jiddt

IDDJ-coverweb

Developmental Profiling - The Tool of Choice to Measure Deficit, Plan Intervention and Monitor Outcome in Children with Developmental Disabilities
Pages 169-176
Prathibha Karanth, Tanya Dash and Tanushree Saxena-Chandhok

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2014.02.03.3

Published: 19 December 2014

 


Abstract: This article highlights the transition from a more traditional IQ measure to a profile based approach of assessment, in children with developmental disabilities. Clinically, developmental disorders are heterogeneous conditions, which have made uniformity of assessments across settings, centers and countries elusive. A decade ago, intelligence tests were given priority for assessing children. However, IQ scores had little direct bearing for the planning of intervention. This article highlights an assessment tool that, not only provides a quick understanding of the child’s overall skill across eight essential developmental domains, but also offers guidance for intervention planning on the basis of assessment.

Keywords: Developmental disorder, IQ assessment, Profile based assessment, Early intervention, Communication DEALL Developmental Checklist (CDDC).
Download Full Article

IDDJ-coverweb

Unemployment Duration and Attitudes Towards Work among People Over 45 Years Old
Pages 177-182
Tomas Izquierdo-Rus and Francisco J. Moya-Faz

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2014.02.03.4

Published: 19 December 2014

 


Abstract: The situation of global economic crisis and the rapid increase of the unemployment rate cause changes in people´s attitudes about the labor market. These changes, sometimes, are motivated by the influence of certain individual variables such as the duration of unemployment. The objective of this research is to analyze the mediator influence of unemployment duration in the attitudes towards work among unemployed people over 45 years old. The people who participate in the research are 161 unemployed that agreed voluntarily in taking part in the interview of attitudes towards work. The data took out from the interviews were analyzed with the statistical software ATLAS.ti 6.2. The results demonstrate that unemployment duration plays an important mediator role in the attitudes towards work when conditioning the job search behavior and favor the chances of finding a job. The conclusion is about practical suggestions and the continuity of research in this area.

Keywords: Unemployment, attitudes towards work, unemployment duration, people over 45 years old, qualitative study.
Download Full Article

IDDJ-coverweb

Bilateral Arm Training for Patients with Chronic Hemiparetic in Upper Limb Function
Pages 155-163

Ángel Sánchez Cabeza and Patricia Ruíz de Martín Esteban Corral

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2014.02.03.1

Published: 19 December 2014

 


Abstract: Assess the effect that BAT (Bilateral Arm Training) produces on the upper limb motor control in patients with chronic brain injury assessed by the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Assess if there is a statistically significant correlation between motor control improvement and disability perceived by the Quick Dash questionnaire application. A quasi-experimental study with pre-post treatment measures during three months was performed in a sample of twelve patients with chronic brain injury. Patients received twelve sessions of forty-five minutes from bilateral training with a frequency of three times per week. WMFT and QD were used for the procedure assessment. Outcomes were statistically analyzed by the SPSS v 17.0 software. The study was executed at Polibea. Study´s inclusion criteria were as follows: no serious cognitive deficits, one or both upper limb´s control motor affected, attend to Polibea two times per week and no sensitive aphasia.

After the BAT treatment we observed a statistically significant difference on motor control improvement in the WMFT. However the disability perceived through QD was not statistically significant. In conclusion, BAT improves motor control in our patients with chronic acquired brain injury.

Keywords: Bilateral arm training, Brain injury, Acquired brain injury, Occupational therapy, Upper limb.
Download Full Article

Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment

Aetiology Based Diagnosis and Treatment Selection in Intellectually Disabled People with Challenging Behaviours
Pages 83-93
Willem M.A. Verhoeven and Jos I.M. Egger

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2014.02.02.1

Published: 26 September 2014

 


Abstract: Since both intellectual disability and challenging behaviour are entities encompassing heterogeneous clinical conditions and current taxonomies are of limited use in this field of psychiatry, diagnosing psychiatric symptoms in intellectually disabled patients is still very complex. In the diagnostic process of psychiatric symptoms and behavioural abnormalities, the first step should be genome profiling using the latest techniques in order to detect pathogenic CNVs or single gene mutations that are causative for the developmental delay. Their importance can be derived from the scientific observation that several genetic syndromes are associated with a specific behavioural, psychiatric, neuropsychological or neurological symptom profile, relevant for both choice of treatment and prognosis. Second, it has to be stressed that psychiatric disorders, especially from the depression and anxiety spectrum, frequently manifest with atypical symptoms that may hamper adequate pharmacological treatment. With respect to challenging behaviours in general, it should be emphasized that these are essentially dependent on contextual variables for which no rational pharmacological treatment is available and behavioural interventions are primarily warranted. Prescription of psychotropics has been demonstrated to be marginally effective only and to induce regularly unwanted side effects or even an increase of abnormal behaviours. It is therefore recommended to measure always the plasma concentration of psychotropics and antiepileptics and to perform, preferably prior to the start of treatment, genotyping of relevant cytochrome isoenzymes.

In is concluded that, apart from the a priori genetic analysis, careful investigation of the here described data sources is needed to formulate a diagnostic hypothesis and treatment proposal.

Keywords: Psychiatric diagnosis, DSM, genetic etiology, psychotropics, pharmacogenetics, behaviour, behavioural phenotype.
Download Full Article