Childhood History Research Articles

Varicella zoster meningoencephalitis without exanthem: immunocompetent host

In an immunocompetent person, varicella zoster virus (VZV) is an uncommon cause of aseptic meningoencephalitis. Reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus from nerve infection results in shingles, a condition marked by rash, intense pain, and dermal involvement in immunocompromised hosts. We present an unusual case of a 22-year-old immunocompetent male diagnosed as VZV meningoencephalitis without exanthem. Workup revealed no risk factors for contracting VZV nor was there any childhood history associated with it. The patient responded to the treatment given and became symptom-free thereafter. Keywords: Varicella meningoencephalitis, Aseptic meningitis, Acyclovir, Immunocompetent, Varicella vaccines.

The child's history of early stance toward parental socialization as a context for emerging moral self: A cascade from infancy to toddlerhood to preschool age.

As interest in early morality has grown, researchers have increasingly focused on young children's moral self, but recent studies have targeted mostly its structure and associations with behavior rather than its developmental origins. Addressing this gap, we followed children, mothers, and fathers in U.S. Midwest from late infancy (16 months old, N = 194, 93 girls, 101 boys), to toddlerhood (3 years old, N = 175, 86 girls, 89 boys), to preschool age (4.5 years old, N = 177, 86 girls, 91 boys). We proposed that moral self at preschool age originates in the second and third years, when the onset of parental control engenders in the child both receptive and adversarial stance toward the parent. In infancy and in toddlerhood, we collected behavioral indications of both stances-positive affect and responsiveness (in toddlerhood, also positive representation of the parent); and defiance and violations of parental prohibition. At preschool age, we measured child moral self in a puppet interview (Kochanska, 2002). For both mother-child and father-child relationships, structural equation modeling supported direct paths from receptive and adversarial stance at age 3 years to higher and lower moral self, respectively, and the expected indirect effects of the child's receptive stance in infancy on moral self, mediated by the receptive or adversarial stance in toddlerhood. The path from toddler-age adversarial stance to lower moral self was present only in father-son relationships. This study highlights the long-term pivotal significance of the child's early stance toward the parent for the formation of moral self. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Long-term outcomes of childhood otitis media and hearing loss: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Otitis media (OM) is a common childhood illness which can cause hearing loss and developmental delays. This is the first systematic review to investigate the long-term, longitudinal health and social outcomes of OM and hearing loss in childhood. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023396318). A structured search strategy identified literature in the following databases: CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, PsychInfo, and EmCare. Articles were independently dual-screened and extracted data were synthesised. From 2825 potential studies, 25 were selected for inclusion. These assessed broad outcomes: physical health, audiological health academic, behavioural, social function, service use, and housing. Overall, 28% of papers found no difference between those with a childhood history of OM and those without, 40% found poorer outcomes for those with a history of OM, and 32% found mixed results. This is the first study of its kind to explore the long-term effects of otitis media and resultant hearing loss in children. Trends of poor academic, behavioural, and audiological outcomes were identified in children with OM and hearing loss. Multiple gaps in the literature were identified including a paucity of recent research, studies extending into adulthood, and studies focusing on high-risk populations.

Consistory and Youth Surveillance in the Republic of Geneva: The Case of Games (16th–18th Centuries)

This article explores the theme of youth gaming in the Calvinist Republic of Geneva. This investigation is largely based on disciplinary cases found in the registers of the Consistory of Geneva. Legislative sources, and the registers of the Pastor’s Company and the Small Council, are also used herein. This study, deliberately placed at the crossroads of the history of games, childhood, and Calvinist-style ecclesiastical discipline, aims to shed light on the Consistory’s policy of controlling play activities, and to understand what was at stake. The author defends the idea that the surveillance and control of games played by children was intended to prevent them from straying from their religious education, but also to protect them from the excesses and dangers of abusive play and immoderate behavior (violence, lost money, insults, etc.).

