This pilot study concerns cognitive rehabilitation of children with acquired brain injury (ABI). ... more This pilot study concerns cognitive rehabilitation of children with acquired brain injury (ABI). The aim is threefold; to determine (1) whether the Amsterdam Memory and Attention Training for Children (AMAT-C) programme for children with ABI can be integrated in the child's school, (2) whether supervision in the school-setting maintains the child's motivation throughout the training programme and (3) whether positive changes in memory, attention and executive functions are found with this implementation of the training method. Seven children with memory and/or attention deficits after ABI were trained with AMAT-C. Measures used were programme evaluation questions, neuropsychological tests and a questionnaire concerning executive functions. Overall, children, parents and trainers were satisfied with the programme and the children were motivated throughout the programme. The children showed significant improvements in neuropsychological subtests, primarily in tests of learning and memory. No overall change in executive functions was noted. Provision of AMAT-C training and supervision at the child's school appears to ensure (1) satisfaction with the programme, (2) sustaining of motivation and (3) improvements in learning and memory.
Purpose: To fulfill their supervision and counseling responsibilities to foster parents, social w... more Purpose: To fulfill their supervision and counseling responsibilities to foster parents, social workers need an effective way to indirectly monitor foster children's mental health and learning ability within a model of tripartite parenthood. This article describes how we are developing an intervention aimed at enhancing parental monitoring as a protective factor in family foster care. Methods: Focusing on the initial parts of Fraser et al.'s stepwise model for intervention development and drawing on ongoing research, we describe the main challenges faced in developing a program theory of parental monitoring. Results: The product is a manual that can transform the agenda of counseling meetings based on the following pre-requisites: appropriate standardized instruments, a common digital platform, training social workers, and being responsive to municipal differences. Conclusion: Our experience thus far allows us to be cautiously optimistic about strengthening parental monitori...
This study compares teachers' perspectives on three assessment instruments for socioemotional... more This study compares teachers' perspectives on three assessment instruments for socioemotional development in early childhood, which differ in their emphasis on strengths and difficulties in this domain: the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Teacher version (SDQ-T), and the Social Emotional Assessment Measure (SEAM). We examine the teachers' views on the clarity, relevance, and acceptability, as well as estimating average completion times, of the three questionnaires in the context of Danish childcare. Overall, the SEAM was rated better able to convey the child's strengths, was more acceptable by teachers than the C-TRF and SDQ-T, and provided a better basis for talking with parents. Given its content and acceptability, we conclude this strength-based measure strongly merits inclusion in child assessment of socioemotional development.
Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's dis... more Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may identify regions with impaired brain function. Moreover, it may be relevant to characterize SPECT perfusion patterns in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in particular the subgroup of MCI patients with isolated amnesia, as these patients have been demonstrated to convert to AD in more than half of the cases within 3 years. The primary aim of the present study was to characterize the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with neuropsychologically verified isolated amnesia. We examined 32 patients (11 men/21 women) with isolated amnesia according to strict neuropsychological criteria and 15 healthy volunteers (11 men/4 women). All subjects had an SPECT-99m Tc-d,l-HMPAO perfusion study and neuropsychological assessments. Cranial MRI or CT was performed in all subjects. Semiquantitative (cerebellar relative) flow values were calculated and statistically compared. Patients with isolated amnesia had significant hypoperfusion in several cortical regions of interest compared to control subjects, most prominently in the left temporal cortex. Additionally, there was a trend towards globally reduced CBF in the patients, although this was not significant. These findings may indicate the presence of a progressive degenerative illness affecting multiple brain regions at its early or preclinical stage.
Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer'... more Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may identify regions with impaired brain function. Moreover, it may be relevant to characterize SPECT perfusion patterns in patients with mild cognitive ...
Developmental medicine and child neurology, Jan 23, 2018
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate screening practices with the Ages and Stages... more The aim of this systematic review was to investigate screening practices with the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) in the USA and Scandinavia and to identify practical lessons and research opportunities. The review was performed for ASQ- and ASQ:SE-related studies in children from birth to 5 years. From nine databases and 1689 references (published from 1988-2018), 127 articles were included and categorized using Covidence online software. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklists were used before data synthesis. US studies primarily use the ASQ/ASQ:SE to detect delays in general and at-risk populations in medical settings, which increases early detection, clinician-referral, and intervention rates. Scandinavian studies commonly use the ASQ/ASQ:SE to monitor developmental-behavioural differences in intervention/exposure-based cohorts. Pre-visit screening yields completion/return rates of 83% to more than ...
Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's dis... more Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may identify regions with impaired brain function. Moreover, it may be relevant to characterize SPECT perfusion patterns in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in particular the subgroup of MCI patients with isolated amnesia, as these patients have been demonstrated to convert to AD in more than half of the cases within 3 years. The primary aim of the present study was to characterize the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with neuropsychologically verified isolated amnesia. We examined 32 patients (11 men/21 women) with isolated amnesia according to strict neuropsychological criteria and 15 healthy volunteers (11 men/4 women). All subjects had an SPECT-99m Tc-d,l-HMPAO perfusion study and neuropsychological assessments. Cranial MRI or CT was performed in all subjects. Semiquantitative (cerebellar relative) flow values were calculated and sta-tistically compared. Patients with isolated amnesia had significant hypoperfusion in several cortical regions of interest compared to control subjects, most prominently in the left temporal cortex. Additionally, there was a trend towards globally reduced CBF in the patients, although this was not significant. These findings may indicate the presence of a progressive degenerative illness affecting multiple brain regions at its early or preclinical stage.
