Impaired prospective memory but intact episodic memory in intellectually average 7- to 9-year-olds born very preterm and/or very low birth weight

Relatively little is known about episodic memory (EM: memory for personally-experienced events) and prospective memory (PM: memory for intended actions) in children born very preterm (VP) or with very low birth weight (VLBW). This study evaluates EM and PM in mainstream-schooled 7- to 9-year-olds born VP (≤ 32 weeks) and/or VLBW (< 1500 g) and matches full-term children for comparison (n = 35 and n = 37, respectively). Additionally, participants were assessed for verbal and non-verbal ability, executive function (EF), and theory of mind (ToM). The results show that the VP/VLBW children were outperformed by the full-term children on the memory tests overall, with a significant univariate group difference in PM. Moreover, within the VP/VLBW group, the measures of PM, verbal ability and working memory all displayed reliable negative correlations with severity of neonatal illness. PM was found to be independent of EM and cognitive functioning, suggesting that this form of memory might constitute a domain of specific vulnerability for VP/VLBW children.

Prospective Memory and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review

This article aimed to review the assessment and treatment of prospective memory impairment in individuals with traumatic brain injury. The three assessment techniques reviewed included questionnaires, psychological tests, and experimental procedures. Because interest in this area is relatively new, not many assessment techniques have been specifically developed to assess the various constructs of prospective memory. Of these, most lack a firm theoretical basis, adequate norms, and strong psychometric properties. Rehabilitative techniques, based on remedial and compensatory approaches, were then evaluated. Intervention methods that show promise include a prospective memory training approach, diary or memory notebook use, and electronic aids. Nevertheless, there is a need for further controlled trials with larger sample sizes to more thoroughly evaluate these methods. Self-awareness of memory impairment and generalisation of gains from treatment are another two issues identified as important for assessing and treating prospective memory impairment.

Reliability and validity of The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT): A clinical test of social perception

PURPOSE

The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT) is an audiovisual tool designed for the clinical assessment of social perception with alternate forms for re-testing. Part 1 assesses emotion recognition, Parts 2 and 3 assess the ability to interpret conversational remarks meant literally (i.e., sincere remarks and lies) or non-literally (i.e., sarcasm) as well as the ability to make judgments about the thoughts, intentions and feelings of speakers. This paper aims to examine TASIT's reliability and validity.

METHOD

Some 32 adults with severe, chronic brain injuries were administered Form A twice, one week apart. 38 adults with brain injuries were readministered alternate forms over a period of 5 - 26 weeks. Construct validity was examined in subsets of a sample of 116 adults with brain injuries by relating TASIT performance to standard tests of neuropsychological function and specific social perception measures.

RESULTS

Test-retest reliability ranged from 0.74 - 0.88. Alternate forms reliability ranged from 0.62 - 0.83. TASIT performance was associated with face perception, information processing speed and working memory. Socially relevant new learning and executive tasks were significantly associated with TASIT performance whereas non-social tasks showed little association. Social perception tasks such as Ekman photos and theory of mind stories were also associated.

CONCLUSIONS

TASIT has adequate psychometric properties as a clinical test of social perception. It is not overly prone to practice effects and is reliable for repeat administrations. Performance on TASIT is affected by information processing speed, working memory, new learning and executive functioning, but the uniquely social material that comprises the stimuli for TASIT will provide useful insights into the particular difficulties people with clinical conditions experience when interpreting complex social phenomena.

Attentional problems in children born very preterm or with extremely low birth weight at 7–9 years

Behavioral rating scales and tests of attention were used to study attentional problems in children born very preterm (< or =27 weeks gestation) or with extremely low birth weight (ELBW; < or =1000 g). Psychological tests of attention (viz., Digits and Spatial Span Forward, Visual Attention from the NEPSY, Trail Making Test B, and Stroop Color and Word Test) were administered to 45 children born very preterm/ELBW and 49 full-term controls, aged 7-9 years of age. Behavioral ratings on an ADHD scale were provided by parents and teachers on inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Children born very preterm/ELBW were found to perform significantly more poorly on Spatial Span Forward, Visual Attention, and Trail Making B than controls. Group differences were also found on parents' ratings on inattentive and total symptoms. Finally, measures of psychological tests of attention were found to be significant predictors of parents' and teachers' ratings of symptoms.

The association between early minor motor difficulties in extreme low birth weight infants and school age attentional difficulties

INTRODUCTION

Extremely premature infants of normal intellectual ability have an increased prevalence of motor and attentional difficulties. Knowledge of the relationship between early motor difficulties and measures of attention at school age would enhance understanding of these developmental pathways, their interrelationship and opportunities for intervention.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines whether an association exists between early findings of minor motor difficulties and school age clinical and psychometric measures of attention.

METHODOLOGY

45/60 eligible ELBW(1000 g) or preterm (< 27/40 gestation) infants born at the Mater Mother's Hospital were assessed at 12 and 24 months for minor motor deficits (using NSMDA) and at 7-9 years for attention, using clinical (Conners and Du Paul Rating Scales) and psychometric (assessing attention span, selective and divided attention) measures.

