Children's Depression Inventory Research Articles

Abnormal amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation values as a neuroimaging biomarker for major depressive disorder with suicidal attempts in adolescents: A resting-state fMRI and support vector machine analysis.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with suicidal attempts (SAs) among adolescents, with suicide being the most common cause of mortality in this age group. This study explored the predictive utility of support vector machine (SVM)-based analyses of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) results as a neuroimaging biomarker for aiding the diagnosis of MDD with SA in adolescents. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) analyses of 71 first-episode, drug-naive adolescent MDD patients with SA and 54 healthy control individuals were conducted. ALFF and SVM methods were used to analyze the imaging data. Relative to healthy control individuals, adolescent MDD patients with a history of SAs showed reduced ALFF values in the bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus (mSFG) and bilateral precuneus. These lower ALFF values were also negatively correlated with child depression inventory (CDI) scores while reduced bilateral precuneus ALFF values were negatively correlated with Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire Junior (SIQ-JR) scores. SVM analyses showed that reduced ALFF values in the bilateral mSFG and bilateral precuneus had diagnostic accuracy levels of 76.8% (96/125) and 82.4% (103/125), respectively. Adolescent MDD patients with a history of SA exhibited abnormal ALFF. The identified abnormalities in specific brain regions may be involved in the pathogenesis of this condition and may help identify at-risk adolescents. Specifically, reductions in the ALFF in the bilateral mSFG and bilateral precuneus may be indicative of MDD and SA in adolescent patients.

Network analysis links adolescent depression with childhood, peer, and family risk environment factors

BackgroundAdolescent mental health is influenced by various adverse environmental conditions. However, it remains unclear how these factors jointly affect adolescent depression. This study aimed to use network analysis to assess the associations between different environmental factors and depressive symptoms in adolescents and to identify key pathways between them. MethodsThis study included 610 adolescents with depression from inpatient and outpatient units recruited between March 2020 and November 2021. The mean age was 14.86 ± 1.96, with no significant difference between males (n = 155, 15.10 ± 2.19) and females (n = 455, 14.78 ± 1.88). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Children's Depression Inventory, and individual risk environment factors included childhood trauma, social peer and family risk factors. Network features, including network centrality, stability, and bridge centrality, were investigated. ResultsAnhedonia and self-esteem were found to be more central in depressive symptoms. Insult experiences from the social peer and emotional abuse experience from childhood were more central environmental factors. Childhood trauma experiences were more related to adolescent depressive symptoms compared to family and peer factors. Bridge analyses identified emotional abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect as the main bridges linking environment risk to depressive symptoms. LimitationsThis was a cross-sectionally designed study, which limited its ability to examine longitudinal dynamic interactions between environmental factors and adolescent depressive symptoms. ConclusionsOur findings suggested that childhood trauma experiences might have greater psychological impacts on adolescent depression than family and social peer environments, and should be considered as crucial targets for preventing severe depressive moods.

Association between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression: the chain mediating effect of maternal depression and parenting style

To investigate the association between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression and the mediating effect of maternal depression and parenting style. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The cluster random sampling method was used to select 2 572 adolescents from 7 middle schools in Shanghai, China, from April to May, 2021. A survey was performed for these adolescents and their mothers. The research tools included a general information questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, short-form of Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran, and Children's Depression Inventory. A structural equation model was established, and the Bootstrap method was used to investigate the mediating effect. The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 12.71% (327/2 572) among the adolescents. The scores of maternal job burnout, maternal depression, and negative parenting style were positively correlated with the score of adolescent depression (P<0.05), and the score of positive parenting style was negatively correlated with the score of adolescent depression (P<0.05). Maternal depression and parenting style played a mediating role between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression, including the individual mediating effect of maternal depression, the individual mediating effect of positive parenting style, and the chain mediating effect of maternal depression-negative/positive parenting style. Maternal job burnout may affect adolescent depression through the mediating effect of depression, parenting style, and depression-parenting style, suggesting that the symptoms of adolescent depression can be reduced by alleviating maternal job burnout, improving maternal depression, increasing positive parenting behaviors, and reducing negative parenting behaviors.

