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Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is a common physical complaint in children and adolescents. Prior research has documented associations between FAP symptoms and mood, especially internalizing behaviors. Limited research is available examining the association between symptom burden and cognitive function in this pediatric population. This study explored associations between FAP symptoms, internalizing behaviors, and cognitive and school function in children and adolescents. Twenty-seven participants (mean age = 12.6 years, range 8.8-16.5; 33% male) diagnosed with FAP completed assessments of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral function, as well as FAP symptom severity. Mean performances on cognitive tests were within age-expected ranges. Within this context, however, higher overall burden of FAP symptoms was associated with slower processing speed, more self-reported metacognitive problems and internalizing behaviors, and more school absences. Cognitive function was systematically associated with internalizing behaviors but not physical symptoms. Overall, findings revealed that FAP may be associated with cognitive inefficiencies in addition to internalizing problems. Cognitive symptoms may be linked to internalizing behaviors associated with FAP.

Neurocognitive deficits in sickle cell disease (SCD) may impair adult care engagement. We investigated the relationship between neurocognitive functioning and socio-environmental factors with healthcare transition outcomes. Adolescents aged 15-18 years who had neurocognitive testing and completed a visit with an adult provider were included. Transition outcomes included transfer interval from paediatric to adult care and retention in adult care at 12 and 24 months. Eighty adolescents (59% male, 64% HbSS/HbSβ 0 -thalassaemia) were included. Mean age at adult care transfer was 18·0 (±0·3) years and transfer interval was 2·0 (±2·3) months. Higher IQ (P = 0·02; P FDR  = 0·05) and higher verbal comprehension (P = 0·008; P FDR  = 0·024) were associated with <2 and <6 month transfer intervals respectively. Better performance on measures of attention was associated with higher adult care retention at 12 and 24 months (P = 0·009; P FDR  = 0·05 and P = 0·04; P FDR  = 0·12 respectively). Transfer intervals <6 months were associated with smaller households (P = 0·02; P FDR  = 0·06) and households with fewer children (P = 0·02; P FDR  = 0·06). Having a working parent was associated with less retention in adult care at 12 and 24 months (P = 0·01; P = 0·02 respectively). Lower IQ, verbal comprehension, attention difficulties and environmental factors may negatively impact transition outcomes. Neurocognitive function should be considered in transition planning for youth with SCD., (© 2021 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The aim of this study was to prospectively examine the effects of hearing loss and posterior fossa syndrome (PFS), in addition to age at diagnosis and disease risk status, on change in intellectual and academic outcomes following diagnosis and treatment in a large sample of medulloblastoma patients., Methods: Data from at least 2 cognitive and academic assessments were available from 165 patients (ages 3-21 years) treated with surgery, risk-adapted craniospinal irradiation, and 4 courses of chemotherapy with stem cell support. Patients underwent serial evaluation of cognitive and academic functioning from baseline up to 5 years post diagnosis., Results: Serious hearing loss, PFS, younger age at diagnosis, and high-risk status were all significant risk factors for decline in intellectual and academic skills. Serious hearing loss and PFS independently predicted below-average estimated mean intellectual ability at 5 years post diagnosis. Patients with high-risk medulloblastoma and young age at diagnosis (<7 years) exhibited the largest drop in mean scores for intellectual and academic outcomes., Conclusions: Despite a significant decline over time, intellectual and academic outcomes remained within the average range at 5 years post diagnosis for the majority of patients. Future studies should determine if scores remain within the average range at time points further out from treatment. Patients at heightened risk should be closely monitored and provided with recommendations for appropriate interventions., (© The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)