Papers by GERASIMOS KOLAITIS
Transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) was used for family-based association test. The results of ... more Transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) was used for family-based association test. The results of the clinical rating scales and neuropsychological tests were compared according to the genotype of ADHD children. Results: (1) By case-control analyses, there were statistically significant differences in the genotype frequencies between ADHD [80.7 % (genotype with C allele) vs. 19.3 % (genotype without C allele)] and normal children [70.7 % (genotype with C allele) vs. 29.3 % (genotype without C allele)] (v 2 = 4.07, p = 0.044).
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 2000
This is a three-year follow-up study on the results from the Deinstitutionalization Project of th... more This is a three-year follow-up study on the results from the Deinstitutionalization Project of the Leros PIKPA asylum regarding job-related fears of care staff of the institution as well as their attitudes towards people with learning disabilities. We expected that changes in staff would occur in a way congruent with previously published findings indicating that after a year of intervention
Families, Systems, & Health, 2007
This article presents an overview of pub-lished studies on interventions with chil-dren and adole... more This article presents an overview of pub-lished studies on interventions with chil-dren and adolescents living with a parent who has a chronic somatic illness, orga-nized according to type of intervention, chil-dren's age, stage of parental illness, and the goals, techniques, ...
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2006
Emotional and behavioural problems were investigated in children who have a parent with multiple ... more Emotional and behavioural problems were investigated in children who have a parent with multiple sclerosis (MS), in relation to factors such as family dysfunction, parental depression and illness-related characteristics. The participants were 56 MS patients, their spouses and one randomly selected child aged 4-17 years, and a comparison group of 64 children and both their parents, none of whom reported somatic illness. Emotional and behavioural problems in the children were identified by reporting of both parents and self-report using the Achenbach's Child Behaviour Checklist and Youth Self Report respectively. Parental depression and family dysfunction were explored using the Beck Depression Inventory and Family Assessment Device, respectively. The data were analysed using independent samples t-tests for between-group comparisons, Pearson r correlations between children's problems and family dysfunction or parental depression, and multiple regression analyses for identifying predictors for children's problems. Children whose parents, especially mothers, had MS presented greater emotional and behavioural problems than comparison children. Children's problems were positively associated with maternal depression and family dysfunction. Family dysfunction predicted children's overall and externalizing problems, while the severity of impairment of the ill mother predicted children's internalizing problems. Implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed.
Families, Systems, & Health, 2009
This study investigates the relation of communication around parental multiple sclerosis (MS) to ... more This study investigates the relation of communication around parental multiple sclerosis (MS) to family dysfunction and mental health problems of the children in Greek families. Fifty-six families with a parent with MS were studied regarding emotional well-being of children, parental depression, family functioning, and illness' related impairment, correlated to the amount of information about parental illness provided to children. Significant differences were found in three dimensions of child psychopathology on maternal scores of Child Behavior Checklist, between children who had partial information about parental illness and the other two groups of children who had explicit or no information at all. Differences were also observed in children's scores on (Youth Self Report) social problems between the same groups. The finding that children who had only partial information about their parents' illness presented more problems, illustrates the importance of "how, what, and how much" of information is communicated to children. Clinical implications are discussed in terms of the families' difficulties with communicating parental illness with their children and possible need for professional support.
Background: Maternal depression has a negative impact on both the mother and child's physical and... more Background: Maternal depression has a negative impact on both the mother and child's physical and mental
health, as well as impairs parenting skills and pediatric health care utilization. The pediatricians' role in identification
and management of maternal depression is well established. Although it can be successfully and easily treated,
maternal depression remains under-recognized and under-treated. Despite the heightened emphasis, there is
lack of interventions to pediatricians in order to improve detection and management of maternal depression.
Methods: To address this gap, an educational intervention based on the ‘Health Belief Model’ was developed,
implemented, and evaluated. The present quasi-experimental study, aimed to assess the pediatricians' knowledge,
self-efficacy, beliefs, and attitudes toward maternal depression at baseline and post-intervention measurements. A
total of 43 randomly selected primary care pediatricians residing in Athens completed a 59-item survey by mail in
2011. Pediatricians in the intervention group received a toolkit about the recognition and management of maternal
depression, while pediatricians in the control group received a leaflet about mental health. Descriptive statistics,
t test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis.
Results: Post-intervention measurement revealed differences at a statistical significance level between the two
groups, in the following variables: beliefs, attitudes, self- efficacy, perceived barriers, and management practices of
maternal depression. Furthermore, at post-measurement, pediatricians in the intervention group demonstrated
increased perceived responsibility and increased self-efficacy for detection and referral of maternal depression.