COVID-19, DEHB'li çocuk ve ergenlerin ruh sağlığı ve yaşam kalitesini etkiledi mi?

Aim: COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on the lives of many children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. This research aims to investigate the effects on the mental status and quality of life of children with ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Method: This study was conducted at the child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital, between April and May 2020. The research group consisted of 113 children and adolescents with ADHD, and the control group consisted of 45 children and adolescents. The depression and anxiety symptoms of the children were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), respectively. Child-reported and parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventories (PedsQL) were used to evaluate the health-related quality of life of the children. Result: Depressive symptoms and anxiety levels were found to be statistically higher in the ADHD group. According to PedsQL-P scale, psychosocial and scale total scores were statistically significantly lower. According to the regression analysis, the SCARED scores predicted negative physical, psychosocial, and total scores of the PEDsQL-C scale. The CDI scores, however, predicted negative physical, psychosocial, and total scores of the PEDsQL-P scale. Conclusion: This study revealed that in the COVID-19 pandemic, children with ADHD are more affected in terms of depression, anxiety and quality of life than children without any psychiatric disease. The study findings suggest that further studies are needed to better understand the psychological conditions and difficulties that children with ADHD experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychopathological Profile Associated with Food Addiction Symptoms in Adolescents with Eating Disorders.

Eating disorders are considered one of the psychiatric disorders with a higher risk of death. Food addiction, related to some food addictive-like behaviours, is often in comorbidity with eating disorders and is associated with worse psychopathology. The present study aims to outline the food addiction profile, investigated using the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0), in 122 adolescents (median age: 15.6 years) suffering from eating disorders and to investigate its association with psychopathology. Patients filled out the Youth Self Report, the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children 2, The Children Depression Inventory 2, and the Eating Disorder Inventory 3 (EDI-3). Pearson's chi-square test and multiple correspondence analysis were used to identify profiles. The mean symptom count was 2.8 ± 2.7. The "withdrawal" symptom was the most frequent (51%) and the most associated with clinical scores. The diagnosis of bulimia nervosa and the EDI-3 bulimia scale resulted to be the only variables to be associated with positive YFAS 2.0 symptoms. Conversely, anorexia nervosa, restrictive and atypical, was not associated with YFAS 2.0 symptoms. In conclusion, outlining the food addiction profile of eating disorders may give information about a patient's phenotype and could help to identify specific treatment models.

Effects of psychosocial function in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Research on the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on psychosocial function in patients with pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological status of patients with PIBD before and during the pandemic, and the relationship between mental health and disease activity. This study was a retrospective cohort study. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between demographic, clinical data and psychological data (questionnaires) of PIBD patients before and during the epidemic. The anxiety and depression emotional status of the guardians during the pandemic were evaluated. In the PIBD follow-up cohort, 42 patients(male 61.9%) were included. Female with PIBD had lower pediatric quality of life inventory(PedsQL) scores (P = 0.007) and higher spence children's anxiety scale(SCAS) scores (P = 0.038) than male. The pandemic did not have a substantial impact on PedsQL, pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI), SCAS, or children's depression inventory(CDI) in patients with PIBD. The self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) score, anxiety rate, self-rating depression scale(SDS) score, and depression rate of PIBD guardians were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (SAS, P = 0.008; SDS, P = 0.001). Female children with PIBD were more vulnerable to decreased QOL and increased anxiety than male children. The anxiety and depression status of PIBD guardians were significantly higher than those of healthy controls during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly affect quality of life(QOL), sleep, anxiety, or depressive mood of patients with PIBD in our study.

Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Depression and Its Components in Children with Social Anxiety

Background and Objective: Depression in children is especially related to social anxiety. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (ECBT) in depression and its components in children with social anxiety. Materials and Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. Among the primary school students of Qom in the 2019 academic year, 46 students whose score was higher than 29.5 on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents were selected and randomly assigned to experimental (n=23) and control (n=23) groups. Firstly, both groups responded to Children's Depression Inventory as the pre-test. Thereafter, the experimental group participated in the 16 sessions of ECBT, and the control group remained on the waiting list. Finally, the two groups were administered the post-test. Results: The results of Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) demonstrated that after the control of pre-test effects, there was a significant difference in the linear combination of depression components of the two groups (Wilks' lambda= 0.065, F33,5= 94.662, P= 0.001). The results of univariate tests of ANCOVA also showed a significant decrease (P&lt;0.01) in all depression components (and also the total score) in children of the experimental group after the ECBT sessions. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, ECBT is an effective treatment for depression in children with social anxiety. It is suggested that mental health professionals prioritize this treatment in their therapeutic programs.

Mental health troubles among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

IntroductionAdolescents living with HIV are more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to their peers who do not have HIV. However, there is a lack of data regarding the mental health of adolescents living with HIV in Cameroon. Understanding risk factors and protective factors that influence mental health amongst adolescents is critical for effective programming. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with depression in adolescents infected with HIV and receiving ART in a Cameroonian referral hospital. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study which enrolled adolescents perinatally infected with HIV, aged 10–19 years, on antiretroviral treatment and cared for at “Centre Mère et Enfant de la Fondation Chantal Biya”, Yaounde, Cameroon. Structured questionnaires, including validated French versions of the Coopersmith Child Depression Inventory (CDI), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory (SEI), were administered to the study participants by the healthcare providers. ResultsAll in all, 302 adolescents were recruited in the study at a median age of 15.2 years (interquartile range : 12.0 – 17.5), including 159 (52.7 %) girls. Both parents had died for 57 (18.9 %) adolescents ; only the father was alive for 64 (21.2 %) ; only the mother was alive for 48 (15.9 %), both parents were alive for 133 (44.0 %). This study found prevalence of 26.5 % for severe depression, 36.4 % for suicidal ideation, 29.1 % for high/very high anxiety, and 20.5 % for low self-esteem. No factor was found significantly associated with severe depression but there was a trend towards decreased risk of severe depression among adolescents whose mother was alive [OR= 0.4 (0.1–1.0), p = 0.084]. ConclusionThis study found that elevated depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem symptoms were prevalent among Cameroonian adolescents perinatally infected with HIV. Services and systems should go beyond clinical management of HIV and address the psychosocial and mental health of adolescents. The indicators of mental health among adolescents infected with HIV should be included in HIV program reporting.

The influence of family structure on depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents: the mediating role of emotional neglect

To study the influence of family structure on depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and its mechanism. The cluster sampling method was used to select the students from seven middle schools in Shanghai, China. An online questionnaire survey was conducted using a self-made general status questionnaire, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. The methods including one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, binary logistic regression analysis, and mediating effect analysis were used to evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and the difference in childhood trauma and its mediating effect. Compared with the adolescents from nuclear families, the adolescents from three-generation lineal families had a lower risk of depression symptoms (OR=0.794, 95%CI: 0.649-0.972, P<0.05), while those from host families had a higher risk of depression symptoms (OR=4.548, 95%CI: 1.113-18.580, P<0.05). The adolescents from inter-generational families and host families had a significantly higher score on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscale of emotional neglect (P<0.05). Emotional neglect played a mediating role in the influence of inter-generational families and host families on depression symptoms in adolescents. Parents and grandparents have a certain positive effect in family structures. Separation from parents may make adolescents perceive more emotional neglect, which may increase the occurrence of depression symptoms.

Myths Regarding Gender Differences in Eating Disorders in Adolescents.

