[Quality of life of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). METHODS: The PedsQL 4.0 generic core scales (Chinese Version) were administered to 73 ADHD children and 98 gender and age-matched healthy children. The parents of the children completed the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 169 out of 171 recruited families completed the questionnaires, with a response rate of 98.8%. The ADHD children had significantly lower scores (72.7 +/- 13.0) of PedsQL 4.0 than that of the healthy children (83.7 +/- 12.0, t = -49.3, P = 0.000). The Parent Proxy-Report total score of the ADHD children (70.0 +/- 12.4) was also lower than the normal controls (82.4 +/- 11.2, t = -57.7, P = 0.000). The psychosocial health functioning of ADHD children (Children Self-Report 68.6 +/- 14.5, Parent Proxy-Report 64.9 +/- 15.4) was consistently poorer than the Physical Functioning (Children Self-Report 81.2 +/- 14.0, Parent Proxy- Report 81.7 +/- 15.6) (P = 0.000). The ADHD children had significantly higher scores in Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (44.54 +/- 17.89) than the normal controls (16.09 +/- 9.23, t = 100.08, P = 0.000). The PedsQL 4.0 scores were negatively correlated with school functioning scores, learning problems, hyperactivity index and the total scores of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (r = -0.650, -0.630, and -0.599 respectively, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: ADHD children suffer from poor quality of life and learning difficulties.

Comparison of characteristics between geriatric and younger subjects with schizophrenia in community.

Relatively little is known about the different characteristics of non-institutionalized geriatric and younger subjects with schizophrenia. This study compared demographic and clinical characteristics of all the geriatric, middle-age and young subjects with schizophrenia living in a Chinese rural community. Geriatric (age >/= 65 years) (N = 51), middle-age (age 41-64 years) (N = 263) and young subjects with schizophrenia (age 15-40 years) (N = 196) in a rural community were assessed with the Present State Examination and Social Disability Screening Schedule. Age at first onset was significantly older in geriatric male and female groups. While there were no significant differences of negative symptoms among the three groups, the rates of lifetime nuclear syndrome were significantly lower in geriatric subjects compared to the other two groups. Geriatric subjects were less likely to have been hospitalized (9.8%) than middle-age (19.0%) and younger subjects (24.8%). Although the duration of illness was significantly longer in geriatric subjects than in the other two groups, the clinical outcome was significantly better in the geriatric group and social functioning scores were similar among the three groups. Geriatric subjects were more likely to be female, with longer duration of illness, fewer "core" symptoms, relatively stable social functioning and clinical outcome. The pathogenesis and psychopathology of geriatric subjects may be different compared to younger subjects with schizophrenia.

Effectiveness of psychoeducational intervention for rural Chinese families experiencing schizophrenia--a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics and efficacy of psychoeducational family intervention for persons with schizophrenia in rural China. METHODS: A cluster randomised controlled trial of psychoeducational family intervention for families experiencing schizophrenia (three groups, 326 cases) was conducted in Xinjin County, Chengdu. Treatment groups consisted of family intervention and medication, medication alone, and a control. RESULTS: The results showed a gain in knowledge, a change in the relatives' caring attitudes towards the patients, and an increase in treatment compliance in the psychoeducational family intervention group (p < 0.05, 0.001). Most importantly, the relapse rate over 9 months in this group (16.3 %) was half that of the drug-only group (37.8 %), and just over one-quarter of that of the control group (61.5 %) (p < 0.05). Antipsychotic drug treatment and families' attitudes towards patients after the 9-month follow-up were significantly associated with clinical outcome (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In rural China, family intervention should focus on improving the relatives' recognition of illness, the caring attitude towards the patients, treatment compliance, relapse prevention, and the training of the patients' social functioning. This trial, one of the largest in the literature, has shown that psychoeducational family intervention is effective and suitable for psychiatric rehabilitation in Chinese rural communities.

Prevalence and course of schizophrenia in a Chinese rural area.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the characteristics and factors affecting course of schizophrenia in a Chinese rural area. METHOD: An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify all the patients with schizophrenia among 149 231 people in Xinjin County, Chengdu. RESULTS: The total prevalence of schizophrenia was 4.13 per 1000 population. Males had an earlier mean age of onset (29.6 years) than females (32.3 years). Duration of illness before treatment and the total duration of illness were found to be significantly associated with level of remission. The status of treatment, family economy, housing, and families' care of patients had a significant effect on the clinical course of the illness. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of illness before treatment may be an important predictor of course in schizophrenia. Early treatment for the patients may produce higher level of improvement in prognosis. Education intervention and community-based service are urgent priorities for these patients.