Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Exploratory Analysis Of The Impact Of Family Functioning On Treatment For Depression In Adolescents., Norah C. Feeny, Susan G. Silva, Mark A. Reinecke, Steven Mcnulty, Robert L. Findling, Paul Rohde, John F. Curry, Golda S. Ginsburg, Christopher J. Kratochvil, Sanjeev M. Pathak, Diane E. May, Betsy D. Kennard, Anne D. Simons, Karen C. Wells, Michele Robins, David Rosenberg, John S. March

Journal Articles: Psychiatry

This article explores aspects of family environment and parent-child conflict that may predict or moderate response to acute treatments among depressed adolescents (N = 439) randomly assigned to fluoxetine, cognitive behavioral therapy, their combination, or placebo. Outcomes were Week 12 scores on measures of depression and global impairment. Of 20 candidate variables, one predictor emerged: Across treatments, adolescents with mothers who reported less parent-child conflict were more likely to benefit than their counterparts. When family functioning moderated outcome, adolescents who endorsed more negative environments were more likely to benefit from fluoxetine. Similarly, when moderating effects were seen on cognitive behavioral …

Chromosomal Anomalies Influence Parental Treatment Decisions In Relation To Prenatally Diagnosed Congenital Heart Disease., Sinai C. Zyblewski, Elizabeth G. Hill, Girish S. Shirali, Andrew Atz, Geoffrey Forbus, Javier Gonzalez, Anthony Hlavacek

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

This study aimed to identify the variables that influence parental treatment decisions after a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). The authors reviewed all cases of prenatally diagnosed structural CHD from August 1998 to December 2006 at their center. The following variables were studied as potential predictors of parental intent to treat: maternal age, race, insurance status, obstetric history, fetal gender, univentricular versus biventricular cardiac physiology, and fetal chromosomal abnormality. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. In the review, 252 consecutive cases of prenatally diagnosed CHD were identified. Of these, 204 women pursued full medical treatment, whereas …

Parent- Versus Child-Reported Functional Health Status After The Fontan Procedure., Linda M. Lambert, L Luann Minich, Jane W. Newburger, Minmin Lu, Victoria L. Pemberton, Ellen A. Mcgrath, Andrew M. Atz, Mingfen Xu, Elizabeth Radojewski, Darlene Servedio, Brian W. Mccrindle, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare perceptions of functional health status between children who had undergone a Fontan procedure and their parents.

METHODS: Fontan procedure survivors 10 to 18 years of age were included in the study if the child completed the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) and the parent completed the parent form to assess the child's functional health status. Comparisons were made between raw domain scores for the parent- and child-completed CHQs.

RESULTS: Between March 2003 and April 2004, 1078 Fontan survivors were screened. Of the 546 eligible and consented patients, 354 were 10-18 years of age and 328 parent/child …

Treatment Response In Depressed Adolescents With And Without Co-Morbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder In The Treatment For Adolescents With Depression Study., Christopher J. Kratochvil, Diane E. May, Susan G. Silva, Vishal Madaan, Susan E. Puumala, John F. Curry, John Walkup, Hayden Kepley, Benedetto Vitiello, John S. March

Journal Articles: Psychiatry

OBJECTIVE: In the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS), fluoxetine (FLX) and the combination of fluoxetine with cognitive-behavioral therapy (COMB) had superior improvement trajectories compared to pill placebo (PBO), whereas cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was not significantly different from PBO. Because attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) frequently co-exist, we examined whether ADHD moderated these outcomes in TADS.

