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Filter by:A conduct disorder is characterized by repetitive and persistent patterns of behavior where the basic rights of others and rules are violated. This study investigates characteristics of children and their surroundings (environments) that place them at risk for the development of disruptive behavior disorders and associated disorders of anxiety and mood. Children ages 4 - 5 with moderate (subclinical) and severe (clinical) rates of misconduct during the preschool period are compared to low risk children. Children and their families were recruited from 1989-1991 and are being studied at five specific times: 1. Preschool (4 - 5 years) 2. Early childhood (6 - 7 years) 3. Middle childhood (9 - 10 years) 4. Early adolescence (13 - 14 years) 5. Mid-adolescence (15 - 16 years) Researchers will look closely at biological, intellectual, emotional, and behavioral factors that are thought to protect against and/or increase the risk of developing a conduct problem. These factors have been studied in older children and are shown to be associated with disruptive behavior disorders. The goals of this research study are; 1. Create a database showing the characteristics of the development of disruptive behavior problems. 2. Identify the key risk and protective factors that contribute to the stability or change in behavior problems over time. 3. Identify the ways that children interact socially and relate them to the possibility of developing a problem of behavior. 4. Identify how experiences and the emotions associated with experiences may play a role in the development of related psychiatric conditions, like depression and anxiety. 5. Establish measures of the different components of negative emotions associated with disruptive/antisocial, anxiety, and mood disorders.
The normal menstrual cycle is produced by a series of hormonal signals that starts with the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is located in the brain and is often referred to as the master gland. GnRH then acts on the pituitary gland and causes it to release two hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizng hormone (LH). LH and FSH act on the ovary and cause it to release the hormones directly involved in menstruation, estrogen and progesterone. The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity as measured by pituitary hormones, FSH and LH in response to intravenous doses of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in menstrual cycle-related hormones.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate individuals with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to learn more about the genetics of the disease. This study is part of other ongoing studies of individuals with ADHD. The study participants have already undergone neurobiological measurements, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, through other research studies. As a follow-up to these studies, participants will next undergo psychiatric interviews, neuropsychological tests, and another MRI. In addition to the clinical evaluation of the participants, further research will be conducted on the genetics of ADHD. These genetic studies will evaluate people with ADHD as well as their family members and a control group of healthy people.
A study of children and adolescents (current N=100) with very early onset by age 12 (COS) of DSM-III-R defined schizophrenia with (97-M-0126) is examining the clinical, neurobiological, early neurodevelopmental, genetic, and clinical drug response characteristics of these cases. Earlier studies have documented the continuity between COS and adult onset cases (See Jacobsen and Rapoport, 1998 for review). The focus has now shifted to increasing the sample size and evaluation of familial risk factors including: psychiatric diagnoses of family members; smooth pursuit eye movements; neuropsychological tests deficits, and obtaining blood for cell lines for genetic studies (family members only, this is also covered under 96-M-0060, Dr. Ellen Sidransky). A study of obstetrical records of COS probands indicated no increase in adverse pre or perinatal events for these cases compared with obstetrical records of their siblings (Nicolson et al submitted). In contrast, several findings point to increased risk for these probands. To date, a total of 5 (10.4%) COS subjects were found to have previously unknown cytogenetic abnormalities (Microdeletion of 22q11 (3 cases), (Usiskin et al, submitted), Mosaic 45X0 (one case) (Kumra et al, 1998) and balanced 1:7 translocation (Gordon et al 1994). The study of first degree relatives of these very rare cases addresses the hypothesis that risk factors, most probably genetic, are increased in immediate family members relative both to community controls and to the relatives of patients with chronic, treatment resistant, adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS). A second hypothesis is that COS familial risk factors show significant relationship to the developmental delays/abnormalities being observed in the COS probands. As a total of 50 additional COS subjects will be studied over the next 5 years, the pediatric control sample for the probands will also be increased, determined by the need to have concurrent measures for patients and controls to maintain measurement validity. Thus a total of 600 additional subjects are to be studied including 50 controls for COS probands, 150 COS relatives, 150 controls for COS relatives, and 250 relatives of adult onset schizophrenics (AOS).
