CorrigendumPlease note that in the article entitled “Abstracts for the AACN Scientific Poster Session” published in the May 2010 issue (Volume 24, Number 4, pp. 557–645) of The Clinical Neuropsychologist, the wrong text was published for Abstract #118S on page 616. The correct abstract is as follows:
#118S
ARENIVAS, A., HARDER, L.L., GREENBERG, B.M., & MEALY, M.A.
Psychosocial Functioning, Academic Performance, and Utilization of School Services in Pediatric Demyelinating Diseases: Preliminary Findings
Little is known about the impact of demyelinating diseases in childhood on psychosocial and academic functioning. Higher rates of depression are observed in adults with MS as compared to any other chronic neurological disease. Existing literature suggests pediatric demyelinating diseases are associated with difficulties in psychosocial functioning. This study explored caregiver ratings of psychosocial functioning in these patients. Caregivers for 28 patients, aged 5 to 19 years, completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) and an educational history questionnaire. Ratings revealed clinically significant concerns in areas of anxiety (11%) depression (11%), and somatization (18%). Among patients, 11% were retained in school, 46% utilize school services, and 18% currently perform below average in at least one school subject. Spearman's rho correlations revealed moderate associations between performance in reading/English/language arts and both BASC-2 depression and attention problems (r = −.51, p <.01, and r = −.64, p <.01, respectively). Correlations between BASC-2 attention T-scores and low performance in history/social studies and science were also moderate (r = −.65, p <.01, and r = −.67, p <.01, respectively). Several moderate associations existed between adaptive skills and level of performance across academic subjects. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring of psychosocial and academic functioning and support a multi-disciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of this population.