[2D:4D finger ratio and language development]. / Indice digital D2:D4 y desarrollo del lenguaje.

INTRODUCTION: A possible hormonal influence in language development has been suggested in the recent years. The 2D:4D finger ratio is an indirect measure for prenatal androgen exposure. It is negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to prenatal estrogen, resulting in a lower ratio for men and a larger ratio for women. It can be explored in children as young as 2 years old. AIM: To study if an association exists between the 2D:4D finger ratio and language development (vocabulary) and/or language problems. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The lengths of the second digit (index finger) (2D) and the fourth digit (ring finger) (4D) were measured in 97 preschoolers and the Language Development Survey was administered to the parents. RESULTS: A weak negative correlation between language development (vocabulary) and right 2D:4D ratio was found in both sexes for children aged 4 or less years, significant only in boys. A strong negative correlation between language articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio in both sexes for children aged 3 or less years, and a lower negative correlation between articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio were found for boys aged 4 or less years. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest an important role for testosterone in language development (vocabulary) and a possible influence on articulation problems, probably through higher testosterone levels.

Índice digital D2: D4 y desarrollo del lenguaje / 2D: 4D Finger ratio and landguage development

Introducción. En años recientes, se ha sugerido una posible influencia hormonal en el desarrollo del lenguaje. El índice digital D2:D4 es una medida indirecta de la exposición prenatal a andrógenos. Se relaciona negativamente con la testosterona prenatal y positivamente con el estrógeno prenatal, lo que determina un índice bajo en varones y alto en mujeres. Puede explorarse a partir de los dos años de vida. Objetivo. Estudiar si hay una asociación entre el índice digital D2:D4 y el desarrollo de lenguaje (vocabulario) y/o los problemas del lenguaje. Sujetos y métodos. Se midieron las longitudes del dedo índice (D2) y el dedo anular (D4) en 97 preescolares y sus padres contestaron el sondeo del desarrollo del lenguaje. Resultados. Se encontró una correlación débil negativa entre el desarrollo de lenguaje (vocabulario) y el índice digital derecho D2:D4 en niños de ambos sexos de 4 o menos años de edad, significativa sólo en los varones. Se halló una fuerte correlación negativa entre los problemas de articulación y el índice digital derecho D2:D4 para niños de ambos sexos de 3 o menos años, y una correlación negativa baja entre los problemas de articulación del lenguaje y el índice digital derecho D2:D4 para niños de 4 o menos años. Conclusión. Estos resultados sugieren que la testosterona influye en el desarrollo de lenguaje (vocabulario) y en los problemas de articulación, probablemente a través de dosis mayores (AU)

Introduction. A possible hormonal influence in language development has been suggested in the recent years. The 2D:4D finger ratio is an indirect measure for prenatal androgen exposure. It is negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to prenatal estrogen, resulting in a lower ratio for men and a larger ratio for women. It can be explored in children as young as 2 years old. Aim. To study if an association exists between the 2D:4D finger ratio and language development (vocabulary) and/or language problems. Subjects and methods. The lengths of the second digit (index finger) (2D) and the fourth digit (ring finger) (4D) were measured in 97 preschoolers and the Language Development Survey was administered to the parents. Results. A weak negative correlation between language development (vocabulary) and right 2D:4D ratio was found in both sexes for children aged 4 or less years, significant only in boys. A strong negative correlation between language articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio in both sexes for children aged 3 or less years, and a lower negative correlation between articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio were found for boys aged 4 or less years. Conclusion. Findings suggest an important role for testosterone in language development (vocabulary) and a possible influence on articulation problems, probably through higher testosterone levels (AU)

Validez y fiabilidad del CBCL/6-18. Incluye las escalas del DSM / Validity and reability of the CBCL/6-18. Includes DSH scales

