International conference on Adolescent Medicine & Child Psychology September 28-30, 2015 Houston, USA

Biography:

Maree Sugai is a full time senior lecturer, faculty member and researcher at Tohoku University of Community Service and Science (KU) in Japan. She has been teaching in Japan for over twenty years and has published and presented at social science, psychology and behavioral science conferences in America, Canada, and Japan. Her thesis was in intercultural communication and her current research area is in acute social withdrawal/hikikomori. She has worked on the governing board of a mental health rehabilitation center in Japan for fourteen years; assisting in counseling for, and including, families who have lost members to suicide and for those who have suffered severe trauma, or are severely depressed or psychotic. Her academic training is in socio-linguistics and medical anthropology

Abstract:

Investigating the culture bound phenomenon of ‘Adolescence without End’. The hidden lives of one million adolescents and young adults in Japan who have opted out of society and its expectations and confine themselves to their rooms in a state of acute social withdrawal; hiding away from all connection with society. What leads them into hiding and why do they stay so long? Looking specifically at culture bound aspects of educational and child raising norms within the target country that may be triggers, this paper aims to identify factors that suggest a connection between avoidance strategies in verbal communication and the physical manifestation of hiding away. By examining possible triggers and connecting data, I will present a risk factor cline of students who may be susceptible to becoming hikikomori (hidden away) and in turn raise some questions regarding how cautious and sensitive early intervention may or may not provide some relief to this increasing social and depressive disorder

Biography:

Abstract:

Study is aimed at the examination of the development of a child’s self-image during second and third years of life in families and residential institutions. Basic aim of the study was improvements in early care in Russian orphanages. Theoretical foundation of the study is Vygotsky’s cultural-historic concept and a theoretical framework of social interaction. The sample consisted of 40 children (20 from families and 20 from residential institutions). The experimental procedure included two experimental series: exploration and intervention. The exploration series consisted of 6 situations with mirror reflection and 8 situations directed at the exposure of the cognitive components of a child’s self-image. The results of this series showed, that maximum values had children from families and minimum values - children from residential institutions. We explain the results by different social-emotional and relationship experience of children from different groups. Caregivers in institutions treated a child as a member of a group or as an “object for care-giving”, but not a person. There were two intervention programs. Early intervention program included personal oriented studies, conducted with 20 children from residential institution. The caregivers from residential institutions took part in Caregiver Effectiveness Training program. There was also a control group of children from residential institunion without intervention programs. After intervention programs exploration series of experiments was repeated. The results showed the increase of values in the experimental group (at about 3 times) and no changes in the control group.

Biography:

Abstract:

In recent years, grandparents are playing a very important role in child-caring in China, because both parents have to work but without enough nursery school. However, less parent-child interaction and grandparents’ doting on children and their physical weakness has brought some problems in children’s psychological development. So far few researches have been done about grandparenting. [Objectives] The study aimed to examine the influence of grandparenting on preschool children’s personality and adaptation. [Method] With the cooperation of a kindergarten in Shanghai, 530 parents of 3-6yrs children were invited to participate in the investigation with their consent. Finally 505 of them completed the questionnaire effectively. [Results] Three factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis for children’s temperament ―stranger shyness (SS), easy frustration (EF) and prosociality (P), and two factors for adaptation―difficulty in attending kindergarten (DAK) and preoccupied attachment to parents (PAP). The mean difference analysis by grade of kindergarten showed that 1st grade children were significantly higher in EF and PAP than 3rd grade children, and lower in P but higher in DAK than 2nd and 3rd grade ones. The correlation analysis suggests that there were significant relation between parenting style and children’s personality and adaptation. The only-grandparents parenting style related to higher EF and PAP, but lower Prosaicality, especially in 1st grade children group. [Conclusions] Although with children’s growth, their emotion-control ability, prosociality and adaptation in kindergarten will be improved, the only-grandparents parenting style still may have some negative influence on children’s personality and adaptation than only-parents parenting or co-parenting with grandparents.

Biography:

Mathew Nguyen received a BS in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Houston in 1992. I graduated from medical school in 1996 from the University of Texas-Health Science Center at San Antonio. I completed my internship in 1997 from Baylor College of Medicine, Adult Psychiatry residency in 1999 from Georgetown University, and my Child/Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship from the University of Florida in 2001. I am currently on faculty at the University of Florida. Among other duties, I am the Medical Director of Spring hill Health Center and Director of the UF Health Eating Disorder IOP. I have presented nationally and published on eating disorder topics, and my focus is on working with complex families.

