Psychiatric Symptoms In Adolescents Research Articles

C-Reactive Protein Does Not Predict Future Depression Onset in Adolescents: Preliminary Findings from a Longitudinal Study.

Introduction: Neuroinflammatory processes have been extensively implicated in the underlying neurobiology of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of nonspecific inflammation commonly utilized in clinical practice, has been associated with depression in adults. In adolescents, our group previously found CRP to be associated with altered neural reward function but not with mood and anxiety symptoms assessed cross-sectionally. We hypothesized that the distinct CRP findings in adolescent versus adult depression may be due to chronicity, with neuroinflammatory effects on psychiatric disorders gradually accumulating over time. Here, we conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate if CRP levels predicted future onset or progression of depression in adolescents. Methods: Participants were 53 adolescents (age = 14.74 ± 1.92 years, 35 female), 40 with psychiatric symptoms and 13 healthy controls. At baseline, participants completed semistructured diagnostic evaluations; dimensional assessments for anxiety, depression, anhedonia, and suicidality severity; and bloodwork to quantify CRP levels. Clinical assessments were repeated at longitudinal follow-up after ∼1.5 years. Spearman's correlation between CRP levels and follow-up symptom severity were controlled for body mass index, age, sex, and follow-up interval and considered significant at the two-tailed, Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.05 level. Results: After correction for multiple comparisons, no relationships were identified between baseline CRP levels and follow-up symptom severity. Conclusion: CRP levels were not significantly associated with future psychiatric symptoms in adolescents in this preliminary analysis. This may suggest that CRP is not a useful biomarker for adolescent depression and anxiety. However, future longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes and incorporating additional indicators of neuroinflammation are needed.

Poetry in youth mutual aid groups for recovery in rural and semi-urban environments

ABSTRACT Background For mental disorders Mutual Aid Groups (MAG) have been proposed, however, these have lack of methodologies that approach the needs of young people. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of MAG in rural and semi-urban environments, developed through poetry, on the improvement of mental health. Methods A quasi-experimental study was carried out in Caldas, Colombia. 171 adolescents participated, divided into 10 MAG. Child Behavior Checklist 4–18 (CBCL/4–18) was used and the nuclear components of the MAG were applied, adding elements of introduction to poetry, creation and group rituals. Results Statistically significant associations (P < .001) were found between the number of sessions and the reduction of symptoms, as well as a decrease in Internalizing Problems and Social problems, after participating in the groups. Conclusion Poetry applied to the core components of the MAG can improve psychiatric symptoms in adolescents.

Independent Prediction of Child Psychiatric Symptoms by Maternal Mental Health and Child Polygenic Risk Scores

Prenatal maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety are associated with an increased risk for child socioemotional and behavioral difficulties, supporting the fetal origins of mental health hypothesis. However, to date, studies have not considered specific genomic risk as a possible confound. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (n= 5,546) was used to test if child polygenic risk score for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, or depression confounds or modifies the impact of prenatal maternal depression and anxiety on child internalizing, externalizing, and total emotional/behavioral symptoms from age 4 to 16 years. Longitudinal child and adolescent symptom data were analyzed in the ALSPAC cohort using generalized estimating equations. Replication analyses were done in an independent cohort (Prevention of Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction [PREDO] cohort; n= 514) from Finland, which provided complementary measures of maternal mental health and child psychiatric symptoms. Maternal depression and anxiety and child polygenic risk scores independently and additively predicted behavioral and emotional symptoms from childhood through mid-adolescence. There was a robust prediction of child and adolescent symptoms from both prenatal maternal depression (generalized estimating equation estimate= 0.093, 95% CI 0.065-0.121, p= 2.66× 10-10) and anxiety (generalized estimating equation estimate= 0.065, 95% CI 0.037-0.093, p= 1.62× 10-5) after adjusting for child genomic risk for mental disorders. There was a similar independent effect of maternal depression (B= 0.156, 95% CI 0.066-0.246, p= .001) on child symptoms in the PREDO cohort. Genetically informed sensitivity analyses suggest that shared genetic risk only partially explains the reported association between prenatal maternal depression and offspring mental health. These findings highlight the genomic contribution to the fetal origins of mental health hypothesis and further evidence that prenatal maternal depression and anxiety are robust in utero risks for child and adolescent psychiatric symptoms.

