title: Psychological Functioning in Youth With Spina Bifida Living in Colombia, South America.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No studies have examined psychological functioning among youth with spina bifida (SB) living in a developing country where access to mental health resources is often scarce. This study compared self-reported psychological functioning between youth with SB living in Colombia, South America, and a demographically matched comparison group of healthy Colombian children.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 children with SB and 22 comparison children completed assessments of depression and anxiety. Most (68.81%) participants were male, and the sample had a mean age of 13.25 years (SD = 2.65 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that children with SB reported greater total symptoms of depression (p < .05), but fewer worry-related symptoms of anxiety (p < .05). In addition, mean total scores for both depression and anxiety were in the nonclinical range for youth with SB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health (i.e., depression) services for poor children with SB living in Colombia.
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia jcarango@deusto.es.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arango-Lasprilla
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia.
authors.forename: Silvia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Olivera Plaza
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia.
authors.forename: Nadezda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia.
authors.forename: Diego Mauricio
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Velasco Trujillo
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Deusto, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain, and Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Daly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013020:South America; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: anxiety; depression; health-related quality of life; pediatrics; psychosocial functioning; spina bifida