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Background: In addition to symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders, functional impairment is crucial to the determination of clinical significance. The aim of this study was to examine partial validity and usefulness of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire's (SDQ) impact supplement (SDQ impact) in measuring functional impairment in children and adolescents diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in neuropediatric clinics. Methods: Participants were children and adolescents (N = 337) referred to neuropediatric outpatient clinics for neurodevelopmental assessment. Functional impairment was evaluated using three instruments: the SDQ impact, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABSII), and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Mental health symptoms and intellectual function were also assessed. We investigated convergent and concurrent validity of the SDQ impact. Results: The convergent validity of the SDQ impact was shown by its significant correlations with the VABS-II composite score and the CGAS total score. The concurrent validity of the SDQ impact was demonstrated by its significant relationship with ADHD and ASD diagnoses in logistic regression analyses. Using established cutoffs, the sensitivity of the SDQ impact to reveal functional impairment in children with ADHD and ASD diagnoses was demonstrated in this neuropediatric sample, but at the cost of low specificity. Conclusion: The SDQ impact is an easy-to-use tool, and the overall study results indicate that it is partially valid, suggesting it may be used for the screening of general functional impairment in the neuropediatric population.

Background: This study investigates the use of health and dental care services in adults with intellectual disability in the last 12 months according to Norwegian recommendations and in relation to age and intellectual disability levels. Method: A cross-sectional community-based survey including 214 participants (56% men). POMONA health indicators were used for data collection. Results: Health checks and contact with general practitioners in the last year increased with age but were less frequent in those with more severe intellectual disability. Hospital admissions were age independent. Less than one-fifth of women had undergone cancer screening, with small variations according to intellectual disability severity levels. Few had an individual plan. More than one-third experienced poor dental health despite frequent controls. Conclusions: The use of health checks was lower than recommended, especially in individuals with more severe intellectual disability. Service access and individual plan use need to be enhanced, and dental care services should be improved.

There is a need for more knowledge of valid and standardized measures of mental health problems among children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). In this study, we systematically reviewed and evaluated the psychometric properties of instruments used to assess general mental health problems in this population. Following PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed empirical research published from 1980 through February 2020 with an updated search in March 2021 in Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Health and Psychological Instruments, CINAHL, ERIC, and Web of Science databases. Forty-nine empirical articles were included in this review. Overall, the review indicated consistently better documentation of the reliability and validity of instruments designed for the ID population compared to instruments developed for the general child population.

There is a need for more knowledge of valid and standardized measures of mental health problems among children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). In this study, we systematically reviewed and evaluated the psychometric properties of instruments used to assess general mental health problems in this population. Following PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed empirical research published from 1980 through February 2020 with an updated search in March 2021 in Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Health and Psychological Instruments, CINAHL, ERIC, and Web of Science databases. Forty-nine empirical articles were included in this review. Overall, the review indicated consistently better documentation of the reliability and validity of instruments designed for the ID population compared to instruments developed for the general child population., Author(s): Marianne Berg Halvorsen [sup.1] , Sissel Berge Helverschou [sup.2] , Brynhildur Axelsdottir [sup.3] , Per Håkan Brøndbo [sup.4] , Monica Martinussen [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.412244.5, 0000 0004 4689 [...]

Background: This study investigated the completion rates, scores and factors associated with non-completion and low scores on physical capability tests in a health survey administered to adults with intellectual disabilities. Method: Assessment comprised body mass index (BMI), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the timed up-and-go (TUG) test, the one-legged stance (OLS) test; and gross motor, communication and behavioural functioning tests. Results: The completion rates among 93 participants (aged 17-78) were 46% for the SPPB, 42% for the TUG, and 31% for the OLS. More severe intellectual disability (OR = 3.12, p < 0.001) and lower BMI (OR = 0.859, p = 0.001) were related to test non-completion. The SPPB scores were below the reference values from the general population. Lower scores were associated with older age, motor disabilities and intellectual disability severity. Conclusions: Including physical capability tests in health surveys among adults with intellectual disabilities is important to monitor functional status and guide prevention strategies.

Background: Many previous studies have highlighted distress in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Further knowledge about the relationship between parental mental health and children's characteristics could help neuropaediatric services improve treatment. The current study examined the applicability of the Everyday Feeling Questionnaire (EFQ) as a screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric sample. Methods: Children and adolescents (N = 299) referred to neurodevelopmental/neurological assessment at neuropaediatric outpatient clinics in Northern Norway were assessed for concurrent mental health problems; one of their parents completed the EFQ. Results: The EFQ items loaded highly on a general mental health factor. Parental mental health was more strongly associated with child functional impairment than child emotional/conduct difficulties; it was not associated with child neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusions: The EFQ is a suitable screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric population. Child functional impairment seems an important predictor of parental mental health.