Changing adolescent activity patterns and the correlation of self-esteem and externalizing mental health symptoms across time: results from the USA from 1991 through 2020.

Common adolescent psychiatric symptoms cluster into two dominant domains: internalizing and externalizing. Both domains are linked to self-esteem, which serves as a protective factor against a wide range of internalizing and externalizing problems. This study examined trends in US adolescents' self-esteem and externalizing symptoms, and their correlation, by sex and patterns of time use. Using Monitoring the Future data (N = 338 896 adolescents, grades:8/10/12, years:1991-2020), we generated six patterns of time use using latent profile analysis with 17 behavior items (e.g. sports participation, parties, paid work). Groups were differentiated by high/low engagement in sports and either paid work or high/low peer socialization. Within each group, we mapped annual, sex-stratified means of (and correlation between) self-esteem and externalizing factors. We also examined past-decade rates of change for factor means using linear regression and mapped proportions with top-quartile levels of poor self-esteem, externalizing symptoms, or both. We found consistent increases in poor self-esteem, decreases in externalizing symptoms, and a positive correlation between the two across nearly all activity groups. We also identified a relatively constant proportion of those with high levels of both in every group. Increases in poor self-esteem were most pronounced for female adolescents with low levels of socializing, among whom externalizing symptoms also increased. Rising trends in poor self-esteem are consistent across time use groups, as is the existence of a group facing poor self-esteem and externalizing symptoms. Effective interventions for adolescents' poor self-esteem/co-occurring symptoms are needed broadly, but especially among female adolescents with low peer socialization.

Homotypic and Heterotypic Continuity in Psychiatric Symptoms From Childhood to Adolescence in Autistic Youth.

Despite the high prevalence of mental health difficulties in autistic youth, little is known about the patterns of developmental continuity and change in psychiatric symptoms between childhood and adolescence. Using a stratified community-derived sample of autistic youth (n= 101; 57 males, 44 females), within (homotypic) and between (heterotypic) domain associations between psychiatric symptoms in childhood to adolescence were tested as well as whether any continuities were moderated by sex, IQ, autism symptom severity, social economic status, or parental mental health. Autistic youth were assessed for emotional, behavioral, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in childhood (age 4-9 years) and adolescence (age 13-17 years) using parental diagnostic interview. Unadjusted and adjusted (accounting for the co-occurrence of psychiatric symptoms in childhood) weighted models tested homotypic and heterotypic associations between symptoms in childhood and adolescence. Moderation of significant pathways was tested using multigroup analysis. Adolescent psychiatric symptoms all were predicted by symptoms of their childhood counterparts (emotional symptoms incidence rate ratio [IRR]= 1.06, 95% CI= 1.02-1.10, p< .01; behavioral symptoms IRR= 1.38, 95% CI= 1.21-1.59, p< .01; ADHD symptoms IRR= 1.11, 95% CI= 1.05-1.19, p< .01); the only heterotypic pathway that remained significant in adjusted analyses was from childhood emotional symptoms to adolescent ADHD symptoms (IRR= 1.04, 95% CI= 1.01-1.07, p= .02). Sex moderated the homotypic ADHD symptoms pathway; associations were significant in female participants only. Child IQ moderated the homotypic behavioral symptoms pathway; the association was stronger in youth with IQ<70. Results from this community-based sample suggest that psychiatric symptoms in autistic youth exhibit substantial developmental continuity and thus highlight the importance of early screening and intervention. Sex and IQ may be important factors to consider when predicting likelihood of stability of ADHD and behavioral symptoms.

