There is limited research assessing the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy in at-risk adolescent populations. In a recent study, 138 adjudicated adolescents participated in a randomized controlled trial of an animal-assisted intervention, in which participants either trained shelter dogs (Teacher's Pet group) or walked the dogs (control group), with both groups participating in classroom work related to dogs (1). Journal writing was a part of class activities for all youth in the study. Conventional assessments of youth behavior made by staff or youth themselves did not demonstrate the expected differences between the groups favoring the dog training group, as youth in both groups showed a significant increase in staff and youth rated internalizing behavior problems and empathy from the beginning to the end of the project (1). However, subsequent analysis of the journal content from 73 of the adjudicated youth reported here, did reveal significant differences between treatment and control groups, favoring the Teacher's Pet group. Youth participating in the dog training intervention showed through their journal writing greater social-cognitive growth, more attachment, and more positive attitudes toward the animal-assisted intervention compared to youth in the control group. The 73 youth whose journals were available were very similar to youth in the larger group. Their results illustrate that journaling can be a useful method of assessing effects of similar animal-assisted interventions for at-risk youth. Writing done by youth receiving therapy appeared to promote self-reflection, desirable cognitive change, and prosocial attitudes that may signify improving quality of life for such youth. The expressive writing of participants could reveal important effects of treatment beyond the behavioral changes that are often the targeted outcomes of animal-assisted interventions.

Background: Self-regulation (SR), or the capacity to control one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to achieve a desired goal, shapes health outcomes through many pathways, including supporting adherence to medical treatment regimens. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is one specific condition that requires SR to ensure adherence to daily treatment regimens that can be arduous and effortful (e.g., monitoring blood glucose). Adolescents, in particular, have poor adherence to T1D treatment regimens, yet it is essential that they assume increased responsibility for managing their T1D as they approach young adulthood. Adolescence is also a time of rapid changes in SR capacity and thus a compelling period for intervention. Promoting SR among adolescents with T1D may thus be a novel method to improve treatment regimen adherence. The current study tests a behavioral intervention to enhance SR among adolescents with T1D. SR and T1D medical regimen adherence will be examined as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Methods: We will use a randomized control trial design to test the impact of a behavioral intervention on three SR targets: Executive Functioning (EF), Emotion Regulation (ER), and Future Orientation (FO); and T1D medical regimen adherence. Adolescents with T1D (n = 94) will be recruited from pediatric endocrinology clinics and randomly assigned to treatment or control group. The behavioral intervention consists of working memory training (to enhance EF), biofeedback and relaxation training (to enhance ER), and episodic future thinking training (to enhance FO) across an 8-week period. SR and treatment regimen adherence will be assessed at pre-and post-test using multiple methods (behavioral tasks, diabetes device downloads, self-and parent-report). We will use an intent-totreat framework using generalized linear mixed models to test our hypotheses that: 1) the treatment group will demonstrate greater improvements in SR than the control group, and 2) the treatment group will demonstrate better treatment regimen adherence outcomes than the control group.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of neuropsychological outcomes in individuals with type 1 diabetes compared to individuals with type 2 diabetes or without diabetes, and to evaluate the association of diabetes status and microvascular/macrovascular complications with neuropsychological outcomes.Patients and MethodsWe used a nationally representative healthcare claims database of privately insured individuals (1/1/2001-12/31/2018) to identify individuals with type 1 diabetes. Propensity score matching was used as a quasi-randomization technique to match type 1 diabetes individuals to type 2 diabetes individuals and controls. Diabetes status, microvascular/macrovascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, stroke, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, amputations), and neuropsychological outcomes (mental health, cognitive, chronic pain, addiction, sleep disorders) were defined using ICD-9/10 codes. Logistic regression determined associations between diabetes status, microvascular/macrovascular complications, and neuropsychological outcomes.ResultsWe identified 184,765 type 1 diabetes individuals matched to 524,602 type 2 diabetes individuals and 522,768 controls. With the exception of cognitive disorders, type 2 diabetes individuals had the highest prevalence of neuropsychological outcomes, followed by type 1 diabetes, and controls. After adjusting for the presence of microvascular/macrovascular complications, type 1 diabetes was not significantly associated with a higher risk of neuropsychological outcomes; however, type 2 diabetes remained associated with mental health, cognitive, and sleep disorders. The presence of microvascular/macrovascular complications was independently associated with each neuropsychological outcome regardless of diabetes status.ConclusionMicrovascular/macrovascular complications are associated with a high risk of neuropsychological outcomes regardless of diabetes status. Therefore, preventing microvascular and macrovascular complications will likely help reduce the likelihood of neuropsychological outcomes either as the result of similar pathophysiologic processes or by preventing the direct and indirect consequences of these complications. For individuals with type 2 diabetes, risk factors beyond complications (such as obesity) likely contribute to neuropsychological outcomes.