Influence of maternal health status during pregnancy and the child´s medical history on molar-incisor hypomineralization in a group of Spanish children (aged 6-14 years): a retrospective case-control study.

Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a qualitative enamel defect that is highly prevalent in children. It has been reported that patients with MIH have higher caries occurrence with an increased need and frequency of dental treatment compared to patients without MIH. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between MIH and a series of factors related to maternal health status during pregnancy and children´s medical history in early childhood. A retrospective study of cases (patients with MIH) and controls (patients without MIH) was designed between 2023 and 2024. A total of 280 children (cases = 140; controls = 140) aged 6 to 14 years (138 boys and 142 girls) were examined according to the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria for MIH. A survey was carried out with mothers regarding the potential exposure of their children to etiological factors of MIH. Possible prenatal and postnatal etiological factors were obtained through a personal interview with the patients' mothers. The statistical analysis was carried out with the contrast test and the chi-square test. During pregnancy, folic acid consumption, alcohol intake, systemic viral and/or bacterial infections, and gestational diabetes were statistically significantly related to MIH, as were breastfeeding, asthma, and corticosteroid consumption during childhood. Although there are different factors that may have statistically significant relationships with MIH, they cannot be predicted. Therefore, longitudinal studies, with a large sample size, are needed to determine the influence of prenatal and postnatal factors on the prevalence and severity of MIH in children.

Child and adolescent social withdrawal predict adult psychosocial adjustment: A meta-analysis

This systematic review and set of five meta-analyses synthesized the results of prospective longitudinal publications on childhood and/or adolescent social withdrawal as a predictor of adult psychosocial adjustment. Meta-analyses were conducted with results for five adult outcomes from 31 publications derived from 14 longitudinal samples and a combined sample size of 19,806 adults (50% women, M = 38.88 years, 83% White) with childhood and/or adolescent ( ≤ 16 years) histories of social withdrawal and their offspring (N = 175). Dependency among publications derived from the same longitudinal samples was explicitly modeled in meta-analyses with clustering. Meta-analytic results support childhood and/or adolescent social withdrawal as a medium-sized risk factor for adult social anxiety and intergenerational difficulties in mothers and their offspring (both p < 0.0001); a small-size risk factor for delayed adult developmental milestones (p < 0.05), adult social withdrawal (p < 0.0001), other anxiety (p < 0.05), and depression (p < 0.01); and a small-size protective factor against adult substance use (p < 0.01). However, meta-analytic results did not support childhood and/or adolescent social withdrawal as a predictor of physical health, likely due to the heterogeneous nature of the investigated health outcomes. Consistent with a Developmental Science Model, results are interpreted as supporting interpersonal mechanisms (missing out, interpersonal stress, and poor relationship quality) and developmental cascades (cross domain-influences) in socially withdrawn children's life-course development. Because evidence for intergenerational difficulties was based on a single longitudinal sample, confidence in intergenerational effects would be increased by replication in other samples. Heterogeneity among effect sizes included in most meta-analyses suggests that the relation between childhood and/or adolescent social withdrawal and adult outcomes is likely to be moderated by other factors. Future directions in this area of research are discussed.