Factors predicting eating disorder (ED) may vary among genders. This study investigated the gender specific influence of adolescents' social media use, body perception, depression and anxiety symptoms on eating disorder risk. The sample consisted of 183 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (mean: 15.65±0.89). Sociodemographic information and data from the, Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Social Media Attitude Scale (SMAS), Eating Disorder Examination Scale (EDES), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Child Version (SCARED), and Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) were collected. In this study, women have higher scores in SCARED (p<0.001), and lower scores in social competence subscale of SMAS (p=0.008) in comparison to men. Adolescents at risk for eating attitudes had higher scores in the CDI, the BCS, and the SMAS-Social Competence subscale, while adolescents at risk for eating disorder had higher scores in all scales except the SMAS-Relationship with Teachers subscale. Although depression and body perception influence women's' eating attitudes directly, social media revealed its effect on ED by the mediation of depressive symptoms. In men, social isolation, anxiety, and depression directly predicts ED, while social media enhanced the risk of ED by aggravating anxiety. It is important to know the factors that influence the risk of ED in terms of gender, and effectively address adolescence's psychological and medical burden.

Executive Functions and Emotion Regulation Relationship of Suicidal Ideation in Children with ADHD

Objective: There is evidence that suicidal thoughts are increased in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between executive function (EF) deficits and emotion regulation negativity/lability (ERNL) in children with ADHD who reported suicidal ideation. Method: This study was conducted in children aged 8-12 years with ADHD. Thirty-eight cases (ADHD + SI) with suicidal ideation and 41 cases without suicidal ideation (pure ADHD) were included in the study. Participants completed using the Children's depression inventory (CDI), the Screen for child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED), the Behavior rating inventory of executive function (BRIEF) and the Emotion regulation checklist (ERC). Results: A significant difference was found between the 3 groups in terms of EF deficits and ERNL, CDI and SCARED. BRIEF subcomponents; there was a significant difference between inhibit, emotion control, monitor and behavior regulation index. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation is an important psychiatric health problem. Recognizing suicidal ideation in children; It can be effective in preventing suicidal behavior. Cognitive features such as EF deficits and ERNL may contribute negatively to suicidal ideation, especially in children with ADHD.

Evaluation of Psychiatric Symptomatology, Quality of Life, and Caregiver Burden in Mothers and Children with Primary Immunodeficiency.

The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of life, depression, and anxiety scores of children with primary immunodeficiency (PID) and depression, anxiety scores, and the caregiving burden of their mothers. A total of 149 children aged 2-18 years and their mothers were included in the present study, along with 125 healthy children and their mothers as a control group. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and Screening for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire were used based on the views of children and their mothers. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A), and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCB) were used for the mothers. According to children and their mothers, the scores of the PedsQL were lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, according to the views of children and mothers, we found that PID children had higher depression and anxiety scores than healthy children (P < 0.05). The depression and anxiety levels of mothers in the patient group were also significantly higher than those in the control group (P = 0.05 and P = 0.001). Statistically, we found significantly lower psychosocial health summary scores and total scale score levels from the subclass of PedsQL in the patient group than in the control group. According to the views of both children and mothers, we observed that PID children had higher depression and anxiety scores than healthy children. It was also found that the BDI and BAI values in case of mothers in the patient group were significantly higher than those in the control group.

Functional connectivity analysis of childhood depressive symptoms

BackgroundChildhood depression is a highly distinct and prevalent condition with an unknown neurobiological basis. We wish to explore the resting state fMRI data in children for potential associations between neural connectivity and childhood depressive symptoms. MethodsA longitudinal birth cohort study with neuroimaging data obtained at 4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 years of age and the Children Depression Inventory 2 (CDI) administered between 8.5 and 10.5 years was used. The CDI score was used as the dependent variable and tested for correlation, both simple Pearson and network based statistic, with the functional connectivity values obtained from the resting state fMRI. Cross-validated permutation testing with a general linear model was used to validate that the identified functional connections were indeed implicated in childhood depression. ResultsTen functional connections and four brain regions (Somatomotor Area B, Temporoparietal Junction, Orbitofrontal Cortex and Insula) were identified as significantly associated with childhood depressive symptoms for girls at 6.0 and 7.5 years. No significant functional connections were found in girls at 4.5 years or for boys at any timepoint. Network based statistic and permutation testing confirmed these findings. ConclusionsThis study revealed significant sex-dependent associations of neural connectivity and childhood depressive symptoms. The regions identified are implicated in speech/language, social cognition and information integration and suggest unique pathways to childhood depressive symptoms.

