title: Psychosocial and cognitive function in children with nephrotic syndrome: association with disease and treatment variables.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate possible differences in emotional/behavioral problems and cognitive function in children with nephrotic syndrome compared to healthy controls and to examine the effect of disease-specific and steroid treatment-specific characteristics on the abovementioned variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients with nephrotic syndrome (23 boys, age range: 4.4-15.2 years) and 42 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (20 boys, age range: 4.1-13.4 years) were enrolled in the study. Disease (severity, age of diagnosis, duration) and steroid treatment (total duration, present methylprednisolone dose and duration of present dose) data were collected. In order to assess children's emotional/behavioral problems, the Child Behavior Checklist was administered. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition was administered to assess Full-Scale, Verbal, and Performance intelligence quotient (IQ) scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients presented with more internalizing problems (P = 0.015), including withdrawal (P = 0.012) and somatic complaints (P = 0 .011), but not more anxiety/depression or externalizing problems. A significant association was found between severity of disease and somatic complaints (P = 0.017) as well as externalizing problems (P = 0.030). Years of illness were significantly more in those presenting with abnormal anxiety/depression (P = 0.011). Duration of steroid medication was significantly higher among those presenting with abnormal anxiety/depression (P = 0.011) and externalizing problems (P = 0.039). IQ was not associated significantly with disease or steroid treatment variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosocial factors and outcomes may be important correlates of children's nephrotic syndrome and potential targets of thorough assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, 2nd Department of Nursing, Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manti
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giouroukou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Georgaki-Angelaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Andromahi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitsioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stergiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mihas
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, 1st Department of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, 1st Department of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria Alexandra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Magiakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kolaitis