METHOD: A total of 439 adolescents with MDD, 12-17 years old, were randomized to FLX, CBT, COMB, or PBO. Random coefficients regression models examined depression improvement in 377 depressed youths without ADHD and 62 with ADHD, including 20 who were …

The Effects Of Shoe Traction And Obstacle Height On Lower Extremity Coordination Dynamics During Walking., Leslie Decker, Jeremy J. Houser, John M. Noble, Gregory M. Karst, Nicholas Stergiou

Journal Articles: Physical Therapy

This study aims to investigate the effects of shoe traction and obstacle height on lower extremity relative phase dynamics (analysis of intralimb coordination) during walking to better understand the mechanisms employed to avoid slippage following obstacle clearance. Ten participants walked at a self-selected pace during eight conditions: four obstacle heights (0%, 10%, 20%, and 40% of limb length) while wearing two pairs of shoes (low and high traction). A coordination analysis was used and phasing relationships between lower extremity segments were examined. The results demonstrated that significant behavioral changes were elicited under varied obstacle heights and frictional conditions. Both decreasing …

Sexuality And Persons With Down Syndrome. A Study From Brazil, Bruna Marques Bononi, Maria José Carvalho Sant'anna, André Chao Vasconcellos De Oliveira, Tadeu Silveira Renattini, Carla Franchi Pinto, Maria Lúcia Passarelli, Verônica Coates, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

In recent years, important gains and changes have been observed in the life of teenagers with Down syndrome (DS) with increased inclusion into society. This review will discuss adolescence and sexuality in teenagers with DS from a descriptive study of 50 patients with DS between the ages of 10 and 20 years. The mean age was 13.5 years, 50% females; 86% went to school with 62.2% in school for over six years. Of the patients that attended school, 60% went to special education school and only 10% read and wrote correctly. In an evaluation of autonomy, 66% took showers, 78% …

Functional State Following The Fontan Procedure., Ismee A. Williams, Lynn A. Sleeper, Steven D. Colan, Minmin Lu, Elizabeth A. Stephenson, Jane W. Newburger, Welton M. Gersony, Meryl S. Cohen, James F. Cnota, Andrew M. Atz, Richard V. Williams, Renee Margossian, Andrew J. Powell, Mario P. Stylianou, Daphne T. Hsu, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in outcomes after completion of the Fontan circulation, long-term functional state varies. We sought to identify pre- and postoperative characteristics associated with overall function.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from 476 survivors with the Fontan circulation enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-sectional Study. Mean age at creation of the Fontan circulation was 3.4 plus or minus 2.1 years, with a range from 0.7 to 17.5 years, and time since completion was 8.7 plus or minus 3.4 years, the range being from 1.1 to 17.3 years. We calculated a functional score for the survivors by …

Comparison Of Echocardiographic And Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements Of Functional Single Ventricular Volumes, Mass, And Ejection Fraction (From The Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-Sectional Study)., Renee Margossian, Marcy L. Schwartz, Ashwin Prakash, Lisa Wruck, Steven D. Colan, Andrew M. Atz, Timothy J. Bradley, Mark A. Fogel, Lynne M. Hurwitz, Edward Marcus, Andrew J. Powell, Beth F. Printz, Michael D. Puchalski, Jack Rychik, Girish S. Shirali, Richard Williams, Shi-Joon Yoo, Tal Geva, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Assessment of the size and function of a functional single ventricle (FSV) is a key element in the management of patients after the Fontan procedure. Measurement variability of ventricular mass, volume, and ejection fraction (EF) among observers by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and their reproducibility among readers in these patients have not been described. From the 546 patients enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-Sectional Study (mean age 11.9 +/- 3.4 years), 100 echocardiograms and 50 CMR studies were assessed for measurement reproducibility; 124 subjects with paired studies were selected for comparison between modalities. Interobserver agreement …

Epidemiology And Outcomes Of Candidemia In 2019 Patients: Data From The Prospective Antifungal Therapy Alliance Registry., David L Horn, Dionissios Neofytos, Elias J Anaissie, Jay A Fishman, William J Steinbach, Ali J Olyaei, Kieren A Marr, Michael A Pfaller, Chi-Hsing Chang, Karen M Webster

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

BACKGROUND: Candidemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the health care setting, and the epidemiology of Candida infection is changing.

