Psychiatric Comorbidity In Children Research Articles

A Systematic Review of the Association of Internet Gaming Disorder and Excessive Social Media Use With Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents: Is It a Curse or a Blessing?

Internet gaming and social media usage (SMU), particularly among children and teenagers, have witnessed a remarkable surge over the past decade. However, it remains uncertain whether this widespread usage has a positive or negative impact. The primary objective of this systematic review was to investigate the diverse effects of excessive video game playing and extensive SMU, both favorable and detrimental, on the psychological and mental well-being of children and adolescents. To assess the influence of internet gaming disorder (IGD) and disordered SMU on the mental health of children aged 6-12 years and adolescents aged 13-18 years, we conducted a systematic review of20 studies on the subject. These studies utilized a substantial sample size of 48,652 participants, encompassing online and in-person questionnaires administered to children, teenagers, and their parents in educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and online platforms. Our findings suggest that multiple factors contribute to the intricate relationship between SMU, video game playing, and mental health outcomes. The majority of research indicates thatexcessive gaming or SMU among children and teenagers leads to adverse consequences on their mental well-being. Furthermore, certain studies have even reported fatal consequences, while others have identified a worsening of preexisting mental health issues. A few studies have explored the potential positive impacts of SMU and gaming on individuals and society at large. In light of this, we have concluded that it is inappropriate to categorize internet gaming and SMU as solely beneficial or detrimental without considering the broader context and the interplay of various factors.

Psychiatric co-morbidity in children and adolescents with CHDs: a systematic review.

The population of long-term survivors with CHDs is increasing due to better diagnostics and treatment. This has revealed many co-morbidities including different neurocognitive difficulties. However, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents and the specific types of disorders they may experience are unclear. We systematically reviewed the existing literature, where psychiatric diagnoses or psychiatric symptoms were investigated in children and adolescents (age: 2-18 aged) with CHDs and compared them with a heart-healthy control group or normative data. The searches were done in the three databases PubMed, psychINFO, and Embase. We included 20 articles reporting on 8035 unique patients with CHDs. Fourteen articles repoted on psychological symptoms, four reported on psychiatric diagnoses, and two reported on both symptoms and diagnoses. We found that children and adolescents with a CHD had a higher prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ranging between 1.4 and 9 times higher) and autism (ranging between 1.8 and 5 times higher) than controls, but inconsistent results regarding depression and anxiety.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children and Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study on Prevalence, Distribution and Clinical Features in an Italian Sample.

This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of psychiatric comorbidities in a group of 472 children and adolescents with ASD aged 3-18 years. We examined differences in age, sex, IQ, adaptive skills, and ASD symptom severity by comparing participants with ASD (ASD group) with participants with ASD and a psychiatric disorder (ASD/PSY group). Overall, 32.2% of participants had a comorbid psychiatric condition. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the most frequent diagnosis among preschoolers (20.4%); among school-age children, ADHD and anxiety/obsessive-compulsive disorders were the most frequent conditions (21% and 10.6%, respectively); finally, adolescents exhibit higher prevalence of anxiety/obsessive-compulsive disorders (21.8%). The ASD/PSY group showed a higher percentage of males, they were older and showed lower adaptive skills than the group with ASD; moreover, their mothers exhibited higher stress levels than mothers of participants in the ASD group. The comparison between age groups in participants within ASD/PSY group revealed that preschoolers had lower IQ than school-age children and adolescents, and worse adaptive skills, more repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests than adolescents. This study highlights the importance of an accurate diagnosis of psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents with ASD, also considering individual and family impairment.

School performance and psychiatric comorbidity in childhood absence epilepsy: A Danish cohort study.

