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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Natasha Clark, BS¹, Sonja Johnson-Brooks, PHD¹, Harolyn Belcher, MD², and Corrina Moore, BA³. (1) Kennedy Krieger Family Center, 2901 East Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213, 4439235917, clarkn@kennedykrieger.org, (2) Kennedy Krieger Family Center/Johns Hopkins Department of Pediatrics, Kennedy Krieger Insitute, 2901 East Biddle St., Atten: Dr. Belcher, Baltimore, MD 21213, (3) Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Family Center, 2901 East Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), including child maltreatment, parental mental illness, substance abuse, incarceration and exposure to domestic violence, has been associated with adverse adult physical and mental health outcomes. The present study examined the relationship between ACE and functional outcome following mental health treatment in young children using the Preschool and Early Childhood Functional Assessment Scale (PECAFAS). PECFAS categorizes functional impairment, from minimal to severe, across seven domains. Descriptive analysis, t-tests, and logistic regression were used to examine the data. The cohort included 340, four to seven year olds, in treatment at an urban community mental health center. Participants were primarily African American (74%), with a mean age of 5.9 years (SD = .98). There was a significant decrease (18 points) in PECAFAS scores following treatment across the total sample (M = 59.72 and M = 41.55 respectively, p = .00). After adjusting for race, gender, and age, parental incarceration, sexual abuse, and cumulative ACE count were significant predictors of functional outcome at end of treatment. Children with an incarcerated parent were twice as likely to have a severe PECAFAS score for Moods/Emotions, Odds Ratio (OR) 2.20, 95% Confidence Interval (1.11-4.36) and Home Role Performance (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.25-4.90) subscales following treatment. A severe PECAFAS score was also significantly predicted by an increase in exposure to ACE ( = 3.74, 95% CI .95-6.52, p = .00). The results suggest that exposure to ACE, specifically parental incarceration, is an important risk factor for poor treatment outcomes for young children.

Learning Objectives:

• To articulate the adverse childhood experiences associated with functional outcome in young children.
• To describe parental variables associated with functional impairment in young children following mental health treatment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 196.5 kb)