Abstract:

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has a lifetime prevalence rate of about 0.9% with a 10-1 ratio female-to-male with a mortality rate somewhere between 10-20%. This disorder is most prevalent in the adolescent and young adult population. Other eating disorders are less deadly but more prevalent, especially in the college-age population. Patients with Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder are less easily identified, as their body habitus is not emaciated (like patients with AN), but the impact on social and occupational functioning can be as great. We will discuss the prevalence rate, epidemiology, psychological etiology, and potential treatment strategies for the various eating disorders. Treatment includes inpatient hospitalization (most restrictive and most severe of cases) to outpatient therapy, medications (if indicated), and nutrition consultation. Focus will be given to discussing the complex dynamics of the family systems, the impact of transference and counter-transference on the clinician, and the possible therapeutic pitfalls. The more classic psychodynamic approach to patient care is becoming more obsolete; however, it remains pertinent in current patient care. With this in mind, we will define and discuss various defense mechanisms, focus on projective identification, and apply this to understanding how to approach and manage the complicated family systems that often accompany adolescents with Eating Disorders.

Biography:

Shireen Mohammad Kanakri has completed her PhD at the age of 32 years from Texas A&M University with a Certificate in Healthcare Hospitals Design. She is an Assistant Professor in Ball State University and a Director for Director of Autism Behavioral Health LAB. She has published many papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Abstract:

Autism has been generally ignored by the interior design community and excluded from building codes and guidelines even those developed specifically for special needs individuals. In reference to this exclusion, Baron, of the International Code Council Stated, “I know of no building or accessibility code that incorporates requirements specifically to address children with autism. Therefore, one of the primary aims of this research is to correct this exclusion by developing a preliminary framework of interior design guidelines for autism. Deasy and Laswell discuss the architect’s use of common patterns of cognition to guide and manipulate user behavior in a space. If one looks at the meaning or the cognitive value given to an experience, it becomes clear the way in which a user typically interprets his interior environment. Acoustics is one of the most important issues in interior design. No specific references are made in the mandates regarding individuals with developmental disorders or autism but the term “consideration” is used in reference to “other communication disorders” (UN Global Program on Disability, 1993). To reach this goal of developing a framework for architectural guidelines for autism, an extensive literature review was conducted. Research results indicate that environment is important to the treatment of autism because it influences behavior. This research gives practical solutions that architects and designers can use to modify the environment for children with autism. These modifications will help these children develop their skills, cope with auditory problems and improve their behaviors.

Biography:

Amanda Venta serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Sam Houston State University. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Houston and completed her pre-doctoral internship in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents. Her primary research interests are the development of psychopathology in youth and the protective effect of attachment security. She has published widely in these areas and has received related research funding from the National Institutes of Mental Health and the American Psychological Foundation

Abstract:

Adolescence is a period of social reorientation with related changes in the adolescent’s entire social world—including in their attachments to caregivers. The overarching aim of this presentation is to convey the critical importance of considering adolescent attachment for mental health researchers and clinicians by describing (1) recent advances in the measurement of adolescent attachment, (2) the clinical implications of insecure attachments for adolescents, and (3) emerging evidence regarding the role of adolescent attachment in psychological and psychiatric treatment. To that end, data will be presented from five studies conducted with adolescents receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment. First, data will be presented on the recently developed Child Attachment Interview, an interview-based measure that assesses attachment implicitly by asking respondents to describe and reflect on their current attachment relationships. Evidence of strong concurrent and convergent validity for this measure will be presented. Second, studies representing an emerging body of evidence relating attachment insecurity to psychopathology will be presented. Specifically, attachment insecurity relates to depression and suicide-related thoughts, Borderline Personality Disorder features, and peer problems in adolescents with documented mental health concerns. Finally, data from adolescents completing medium-stay inpatient psychiatric treatment will be presented. Evidence that insecure attachment is a significant predictor of treatment outcome and the important role of emotion regulation will be discussed.

Biography:

Vicky Tsang has completed her PhD from Deakin University in the Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing & Behavioral Sciences, School of Behavioral Sciences and Social Development in 2009. Before starting her teaching career, she was a Licensed Occupational Therapist both in USA and in Hong Kong. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Special Education and Counselling. She has a strong research interest in the development and validation of assessment instruments for students with special educational needs.

Abstract:

This article reports on the construction, reliability and structural validity of the newly developed video-based Social Information Processing Interview Schedule (SIPIS). Scale construction was based on the theory of social information processing and prior exploratory research on empathic functioning. The psychometric properties of the SIPIS were investigated using Rasch analysis. Latent subtype analysis was performed on the SIPIS and the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2) data for 60 children (8 through 12 years of age). Subtypes were compared for encoding of social information/motor empathy, emotion identification/affective empathy and social reasoning/cognitive empathy. Findings from Rasch analyses indicate that the SIPIS is highly reliable and structurally valid to differentiate item difficulty and performance of empathic functioning across different groups of primary students. Latent subtype analysis revealed four group differences: One group without behavioral problems, one with only Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavior, one with only Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) behavior and one with comorbid symptoms of ASD and ADHD. Although children with ASD and ADHD share common social interaction deficits, there is a specific difference in the quality of their empathic functioning with more cognitive-based deficits in the ASD group and more attention and emotional regulatory attributes in the ADHD group. Therefore, the different subtypes of children with ASD and or ADHD will most likely benefit from clinical approaches targeting different behaviors.

