal concern (odds ratio, 10.87; confidence interval, 2.70-43.76), and having depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 9.18; confidence interval, 1.49-56.60) were predictive of referral. Despite identification after behavioral health screening, limited treatment engagement by referred patients persists. Primary care physicians and mental health specialists must enhance their efforts to engage and monitor identified patients.

Daytime dysfunction in children with restless legs syndrome

We investigated daytime dysfunction in children with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and the effects of treatment primarily with iron supplements on RLS symptoms and daytime dysfunction. We recruited 25 children with RLS (male:female=6:19, mean age at study onset: 12.3years) for this prospective study, assessing their demographics, symptomatic characteristics, serum ferritin levels, and daytime functioning using the ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS-IV), the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™). Children with RLS were compared with 28 controls (male:female=10:18, mean age: 13.2years) on these measures, pre- and post-treatment. Before treatment, ADHD-RS-IV (all ps<0.05) and PSC scores (p<0.05) were significantly higher and PedsQL™ scores (all ps<0.05) significantly lower in the RLS group than in the control group. Eight and one of the RLS group had abnormally high PSC and ADHD-RS-IV scores, respectively. Following treatment, participants' daytime function had improved to levels similar to those of controls. Sixteen out of twenty-three cases were successfully treated primarily with iron supplement. Some children with RLS have daytime dysfunction; however, this can be treated with iron supplements.

Evaluation of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist as a screening tool for the identification of emotional and psychosocial problems

OBJECTIVE To investigate the Brazilian version of Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) as a screening tool to identify psychosocial and emotional problems in schoolchildren from six to 12 years old. METHODS Diagnostic test conducted in a public school of Curitiba, Paraná (Southern Brazil), to evaluate the PSC accuracy and consistency, considering the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) as the gold standard. Among 415 parents invited for the study, 145 responded to both PSC and CBCL. The results of the two instruments were compared. PSC and CBCL were considered positive if scores ≥28 and >70 respectively. RESULTS Among the 145 cases, 49 (33.8%) were positive for both PSC and CBCL. The ROC curve showed the PSC score of 21 as the best cutoff point for screening psychosocial and emotional problems, with a sensitivity of 96.8% and a specificity of 86.7%. Regarding the reference cutoff (score ≥28 points), the sensitivity was 64.5% and the specificity, 100.0%, similar to those found in the original version of the tool. CONCLUSIONS The Portuguese version of PSC was effective for early identification of emotional and/or psychosocial problems in a schoolchildren group and may be useful for pediatricians.

Pediatric Symptom Checklist Ratings by Mothers with a Recent History of Intimate Partner Violence: A Primary Care Study

Screening for psychosocial problems is an effective way to identify children who need further evaluation, and many brief, psychometrically strong measures exist for this purpose. More research is needed, however, about the performance of these measures in special populations who are familiar to primary care settings. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare maternal ratings on the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) between low-income, urban mothers who had suffered intimate partner violence (IPV) in the past year (n = 23) and a demographically-matched comparison group of mothers (n = 23). Victims of violence rated their children as having significantly more problems in a number of categories (Total PSC Score, Externalizing, and Internalizing) than did mothers in the comparison group. The PSC shows promise as an adequate screening tool for psychosocial problems in the children of women who have suffered IPV, but more research is needed.

