Publications
Search results for 'screen'
Using a loneliness measure to screen for risk of mental health problems: A replication in two nationally-representative cohorts | 2022
Matthews, T., Bryan, B. T., Danese,
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, .
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031641
Our ref: RO779
Background: Loneliness co-occurs alongside many mental health problems and is associated with poorer treatment outcomes. It could therefore be a phenomenon of interest to clinicians, as an indicator of generalised risk for psychopathology. The present study tested whether a short measure of loneliness can accurately classify individuals who are at increased risk of common mental health problems. Methods: Data were drawn from two nationally-representative cohorts: the age-18 wave of the UK-based Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, and the age-38 wave of the New Zealand-based Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. In both cohorts, loneliness was assessed using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, plus two stand-alone items about feeling alone and feeling lonely. Outcome measures consisted of diag-noses of depression and anxiety, and self-reports of self-harm/suicide attempts, assessed via structured interview. Results: ROC curve analysis showed that the loneliness scale had fair accu-racy in classifying individuals meeting criteria for all three outcomes, with a cut-off score of 5 (on a scale from 3 to 9) having the strongest empirical support. Both of the stand-alone items showed modest sensitivity and specificity, but were more limited in their flexibility. The find-ings replicated across the two cohorts, indicating that they are applicable both to younger and older adults. In addition, the accuracy of the loneliness scale in detecting mental health problems was comparable to a measure of poor sleep quality, a phenomena which is often included in screening tools for depression and anxiety. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a loneliness measure could have utility in mental health screening contexts, as well as in research.
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Population versus individual prediction of poor health from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screening | 2021
Baldwin, J. R., Caspi, A., Meehan,
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JAMA Pediatrics, 2021, .
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5602
Link to full publication »
Our ref: RO752
Importance: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well-established risk factors for health problems in the population. However, it is not known whether screening for ACEs can accurately identify individuals who develop later health problems.
Objective: To test the predictive accuracy of ACE screening for later health problems.
Design: Two birth cohorts: The Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study followed participants born in 1994-1995 until age 18 (2012-2014), and the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study followed participants born in 1972-1973 until age 45 (2017-2019).
Setting: Population-based cohorts from the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Participants: 2,232 participants in E-Risk and 1,037 participants in Dunedin.
Exposure: ACEs were measured prospectively in childhood through repeated interviews and observations in both cohorts. ACEs were also measured retrospectively in the Dunedin cohort through interviews at age 38.
Main outcomes and measures: Health outcomes were assessed at age 18 in E-Risk and age 45 in Dunedin. Mental health problems were assessed through clinical interviews using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Physical health problems were assessed through interviews, anthropometric measurements, and blood collection.
Results: Of 2,232 E-Risk participants and 1,037 Dunedin participants, 2,009 and 928 were included in the analysis, respectively. In E-Risk, children with higher ACE scores had greater risk of later health problems (Relative Risks=1.14 [95% CI=1.10-1.18] for any mental health problem and 1.09 [95% CI=1.07-1.12] for any physical health problem per each additional ACE). ACE scores were associated with health problems independently of other information typically available to clinicians (i.e., sex, socioeconomic disadvantage, and history of health problems). However, ACE scores had poor accuracy in predicting an individual’s risk of later health problems (Area Under the ROC Curve for any mental health problem=0.58 [95% CI=0.56-0.61] and 0.60 [95% CI=0.58-0.63] for any physical health problem vs 0.50 for chance prediction). Findings were consistent in the Dunedin cohort using both prospective and retrospective ACE measures.
Conclusions and Relevance: While ACE scores can forecast average group differences in health, they have poor accuracy in predicting an individual’s risk of later health problems. Therefore, targeting interventions based on ACE screening is likely to be ineffective in preventing poor health.
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Adolescent screen-time and attachment to parents and peers | 2010
Richards, R., McGee, R., Williams,
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Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2010, 164(164), 258-262.