This pilot study concerns cognitive rehabilitation of children with acquired brain injury (ABI). ... more This pilot study concerns cognitive rehabilitation of children with acquired brain injury (ABI). The aim is threefold; to determine (1) whether the Amsterdam Memory and Attention Training for Children (AMAT-C) programme for children with ABI can be integrated in the child's school, (2) whether supervision in the school-setting maintains the child's motivation throughout the training programme and (3) whether positive changes in memory, attention and executive functions are found with this implementation of the training method. Seven children with memory and/or attention deficits after ABI were trained with AMAT-C. Measures used were programme evaluation questions, neuropsychological tests and a questionnaire concerning executive functions. Overall, children, parents and trainers were satisfied with the programme and the children were motivated throughout the programme. The children showed significant improvements in neuropsychological subtests, primarily in tests of learning and memory. No overall change in executive functions was noted. Provision of AMAT-C training and supervision at the child's school appears to ensure (1) satisfaction with the programme, (2) sustaining of motivation and (3) improvements in learning and memory.
Purpose: To fulfill their supervision and counseling responsibilities to foster parents, social w... more Purpose: To fulfill their supervision and counseling responsibilities to foster parents, social workers need an effective way to indirectly monitor foster children's mental health and learning ability within a model of tripartite parenthood. This article describes how we are developing an intervention aimed at enhancing parental monitoring as a protective factor in family foster care. Methods: Focusing on the initial parts of Fraser et al.'s stepwise model for intervention development and drawing on ongoing research, we describe the main challenges faced in developing a program theory of parental monitoring. Results: The product is a manual that can transform the agenda of counseling meetings based on the following pre-requisites: appropriate standardized instruments, a common digital platform, training social workers, and being responsive to municipal differences. Conclusion: Our experience thus far allows us to be cautiously optimistic about strengthening parental monitori...
This study compares teachers' perspectives on three assessment instruments for socioemotional... more This study compares teachers' perspectives on three assessment instruments for socioemotional development in early childhood, which differ in their emphasis on strengths and difficulties in this domain: the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Teacher version (SDQ-T), and the Social Emotional Assessment Measure (SEAM). We examine the teachers' views on the clarity, relevance, and acceptability, as well as estimating average completion times, of the three questionnaires in the context of Danish childcare. Overall, the SEAM was rated better able to convey the child's strengths, was more acceptable by teachers than the C-TRF and SDQ-T, and provided a better basis for talking with parents. Given its content and acceptability, we conclude this strength-based measure strongly merits inclusion in child assessment of socioemotional development.
Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's dis... more Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may identify regions with impaired brain function. Moreover, it may be relevant to characterize SPECT perfusion patterns in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in particular the subgroup of MCI patients with isolated amnesia, as these patients have been demonstrated to convert to AD in more than half of the cases within 3 years. The primary aim of the present study was to characterize the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with neuropsychologically verified isolated amnesia. We examined 32 patients (11 men/21 women) with isolated amnesia according to strict neuropsychological criteria and 15 healthy volunteers (11 men/4 women). All subjects had an SPECT-99m Tc-d,l-HMPAO perfusion study and neuropsychological assessments. Cranial MRI or CT was performed in all subjects. Semiquantitative (cerebellar relative) flow values were calculated and statistically compared. Patients with isolated amnesia had significant hypoperfusion in several cortical regions of interest compared to control subjects, most prominently in the left temporal cortex. Additionally, there was a trend towards globally reduced CBF in the patients, although this was not significant. These findings may indicate the presence of a progressive degenerative illness affecting multiple brain regions at its early or preclinical stage.
Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer'... more Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may identify regions with impaired brain function. Moreover, it may be relevant to characterize SPECT perfusion patterns in patients with mild cognitive ...
Developmental medicine and child neurology, Jan 23, 2018
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate screening practices with the Ages and Stages... more The aim of this systematic review was to investigate screening practices with the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) in the USA and Scandinavia and to identify practical lessons and research opportunities. The review was performed for ASQ- and ASQ:SE-related studies in children from birth to 5 years. From nine databases and 1689 references (published from 1988-2018), 127 articles were included and categorized using Covidence online software. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklists were used before data synthesis. US studies primarily use the ASQ/ASQ:SE to detect delays in general and at-risk populations in medical settings, which increases early detection, clinician-referral, and intervention rates. Scandinavian studies commonly use the ASQ/ASQ:SE to monitor developmental-behavioural differences in intervention/exposure-based cohorts. Pre-visit screening yields completion/return rates of 83% to more than ...
Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's dis... more Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) applied early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may identify regions with impaired brain function. Moreover, it may be relevant to characterize SPECT perfusion patterns in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in particular the subgroup of MCI patients with isolated amnesia, as these patients have been demonstrated to convert to AD in more than half of the cases within 3 years. The primary aim of the present study was to characterize the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with neuropsychologically verified isolated amnesia. We examined 32 patients (11 men/21 women) with isolated amnesia according to strict neuropsychological criteria and 15 healthy volunteers (11 men/4 women). All subjects had an SPECT-99m Tc-d,l-HMPAO perfusion study and neuropsychological assessments. Cranial MRI or CT was performed in all subjects. Semiquantitative (cerebellar relative) flow values were calculated and sta-tistically compared. Patients with isolated amnesia had significant hypoperfusion in several cortical regions of interest compared to control subjects, most prominently in the left temporal cortex. Additionally, there was a trend towards globally reduced CBF in the patients, although this was not significant. These findings may indicate the presence of a progressive degenerative illness affecting multiple brain regions at its early or preclinical stage.
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