Mental Illness in Sibships of Two and Three

1971 ◽  
Vol 119 (552) ◽  
pp. 481-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Birtchnell
Keyword(s):  
Birth Order ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Expected Number ◽  
Sibship Size ◽  
Birth Rank ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Sibling Position ◽  
Population Control Group

A conspicuous deficiency of practically all birth order studies is the absence of a general population control group. Instead, a number of statistical methods of estimating the expected number of subjects in each sibling position have been used. These are based upon the assumption that for any given size of sibship there should be equal numbers of subjects in each birth rank. As Price and Hare (1969) have pointed out, there are a number of reasons why such as assumption is incorrect, and therefore why the conclusions based upon it are unreliable. Because, in most studies, only relatively small numbers of patients are available various methods of combining sibships of different sizes are adopted and the sexes of the siblings are ignored. To consider a sibling position irrespective of the size and composition of the sibship in which it occurs is unjustifiable. As birth order effects are relatively slight, large numbers of subjects are required to detect them. Unless a patient sample of several thousand is used the numbers in any sibship size are too small to permit analysis by birth rank. As sibship size is itself a possible variable, and as within each sibship the sexes of the siblings can be distributed in a variety of ways, birth order studies should ideally consider one sibship size at a time and should investigate sibling position by sex of sibling. Unfortunately, in sibships of four or more the numbers of combinations become so great as to render this approach impracticable.

Birth Order and Family Size: Bias Caused by Changes in Birth Rate

1969 ◽  
Vol 115 (523) ◽  
pp. 647-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Hare ◽  
J. S. Price
Keyword(s):  
Birth Order ◽  
Family Size ◽  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Birth Rate ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Rank Distribution ◽  
Sibship Size ◽  
Birth Rank ◽  
Age Range

In a previous paper (Price and Hare, 1969) we drew attention to some types of bias which may complicate the search for a useful association between disease and birth order. In particular, we considered biases occurring in a sample of adult patients where the patients' mothers have all passed their reproductive period and where, therefore, the sibships of the patients are complete. In such a sample, the recognized methods of searching for an association between disease and birth order are based on the assumption, that, for a null hypothesis, the sample will be randomly distributed among the birth ranks for each sibship size. But in fact the distribution may be non-random, and there are two main causes for this. These are (i) changes in the birth rate of the population, and (ii) changes in the birth rank distribution of the patients between birth and the age-range from which the sample is selected (e.g. differential rates of mortality or migration). The principal aim in the present paper is to illustrate the bias arising from the first of these causes.

Canadian Health Databases Relevant To Great Lakes Basin Research

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 551-555
Author(s):  
Kenneth C. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cancer Surveillance ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Great Lakes Basin ◽  
Canadian Health ◽  
Group A ◽  
Population Control Group

Several population-based health databases exist in Canada which provide valuable systematic information for facilitating epidemiological evaluation of human health in the Great Lakes Basin. They include the long-established Canadian Mortality Database, a national birth defects registry, a provincial hospitalization database, and provincial and national cancer registry systems. The most recent addition is the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System which currently is being implemented to allow for detailed evaluation of air and water quality concerns in relation to a range of cancer types. The system includes statistical evaluation of geographical cancer incidence patterns; development of a national environmental quality database; and systematic collection of individual risk factor information for a large number of newly diagnosed cancer cases and a population control group. A brief description of each database and examples of relevant research using each of these databases is presented.

scholarly journals Long-term health of women with genetic POI due to FSH-resistant ovaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1354-1362
Author(s):  
Kaisu Luiro ◽  
Kristiina Aittomäki ◽  
Pekka Jousilahti ◽  
Juha S Tapanainen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Metabolic Risk Factor ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Fertile Period ◽  
Population Control Group

Objective To study the use of hormone therapy (HT), morbidity and reproductive outcomes of women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) due to FSH-resistant ovaries (FSHRO). Design A prospective follow-up study in a university-based tertiary clinic setting. Methods Twenty-six women with an inactivating A189V FSH receptor mutation were investigated by means of a health questionnaire and clinical examination. Twenty-two returned the health questionnaire and 14 were clinically examined. Main outcome measures in the health questionnaire were reported as HT, morbidity, medication and infertility treatment outcomes. In the clinical study, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were compared to age-matched controls from a national population survey (FINRISK). Average number of controls was 326 per FSHRO subject (range 178–430). Bone mineral density and whole-body composition were analyzed with DXA. Psychological and sexual well-being was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI21), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires. Results HT was initiated late (median 18 years of age) compared with normal puberty and the median time of use was shorter (20–22 years) than the normal fertile period. Osteopenia was detected in 9/14 of the FSHRO women despite HT. No major risk factors for CVD or diabetes were found. Conclusions HT of 20 years seems to be associated with a similar cardiovascular and metabolic risk factor profile as in the population control group. However, optimal bone health may require an early-onset and longer period of HT, which would better correspond to the natural fertile period.

