Neuropsychological functioning in preschool-aged children with sickle cell disease: The role of illness-related and psychosocial factors

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of illness-related and psychosocial factors with neuropsychological functioning in preschool-aged children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The following hypotheses were proposed: (1) children with SCD would perform less well than normative groups on neuropsychological measures, (2) they would perform relatively less well on measures of Memory/Attention as compared to other domains, and (3) psychosocial risk factors would predict variability in neuropsychological performance over and above that predicted by illness-related factors …Ph.D., Clinical Psychology -- Drexel University, 200

A prospective open-label treatment trial of olanzapine monotherapy in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of olanzapine in the treatment of acute mania in children and adolescents. METHODS: This was an 8-week, open-label, prospective study of olanzapine monotherapy (dose range 2.5-20 mg/day) involving 23 bipolar youths (manic, mixed, or hypomanic; 5-14 years old). Weekly assessments were made using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Clinical Global Impressions Severity Scale (CGI-S), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Children\u27s Depression Rating Scale. Adverse events were assessed through self-reports, vital sign and weight monitoring, laboratory analytes, and extrapyramidal symptom rating scales (Barnes Akathisia Scale, Simpson-Angus Scale, and Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale). RESULTS: Twenty-two of the 23 youths (96%) completed the study. Olanzapine treatment was associated with significant improvement in mean YMRS score (-19.0 +/- 9.2, p \u3c 0.001). Using predefined criteria for improvement of \u3e or = 30% decline in the YMRS and a CGI-S Mania score of \u3c or = 3 at endpoint, the overall response rate was 61%. Overall, olanzapine was well tolerated, and extrapyramidal symptom measures were not significantly different from baseline. Body weight increased significantly over the study (5.0 +/- 2.3 kg, p \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Open-label olanzapine treatment was efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of acute mania in youths with bipolar disorder. Future placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are warranted