Validation of a measure to assess Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: a Sinhalese version of Impact of Event Scale

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of measures to conduct epidemiological studies related to disasters in Sri Lanka. This study validates a Sinhalese translation of the Impact of Event Scale- 8 items version (IES-8) for use in Sri Lanka. METHODS: This cross-sectional validation study was conducted in the densely populated rural area of Tangalle in the Southern province of Sri Lanka. The English version of the IES-8 after translation procedures in to Sinhalese was administered by trained raters to a community sample of 30 survivors of tsunami aged 13 years and above. Diagnostic accuracy, reproducibility and validity of the translated IES was assessed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, inter-rater reliability, internal consistency, criterion validity and construct validity. RESULTS: The cut-off score of 15 gave a fair sensitivity (77%) for screening along with other components of diagnostic accuracy. The inter-rater reliability was high (0.89). The internal consistency for the whole scale was high (0.78) with a high face and content validity. The criterion validity was high (0.83) and the construct validity demonstrated the two factor structure documented in the literature. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that this Sinhalese version of the Impact of Event Scale has sound diagnostic accuracy as well as psychometric properties and makes it an ideal measure for epidemiological studies related to natural and man made disasters in Sri Lanka

Can only intelligent children do mind reading: The relationship between intelligence and theory of mind in 8 to 11 years old

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mind reading ability of children has evoked wide interest, but its relationship with general cognitive abilities remains obscure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied the relationship between the mind reading ability and general intelligence. Children (N = 105) between 8 to 11 years from educational institutions were assessed for the mind reading ability using <it>Picture Sequencing Task </it>and <it>Unexpected Contents Theory of Mind task</it>. We used <it>Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire </it>to rule out psychiatric morbidity. An independent investigator quantified intelligence and adaptive behavior with <it>Binet- Kamat Test of intelligence </it>and <it>Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale </it>respectively. We employed bivariate and multivariate statistical tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrated that mind reading ability was not significantly related to general intelligence or its domains except for the social intelligence after controlling the confounders methodologically and statistically.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings argue that mind reading skill exists as an independent cognitive domain and has clinical, research as well as educational implications.</p

Outcomes of Disconnective Surgery in Intractable Pediatric Hemispheric and Subhemispheric Epilepsy

Objectives: To study the outcome of disconnective epilepsy surgery for intractable hemispheric and sub-hemispheric pediatric epilepsy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the epilepsy surgery database was done in all children (age <18 years) who underwent a peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) or a peri-insular posterior quadrantectomy (PIPQ) from April 2000 to March 2011. All patients underwent a detailed pre surgical evaluation. Seizure outcome was assessed by the Engel's classification and cognitive skills by appropriate measures of intelligence that were repeated annually. Results: There were 34 patients in all. Epilepsy was due to Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE), Infantile hemiplegia seizure syndrome (IHSS), Hemimegalencephaly (HM), Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS) and due to post encephalitic sequelae (PES). Twenty seven (79.4%) patients underwent PIH and seven (20.6%) underwent PIPQ. The mean follow up was 30.5 months. At the last follow up, 31 (91.1%) were seizure free. The age of seizure onset and etiology of the disease causing epilepsy were predictors of a Class I seizure outcome. Conclusions: There is an excellent seizure outcome following disconnective epilepsy surgery for intractable hemispheric and subhemispheric pediatric epilepsy. An older age of seizure onset, RE, SWS and PES were good predictors of a Class I seizure outcome

Caregiver experiences of feeding children with developmental disabilities: a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis from India

Objective We aimed to explore caregiver experiences of feeding children with developmental disabilities, in the context of it being influenced by biological, personal and social factors.Design This study applied a qualitative study design through focus group discussions (FGDs), using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis.Setting This study was conducted at the Child Psychiatry Unit of a tertiary care centre in South India, between March and November 2020.Participants Seventeen mothers of children with developmental disabilities, who provided written informed consent, participated in four FGDs.Results Three over-arching themes were identified. Feeding experience: (a) a tedious, confusing task; (b) disproportionate onus on mothers; (c) influenced by sociocultural norms.Conclusion Feeding can be a stressful activity for both caregiver and child, influenced by family structure and sociocultural belief systems. Considering caregivers’ emotional status, facilitatory and hindering environmental factors, and actively exploring strategies to promote the generalisation of strategies learnt into real-life outcomes are essential in tailoring deficit-specific feeding interventions