Cognitive-behavioral treatments

The present paper provides an overview of the guiding theory and descriptive features of the cognitive-behavioral approach to psychosocial interventions for youths. Cognitive-behavioral treatment has been applied to various disorders including anxiety, aggression, depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, pain, and learning disabilities. Research on the nature of these disorders, a description of related treatment strategies, and an illustrative review of treatment outcome data is provided. Discussion focuses on a consideration of familial involvement, developmental factors, and methodological issues (i.e., comorbidity and normative comparisons) that require research attention. © 1995 Plenum Publishing Corporation

Maternal expectations and attributions about coping in anxious children

This study examined maternal expectations and attributions regarding their child\u27s ability to cope with a stressful situation. Children either met DSM III-R criteria for an Anxiety Disorder or were normal. Results indicated that it was not the perception of threat that, differentiated the expectations of mothers in both groups, but rather their expectations for coping, both generally and in terms of specific behavior. Mothers of anxiety-disorder (AD) children expected their children to be more upset, less able to make themselves feel comfortable, and were less confident in their children\u27s abilities to perform task related behavior. In general, maternal expectations for coping appear to reflect the actual lower coping ability of anxious children. Concerning attributions, mothers of AD children made fewer causal distinctions between high and low coping than did mothers of normal control (NC) children. Discussion considers how lowered expectations for coping may relate to protective parenting and how such patterns may unwittingly maintain anxious behavior in children

DSM-IV and internalizing disorders: Modifications, limitations, and utility

The recent publication of DSM-IV evidences changes in the areas of child anxiety and, to a lesser degree, depressive disorders. A summary of the DSM-IV criteria for childhood anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as modifications in diagnostic criteria from DSM-III-R to DSM-IV are presented. A brief review of major research findings regarding anxiety and depression in children also is provided, and DSM-IV is evaluated in terms of its grounding in empirical research. The utility of DSM-IV for school psychology is discussed, including a delineation of essential criteria for diagnosis and the need to determine the functional impact of a disorder. Finally, potential limitations of DSM-IV are examined

Exposure to child anxiety: Theory, research, and practice

This article provides a brief overview of cognitive-behavioral theory and its application in understanding and treating anxiety in youths. Research investigations have examined the outcomes of cognitive-behavioral intervention, treatment generalizability, diagnostic issues, cognitive processing, social competence, and familial and parental factors. Issues surrounding the transportability of empirically evaluated treatment to community-based clinics are considered

Disclosure of distress among anxiety-disordered youth: Differences in treatment outcome

The present study evaluated treatment outcome differences in anxiety-disordered youth who differed in their disclosure of internal distress as measured in a structured diagnostic interview. One hundred and seventy-one clinic-referred, anxiety-disordered children served as participants. Participants\u27 primary diagnoses were one of three anxiety disorders: separation anxiety, generalized anxiety/overanxious, or social phobia/avoidance. At a pretreatment assessment, children and their parents were interviewed separately using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS) to determine the child\u27s diagnosis. The child\u27s status as a discloser of high distress or discloser of low distress was determined by the parents\u27 endorsement of an anxiety disorder and the child\u27s endorsement or lack of endorsement of an anxiety disorder, respectively. Parents, teachers, and children also completed measures assessing the child\u27s psychopathology (e.g., Revised Children\u27s Manifest Anxiety Scale, Child Behavior Checklist). In general, findings indicated that the level of distress reported by the children moderated treatment outcome. Although both groups benefited from treatment, the children disclosing high distress experienced greater treatment gains than the children disclosing low distress. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Therapy for youths with anxiety disorders: A second randomized clinical trial

Ninety-four children (aged 9-13 years) with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned to cognitive behavioral treatment or waiting-list control. Outcomes were evaluated using diagnostic status, child self-reports, parent and teacher reports, cognitive assessment and behavioral observation; maintenance was examined using 1-year follow-up data. Analyses of dependent measures indicated significant improvements over time, with the majority indicating greater gains for those receiving treatment. Treatment gains returned cases to within nondeviant limits (i.e., normative comparisons) and were maintained at 1-year follow-up. Client age and comorbid status did not moderate outcomes. A preliminary examination of treatment segments suggested that the enactive exposure (when it follows cognitive educational training) was an active force in beneficial change. Discussion includes suggestions for future research

Facile synthesis of MDTPA and BMDTPA: Design and synthesis of novel DTPA-peptide conjugates for radiolabelling

Aim: In-111 radiolabelling of monoclonal antibodies was achieved by using 3,6-bis(carboxymethyl)-9-{[(2-maleimidoethyl)carbamoyl]-methyl}-3,6,9-triazaundecanedioic acid (MDTPA), synthesised in 12 steps. 1.We designed and investigated a new synthetic route of MDTPA to investigate In-radiolabelling of a cysteine derivatised nanogastrin peptide. We also targeted the synthesis of 1,9-bis{[(2-maleimidoethyl)-carbamoyl]methyl}-3,6,9-tris(carboxymethyl)-3,6,9-triaza-undecanoic acid (BMDTPA) from which the corresponding DTPA-N,N”-bis(amide) peptide conjugate can potentially chelate Gd(III), Y(III), Cu(II) and Zn(II) and therefore open avenues towards novel peptide/antibody based MRI and PET contrasting agents. 2.Methods: 2-aminoethylmaleimide, synthesised in 3 steps, was reacted with DTPA anhydride to obtain MDTPA and/or BMDTPA. Then nanogastrin peptide was treated separately with both MDTPA and BMDTPA and cold Indium labelling of the corresponding peptide conjugates were characterised by RP HPLC-MS. Results: The coupling of 2-aminoethylmaleimide, synthesised in 3 steps (70% overall yield) with DTPA anhydride afforded both MDTPA and BMDTPA in 5% and 72% yield respectively after RP HPLC purification. Nanogastrin-MDTPA coupling afforded the corresponding peptide conjugate, which successfully labelled with Indium (analysed by HPLC-MS). Application of BMDTPA as a spacer in the synthesis of a bis-HYNICnanogastrin conjugate followed by Tc-99m radiolabelling will also be presented. Conclusions:The novel 4-step short synthesis of both MDTPA and BMDTPA was accomplished thus making both compounds more accessible to functionalise peptides and antibodies of interest for a wide range of applications

Use of coordinating amino acid sequences to design an optimal technetium binding site in hynic-conjugated peptides

Synthesis, characterization and preliminary biological evaluation of [Cu-64] ethhylenedicysteine-nitroimidazole and comparative studies with [F-18] fluoromisonidazol