7002 Building Poor Bone, A Rare Presentation Of Skeletal Fluorosis

Abstract Disclosure: C. Pham: None. J.S. Lopresti: None. Skeletal fluorosis is a rare disease associated with osteosclerosis and fractures. Case: 26 year old male presented with a history of multiple traumatic fractures but no childhood or family history of fractures. Initial labs revealed a corrected calcium of 8.1 mg/dL (8.5-10.3), ALP 1,504 U/L (40-129), PTH 131 pg/ml (15-65), 25-OH D 14 ng/ml (30-100), PO4 3.7 mg/dl (2.5-4.5) and normal creatinine. X-Rays demonstrated osteosclerosis and cortical expansion of bone and nuclear bone scan demonstrated diffuse increased uptake. Further history revealed huffing of computer inhalants (10 cans daily) for years. Due to these findings, urine fluoride 16.88 mg/L (0.20-3.20 mg/L) and serum fluoride 0.40 mg/L (<0.05 mg/L) were obtained and vitamin D was started. 4 months later, his vitamin D level improved to 21 while calcium levels normalized despite ongoing inhalant use. ALP (878) and PTH (92) continued to be elevated albeit at improved levels. Conclusion: Exposure to fluoride leads to a rare condition called skeletal fluorosis causing accelerated osteogenesis and bone turnover leading to weak bone. Symptoms include bony pain, fractures, and osteosclerosis on radiographs. Differential diagnosis includes other conditions associated with osteosclerosis such as Paget’s disease and myelofibrosis. However, diffuse osteosclerosis and vertebral osteophytosis are noted only in skeletal fluorosis compared to other potential causes, though our patient did not have a CT spine done to assess for osteophytes. Biochemical studies can include hypocalcemia and hyperparathyroidism. It is thought that low calcium intake contributes to the hyperparathyroidism. Elevated serum and urine fluoride levels are also diagnostic and can persist for months after cessation of fluoride intake. Sodium fluoride has been posited as a treatment for osteoporosis due to its tremendous ability to build bone; however, the quality of bone made is poor leading to unacceptable fracture rates. Skeletal fluorosis should be suspected in any patient with history of diffuse osteosclerosis and hyperparathyroidism; and vitamin D supplementation should be initiated. In our case, hypocalcemia and PTH levels were improved despite active inhalant use after vitamin D supplementation. This suggests that Vitamin D deficiency and fluoride may be two independent driving factors in hyperparathyroidism in patients with fluorosis. Increased calcium absorption with vitamin D provides therapeutic benefit in both cases. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Determinants of Stunting in Indonesia: Investigating Key Factors Influencing Child Growth

Stunting is a condition of growth failure that occurs in children, especially those under the age of five, caused by chronic poor nutritional intake and recurrent infectious diseases. Stunting is a social problem that has an impact on child development and the achievement of human resource quality. This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate stunting in children in Tapanuli Tengah Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 402 children from five districts, chosen for their focus on stunting prevention. Data collection involved mother interviews and measuring children's length/height-for-age indicators. The study examined a variety of family and child characteristics, including age, gender, father's occupation, family income, birth weight, birth length, and disease history. Multiple Logistic Regression is used to analyze the determinant impact of stunting events on children under five. It was found that 23.4% of stunted children in Tapanuli Tengah Regency. The results of the study show that there was a significant influence of birth length and history of illness on the incidence of stunting. History of illness is the dominant risk factor for stunting, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.8 with a Confidence Interval (CI) value of 1.120-2. 895. This informs that children who have a history of illness are almost 2 times more likely to be stunted than children who do not have a history of the disease. This study highlights the prevalence of stunting in Tapanuli Tengah Regency and its association with birth length and a history of illness. Interventions to combat stunting should target improving birth length and addressing children's history of illness. These findings align with existing literature on stunting in Indonesia and underscore the need for targeted interventions. Stunting remains a critical public health concern in Indonesia, necessitating context-specific efforts in Tapanuli Tengah Regency