Biography:

Maree Sugai is a full time senior lecturer, faculty member and researcher at Tohoku University of Community Service and Science (KU) in Japan. She has been teaching in Japan for over twenty years and has published and presented at social science, psychology and behavioral science conferences in America, Canada, and Japan. Her thesis was in intercultural communication and her current research area is in acute social withdrawal/hikikomori. She has worked on the governing board of a mental health rehabilitation center in Japan for fourteen years; assisting in counseling for, and including, families who have lost members to suicide and for those who have suffered severe trauma, or are severely depressed or psychotic. Her academic training is in socio-linguistics and medical anthropology.

Abstract:

Investigating the culture bound phenomenon of ‘Adolescence without End’. The hidden lives of one million adolescents and young adults in Japan who have opted out of society and its expectations and confine themselves to their rooms in a state of acute social withdrawal; hiding away from all connection with society. What leads them into hiding and why do they stay so long? Looking specifically at culture bound aspects of educational and child raising norms within the target country that may be triggers, this paper aims to identify factors that suggest a connection between avoidance strategies in verbal communication and the physical manifestation of hiding away. By examining possible triggers and connecting data, I will present a risk factor cline of students who may be susceptible to becoming hikikomori (hidden away) and in turn raise some questions regarding how cautious and sensitive early intervention may or may not provide some relief to this increasing social and depressive disorder.

Biography:

Ikuko Shibuya specializes in developmental and clinical psychology. Now she is an associate professor at the Department of Preschool Education of Osaka Seikei College. Jin Shotoku had engaged in special needs education at an elementary school and so on. He is now a professor at Ogaki Womens’ College. Takashi Kawanabe specializes in educational psychology. He works at Ritsumeikan University as an associate professor at Institute for Teaching and Learning

Abstract:

Tool use is a goal-oriented, object manipulation that demands highly cognitive efforts. Shibuya (2012) demonstrated that some children notably lacked the precision to cut figures on a paper although they appropriately held scissors. And this might be caused by poor motor planning and control. This study aimed to examine children’s knowledge of a strategy of the motor planning and control to use scissors purposefully. Study 1 investigated how children understood the knowledge of “trade-off” relationship between motor speed and motor accuracy. It was hypothesized that children who understood the “trade-off” relationship would be good at motor planning, which would let them cut a circle accurately. The children were classified into two groups according to their response to the knowledge problems; “well understanding” and “poor understanding”. The “well understanding” group cut more accurately than the other group in a marginal significance. However, several children in the “poor understanding” group cut a circle without any error, and vice versa. These results suggest that the knowledge of “trade-off” relationship partly influences children’s motor performance, but it is just one of the factors. In Study 2, we focused on the different aspects of children’s knowledge related to movement, that is, the knowledge of smooth bimanual coordination strategy. Specifically, whether the children understood that bracing and rotating a paper by non-dominant hand affect motor accuracy was examined. Based on the results of Study 1 and 2, the influence of children’s recognition related to movement on their motor performance will be discussed in the session.

Biography:

Ajayi Hannah Olubunmi has completed her PhD. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile–Ife, Nigeria. She specializes in the Early Childhood Education from the premier university, University of Ibadan, Nigeria as well as International Child & Youth Care Development from University of Victoria, British Colombia, Canada. She has bias in Language Arts/ Reading development in children. She has published over 24 articles in referred journals both nationally and internationally. She has attended several national and international conferences where she presented papers. She is the Managing Editor of Ife Journal of Theory and Research in Education (IJOTRE). She has also authored textbooks for early years. She has served as resource person for UNICEF (Nigeria) and National Education and Research Development Commission (NERDC) to develop Learning Standards and Curriculum of Early Childhood Programme in Nigeria.

Abstract:

Reading is germane to life and academic success. There is virtually no school subject that does not require the acquisition of reading skill. In spite of its importance, it has been identified that many children have difficulty in reading thereby leading many of them to be at risk of educational completion. Various efforts are been employed to salvage the situation but no study has really been carried out to probe into the psychological implications reading difficulty may have on children with a view to determining better intervention for the situation. Hence this study is embarked upon. Six hundred pupils were purposively selected from the South western public primary school of Nigeria based on reading difficulty. Two instruments namely; Reading Difficulty Screening Tool (RDST) used to identify pupils who have reading difficulty and Reading Difficulty Psychological Scale (RDPS) which assessed the psychological influence of the reading difficulty on the pupils. Findings showed that reading difficulty has psychological implications on children. Recommendations were proffered.

Biography:

Umesh Raj Aryal is working as an Assistant Professor of Bio statistics at Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Nepal. He has completed his PhD (Medical science) from Gothenburg University at Sweden and MSc (Statistics) from Tribhuwan University, Nepal. He is currently interested in tobacco epidemiology specially among adolescents and young adult. He has published more than 15 papers in peer reviewed journals and 2 academic book. He is an Editorial Board Member of Journal of Kathmandu Medical College. He is also working as Member Secretary of KMC-IRC and Coordinator of Research Committee at KMC. He is also Member of Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.

