A Study On Association Among Sleep Pattern, Sleep Disturbance And Problem Behavior In Persons With Developmental Disabilities In India

Background: Sleep patterns of persons with developmental disabilities are different from those of age matched peers. Persons with developmental disabilities are taking more time to fall asleep as compared with other persons without disabilities (Piazza, Fisher, & Kahng, (1996). Sleep disturbances seem to decrease one’s ability to regulate, control, or inhibit emotion and behavior (Dahl, 1996, Wolfson and Carskadon, 1998). Brylewski and Wiggs (1999) found that persons with developmental disabilities with sleep disorders have more daytime problem behaviors like Irritability, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity, self-injury, aggression and screaming. Methods: The present study assessed the sleep pattern, sleep disturbance and problem behavior in a randomized sample of persons (η=70) with developmental disabilities on whom EEG recording was done. Persons with developmental disabilities who are living in community with parents were taken for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect research data from informants on Demographic Data Sheet, Showkat’s Screening Scale for Sleep Pattern of Children (SSSSPC), Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) and Behavioral Assessment scale for Indian Children with Mental Retardation Part–B. The relationships were explored among sleep pattern, sleep disturbance and problem behavior with respect to EEG record, medication and comorbid conditions in persons with developmental disabilities. Results: Pearson’s correlation co-efficient (r) was calculated and it was found that sleep pattern is significantly associated with sleep disturbance (r =0.534, p<0.01)) and problem behavior (r =0.521, p<0.01) of persons with developmental disabilities. The results showed that sleep pattern is significant with problem behaviors like temper tantrums & misbehavior with others. Furthermore, persons with developmental disabilities having severe problems in sleep pattern also showed severe problem behaviors, such as self injurious behavior, repetitive behavior, odd behavior, hyperactivity & rebellious behavior. The significant difference (p<0.05) was found in sleep pattern of persons with developmental disabilities between the groups having normal EEG record and abnormal EEG record. Similar findings were also observed with respect to problem behavior. Results of this study are discussed pertaining to the assessment of sleep pattern; sleep disturbance and problem behavior of persons with developmental disabilities. Conclusions: Present research study concluded that there is an association among sleep pattern, sleep disturbance and problem behavior in persons with developmental disabilities. In present study it was observed that there is a significant difference in sleep pattern of persons with developmental disabilities between the groups having normal EEG record and abnormal EEG record. Similar findings were also observed with respect to problem behavior

Early Intervention and Prevention of Self-Injurious Behavior Exhibited by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Autism is a Neuro-Developmental Disorder affecting socialization, communication with stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. The research Scientists all over world found that Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a serious, chronic problem influencing about 10% to 14% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. (Iwata & Rodgers, 1992). It occurs frequently in form of face slapping, head banging, and hand biting (Durand & Crimmins, 1988). Such aberrant behavior is so obvious and physically harmful that catches caregivers’ and special educators’ attention all the times in naturalistic settings (Durand & Crimmins, 1988). Injuries and health problems caused by this behavior could highly increase social isolation, restricted educational and vocational opportunities and costly medical and residential care (Kurtz et al., 2003). Therefore, early and appropriate intervention to decelerate such aberrant behavior is indeed needed. The purposes of this study were to assess the functions of self-injurious behavior in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and to explore early interventions to reduce such aberrant behavior

Epilepsy in Kashmir, J&K Childhood Seizures & Epilepsy, Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Intervention, Prevalence and Action

An epileptic seizure is a transient occurrence of signs and or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition. The definition of epilepsy requires the occurrence of at least one epileptic seizure (ILAE & IBE 2005). Epilepsy is a physical condition that occurs when there is a sudden, brief change in how the brain works. When brain cells are not working properly, a person's consciousness, movement, or actions may be altered for a short time. These physical changes are called epileptic seizures. Epilepsy is therefore sometimes called a seizure disorder. Epilepsy affects people in all nations and of all races (Epilepsy Foundation of America). The peak stages for the occurrence of epileptic disorders are Childhood and late adulthood as seen in developed countries but it has not been documented properly. The main causes are head injuries, cerebrovascular disease, CNS infections, and birth trauma. Availability of epilepsy-care depends largely on economic factors. Imaging and neurophysiological facilities are available in most countries, but often only in urban centres. Costly drugs, a large treatment gap, limited epilepsy surgery, and negative public attitude to epilepsy are other notable features of management in developing countries. An understanding of the psychosocial, cultural, economic, organizational and political factors influencing epilepsy causation, management, and outcome should be of high priority for future investigations. The lifetime prevalence of epilepsy varied among countries from 1•5 to 14•0 per 1000. This wide variation could partly result from the use of different methods and different types of questionnaire. Screening questionnaires were mainly derived from WHO questionnaires. The prevalence of epileptic disorders in India is 5.9 in males and 5.5 in females in the reference year of 1999. The Incidence of epileptic disorders in India is 60 out of 100,000 in the reference year of 199

Community Psychology Linking Individuals and Communities into a Scientific Psychological Framework: An Integrative Approach

