This report presents results pertaining to mental health from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States aged 12 years old or older. This report presents national estimates of the prevalence of past year mental disorders and past year mental health…

In many societies the prevalence of behavioural problems in school-aged children varies by national origin. We examined the association between national origin and behavioural problems in 1 1/2-year-old children. Data on maternal national origin and the Child Behavior Checklist for toddlers (n = 4943) from a population-based cohort in the…

This study compared data on sleep disturbances of 22 autistic children obtained by questionnaires with data obtained with actigraphy. Questionnaire responses indicated that autistic children had an earlier morning awakening time and multiple and early night arousals; actigraphic monitoring, however, showed their sleep patterns were normal except…

Four brief observational surveys were used to determine the incidence of drooling by institutionalized individuals with mental retardation. An average of 14% was identified as drooling on any one occasion, with the accumulated proportion of clients reported as drooling as 28%. Sampling of two clients within and across days was also conducted.…

Musical aptitude and behavioral adjustment were assessed in 16 mentally retarded adults nominated as having special musical interests and/or skills. Evidence of difficulties in adjustment associated with musical skill or interest was mixed, though results suggested no pervasive maladjustment among those with exceptional skill combined with mental…

This study compared the occurrence and characteristics of self-stimulatory behaviors of 5 children with developmental delays and 10 nondisabled children (matched for either mental or chronological age). Few differences were found between groups in percentage of time spent in self-stimulatory behavior, the variety of such behaviors, the speed at…

Discussion of the relationship between child maltreatment and child disability identifies three categories: (1) maltreatment causes many disabilities; (2) children with disabilities are more vulnerable to maltreatment; and (3) other primary causal factors increase risk for both violence and disability. Maltreatment is also seen as impeding student…

The individualized education programs (IEPs) of 107 junior high students with behavioral disorders were reviewed. An average of 2.4 behavior problems and 4 goals were noted per student, with a low correlation between problems and goals. (Author/DB)

A survey of the families of 62 persons with Prader-Willi syndrome examined the prevalence, topographies, and specific body locations of self-injurious behaviors. Self-injury was reported for 81% of the participants. Skin-picking was the most prevalent form with the front of the legs and head being disproportionately targeted. Incidence also varied…

A follow-up study of behavior and emotional problems in 53 young people with Williams syndrome 5 years after first assessment found substantial persistence in the overall level of behavior and emotional problems. Comparison with young people with mental retardation due to other causes found Williams subjects had significantly higher overall…

This study examined behavioral adjustment in 22 siblings of children with autism. Mothers rated these children as having more behavior problems and fewer prosocial behaviors than a normative sample. Analysis of variables revealed that male siblings and children younger than the autistic sibling engaged in fewer prosocial behaviors. Psychological…

A survey of 39 psychologists at a state school for mentally retarded persons assessed the prevalence of self-restraint, self-injurious behavior (SIB) and other maladaptive behaviors. Results indicated that almost all clients engaging in self-restraint also engaged in self-injurious behavior. (Author/DB)

The frequency of sexual behaviors among 251 preschoolers attending Swedish day-care centers was evaluated. Some behaviors were frequently occurring (like clinging body contact) whereas others were very uncommon (touching an adult's genitals). Correlations between age and single behaviors were seen as manifestations of the socialization process.…

This study evaluating race and gender differences in the occurrence and treatment of disciplinary problems in 4,391 elementary and secondary school children's files found substantial differences between males and females and between whites and African Americans in number of referrals for disciplinary action, frequency of corporal punishment, and…

Comparison of scores on the Child Behavior Checklist of 1,120 Flemish and 1,122 Dutch children, aged 6 to 12 years, found no differences between groups on total problem scores, higher scores for Dutch children on the Activities scale, and higher scores for Flemish children on the School scale. (DB)