Abstract:

Psycho-social factors influencing smoking behavior of Nepalese adolescent: The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) provides useful information for monitoring the tobacco use and the impact of intervention among adolescents. Understanding the influence of psycho-social factors (demographic, environmental, motivational and programmatic factors) is essential to ensure success of effective intervention program. This study utilized the GYTS 2011 data of Nepal with the main aim is to assess influence of several psycho-social factors among adolescents to become current smoking. The GYTS is a cross-sectional study that applies a two stage cluster sample to acquire a representative sample of schools and students (n=2878). Prevalence of current smoking was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.2; 5.9) of which 75.7% (95% CI: 67.6-82.6) were male. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that demographic factor (being male (AOR=2.50; 95% CI: 1.51-4.14) and age >15 years (2.93;1.77-4.86), environmental factors (friend smoking (5.72; 2.69-12.1), exposed to smoking in closed places (3.6; 1.89-7.02) and outdoor places (1.99;1.03-3.87)); motivational factors (ever offered free cigarettes by tobacco company representative (1.83;1.15;2.90) and programmatic factor (taught about danger sign of smoking (0.49; 0.32-0.77)) are associated with current smoking. The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicates model fits well based on criteria for goodness of fit: (CFI=1, TFI=1, RMSEA=0.00). The SEM revealed that age, sex, friend smoking, exposure to smoking at closed places and ever offer of free cigarettes were predictors of current smoking habits. Our findings suggest that an understanding of the influencing factors provides important insight for comprehensive school based tobacco intervention programs.

Biography:

Ajayi Hannah Olubunmi has completed her PhD. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She specializes in the Early Childhood Education from the premier university, University of Ibadan, Nigeria as well as International Child & Youth Care Development from University of Victoria, British Colombia, Canada. She has bias in Language Arts/ Reading development in children. She has published over 24 articles in referred journals both nationally and internationally. She has attended several national and international conferences where she presented papers. She is the Managing Editor of Ife Journal of Theory and Research in Education (IJOTRE). She has also authored textbooks for early years. She has served as resource person for UNICEF (Nigeria) and National Education and Research Development Commission (NERDC) to develop Learning Standards and Curriculum of Early Childhood Programme in Nigeria.

Abstract:

Often times, comments such as, 'He/She is too playful', 'Too quiet in class', 'He/She is non-compliant', 'Too stubborn', 'Too aggressive' 'Too rough/clumsy' and all sorts are written in children's progress reports and they were sent home by teachers. At the same time, parents sometimes come to school stating, "My child is too playful/stubborn" and alike. They then call for the child to be disciplined to correct such behaviour. Considering the nature of such interactions that exists between some parents, teachers and the preschool children, this therefore raises questions as do parents or teachers really understand the psychological characteristics of children? Or why do they treat children in such a harsh manner in the guise of discipline? The period between births to five years of a child is a critical time for all round development. It is a sensitive period which if mishandled may result in deficit in personality development. It is against this backdrop that this study is conceived to examine parents and teachers' understanding of children psychological characteristics. Four hundred preschoolers' parents and two hundred and fifty preschool teachers purposively selected were used for the study. Patents-Teachers' Children Psychological Characteristics Perspectives Questionnaire (PTPCPQ) was used for the study. It has three sections, Section A solicited information about the demographic information of the respondents. Section B focused on parents perspectives of children's psychological characteristics which is on 4- Likert scale. Section C focused on preschoolers' teachers perspectives. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools, results presented and recommendations proffered for the appropriate stakeholders

Biography:

Dr. Yolanda C. Leon is native to the Tampa Bay area. She is of Cuban heritage and is proficient in Spanish. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology - School of Psychology, a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). She completed specialty training in Neuropsychology during her Doctoral training and completed an APA approved Clinical Psychology internship with specialty training in Neuropsychology. In addition, she completed a postdoctoral Residency in Neuropsychology at Winter Haven Hospital. She has over 15 years of experience in the specialty area of Neuropsychology with subspecialties in Child Neuropsychology, Epilepsy, and Bilingual assessment. Formerly a School Psychologist, She holds Masters and Educational Specialist Degrees from the University of South Florida and incorporates her training as a School Psychologist into her clinical practice as a Florida Licensed Psychologist.

