Relationship between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and speech-language-hearing aspects / Relação entre sintomas do transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade e aspectos fonoaudiológicos

ABSTRACT Purpose: to investigate the association of symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity with language development and cognitive, environmental, socioeconomic, and quality of life aspects in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Methods: an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study with a sex-stratified sample of 38 children 7 to 12 years old, diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The assessments approached sociodemographic and environmental aspects, the quality of life, language comprehension, rapid automatic naming, phonological working memory, vocabulary, reading and writing processes and metalinguistic skills. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted at the 5% significance level. Results: there was a statistically significant association between the profile of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavioral aspects. There was no significant association of the forms of manifestation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with the quality of life, oral language, written language and phonological processing skills. Conclusion: children with hyperactive profiles had a better performance, whereas children with combined and predominantly inattentive profiles had similar performances. Although no statistically significant associations were found between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and most of the variables analyzed in this research, it contributes to the discussion of the speech-language-hearing diagnosis.

RESUMO Objetivo: investigar a associação de sintomas de desatenção e hiperatividade com o desenvolvimento de linguagem, aspectos cognitivos, ambientais, socioeconômicos e de qualidade de vida, em crianças com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade. Métodos: estudo observacional, analítico, transversal, com amostra estratificada por sexo e composta por 38 crianças de sete a doze anos de idade, com diagnóstico de Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade. Foram avaliados aspectos sociodemográficos e ambientais, qualidade de vida, compreensão da linguagem, nomeação automática rápida, memória de trabalho fonológica, vocabulário, processos de leitura, escrita e habilidades metalinguísticas. Foram realizadas análises descritiva e bivariada, adotando nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: houve associação com significância estatística entre perfil do Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade e aspectos comportamentais. Não houve associação significante das formas de apresentação do Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade com qualidade de vida, linguagem oral, linguagem escrita e habilidades de processamento fonológico. Conclusão: verificou-se melhor desempenho das crianças com perfil hiperativo e desempenho semelhante entre os perfis combinado e predominantemente desatento. Embora não tenham sido encontradas associações estatisticamente significantes entre Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade e a maioria das variáveis analisadas nesta pesquisa, ela contribui para a discussão do diagnóstico fonoaudiológico.

Cognitive Impairment Following Acute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may present cognitive deficits within the first 24 h after trauma, herein called "acute phase," which in turn may lead to long-term functional impairment and decrease in quality of life. Few studies investigated cognition in mTBI patients during the acute phase. The objectives of this study were to investigate the cognitive profile of patients with mTBI during the acute phase, compared to controls and normative data, and whether loss of consciousness (LOC), previous TBI and level of education influence cognition at this stage. Fifty-three patients with mTBI (aged 19-64 years) and 28 healthy controls participated in the study. All patients were evaluated at bedside within 24 h post-injury. Demographic and clinical data were registered. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Digit Span (working memory), and the Visual Memory Test/Brief Cognitive Battery (for episodic memory). The clinical sample was composed mainly by men (58.5%). The mean age was 39 years-old and 64.3% of the patients had more than 8 years of education. The most common causes of mTBI were fall from own height (28.3%), aggression (24.5%), and fall from variable heights (24.5%). Compared to controls, mTBI patients exhibited significantly worse performance on MMSE, FAB, naming, incidental memory, immediate memory, learning, and delayed recall. Compared to normative data, 26.4% of patients had reduced global cognition as measured by the MMSE. Episodic memory impairment (13.2%) was more frequent than executive dysfunction (9.4%). No significant differences were found in cognitive performance when comparing patients with or without LOC or those with or without history of previous TBI. Patients with lower educational level had higher rates of cognitive impairment (VMT naming-28.6 vs. 4.2%; VMT immediate memory-32 vs. 4.2%; VMT learning-39.3 vs. 4.2%, all p < 0.05). In sum, we found significant cognitive impairment in the acute phase of mTBI, which was not associated with LOC or history of TBI, but appeared more frequently in patients with lower educational level.