Introducción. La lista de síntomas del niño CBCL/6-18 (Child Behavior Checklist) es el instrumento para evaluar psicopatología en niños y adolescentes más comúnmente utilizado en estudios clínicos y en numerosos estudios epidemiológicos. La última versión contiene subescalas orientadas al DSM. Objetivo. Determinar las propiedades psicométricas del CBCL/6-18 y desarrollar una versión mexicana fiable y válida. Método. Paidopsiquiatras y psicólogos adaptaron la versión en español del CBCL/6-18; una retraducción fue realizada por una persona bilingüe. Las discrepancias en la adaptación se resolvieron por consenso. El CBCL/6-18 se aplicó a niños de la población general y a pacientes de la consulta externa de un hospital psiquiátrico. La consistencia interna se evaluó con el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach; el test-retest a 1 semana se calculó por medio del coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI). Se realizó una curva receiver operating characteristic (ROC) para estimar un punto de corte que discriminara a los niños de la comunidad de referidos clínicamente. Las diferencias en los puntajes de la escala se estimaron con la prueba t de Student. Resultados. La versión mexicana del CBCL/6-18 mostró coeficientes de alpha de Cronbach: problemas internalizadores, 0,90; externalizadores, 0,94, y el total de problemas, 0,97. El CCI para el test-retest de la escala total fue de 0,97. Las puntuaciones de los niños de ambos grupos mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Conclusiones. Con estos resultados se puede concluir que la versión mexicana del CBCL/6-18 es un instrumento válido y confiable para usarse como instrumento de cribado

Introduction. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/ 6-18) is the most commonly used parent-completed instrument that assesses child and adolescent psychopathology. It has been used in epidemiology and clinical studies. The last version contains DSM-oriented subscales. Objective. Investigate the psychometric properties of the CBCL/6-18 and develops a valid and reliable Mexican version. Method. Psychologists and child psychiatrists adapted the Spanish version of CBCL/6-18, and a back translation was done by a native English speaker. Discrepancies in the adaptation were solved by consensus. The checklist was applied to children in the community and to outpatients from a psychiatric children hospital. Reliability was evaluated by estimating internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) on all scales: retest at one week was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to estimate a cut-off which correctly identified children from the clinically referred patients and children recruited in the community (non-referred). Mean differences for the groups were calculated with the Student's t test. Results. The Mexican version of the CBCL/6-18 showed that the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90 for internalizing problems, 0.94 for externalizing problems and 0.97 for the total problem scale. The ICC was 0.97 for the total problem scale. Significant differences were found between the mean score in broad band, narrow and the new DSM/oriented scales. Conclusions. The Mexican version of CBCL/6-18 is a reliable and valid screening instrument for clinical and epidemiologic use

Validity and reability of the CBCL/6-18. Includes DSM scales.

INTRODUCTION: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18) is the most commonly used parent-completed instrument that assesses child and adolescent psychopathology. It has been used in epidemiology and clinical studies. The last version contains DSM-oriented subscales. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the psychometric properties of the CBCL/6-18 and develops a valid and reliable Mexican version. METHOD: Psychologists and child psychiatrists adapted the Spanish version of CBCL/6-18, and a back translation was done by a native English speaker. Discrepancies in the adaptation were solved by consensus. The checklist was applied to children in the community and to outpatients from a psychiatric children hospital. Reliability was evaluated by estimating internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) on all scales: retest at one week was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). A ROC curve was performed to estimate a cut-off which correctly identified children from the clinically referred patients and children recruited in the community (non-referred). Mean differences for the groups were calculated with the Student's t test. RESULTS: The Mexican version of the CBCL/6-18 showed that the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90 for internalizing problems, 0.94 for externalizing problems and 0.97 for the total problem scale. The ICC was 0.97 for the total problem scale. Significant differences were found between the mean score in broad band, narrow and the new DSM/oriented scales. CONCLUSIONS: The Mexican version of CBCL/6-18 is a reliable and valid screening instrument for clinical and epidemiologic use.