Self-perceived rhythmicity in affective and cognitive functions is related to psychiatric symptoms in adolescents

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between self-perceived rhythms measured using the Mood Rhythm Instrument for adolescents (MRhI-Y) and depressive and psychiatric symptoms measured with the Children’s Depressive Instrument (CDI) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). In this study, 186 adolescents were recruited in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We performed a Spearman correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships between quantitative variables. All variables that had a statistically significant correlation were included in ANOVA multiple regression models. The dependent variables in the multiple regression analyses were CDI score and total and emotional scores on the SDQ. We found that only Cognitive self-perceived rhythmicity contributed significantly to the first multiple regression with CDI as the outcome variable. The second regression with SDQ Emotional score as the outcome variable showed that female sex, age, and self-perceived affective rhythmicity contributed significantly to the model. The third regression with SDQ total score as the outcome variable showed that chronotype, self-perceived cognitive symptoms, and affective rhythmicity contributed significantly to the model. In conclusion, we found that lower self-perceived rhythmicity in cognitive factors and higher self-perceived rhythmicity in affective factors were related to presence and intensity of psychiatric and depressive symptoms.

2.52 Reward Network Features Associated With Immune Activity and Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical period marked by rapid maturation of reward circuitry and often by the onset of psychiatric symptoms. Elevated inflammatory biomarkers are also frequently reported in depressed youth. Here, we investigated associations between reward networks properties, clinical symptomatology, and inflammation in a transdiagnostic cohort of adolescents.

Associations between perceived stress and health outcomes in adolescents

BackgroundAdolescents are reporting increasing symptoms of anxiety, depression and somatization and an increase in perceived stress is a plausible explanation. The first aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of perceived stress and health outcomes in adolescents, and to evaluate if there are any sex differences. The second aim was to investigate if there is an association between perceived stress and the health outcomes and, if so, possible gender differences in this association. The third aim was to compare samples of adolescent girls and boys from two different European countries to enhance the generalizability of potential findings.MethodsThe sample included 636 students from Sweden and Bulgaria, aged 15–16, 164 (58% males, 41% females, 1% not specified) from Sweden and 472 (71% males, 28% females, 1% not specified) from Bulgaria. Perceived stress and health outcomes were measured by the 14-item “Perceived Stress Scale” (PSS-14), and a shorter version of the questionnaire "Children and Young People in Skåne" (Folkhälsoenkäten, FHE), respectively. T-test and Chi2 and/or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare results between boys and girls from the PSS-14 and health outcomes. The association between PSS and the health outcomes was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation and comparisons between boys and girls were calculated using linear regression.ResultsThere were significant associations between perceived stress and psychiatric symptoms in all groups. Adolescent girls in both Sweden and Bulgaria consistently reported higher levels of perceived stress and more psychiatric and somatic symptoms than the boys.ConclusionsEvaluating methods for lessening the perception of stress, and their clinical presentation, should be considered in order to reduce the occurrence of psychiatric symptoms in adolescents.

Does the Presence of Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents With Special Educational Needs at Certain Time Points in Earlier Life Predict Functional Outcome Later On?

AimsThis study analyses the progression of psychiatric symptoms over time of young people with special educational needs (SEN). The aims of this study were: 1) To examine whether the presence of psychiatric symptoms in earlier life are more likely to impact functional outcomes in later life in those with SEN; 2) Whether the presence of psychiatric symptoms in adolescence predicts functional outcomes in early adult life.MethodsData were obtained from the Edinburgh Study of Comorbidity (ESC) which was a longitudinal follow-up study of adolescents with SEN. This study had ethical approval from the Multicentre Research Ethics Committee for Scotland. It involved head teachers of 99 schools around Scotland identifying pupils aged 13–22 years whom they would estimate as functioning in the borderline to mild intellectual disability range (estimated IQ between 50–80) and were therefore receiving special educational assistance.Adolescents with SEN were assessed with the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) to evaluate the presence of psychiatric symptoms. A total of 247 individuals with SEN were recruited to the study. They completed the CIS at baseline (T1), 1–2 years later (T2) and 6 years later (T3). At T3, the participants also completed the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHO-DAS) to measure the degree of functional impairment. Correlation statistical analyses were carried out to find whether there was a significant relationship between CIS and total WHO-DAS scores.ResultsThere was a statistically significant correlation between total WHO-DAS score with slowness and anxiety symptoms (p values 0.008 and 0.024 respectively) measured on the CIS at T1. None of the symptoms measured on CIS at T2 had a statistically significant correlation with total WHO-DAS score. With the symptoms that were significant, after application of a Bonferroni correction, none of the symptoms measured on CIS had a statistically significant correlation at any time point with total WHO-DAS score.ConclusionOur results show that there is some evidence that anxiety and slowness in adolescence are associated with greater functional impairment in young adulthood. However, further research is required to confirm this relationship. Our data highlight the potential value of identification and treatment of psychiatric symptoms in early adolescence.