Community psychology is a scientific discipline within the broad field of psychology which deals with mental health and social welfare issues of the community taking a holistic, systems-based approach to understanding behavior and how people fit in to society, much like related fields such as sociology and social psychology. Community psychology tends to be more centered on applying psychological and social knowledge to solving problems, creating real-world solutions and taking immediate action. Community psychologists primarily work in agency settings. Whether working in community health clinics involving in counseling practices and mental health work, or working in government or large social service agencies and doing research on existing social problems or planning and implementing grass roots social service programs. Their work is primarily with the marginalized and less-advantaged areas of society and those who struggle with poverty and discrimination amongst many other social ills. The primary purpose of a these psychologists is to strive for the wellbeing of an individual and society as a whole and to prevent issues from growing and treating them if they exit. The main focus of community psychologists are empowerment, social justice and wellness and prevention programs in community. These are all very broad areas of work that educate citizens to help themselves, their families and their communities to improve both their present and future. Despite the progress that has been made in Community Psychology since 1960s there is still much more improvement to be made. Societies are becoming increasingly diverse and with the continuing economic fluctuations many groups are becoming more and more marginalized. Community psychologists are working hand-in-hand with community members to identify and rectify problems as they arise and will continue to increase our knowledge regarding the society and improve the prosperity, health, well-being and lifestyles of society. Researchers have proposed one conceptual model for community crisis intervention for its development

Early Intervention and Prevention of Self-Injurious Behavior Exhibited by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Autism is a Neuro-Developmental Disorder affecting socialization, communication with stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. The research Scientists all over world found that Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a serious, chronic problem influencing about 10% to 14% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. (Iwata & Rodgers, 1992). It occurs frequently in form of face slapping, head banging, and hand biting (Durand & Crimmins, 1988). Such aberrant behavior is so obvious and physically harmful that catches caregivers’ and special educators’ attention all the times in naturalistic settings (Durand & Crimmins, 1988). Injuries and health problems caused by this behavior could highly increase social isolation, restricted educational and vocational opportunities and costly medical and residential care (Kurtz et al., 2003). Therefore, early and appropriate intervention to decelerate such aberrant behavior is indeed needed. The purposes of this study were to assess the functions of self-injurious behavior in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and to explore early interventions to reduce such aberrant behavior

Gainful utilization of the highly intransigent weed ipomoea in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles

AbstractThe paper presents a new method for the biomimetic synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs), in which a highly invasive and harmful weed Ipomoea carnea has been employed for the first time as the main bioagent. Extracts of all the three basic components of the plant – leaves, stem and root – were explored and were found to be suitable in effecting the GNP synthesis. The electron micrographs of the synthesized GNPs revealed the presence of particles of monodispersed spherical and polydispersed triangular, hexagonal, polygonal, rod, and truncated triangular shapes in sizes ranging 3–40 and 10–100nm, respectively. The presence of gold atoms was confirmed from the EDAX and X-ray diffraction studies. The FT-IR spectral study indicated that the polysaccharides and proteins in the plant extract could have been responsible for the reduction of gold ions to GNPs and the latter’s stabilization

Biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the amphibious weed ipomoea and their application in pollution control

Use of aqueous extracts of leaves, stems, and roots of the pernicious aquatic weed ipomoea (Ipomoea carnea) drawn from different locations was explored in the biomimetic extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs). It was found that despite the natural variability in the chemical content of ipomoea growing in different locations, certain extract–metal stoichiometries can be identified which give strikingly reproducible results in terms of the size and the shape of the SNPs. This is one of the first reports of its type in which possible role of natural variability in the chemical composition of a given botanical species on nanoparticle synthesis involving that species has been assessed. The use of the SNPs was explored in the degradation of typical organic pollutants—the dyes Alizarin Red S and Remazol Brilliant Blue R. The SNPs were found to speed up the dye degradation

Community Psychology Linking Individuals and Communities into a Scientific Psychological Framework: An Integrative Approach

Community psychology is a scientific discipline within the broad field of psychology which deals with mental health and social welfare issues of the community taking a holistic, systems-based approach to understanding behavior and how people fit in to society, much like related fields such as sociology and social psychology. Community psychology tends to be more centered on applying psychological and social knowledge to solving problems, creating real-world solutions and taking immediate action. Community psychologists primarily work in agency settings. Whether working in community health clinics involving in counseling practices and mental health work, or working in government or large social service agencies and doing research on existing social problems or planning and implementing grass roots social service programs. Their work is primarily with the marginalized and less-advantaged areas of society and those who struggle with poverty and discrimination amongst many other social ills. The primary purpose of a these psychologists is to strive for the wellbeing of an individual and society as a whole and to prevent issues from growing and treating them if they exit. The main focus of community psychologists are empowerment, social justice and wellness and prevention programs in community. These are all very broad areas of work that educate citizens to help themselves, their families and their communities to improve both their present and future. Despite the progress that has been made in Community Psychology since 1960s there is still much more improvement to be made. Societies are becoming increasingly diverse and with the continuing economic fluctuations many groups are becoming more and more marginalized. Community psychologists are working hand-in-hand with community members to identify and rectify problems as they arise and will continue to increase our knowledge regarding the society and improve the prosperity, health, well-being and lifestyles of society. Researchers have proposed one conceptual model for community crisis intervention for its development