METHODS: Clinical data from patients with candidemia were extracted from the Prospective Antifungal Therapy (PATH) Alliance database, a comprehensive registry that collects information regarding invasive fungal infections. A total of 2019 patients, enrolled from 1 July 2004 through 5 March 2008, were identified. Data regarding the candidemia episode were analyzed, including the specific fungal species and patient survival at 12 weeks after diagnosis.

RESULTS: The incidence of candidemia caused by non-Candida albicans Candida species (54.4%) was higher …

Cancer Information-Seeking Experiences: The Implications Of Hispanic Ethnicity And Spanish Language, Robin C. Vanderpool, Julie Kornfeld, Lila Finney Rutten, Linda Squiers

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Strategies to support cancer information-seeking among Hispanics are needed.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to explore cancer information-seeking experiences among respondents according to ethnicity and language of interview.

RESULTS: Over 80% of Spanish-speaking Hispanics had never looked for cancer information. Compared to English-speaking respondents, Spanish-speaking Hispanics who sought cancer information indicated their search took a lot of effort (67%), was hard to understand (54%), and frustrating (42%). Spanish-speaking Hispanics noted minimal confidence in obtaining cancer information.

CONCLUSIONS: Language and cultural differences must be considered in the design, implementation, and dissemination of …

Weight Gain Associated With Hormonal Contraception Use In Adolescents Is Not Different From Control, Abdel Salous, Valerie Jones, Maria Melguizo Castro, Linah Al-Alem, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The use of hormonal contraception is commonly associated with weight gain. The purpose of this retrospective study was to explore the association between the use of hormonal contraception and weight change in an outpatient adolescent patient population in Lexington, Kentucky. Data were gathered from the charts of 259 adolescent female patients seen in an outpatient adolescent clinic for up to 72 months. At the initial visit, all patients were evaluated for risk-taking behavior and received preventive counseling. Patients were categorized as either contraception users or non-users (control group). Contraception users were subdivided into Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) user group or …

It Is More Than Just A Reproductive Healthcare Visit: Experiences From An Adolescent Medicine Clinic, Marlene B. Huff, Kimberly K. Mcclanahan, Heather A. Brown, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The gynecologist may be the only physician that an adolescent depends on for primary and reproductive healthcare services. Because adolescent females often make personal healthcare decisions without the benefit of supportive parents/caregivers, it is imperative that the gynecologist understands the developmental issues encountered during this phase of life. The objective of this study is to identify cited complaints of adolescent females seeking reproductive care and, thus, provide gynecologists with needed information about the medical/mental health issues that may be encountered during routine reproductive care exams. The study group was adolescent females between the ages of 12 and 20 years old. …

State Infant Mortality: An Ecologic Study To Determine Modifiable Risks And Adjusted Infant Mortality Rates., David A. Paul. Md, Amy Mackley, Rnc, Robert G. Locke, Do, John L. Stefano, Md, Charlan Kroelinger, Phd

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors contributing to state infant mortality rates (IMR) and develop an adjusted IMR in the United States for 2001 and 2002. DESIGN/METHODS: Ecologic study of factors contributing to state IMR. State IMR for 2001 and 2002 were obtained from the United States linked death and birth certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Factors investigated using multivariable linear regression included state racial demographics, ethnicity, state population, median income, education, teen birth rate, proportion of obesity, smoking during pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension, cesarean delivery, prenatal care, health insurance, self-report of mental illness, and number of in-vitro fertilization …

Impact Of Poor Quality Of Life On Adolescents In Rural Kentucky: A Brief Report, Hatim A. Omar, Søren Ventegodt, Joav Merrick

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

In many rural areas in Kentucky, adolescents lack the basic assets for a good quality of life, such as having caring adults, a safe place and useful activities after school. Methods: Analysis of data from middle and high school students referred to a comprehensive school based health promotion center (SBHPC). Results: From august 2006 to February 2008, a total of 382 students (200 female, 182 male, aged 12-18 years) were referred to the SBHPC for help. Only two (0.5%) students had two parents living with them and 12 (3.1%) had safe, organized after school activities. 19.9% of the total were …