Ergenlerde SCL-90-R ile Psikiyatrik Belirtilerin Değerlendirilmesi: Kesitsel Araştırma

Objective: Adolescents sometimes develop some psychological problems that may escape their or parents' notice, which can lead to problems in later life. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of unidentified psychiatric symptoms in adolescents. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 620 adolescents between 14-18 years of age. Participants were given a sociodemographic data form and Symptom Check List (SCL- 90-R) screening test consisting of 90 items about psychiatric symptoms and complaints. Results: In evaluation of the SCL-90-R subscale, scores of the participating adolescents were found to be >1 regarding somatization (40.5%), anxiety (32.4%), obsessive compulsive disorder (45.5%), depression (34.8%), sensitivity in interpersonal relations (37.7%), psychotic symptoms (20.3%), paranoid thought (35.5%), anger (43.7%), and phobic (17.3%) which interpreted as indication of important psychological problems. Median scores of somatization, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, interpersonal sensitivity, anger, paranoid thought, phobic anxiety, additional score and general symptom index were found to be significantly higher in females (p<0.05). It was found that factors such as school success, cigarette use, mothers' employment, family income level, parents' marital status, and family history of psychiatric illness had significant effect on certain psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion: Previously unidentified psychiatric symptoms among adolescents, especially among females were observed. Despite the participating adolescents expressed no psychiatric complaints, the findings suggest psychiatric symptoms can easily be overlooked in this age group.

Structure and trends of externalizing and internalizing psychiatric symptoms and gender differences among adolescents in the US from 1991 to 2018.

PurposeWe aimed to estimate the structure of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and potential time dynamics in their association. This is understudied among adolescents, despite increasing internalizing and decreasing externalizing symptoms in recent years.MethodsWe analyzed data from US Monitoring the Future cross-sectional surveys (1991–2018) representative of school-attending adolescents (N = 304,542). Exploratory factor analysis using maximum likelihood estimation method and promax rotation resulted in a two-factor solution (factor correlation r = 0.24) that differentiated eight internalizing and seven conduct-related externalizing symptoms. Time-varying effect modification linear regression models estimated the association between standardized internalizing and externalizing symptoms factor scores over time overall and by gender.ResultsIn 2012, trends in average factor scores diverged for internalizing and externalizing factors. The average standardized internalizing factor score increased from − 0.03 in 2012 to 0.06 in 2013 and the average externalizing factor score decreased from − 0.06 in 2011 to − 0.13 in 2012. We found that for every one-unit increase in standardized internalizing factor score, standardized externalizing factor score increased by 0.224 units in 2010 (95% CI: 0.215, 0.233); the magnitude of this increase was 22.3% lower in 2018 (i.e., 0.174 units; 95% CI: 0.160, 0.188). Decoupling of internalizing and externalizing symptoms began earlier among boys (~ 1995) than among girls (~ 2010).ConclusionThe decoupling of internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents suggests that changes in the prevalence of shared risk factors for adolescent psychiatric symptoms affect these dimensions in opposing directions, raising the importance of considering symptoms and their risk factors together in prevention and intervention efforts.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00127-021-02189-4.