Impacts of Chronic Kidney Disease on occupational performance of children and adolescents on hemodialysis / Impactos da Doença Renal Crônica no desempenho ocupacional de crianças e adolescentes em hemodiálise

Abstract Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) may cause great impacts on areas of occupational performance of children and adolescents on hemodialysis. The identification of these occupations can guide the practice of occupational therapy, enabling specific interventions as well as the creation of policies and guidelines in the field. Objective: To identify the impact of CKD on the occupational performance of children and adolescents on hemodialysis. Method: Twenty-one children and adolescents with CKD undergoing hemodialysis treatment participated in the study. The tools applied were the profile identification questionnaire and the semi-structured interview Canadian Measurement of Occupational Performance (COPM). Numerical variables were described as measures of central tendency and dispersion, and for categorical variables were calculated the frequencies. Results: 13 impacted occupations were identified, in which 9 are related to play/leisure , 1 to productivity/ school, 3 to self-care. In addition, 57% of the sample dropped out of school and 23% repeated one school year or more. Conclusion: Impacts on different areas of occupational performance, mainly related to play and leisure, have been identified. Children and adolescents present specific demands related to their age ranges. Therefore, the occupational therapist, considering this specificity, can enable these clients to improve their performance in occupations and resume significant roles in their lives.

Resumo Introdução: O acometimento pela Doença Renal Crônica (DRC) pode trazer impactos importantes em áreas de desempenho ocupacional de crianças e adolescentes em tratamento hemodialítico. A identificação dessas áreas de desempenho prejudicadas pode direcionar a atuação da terapia ocupacional, possibilitando intervenções específicas e criação de políticas e diretrizes na área. Objetivo: Identificar o impacto da DRC no desempenho ocupacional de crianças e adolescentes em hemodiálise. Método: Participaram do estudo 21 crianças e adolescentes com DRC em tratamento via hemodiálise. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o questionário de identificação do perfil da amostra e a entrevista semiestruturada Medida Canadense de Desempenho Ocupacional (COPM). Os dados da pesquisa foram analisados por meio do programa estatístico SSPS 22.0. As variáveis numéricas foram descritas como medidas de tendência central e dispersão, e para variáveis categóricas foram calculadas as frequências. Resultados: Foram identificadas 13 ocupações impactadas, das quais, 9 são relacionadas à área do brincar/lazer , 1 produtividade/escola e 3 ocupações da área de autocuidado. Além disso, 57% da amostra abandonaram a escola e 23% repetiram um ano escolar ou mais. Conclusão: Foram identificados prejuízos em diferentes áreas do desempenho ocupacional, principalmente relacionadas ao brincar e lazer. As crianças e adolescentes apresentam demandas específicas dessa faixa etária e o terapeuta ocupacional, considerando essa especificidade, pode possibilitar a esses clientes a melhoria de desempenho em ocupações e a retomada de papéis significativos em suas vidas.

Personality disorders are associated with more severe forms of migraine.

To investigate the clinical manifestation, disease course, and prognosis of migraine patients with or without personality disorders. This cross-sectional study evaluated 61 patients with migraine diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS). Personality disorders were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-II). Migraine severity was assessed with the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). We also used a structured clinical interview to diagnose comorbid mood disorders. Of the 61 patients, 20 (32.8%) had personality disorders. Personality disorders included obsessive-compulsive 14/61 (23.0%), avoidant 6/61 (9.8%), borderline 6/61 (9.8%), paranoid 6/61 (9.8%), schizoid 2/61 (3.3%), histrionic 1/61 (1.6%) and dependent 1/61 (1.6%) types. Compared to migraine patients without personality disorders, comorbidity with any personality disorders was associated with an increased frequency of chronic migraine (p < 0.001) and more severe headache as assessed by the HIT-6 (p < 0.001). Comorbidity with personality disorders was associated with more severe forms of migraine symptoms.

Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors are associated with severity of kidney dysfunction in pediatric chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: In adult chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, there is a positive association between inflammation and progressive renal dysfunction. Higher levels of soluble receptors of tumor necrosis factor (sTNFR) have been related to worst prognosis of adult CKD patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate soluble TNF receptors in children and adolescents with CKD and to search for an association with clinical and laboratory features. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data were evaluated in 34 pediatric patients with CKD and in 34 healthy sex- and age-matched controls. Blood samples were collected in both groups to measure sTNFR by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The modified Schwartz formula was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). RESULTS: Pediatric patients with CKD had significantly higher plasma concentrations of soluble TNF receptors types 1 and 2 (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) in comparison to sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Plasma levels of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 increased progressively as renal function worsened, being inversely and significantly correlated with GFR (r = - 0.853 for sTNFR1 and GFR, r = - 0.729 for sTNFR2 and GFR). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with CKD exhibited higher plasma levels of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 than healthy controls, which increased in relation to renal function deterioration. Plasma levels of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 emerge as markers of progressive CKD in pediatric patients.

Clinical Predictors of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common complaint among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Several factors have been associated with EDS in PD, especially neuropsychiatric symptoms. This study aimed to determine the relationships between neuropsychiatric symptoms, sociodemographic and clinical parameters, and EDS in PD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 85 patients with PD. All patients underwent socioeconomic and clinical data evaluations followed by a psychiatric interview and a neurological examination, including the assessment of sleep features. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of EDS, which was defined as a score higher than 10 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Binary logistic regression was performed in order to describe the predictors of EDS. RESULTS: We found that EDS affects 40% of PD patients and is associated with older age, restless legs syndrome, depressive and anxious symptoms, and worse sleep quality. In the multivariate analysis, older age, levodopa use, and worse sleep quality remained as significant predictors of EDS in PD. CONCLUSIONS: Nighttime sleep problems, older age, and levodopa use are significantly associated with EDS in PD. A careful assessment and the management of sleep problems in PD patients might help to improve their quality of life.

Sleep quality is associated with the severity of clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Sleep disorders are very common in Parkinson's disease (PD), being associated with several other conditions, mainly psychiatric disorders. The present study was designed to assess sleep quality in Brazilian patients with PD and to evaluate whether sleep changes are associated with clinical variables, especially neuropsychiatric symptoms in PD. Patients diagnosed with PD were subjected to a comprehensive clinical evaluation that included the assessment of motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Our study showed that sleep complaints are frequent in PD and worse sleep quality is associated with depressive and anxious symptoms, poorer cognitive performance and greater severity of PD symptoms. In the multivariate analysis, older age, greater severity of anxiety and PD remained as significant predictors of worse sleep quality. In conclusion, sleep complaints, depressive and anxiety symptoms are frequent in PD patients. Older age, disease severity and anxiety symptoms are significant predictors of poorer sleep quality in PD patients.

Adolescent adaptive behavior profiles in Williams-Beuren syndrome, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Adaptive behavior can be impaired in different neurodevelopmental disorders and may be influenced by confounding factors, such as intelligence quotient (IQ) and socioeconomic classification. Our main objective was to verify whether adaptive behavior profiles differ in three conditions-Williams Beuren syndrome (WBS), Down syndrome (DS), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as compared with healthy controls (HC) and with each other. Although the literature points towards each disorder having a characteristic profile, no study has compared profiles to establish the specificity of each one. A secondary objective was to explore potential interactions between the conditions and socioeconomic status, and whether this had any effect on adaptive behavior profiles. METHODS: One hundred and five adolescents were included in the study. All adolescents underwent the following evaluations: the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), and the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the WBS group performed better than the DS group in the communication domain, ß = -15.08, t(3.45), p = .005, and better than the ASD group in the socialization domain, ß = 8.92, t(-2.08), p = .013. The DS group also performed better than the ASD group in socialization, ß = 16.98, t(-2.32), p = .024. IQ was an important confounding factor, and socioeconomic status had an important effect on the adaptive behavior of all groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is a heterogeneity regarding adaptive behavior profiles in WBS, DS, and ASD. These data are important to better design specific strategies related to the health and social care of each particular group.