scholarly journals Analysing Effects of Birth Order on Intelligence, Educational Attainment, Big Five, and Risk Aversion in an Indonesian Sample

2020 ◽  
pp. per.2285
Author(s):  
Laura J. Botzet ◽  
Julia M. Rohrer ◽  
Ruben C. Arslan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Aversion ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Birth Order ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Sibship Size ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
Universal Family ◽  
Non Linear

Few studies have examined birth order effects on personality in countries that are not Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD). However, theories have generally suggested that interculturally universal family dynamics are the mechanism behind birth order effects, and prominent theories such as resource dilution would predict even stronger linear effects in poorer countries. Here, we examine a subset of up to 11 188 participants in the Indonesian Family Life Survey to investigate whether later–borns differ from earlier–borns in intelligence, educational attainment, Big Five, and risk aversion. Analyses were performed using within–family designs in mixed–effects models. In model comparisons, we tested for linear and non–linear birth order effects as well as for possible interactions of birth order and sibship size. Our estimated effect sizes are consistent with the emerging account of birth order as having relatively little impact on intelligence, Big Five, and risk aversion. We found a non–linear pattern for educational attainment that was not robust to imputation of missing data and not aligned with trends in WEIRD countries. Overall, the small birth order effects reported in other studies appear to be culturally specific. © 2020 The Authors. European Journal of Personality published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Association of Personality Psychology

scholarly journals Effects of Birth Order on Intelligence, Educational Attainment, Personality, and Risk Aversion in an Indonesian Sample

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Botzet ◽  
Julia Marie Rohrer ◽  
Ruben C. Arslan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Aversion ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Birth Order ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Sibship Size ◽  
Resource Dilution ◽  
Universal Family ◽  
Intelligence Education

Few studies have examined birth order effects on personality in countries that are not Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD), even though theories have generally suggested interculturally universal family dynamics as the mechanism behind birth order effects, and prominent theories such as resource dilution would even predict stronger effects in poorer countries. Here, we investigate a subset of up to 11,188 participants of the Indonesian Family Life Survey, an ongoing representative panel study, to study whether later-born siblings differ from earlier-borns in intelligence, educational attainment, personality, and risk aversion. Analyses were performed using within-family designs in mixed-effects models. In model comparisons we tested for linear and non-linear birth order effects as well as for possible interactions of birth order and sibship size. Our estimated effect sizes are consistent with the emerging account of birth order as having relatively little impact on intelligence, education, personality, and risk aversion; and they exclude recent estimates from WEIRD populations based on large sample sizes. Thus, even the small effects of birth order reported in other studies appear to be culturally specific.

The Relationship between Attempted Suicide, Depression and Parent Death

1970 ◽  
Vol 116 (532) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Birtchnell
Keyword(s):  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Parent Death ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Early Parent ◽  
Population Control Group ◽  
The Relationship

The present study is one of a series of investigations concerned with the relationship between parent death and mental illness. In previous studies (Birtchnell 1970 a and b) it has been shown that significantly more psychiatric patients, compared with a general population control group, experienced parent death during the first five years of life and during a period of one to five years before admission to hospital. It was further shown (Birtchnell 1970c) that within the patient group, though the incidence of early and recent parent death was similar among depressed and non-depressed patients, the severely depressed compared with the moderately depressed patients experienced sig- nificandy more parental bereavements during the first twenty years of life and during a period of one to twenty years before admission. In a large sample of depressed in-patients, Hill (1969) demonstrated a significant excess of early parent deaths in those who attempted suicide, and he suggested that this might be secondary to the association between early parent death and severe depression.

scholarly journals Higher Prevalence of Obesity among Children with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tut Galai ◽  
Hadar Moran-Lev ◽  
Shlomi Cohen ◽  
Amir Ben-Tov ◽  
Dina Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Population Control ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Functional Abdominal Pain ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Population Control Group

Abstract Background Functional abdominal pain (FAP) disorders are one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in children. We aimed to define the association between obesity and functional abdominal pain (FAP) disorders and to assess differences between overweight/obese children and normal weight children with FAP disorders. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of children (2-18 years old) with a clinical diagnosis of FAP who were followed-up in our pediatric gastroenterology unit between 1/2016-10/2018. FAP disorders were defined according to the ROME IV criteria. Body mass index (BMI) percentiles were defined by CDC standards. Patients with BMIs ≥85th percentile were designated as being overweight/obese. A population control group was obtained from the 2015-2016 Israel national health survey. Results Data from 173 children with FAP disorders (median age 11.5 years, 114 females) were included. Seventy-one children (41%) were classified as having functional abdominal pain-NOS, 67 (38.7%) as having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and 35 (20.2%) has having functional dyspepsia. Fifty-three children (30.6%) were classified as being overweight/obese. Adolescents with FAP disorders had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to controls (39.5% vs. 30%, respectively, p = 0.04). Children with FAP and overweight were older [12.4 (range 9.8-15.3) vs. 10.8 (7.4-14.1) years, p = 0.04] and had more hospitalizations due to FAP (20.8% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.01) compared to Children with FAP and normal weight. Conclusions Adolescents with FAP had higher prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to controls. Future studies are warranted to raise awareness of weight issues in FAP and determine the effect of weight loss on FAP.