Laparoscopic Treatment Of Pancreatic Pseudocysts In Children., Suzanne M. Yoder, Steven Rothenberg, Kuojen Tsao, Mark L. Wulkan, Todd A. Ponsky, Shawn D. St Peter, Daniel J. Ostlie, Timothy D. Kane

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic pseudocysts are problematic sequelae of pancreatitis or pancreatic trauma causing persistent abdominal pain, nausea, and gastric outlet obstruction. Due to the low volume of disease in children, there is scant information in the literature on the operative management of pseudocysts with minimally invasive techniques. We conducted a multi-institutional review to illustrate several technical variations utilized in achieving laparoscopic cystgastrostomy in the pediatric population.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent laparoscopic cystgastrostomy in five institutions. Patient data, operative techniques, and postoperative course were analyzed.

RESULTS: There were 13 patients with a mean age of …

Thoracoscopy In Children: Is A Chest Tube Necessary?, Todd A. Ponsky, Steven S. Rothenberg, Kuojen Tsao, Daniel J. Ostlie, Shawn D. St Peter, G W. Holcomb Iii

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

PURPOSE: Historically, a chest tube or drain has been left following a thoracic operation to allow drainage of air or fluid in the postoperative period. However, in patients undergoing thoracoscopy, the tube is often the greatest source of postoperative pain. We began excluding chest tubes several years ago and therefore are reviewing our experience to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this approach.

METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical record was performed on patients undergoing thoracoscopy at two centers from 1993 to 2007. Patients who left the operating room without a chest tube were included in this series. Patient …

Impact Of Pedometer Use And Self-Regulation Strategies On Junior High School Physical Education Students' Daily Step Counts, Jane Shimon, Linda M. Petlichkoff

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of pedometer use and self-regulation strategies on adolescents’ daily physical activity.

Methods: Junior high school students (n = 113) enrolled in seventh- and eighth-grade physical education classes (52 girls, 61 boys) volunteered to participate in a 5-week study to assess daily step counts. Ten physical education classes were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (a) self-regulation, (b) open, and (c) control.

Results: A repeated-measures, mixed-model analysis of variance revealed a significant 3 × 4 (Group by Time) interaction effect, F_6,290 = 2.64, P < .02. Followup analyses indicated participants in the self-regulation group took 2071 to 4141 more steps/d than the control. No other significant differences emerged among groups on step counts.

Conclusions: It appears that …

Trends In Mental Health Of An Adolescent Medicine Clinic Patient Population, Abdel Salous, Linah Al-Alem, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The correlation between exposure to forms of violence and development of mental disorders in victims is well established. The purpose of this paper was to identify mental health problems in an adolescent medicine clinic population in Lexington, KY and to investigate potential correlation of mental disorders with psychosocial factors. Data were gathered from the charts of 169 adolescent clinic patients (age 10-22) seen in the clinic for mental health care and analyzed using Excel. Of the patient population, 68% were urban, whereas 32% were rural. In terms of gender, 40% of the patients were male and 60% were female, 80% …

Discovering The Complexities Of Adolescent Compliance To Treatment, Megan Song, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

To explore the challenges faced in enhancing adolescent treatment compliance and to understand the roles of key players in this endeavor: the adolescent, parent and healthcare provider. Obtaining compliance from adolescents requires collaboration from the adolescent, caregiver and provider and depends on well-established relationships between each person in the triad: adolescent-provider, adolescent-caregiver, and caregiver-provider. Ensuring and improving adherence to treatment by adolescents is a challenging task but crucial to overall health outcomes. It requires the collaboration of the adolescent, parent and physician to create the optimal treatment plan, specifically tailored to the adolescent. For the clinician, maintaining good communication and …

Remission And Recovery In The Treatment For Adolescents With Depression Study (Tads): Acute And Long-Term Outcomes., Betsy D. Kennard, Susan G. Silva, Simon Tonev, Paul Rohde, Jennifer L. Hughes, Benedetto Vitiello, Christopher J. Kratochvil, John F. Curry, Graham J. Emslie, Mark Reinecke, John March

Journal Articles: Psychiatry

OBJECTIVE: We examine remission rate probabilities, recovery rates, and residual symptoms across 36 weeks in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS).

METHOD: The TADS, a multisite clinical trial, randomized 439 adolescents with major depressive disorder to 12 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, their combination, or pill placebo. The pill placebo group, treated openly after week 12, was not included in the subsequent analyses. Treatment differences in remission rates and probabilities of remission over time are compared. Recovery rates in remitters at weeks 12 (acute phase remitters) and 18 (continuation phase remitters) are summarized. We also examined …

Oncolog Volume 54, Number 02, February 2009, Maude Veech, Joe Munch, Don Norwood

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation: A Promising Adjuvant to Lumpectomy Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Pediatric Regimens for Adolescents and
• House Call: Think About Your Medical Needs When Preparing for Natural Disasters
• Young Adults Yield Survival Advantages
• A New Biomarker for Bladder Cancer?

Multiple Independent Genetic Factors At Nos1ap Modulate The Qt Interval In A Multi-Ethnic Population, Dan E. Arking, Amit Khera, Chao Xing, W H Linda Kao, Wendy Post, Eric Boerwinkle, Aravinda Chakravarti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Extremes of electrocardiographic QT interval are associated with increased risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD); thus, identification and characterization of genetic variants that modulate QT interval may elucidate the underlying etiology of SCD. Previous studies have revealed an association between a common genetic variant in NOS1AP and QT interval in populations of European ancestry, but this finding has not been extended to other ethnic populations. We sought to characterize the effects of NOS1AP genetic variants on QT interval in the multi-ethnic population-based Dallas Heart Study (DHS, n = 3,072). The SNP most strongly associated with QT interval in previous samples …

Infidelity, Trust, And Condom Use Among Latino Youth In Dating Relationships, S. S. Brady, Jeanne M. Tschann, J. M. Ellen, Elena Flores

School of Education Faculty Research

Background: Latino youth in the United States are at greater risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in comparison with non-Hispanic white youth.

Methods: Sexually active heterosexual Latino youth aged 16 to 22 years (N = 647) were recruited for interviews through a large health maintenance organization or community clinics.

Results: Adjusting for gender, age, ethnic heritage, and recruitment method, woman’s consistent use of hormonal contraceptives, ambivalence about avoiding pregnancy, longer length of sexual relationship, and greater overall trust in main partner were independently associated with inconsistent condom use and engagement in a greater number of sexual intercourse acts that …

A Cognitive Behavioral Approach To Occupational Therapy Hippothearpy [I.E.., Hippotherapy] For Children And Adolescents With Mood Disorders, Abby Heaton, Krista Tangen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Children and adolescents are increasingly being identified with mood disorders. A growing concern is that children and adolescents are not afforded a wide range of interventions to address the symptoms of mental illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been identified as a useful treatment method for mood disorders. Hippotherapy has also been utilized in the treatment of mental illness. A literature review was conducted to explore the therapeutic benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy and hippotherapy for children and adolescents diagnosed with mood disorders. Although CBT has been recognized as useful, CBT methods applied to hippotherapy in occupational therapy does not …

Obesity And Hyperandrogenism, Amit M. Deokar, Shawn J. Smith, Amanda J. Goodwin, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

