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Aim: Assessing rates of neurodevelopmental problems (NDPs) in 11‐year‐old children and possible association with other health complaints and school performance. Methods: In‐school study of 11‐year‐old children as an add‐on assessment to the 4th grade regular health check‐up, comprising a structured physical neurodevelopmental examination, neuropsychological assessment, behavioural ratings, maternal interview, review of medical records and academic achievements. Results: Out of 348 children recruited from eight schools, 223 (64%) participated. Any physical condition was found in 102/222 (46%), most commonly atopy (18%). One in five had a BMI z‐score >2 standard deviations over the reference mean. One or more NDP was found in 86/221 (40%) children. The number of failed national tests correlated positively with NDP severity rated with the clinical global impression severity instrument (Spearman's r = 0.41, p < 0.001). The majority of participants with failed national tests, also had co‐occurring health complaints (≥2 of: stomach or extremity ache, headache, difficulties sleeping, internalising symptoms or obesity) and NDPs. Conclusion: Health complaints, physical conditions and NDPs are very common in 11‐year‐old children and warrant adequately staffed, thoroughly equipped school healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of pain in children and adolescents with psychiatric conditions is rarely investigated. The aims of the current study were to (a) describe the prevalence of headaches and abdominal pain in children and adolescents with psychiatric conditions, (b) compare the prevalence of pain in children and adolescents with psychiatric conditions with that in the general population, and (c) investigate the associations between pain experience and different types of psychiatric diagnoses. Families with a child aged 6–15 years who had been referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) clinic completed the Chronic Pain in Psychiatric Conditions questionnaire. Information about the child/adolescent's psychiatric diagnosis(es) was extracted from the CAP clinic's medical records. The children and adolescents included in the study were divided into diagnostic groups and compared. Their data were also compared with data of control subjects collected during a previous study of the general population. Abdominal pain was more common among girls with a psychiatric diagnosis (85%) than in the matched control population (62%, p = 0.031). Children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental diagnoses had a higher prevalence of abdominal pain than children and adolescents with other psychiatric diagnoses. Pain conditions in children and adolescents with a psychiatric diagnosis are common and must be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (Peds QL™) among adolescents sampled from Bulgaria, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Serbia, and Turkey. The multiple-indicator multiple-cause ( MIMIC) model was used, which allowed controlling of demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, and socioeconomic status). Significant effects of country on scores within the Peds QL™ domains were observed, with up to 17 items showing differential item functioning ( DIF) across the countries. We did not find support for cross-cultural measurement invariance hypotheses for scores on the Peds QL™ adolescent self-report in this study. Researchers should use caution in making cross-cultural quality of life comparisons while using the Peds QL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Suicidal ideation and sleep-related problems are associated with many common psychopathological entities in early adolescence. This study examined possible association between suicidal ideation and sleep-related problems. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in classroom settings at 840 early adolescents 11-13 years of age. Of those, 791 adolescents fully completed the data and thus represent an actual sample. Suicidal ideations were assessed with three dichotomous (yes/no) items: ' I often think about death'; ' I wish I was dead'; ' I often think about suicide.' A composite measure of perceived sleep-related problems was formed by combining items from the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ( Do you find it hard to sleep at night because you are worrying about things?), Children Depression Inventory ( It is hard for me to fall asleep at night), and two additional dichotomous questions ( I often was not able to fall asleep because of worrying; At times I was not able to stay asleep because of worrying). This score mainly assessed difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep. Results A total of 7.1% adolescents reported suicidal ideation and 86.7% of them had sleep problems. Sleep-related problems were associated with any suicidal ideation and each type of ideation separately. Conclusion This study suggests association of sleep problems and suicidal ideations in early adolescence. Therefore, clinicians should evaluate this population for sleep disturbances, as they might be a marker of increased risk for suicidality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL ™ ) among adolescents sampled from Bulgaria, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Serbia, and Turkey. The multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) model was used, which allowed controlling of demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, and socioeconomic status). Significant effects of country on scores within the PedsQL ™ domains were observed, with up to 17 items showing differential item functioning (DIF) across the countries. We did not find support for cross-cultural measurement invariance hypotheses for scores on the PedsQL ™ adolescent self-report in this study. Researchers should use caution in making cross-cultural quality of life comparisons while using the PedsQL., (© 2015 The Authors. Journal of Research on Adolescence © 2015 Society for Research on Adolescence.)