181 BLADDER AND BOWEL DYSFUNCTION: EVIDENCE FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE

You have accessJournal of UrologyPediatrics: Dysfunctional Voiding/Enuresis1 Apr 2013181 BLADDER AND BOWEL DYSFUNCTION: EVIDENCE FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE Cortney Wolfe-Christensen, Alexandra Manolis, William Guy, Natalija Kovacevic, Najeeb Zoubi, Mohammad El-Baba, Larisa Kovacevic, and Yegappan Lakshmanan Cortney Wolfe-ChristensenCortney Wolfe-Christensen Detroit, MI More articles by this author , Alexandra ManolisAlexandra Manolis Detroit, MI More articles by this author , William GuyWilliam Guy Detroit, MI More articles by this author , Natalija KovacevicNatalija Kovacevic Detroit, MI More articles by this author , Najeeb ZoubiNajeeb Zoubi Detroit, MI More articles by this author , Mohammad El-BabaMohammad El-Baba Detroit, MI More articles by this author , Larisa KovacevicLarisa Kovacevic Detroit, MI More articles by this author , and Yegappan LakshmananYegappan Lakshmanan Detroit, MI More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.1561AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Voiding dysfunction comprises almost 40% of referrals to Pediatric Urologists, while bowel dysfunction leading to constipation accounts for 30% of referrals to Pediatric Gastroenterologists. The current study sought to examine similarities and differences between these dysfunctional elimination groups in terms of voiding symptoms and psychosocial difficulties to determine whether they might benefit from multidisciplinary care. METHODS Parents of children seen for constipation in the GI clinic were recruited during regular outpatient clinic appointments. Parents completed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), a brief, 35-item screen for psychosocial difficulties in children, and the Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System, a 10-item, validated scale of voiding dysfunction. Additionally, a child age and gender matched voiding dysfunction group was randomly selected from our Urology research database. Finally, historical control data were obtained from the initial validation of the DVSS. RESULTS Participants included 62 parents of children seen for constipation in the GI clinic. The Urology group was successfully matched by age and gender in 100% of the cases. Results of a one-way ANOVA (GI vs. Urology vs. Controls) revealed a significant overall model (F(2, 166) = 27.31, p<.001). Post-hoc comparisons, with Tukey's Test applied, revealed that the Urology and GI groups had significantly higher DVSS scores than the control groups (p<.001, p<.001, respectively). The difference between the Urology and GI groups was not significant. A MANOVA which compared the Urology and GI groups in terms of PSC scores was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Children referred to GI clinics for constipation have significantly elevated DVSS scores, which are comparable to scores in children seen in Urology with voiding dysfunction. Additionally, there were no differences between the groups in terms of the percentages of children who met the cut-off for clinically significant psychosocial difficulties. Therefore, these children represent a homogenous group who could potentially benefit from treatment in a multi-disciplinary clinic that includes a urologist, gastroenterologist, and psychologist. Urology Clinic (Voiding Dysfunction) GI Clinic (Constipation) Controls p-value Sex 35 M, 27 F 35 M, 27 F 23 M, 31 F Age (M +SD) 10.19 + 3.78 10.00 + 3.90 N/A DVSS Total Score 10.27 + 3.71 8.53 + 5.19 4.37 + 3.74 < .001 PSC Total Problems 19.04 + 11.85 16.83 + 10.84 — .498 PSC Attention Problems 4.02 + 2.96 3.20 + 2.52 — PSC Internalizing Problems 2.05 + 2.17 2.19 + 2.03 — PSC Externalizing Problems 3.42 + 2.94 2.90 + 3.08 — Met PSC Cut-Off 25.93 (14/54) 22.03% (15/59) — .628 © 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 189Issue 4SApril 2013Page: e74 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Cortney Wolfe-Christensen Detroit, MI More articles by this author Alexandra Manolis Detroit, MI More articles by this author William Guy Detroit, MI More articles by this author Natalija Kovacevic Detroit, MI More articles by this author Najeeb Zoubi Detroit, MI More articles by this author Mohammad El-Baba Detroit, MI More articles by this author Larisa Kovacevic Detroit, MI More articles by this author Yegappan Lakshmanan Detroit, MI More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Psychosocial functioning and self‐rated health in Japanese school‐aged children: A cross‐sectional study

Emotional and behavioral disorders in children are school-health concerns; however, Japanese screening tools for such disorders are not yet available. We examined the association between psychosocial functioning as measured by the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) and self-rated health within school settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted for 2513 fifth and eighth graders from all of the primary and secondary schools in Shunan City, Japan. The Japanese PSC had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90) and a factor structure similar to that of the English PSC. When the cut-off values were set to ≥ 28 and ≥ 17, 4-9% and 20-39% of our respondents, respectively, reported high PSC scores. A multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of a positive PSC score (≥ 28) for poorer self-rated health among ratings of "very good," "good," "fair," and "poor" was 3.5 (95% confidence interval = 2.6-4.8). There was a clear association between psychosocial dysfunction identified by a PSC score ≥ 28 and poor self-rated health. We offer directions for further research on appropriate PSC cut-off values with Japanese samples.

Validation of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist in HIV-infected Batswana

Objective: To determine the validity of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), a brief measure of psychosocial health, for screening HIV+ Batswana children. Method: Setswana versions of the parent and child PSC were administered to 509 HIV+ Batswana children (age 8–16) and their parents/guardians. Test properties were evaluated and cut-off scores were derived using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Scores on the parent-completed PSC and the child-completed PSC-Y were compared to parental and clinic staff reports of concern about the child's psychosocial health and to scores on the Children's Depression Inventory and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. Results: The Setswana PSC has high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.87 for the parent-completed version). Comparing PSC scores to parental reports of concern and child-reported depression symptoms, a cut-off score of 20 on the PSC and PSC-Y maximised the sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: The PSC performed well in Setswana-speaking children and is a promising screening tool for paediatric psychosocial problems in busy clinical settings. Screening with the PSC may allow for early detection and treatment of psychosocial problems. This is likely to be of particular value for HIV+ children for whom HIV treatment non-adherence may result from untreated psychosocial dysfunction.