1.6 Personality Profiles Associated With the Risk of Substance Use and Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents Living in Vulnerable Contexts

Four personality risk profiles have been related to higher risk of substance misuse and mental health disorders among general populations of adolescents: impulsivity (IMP), sensation seeking (SS), hopelessness (HOP), and anxiety sensitivity (AS). Based on these previous findings, we tested the hypotheses that, in adolescents living in vulnerable contexts: 1) the 2 internalizing personality profiles (HOP, AS) would be related to internalizing symptoms (depressive, anxiety) and PTSD and complex-PTSD, whereas, 2 externalizing personality profiles (SS, IMP) would be related to externalizing symptoms (conduct, hyperactivity/inattentive); and 2) all personality profiles would be related to frequencies of alcohol and cannabis use and binge drinking. Participants were 62 adolescents (52% female; Mean age = 16.07 years) temporarily residing at 8 different youth protection units across the City of Montreal. Adolescents were assessed using the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) for 4 personality profiles and other self-report questionnaires for past-year substance use and mental health disorders. Univariate regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between 4 types of personality profiles, when simultaneously entered in the model, and each outcome. Over and above other personality risk profiles: higher AS, HOP, and SS were related to higher internalizing symptoms (t = 3.33, p < 0.01; t = 4.22, p < 0.001; t = 2.02, p < 0.05, respectively), whereas higher IMP was associated with higher externalizing symptoms (t = 5.00, p < 0.001). HOP was positively associated with complex-PTSD (β = 1.24; p < 0.05) and higher frequencies of alcohol (t = 2.13; p < 0.05) and cannabis (t = 2.28; p < 0.05) use. SS was positively related to binge drinking (t = 2.37; p < 0.05). The present study replicated some of the prior findings regarding the associations of personality profiles and risk of specific mental illness symptoms/disorders and additionally highlighted the role of HOP in the risk of substance misuse in adolescents living in vulnerable contexts. Efforts to reduce such risk in this population might benefit from personality-targeted interventions, which have been shown to prevent substance misuse and mental illness symptoms in students attending mainstream high schools.

Immune-Related Genetic Overlap Between Regional Gray Matter Reductions and Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents, and Gene-Set Validation in a Translational Model.

Adolescence is a period of vulnerability for the maturation of gray matter (GM) and also for the onset of psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Chronic neuroinflammation is considered to play a role in the etiology of these illnesses. However, the involvement of neuroinflammation in the observed link between regional GM volume reductions and psychiatric symptoms is not established yet. Here, we investigated a possible common immune-related genetic link between these two phenomena in european adolescents recruited from the community. Hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were defined a priori as regions of interest (ROIs). Their GM volumes were extracted in 1,563 14-year-olds from the IMAGEN database. We found a set of 26 SNPs that correlated with the hippocampal volumes and 29 with the mPFC volumes at age 14. We formed two ROI-Related Immune-gene scores (RRI) with the inflammation SNPs that correlated to hippocampal GM volume and to mPFC GM volume. The predictive ability of both RRIs with regards to the presence of psychiatric symptoms at age 18 was investigated by correlating the RRIs with psychometric questionnaires obtained at age 18. The RRIs (but not control scores constructed with random SNPs) correlated with the presence of depressive symptoms, positive psychotic symptoms, and externalizing symptoms in later adolescence. In addition, the effect of childhood maltreatment, one of the major environmental risk factors for depression and other mental disorders, interacted with the RRI effect. We next sought to validate this finding by investigating our set of inflammatory genes in a translational animal model of early life adversity. Mice were subjected to a protocol of maternal separation at an early post-natal age. We evaluated depressive behaviors in separated and non-separated mice at adolescence and their correlations with the concomitant expression of our genes in whole blood samples. We show that in mice, early life adversity affected the expression of our set of genes in peripheral blood, and that levels of expression correlated with symptoms of negative affect in adolescence. Overall, our translational findings in adolescent mice and humans provide a novel validated gene-set of immune-related genes for further research in the early stages of mood disorders.