The effect of childhood trauma on moral cognition in patients with schizophrenia.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a potential moral cognitive impairment (failure in understanding moral rules) exists in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and to explore the effect of childhood trauma (CT) on moral cognition in a group of patients with SCZ. A total of 99 patients with SCZ and 102 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) was administered to assess childhood trauma experiences in both groups, while the Moral Identity Measure (MIM) and the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ) were applied for a comparative evaluation of moral cognition across the two groups. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was administered to assess the psychopathology. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly greater CTQ scores than HCs (42.77 ± 13.50 vs. 29.11 ± 4.25, t=9.697, p<0.001). The prevalence of childhood trauma (χ 2 = 58.452, p<0.001) and history of aggressive behaviors (χ 2 = 23.565, p=0.001) among patients with SCZ were greater than that among HCs. In addition, the scores of moral cognition (MIM: 61.82 ± 15.12 vs. 70.88 ± 8.87, p=0.001; MFQ: 87.24 ± 22.30 vs. 112.62 ± 23.42, p=0.045) in the SCZ group was lower than that in the HC group after controlling for the influence of CT covariates. The MFQ score was negatively correlated with the CTQ score, the emotional abuse (EA) score, the physical abuse (PA) score and the physical neglect (PN) score in SCZ patients. Among HCs, the MFQ score was positively correlated with the CTQ score, as well as with the dimensions of physical abuse (PA) and emotional Neglect (EN). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that impaired moral cognition performance was significantly predicted by the CTQ score (beta=-0.235, p=0.034, 95% CI -0.743 to -0.031) in patients with SCZ but was significantly predicted by years of education (beta=-0.392, p<0.001, 95% CI -4.783 to -1.876), alcohol use (beta=0.210, p=0.023, 95% CI 2.191 to 29.399) and the CTQ score (beta=0.184, p=0.046, 95% CI 0.019 to 1.928) in HCs. CTQ moderated the effect of SCZ on MFQ (B = 0.516); Simple tests revealed that the group effect on the MFQ was B=12.306 at the lower level(-1SD) and B = 54.089 at the higher level(+1SD) of the CTQ scores. SCZ patients exhibit impaired moral cognition. The contribution of CT to the presence of moral cognitive impairments seems to be independent of psychopathology.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Criminal Charges and Convictions in Mid and Late Adolescence

Childhood exposure to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common. Individuals with a childhood history of mTBI experience more frequent criminal justice involvement in mid to late adolescence and adulthood. No study had been conducted to examine whether the link is causal or spurious. To determine whether mTBI in childhood causes criminal justice involvement in mid to late adolescence. This cohort study used population-based data for all children born between 1995 and 2000 in Denmark, with data linked to emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations before age 10 years and all criminal charges and convictions from ages 15 to 20 years. The exposure group contained all individuals diagnosed with mTBI before age 10 years without other intracranial or extracranial injuries; the comparison group was individuals not diagnosed with mTBI or intracranial or extracranial injuries. Sibling and twin fixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association after controlling for family-level confounding. Data were analyzed from May 2021 to July 2024. Mild TBI before age 10 years without other intracranial or extracranial injuries before or at the time of diagnosis. Associations between mTBI before age 10 years and criminal charges and convictions from ages 15 to 20 for the entire study population and separately by sex at birth, controlling for additional covariates. The final analytic sample consisted of 343 027 individuals, 13 514 in the exposure group and 329 513 in the comparison group. Of the total sample, 166 455 (49%) were female and 176 572 were male (51%). A total of 326 191 participants (95%) had at least 1 parent with Danish citizenship, and 79 386 mothers (23%) held a college degree. There was a positive association between mTBI and criminal charges (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.19-1.34) and convictions (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.33). When controlling for family-level confounding, the associations became statistically insignificant and, in most models, greatly reduced. Results were robust across multiple model specifications. This study found that although mTBI in childhood was predictive of adolescent criminal justice involvement, there was no evidence that mTBI caused criminal charges or convictions.

Childhood histories of family violence and adult intimate partner violence use among U.S. military veterans.

Childhood histories of family violence and adult intimate partner violence use among U.S. military veterans.

Decline in Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months and Vaccination Inequities Among Children Born in 2020 and 2021 - National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2021-2023.

