Behavioural problems of adolescents in secure residential youth care:Gender differences and risk factors

Adolescents in secure residential care mostly suffer from serious behavioural problems, often accompanied by trauma and adverse family circumstances. This paper presents findings of a comparison of behavioural problems and risk factors of 255 boys and girls (aged 12 to 18 years) in secure residential care in the Netherlands and their association with behavioural problems. A cross-sectional design and standardized questionnaires were used to measure behavioural problems and individual and familial risk factors. By using independent-sample t tests, the severity of these factors in boys and girls was compared, and by using structural equation modelling (SEM), associations between these factors and behavioural problems were investigated. The findings of the study show that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, maladaptive emotion regulation, impaired perceived competence and internalizing behavioural problems were more severe in girls than in boys. Boys experienced more severe externalizing behavioural problems and more family problems than girls. Maladaptive emotion regulation, PTSD symptoms, perceived competence and parenting problems were related to behavioural problems. The results indicate that treatment for girls should address PTSD symptoms, perceived competence and maladaptive emotion regulation and that extra attention for family problems in the treatment of boys is warranted

Longitudinal clinical and functional outcome in distinct cognitive subgroups of first-episode psychosis: a cluster analysis

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits may be characteristic for only a subgroup of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and the link with clinical and functional outcomes is less profound than previously thought. This study aimed to identify cognitive subgroups in a large sample of FEP using a clustering approach with healthy controls as a reference group, subsequently linking cognitive subgroups to clinical and functional outcomes. METHODS: 204 FEP patients were included. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using baseline brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia (BACS). Cognitive subgroups were compared to 40 controls and linked to longitudinal clinical and functional outcomes (PANSS, GAF, self-reported WHODAS 2.0) up to 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: Three distinct cognitive clusters emerged: relative to controls, we found one cluster with preserved cognition (n = 76), one moderately impaired cluster (n = 74) and one severely impaired cluster (n = 54). Patients with severely impaired cognition had more severe clinical symptoms at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-up as compared to patients with preserved cognition. General functioning (GAF) in the severely impaired cluster was significantly lower than in those with preserved cognition at baseline and showed trend-level effects at 6- and 12-month follow-up. No significant differences in self-reported functional outcome (WHODAS 2.0) were present. CONCLUSIONS: Current results demonstrate the existence of three distinct cognitive subgroups, corresponding with clinical outcome at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Importantly, the cognitively preserved subgroup was larger than the severely impaired group. Early identification of discrete cognitive profiles can offer valuable information about the clinical outcome but may not be relevant in predicting self-reported functional outcomes

Chloride transporters and GABA polarity in developmental, neurological and psychiatric conditions

Neuronal chloride regulation is a determinant factor for the dynamic tuning of GABAergic inhibition during and beyond brain development. This regulation is mainly dependent on the two co-transporters K+/Cl- co-transporter KCC2 and Na+/K+/Cl- co-transporter NKCC1, whose activity can decrease or increase neuronal chloride concentrations respectively. Altered expression and/or activity of either of these co-transporters has been associated with a wide variety of brain disorders including developmental disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia and stroke. Here, we review current knowledge on chloride transporter expression and activity regulation and highlight the intriguing potential for existing and future interventions to support chloride homeostasis across a wide range of mental disorders and neurological conditions

Chloride transporters and GABA polarity in developmental, neurological and psychiatric conditions

Neuronal chloride regulation is a determinant factor for the dynamic tuning of GABAergic inhibition during and beyond brain development. This regulation is mainly dependent on the two co-transporters K+/Cl- co-transporter KCC2 and Na+/K+/Cl- co-transporter NKCC1, whose activity can decrease or increase neuronal chloride concentrations respectively. Altered expression and/or activity of either of these co-transporters has been associated with a wide variety of brain disorders including developmental disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia and stroke. Here, we review current knowledge on chloride transporter expression and activity regulation and highlight the intriguing potential for existing and future interventions to support chloride homeostasis across a wide range of mental disorders and neurological conditions