Predictors and moderators of marijuana and heavy alcohol use outcomes in adolescents treated for co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders in a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe current study identifies predictors and moderators of substance use outcomes for 111 adolescents with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders who participated in a randomized controlled trial that compared the effectiveness of two home-based treatments: an integrated cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) protocol, in which masters-level clinic staff received intensive training and ongoing supervision in the use of this protocol versus a treatment-as-usual (TAU) comparison condition in which therapists received a continuing education–style CBT workshop in the same protocol. MethodThe study conducted exploratory predictor and moderator analyses of marijuana and heavy alcohol use outcomes using candidate variables across four domains of psychological characteristics: adolescent substance use, adolescent psychiatric symptoms, parent, and family. ResultsRegardless of treatment condition, low parental monitoring at baseline, as assessed by a videotaped interaction task, but not self-report, predicted greater percentage of marijuana use and heavy alcohol use days over the 6-month follow-up period. If parents entered treatment with low levels of parental monitoring, adolescents in the I-CBT condition reduced their percentage of heavy alcohol use days significantly more than adolescents in TAU over the 6-month follow-up period. Greater adolescent aggression and parental emotion dysregulation at baseline also predicted greater percentage of marijuana use days over the 6-month follow-up period for the sample as a whole. Adolescents in the I-CBT condition who reported low positive urgency at baseline reduced their percentage of heavy alcohol use days significantly more than adolescents in TAU care over the 6-month follow-up period. ConclusionThe article discusses implications for clinical decision-making, improving treatment effectiveness, and tailoring interventions for adolescents with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders.

Amantadine for the treatment of childhood and adolescent psychiatric symptoms

This retrospective study examined clinical parameters associated with amantadine treatment of psychiatric symptoms in children. A total of 297 pediatric patients were prescribed amantadine and met study criteria to assess clinical responses and medication outcomes. More than 62% of patients experienced clinically significant symptom control and 83% achieved at least maintenance symptom control, while 11% discontinued amantadine for nonresponse and 6% stopped amantadine because of side effects. Among patients previously receiving other psychotropic medication, 42% and 28% of patients fully discontinued second- or third-generation antipsychotics or antidepressants, respectively. Patients responsive to amantadine who discontinued or reduced antipsychotic dose experienced a significant reduction in body mass index. Amantadine appears be an efficacious and safe alternative for treatment of a broad set of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents. Specifically, it may serve as an effective adjunct to stimulants for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder–related symptoms and appears to be a safer alternative to second- or third-generation antipsychotics.

Autistic Traits and Social Responsiveness: The Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Comorbid Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa.

Introduction:It is known that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) display social difficulties like social responsiveness and high levels of autistic behaviors such as rigidity, narrow interests of food and weight; however it is not clear whether they have comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or it is about acute phase of illness. In this study it is aimed to investigate autistic traits and social responsiveness in adolescents with AN.Methods:Study group was consisted of 39 female AN patients aged between 12-18 years. Control group was consisted of 34 female adolescents who did not have any psychiatric disorder. K-SADS-PL was applied to all participants in order to detect the psychiatric disorders. Autism traits and social responsiveness were evaluated using Social Responsiveness Scale. All adolescents of the study were administered The Eating Attitude Test, Beck Depression Inventory, Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders, Maudsley Obsesive Compulsive Inventory.Results:Results of the study indicated that adolescents with AN had higher symptoms of depression, anxiety and autism-like symptom clusters; and lower social responsiveness. Psychiatric comorbidities were not associated with these difficulties.Conclusion:The results show that AN patients have an impairment of social responsiveness, the impairment seems to be associated with AN regardless of psychiatric comorbidities. Despite these two disorders are considered unrelated, they have several traits in common. These results suggest that there may be a common pathogenesis between ASD and AN.

