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Background Both mental and physical preventable health problems related to screen time (ST) in children and adolescents are increasing. It is important that psychiatrists have awareness to prevent problems in this area. Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the child psychiatrists’ awareness about ST, their interventions for ST, and to what extent the recommendations of the associations are implemented. Method All child and adolescent psychiatrists in the country who could be reached via smartphone were invited to participate in the study. Child and adolescent psychiatrists were included regardless of whether they had attended any ST courses/panels. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. A total of 302 physicians volunteered for the study. Results It was determined that very few child and adolescent psychiatrists had attended an ST course/training in the past or followed any guidelines. A statistically significant difference was found between physicians who received training/courses and those who did not in terms of informing patients and offering interventions (p Conclusion Raising awareness, increasing psychiatrist participation in trainings, and following guidelines can increase the effectiveness of ST interventions, in order to achieve good results.

The aim of this descriptive study was to determine the factors affecting internalized stigmatization of adolescents with mental disorders.The study data were collected in a university hospital between August 1, 2020 and July 30, 2021 (n = 123), using a Personal information form and the Internalized Stigmatization of Mental Illness-Adolescent Form (ISMI-AF).Gender and the number of hospitalizations were determined to be independent variables with explanatory power in the ISMI-AF, and in the model created with these variables, it was determined that these variables explained 18% of the change in the total points of the ISMI-AF.It could be recommended that psychosocial programs are developed with the aim of decreasing internalized stigmatization and increasing the psychological resilience of adolescents.

WOS:000692891800002 Under some given conditions, we prove the explosion result of the solution of the system of nonlocal singular viscoelastic with damping and source terms on general case. This current study is a general case of the previous work of Boulaaras.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) causes significant psychic distress and affects children's social and academic functioning. Approximately 80% of OCD cases begin in childhood. Earlier onset is associated with more severe OC symptoms, poorer treatment response, and a more unfavorable clinical course. A particular oxidative stress marker, thiol/disulfide homeostasis, using a new, comparatively inexpensive, easily calculated, easily accessible, repeatable, and fully automated method was investigated between pediatric patients diagnosed with OCD and a healthy control group in this study. This study is the first to address this subject in pediatric patients with OCD and aims to contribute to our knowledge of the etiopathogenesis and treatment of pediatric OCD. The study included children with OCD (n = 35, 52.2%) (drug free, comorbidity free) between 11 and 18 years of age and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 32, 47.8%). The total thiol (p = 0.025) and disulfide (p = 0.001) levels and the disulfide/native thiol (p = 0.001) and disulfide/total thiol ratios (p = 0.001) were significantly different between the groups. Also, in the patient group, biochemical analysis revealed that the disulfide level (p = 0.05) and the disulfide/native thiol (p = 0.034) and disulfide/total thiol ratios (p = 0.039) differed significantly according to the presence of a family history of psychiatric disorders. Consequently, the results of our study show that thiol/disulfide homeostasis may affect the etiopathogenesis of pediatric OCD and can be utilized as a new method when evaluating oxidative stress.

In this paper, several physical activity-based human–computer interaction (HCI) games which are developed and implemented for the improvement of attention, emotion, and sensory–motor coordination will be presented. The interface and the difficulty levels of these games are specially designed for the use of people with different age groups and disabilities. The games involve physical activities for the fulfillment of some basic HCI tasks which require hand and arm motion for control, such as fruit picking and air hockey, with adaptive difficulty levels based on varying parameters of the games and human performance. In the fruit picking game, several fruit images are moving from top to the bottom of the screen. Objective is to collect apples while avoiding the pears. The player’s hand will control the basket that collects the fruits. In the air hockey game, the player will try to score goals against computer-controlled opponent. The player’s hand will control the paddle to hit the puck to score or to defend his/her goal area. The player’s hand is recognized by Kinect RGB-D sensors in both games. Aim of the adaptive difficulty-based system is keeping the players engaged in the games. The games are tested with a group of deaf children (3.5–5 years) as a part of an ongoing project,1 to decrease the stress of the children and increase their positive emotions, attention, and sensory–motor coordination before the audiology tests. The game performances and the evaluation of the therapists show that the games have a positive impact on the children. The games are also tested with a group of adults as a control group, where a mobile EEG device is employed to detect the attention levels. For this purpose, the adults also attended a third game featuring a maze and controlled with Myo sensors.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the antipsychotics prescribed by child psychiatrists and their applications on the follow-up of these drugs. Methods: The universe of this research ...