scholarly journals The relative aetiological importance of birth order and maternal age in mongolism

1934 ◽  
Vol 115 (795) ◽  
pp. 431-450 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Order ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Aetiological Factor ◽  
Normal Children ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Birth Rank ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Child Bearing ◽  
The Family ◽  
Two Factors

Mongolian imbeciles are very often born last in a long family. The fact, which was pointed out many years ago by Shuttleworth (1909), has led clinicians to believe that mongolism is to believe that mongolism is to some extent a product of the exhaustion of maternal reproductive powers due to frequent child-bearing (Still, 1927; Fantham, 1925). The conclusion is widely accepted with the reservation that the affected child is not necessarily born at the end of the family (Thompson, 1925). Several cases are first-born, in fact, and it is sometimes stated that the condition occurs more frequently in first and last children than in other ordinal positions. There is, however, ample evidence that mongolian imbeciles have a significantly later birth rank than normal children (Hogben, 1931). It is also established, from large numbers of figures which have been collected, that the maternal age at the birth of mongolian imbeciles is unduly high. Though some of these imbeciles have young mothers, most of the cases (about 70%) are born after the mother has reached the age of 35 years. Thus the maternal age itself is likely to be an aetiological factor quite as important as birth order. I Know of no serious attempt, however, to distinguish between the aetiological significance of these two factors: to do this is the task I have umdertaken.

scholarly journals CYP4F2 (rs2108622) Gene Polymorphism Association with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruta Sakiene ◽  
Alvita Vilkeviciute ◽  
Loresa Kriauciuniene ◽  
Vilma Jurate Balciuniene ◽  
Dovile Buteikiene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Polymorphism ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Population Control ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Method ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Population Control Group ◽  
Predominant Effect

Background. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in elderly individuals where aetiology and pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration are not absolutely clear.Purpose. To determine the frequency of the genotype of rs2108622 in patients with early and exudative age-related macular degeneration.Methods. The study enrolled 190 patients with early age-related macular degeneration, 181 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD), and a random sample of 210 subjects from the general population (control group). The genotyping of rs2108622 was carried out using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method.Results. The analysis of rs2108622 gene polymorphism did not reveal any differences in the distribution of C/C, C/T, and T/T genotypes between the early AMD group, the eAMD group, and the control group. TheCYP4F2(1347C>T)T/Tgenotype was more frequent in males with eAMD compared to females (10.2% versus 0.8%;p=0.0052); alsoT/Tgenotype was less frequently present in eAMD females compared to healthy control females (0.8% versus 6.2%;p=0.027).Conclusion. Rs2108622 gene polymorphism had no predominant effect on the development of early AMD and eAMD. TheT/Tgenotype was more frequent in males with eAMD compared to females and less frequently present in eAMD females compared to healthy females.

scholarly journals Higher Prevalence of Obesity among Children with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tut Galai ◽  
Hadar Moran-Lev ◽  
Shlomi Cohen ◽  
Amir Ben-Tov ◽  
Dina Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Population Control ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
Functional Abdominal Pain ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Population Control Group

Abstract Background: Functional abdominal pain (FAP) disorders are one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in children. We aimed to define the association between obesity and functional abdominal pain (FAP) disorders and to assess differences between overweight/obese children and normal weight children with FAP disorders. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of children (2-18 years old) with a clinical diagnosis of FAP who were followed-up in our pediatric gastroenterology unit between 1/2016-10/2018. FAP disorders were defined according to the ROME IV criteria. Body mass index (BMI) percentiles were defined by CDC standards. Patients with BMIs ≥85th percentile were designated as being overweight/obese. A population control group was obtained from the 2015-2016 Israel national health survey. Results: Data from 173 children with FAP disorders (median age 11.5 years, 114 females) were included. Seventy-one children (41%) were classified as having functional abdominal pain-NOS, 67 (38.7%) as having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and 35 (20.2%) has having functional dyspepsia. Fifty-three children (30.6%) were classified as being overweight/obese. Adolescents with FAP disorders had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to controls (39.5% vs. 30%, respectively, p = 0.04). Children with FAP and overweight were older [12.4 (range 9.8-15.3) vs. 10.8 (7.4-14.1) years, p = 0.04] and had more hospitalizations due to FAP (20.8% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.01) compared to Children with FAP and normal weight. Conclusions: Adolescents with FAP had higher prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to controls. Future studies are warranted to raise awareness of weight issues in FAP and determine the effect of weight loss on FAP.

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