Anxiety-depressive symptoms in the structure of eating disorders in adolescents

To identify the features of anxiety and depressive disorders in adolescents with eating disorders (ED) in a comprehensive approach to treatment. The study included 30 middle-aged (11-14 years) and older female adolescents (15-18 years) with ED. All patients underwent psychotherapy using a cognitive-behavioral approach 2 times a week, as well as psychopharmacotherapy using SSRI antidepressants (fluvoxamine, sertraline). A standardized assessment method was used using the Children's Depression Inventory, the multivariate assessment of childhood anxiety, the Lazarus Coping Strategy Questionnaire, and the Eating Behavior Rating Scale. The clinical severity and severity of depression were significantly more often detected in girls of the older adolescent group (U=4.5, p<0.05). The highest scores in adolescents of middle and older groups were found on the scales «Decrease in mental activity due to anxiety» (1.52 and 1.64 points respectively), «Increased autonomic reactivity due to anxiety» (1.46 and 1.55 points respectively), «Anxiety related to the evaluation of others» (1.51 and 1.61 points respectively), as well as «Anxiety in relations with peers» (1.53 and 1.64 points respectively). A correlation was found between the severity of anxiety and depression and the choice of certain coping strategies (p<0.05). In both age groups, adolescents more often used maladaptive behavioral strategies. The results suggest the importance of choosing an individual way to build a cognitive-behavioral therapy plan, taking into account personal responses and the emotional status of adolescents with ED.

Comparison of Leptin, Leptin Receptor, Vitamin D and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Major Depressive Disorder and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Objective: Data on effects of vitamins, hormones and neurotrophic factors on the etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in children is limited. We hypothesized that serum vitamin D, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), leptin, and leptin receptor levels are different in these patients, and that aforementioned biomarkers may affect symptom severity and risk of suicide. Methods: This study included 33 ADHD, 29 MDD patients and 35 healthy controls. The Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Disruptive Behavioral Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) was used to assess the severity of ADHD, while Children Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS) were used to measure the severity of depression and suicide risk in the MDD group. Serum vitamin D, BDNF, leptin, and leptin receptor levels were measured from participants’ venous blood samples. Results: Vitamin D and leptin receptor levels were significantly higher in the control group than in the patient groups, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the ADHD group than in the MDD and control groups. There was no difference between the groups in terms of BDNF levels. No significant correlations between ADHD duration, subtype, severity, depression severity, suicide risk, and vitamin D, BDNF, leptin, and leptin receptor levels were found. Conclusion: Although current research supports that BDNF, vitamin D, leptin, and leptin receptor levels may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of MDD and ADHD, large-scale studies are needed to better evaluate the effects of these factors.

Assessment of Factor Affecting the Quality of Life in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abstract&#x0D; Introduction and Objectives: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a frequently seen chronic rheumatoid disease in childhood, which may cause disability and severely affect quality of life (QoL). The aim of present study was to assess relationships between disease activation and socio-cultural status of family, QoL, anxiety level, and depression level in patients with JIA and their parents.&#x0D; Methods: The study included 100 patients with JIA. The socio-demographic data were obtained from all patients. Child- and parent-reported PedsQL, Beck depression inventory (BDI), Kovacs' Child Depression Inventory (CDI), SCARED child version, CHAQ discomfort and disability scales were applied and JADAS-27 score was calculated in a cross-sectional manner. Then, we compared the characteristics of patients with the scales’ results.&#x0D; Results: JADAS-27, BDI, and CHAQ discomfort scores were higher and child- and parent-reported PedsQL scores were lower in patients with active disease than patients on remission (p&lt;0.05). The SCARED score was higher in girls than boys. The CHAQ disability score was high in children aged 8-12 years (p&lt;0.05). JADAS-27 and CHAQ disability scores were significantly low in patients with better compliance to treatment. Parental statements about changes in mental health after diagnosis were consistent with results of depression and anxiety scales of children.&#x0D; Conclusions: Quality of life is adversely affected in children with JIA, which may result in depression and anxiety. In management of JIA, one of our goals should be maintaining QoL. Further comprehensive studies in relationships between QoL and depression, anxiety, socio-demographic parameters, disease activation and social circle of patient are needed.