Our ref: RO597
Objective: To examine associations between screen-time (television, video/DVD, gaming, computer use) and attachment to parents and peers in two cohorts of adolescents, 16 years apart. Design: Cross-sectional data regarding screen-time and attachment to parents and peers were collected for two cohorts of adolescents, one in 1987/88 (Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development cohort, DMHDS) and one in 2004 (Youth Lifestyle Study cohort, YLS). Setting: Members of the DMHDS cohort were interviewed as part of a full day of assessment and members of the YLS cohort completed a self-report questionnaire in a supervised classroom setting. Participants: The DMHDS cohort (n = 976 at age 15) was aged 15 years in 1987/88. The YLS cohort (n = 3043) was aged 14 and 15 years in 2004. Main outcome measures: Low attachment to parents and peers as measured by the Inventory of Parent and Peer attachment. Results: More time spent television viewing and less time reading and doing homework were associated with low parent attachment for both cohorts. Among the YLS cohort, more time playing on a computer was also associated with low parent attachment. Among the DMHDS cohort, greater television viewing was associated with low peer attachment. Conclusion: Screen-time was associated with poor attachment to parents and peers in two cohorts of adolescents, 16 years apart. Given the importance of parental and peer attachment to adolescent health and development, concern about high levels of screen-time among adolescents is warranted.
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The validity of the Family History Screen for assessing family history of mental disorders | 2009
Milne, B. J. , Caspi, A. , Crump,
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American Journal Of Medical Genetics B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 2009, 150(150B), 41-49.
Our ref: RO570
There is a need to collect psychiatric family history information quickly and economically (e.g., for genome-wide studies and primary care practice). We sought to evaluate the validity of family history reports using a brief screening instrument, the Family History Screen (FHS). We assessed the validity of parents' reports of seven psychiatric disorders in their adult children probands from the Dunedin Study (n = 959, 52% male), using the proband's diagnosis as the criterion outcome. We also investigated whether there were informant characteristics that enhanced accuracy of reporting or were associated with reporting biases. Using reports from multiple informants, we obtained sensitivities ranging from 31.7% (alcohol dependence) to 60.0% (conduct disorder) and specificities ranging from 76.0% (major depressive episode) to 97.1% (suicide attempt). There was little evidence that any informant characteristics enhanced accuracy of reporting. However, three reporting biases were found: the probability of reporting disorder in the proband was greater for informants with versus without a disorder, for female versus male informants, and for younger versus older informants. We conclude that the FHS is as valid as other family history instruments (e.g., the FH-RDC, FISC), and its brief administration time makes it a cost-effective method for collecting family history data. To avoid biasing results, researchers who aim to compare groups in terms of their family history should ensure that the informants reporting on these groups do not differ in terms of age, sex or personal history of disorder.
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Where young people with multiple sexual partners seek medical care: implications for screening for chlamydial infection | 1998
Dickson, N., Paul, C., Herbison,
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Sexually Transmitted Infections, 1998, 74(74), 445-447.
Our ref: RO339
Objective: To investigate among young people the relation between the number of sexual partners and use of medical services in order to guide planning of sexually transmitted disease screening. Design: Cross sectional study within a birth cohort using a questionnaire presented by computer. Setting: Dunedin, New Zealand in 1993-4. Subjects: 477 men and 458 women aged 21 enrolled in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, comprising 91.7% of survivors of the cohort. Results: Men with multiple sexual partners in the previous year were less likely to have a general practitioner than men with one or no partners (76.2% v 88.5%, p<0.01). Among the women the respective proportions (83.1% and 88.4%) were not significantly different. Significantly more women than men (75.8% v 50.7%, p=0.03) with five or more partners in the previous year had visited their own general practitioner over that period. Among the sexually experienced, more women than men attended any setting appropriate for sexually transmitted disease screening (93.6% v 71.6%, p<0.001). Conclusions: In New Zealand a screening programme for sexually transmitted diseases among young adults reliant on invitation by their own general practitioner would be biased towards those at less risk. Opportunistic screening in general practice would potentially include only about half the most sexually active men and three quarters of such women over a 12 month period. The extension of opportunistic screening to other settings considered appropriate for discussion of sexual health issues could potentially engage the vast majority of women, but not men, at most risk. Any screening programme should incorporate an effective method of finding and treating the sexual partners of infected women.
