Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP
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J Dev Behav Pediatr · Nov 2010
A pilot study comparing traumatic stress symptoms by child and parent report across pediatric chronic illness groups.
Researchers have recently used a framework of traumatic stress to describe the psychological functioning of children experiencing a chronic illness and their families; however, few studies are available directly comparing symptoms across disease groups. This study compared traumatic stress symptoms of youth being considered for solid organ and bone marrow transplantation, youth diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus, youth diagnosed with sickle cell disease and their parents. Correlates of traumatic stress across these populations were also examined. ⋯ Findings suggest that although most children and parents across disease groups report subclinical levels of traumatic stress symptoms, traumatic stress symptoms may be especially salient for families of pediatric transplant candidates. Although interventions are currently available to treat posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, they will likely need to be individualized to meet the needs of specific disease groups.
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J Dev Behav Pediatr · Nov 2010
Case Reports"Different is nice, but it sure isn't easy": differentiating the spectrum of autism from the spectrum of normalcy.
Brian is a 15-year-old boy who has been just changed to your practice because of a change in insurance plans. When taking the social history, his parents note that he has "the hardest time relating to other kids." Sometimes he will be in the middle of a conversation with a friend and then discuss tangential topics. His father reports that Brian "...has always been an easy target. ⋯ There were no complications. He was treated with stimulants for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in the past, and he is currently on a long-acting amphetamine with equivocal efficacy. The parents are primarily here to refill his medication, but you wonder about their understanding about Brian's condition and where to head next during this visit.