Data from the National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) were analyzed to estimate coverage with childhood vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices among U.S. children by age 24 months. Coverage with nearly all vaccines was lower among children born in 2020 and 2021 than it was among those born in 2018 and 2019, with declines ranging from 1.3 to 7.8 percentage points. Analyses of NIS-Child data for earlier birth cohorts have not revealed such widespread declines in routine childhood vaccination coverage. Coverage among children born during 2020-2021 varied by race and ethnicity, health insurance status, poverty status, urbanicity, and jurisdiction. Compared with non-Hispanic White children, coverage with four of the 17 vaccine measures was lower among non-Hispanic Black or African American children as well as Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native children. Coverage was also generally lower among those covered by Medicaid or other nonprivate insurance, uninsured children, children living below the federal poverty level, and children living in rural areas. Coverage varied widely by jurisdiction, especially coverage with ≥2 doses of influenza vaccine. Children born during 2020-2021 were born during or after the period of major disruption of primary care from the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers should review children's histories and recommend needed vaccinations during every clinical encounter. Addressing financial barriers, access issues, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine-related misinformation can also help to increase coverage, reduce disparities, and protect all children from vaccine-preventable diseases. Strategies that have been found effective include implementation of standing orders and reminder and recall systems, strong physician recommendations to vaccinate, and use of immunization information systems to identify areas of lower coverage that could benefit from targeted interventions to increase immunization rates.

What do we know now about evidence-based treatment for psychosis and aggressive behaviour or criminality that we did not know when community care was implemented?

Purpose Community care replaced institutional care for people with psychosis without guidance about what constituted effective treatment. In a Swedish birth cohort, many of those who developed schizophrenia or bipolar disorder as community care was being implemented were subsequently convicted of violent and non-violent crimes. Studies from other countries that were implementing community care at this time also reported elevated proportions of patients acquiring criminal convictions. Since community care was first implemented, much has been learned about factors that promote and treatments that limit aggressive/antisocial behaviour/criminality (AABC) among people with psychosis. Without the benefit of this knowledge, did mental health policy and practices that were in place as the asylums were closed inadvertently contribute to criminality? Material and methods This article provides a narrative review of current evidence of effective treatments and management strategies to reduce AABC among patients with psychosis. Results Reductions in AABC are associated with stable contact with psychiatric services, second-generation antipsychotic medication, clozapine for patients with schizophrenia and elevated levels of hostility and/or a history of childhood conduct disorder, abstinence from substances, avoidance of trauma, and constant monitoring of both illness symptoms and AABC. Conclusions Failure to adopt evidence-based practices allows the problem of AABC to persist, prevents patients from experiencing independent, safe, community tenure, and puts those around them at risk. Many challenges remain, including implementing effective assessment and interventions at first-episode and convincing patients with antisocial attitudes and behaviours to participate in treatment programs to reduce AABC and to learn prosocial behaviours.

Developing a data-enabled nudge intervention for childhood antibiotics in primary care: a qualitative study.

Preschool children (aged≤5 years old) have the highest antibiotic prescribing rate in general practice, mostly for self-limiting acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Research from over 250 000 UK children suggests that a child's antibiotic history for RTI may be a good predictor for re-consulting a health professional for the same illness episode and increase clinical workload. To develop a data-enabled nudge intervention to optimise antibiotic prescribing for acute RTI based on a child's antibiotic history in general practice DESIGN & SETTING: Two phase qualitative study with parents/carers of preschool children and primary care clinicians METHOD: In phase 1, through an initial focus group with eight parents/carers and 'think aloud' interviews with 11 clinicians, we co-designed the intervention (computer screen prompt and personalised consultation leaflet). In phase 2, 13 clinicians used the intervention, integrated into the GP computer software, and share their feedback through 'think aloud' interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. We co-created a data-driven intervention that automatically integrates a child's antibiotic history for acute RTI and personalised leaflet into the electronic medical records. We found that parents and clinicians found this intervention, in principle, acceptable and feasible to use in primary care consultations. Delivering such interventions, integrated into practice workflow, could be efficiently scaled up to promote effective antimicrobial stewardship and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in primary care. Further research will test this intervention in a future trial.

