Practitioner Review: Psychological treatments for children and adolescents with conduct disorder problems - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of nonpharmacological treatments for conduct disorder (CD) problems in children and adolescents, based on child, parent and teacher report. METHODS: PubMed, PsycINFO and EMBASE were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1970 and March 2015. Main inclusion criteria were nonpharmacological treatment, participants younger than 18 years, clinical CD problems/diagnosis, randomized controlled trials and inclusion of at least one CD problem-related outcome. Treatment efficacy is expressed in effect sizes (ESs) calculated for each rater (parent, teacher, self and blinded observer). RESULTS: Of 1,549 articles retrieved, 17 (published between June 2004 and January 2014) describing 19 interventions met the inclusion criteria. All studies used psychological treatments; only three studies included a blinded observer to rate CD problems. Most studies were of very poor to fair quality. ESs were significant but small for parent-reported outcomes (0.36, 95% CI = 0.27-0.47), teacher-reported outcomes (0.26, 95% CI = 0.12-0.49) and blinded observer outcomes (0.26, 95% CI = 0.06-0.47), and they were nonsignificant for self-reported outcomes (-0.01, 95% CI = -0.25 to 0.23). Comorbidity, gender, age, number of sessions, duration, intervention type, setting, medication use or dropout percentage did not influence the effect of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological treatments have a small effect in reducing parent-, teacher- and observer-rated CD problems in children and adolescents with clinical CD problems/diagnosis. There is not enough evidence to support one specific psychological treatment over another. Future studies should investigate the influence of participant characteristics (e.g. age of CD onset), use more homogeneous outcome measures and allow better evaluation of study quality. Many reports failed to provide detailed information to allow optimization of psychological treatment strategies.

Internet-based self-management compared with usual care in adolescents with asthma: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma control often is poor in adolescents and this causes considerable morbidity. Internet-based self-management (IBSM) improves asthma-related quality of life in adults. We hypothesized that IBSM improves asthma-related quality of life in adolescents. METHODS: Adolescents (12-18 years) with persistent and not well-controlled asthma participated in a randomized controlled trial with 1 year follow-up and were allocated to IBSM (n = 46) or usual care (UC, n = 44). IBSM consisted of weekly asthma control monitoring with treatment advice by a web-based algorithm. Outcomes included asthma-related quality of life (Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, PAQLQ) and asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire, ACQ) and were analyzed by a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS: At 3 months, PAQLQ improved with 0.40 points (95% CI: 0.17-0.62, P < 0.01), by IBSM compared to 0.0 points for UC (P = 0.02 for the difference). At 12 months the between-group difference was -0.05 (95% CI: -0.50 to 0.41, P = 0.85). At 3 months ACQ improved more in IBSM than in UC (difference: -0.32 points; 95% CI: -0.56 to -0.079, P < 0.01). At 12 months the difference was -0.05 (95% CI: -0.35 to 0.25, P = 0.75). CONCLUSION: IBSM improved asthma-related quality of life and asthma control in adolescents with not well-controlled asthma after 3 months, but not after 12 months.

Normalization of the auditory startle reflex after symptom reduction in children with anxiety disorders.

BACKGROUND: In an earlier study the Auditory Startle Response (ASR) of anxiety disordered (AD) children proved to be enlarged. This study examines in a controlled design to what extent this increase is responsive to symptom reduction during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) METHODS: The activity of 6 muscles following 104 dB tones in 20 patients (M = 12,7 years; SD = 2.5) and 25 matched controls was measured with an electromyogram (EMG). In addition, the sympathetic skin response was investigated. Response to treatment was investigated with the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule for Children (ADIS-C) and the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). RESULTS: Treatment responders (n = 12) showed a significant ASR decrease over time, whereas non-responders (n = 8) showed a significant ASR increase or no significant ASR difference. In controls, the ASR was not significantly different at follow up compared to baseline. The sympathetic skin response was stable in controls and treatment responders but significantly increased over time in treatment non-responders. Linear regression suggested that one of the ASR pre-treatment parameters (multiple muscle EMG magnitude) predicts treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: The ASR decreases in AD children when anxiety symptoms diminish. In addition, the ASR may be useful in predicting response to CBT in AD children.

Effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gait in children with bilateral spastic paresis: kinematic and EMG-pattern changes.

INTRODUCTION: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is an effective treatment for reducing spasticity and improving gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Data concerning muscle activity changes after SDR treatment are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 30 children who underwent SDR a gait analysis was performed before and 12-24 months postoperatively. Subjects walked on a 10-m walkway at comfortable walking speed. Biplanar video was registered and surface EMG was recorded. Sagittal knee angles were measured from video and observational gait assessments were performed using the Edinburgh gait assessment scale (EGAS). RESULTS: The EGAS significantly improved after SDR (p<0.001). There were significant improvements of the knee angle kinematics (p<0.001). Only slight changes in EMG activity were observed. The activity of the m. gastrocnemius (GM) decreased and a late peak appeared in stance, the activity of the m. semitendinosus (ST) increased in stance. The activity of the m. rectus femoris (RF) decreased in swing. CONCLUSION: SDR improved overall gait performance but EMG changes were only slight. Better timing of the GM in stance and reduced activity of RF in swing may have increased knee flexion in swing. Reduced hamstrings spasticity may have led to postural instability in the hip.

Mechanisms and patient compliance of dust-mite avoidance regimens in dwellings of mite-allergic rhinitic patients.

We report on the mechanisms, the environmental changes and patient compliance with regard to conventional and new dust and mite avoidance measures to prevent allergic symptoms caused by mite allergens, taking into account both allergen contamination and the developmental success of pyroglyphid Acari. Twenty patients with persisting rhinitic complaints were selected and matched. Although the patients had performed some conventional dust and mite avoidance measures (patient compliance was 90%), the dwellings proved to be a stimulus for mite development. Moisture problems due to faulty construction and excessive moisture production were common. Since humidity conditions could not be changed at short notice, the 20 homes were subjected to the new variants of mite allergen avoidance based on intensive cleaning without (control) and with an acaricide incorporated (acaricidal cleaner [Acarosan]). After the carrying out of conventional avoidance measures, these patients still had allergic symptoms, and dust from only 23 to 52% of their textile objects was under the proposed guanine (mite faeces indicator) risk level. Only the acaricidal cleaner was able to decrease the allergenic mite load (and the burden of the patients) significantly in this 12 month period. With respect to mite-extermination, acaricidal cleaning was 88% better than intensive cleaning. Reduction of guanine was 38% better in the Acarosan treatment group. Clinical results have been reported elsewhere. A significant difference in favour of the acaricidal cleaning was seen in both subjective (as regards symptoms) and in objective data (total IgE). Another 50 patients were questioned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)