Effectiveness of Psycho-Religious Sexuality Education upon Anger and Depression of Iranian Female Adolescents: The Relationship of Quality Family Relationships and Birth Order.

Sexually active adolescents tend to have a wider range of psychosocial problems, including depression, anger, poor academic achievement, low self-esteem, and substance use. Developing a high-quality and curriculum-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) program is of great importancefor adolescents following Iranian culture. Due to the lack of such an educational program, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of psycho-religious CSE upon anger and depression of Iranian female adolescents, as well as therelationship of quality family relationships and birth order. The research design is quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with experimental and control groups. The statistical population of this study comprised all Iranian female adolescents aged 15 to 18years in Mashhad who participated in this workshop voluntarily. For data collection, the Child and Adolescent Depression Inventory and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) were used. SPSS 21 software and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean difference between depression and anger in the control and experimental groups (p-Value < 0.05). The results also showed a significant relationship between birth order and the quality of family relationships on depression and anger. Psycho-religious-based SE can reduce depression and anger in female students. These findings can be used in planning educational interventions with a psycho-religious-based approach to reducing anger, depressive symptoms and dangerous sexual behaviors among adolescents.

Serum Apelin-13 Levels Are Decreased Among Adolescents Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.

Apelin-13 have potential effect on mood because of high expression in the hypothalamus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the serum apelin-13 levels among adolescents with major depressive disorder. A total of 42 patients between the ages of 12 and 18 with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder have been included. Depression scores of both groups were measured by the Children's Depression Inventory. Serum apelin-13 concentrations were measured by a commercially available kit based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The mean serum apelin-13 levels in the patients with MDD was 173.08±106.33 pg/ml, whereas it was 251.75±167.82 pg/ml in healthy controls. The difference between groups in terms of mean serum apelin-13 levels was statistically significant (p=0.018, Cohen's d=-0.571). This is the first study to examine the serum apelin-13 levels in adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Lower serum apelin-13 levels were found in depressed adolescents.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Spence Children's Anxiety Scale in Iranian Adolescents.

The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is a tool for measuring anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. In this study, the psychometric properties of the Persian version of SCAS were investigated in an Iranian adolescents. This study was conducted on a sample of 684 adolescents. For standardization of SCAS, first- and second-order confirmatory factor analyses wereperformed. Also, to evaluate convergent and divergent validity, Fornell and Larcker criteria (1994), along with the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS)and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), was used. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performedto determine the cut-off point. The model fit of the correlated six-factor model was good however, a second-order model provided a statistically superior fit to the data. The reliability coefficients for the total scale and its dimensions were satisfactory (α > 0.7). Therefore, it can be concluded that the Persian version of SCAS has acceptable reliability and validity and can be used as a useful tool for early screening of anxiety in Iranian adolescents due to its easy use and specific design for children and adolescents.

Cognitive and behavioral predictors of procrastination behavior in adolescents at a mental health clinic in Turkey.

Procrastination behavior (PB) negatively impacts individuals' daily lives. Based on existing evidence that states executive function (EF) problems and internalizing symptoms (IS) are related to PB, this study examined IS, EF problems, and sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms in adolescents, and their relationships with PB and gender. The sample consisted of 78 adolescents (56.4% female) aged 12-18years. Participants and their families completed the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED), Barkley Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Scale-Children and Adolescent (BSCTS-CA), General and Academic Procrastination Scales, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The scores for academic PB were significantly positively associated with the CDI, SCARED, subscales comprising the metacognitive index of the BRIEF, and all four subscales of the SDQ but not with SCT. General and academic PB yielded similar results except for the conduct problems. Academic PB and EF problems were more prevalent in males. Lack of organizational skills, a part of EF; IS; and attention problems were associated with academic and general PB in girls and boys. Adolescents who have difficulty organizing their work and attention problems may have higher PB.