The aim was to determine school performance and psychiatric comorbidity in children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). We reviewed the medical records in children with ICD-10 codes for idiopathic generalized epilepsy before 18 years of age, and pediatric neurologists confirmed the International League Against Epilepsy criteria for CAE were met. Control groups were the general pediatric population or children with non-neurological chronic disease. Outcomes were from nationwide and population-based registers on school performance and psychiatric comorbidity. We compared the mean grade point average using linear regression and estimated hazard ratios (HR) using Cox regression for the other outcomes. Analyses were adjusted for the child's sex, and year of birth, and parental highest education, receipt of cash benefits or early disability pension. We included 114 children with CAE with a median age at onset of 5.9 years (interquartile range=4.5-7.3 years). Compared with both population controls and non-neurological chronically ill children, children with CAE had increased hazard of special needs education (HR=2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.8-4.1, p<0.0001), lower grade point average at 9th grade by 1.7 grade points (95% CI=-2.5 to -1.0, p<0.001), increased ADHD medicine use (HR=4.4, 95% CI=2.7-7.2, p<0.001), increased sleep medicine use (HR 2.7, 95% CI=1.7-4.3, p<0.001), and increased psychiatry visits (HR=2.1; 95% CI=1.1-4.0; p=0.03). In conclusion, children with CAE have increased psychiatric comorbidity and a considerable proportion of these children receive special needs education in primary/secondary school, albeit insufficient to normalize their considerably lower grade point average in the 9th grade.

Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Characteristics and the Role of the Family.

Anxiety Disorder (AD) is among the most common psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Likewise, parental psychological distress (PPD) was linked to anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD. The aim of this study was to characterise, in a sample of children and adolescents with ASD, anxiety symptoms, the functional impairment associated and the presence of PPD. Participants were divided into three groups based on their diagnosis: children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD + AD, others with a diagnosis of AD but without a diagnosis of ASD, and others with a diagnosis of ASD but without a diagnosis of AD. Group ASD + AD showed lower global functioning than Group ASD and Group AD. Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobias were more frequent in Group ASD + AD. Our findings also showed higher depressive symptoms in Group ASD + AD, both in the child and parent reports. Finally, parents of the Group ASD + AD revealed higher levels of PPD. Our findings suggest that early assessment of AD with functional impairment associated with the role of PPD could define individualised treatments and consequently mean a better prognosis in children and adolescents with ASD and AD.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Pediatric Monogenic Diabetes due to GCK Mutation: Impact on Diabetes-Related Quality of Life.

Monogenic diabetes caused by mutation in the glucokinase gene (GCK-MD) is a rare disorder manifesting in childhood as mild, prevalent hyperglycemia. By consensus, it is managed by dietary supervision and infrequent consultations. However, its impact on the mental health of the affected children is largely unknown. To estimate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in children with monogenic glucokinase-related diabetes (GCK-MD) and evaluate their association with quality of life (QoL). The study invited children with GCK-MD aged 5-18 years identified in the Central National Registry and treated in 3 pediatric diabetes centers in Poland. The control group comprised children with type 1 diabetes (T1D, the most common diabetes type in youth) matched for age and family history of diabetes. Participants underwent a semistructured clinical interview diagnostic for psychiatric comorbidities, questionnaires assessing behavioral problems, depressive symptoms, parental stress, and measuring general and diabetes-related QoL (PedsQl). We included 35 patients with GCK-MDMD and 199 with T1D. Eight (22.9%) GCK-MD patients were diagnosed with psychiatric disorder in their lifetime, compared with 16 (8.1%) in the T1D group (odds ratio 3.4 [95% confidence interval: 1.3-8.7]). Patients with GCK-MD showed better parent-reported general QoL (87.1±11.9 vs 82.0±14.0, P= 0.0060) and higher diabetes-related QoL in both parental (84.5±13.8 vs 74.1±15.2, P < 0.0001) and child's perspective (87.6±10.9 vs 77.3±13.9, P < 0.0001). Psychiatric disorders (+P) were associated with worse child-reported diabetes QoL (T1D+P 66.6±16.7, T1D-P 78.2±13.3, GCK-MD+P 79.6±16.3, GCK-MD-P 90.1±7.5, P= 0.0002). High prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children with GCK-MD and lower QoL emphasizes the need for psychologic surveillance in those otherwise mildly-treated patients.

