Project
The Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the Correctional Institutions in Western Canada - A Pilot study for Feasibility
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Ruth Turner, phone: (306) 975-5411, email: rturner@firstnationsuniversity.ca, Dr. Jide Adelugba, phone: (306) 975-5411, email: adelugbaoo@csc-scc.gc.ca, Dr. Mansfield Mela, phone: (306) 966-8230, email: melama@csc-scc.gc.ca
Contact Information: Regional Psychiatric Centre (Prairies), PO Box 9243, 2520 Central Avenue, Saskatoon, SK S7K-3X5
Start and End Date: July 2005 - July 2007
Location: The initial site of the Pilot Study will be at the Regional Psychiatric Centre to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out the full prevalence study. Following the establishment of the desired tools for screening and completion of the assessment for diagnosis, a wider application to the federal institutions in the provinces is planned. This will be extended to the provincial correctional service.
Brief Description and Abstract: Exact prevalence of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the Correctional setting in Canada has not yet been estimated. Reviews indicate that there are potential factors that can lead to FASD sufferers ending in the correctional service. The presence of the patients without adequate planning based on the epidemiology of the disorder means the service is ill prepared to deal with the associated difficulties. The importance of FASD diagnosis has been determined in several studies and secondary disabilities of mental health difficulties and legal problems suggest aggregation of FASD patients in the system.
To assist with the diagnosis a screening tool will be devised for the population being studied. All patients admitted to the Regional Psychiatric Centre will be screened using the symptom checklist and also the fetal alcohol behaviour scale. Those individuals who score above the cut-off of the composite screening tools will then be advanced into the next stage. A total of the patients identified by screening will undergo the rigorous diagnostic process for adults by the physicians who have been trained according to the Canadian guidelines for diagnosis. A multi-specialty diagnostic team has been established at the Regional Psychiatric Centre which will be involved in confirming the type of diagnosis the suspected patients have. The initial study will evaluate the required test and estimate the time and the cost of the individual neurocognitive testing required. Following the identification of the required screening score and the confirmation of the diagnosis, the composite tools will then be used to screen and diagnose those that are coming into the prison system and those who are already in the prison system to determine the incidence and prevalence of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. A full copy of the proposal is available on request.
Time Frame and Potential: The first aspect of this project is to establish the multi-specialty diagnostic team that has established and is awaiting commission in the Regional Psychiatric Centre. The patient population is available and accessible given the nature of admission criteria at the centre, especially those found to have low intellectual functioning. The potential of identifying the prevalence and incidence and subsequently orchestrating the required programs for the slow learners that have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder cannot be over emphasized. Links with other studies and possibly the identification in the area of basic science research on the changes in the brain, the use of other diagnostic methods and subsequently the utilization of the Oxidative Stress Test to confirm or support diagnostic or screening methods is anticipated. There is a close working relationship between the team at the Regional Psychiatric Centre and the basic science researchers into the Fetal Alcohol on tissues and brains.
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