This study will allow researchers to use various types of tests to evaluate cognitive and sensory functions. These tests, referred to as "batteries" will evaluate attention, executive functions, general intellectual functioning, language, memory, motor functions, orientation, personality, selected sensory and perceptual functions, vigilance (alertness), and visual-spatial functions. Children and adult patient will receive different test batteries. The goals of this research study are to; 1. Create descriptions based on the performance of each patient on the test batteries. Then use this information to relate patient behavior to their neurophysiological, neuroradiological, and biochemical descriptions. 2. Define subgroups of patients based on their neurobehavior in order to decrease the variability of psychiatric diagnoses, treatments, and prognoses.
This research study is the continuation of a study started more than 20 years ago. The study was designed to explore the effect that depressed parents have on their children and to better understand the factors that contribute to depression development and maintenance. The study will continue to investigate if children have certain characteristics in early and middle childhood that predict the later development of psychological disorders. In addition, the study will continue looking at the processes responsible for the development of children of parents with and without affective (mood) disorders.
This study will examine the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids, compounds found in plants and fish, in treating bipolar disorder. Some studies have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids may be effective in treating mood disorders. For example, one investigator has shown a correlation between the prevalence of major depression and the amount of fish consumed per capita worldwide. Others have found decreased amounts of EPA (one of the active ingredients in omega-3 fatty acids) in the red blood cells of patients with major depression. And a recent small study of patients with bipolar illness indicated that omega-3 fatty acids prevented relapses, especially of depression, in patients. Patients with bipolar disorder who are not benefiting satisfactorily on their current medications are eligible to participate in this study. Candidates will be screened with a psychiatric evaluation, routine blood tests, a urine test and other tests needed to monitor medications. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive 6 grams of omega-3 fatty acid every day for 16 weeks; the second will receive a placebo (inactive capsule). In addition, patients in both groups will continue to take their previous medications. Every 2 weeks, all patients will have their vital signs checked and be evaluated for side effects and mood changes. At the end of the 16-week study period, all patients will be given the opportunity to continue in the study for another 8 months and receive active drug (omega-3 fatty acid). Patients who continue will be evaluated once a month and will have blood drawn on the last visit for routine tests.
To test the efficacy of prothrombin complex concentrates (Factor IX) in the treatment of hemophiliac patients who had inhibitors to Factor VIII.
The purpose of this study is to see if it is effective to treat children with anxiety disorders with fluvoxamine. Fluvoxamine has been successfully used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children. Anxiety disorders other than OCD, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or separation anxiety, are very common in youth and are not always responsive to behavioral therapies alone. These disorders may respond to fluvoxamine. A child will be evaluated for 3 weeks before he/she is assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to receive either fluvoxamine or an inactive placebo for 8 weeks. After this double-blind phase (neither the child/parents nor the doctor know which treatment is being given), the child will have the option of continuing treatment during a 4-month open-label extension period (both the child/parents and the doctor know which the child is receiving). A child may be eligible for this study if he/she: Is 6 to 17 years old and has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (i.e., generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, or separation anxiety).
This trial is a continuation of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA Study). Continuation Aim 1 is to track the persistence of intervention-related effects as the MTA sample matures into mid-adolescence, including subsequent mental-health and school-related service utilization patterns as a function of MTA treatment experience (treatment assignment) and outcome (degree of treatment success at 14 mo.). Aim 2 is to test specific hypotheses about predictors, mediators, and moderators of long-term outcome among children with ADHD (e.g., comorbidity; family functioning; cognitive skills; peer relations) that may influence adolescent functioning (either independent of or through initial treatment assignment and/or 14-month treatment outcomes); and to compare how these predictors, mediators, and moderators are similar or dissimilar within the normal comparison group. Aim 3 is to track the patterns of risk and protective factors (including their mediation or moderation by initial treatment assignment and/or outcome) involved in early and subsequent stages of developing substance-related disorders and antisocial behavior. Aim 4 is to examine the effect of initial treatment assignment and degree of treatment success on later academic performance, achievement, school conduct, tendency to drop out, and other adverse school outcomes. In the original MTA design, patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions: (1) medication only; (2) psychosocial only; (3) combined (medication and psychosocial); or (4) Assessment-and-Referral condition. All but the latter were treated intensively for 14 months, with assessments for all subjects at baseline, 3, 9, 14, and 24 months. The original MTA design thus provides short-term (10 months post-treatment) follow-up at 24 months. This continuation extends the follow-up to assessments at 36, 60, and 84 months after treatment. A child may be eligible for this study if he/she: Is 7 - 9 years old, and has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).