This study investigates the use of health and dental care services in adults with intellectual disability in the last 12 months according to Norwegian recommendations and in relation to age and intellectual disability levels. A cross-sectional community-based survey including 214 participants (56% men). POMONA health indicators were used for data collection. Health checks and contact with general practitioners in the last year increased with age but were less frequent in those with more severe intellectual disability. Hospital admissions were age independent. Less than one-fifth of women had undergone cancer screening, with small variations according to intellectual disability severity levels. Few had an individual plan. More than one-third experienced poor dental health despite frequent controls. The use of health checks was lower than recommended, especially in individuals with more severe intellectual disability. Service access and individual plan use need to be enhanced, and dental care services should be improved. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03889002 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders, functional impairment is crucial to the determination of clinical significance. The aim of this study was to examine partial validity and usefulness of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire's (SDQ) impact supplement (SDQ impact) in measuring functional impairment in children and adolescents diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in neuropediatric clinics. Participants were children and adolescents (N = 337) referred to neuropediatric outpatient clinics for neurodevelopmental assessment. Functional impairment was evaluated using three instruments: the SDQ impact, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS-II), and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Mental health symptoms and intellectual function were also assessed. We investigated convergent and concurrent validity of the SDQ impact. The convergent validity of the SDQ impact was shown by its significant correlations with the VABS-II composite score and the CGAS total score. The concurrent validity of the SDQ impact was demonstrated by its significant relationship with ADHD and ASD diagnoses in logistic regression analyses. Using established cutoffs, the sensitivity of the SDQ impact to reveal functional impairment in children with ADHD and ASD diagnoses was demonstrated in this neuropediatric sample, but at the cost of low specificity. The SDQ impact is an easy-to-use tool, and the overall study results indicate that it is partially valid, suggesting it may be used for the screening of general functional impairment in the neuropediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the completion rates, scores and factors associated with non‐completion and low scores on physical capability tests in a health survey administered to adults with intellectual disabilities. Method: Assessment comprised body mass index (BMI), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the timed up‐and‐go (TUG) test, the one‐legged stance (OLS) test; and gross motor, communication and behavioural functioning tests. Results: The completion rates among 93 participants (aged 17–78) were 46% for the SPPB, 42% for the TUG, and 31% for the OLS. More severe intellectual disability (OR = 3.12, p <.001) and lower BMI (OR = 0.859, p =.001) were related to test non‐completion. The SPPB scores were below the reference values from the general population. Lower scores were associated with older age, motor disabilities and intellectual disability severity. Conclusions: Including physical capability tests in health surveys among adults with intellectual disabilities is important to monitor functional status and guide prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many previous studies have highlighted distress in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Further knowledge about the relationship between parental mental health and children's characteristics could help neuropaediatric services improve treatment. The current study examined the applicability of the Everyday Feeling Questionnaire (EFQ) as a screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric sample. Methods: Children and adolescents (N = 299) referred to neurodevelopmental/neurological assessment at neuropaediatric outpatient clinics in Northern Norway were assessed for concurrent mental health problems; one of their parents completed the EFQ. Results: The EFQ items loaded highly on a general mental health factor. Parental mental health was more strongly associated with child functional impairment than child emotional/conduct difficulties; it was not associated with child neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusions: The EFQ is a suitable screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric population. Child functional impairment seems an important predictor of parental mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many previous studies have highlighted distress in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Further knowledge about the relationship between parental mental health and children's characteristics could help neuropaediatric services improve treatment. The current study examined the applicability of the Everyday Feeling Questionnaire (EFQ) as a screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric sample., Methods: Children and adolescents (N = 299) referred to neurodevelopmental/neurological assessment at neuropaediatric outpatient clinics in Northern Norway were assessed for concurrent mental health problems; one of their parents completed the EFQ., Results: The EFQ items loaded highly on a general mental health factor. Parental mental health was more strongly associated with child functional impairment than child emotional/conduct difficulties; it was not associated with child neurodevelopmental disorders., Conclusions: The EFQ is a suitable screening tool for parental mental health in a neuropaediatric population. Child functional impairment seems an important predictor of parental mental health., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)