Intellectual Disability and Psychiatric Diagnoses of Children and Adolescents with a History of Stressful Events and Social Deprivation in Brazil: Preliminary Results. IQ, Depression and Stress
Pages 42-45
Paula Approbato de Oliveira, Carolina Fuentes Moreira, Sandra Scivoletto, Cristiana Castanho de Almeida Rocca, Daniel Fuentes and Paulo Jannuzzi Cunha
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2013.01.02.5
Published: 06 May 2014

Abstract: Background: Studies have shown that stressful events in childhood are associated with impairments in cognitive functions and intellectual disability.

Objective:Compare the intellectual functioning in groups of Brazilian children and adolescents with a history of stressful events with lifetime history of depression and without lifetime history of depression.

Method: 30 children and adolescents underwent psychiatric evaluation and neuropsychological assessment of estimated intellectual quotient (EIQ), verbal knowledge, and visuospatial skills.

Results: 15 patients (50%) had EIQ within the average and 6 had EIQ in the lower average (20%) for Brazilian standardized norms. The other part had at least some degree of intellectual disability and they were classified as: 2 mild mental retardation (6.7%) and 7 borderline (23.3%). Also, half of the sample had at least one lifetime depressive episode, and the performance in EIQ and visuospatial skills was worse in this group.

Conclusion: 50% of the children and adolescents with a history of early stressful events and social deprivation had at least some degree of intellectual disability. In addition, a subgroup with history of depressive episodes had worse EIQ performance when compared to those without depression, possibly due to a greater impairment in visuospatial skills. The specific role of impaired right cerebral hemisphere, corpus callosum, and prefrontal cortex associated with depressive disorders and maltreatment should be investigated in further studies.

Assessment of Vitamin D Supplementation in People with Intellectual Disability
Pages 46-53

Ramón Zabalza, Iñaki Múgica, Fernando Sistiaga, Adolfo Garrido, José Ignacio Emparanza and Paul Zubillaga

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2013.01.02.6

Published: 06 May 2014

Abstract: Vitamin D levels are often lower than recommended among certain groups, and these so-called at risk populations include institutionalised people with intellectual disabilities. The administration of vitamin D supplements does normalize these levels, but they tend to fall again when treatment is discontinued. The objectives of this study were, first, to assess whether the administration of 20,000 IU of cholecalciferol monthly and 60,000 IU quarterly over a year provide similar satisfactory results, and second, to explore whether the results are associated with following variables: sex, antiepileptic medication, being a wheelchair user or able to walk, and being a resident or day care user. The study population was composed of 204 individuals of both sexes cared for in four centres of the same institution. There were no differences between the levels reached with monthly and quarterly administration. The overall results show that, at the end of the test period, total 25(OH)vitamin D levels were <30 nmol/L in 3.5% of participants, 30 to < 50 nmol/L in 34%, 50 to <75 nmol/L in 41% and ≥75 nmol/L in 21.5%. There were significant differences between centres. We did not observe any harmful adverse effects attributable to the treatment. To conclude, we propose the continuous systematic administration of 60,000 IU of cholecalciferol every three months in this at-risk population.