Abstract:

Family Systems practice in pediatric psychology is a new and scarcely researched field. Clinically relevant and scientifically supported research and evidence based approaches in pediatric psychology have primarily been produced by studies that are disease and disorder specific. There is a significant paucity of established, evidence-based examination of family dynamics and family systems intervention in the clinical practice of pediatric neuropsychology. The present workshop aims to present an overview of the integration of family systems concepts and the influence of context (family system) on development and outcome Of neuropsychological consequences of neurodevelopmental disorders in pediatric neuropsychology. Several models to include consultation, intervention, and collaboration will be presented. Brief case vignettes from our pediatric neuropsychology practice will also be presented to illustrate significant points and concepts. The material presented will be useful for both Neuropsychologists and General Clinicians who work with pediatric neurology patients and their families 3 major learning objectives of program: at the end of the presentation, the attendee should be able to: (1). Understand and implement a systems oriented pediatric psychology consultation treatment model using four tenets of the model (Join, Focus, Promote Competence, and Collaborate) with children with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, resulting in development of interventions for home and school, and identification of other resources to support the child patient and the family system. (2) Articulate the benefits of implementing a family systems practice in pediatric neuropsychology and pediatric psychology practice that: a.) is oriented toward family strengths rather than individual psychopathology b.) facilitate understanding of diversity (structures, ethnicity, culture) and their influence on the family, and c.) confront issues of the family system’s connectedness with those outside of the family system as a gauge of the family’s isolation and risk or resilience. d.) Be more culturally competent in their practice with children/adolescents 3 major learning objectives of program: at the end of the presentation, the attendee should be able to: (1). Understand and implement a systems oriented pediatric psychology consultation treatment model using four tenets of the model (Join, Focus, Promote Competence, and Collaborate) with children with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, resulting in development of interventions for home and school, and identification of other resources to support the child patient and the family system. (2) Articulate the benefits of implementing a family systems practice in pediatric neuropsychology and pediatric psychology practice that: a.) is oriented toward family strengths rather than individual psychopathology b.) facilitate understanding of diversity (structures, ethnicity, culture) and their influence on the family, and c.) confront issues of the family system’s connectedness with those outside of the family system as a gauge of the family’s isolation and risk or resilience. d.) Be more culturally competent in their practice with children/adolescents

Biography:

Mathew Nguyen has received his BS in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Houston in 1992. He has graduated from medical school in 1996 from the University of Texas-Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has completed his internship in 1997 from Baylor College of Medicine, Adult Psychiatry Residency in 1999 from Georgetown University and his Child/Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship from the University of Florida in 2001. He is currently on Faculty at the University of Florida. Among other duties, He is the Medical Director of Springhill Health Center. He also served as the Chief of the UF Psychiatry Consultation/Liaison Services as well as participated as a Faculty in the UF Forensic Institute

Abstract:

The diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a key point in many civil litigation cases regarding minors and establishing causality between perceived trauma and psychological sequelae can be difficult. Complicating this further is the effect of the perceived trauma on the minor’s parents and their psychological reaction. A parent with post-traumatic stress-like symptoms (PTSS) can be just as influential to a child developing symptoms to a trauma as the initial trauma itself. In such cases, can minors ultimately be diagnosed with PTSD if they eventually exhibit all of the diagnostic criteria? We will present two such clinical cases in which the child (“victim”) of the trauma initially endorsed no PTSD symptoms and only presented with these symptoms months-to-years later. We explore this conundrum and discuss the forensic implications and the potential effects of the updated diagnostic criteria of PTSD in DSM-V.

Biography:

Abstract:

To investigate epidemiological status of self-stigma of hearing-impaired middle school students in Hubei Province. Based on the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, a Chinese version scale on self-stigma of disability was developed. A cross-sectional survey was performed in eight cities of Hubei Province. Independent samples t test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson analysis and multivariable linear regression model were used to analyze data. The revised scale consisted of 23 items including four common factors: devaluation-discrimination, alienation, social withdrawal and stigma resistance. The homogeneity reliability, test-retest reliability and split-half reliability and inner correlations ranged 0.50-0.92, and the criterion and the construct validity of scale were statistically significant (P<0.05). 503 hearing-impaired middle school students were investigated, and the rate of high self-stigma was 18.24%. The differences of the self-stigma level was statically significant among school location, grade and hearing-impaired degree (all P<0.05). Besides, the association of resilience, negative coping styles and perceived social support with the self-stigma were statically significant (all P<0.01). School location and negative coping style had positive association with self-stigma level, alienation, social withdrawal and devaluation-discrimination (P<0.05); resilience, perceived social support and parenting style were negative with self-stigma level and devaluation-discrimination (P<0.05); age and resilience had negatively association with stigma resistance (P<0.001); resilience and peer relationship were negative associated with social withdrawal (all P<0.01). The revised self-stigma of disability scale has good reliability and validity, which can meet the requirements of psychological measurement. The self-stigma among disabilities should be paid more attention.

