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Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment

Access to Preventive Health Services of People with Intellectual Disability in Italy 
Pages 96-99
Aldo Rosano and Alessandra Battisti

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2017.05.03.5

Published: 16 October 2017

 


Abstract: People with intellectual disabilities today have an high life expectancy, routine screening and preventive services are essential to their overall quality of care. We used the 2012-2013 Italian National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine screening and preventive service use for persons with intellectual disability. We estimated about 953 thousand people with intellectual disability, 58% of which are female and the 59% are over 65 years. Their quality of life, in terms of physical and mental status, was significant lower than general population. Intellectually disabled women generally reported screening and preventive services at lower as compared to women without intellectual disability: the risk of not attending a Pap smear test in a due time, in terms of odds ratio, was 4.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.6-5.7), as for mammography was 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-3.2). The risk of not attending colorectal screening was also significant, even if lower than female screening, (OR: 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.0). Various approaches can be adopted to improve access for intellectually disabled persons to preventive health care services.

Keywords: Intellectual disability, preventive health services, screening, mental health, access.

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Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment

Neurochemistry of Neurochemicals: Messengers of Brain Functions - Pages 137-151

Md. Sahab Uddin, Abdullah Al Mamun, Md. Tanvir Kabir, Md. Nasrullah, Ferdous Wahid, Mst. Marium Begum, Zubair Khalid Labu, Md. Sohanur Rahman, Md. Tanjir Islam, Md. Shah Amran and Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2017.05.04.6

 

Published: 15 January 2018

 


Abstract: Neurochemistry refers to the chemical processes that occur in the brain and nervous system. This section of study determines how neurochemicals influence the network of neural operation. The brain transfers numerous chemical information via neurons to communicate. The main role of neurochemistry activities takes place in the brain, which allows it to perform numerous actions. Foundation of brain is a little bit different from man to man and several things can play a role in the levels of various neurotransmitters in the brain. It is supposed that differences in brain chemistry may accountable for a variety of behavioral disorders. A particular cell called neurons is the basis of brain. Neurotransmitters have the capability that it can trigger when ordered to do so, along with receptors for specific neurotransmitters. By sending messages with neurotransmitters to signal various cell activities, brain perform its functions. Neurotransmitter spreads chemical messages from neuron to neuron to broadcast certain work and thus it works. A neuron may accept many chemical messages, both positive and negative from the other neurons contiguous it. They are accountable to get the neuron to reply in different ways, or they may work combine to produce a certain effect. Since all of this occurs just within a split second, the neurotransmitter must be cleared away rapidly so that the same receptors can be activated again and again. Psychoactive drugs work by briefly influencing a man's neurochemistry, which thusly causes changes in a man's mind-set, cognition, perception and behavior. Neuropeptides are endogenous protein molecules that are utilized for neuronal signaling. These molecules exert more prolonged and diverse effects on behavior than neurotransmitters. Therefore the objective of this appraisal is to show study of the brain’s chemical makeup especially neurotransmitters, psychopharmaceuticals, neuropeptides and their activities to nervous tissue.

Keywords: Neurochemistry, Neurochemicals, Messengers, Neurotransmitters, Psychopharmaceuticals, Neuropeptides, Brain Functions.

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Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment

Editorial: Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Importance of Early Assessment and Early Interventions - Pages 100-101

Harieta E. Manolova

Published: 15 January 2018

 


Abstract:

Keywords:

Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment

Asperger’s Syndrome in a Clinical Sample: Reasons for Referral and Comorbidity 

- Pages 117-123

S. Staykova, D. Terziev, H. Manolova, M. Hristova and A. Bistrian

Published: 17 January 2018

 


Abstract: Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder without mental retardation and language delay. AS often remains unrecognized until these children fail to adapt to school or kindergarten. The comorbid psychiatric disorders, achieving clinical significance, were considered as another pathway to diagnosis. This study is aimed to elucidate the reasons for referral, the frequency and the kinds of comorbidities in a clinical sample of consecutive cases of children and adolescents with AS. To this objective, clinical records of children and adolescents, who have received a DSM-IV diagnosis of AS after multidisciplinary assessment in a given time period were reviewed. After excluding 3 cases due to insufficient information, 24 cases of children and adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome (23 boys and one girl) were identified. The mean age at the time of assessment and receiving diagnosis was 9.6 yrs. (age range 4 to 17 years). In twenty-one (87%) of the cases the reason for referral was an episode of disorganized behavior following an attempt to enrollthe child at school or kindergarten, and more rare referral occurred within the significant school transition period. In the remaining 3 cases, the reason for referral was a comorbid condition. Comorbid conditions identified at the moment of assessment include: ADHD documented in 4 cases, tics in 3 cases, obsessive-compulsive behaviors in 4 cases, Stereotypic Movement Disorder or Trichotilomania in 4 of the cases. Within the clinical sample, a priori expected to include relatively severe cases, a higher frequency of comorbidity was found as compared to the rates in the general population. Adjustment reactions and comorbidities occasioned the referral, while AS was diagnosed only after specialized multidisciplinary assessment.

Keywords: Asperger’s Syndrome, reason for referral, comorbidity.

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