Is there any association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and bipolar disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and the development of bipolar disorder (BD) has long been investigated, yet to date it is still poorly understood and documented. The aim of this review is to derive a summary estimate of the strength of the association between infection with T. gondii and BD from the available published studies. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, LILACS, PsycINFO, and Embase databases. Studies which included a proportion of seropositive BD patients and controls were further examined in a meta-analysis. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen citations were initially retrieved. Thirteen studies were included in our systematic review. Eight out of these thirteen studies were included in our meta-analysis. Statistical analyses showed that T. gondii infection is associated with with BD (OR=1.26). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size was the major limitation among the studies that carried out serological analyses. In addition, the available studies did not have enough information on disease status/severity or type of bipolar disorder. Also, it was not possible to analyze pregnancy status or perinatal infection. Future studies addressing the aforementioned topics are clearly needed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite heterogeneous results, patients with BD are more likely to be infected by T. gondii than controls. Early T. gondii infection might predispose the development of BD. T.gondii infection is becoming clinically relevant in psychiatric disorders and future mechanistic studies are required to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Speech-language pathology findings in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a systematic literature review. / Alterações Fonoaudiológicas no Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade: revisão sistemática de literatura.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the scientific production on the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Speech-language Pathology and to methodologically analyze the observational studies on the theme. RESEARCH STRATEGIES: Systematic review of the literature conducted at the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online (MEDLINE, USA), Literature of Latin America and the Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS, Brazil) and Spanish Bibliographic Index of Health Sciences (IBECS, Spain) using the descriptors: "Language", "Language Development", "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder", "ADHD" and "Auditory Perception". SELECTION CRITERIA: Articles published between 2008 and 2013. Inclusion criteria: full articles published in national and international journals from 2008 to 2013. Exclusion criteria: articles not focused on the speech-language pathology alterations present in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. DATA ANALYSIS: The articles were read in full and the data were extracted for characterization of methodology and content. RESULTS: The 23 articles found were separated according to two themes: Speech-language Pathology and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. CONCLUSION: The study of the scientific production revealed that the alterations most commonly discussed were reading disorders and that there are few reports on the relationship between auditory processing and these disorders, as well as on the role of the speech-language pathologist in the evaluation and treatment of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Alterações Fonoaudiológicas no Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade: revisão sistemática de literatura / Speech-language pathology findings in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a systematic literature review

RESUMO Objetivo revisar sistematicamente as produções científicas acerca das relações entre o Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade e a Fonoaudiologia e analisar, metodologicamente, os estudos observacionais sobre a temática. Estratégia de pesquisa trata-se de revisão sistemática de literatura, realizada nas bases de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System on-line (MEDLINE, EUA), Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS, Brasil) e Indice Bibliográfico Español de Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS), na qual foram utilizados os descritores “Linguagem”, “Desenvolvimento da Linguagem”, “Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção com Hiperatividade”, “TDAH” e “Percepção Auditiva”. Critérios de seleção foram selecionados artigos publicados entre 2008 e 2013. Os critérios de inclusão foram: artigos completos, publicados em periódicos nacionais e internacionais, no período de 2008 a 2013. Como critério de exclusão, foram considerados os artigos que não apresentavam, como foco principal, as alterações fonoaudiológicas presentes no Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade. Análise dos dados foi realizada a leitura dos artigos na íntegra e a extração de dados para caracterização da metodologia e do conteúdo das pesquisas. Resultados foram encontrados 23 artigos, os quais foram separados de acordo com dois eixos temáticos, relacionados à Fonoaudiologia e ao Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade. Conclusão o estudo das produções científicas revelou que as alterações fonoaudiológicas mais abordadas foram os distúrbios de leitura e que há poucas publicações acerca da relação entre o processamento auditivo e o transtorno, bem como a respeito da atuação do fonoaudiólogo na avaliação e no tratamento de crianças com Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade.