This chapter has a two-fold objective. One, it addresses the association of hyperandrogenism and obesity and the complex metabolic derangements that are part of the problem. Clinical management of these co-morbidities is challenging and complex. Second, this article will aid health care providers with the key features to an early diagnosis and intervention to decrease the morbidities in the short as well as long term. Method: Systematic review of articles and information on the topic of interest that were published in the last 15 years. Conclusion: Obesity and hyperandrogenism are integral parts of Metabolic Syndrome/Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)/Hyperandrogenism, Insulin resistance, …

Psychological And Social Development, Kimberly K. Mcclanahan, Marlene B. Huff, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The global epidemic of childhood and adolescent overweight has become a major public health concern. Not only are these youth more likely to become obese as adults, and thus more prone to obesity-related diseases than their non overweight peers, they are also likely to suffer emotional and social effects associated with overweight. Overweight in youth has been linked to depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, negative body image, and stigma. It appears to be bi-directional in nature, with overweight sometimes predicting certain psychological effects and psychosocial issues sometimes predicting overweight. Effective assessment and treatment of psychological and mental health issues in …

Comparative Efficacy Of 2 Topical Anesthetics For The Placement Of Orthodontic Temporary Anchorage Devices, Derek S Reznik, Arthur H Jeske, Jung-Wei Chen, Jeryl English

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study compared the effectiveness of topical benzocaine 20% versus a combination of lidocaine, tetracaine, and phenylephrine in providing sufficient analgesia for the placement of orthodontic temporary anchorage devices (TADs). The 2 topical anesthetics were tested against each other bilaterally using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. The agents were left in place for the amount of time prescribed by the manufacturer. The TAD was then placed, and each subject rated the degree of pain on a Heft-Parker visual analogue scale. A pulse oximeter was used to record the preoperative and postoperative pulse rates. Statistically significant differences in perceived pain (P …

Intra-Individual Variation In Children's Physical Activity Patterns: Implications For Measurement, Kate Ridley, Tim Olds, Beth P. Hands, Dawne Larkin, Helen Parker

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Children's physical activity (PA) patterns change form day to day. This intra-individual variability affects precision when measuring key physical activity and sedentary behavior variables. This paper discusses strategies to reduce the random error associated with intra-individual variability and demonstrates the implications for assessing PA when varying number of days are sampled. Self-reported data collected on two hundred and ninety eight 13- to 14-year-olds were used to compare estimates of PA and sedentary behaviour derived from between 1 and 7 days of recall data. Large intra-individual coefficients of variation were calculated for physical activity level (14.5%), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (83.4%), screen …

Borderline Personality Disorder: An Overview Of History, Diagnosis And Treatment In Adolescents, Linah Al-Alem, Hatim A. Omar

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a cluster B personality disorder. It is characterized by erratic behaviors, emotional instability and one of its hallmarks is self injurious behavior, which starts in adolescence. Patients with BPD are difficult to treat, most have a history of child sexual abuse, about a quarter present with sexual abuse from a caretaker. Although personality disorders are diagnosed only in adults, BPD manifests itself in adolescence in the form of uncontrollable anger, self mutilations, dissociation and other such behaviors. Hence, there is a growing number of scientists discussing the possibility of diagnosing BPD in adolescents. Here, we …

Sustained Attention In Children With Two Etiologies Of Early Hydrocephalus, Maegan D. Swartwout, Paul T. Cirino, Amy W. Hampson, Jack M. Fletcher, Michael E. Brandt, Maureen Dennis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Several studies have shown that children with spina bifida meningomyelocele (SBM) and hydrocephalus have attention problems on parent ratings and difficulties in stimulus orienting associated with a posterior brain attention system. Less is known about response control and inhibition associated with an anterior brain attention system. Using the Gordon Vigilance Task (Gordon, 1983), we studied error rate, reaction time, and performance over time for sustained attention, a key anterior attention function, in 101 children with SBM, 17 with aqueductal stenosis (AS; another condition involving congenital hydrocephalus), and 40 typically developing controls (NC). In SBM, we investigated the relation between cognitive …