Bullying victimization in children and adolescents and its impact on academic outcomes

IntroductionBullying is a serious problem in schools because of the negative impact on a child’s educational outcomes, especially academic achievement. However, the underlying mechanisms and causes are unknown.ObjectivesTo evaluate the educational outcomes, and psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents who are victims of bullyingMethodsWe used 2018–2019 Nationwide Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) dataset for the study. The participants were children and adolescents (age: 6-17 years, n = 42,790). Data was stratified into two groups: 1) never bullied 2) bullied more than once. Prevalence of different educational outcomes were compared between the groups.ResultsIn the never bullied group 21,015 participants were included, and in the bullied more than once group 21,775 participants were included. More females were in the bullied group compared to never bullied group (50.4% vs 47.5%, p=0.006). More White non- Hispanic individuals were in bullied group in contrast to never bullied group (56.7% vs 43.9%, p&lt; 0.001). Individuals whose health status was fair, or poor were bullied more (2.4% vs 1.4%, p=&lt;0.001). Individuals in bullied group were more likely to be repeating the grades compared to the never bullied group (7.1% vs 5.9%, p:0.039). Individuals who were missing &gt;=11 school days, and sometimes or never engaged in school were observed more in bullied group compared to never bullied group (5.9% vs 3.2% and 20.3% vs 10.6% p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that bullying victimization could be a risk factor and associated with decreased academic outcomes.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Association of Psychiatric Comorbidities With Treatment and Outcomes in Pediatric Migraines.

Migraine headache is a common disorder in pediatrics, sometimes leading to hospital admission. Psychiatric comorbidities are prevalent in adults with migraine headache, but there is limited evidence in the pediatric population. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in children hospitalized for migraine headache and assess the association of this comorbid state on treatment interventions and outcomes. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study examined data from the Pediatric Health Information System. Subjects included patients aged 6 to 18 hospitalized for migraine headache between 2010 and 2018, excluding those with complex chronic conditions. Associations of psychiatric comorbidity with treatments, length of stay (LOS), cost, and 30-day readmissions were assessed using the Fisher-exact, Wilcoxon-rank-sum test, and adjusted linear or logistic regression models. The total 21 436 subjects included 6796 (32%) with psychiatric comorbidity, with prevalence highest for anxiety (2415; 11.2%), depression (1433; 6.7%), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (1411; 6.5%). Patients with psychiatric comorbidity were significantly more likely (P < .001) to receive dihydroergotamine (61% vs 54%), topiramate (23% vs 18%), and valproate (38% vs 34%), and have longer mean LOS (2.6 vs 2.0 days), higher average costs ($8749 vs $7040), and higher 30-day readmission (21% vs 17%). Of children hospitalized for migraine headache, 32% have comorbid psychiatric disorders associated with increased use of medications, longer LOS, and increased cost of hospitalization and readmission. Prospective studies are recommended to identify optimal multidisciplinary care models for children with migraine headaches and psychiatric comorbidities in the inpatient setting.

Comorbidities Associated With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents at a Tertiary Care Setting.

Studies have revealed high rates of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric comorbid conditions among individuals diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, research on this topic in the Arab world has been limited. This study evaluates the medical, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A total of 428 pediatric patients diagnosed with ADHD were included. Children and adolescents with ADHD had high rates of comorbid disorders. Twenty comorbid conditions were identified. More than 3 quarters of the study sample had at least 1 comorbid disorder. The most common comorbidity among children was autism spectrum disorder, and among adolescents was anxiety disorders. Comprehensive assessments are highly warranted to identify and manage associated comorbid conditions. Further research is needed in exploring the biopsychosocial factors contributing to the elevated rate of comorbidity in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children and Youth With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is on the rise in children and is associated with multiple comorbidities. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in pediatric T2DM, and the impact of sex and race on this prevalence. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception until April 4, 2021, for eligible articles. Two reviewers independently screened observational studies with ≥10 participants, reporting on the prevalence of mental health conditions in children and youth with T2DM. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of behavioral, psychiatric, or developmental disorders in pediatric T2DM was 22.42% (95%CI 17.48-27.76, I2=37%, n=516). The prevalence of depressed mood or depressive symptoms was 19.03% (95%CI 15.33-23.02, I2=0%, n=415) and 21.55% (95%CI 16.89-26.59, I2=0%, n=282), respectively. The prevalence of depression was 9.68% (95%CI 3.36-18.60, I2=88%, n=620). Females were more likely than males to have depressive symptoms (16.8% vs. 11.1%) and disordered eating behaviours (53.1% vs. 45.3%). No data were available to explore the impact of race on psychiatric comorbidities. In conclusion, one in five pediatric T2DM patients have psychiatric comorbidities, and females may be at higher risk than males of these comorbidities. Supports for this population are urgently needed to improve mental health and glycemic outcomes.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children with Obesity

Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue in the 21st century. Scientists have shown interest in studying the effects of childhood obesity on several aspects of health. Obesity comorbidities encompass more than just physical issues. The effects of juvenile obesity are far-reaching and include psychological comorbidities. The objective of this review was to specifically examine the psychiatric comorbidities that are linked to pediatric obesity. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed to identify articles that provide information on the coexistence of pediatric obesity and other medical conditions. The pertinent data were retrieved and reviewed in a narrative manner. Research has shown that childhood obesity is linked to psychological comorbidities, including depression, reduced perceived health-related quality of life, emotional and behavioral issues, and lower self-esteem during childhood.

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children With ASD: Autism Centre Experience.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with social communication deficits, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. In this lifelong condition the core features that cause impairment may also be expanded by behavioural and emotional problems. Individuals with ASD are likely to experience a higher prevalence of common mental disorders compared to the typically developed individuals. This high epidemiological burden of various psychiatric disorders among ASD population encourages further research and improvement in diagnostic practise in ASD and comorbid disorders. In this brief research report of a cross-sectional study, I aimed to estimate the psychiatric comorbidity prevalence and describe their general characteristics in children with ASD in the Autism Centre in Montenegro. The study population consisted of 152 patients who were diagnosed with ASD, 117 male and 35 female, and the mean age (SD) was 8.02 (4.26). In this brief research report prevalence of children with ASD with at least one psychiatric comorbidity was 36.84%. Only one psychiatric comorbidity disorder was reported in 17.16%, two in 9.87%, three in 8.55%, and in 0.66% patients four other psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders present in this population sample were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (17.76%), conduct disorder (13.10%), disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (9.87%), anxiety disorder and insomnia (7.89%), elimination disorder (3.29%), and depression (1.97%).

High prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents at a tertiary epilepsy center.

Epilepsy is highly comorbid with psychiatric disorders and a significant amount of the morbidity related to epilepsy is in fact a result of psychiatric comorbidities. To investigate the frequency of different psychiatric comorbidities in children with refractory epilepsy. We present preliminary observational data from a series of patients (n=82) examined in the psychiatric branch of a tertiary epilepsy center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patients were classified as presenting autism spectrum disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual development disorder, psychotic episode, dissociative/conversive disorders or others. We determined the frequency of each disorder, along with demographic data, medications prescribed, electroencephalogram findings and additional medical examinations and consultations. The most common comorbidities in our sample were autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. Antipsychotics and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. Knowledge about the prevalence of such comorbidities may provide more targeted interventions in Psychiatry and Psychology services linked to epilepsy centers.

Psychiatric comorbidity in a patient with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome. differences in the transition from childhood to adulthood: A case report

IntroductionOpsoclonus-Myoclonus syndrome (OMS), also known as Kinsbourne syndrome, is a paraneoplasic pediatric condition characterized by erratic eye movements and generalized myoclonus. Previous studies have described a wide range of psychiatric comorbidities in children with this syndrome. Cognitive impairment (especially intellectual capacity and language), affective symptoms (irritability, poor mood regulation) and behavioral problems are the most frequent presentations (1). However, there is a lack of literature describing the progression of this symptoms when the patient reaches the adulthood.ObjectivesTo illustrate the psychiatric comorbidity of an adult patient with Opsoclonus-Myoclonus syndrome.MethodsWe present one case-report and literature research of the topic.ResultsWe present a 18 year old girl diagnosed with OMS and Graves-Basedow hyperthyroidism. During her childhood she started presenting attention and comprehension difficulties. She was diagnosed with an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and started treatment with methylphenidate. She completed elementary and secondary education. During the adulthood, the main psychiatric comorbidity was related to affective symptoms. We observed an impaired mood regulation, hypothymia, anhedonia, and frequent episodes of irritability, which persisted after the thyroid regulation. This caused incremented anxious symptoms and insomnia that were treated with mirtazapine and lormetazepam. After some weeks, she fulfilled criteria of a depressive episode and we started antidepressant treatment with vortioxetine.Conclusions- Adult patients diagnosed with OMS during childhood can persist presenting ADHD as a comorbidity. - Affective symptoms, and even a major depressive episode, should be considered during the follow-up of this population. Insight of the cognitive limitations could be a risk factor for a depression.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures in Children and Adolescents