‘Handing down of beautiful knowledge’: Yarning with workers about feeding practices and mealtimes in Australian First Nations families

Mealtimes and feeding practices are shaped by culture and have long-term implications for social and emotional wellbeing. To date, there has been little research in Australia that has focused on First Nations families' feeding practices and mealtimes. This co-designed study aimed to explore First Nations' families feeding practices through yarning circles with workers (n = 14) at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organization. Most workers (79%) were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and all worked directly with First Nations families. Using thematic analysis, four themes were inductively identified from the yarns: the importance of childhood experiences, history, and intergenerational knowledges; mealtimes as a point of connection and wellbeing; the impact of structural barriers on feeding practices; and the important roles of First Nations workers supporting families with feeding difficulties. Workers described how First Nations families' feeding practices and mealtimes are informed by cultural values and knowledge that have been passed down through generations. Yet throughout the yarns, participants highlighted the impact of historical and current structural factors (e.g., cost of living, child removal, housing) that affect families' ability to engage in feeding practices that align with their beliefs and culture. Workers described several strengths-based approaches they use to support families, including community-led mealtime groups, liaising with mainstream health services, and providing a respectful space. We propose that the Social and Emotional Wellbeing model is a holistic strengths-based resource for workers to conceptualize First Nations families’ strengths, values, and challenges in relation to feeding and mealtimes. More co-designed research including the perspectives of First Nations families is needed to better understand healthy and culturally aligned feeding and mealtime practices.

Oral issues and childhood stress in eight-to-ten-year-old schoolchildren: a case-control study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether oral problems, harmful oral habits, and sociodemographic factors are associated with the occurrence of stress in schoolchildren. A case-control study nested within a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 375 schoolchildren eight to ten years of age in the city of Diamantina, Brazil. The case group (with childhood stress) and control group (without childhood stress) were matched for age and sex at a 1:4 ratio (75 cases to 300 controls). Data collection involved the self-administration of a questionnaire by parents/caregivers addressing sociodemographic characteristics and the child's history of harmful oral habits. The children answered the Child Stress Scale (CSS) and underwent a clinical oral examination to determine the presence/absence of dental caries, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injuries. Data analysis involved the calculation of frequencies, the chi-square test, and conditional logistic regression (95% CI; p ≤ 0.05). The final adjusted conditional logistic regression model showed that dental caries (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01 - 3.14, p = 0.044) and biting objects (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.02 - 3.22, p = 0.041) remained associated with stress in the schoolchildren analysed. The present results showed that children with dental caries and the habit of biting objects were more likely to have childhood stress. The study allows paediatric dentists to expand their knowledge with regards to the influence of oral problems and harmful habits on the occurrence of childhood stress and serves as a guide for decision-making related to oral problems in schoolchildren.

Differences in the clinical presentations of anti-NMDAR (anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) encephalitis with status epilepticus: a retrospective case series

Literature on anti-NMDAR (anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) encephalitis is limited in developing countries, including Indonesia. This retrospective observational case series explored the impact of early diagnosis and treatment on patient outcomes in four distinct cases of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with status epilepticus, and other related conditions, of patients referred to Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta. Clinical data from May 2021 to August 2023 were collected through the review of medical records, encompassing demographic information, clinical presentation, history, laboratory results, imaging studies, EEG reports, interventions, and the progression of the disease. Four cases were reported, three of whom were diagnosed with anti-NMDAR and one with bacterial encephalitis, each presenting a variety of neuropsychiatric clinical symptoms, leading to hospitalization, extensive testing, and interventions to establish the definitive diagnosis. Cases 1 and 4 have a childhood history of seizures. The cases analyzed factors including the impact of childhood versus adulthood onset and the adherence to taking medicine regularly leading to exacerbation symptoms and relapses. Distinguishing anti-NMDAR encephalitis from related conditions, such as bacterial encephalitis, was further complicated in patients with varied neuropsychiatric presentations (seizures, hallucinations, irritable behavior, headaches) and responses to the treatment. Supporting investigation finds positive NMDAR testing and abnormal CT, MRI, and EEG results, contributed to definitive diagnoses. It could be concluded that comprehensive diagnostic investigations are important for prompt recognition of clinical characteristics, and early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy in managing anti-NMDAR encephalitis and related conditions in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Neurocognitive Characteristics of Patients Who Visited a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Requesting Treatment for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