Biography:

Marcia Baker is the business owner of Advanced Training Third Coast which provides substance abuse prevention training and consultation/evaluation. She is a PhD candidate in Health Psychology with a projected graduation of Dec. 2015. She has extensive experience supervising programs in the substance abuse treatment, prevention and behavioral health field. She is a trainer for Strengthening Families Training Certification and Towards No Drug Abuse Certification program for substance abuse prevention professionals and teaches/ trains adjunct in the field of substance abuse, prevention and mental health for numerous colleges and educational institutions. She currently is a Lecturer/Mental Health Program Coordinator with Springfield College in Houston, Texas. Awards and accomplishments include: 2007, Hope Award in Houston from Sierra Tucson, 2008, Addiction Professional of the Year ,Houston, 2008, Appointed by the Mayor of Houston to Drug Policy Task Force for Prevention, 2009, Vice President of Texas Association of Addiction Professionals Houston Chapter and in 2013 nominated for White House Champion of Change for Public Health and Prevention

Abstract:

Background: Oppositional Defiant Disorders have increased in children and mental health disorders including SUDs in adolescents. Unfortunately lower SES parents are spending less time with these high risk children. This session will begin with a review of family risk, protection and resilience factors that make family based interventions the most successful prevention programs according to many independent reviews (e.g., the Oxford University Cochrane Reviews, NIDA, UNODC, WHO). The most effective family interventions for prevention and early intervention will be presented based on authors’ reviews for last 20 years for our government and United Nations. One of the most effective is the Strengthening Families Program (SFP), a family skills training program where in 7 to 14 weekly group classes, parents and youth have separate classes first and then a joint practice session which teach parenting, family and youth social skills. SFP is cost effective at $11 saved per dollar spent, yet costly to administer-$500 to $1000/family for a 7-14 week group. Recent epigenetic 10-year longitudinal studies have found that SFP can reduce genetically inherited behavioral health disorders related to short alleles of the 5-HTTLPR serotonin gene and the 7-repeat dopamine gene (i.e., diagnosed depression, anxiety, SUDs, HIV, and delinquency) by 50%. Because of these positive results, culturally adapted SFP versions are now in 36 countries with similar positive results to its 14 RCTs, half by independent research teams. Methods: To reduce costs to $5/family, a new universal 10-14 session SFP 7 to 17 Years DVD was created for home and clinic use in English and Spanish audio tracks. It was evaluated with families who completed a confidential online survey to win prizes. A 10-14 session SFP family group version was also created and tested with high-risk families in schools and agencies as a comparison condition in a quasi-experimental repeated measures 2 group×2 (pre-and post-test) design. 21 parent, family and child behavioral outcomes were measured using the SFP questionnaire composed of standardized clinical instruments. Within and between group results were analyzed using 2×2 ANOVAs and compared to the SFP 10- and 14-session norms. Results: Compared to the group version, the Home Use DVD outcomes revealed 18 of 21 statistically significant outcomes and almost as large Cohen’s d effect sizes for parenting (d=.48 vs. 65) and family outcomes (d=.69 vs. .70) but better youth results (d=.54 vs. .48). The best youth results were for the DVD family group version that were better than the EBP SFP 3-16 Years age versions. Conclusions: Because of the positive results on positive parenting, child maltreatment and reduced depression and behavioral disorders, the new DVDs and family group curriculum are being widely disseminated at cost to have a broader behavioral health and public health impact. This presentation could include DVD video clips and interactive role plays, plus questions and answer period.

Biography:

Maria Abram has just completed her PhD at the age of 30 years at Paris Descartes University where she currently teaches Cognitive Psychology to undergraduate students. She is specialized in Neuropsychology. She also collaborates with Necker Children’s Hospital (Department Of Pediatric Neurosurgery) in Paris, assessing episodic memory in young patients with temporo-sylvian cysts and with focal brain lesions. She has published two articles in international scientific journals, and is currently writing three more. She has set out to find a Post-Doctoral position in North America

Abstract:

Episodic memory (EM), the ability to recall experienced events (‘what’) in their spatial (‘where’) and temporal (‘when’) context, is important in learning new information and in daily life functioning. Temporo-sylvian cysts (TSC) are quite common lesions of the arachnoid and potentially affect EM due to their localization. Some studies have revealed post-operative improvement of cognitive functioning in pediatric TSC patients, yet the functioning of EM in these patients has not been systematically studied. Our aim was to assess EM with ecological (virtual reality (VR), controlled but close to daily life environment and autobiographical events) and standard tests before and after decompression of a TSC in children. In a group of 65 patients aged from 5 to 16 years, 18 have been re-assessed one year after surgery. Results revealed post-operative improvements regarding navigation time as well as recall of simple and detailed factual information on the VR EM test. The ability to recall an autobiographical event also improved, whereas no changes occurred on standard tests. This suggests that TSC decompression in children and adolescents has a beneficial influence on EM functioning in a more ecological context. Considering the importance of EM functioning in school and daily life it is therefore seems that ecological assessments of EM via VR and autobiographical memories could help guide decisions about the patients’ treatment since they complete standard tests

Biography:

James McCarthy is the Director of Field Training and Associate Professor of Psychology, Pace University, Doctor of Psychology program in School-Clinical Child Psychology in New York City and Clinical Professor of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY. His interests include severe psychopathology in children and adults, trauma studies, cognition and training in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and he has published widely in the professional literature. He is the author and editor of a number of books. His current book “Psychosis in Childhood and Adolescence” is published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis.

