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Articles in this section:
Children's Alexithymia Measure Project
Survey Reports on Children Receiving Mental Health Services
Girls and Drugs - A New Analysis

Children’s Alexithymia Measure
Project Seeks Input

Attention sites that serve children ages 6-14! The Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center in Kalamazoo, MI is seeking sites to pilot our preliminary questionnaire to measure alexithymia in children.

Children and adults with alexithymia have difficulty identifying, understanding, and expressing their feelings. This difficulty can cause problems in their relationships and in their ability to benefit from treatment. Alexithymia may be present at birth, or may develop as the result of experiencing trauma (e.g., childhood maltreatment). This questionnaire may be especially relevant in certain populations, as the literature suggests greater alexithymia in those with histories of child sexual abuse, longer periods of abuse, and later onset of abuse. Development of a standardized questionnaire would assist clinicians, parents, and other professionals working with children to help them regain healthy functioning.

The center will provide financial support for the pilot site and a $10 incentive for caregivers.

Parents and caregivers will answer questions about their children’s behavior on two brief questionnaires (Children’s Alexithymia Measure, Alexithymia Scale for Children) and complete a data sheet. This should take a total of approximately 20 minutes to complete.

The pilot study is part of the Children’s Alexithymia Measure Project at Western Michigan University, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.   If you are interested in hearing more about alexithymia or the pilot study, you may contact Project Director Ineke Way.

Research Updates

Survey Reports on Children
Receiving Mental Health Services

Nearly 5 percent of US children 4 to 17 years of age were prescribed medication for emotional or behavioral difficulties during the past 12 months, according to preliminary data from Center for Disease Control ’s 2005 National Health Interview Survey.  Of the children prescribed medication, 88 percent were treated for difficulties with concentration, hyperactivity or impulsivity, the major symptoms of ADHD.  About 6 percent of all US children received some type of mental health treatment other than medication during the past 12 months.  More information about the results can be found here.

Girls and Drugs – Recent Trends,
Risk Factors, and Consequences

A report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy provides analysis on recent findings on drug and alcohol use trends among girls.  Data indicate that girls have caught up with boys in illicit drug and alcohol use and have actually surpassed boys in cigarette and prescription drug abuse.  Also, more girls than boys are new users of substances.  The full report can be found here.