Trajectories of internalizing problems during the transition to adolescence in children with and without conduct problems

Children with conduct problems are at greater risk for internalizing problems. The objectives of this study were to (1) examine trajectories of internalizing problems among children with and without clinically significant conduct problems during the transition to adolescence; and (2) identify how academic achievement, peer rejection, parent socioeconomic status, maternal distress, parental warmth, child temperament, and receptive verbal functioning explained differences between the two groups. Children with conduct problems ( N = 388, 45% girls) and a comparison sample without conduct problems ( N = 299, 52% girls) were recruited from Quebec, Canada, when they were between the ages of 7 and 10 years, and were followed across 4 years. Mothers and teachers provided information on internalizing problems each year. Having clinically significant conduct problems was associated with higher initial levels of internalizing problems according to mothers and teachers, but not with changes in internalizing problems over time. With regards to teacher ratings, academic achievement, peer rejection, and negative emotionality partially explained differences in internalizing problems for youth with and without conduct problems. For mother ratings, maternal distress, negative emotionality, and peer rejection completely explained the association for girls, and partially explained the association for boys. Findings supported a multi-rater approach for understanding risk for internalizing problems among children with and without conduct problems. In particular, they highlight the importance of differences across context for understanding factors associated with vulnerability to internalizing problems.

A prospective study of diurnal cortisol and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly people

BackgroundElevated cortisol levels due to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis stress response have been associated with cognitive impairment. However, the causal relationship between stress and subsequent cognitive impairment remains unclear, notably because of the small number of gender-stratified prospective studies.MethodSalivary cortisol secretion was evaluated in 197 non-depressed community-dwelling elderly people at three time points on the day of hospital attendance for a clinical examination and again on the following day at home, in a distinct environmental context. Cognitive performance was evaluated at baseline and at 2- and 4-year follow-up.ResultsCross-sectional logistic analyses adjusted for age and education indicated that men with high morning cortisol at the hospital had higher risk of low cognitive performance in verbal fluency [odds ratio (OR) 3.0, p=0.05] and visuospatial performance (OR 5.1, p=0.03). Impairment in verbal fluency was observed in women with moderate high morning cortisol (OR 3.6, p=0.05) or moderate slow diurnal rhythm (OR 3.7, p=0.04). In longitudinal analyses, slow diurnal rhythm (flatter slope) was associated with decline over 4 years in visuospatial performance (OR 7.7, p=0.03) and visual memory (OR 4.1, p=0.03) in men, and in verbal fluency (OR 6.0, p=0.01) in women. High morning cortisol was associated with decline in visual memory in women (OR 5.1, p=0.06).ConclusionsHPA axis dysregulation seems to be associated with low cognitive performance in the elderly. Slower cortisol elimination rates could predict cognitive decline affecting principally non-verbal functioning in men and verbal functioning in women. The effects are independent of environmental context, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype or psychopathology. Interventions blocking this pathway may provide new therapeutic options to prevent cognitive decline.

Impulsivity and verbal deficits associated with domestic violence

While neurobiological factors are known to play a role in human aggression, relatively few studies have examined neuropsychological contributions to propensity for violence. We previously demonstrated cognitive deficits among men who committed domestic violence (batterers) compared to non-violent controls. Batterers had deficits in verbal ability, learning and executive problem-solving ability. These findings led us to examine whether executive control problems involving impulsivity contribute to problems with behavioral control among batterers, and to further examine their deficits in verbal functioning. Batterers (n = 41) enrolled in a domestic violence program were compared to 20 non-violent men of similar age, education, and socioeconomic background on neuropsychological tests of executive functioning, including impulsivity. Questionnaires and structured clinical interviews were used to assess emotional distress, aggression and self-reported impulsivity. Batterers showed greater impulsivity compared to non-batterers on several neuropsychological measures. Yet, the severity of these deficits was relatively mild and not evident in all batterers. Consistent with our previous findings, significant verbal deficits were again observed among the batterers. These findings suggest that while impulsivity may be a factor associated with domestic violence, it probably is not the sole determinant of the strong relationship between cognitive functioning and batterer status that we previously observed. Both verbal expressive deficits and behavioral impulsivity appear to be relevant variables in predisposing men to domestic violence. (JINS, 2003, 9, 760–770.)

Neuropsychological Correlates of Domestic Violence

Neuropsychological functioning was assessed in 39 males who had committed domestic violence (batterers) and compared to 63 nonviolent (both maritally discordant and satisfied) subjects recruited by advertisement. Subjects were subsequently divided into two groups (head injured, nonhead injured) and these groups were also contrasted as a function of batterer status. Tests were administered to assess for cognitive and behavioral functions, including executive dysfunction, hypothesized to be a factor contributing to propensity for violence. Questionnaires and structured clinical interviews were used to assess marital discord, emotional distress, and violent behaviors. Batterers differed from nonbatterers across several cognitive domains: executive, learning, memory, and verbal functioning. Batterers were reliably discriminated from nonbatterers based on three neuropsychological tasks: Digit Symbol, Recognition Memory Test- Words, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Neuropsychological performance was the strongest correlate of domestic violence of all clinical variables measured. However, the inclusion of two other variables, severity of emotional distress and history of head injury, together with the neuropsychological indices provided the strongest correlation with batterers status. Among batterers, neuropsychological performance did not vary as a function of head injury status, indicating that while prior head injury was correlated with batterer status, it was not the sole basis for their impairments. The findings suggest that current cognitive status, prior brain injury, childhood academic problems, as well as psychosocial influences, contribute along with coexisting emotional distress to a propensity for domestic violence.

Lateralized Visual-Field Inattention in Schizophrenia

Numerous studies have shown impaired verbal functioning in schizophrenic patients as compared with normals. The verbal deficits are generally attributed to damage of the left cerebral hemisphere. This attribution is based on literature which suggests that verbal processing is primarily mediated by the left hemisphere in right-handed humans. This study explored left-hemispheric integrity directly by assessing sustained attention in both the left and right hemispheres of 40 schizophrenic patients with the Weintraub Cancellation Tasks. Patients made significantly more errors of omission on the right visual field than on the left. These results are consistent with cognitive research in schizophrenia by demonstrating selective left-hemispheric impairment relative to right-hemispheric functioning.

Alternative Conceptualizations of Dyslexia: Evidence in Support of a Verbal-Deficit Hypothesis

The history of our knowledge about specific reading disability—dyslexia—is checkered with different hypotheses and theories. In this overview of the literature Frank Vellutino critically examines the foci of four prevalent explanations for reading failure in children: visual perception, intersensory integration, temporal–order perception, and verbal functioning. Applying findings from his own laboratory investigations and other selected research to each of the four hypotheses,Vellutino argues that the verbal-deficit hypothesis offers the most convincing explanation. Through the use of direct and indirect evidence Vellutino demonstrates the relationship between reading problems and dysfunction in the semantic, syntactic,or phonological aspects of language. Finally, Vellutino pursues the implications of his position and asserts that the linguistic problems of some poor readers necessitate an emphasis on the internal structure of words in learning to read.