Utility of oxcarbazepine in the treatment of childhood and adolescent psychiatric symptoms

The primary aims of this study were to determine if oxcarbazepine is a safely tolerated option for treatment of psychiatric symptoms in children and whether its use facilitates dose modification of other psychotropic medications. A retrospective chart review was completed using data extracted from the electronic medical record of a large outpatient child psychiatry clinic. A total of 507 of 740 children prescribed oxcarbazepine for psychiatric indications for 3 months or more had adequate data to assess clinical responses and medication outcomes. Most patients prescribed oxcarbazepine experienced clinically significant control of irritability/anger, mood stabilization, aggressive outbursts, impulsivity, or anxiety, with over 80% achieving at least maintenance symptom control. In all, 51% and 25% fully discontinued second- or third-generation antipsychotic or antidepressant medication, respectively, after starting oxcarbazepine; 8% discontinued oxcarbazepine for nonresponse, while 9% stopped oxcarbazepine because of emergent side effects. In patients fully discontinuing or reducing the second- or third-generation antipsychotic dose by 50% or more, improvements in body mass index were observed. Oxcarbazepine may prove to be an appropriate alternative to antipsychotic and antidepressant medications for treating psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents. In particular, it may be a more metabolically neutral psychotropic medication.

The relationship between nomophobia and psychiatric symptoms in adolescents

Objective This study aimed to find out whether nomophobia levels are higher in adolescents with internalising or externalising disorders than healthy adolescents and to investigate the correlation of nomophobia levels with externalising and internalising symptoms. Methods K-SADS (Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia) was applied to 139 adolescents (ages 13–18) and they were asked to fill No Mobile Phone Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), while the parents were asked to complete Conners Parent Rating Scale-48 (CPRS-48). Results There were no significant differences in nomophobia total scores between the three study groups. However, losing connectedness (LC) and not being able to access information (NAI) subscores were significantly higher in group with internalising disorder than healthy controls and there was no significant difference between group with externalising disorder and healthy group. Separation anxiety, social phobia, total anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and oppositional problems positively correlated with nomophobia total score. Conduct problems correlated with only LC. Total anxiety and hyperactivity predicted nomophobia total score. Conclusions Since anxiety and hyperactivity were predictors of nomophobia according to the study, adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or anxiety disorder should be examined for nomophobia as well. Key points Nomophobia levels of internalising and externalising disordered groups did not differ. Internalising group had higher scores in two sub-dimensions of nomophobia. All anxiety and depression symptoms correlated with nomophobia. Hyperactivity and oppositional symptoms correlated with nomophobia. Total anxiety and hyperactivity were predictors of nomophobia.

Adolescent Mental Health Following Exposure to Positive and Harsh Parenting in Childhood.

The purpose of the present study was to assess longitudinal associations between positive and harsh parenting in childhood and adolescent mental and behavioral difficulties. Data were drawn from Canada's population-based National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (data collected from 1994 to 2009, analyzed 2018). The sample included 9,882 adolescents aged 12/13 years old. Parents self-reported positive and harsh parenting when children were 6/7, 8/9, and 10/11 years old. Symptoms of depression/anxiety, hyperactivity, physical aggression, social aggression, and suicidal ideation were self-reported by adolescents at age 12/13. Linear regression was used to examine the associations between parenting behaviors at each age and adolescent psychiatric symptoms, adjusted for children's baseline symptoms. Harsh parenting at 10/11 was associated with elevated symptoms of early-adolescent physical aggression, social aggression, and suicidal ideation for boys only, and for all children at earlier ages. Beginning at age 8/9, harsh discipline was associated with elevated symptoms of depression/anxiety for boys only. Overall, positive parenting at age 6/7 was protective against depression/anxiety, physical aggression, and social aggression. Significant sex differences emerged beginning at age 8/9, with positive parenting associated with higher symptoms of depression/anxiety for boys only. Positive parenting at age 10/11 was associated with increased depression/anxiety, physical aggression, social aggression, and suicidal ideation among boys, but decreased symptoms of physical aggression, social aggression, and suicidal ideation among girls. Results suggest that the impact of positive and harsh parenting may depend on age and sex, with harsh parenting being more detrimental to boys as they approach adolescence.

Psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with narcolepsy

Psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with narcolepsy