Abstract:

Etiological studies, investigations of high risk populations and outcome studies have all contributed to a better understanding of the clinical features and the course of early onset mood disorder-related psychosis, schizophrenia and trauma related psychosis in children and youth. However, recent neurobiological studies and revolutionary advances in knowledge about brain structure and functioning haven’t been easily translated into innovative treatment approaches for children and adolescents with severe and chronic psychotic disorders. Psychosis in youth entails shifting internal emotional states of lived experience as well as the features of psychiatric disorders which frequently interfere with social, emotional and cognitive maturation. Although psychotic disorders in children and adolescents are often continuous with adult-onset psychotic disorders, comprehensive, multimodal treatment that includes psychotherapy and supportive family interventions as well as antipsychotic medication offer the best hope of restoring the psychotic youth to age-appropriate maturation in all spheres of functioning. This article synthesizes recent research advances while arguing for the need for long-term comprehensive care and treatment for children and adolescents with psychotic disorders that includes the importance of psychotherapy.

Biography:

Maria Abram has completed her PhD at the age of 30 years at Paris Descartes University where she currently teaches Cognitive Psychology to undergraduate students. She is specialized in Neuropsychology. She also collaborates with Necker Children’s Hospital (Department Of Pediatric Neurosurgery) in Paris, assessing episodic memory in young patients with temporo-sylvian cysts and with focal brain lesions. She has published two articles in international scientific journals, and is currently writing three more. She has set out to find a Post-Doctoral position in North America.

Abstract:

With the episodic memory (EM) humans recall past and imagine future events and remember executing future actions. EM can be assessed with laboratory based tasks (recall of past information and future actions, retrospective and prospective memory) and autobiographical events (past and future autobiographical memory). Past EM aspects develop progressively until adolescence when feature binding (what, where, when) is required. Prospective memory development depends on action types but it improves until young adulthood with complex tasks. Most developmental studies of future autobiographical memory have focused on young children and adults, leaving a gap between these two groups. We thus aimed to compare past and future EM aspects and mechanisms from young school children to young adults, confronting more ecological laboratory tasks in virtual reality with autobiographical tasks. Results in 61 participants (ages 5 to 25 years) suggest a more progressive development of the future aspect of EM, whereas its past aspect is globally functional by adolescence. Autobiographical and virtual reality performance correlate with each other, executive functions and narrative abilities; Virtual reality memory depends on executive functions, past and future autobiographical memory and (only future memory) on theory of mind, whereas autobiographical memory abilities depend on virtual reality based prospective memory in addition to executive functions and age. A reciprocal link appeared between the two future aspects of EM (personal events and time-based actions). In conclusion, past and future EM functioning in virtual environments and in daily life is strongly inter-linked and has at least partly common development and mechanisms, suggesting a tri-temporal approach of EM.

Biography:

Cecilia O Odejobi is an Associate Professor in the Institute of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Her area of specialization is on Indigenous Language (Yoruba Language), as well as Curriculum Studies. She has published several articles in national and international reputable journals. She has also attended and presented research papers at national and international conferences. She is currently the Director of the Institute of Education.

Abstract:

Parenting styles have been established as predictors of social and moral behaviors in children but the extent to which this could influence the feeding habit of children has not been thoroughly examined. The few studies carried out on this issue examined the specific behaviors of European-American parents but nothing has been done on children feeding habits and parenting styles of African parents, especially the Yoruba’s. This needs to be examined as children\'s feeding is becoming an issue of concern in terms of obesity, low weight, choosy or picky and the like. To carry out the study four objectives were raised as follows: To examine the parenting styles among Yoruba mothers, assess child feeding practices with Yoruba mothers, determine the relationship between parenting styles and feeding practices of Yoruba mothers and examine the influence of parental factors on parenting styles and child feeding habits. Two hundred and fifty (250) Yoruba mothers were purposively selected based on ethnicity and possession of children in care centers. So also, fifty (50) caregivers of the parents\' children participated in the study. Two instruments were used namely: Parent-Child Feeding Styles (PCFS) that measured parents\' pattern and manner of feeding their children. Also, Caregivers\' Child Feeding Reports (CCFR) used to gather information about children\'s feeding habits. Data were analyzed using percentage, chi-square and Pearson Moment Correlation. The findings were presented and recommendations were made.

Biography:

Mathew Nguyen has received his BS degree in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Houston in 1992. He has graduated from Medical School in 1996 from the University of Texas-Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has completed his internship in 1997 from Baylor College of Medicine, Adult Psychiatry Residency in 1999 from Georgetown University and his Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship from the University of Florida in 2001. He is currently on Faculty at the University of Florida. Among other duties, he is the Medical Director of Springhill Health Center and Director of the UF Health Eating Disorder IOP. He has presented nationally and published on eating disorder topics,and his focus is on working with complex families.