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Objective The COVID-19 pandemic increased economic, social, and health stressors for families, yet its impacts on families of youth with chronic conditions, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), are not well understood. Self-regulation (SR)—or the capacities to control emotions, cognition, and behavior in response to challenge—is known to support T1D management and coping in the face of stress. Strong SR may have protected youth with T1D from the impacts of pandemic-related stressors. This study compared youth and parent emotional functioning and T1D management before and after the pandemic’s onset in relation to family pandemic-related stress and youth SR. Methods Parents of youth with T1D (N = 88) and a subset of these youth (N = 43; Mean age 15.3 years [SD 2.2]) completed surveys regarding SR, stress, emotional functioning, and T1D-related functioning prior to and after March 2020. Outcomes were compared using mixed effects models adjusting for covariates. Family pandemic-related stress experiences and youth SR were tested as moderators of change. Results Parents’ responsibility for T1D management increased across pandemic onset and their diabetes-related distress decreased. Family pandemic-related stress was associated with decreased emotional functioning over time. Youth SR, particularly emotional and behavioral aspects, predicted better emotional and T1D-related functioning. Discussion While youth with T1D whose families experienced higher pandemic-related stress had poorer adjustment, strong emotional and behavioral SR appeared to protect against worsening youth mood and adherence across pandemic onset. Both social-contextual and individual factors are important to consider when working with families managing T1D.

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a psychological screening tool for hospitalized pediatric patients to identify those at high risk for adjustment difficulties and optimize referrals to pediatric behavioral health (BH) providers. Specifically, this study evaluated the PROMIS® Parent Proxy 25 to capture the psychosocial needs of the inpatient pediatric population admitted to the general medicine floor in a free standing children's hospital. Methods: The PROMIS® Parent Proxy 25 was administered to parents of children ages 5 to 17 (N ϭ 128). Chart review was used to group children into those who did or did not receive BH consultation during their admission. Results: Results indicate that the PROMIS® Parent Proxy Anxiety and Depression scales consistently differentiated between children's consultation status while also indicating a notable level of unmet need in children who did not receive BH consultation. Examination of patterns of scale elevations also provides further information to guide consultations to BH services. Conclusions: Results suggest that the PROMIS® Parent Proxy 25 may be a useful screening tool to determine pediatric patients who need BH referrals. Parental responses to the screener may also be used by CL services to identify patients with BH needs, which would enhance medical provider assessment of patient needs and factors impacting patient functioning. Implications for Impact StatementThis study demonstrates the utility of a psychological screening tool (PROMIS® Parent Proxy 25) for hospitalized pediatric patients. Effective psychological screening aids the accurate and efficient linking of patients in need with important mental health services.

Adolescents have the poorest blood sugar control compared to other age groups (Foster et al., 2019). Adolescence is also a period of developing self-regulation (SR) abilities, defined as the ability to manage thoughts, emotions, and actions to achieve a desired outcome (Eisenberg, 2019). The attention, planning, and decision making required for optimal T1D management is both cognitively and emotionally draining on the developing system of adolescents, which may be contributing to difficultly with diabetes management and glycemic control (Duke & Harris, 2014). This project examines the relationship between specific aspects of SR, including executive functions and affect; and T1D outcomes, including diabetes management behaviors and HbA1c. As part of an ongoing clinical trial (NCT03688919), adolescents (13-17 yo) diagnosed with T1D for ≥ 6 months with HbA1c ≥ 7.0 were recruited from diabetes clinics (n = 56). They completed baselines measures of self-regulation including the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children, and self-reported diabetes management behaviors. HbA1c was also collected. Parent reported cognitive aspects of SR were negatively related to number of insulin boluses per day, specifically attentional shift, task completion and planning, (r(47)= -.36, -.31, -.33 respectively, all p < .05); however, no association was found between inhibition, self-monitoring, and working memory and diabetes outcomes (p >.05). With regard to emotional aspects of SR, positive affect, including excitement, enthusiasm, pride, determination, and activation (r(47)= .34, .33, .36, .31, .29 respectively, all p < .05) were positively related to number of insulin boluses per day. No aspects of SR were related to blood glucose testing behaviors or HbA1c. SR in adolescents may be an important factor in successful T1D management. With evidence-based approaches, SR may be an optimal target for intervention. Disclosure D. Albright: None. H.O. Riley: None. E. Fredericks: None. J. Sturza: None. S. Lo: None. K.M. Clark: None. J.M. Lee: Advisory Panel; Self; Goodrx. Consultant; Self; T1D Exchange. Research Support; Self; Lenovo. A.L. Miller: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (NCT03688919)