RESULTS

NSMDA at 12 months was only associated with the psychometric measures of verbal attention span. It was not associated with later clinical measures of attention. NSMDA at 24 months was strongly associated with specific clinical measures of attention at school age, independent of biological and social factors. It was not associated with psychometric measures of attention.

CONCLUSION

The major finding of this study is that motor difficulties in ELBW infants at 2 years are associated with later clinical measures of attention. Possible mechanisms underlying this relationship are considered.

Trends in hanging and firearm suicide rates in Australia: substitution of method?

This study examined the increase in the rate of suicide by hanging and an apparently simultaneous decrease in the rate of suicide by firearm as hypothetical evidence that Australian males have substituted one method of suicide for another. Trends in hanging and firearm suicide rates were examined from 1975 to 1998 for all Australian males and from 1971 to 1998 for a subset of Australian male youth, as well as a group of Australian males aged over 64 years at the time of their death. When the firearm suicide rate for Australian males declined the hanging rate increased simultaneously, with no statistical difference in the rate of change of the two methods. A similar pattern of simultaneous divergence in hanging and firearm suicide rates of a 15- to 24-year-old subgroup occurred at a not dissimilar rate over a longer time period. Rates of suicide by hanging were found to have begun increasing prior to the decline in firearm suicide. The declining rate of firearm suicide in the 15- to 24-year-old subgroup coincided with an increase in the overall suicide rate. Relationships between trends in hanging and firearm suicide differed between states and between urban and non-urban areas within Queensland, with the firearm suicide rate falling more rapidly in urban areas, especially following the introductions of restrictions to weapon purchases. Individual suicide method choice may be related to independent changes in the social acceptability of each method, as well as to an increasing prevalence of suicide in younger males, who are more likely to use the hanging method. The functioning and effect of social acceptability remains unclear, however. Intervention and prevention strategies should focus on challenging the social acceptability of hanging, especially among males aged 15 to 24 years.

Hanging, firearm, and non-domestic gas suicides among males: a comparative study

OBJECTIVE

To identify characteristics that could distinguish males who completed suicide by hanging from males who completed suicide by firearms and non-domestic gas, and to suggest suicide prevention strategies targeted at hanging.

METHOD

Using the psychological autopsy design, males who used hanging, firearms and non-domestic gas were compared on a range of variables covering social, psychological, and health related factors and aspects of the suicide incident. The sample consisted of 950 males who completed suicide in Queensland, Australia, between 1994 and 1996.

RESULTS

Compared with males who used firearms and non-domestic gas, males who used hanging were significantly younger, less likely to have left a suicide note, and more likely to have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. Compared with males who used firearms, males who used hanging were significantly more likely to have made prior suicide attempts and have had no physical illness. Compared with males who used non-domestic gas, males who used hanging were significantly more likely to have lived with others, have had prior legal trouble, and have completed suicide at their residence.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are discussed in terms of the availability and socio-cultural acceptability of methods. The authors suggest a possible relationship between impulsive traits and method choice. This proposition requires further investigation using alternative methodologies. Some suicide prevention measures targeting hanging suicides are discussed in light of the results.

The epidemiology of suicide and attempted suicide among young Australians

OBJECTIVE

This paper summarises a report to the NHMRC the objectives of which were to review research into the epidemiology of youth suicide in Australia and identify gaps in research.

METHOD

Literature searches were conducted. A limited amount of new data analysis was included to shed light on reliability issues of official Australian suicide data.

RESULTS

The review examined suicide data systems, including issues to do with coroners, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and alternative systems. The epidemiological areas reviewed included: all ages, youth, age and gender, geographical, socioeconomic, marital, indigenous, migrants, suicides in custody and gay and lesbian suicides.

CONCLUSION

While much is known about the epidemiology of youth suicide, much remains to be clarified. Study of indigenous issues is perhaps the most neglected area; study of family issues may be potentially be the most productive.

Australian suicide trends 1964-1997: youth and beyond?

OBJECTIVE

To examine Australian suicide rates across all ages, and compare Australian rates with those of other Western nations.

DESIGN

Australian Bureau of Statistics data were used to examine Australian suicide trends, 1964-1997, by age and sex. For comparison, suicide rates of 22 other Western nations, 1990-1994, were obtained from the World Health Organization.

RESULTS

Australian suicide rates for males 15-24 years and 25-34 years rose from 1964-1997. Comparable rates for females showed no significant change. Suicide rates for several of the older age and sex groups declined over this period. Comparison with suicide rates of other Western nations showed that, while Australian youth suicide rates are relatively high, this is not the case for older age groups. Australian suicide rates are higher than those in the European nations of origin of our major migrant groups, but similar to those of other Western nations also recently colonised by Europeans (Canada, the United States and New Zealand).

CONCLUSIONS

Priorities for suicide prevention in Australia are correctly concentrated on youth, but the targeted age range should be extended to include men aged 25-34 years. A comprehensive policy should also not neglect the needs of other age groups. Further epidemiological study of national and international data may suggest new approaches to suicide prevention.