Abstract:

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has a lifetime prevalance rate of about 0.9% with a 10-1 ratio female to male with a mortality rate somewhere between 10-20%. This disorder is most prevalent in the adolescent and young adult population. Other eating disorders are less deadly but more prevalent especially in the college-age population. Patients with Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder are less easily identified as their body habitus is not emaciated (like patients with AN) but the impact on social and occupational functioning can be as great. We will discuss the prevalence rate, epidemiology, psychological etiology and potential treatment strategies for the various eating disorders. Treatment includes inpatient hospitalization (most restrictive and most severe of cases) to outpatient therapy, medications (if indicated) and nutrition consultation. Focus will be given to discussing the complex dynamics of the family systems, the impact of transference and counter-transference on the clinician and the possible therapeutic pitfalls. The more classic psychodynamic approach to patient care is becoming more obsolete; however, it remains pertinent in current patient care. With this in mind, we will define and discuss various defense mechanisms, focus on projective identification and apply this to understand how to approach and manage the complicated family systems that often accompany adolescents with Eating Disorders.

Biography:

Maria Marta Silva is a clinical psychologist with specialization in Adolescent Psychology and Systemic Psychology (Family Therapy), currently working with the Pediatric Cardiology team at the Cardiology Division of the Sao Paul o Hospital, Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Federal University of Sao Paul o, Brazil. She obtained her Doctorate degree (PhD) in the Medical Sciences at the Federal University of Sao Paul o after a long period of time studying behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents with heart disease. As a result of this study, a paper was published in 2012 in “Cardiology in the Young”, a pediatric cardiology journal, under the title “Behavioral problems in adolescents with cardiac disease: an exploratory study in a pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic”

Abstract:

There is scientific evidence that adolescents with cardiac disease are more prone to behavioral problems. Aims: To study behavioral problems in adolescents with heart disease. Methods: cross-sectional study involving 130 adolescents with congenital and acquired heart disease, and 246 healthy controls, age between 11 and 18 years. The second part of the Youth Self Report and a semi-structured interview were applied to both groups, and the Child Behavior Checklist to one of the patients’ parents to access their perception of behavioral problems. Results: Male adolescents with heart disease showed significantly fewer behavioral problems compared to controls but no difference was found between female patients and controls. Patients scored significantly higher only on the Social Problems subscale. Male controls scored higher in the Internalizing, Externalizing, and in the Total Problems scales. Among patients, girls scored higher than boys. Girls in middle and late adolescence and boys in early adolescence displayed more behavioral problems. No significant difference was found between congenital and acquired heart disease, neither between acyanotic and cyanotic defects. Operated patients did not differ from the non-operated ones. Patients that were behind on schooling scored higher. Parents scored higher than patients. Conclusions: Male and Female patients reported fewer behavioral problems than controls. Female patients in middle and late adolescence, male patients in early adolescence, and patients that were behind on schooling were the most problematic ones. No difference was observed between diagnostic groups neither between operated patients and the non-operated ones. Patients displayed fewer behavioral problems when compared to their parents’ perception. In the overall, our results displayed a resilient scenario for cardiac patients despite dealing with a chronic disease where stressful situations are the rule.

Biography:

Ahmed Saad Alahmed started his PhD under supervision of Professor Julian Leslie at Ulster University. He has obtained his both Undergraduate and Master\'s degree in Psychology. During his undergraduate studies, he has enhanced skills in the field by working as a Psychologist in a hospital specialized in the treatment of mental health problems in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for six months. After graduating, he continued building his experience by working under appropriate supervision as a Child Psychologist with disabled children (deaf children and children with intellectual problems) for six years. In addition, he taught in different modules such as (Educational, Developmental and Counseling Psychology) for three years in the Department of Psychology at the University of Al-Imam Mohammed bin Saud. He had training courses in using CBT with children and adults as well. He is currently working in a project which is about assessing abused children in Saudi Arabia for behavioral and emotional disorders.

Abstract:

Background: The aim of this study was to assess abused children in Saudi Arabia for possible psychological problems and to compare them with children attending the regular school system.
Sample: The participants were 68 Saudi abused children who live either with their families or in governmental residential homes, and 53 children in the same age range recruited in the same Saudi city. .
Method: Children were asked to complete the self-report Spence Children\'s Anxiety Scale; and parents or caregivers were asked to complete Child Behaviour Checklist. .
Results: Abused children suffered from different types of anxiety but the highest one was generalised anxiety disorder. Also, these children had emotional and behavioural problems and the most frequent ones were aggressive behaviours and being anxious or depressed. Comparable scores from the children from regular schools showed mean scores that were high but not as high as for the abused children in any of these areas. .
Conclusion: Saudi abused children had high levels of anxiety and behavioural and emotional problems, and this has implications for their care which have not been considered to date. Limitations of the data are discussed. .