Conclusions: Educational interventions to pediatricians seem to be beneficial for the improvement of the
pediatricians' knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes regarding maternal depression. Studies using large, representative
population samples are needed to provide evidence if the training interventions to pediatricians for maternal
depression are translated to changes in their clinical practice and improved the patients' health outcomes.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 14623730 2010 9721821, Jan 30, 2012
In the context of EU enlargement, an initiative has been undertaken by a network of organisations... more In the context of EU enlargement, an initiative has been undertaken by a network of organisations in Lithuania to identify opportunities and challenges for improving policies and practices in child and adolescent mental health in the EU countries, with a special focus on the new EU Member States. This initiative, supported by more than 30 partner organisations in 15 EU
Acta Paediatrica, Nov 30, 2011
There is an increased interest in the psychosocial impact of pediatric skin diseases on children ... more There is an increased interest in the psychosocial impact of pediatric skin diseases on children and their families. The present study tried to examine possible differences regarding mental health problems among children with alopecia areata (AA) or atopic dermatitis (AD), and their parents. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration Methodology: Parents of 51 pediatric outpatients (54.9% boys) with a diagnosis of either AD or AA (mean age = 8.0 ± 1.8 years) and a control group of 12 children and their parents completed the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) and the Child Behavior
The British journal of psychiatry. Supplement
A three-year deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation pilot intervention project was implemented... more A three-year deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation pilot intervention project was implemented at Leros PIKPA for people with severe learning disabilities. Initial conditions at the asylum were appalling. Residents suffered severe deprivation, extreme institutionalisation, and violation of basic human rights. Intervention involved professionals from different disciplines, and involved residents, their families, care staff, the institution, and the local community. As a result, resident care and adaptive behaviour has started to improve. Communication between residents and families has increased. Owing to training and sensitisation, care staff's poor resident-management practices and negative attitudes toward disabled people have changed. Living and hygienic conditions have been upgraded and building renovation is under way. Asylum administration and the local community have been sensitised to residents' needs. Eleven residents have moved to the project's pilot community home in Athens; two others now live with foster families. The results suggest that deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation can be successfully initiated even in residential institutions of the severest kind.
The British journal of psychiatry. Supplement
The pilot intervention project at Leros PIKPA asylum was resisted at all levels of its implementa... more The pilot intervention project at Leros PIKPA asylum was resisted at all levels of its implementation. Resistance ranged from implicit and passive to explicit and hostile. It took the form of strong rejective attitudes, defensiveness, and repressed emotions of guilt, shame and fear. It was apparent in efforts to delay, obstruct or reverse the progress of the project and undermine the work of intervention team members. It was evident in the interactions of the intervention team with all parties involved in implementing the project: medical professionals and welfare services, the state and local administrations, the central and local administrations of PIKPA staff, the local community, and the asylum residents' families and relatives. It is argued that this resistance to change is due to the interplay of cultural/attitudinal, psychodynamic and socio-economic factors that are not unique to Leros or Greece. The analysis of the psychosocial processes involved in resistance to changing the Leros PIKPA asylum may offer insights to the deinstitutionalisation of custodial settings in general.
The British journal of psychiatry. Supplement
The pilot intervention project at Leros PIKPA asylum sought to change the management of residents... more The pilot intervention project at Leros PIKPA asylum sought to change the management of residents by decreasing care staff's tendency to view people with learning disabilities with attitudes of custodial segregation (e.g. "they should all live in institutions") and categorisation (e.g. "they are all alike"). To that end, staff were trained on the job in resident management and participated in seminars, sensitisation groups, clinical case presentations and visits to model rehabilitation units. To investigate whether staff attitudes towards people with learning disabilities had been influenced, staff members responded to a questionnaire of such attitudes, in March 1991 (initial assessment) and a year later (reassessment). Factor analyses of attitude ratings at initial assessment revealed a strong negative attitudinal construct, "Rejective and custodial segregation--Categorisation", according to which institutionalisation was the only appropriate type of care for people with learning disabilities, regardless of individual differences. At reassessment, however, this factor had split into two independent ones, "Rejective and custodial segregation" and "Categorisation", suggesting that the staff had understood that custodial care did not apply to all persons with learning disabilities indiscriminately. Reassessment factors further indicated that staff had comprehended the appropriateness of alternative care forms--community and home care. Analysis of Categorisation and Custodial segregation attitude ratings showed that only staff's tendency to view the disabled as "all alike" (Categorisation) had decreased at reassessment. The latter change and the structural change revealed by the factor analyses imply that staff's attitudes underwent a small but significant modification.
European Psychiatry
OBJECTIVE: To assess the psychometrics of the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia ... more OBJECTIVE: To assess the psychometrics of the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) in diagnosing DSM-IV psychiatric disorders and subsyndromal symptomatology in preschool ...