Though psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are seen commonly during evaluation of children and adolescents with epilepsy, the literature regarding developmental changes in PNES is limited. Literature search was conducted in PubMed. Key search terms included: Pseudoseizure* OR PNES OR [(non-epileptic or nonepileptic or psychogenic or non-epileptic attack disorder) AND (seizure*)], resulting in 3,236 articles. Filters included human, ages 1-18 years, English language and last 15 years (2004-2019), resulting in 533 articles. We reviewed 33 articles, which included 19 articles that involved children (1-18 years), with 10 or more children with PNES in their study group. 21 articles obtained in cross references that were outside the filter setting (including time frame and age range) were also reviewed, for a total of 54 articles. Majority of the studies were retrospective. We detail clinical features, predisposing factors and appropriate workup for children and adolescents with possible PNES. There is no consensus regarding frequency of psychiatric comorbidities in children with PNES. No controlled trials of treatment of PNES in children are available, but cognitive behavioral therapy is the consensus for adult PNES. Outcome appears to be better in children with PNES. There is a need for be long-term prospective studies to document various clinical features and outcome of pediatric and adolescent PNES, and also the comorbid conditions.

Psychiatric comorbidities of children with elimination disorders

Enuresis and encopresis can be stressful for children and parents. We investigated the comorbid psychiatric disorders and the emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with elimination disorders. A total of 97 children and adolescents (aged 4–17 years) with an elimination disorder participated in this study. The elimination disorder group consisted of three subgroups: 50 subjects with enuresis nocturna, 26 with encopresis, and 21 subjects with enuresis+encopresis. The control group with no elimination disorder comprised 50 healthy subjects. All children were interviewed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Comorbid psychiatric disorders were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The most common diagnosis was attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, followed by oppositional defiant disorder. The highest rate of psychiatric comorbidity was observed in the enuresis+encopresis subgroup, followed by the enuresis nocturna and encopresis subgroups. All the subgroups had higher total difficulties scores than the control group. Screening for psychiatric disorders should be performed for all children with incontinence.

Screening for suicidality and its relation to undiagnosed psychiatric comorbidities in children and youth with epilepsy

IntroductionDepression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric comorbidities in children and youth with epilepsy (CYE) and known to contribute to suicidality among them. However, not much is known about suicidality in CYE without established psychiatric comorbidities. Our research aimed to fill this knowledge gap and correlate this latent suicidality with screening tests for depression and anxiety. MethodAfter Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, CYE who attended the epilepsy clinic or underwent testing in the pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit at the Cleveland Clinic and lacked established psychiatric diagnosis were enrolled. They filled out self-reported, validated scales for screening of depression, anxiety, and suicidality (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children [CES-DC], Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders [SCARED], and Ask Suicide-Screening Questions [ASQ], respectively). Univariate descriptive statistics along with χ2 test of association and independent Student's t-test were performed for statistical analysis. ResultsA total of 119 (54.6% females) CYE were included in the study. Close to a third (30.2%) of CYE were positive for anxiety on SCARED, and 41.2% were positive for depression based on CSE-DC scoring. A total of 13 (10.9%) CYE indicated suicidality by answering at least one positive response on ASQ. The SCARED had a low positive correlation with the ASQ (r = 0.32) but a moderate positive correlation with the CES-DC (r = 0.64). ConclusionWe found that a small but significant 11% of CYE without any established psychiatric diagnosis expressed suicidality on a self-reported questionnaire. This highlights the importance of using psychiatry screening tests in all CYE. Future research using a larger, diversified cohort is needed to confirm our findings.