ABSTRACT Purpose To systematically review the scientific production on the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Speech-language Pathology and to methodologically analyze the observational studies on the theme. Research strategies Systematic review of the literature conducted at the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online (MEDLINE, USA), Literature of Latin America and the Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS, Brazil) and Spanish Bibliographic Index of Health Sciences (IBECS, Spain) using the descriptors: “Language”, “Language Development”, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, “ADHD” and “Auditory Perception”. Selection criteria Articles published between 2008 and 2013. Inclusion criteria: full articles published in national and international journals from 2008 to 2013. Exclusion criteria: articles not focused on the speech-language pathology alterations present in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Data analysis The articles were read in full and the data were extracted for characterization of methodology and content. Results The 23 articles found were separated according to two themes: Speech-language Pathology and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Conclusion The study of the scientific production revealed that the alterations most commonly discussed were reading disorders and that there are few reports on the relationship between auditory processing and these disorders, as well as on the role of the speech-language pathologist in the evaluation and treatment of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Determinants of quality of life in Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the current study were 1) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale and 2) to investigate the quality of life of Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis and its determinants. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 69 patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent neurological evaluation and completed questionnaires regarding quality of life (the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study and the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale), anxiety and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale showed high internal consistency and good concurrent validity with the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study and its subscales. Determinants of quality of life in Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis included the current status of myasthenia gravis as assessed by the Myasthenia Gravis Composite, the current prednisone dose and the levels of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale is a valid instrument. Symptom severity, prednisone dosage and anxiety and depression levels impact the quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Determinants of quality of life in Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the current study were 1) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale and 2) to investigate the quality of life of Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis and its determinants. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 69 patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent neurological evaluation and completed questionnaires regarding quality of life (the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study and the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale), anxiety and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale showed high internal consistency and good concurrent validity with the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study and its subscales. Determinants of quality of life in Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis included the current status of myasthenia gravis as assessed by the Myasthenia Gravis Composite, the current prednisone dose and the levels of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale is a valid instrument. Symptom severity, prednisone dosage and anxiety and depression levels impact the quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder / Frequência de sobrepeso e obesidade em crianças e adolescentes com autismo e transtorno do déficit de atenção/hiperatividade

To assess the frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their parents, in comparison with children and adolescents without developmental disorders. Methods: Anthropometric measures were obtained in 69 outpatients with ASD (8.4±4.2 years old), 23 with ADHD (8.5±2.4) and 19 controls without developmental disorders (8.6±2.9) between August and November 2014. Parents of patients with ASD and ADHD also had their anthropometric parameters taken. Overweight was defined as a percentile ≥85; obesity as a percentile ≥95; and underweight as a percentile ≤5. For adults, overweight was defined as a BMI between 25 and 30kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI higher than 30kg/m2. Results: Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD had higher BMI percentile (p<0.01) and z-score (p<0.01) than controls, and increased frequency of overweight and obesity (p=0.04). Patients with ASD and ADHD did not differ between them in these variables, nor regarding abdominal circumference. Parents of children with ASD and ADHD did not differ between themselves. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD are at a higher risk of overweight and obesity than children without developmental problems in the community.

Avaliar a frequência de sobrepeso e obesidade em crianças e adolescentes com transtorno do espectro do autismo (TEA) e transtorno do déficit de atenção/hiperatividade (TDAH) e em seus pais, em comparação com crianças e adolescentes da comunidade sem transtornos do desenvolvimento. Métodos Medidas antropométricas foram coletadas de 69 pacientes com TEA (8,4±4,2 anos), 23 com TDAH (8,5±2,4) e 19 controles sem transtornos desenvolvimentais (8,6±2,9) entre agosto e novembro de 2014. Os pais dos pacientes com TEA e TDAH também foram avaliados em relação aos parâmetros antropométricos. Sobrepeso foi definido como percentil ≥85; obesidade como percentil ≥95; e baixo peso como percentil ≤5. Para os adultos, sobrepeso foi definido como IMC entre 25 e 30kg/m2 e obesidade, IMC acima de 30kg/m2. Resultados Crianças e adolescentes com TEA e TDAH exibiram maior percentil (p<0,01) e escore-z (p<0,01) do IMC em relação aos controles, bem como frequência mais elevada de sobrepeso e obesidade (p=0,04). Os pacientes com TEA e TDHA não diferiram entre si quanto a essas variáveis ou quanto à circunferência abdominal. Os pais das crianças com TEA e TDAH também não diferiram entre si. Conclusões Crianças e adolescentes com TEA e TDAH estão em maior risco de ter sobrepeso e obesidade em relação a crianças da comunidade sem problemas do desenvolvimento.

[Frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder]. / Frequência de sobrepeso e obesidade em crianças e adolescentes com autismo e transtorno do déficit de atenção/hiperatividade.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their parents, in comparison with children and adolescents without developmental disorders. METHODS: Anthropometric measures were obtained in 69 outpatients with ASD (8.4±4.2 years old), 23 with ADHD (8.5±2.4) and 19 controls without developmental disorders (8.6±2.9) between August and November 2014. Parents of patients with ASD and ADHD also had their anthropometric parameters taken. Overweight was defined as a percentile ≥85; obesity as a percentile ≥95; and underweight as a percentile ≤5. For adults, overweight was defined as a BMI between 25 and 30kg/m(2) and obesity as a BMI higher than 30kg/m(2). RESULTS: Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD had higher BMI percentile (p<0.01) and z-score (p<0.01) than controls, and increased frequency of overweight and obesity (p=0.04). Patients with ASD and ADHD did not differ between them in these variables, nor regarding abdominal circumference. Parents of children with ASD and ADHD did not differ between themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD are at a higher risk of overweight and obesity than children without developmental problems in the community.

Propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Responsividade Social-2 para Transtornos do Espectro Autista / Psychometric properties of the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objetivo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da versão em português da Escala de Responsividade Social-2 (ERS-2) para crianças e adolescentes com transtorno do espectro autista (TEA). Métodos A ERS-2 foi respondida pelos pais de 90 pacientes com TEA e 25 controles saudáveis. Análises quanto à validade discriminante, índices de confiabilidade e separação, de adequação e calibração dos itens pelo modelo Rasch foram realizadas. Resultados A ERS-2 demonstrou boa consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach = 0,952), um ponto de corte de 41, sensibilidade de 96,8%, especificidade de 100% e valor preditivo negativo de 99,9% para a identificação de TEA. As subescalas apresentaram, de forma geral, adequação ao modelo. No entanto, alguns itens se apresentaram pouco consistentes do ponto de vista estatístico (correlação item-total negativas e misfitting). O mapa de itens mostrou má cobertura da variável latente, especialmente no espectro mais leve do TEA. Conclusão Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que a versão em português da ERS-2 pode ser utilizada como ferramenta de triagem para o reconhecimento de TEA em crianças e adolescentes brasileiros. A escala pode ter versões futuras aprimoradas com a substituição dos itens com pior desempenho.

Objective The purpose of this research was to assess the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Parents of 90 patients with ASD and 25 healthy controls responded to the SRS-2. Analyses about the discriminant validity, reliability and separation indexes, fitness and items calibration according to Rasch model were carried on. Results SRS-2 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.952), a cutoff score of 41, sensitivity of 96.8%, specificity of 100%, and negative predictive value of 99.9% for the diagnosis of ASD. The subscales generally fitted the model. However, some items presented suboptimal statistics performance (negative item-total correlation and misfitting). The item map showed that the latent variable was not entirely covered by the items, especially on the mildest end of the autistic spectrum. Conclusion The results of this study showed that the Portuguese version of SRS-2 can be used as a screening tool to improve the recognition of ASD in Brazilian children and adolescents. The scale might have improved versions in the future with the substitution of items with worse performance.

Language Impairment in Adolescents With Sydenham Chorea.

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric comorbidities are frequent in Sydenham chorea. However, cognitive impairment in Sydenham chorea has not been sufficiently described. The objective of this study was to evaluate expressive and receptive language deficits in adolescents with Sydenham chorea. METHODS: Twenty patients with Sydenham chorea were compared with 20 patients with rheumatic fever without chorea and 20 healthy controls. Participants were matched for age and gender. Participants were assessed with verbal fluency tasks (phonemic and semantic) and with verbal comprehension tasks (Token Test). Patients with Sydenham chorea were also assessed with the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Sydenham Chorea Rating Scale. RESULTS: Performance in verbal fluency and in verbal comprehension tasks differed significantly (P < 0.01) among the three groups. Patients with Sydenham chorea performed significantly worse than healthy control group in phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks as well as in the Token Test. The group with rheumatic fever also performed worse than healthy controls in phonemic verbal fluency. Severity of motor signs in Sydenham chorea inversely correlated with performance in phonemic verbal fluency (words beginning with letter S, and total sum of words beginning with letters F, A, and S). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with Sydenham chorea show difficulties in verbal fluency and in verbal comprehension. Patients with rheumatic fever also have some degree of language impairment. Future studies must investigate language impairment in difference stages of Sydenham chorea (acute, persistent, and remission) and putative biological markers.