The British journal of psychiatry. Supplement
The life expectancy of institutionalised people with learning disabilities is shorter than that o... more The life expectancy of institutionalised people with learning disabilities is shorter than that of the general population. Data on population dynamics in institutions for such people are vital for planning purposes. Mortality can be considered a crude measure of quality of health care. Mortality data on the 914 admissions to the Leros PIKPA asylum for children and young adults with learning disabilities and associated problems in the years 1961-91 were reviewed. The overall crude mortality rate was 59.2 deaths per 1000 person-years. Twenty-two per cent of the deaths occurred within a year after admission. Age-specific mortality rates were particularly high for those aged one to four years, and declined thereafter. Male residents had lower mortality than female residents in almost all of the age groups. Compared with sex- and age-specific mortality data for the general population of Greece, the observed rates were 20-150 times higher but still comparable to those reported for people with more severe learning disabilities in institutions in other countries. Lifetable analysis by length of stay showed that male residents had a statistically significant higher probability of survival than female residents, which could not be attributed to age-related differential mortality. Culture-specific differential admission criteria may account for the observed sex difference.
Review of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics, International Edition
The Lancet, 2015
ABSTRACT During the past few years, the percentage of Greek children living in poverty or social ... more ABSTRACT During the past few years, the percentage of Greek children living in poverty or social exclusion has been on the rise as a result of the financial crisis. Although several reports1–3 showed that depression and suicide rates have increased in adults in Greece, no relevant studies exist in child and adolescent populations. It is well known that poverty is a distal risk factor for children's mental health and development. The psychological stress associated with poverty has proximal effects, such as harsh parenting, and distal ones, such as children's antisocial behaviour and other mental health problems.
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Papers by GERASIMOS KOLAITIS
health, as well as impairs parenting skills and pediatric health care utilization. The pediatricians' role in identification
and management of maternal depression is well established. Although it can be successfully and easily treated,
maternal depression remains under-recognized and under-treated. Despite the heightened emphasis, there is
lack of interventions to pediatricians in order to improve detection and management of maternal depression.
Methods: To address this gap, an educational intervention based on the ‘Health Belief Model’ was developed,
implemented, and evaluated. The present quasi-experimental study, aimed to assess the pediatricians' knowledge,
self-efficacy, beliefs, and attitudes toward maternal depression at baseline and post-intervention measurements. A
total of 43 randomly selected primary care pediatricians residing in Athens completed a 59-item survey by mail in
2011. Pediatricians in the intervention group received a toolkit about the recognition and management of maternal
depression, while pediatricians in the control group received a leaflet about mental health. Descriptive statistics,
t test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis.
Results: Post-intervention measurement revealed differences at a statistical significance level between the two
groups, in the following variables: beliefs, attitudes, self- efficacy, perceived barriers, and management practices of
maternal depression. Furthermore, at post-measurement, pediatricians in the intervention group demonstrated
increased perceived responsibility and increased self-efficacy for detection and referral of maternal depression.
Conclusions: Educational interventions to pediatricians seem to be beneficial for the improvement of the
pediatricians' knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes regarding maternal depression. Studies using large, representative
population samples are needed to provide evidence if the training interventions to pediatricians for maternal
depression are translated to changes in their clinical practice and improved the patients' health outcomes.
health, as well as impairs parenting skills and pediatric health care utilization. The pediatricians' role in identification
and management of maternal depression is well established. Although it can be successfully and easily treated,
maternal depression remains under-recognized and under-treated. Despite the heightened emphasis, there is
lack of interventions to pediatricians in order to improve detection and management of maternal depression.
Methods: To address this gap, an educational intervention based on the ‘Health Belief Model’ was developed,
implemented, and evaluated. The present quasi-experimental study, aimed to assess the pediatricians' knowledge,
self-efficacy, beliefs, and attitudes toward maternal depression at baseline and post-intervention measurements. A
total of 43 randomly selected primary care pediatricians residing in Athens completed a 59-item survey by mail in
2011. Pediatricians in the intervention group received a toolkit about the recognition and management of maternal
depression, while pediatricians in the control group received a leaflet about mental health. Descriptive statistics,
t test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis.
Results: Post-intervention measurement revealed differences at a statistical significance level between the two
groups, in the following variables: beliefs, attitudes, self- efficacy, perceived barriers, and management practices of
maternal depression. Furthermore, at post-measurement, pediatricians in the intervention group demonstrated
increased perceived responsibility and increased self-efficacy for detection and referral of maternal depression.
Conclusions: Educational interventions to pediatricians seem to be beneficial for the improvement of the
pediatricians' knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes regarding maternal depression. Studies using large, representative
population samples are needed to provide evidence if the training interventions to pediatricians for maternal
depression are translated to changes in their clinical practice and improved the patients' health outcomes.