This study investigated the neurocognitive characteristics of patients who visited an outpatient clinic requesting diagnosis and treatment for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The patients' electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Neurocognitive test results were compared using Student's t-test according to their chief complaint, depressive symptoms, childhood history, and intelligence quotient (IQ). Neurocognitive characteristics affecting subjective symptoms of ADHD were analyzed by linear regression. The study included 106 patients. They did not have significant deficits in neurocognitive tests. Patients with depressive symptoms showed more impulsive responses (hit reaction time [p=0.037] and commission error [p=0.024]) and self-reported ADHD symptoms (p=0.001). Verbal (p=0.036) and visual memory (p=0.020) were significantly deficient in patients with a childhood ADHD diagnosis. Patients with a low IQ had significant deficits in various domains. Depressive symptoms and vigilance were significantly related to subjective symptoms of ADHD (adjusted R2=0.430, β=0.457, p=0.002). Our results imply that the neurocognitive function of patients with subjective ADHD symptoms was not abnormal but was affected by depressive symptoms.

Childhood trauma and suicide risk: Investigating the role of adult attachment

BackgroundSuicide is a leading cause of death globally and a serious public health concern. Childhood trauma has been found to be associated with adult suicide vulnerability. Recent research has turned attention to investigating the role of attachment in the context of the childhood trauma-adult suicide relationship. The current study investigated for the first time whether attachment influences and moderates the childhood trauma-suicidality relationship, using a daily diary design, in the general population. Methods481 participants completed questionnaires assessing experiences of childhood trauma, attachment patterns, and history of suicidality. 243 participants continued to a daily diary phase where measures of daily stress, defeat and entrapment were completed for 7 consecutive days. ResultsHigher levels of childhood trauma were associated with a history of suicide ideation and attempt and also higher levels of daily defeat, entrapment and stress during the 7 day study. Similarly, higher levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance were associated with a history of suicide ideation and attempt together with higher levels of daily defeat, entrapment and stress. However, the effects of childhood trauma on suicide history and on daily suicide vulnerability factors were not moderated by attachment anxiety or avoidance. LimitationsThe measure of childhood trauma was a retrospective self-report tool that may be influenced by memory biases. ConclusionsChildhood trauma and insecure attachment are implicated in adult suicide risk. Interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of childhood trauma and insecure attachment should also incorporate components that target modifiable risk factors such as defeat, entrapment and stress.

Screen Time Soars and Vision Suffers: How School Closures During the Pandemic Affected Children and Adolescents' Eyesight.

This study aimed to determine the impact of school closures on visual acuity and screen time among students in Qatar. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting governmental school students. Data were collected via telephone interviews with parents, and visual acuity measurements were extracted from the electronic health records. We interviewed 1546 parents of selected students, about 24% reported their children's history of visual disturbances, primarily refractive errors. The mean screen time across the week increased significantly by 11.5 ± 11.6h during school closures. We observed a significant decline of visual acuity during the closure compared to the pre-closure period across the entire sample, both sexes, and the younger age group. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that local students and those with a history of visual disturbances were 1.7 times (AOR: 1.73, 95%CI 1.18-2.54, p = 0.005) and 2.5 times (AOR: 2.52, 95%CI 1.69-3.76, p < 0.001) more likely to experience decline of visual acuity respectively. School closures in Qatar were associated with a significant increase in screen time among students and a notable decline in their visual acuity. This deterioration highlights the need to monitor children's screen time and implement cost-effective measures to reduce screen exposure and enhance overall eye health among students.