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Introduction: Childhood or Early Onset Schizophrenia (EOS), defined as the onset of psychotic symptoms before the thirteenth birthday, represents a rare, clinically severe variant, associated with significant chronic functional impairment and poor response to antipsychotic treatment. Despite of that, in clinical practice, atypical agents have become the treatment of choice in patients with EOS. Aims: To review the different pharmacological strategies, in which an atypical antipsychotic was used in the management of EOS in childhood and adolescence. Methods: We conducted a literature search of articles related to the use of atypical antipsychotics in children and adolescents with EOS in the last 20 years from the Medline database. Results: Several atypical antipsychotics, such as Risperidone, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Aripiprazol and Clozapine were consistently found to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms in EOS when compared to placebo. Although Clozapine has demonstrated to be more efficacious than other atypical and typical antipsychotics, it remains the medication of last resort due to its profile of side effects. Finally, in general, children and adolescent have a higher risk of extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, prolactin elevation, sedation and metabolic effects of atypical antipsychotics than adults. Conclusions: Antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment of EOS. Randomized controlled trials suggest a trend to superior efficacy for atypical antipsychotics over classic antipsychotic. Children and adolescents trend to be more sensible to antipsychotic side effects. Clinicians should be aware of this problem and be careful when monitoring this type of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different studies have related sexual and physical abuse during childhood and adolescence to the development of substance abuse disorders. Nevertheless, we are not aware of the role that other more common maltreatment types, such as neglect, will play among the most risky pattern of consumption: the polydrug use. A clinical sample of 655 adolescents, divided into two groups: polydrug users and non-polydrug users , were assessed on their pattern of drug consumption, history of childhood maltreatment, current psychopathology and their family history of alcoholism. Polydrug users had a greater prevalence of all types of maltreatment, although the most associated to this group were sexual abuse and emotional neglect. Other relevant variables to adolescent consumption were: the diagnosis of depressive disorder, the presence of anxiety traits and the family history of alcohol dependence. Polydrug users have higher risks of having had problems during infancy and adolescence, such as maltreatment and other psychopathological conditions, with the addition of family history of alcoholism. Accordingly, practitioners should take into account that those variables may influence polydrug abuse because it is the most risky pattern for subsequent dependence of substances, and they should always be considered during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disturbed eating behaviors are a significant health concern among child and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) and are generally related to poor glycemic control, ketoacidosis, hospitalization and microvascular complications. Rates of eating problems among youths with DM1 have been reported to be as high as 38%. Aims: To review clinical characteristics, demographic profiles and risk factors for the development of eating disturbances among child and adolescents with DM1. Methods: We performed a literature research of articles from 1980 until present, in which a Disturbed Eating Behavior appeared comorbid with DM1 in children and adolescents, using Medline database. Results: Almost all studies selected report a high prevalence of eating disturbances of child and adolescents with DM1 when compared with healthy pairs. This population trend to develop body image discontent and lower self-esteem. They are more likely to diet, skip meals, and omit insulin. All these practices have been associated with worsening diabetic medical complications and poorer psychological outcome. Conclusions: Due to the high prevalence and severe medical and psychological complications associated with disturbed eating behaviors among pediatric population with DM1, clinicians and school professionals may benefit from specialized training to identify the range of unhealthy weight control behaviors used by youths with DM1. Preventive programs that address disturbed eating behaviors should be provided for adolescents with DM1 in order to reduce the psychological and medical impact of this comorbid situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]