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Sun behaviour and perceptions of risk for melanoma among 21-year-old New Zealanders | 1997
Douglass, H.M., McGee, R., Williams,
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Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1997, 21(21), 329-334.
Our ref: RO272
This study investigated perceived risk of previous melanoma, sunscreen use and frequency of sunburn in a large sample of young New Zealanders. A self-report questionnaire was administered to a sample of 909 21-year-olds to survey their perception of how sun behaviours affect their risk of getting previous melanoma, how often they get sunburn, how often they use sunscreen and what factors would get them to use sunscreen more often. Knowledge of previous melanoma was high, but myths concerning 'safe tanning' persisted. Many young adults believed that sunbathing regularly using a sunscreen and obtaining a good base tan from gradual sun exposure decreased their risk of getting previous melanoma. They were unsure about the use of artificial sun beds and if their use would increase or decrease their risk. Males and females differed significantly on many aspects of their sun behaviour. Most used sunscreen only 'sometimes' and its use was linked to knowledge of previous melanoma and perceptions of risk. The best way to modify the sun behaviour of young adults is to target both their knowledge of previous melanoma risk factors and their perceptions of risk.
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Blood pressure level, trend, and variability in Dunedin children. An 8-year study of a single birth cohort | 1990
St. George, I.M., Williams, S.M., Silva,
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Circulation, 1990, 82(82), 1675-1680.
Our ref: RO152
In a birth cohort of children in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study in New Zealand, resting blood pressures were recorded biennially five times from age 7 to 15 years. Using previously described methods, we examined the level, trend, and variability of blood pressures in those children with at least three readings. The level, trend, and variability of height, weight, and body mass index were compared among six separate groups of children. Two groups were categorized on the basis of high systolic pressure levels, one with low variability and the other with high variability, which was thought to resemble adult labile hypertension. Two additional groups were categorized on the basis of increasing and decreasing blood pressure trends; the fifth group had consistently low blood pressures, and the sixth group consisted of the remaining children. There were significant differences among the groups for the level of all the physical measurements and for the trend of body mass index. No significant differences were found among the groups for gender or socioeconomic status. A parental history of high blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack was significantly more common in the first two groups.
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Should family doctors screen asymptomatic children for high blood pressure | 1990
St. George, I.M.
Family Practice, 1990, 7(7), 219-226.
Our ref: RO138
Literature and research evidence relating to the value of screening asymptomatic children for high blood pressure was reviewed. It was concluded that on epidemiological and ethical grounds, screening for hypertension cannot at present be justified.
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The Otago photoscreener, a method for the mass screening of infants to detect squint and refractive errors | 1983
Molteno, A.C.B., Hoare-Nairne, J., Parr,
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Transactions of the Ophthalmological Society of New Zealand, 1983, 35(35), 43-49.
Our ref: NZ36
This paper describes the development of a photographic method for screening for vision disorders and some results from a comparison of this method and conventional diagnosis.
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The predictive validity of a simple two item developmental screening test for three year olds | 1981
Silva, P.A.
New Zealand Medical Journal, 1981, 93(93), 39-41.
Our ref: NZ20
A simple two item developmental screening test for three year old children is described, together with its predictive validity when used with 937 children being followed in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Child Development Study. Data are presented to show that the test screened out 6.9 percent of the three year old children and more than half of them gained very low scores on at least one test of intelligence, motor or language development two years later. The screening test successfully identified from one half to three-quarters of all the children who gained very low five year scores in intelligence, motor or language development at age five. The two item screening test is recommended for use by doctors, nurses, teachers or social workers, as a simple method of identifying three year old children in need of further assessment because of suspected developmental delays.
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