0967 Clinical Characteristics of Children With Sleep Problems and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract Introduction Anxiety and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are common psychiatric comorbidities in children with sleep disorders. It is known that comorbid psychiatric disorders increase the risk of sleep problems. However, no study has compared the clinical characteristics of children presenting with sleep problems and various common psychiatric disorders. Methods Retrospective chart review of all children presenting to the sleep clinic for sleep problems between March 2016 to June 2017 was performed. Demographics, sleep intake patient questionnaires, polysomnograms and ICD-9/10 codes for comorbidities and sleep diagnoses were collected. In children with diagnoses of anxiety (ICD-9 300/ICD-10 F41) and ADHD (ICD-9 314/ICD-10 F90), demographics, presenting symptoms, Epworth sleepiness scores and prevalence of sleep comorbidities were compared. T-test (continuous) and Chi Square (categorical) were used. Unadjusted odds ratio was calculated for presenting symptoms and sleep comorbidities. P value of &amp;lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results 250 (F=145, 58%) children were evaluated. 71.2% children were diagnosed with anxiety and 28.8% diagnosed with ADHD. Mean age at presentation was 8.53 ± 4.2 years. Age, gender and race of children presenting with sleep problems and comorbid anxiety/ADHD were statistically similar. Children with anxiety spent less time in stage N3 sleep (25.2% ± 9.1 versus 28.6% ± 9.2) and had lower arousal indices (7.19 ± 3.8 versus 8.86 ± 5.5) compared to children with ADHD. Children with anxiety were more likely to present with chief complaint of “feeling tired or sleepy during the day” (OR:2.38, 1.32-4.37) and were more likely to have a diagnosis of hypersomnia (OR: 11.67, 3.19-42.75) versus children with ADHD. Conclusion Children with psychiatric comorbidities have distinct polysomnographic characteristics. Children with anxiety are more likely to present with daytime sleepiness and have a significantly higher prevalence of hypersomnia compared to children with ADHD. Support None

Quality of life, emotion dysregulation, attention deficit and psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with vitiligo.

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentation disorder, which can have a negative effect on patient quality of life (QoL). To evaluate QoL and psychiatric comorbidity in paediatric patients with vitiligo. In total, 30 patients aged 8-18years who were diagnosed with vitiligo and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. The Children's Depression Inventory, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children and Child Somatization Inventory were completed for both patients and controls. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) was administered to all patients by a child psychiatrist. Families were also asked to complete the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Emotion Regulation Checklist for children. The K-SADS-PL evaluation showed that 90% of the patients in the vitiligo group had at least one psychiatric diagnosis, whereas this rate was 20% in the HCs (P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences between vitiligo and HCs in terms of anxiety, state and trait anxiety scores (P<0.05). Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was detected in 36.6% of the patients. The most important finding of this study is that anxiety disorders are more prominent than depression in childhood vitiligo. Another important finding of this study is that the prevalence of ADHD is significantly higher than the normal population.

Comorbidities Between Specific Learning Disorders and Psychopathology in Elementary School Children in Germany.

Children with reading and/or spelling disorders have increased rates of behavioral and emotional problems and combinations of these. Some studies also find increased rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression. However, the comorbidities of, e.g., arithmetic disorders with ADHD, anxiety disorder, and depression have been addressed only rarely. The current study explored the probability of children with specific learning disorders (SLD) in reading, spelling, and/or arithmetic to also have anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD, and/or conduct disorder. The sample consisted of 3,014 German children from grades 3 and 4 (mean age 9;9 years) who completed tests assessing reading, spelling as well as arithmetic achievement and intelligence via a web-based application. Psychopathology was assessed using questionnaires filled in by the parents. In children with a SLD we found high rates of anxiety disorder (21%), depression (28%), ADHD (28%), and conduct disorder (22%). Children with SLD in multiple learning domains had a higher risk for psychopathology and had a broader spectrum of psychopathology than children with an isolated SLD. The results highlight the importance of screening for and diagnosing psychiatric comorbidities in children with SLD.