title: New Methods in Exploring Old Topics: Case Studying Brittle Diabetes in the Family Context.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In questing for a more refined quantitative research approach, we revisited vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling for the analysis of time series data in the context of the so far poorly explored concept of family dynamics surrounding instable diabetes type 1 (or brittle diabetes).
  
  
  METHODS
  We adopted a new approach to VAR analysis from econometrics referred to as the optimized multivariate lag selection process and applied it to a set of raw data previously analyzed through standard approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We illustrated recurring psychosomatic circles of cause and effect relationships between emotional and somatic parameters surrounding glycemic control of the child's diabetes and the affective states of all family members.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimized multivariate lag selection process allowed for more specific, dynamic, and statistically reliable results (increasing R(2) tenfold in explaining glycemic variability), which were derived from a larger window of past explanatory variables (lags). Such highly quantitative versus historic more qualitative approaches to case study analysis of psychosomatics surrounding diabetes in adolescents were reflected critically.
authors.affiliation: Psychoanalytic Family Therapy, Center of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Feulgenstraße 10-12, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz Philipp
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Licher Straße 64, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winker
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetology, Center of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Feulgenstraße 10-12, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wudy
authors.affiliation: Psychoanalytic Family Therapy, Center of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Feulgenstraße 10-12, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brosig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose