Clinical characteristics of sexually abused individuals with borderline intellectual functioning or mild intellectual disability:an overview of the literature

BACKGROUND: Sexual abuse in individuals with (above) average iq is associated with a wide range of behavioural and psychological clinical characteristics, including characteristics regarding body experience. However, research on the clinical characteristics of sexually abused individuals with borderline intellectual functioning or mild intellectual disability (bif-mid) is scarce. OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of the literature on the clinical characteristics of sexually abused individuals with bif-mid.&lt;br/&gt; METHOD: PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, cinahl, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for relevant publications using terms related to 'intellectual disability' and 'sexual abuse'. &lt;br/&gt; RESULTS: Seven studies were included. The studies in question mostly reported behavioural and psychological characteristics such as challenging behaviour, sexualised behaviour or posttraumatic stress, anxiety or depressive symptoms associated with sexual abuse in individuals with bif-mid. None of the studies reported problems regarding body experience. CONCLUSIONS Sexual abuse in individuals with bif-mid is associated with a broad range of behavioural and psychological characteristics similar to that of individuals with (above) average iq. Whether sexually abused individuals with bif-mid have similar problems in body experience as sexually abused individuals with (higher than) average iq needs to be investigated.</p

Motor development of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective: To compare both global and specific domains of motor development of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with that of typically developing children. Methods: Two hundred children (50 children with clinical diagnoses of ADHD, according to the DSM-IV-TR and 150 typically developing controls), aged 5 to 10 years, participated in this crosssectional study. The Motor Development Scale was used to assess fine and global motricity, balance, body schema, and spatial and temporal organization. Results: Between-group testing revealed statistically significant differences between the ADHD and control groups for all domains. The results also revealed a deficit of nearly two years in the motor development of children with ADHD compared with the normative sample. Conclusion: The current study shows that ADHD is associated with a delay in motor development when compared to typically developing children. The results also suggested difficulties in certain motor areas for those with ADHD. These results may point to plausible mechanisms underlying the relationship between ADHD and motor difficulties

Mood impairments in adults previously diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Background: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affects up to 6% of the population and is diagnosed on the basis of poor motor coordination. While we know rather little about its lifetime consequences, clear and significant difficulties remain through the lifespan for the majority. Reduced physical activity and, outside of the motor domain, significant mental health issues exist for many with DCD. Aims: This study provides the first investigation of the presence of mood disorders in adults with DCD. Method: Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed using the Beck Depression and Spielberger Anxiety Inventories in 36 adults previously diagnosed with DCD vs. 49 age- and gender-matched typical controls. Amount and type of physical activity undertaken each week were also reported. Results: After controlling for their reduced level of weekly physical activity, the group with DCD reported significantly more symptoms of depression, state and trait anxiety than their peers. Conclusions: This finding has important implications for consideration of intervention in DCD, as well as for investigation of the risk and protective factors at play in long term outcome. Finally the findings highlight the need for awareness of motor difficulties in those presenting with high levels of anxiety and depression, and vice versa

Psychosen bij jeugdigen

BACKGROUND: There is little research on characteristics and prognosis of early onset psychosis (at the age of 12-18 years). AIM: To advance our knowledge of this disorder for the purpose of proper diagnosis and treatment. Premorbid and prodromal characteristics, treatment history, symptoms and classifications, and similarities and differences between subgroups with affective and with schizophrenic psychosis are focused on. METHOD: A chart review was constructed to study a group of 129 subjects with psychotic symptoms. RESULTS: The group was characterised by early -but non-specific - treatment, developmental problems (mostly social), and clear prodromes. Drug abuse, depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour were also frequent. Male gender, a relatively long prodromal phase, school problems and drug abuse were more indicative for a schizophrenic subgroup. Introversion was characteristic for schizophrenic boys. Classificaties, however, were notstable. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that early identification of all early onset psychosis should take place in existing treatment settings. Careful examination of the prodromal phase seems helpful to differentiate between schizophrenic and affective psychosis, which is significant for both research as (early) intervention