[Validation of the Hungarian version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in an adolescent clinical population]

INTRODUCTION

The short Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) available in parent, teacher and self-report versions, is used world-wide for assessing and screening childhood behavior and mental problems, as part of clinical assessments, therapy outcome evaluations, and research tool. The aim of the present study was to extend the use of Hungarian version to a clinical sample, to examine the clinical cut-off values suggested previously on the basis of a normative sample, and to test the questionnaire's sensitivity in differentiating between different psychiatric disorders.

METHOD

The parent and self-report versions of the five scale SDQ-Magy questionnaire was filled in by 716 parents and their children admitted to Vadaskert Child Psychiatry and Outpatient Clinic. Clinical (ICD) diagnoses were determined during psychiatric examination.

RESULTS

With a few exceptions, internal consistencies of the scales were satisfactory (0,55-0,79), the parent version showing greater reliability compared to the self-report version. Children's age, gender, and parents' level of education had some effect on the scale scores. The questionnaire's Total problem and symptom scale scores were very effective in discriminating between the control and the clinical sample. In the clinical sample, parents rated their children's behavior and mental problems as more severe. Profiles of scale scores distinguished the wider internalizing, externalizing, and co-morbid diagnostic categories, as well as the eight specific diagnoses. Based on the normal-abnormal cut-off values proposed earlier (Turi et al., 2011), the great majority of clinical cases were screened by the questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

The Hungarian version of the SDQ proved applicable in a clinical sample. Psychometric properties, variances due to age, gender and informant were consistent with international experiences. SDQ profiles related to clinical diagnoses and their difference from the control group show the sensitivity and discriminative power of the questionnaire, while the screening ability based on clinical cut-offs also supports the clinical use of the questionnaire.

[Further examination of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-Magy) in a community sample of young adolescents]

INTRODUCTION

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-Magy) is a brief instrument suitable for assessing and screening childhood behavior and mental problems, available in parent and teacher, and from 11 years of age, self-report versions. The aim of the present study was to extend our previous investigation in a community sample to an older age group, to examine its psychometric properties, and to assess cross-informant agreements and differences, effects of gender and age, as well as to determine cut-off points between normal and abnormal scores within the community sample.

METHODS

Parent, teacher, and self-report questionnaire data were collected on 286 pupils of 12-17 years of age.

RESULTS

With a few exceptions, internal consistencies of the scales were satisfactory, the teacher-reports showing the highest reliability. Regarding scale means, there were few significant differences from the British normative data. Correlations among problem scales were weak to moderate, and only self and parent reports showed moderate interrater agreements. Boys scored higher on Conduct problems and Hyperactivity scales, girls were reported to show more Prosocial behaviors and Emotional symptoms. Children's age affected teacher reports only, showing an increase of problems with age. We propose cut-off values for separating normal and clinical ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychometric properties and inter-correlations of the SDQ scales, as well as gender differences are consistent with the previous Hungarian and international studies. Rater differences found on certain scales suggest contextual effects on problematic behaviors, discrepancies between informants, and their potentially importance for researchers and mental health professionals.

[Hypertension and fluid volume increase in uremic patients treated with convective hemodialysis: electric bioimpedence analysis]

PURPOSE

Hypertension is considered an important cardiovascular (CV) risk for uremic patients on hemodialysis (HD). Its main pathogenetic factor is the extracellular fluid volume increase.

METHODS

This study aimed to evaluate the water distribution by electric bioimpedence (BIA) in hypertensive uremic patients treated with convective hemodialysis (HD) (group A) and with diffusive HD (group B). The patients were on antihypertensive therapy: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium antagonists and angiotensin II (ATII) antagonists.

RESULTS

The BIA analysis demonstrated that the total and extracellular body water had the same distribution in the two groups with no statistical differences (Student's t-test); although the interdialytic weight gain was higher in group B than in group A.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood pressure (BP) was treated by less drug use in patients on convective HD than in patients on diffusive HD.

Microbiological survey of dialysate: vantage of use of sterile bag concentrate

Haemodialysed patients are exposed to nearly 400 litres of dialysis water weekly. The bacterial contamination of treated dialysate and water induces acute pyrogenic reactions or chronic damage and cytokine activation. The aim of this study was to value the microbiological parameters of dialysis water and dialysate of our monitors by bacterial culture (measured as colony forming units [CFU]) of water samples at 37 degrees C after 48 hours, at 22 degrees C after 72 hours and after seven days, and by measuring endotoxin levels (endotoxin units [EU]). In our centre, there are 16 monitors (6 monitors use sterile dialysate fluid and 10 monitors use non sterile dialysate fluid). The chemicals used for disinfection are chlorine and paracetic acid. Water samples were taken under sterile procedures every three months for a year. No bacteria were found in the samples of water of the dialysis ring; EU were lower than the limit value of 0.25 EU/ml fixed by the European Pharmacopoeia. The concentration of CFU and EU of the dialysate, taken from monitors with a sterile bag, were lower than those of other monitors (p < 0.05 t Student test). However, the levels of CFU/ml and EU/ml of dialysate samples, taken from monitors with a non-sterile bag, were lower than the guideline value of the European Pharmacopoeia (v.n. CFU < 50 CFU/ml and EU < 0.05 EU/ml). Frequent examination of CFU and EU is essential to reduce the damage caused by the use of contaminated water, therefore the goal of future dialytic techniques will be the use of "sterile dialysate".

[Asbestos exposure on board ships: a study of the environmental situation on 2 classes of ferryboats]

The article describes the results of a study on contamination by airborne asbestos fibres on board a number of ships belonging to fleets operating from Civitavecchia, a port on the coast of central Italy. Asbestos was widely used throughout the ships as fire- and soundproofing insulation. Samples taken before, during and after removal of the insulation in areas of the ship outside the asbestos removal worksite gave concentration levels that were similar to those observed in other indoor environments (building), varying according to the sample location and the condition of the insulation material. The results are discussed taking into consideration the fact that a ship is also a living environment for crew and passengers.

A mortality cohort study of seamen in Italy

A total of 2,208 male subjects, enrolled as merchant marine seamen at the Civitavecchia (Italy) harbor from 1936 to 1975 were followed up through 1989 in order to evaluate their mortality experience. Available information about the number of sailings made it possible to divide subjects into two subgroups: 948 workers with at least one sailing (cohort A) and 1,260 with no reported sailing (cohort B). Fewer than expected overall deaths were observed in both cohorts (cohort A: SMR = 0.83; cohort B: SMR = 0.81), mainly due to a lower mortality from circulatory, respiratory, and digestive diseases. Lung cancer deaths were significantly increased in cohort A (O = 30, SMR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.15-2.44), whereas no excess was observed in cohort B (O = 6, SMR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.21-1.26). Among subjects employed aboard ship, a trend in SMRs for lung cancer increasing with duration of employment was observed. Furthermore, three neoplasms of other parts of the respiratory system (including one mesothelioma) were detected in cohort A (SMR = 5.87), and one in cohort B. The study substantiates an increased risk of respiratory cancer among subjects with an occupational history of sailing; past exposure to asbestos and to other environmental carcinogens aboard could be implicated.