A general tool to construct case library for industrial area redevelopment

Abandoned industrial area redevelopment is of great importance for regional sustainability. However it is difficult to decide how one industrial area can be redeveloped because of the complexity involved, including but not limited to, expectation from various stakeholders, large amount of investment and impacts on environment, society and economy. Learning from past redevelopment cases could significantly improve the quality of decision making and reduce the time needed by providing practical experience. Specially in urban planning, only cases that have similar demographic and spatial characteristics could be considered as possible reference for a new case. To construct such case library, a large amount of data which is not easily obtained is needed. To overcome the data shortage problem, a simple and straightforward method is proposed to construct industrial area redevelopment case library. Only land use maps and zoning plan maps are needed. A decision support tool, which provides an easy and general starting point for industrial area redevelopment decision process, is developed using FME. North Brabant region in the Netherlands is used as a case study. Spatial statistical analysis is presented for characterizing the region’s industrial area redevelopment process. Several steps are implemented to tackle unstructured and incomplete data. As a result, a case library is constructed. Further research is needed for coding different types of attributes in the case library so that artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques can be applied for further development of the decision and planning support system

Economic evaluations of non-pharmacological interventions and cost-of-illness studies in bipolar disorder:A systematic review

Background Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with substantial societal burden. Therefore, economic studies in BD are becoming increasingly important. The goal of the current study is three-fold: (1) summarize the evidence regarding economic evaluations (EEs) of non-pharmacological interventions for BD, (2) summarize cost-of-illness studies (COIs) for BD published 2012 or later and (3) assess the quality of the identified studies. Methods A systematic search was conducted in MedLine, EMBASE and PsycINFO. For both EEs and COIs, quality assessments were conducted and general and methodological characteristics of the studies were extracted. Outcomes included incremental-cost-effectiveness ratios for EEs and direct and indirect costs for COIs. Results Eight EEs and ten COIs were identified. The included studies revealed high heterogeneity in general and methodological characteristics and study quality. All interventions resulted in improved clinical outcomes. Five studies additionally concluded decreased total costs. For COIs, we found a wide range of direct ($881-$27,617) and indirect cost estimates per capita per year ($1,568-$116,062). Limitations High heterogeneity in terms of interventions, study design and outcomes made it difficult to compare results across studies. Conclusions Interventions improved clinical outcomes in all studies and led to cost-savings in five studies. Findings suggest that non-pharmacological intervention for BD might be cost-effective. Studies on the costs of BD revealed that BD has a substantial economic burden. However, we also found that the number of EEs was relatively low and methodology was heterogenous and therefore encourage future research to widen the body of knowledge in this research field and use standardized methodology

Door de ogen van de beoordelaar: Onderzoek naar similar-to-me-effecten op scores van cultureel diverse kandidaten op het assessment center

Research by McCarthy et al. (2010) and Sacco et al. (2003) found no effect of demographic similarity between assessor and applicant on scores given on the employment interview. Both studies used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Using a similar HLM approach, the present study explored the effect of similarity on ratings given to native Dutch applicants and applicants with a migration background during police officer selection on another frequently used personnel selection instrument, namely the assessment center (AC). More specifically, we investigated the similar-to-me effect of demographic similarity (i.e., cultural similarity between assessor and ap-plicant), and perceived similarity (i.e., similarity regarding specific cultural groups as considered by the assessor) on the AC ratings. Demographic similar-to-me was found to be related to Agency scores of native applicants and applicants with a migration background, but not to Communion scores. Perceived similar-to-me did not have an effect on ratings given on the AC (i.e., Agency and Communion). In general, the effect sizes were very small (R2 < .015). Therefore, no evidence was found for (dis)similarity differentially affecting evaluations of culturally diverse applicants during the AC, which replicates and extends McCarthy et al.’s and Sacco et al.’s previous research

Through the eyes of the assessor:Research into similar-to-me effects on assessment center scores of culturally diverse applicants

Research by McCarthy et al. (2010) and Sacco et al. (2003) found no effect of demographic similarity between assessor and applicant on scores given on the employment interview. Both studies used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). Using a similar HLM approach, the present study explored the effect of similarity on ratings given to native Dutch applicants and applicants with a migration background during police officer selection on another frequently used personnel selection instrument, namely the assessment center (AC). More specifically, we investigated the similar-to-me effect of demographic similarity (i.e., cultural similarity between assessor and ap-plicant), and perceived similarity (i.e., similarity regarding specific cultural groups as considered by the assessor) on the AC ratings. Demographic similar-to-me was found to be related to Agency scores of native applicants and applicants with a migration background, but not to Communion scores. Perceived similar-to-me did not have an effect on ratings given on the AC (i.e., Agency and Communion). In general, the effect sizes were very small (R2 < .015). Therefore, no evidence was found for (dis)similarity differentially affecting evaluations of culturally diverse applicants during the AC, which replicates and extends McCarthy et al.’s and Sacco et al.’s previous research