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• Does Birth Date Have an Impact on ADHD Diagnosis?

  According to an eleven-year-long study by a group of Canadian researchers, it appears that the youngest students in a class are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than peers born at other points in the year. The study, conducted by University of British Columbia researchers and headed up health research analyst Richard Morrow, finds that children born the month of the school’s cut-off date were more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than those born just a month later. After studying nearly 930,000 children in British Columbia, which has a cut-off date for enrollment of December 31, it was found that boys born in December were 30 percent more likely to be given an ADHD diagnosis than those born in January. Girls with December birthdays were 70 percent more likely to receive this diagnosis than those born in January. Furthermore, boys and girls with December birthdays were 41 percent and  77 percent more likely, respectively, to be treated with prescription medication for ADHD than those born the following month. While researchers believe their analyses show ...

• A Childhood Diagnosis of Mental Disability May Lead to Physical Problems in Adulthood

  A recent study suggests that children diagnosed with mental disorders are more susceptible to developing ongoing physical disorders later in life. A diagnosis of depression or anxiety combined with instances of abuse or criminal activity in the home gives children a higher chance of developing diabetes, osteoarthritis, and heart disease in adulthood. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Surveys program, analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey spanning 10 different countries. The survey sought to prove that a concrete relationship exists between mental disability and physical abuse leading to chronic physical conditions. Previous studies had failed to look at mental disability as a factor, which authors claim was an “important oversight.” Kate M. Scott, an associate professor in the department of psychological medicine at the University of Otago, organized a team of interviewers to facilitate the survey’s two-part analysis. The first part looked for people who met the criteria of a mental disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV™). ...

• There’s so much more on the PAR Training Portal

  

  Whether you want a deeper understanding of a favorite product or want a sneak peek into a test you are considering, the interactive courses, recorded webinars, video tutorials, and supplemental materials on the PAR Training Portal give you greater insight into some of our most popular products. The PAR Training Portal is a free, on-demand resource available 24/7. Some of our newest offerings include: Interactive courses on the NEO Inventories and the Feifer Assessment of Writing (FAW) Recorded webinars on trauma and COVID-19, RIAS-2 remote assessment, digital and remote assessment, PARiConnect tips and tricks, and an introduction to the PAI Plus Video tutorials on the FAW Administration and Scoring Guide and the RIST-2/RIAS-2 Remote Supplemental materials on the RIAS-2 and PAI Plus Log in today to see what’s new! Use your parinc.com username and password.    

• IGT2: Because poor decisions can have consequences

  

  As we age, the prefrontal cortex begins to deteriorate, resulting in diminished decision-making abilities. As a result, decision-making patterns often go unquestioned in this population. The new Iowa Gambling Task, Version 2 (IGT2) provides the tools to evaluate decision-making deficits and can be used across the life span, from ages 8 to 79 years. Based on extensive research and studies, the IGT2 offers fast, easy, and flexible computer administration with immediate results. Get the IGT2 Kit for just $629 through December 31, 2018. Learn more now!

• There’s More to Bruce Bracken

  Bruce A. Bracken, PhD is a respected psychologist and the author of numerous psychological tests, but did you know he is also a fiction writer? His second novel, Invisible, was published earlier this year. Dr. Bracken’s novel explores the world of those who go through life largely unnoticed—those who feel invisible. Sometimes their invisibility is intentional, for example, among introverts who avoid attention and shun the limelight. More often, however, it is a not a choice, but rather an unwelcome reality for an underclass that includes panhandlers, the homeless, and the disfigured. Invisible was recently named Book of the Month by the College of William & Mary, where Dr. Bracken is Professor of School Psychology and Counselor Education. Click here to see him discuss the idea behind his book. Dr. Bracken is also the author of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test™ (UNIT™), the Clinical Assessment of Behavior™ (CAB™), the Clinical Assessment of Depression™ (CAD™), the Clinical Assessment of Interpersonal Relationships™ (CAIR™), and the Clinical Assessment of Attention Deficit–Adult™ (CAT-A™) and Clinical Assessment of Attention Deficit–Child™ (CAT-C™).

• The Importance of Properly Diagnosing Early Onset Bipolar Disorder

  Although early onset bipolar disorder (EOBD) was first described in 150 AD, the diagnosis remains surrounded in controversy because no such diagnosis exists. A person either meets the criteria for bipolar disorder set forth in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or not. The problem is that, as with DSM-IV, the criteria describe bipolar disorder as it exists in adults. The child phenotype differs markedly from adult onset bipolar disorder. Children with this disorder exhibit a more chronic form of irritability, more rapid mood swings, intense emotional outbursts, and impulsive aggression. An additional complication when making the diagnosis in children is that most of the symptoms associated with EOBD also exist in ADHD, OCD, and ASD. Moreover, children with EOBD also have high rates of comorbid conditions. Though it was hoped that DSM-5 would resolve the main concerns, the following issues remain unaddressed: Technically, EOBD diagnosis still does not exist. Teens and children must meet adult criteria to be diagnosed as bipolar. ...