Objective Children may be greatly affected by events that increase stress in individuals in general and are reported as the vulnerable groups during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. But most of the studies in the literature investigating the mental effects of the pandemic on children were conducted with healthy children and limited study has evaluated the effect on children diagnosed with COVID-19. The aim of this study is to determine the anxiety level in paediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and the affecting factors. Methods This descriptive study was conducted with 292 children aged 8–18 years who were diagnosed with COVID-19. Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Interviews were held by phone. Results Males were 51.4% of participants, the mean age was 16.04 ± 1.93. 84.1% of them had a chronic disease; the transmission source was family/relatives/friends for 41.1%. By social isolation, 49.3% were affected and 33.2% were affected by disease symptoms the most in this process. The most common symptoms were headache (61.6%), and asthenia (59.9%). Mean anxiety scale score was 25.5 ± 14.37. The effect of gender, number of symptoms and transmission source on anxiety score was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion Paediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were found to have high anxiety levels. It is recommended to re-evaluate the duration of children’s social participation and support the management of COVID-19 symptoms that affect their anxiety level.

The aim of this study is to determine functioning of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) diagnosed in childhood and also depression and burnout levels among their parents. 261 adults with ASDs and their parents were recruited for the study. Both parents completed the Beck Depression and Maslach Burnout Inventories and reported the functioning of their adult offspring with ASDs. Only 5.4 % of our sample reported “good” or “very good” outcome. The most common psychiatric comorbidities were intellectual disabilities and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Maternal burnout and depression scores were significantly elevated compared to those of fathers. There is an undeniable urgent need for more research to identify the needs of adults and families suffering from ASD.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and comorbidities of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by evaluating a large-scale nation-wide sample of children. Method: The inclusion criterion was being enrolled as a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th-grade student. A semi-structured diagnostic interview (K-SADS-PL), DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders, and assessment of impairment (by both parents and teachers) were applied to 5,842 participants. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 19.5% without impairment and 12.4% with impairment. Both ADHD with and without impairment groups had similar psychiatric comorbidity rates except for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) diagnoses. Impairment in the ADHD group resulted in significantly higher ODD and CD diagnoses. Conclusion: Even when impairment is not described, other psychiatric disorders accompany the diagnosis of ADHD and may cause impairment in the future. Impairment in the diagnosis of ADHD significantly increases the likelihood of ODD and CD.

OBJECTIVE Multiple risk factors affect the emergence of substance use disorders among adolescents and their families. To the best of our knowledge, the effects of irritability, problem solving, decision making skills and maternal attitudes on the severity of the substance use have not been evaluated on the same population. We aimed to evaluate the presence and the effects all of these variables on the severity of substance dependence. METHOD The study included 40 adolescents, between 14 and 17 years of age, consulting the Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases outpatient clinics with complaints of substance use and 40 age and gender matched healthy controls. The diagnoses were based on the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Both groups completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Parent Attitude Research Instrument (PARI), the Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire (ADMQ), the ProblemSolving Inventory (PSI) and the DSM-5 Level 2 Irritability Scale. The patient group were also tested on the Addiction Profile Index for Adolescents (API-AF). RESULTS Problem solving skills scores of the patients were lower and the scores on the irritability scale completed by the patients and their parents were higher as compared to the control group. Complacency (indifference) in decision-making predicted the severity of the addiction. As the complacency in decision-making increased, the severity of addiction also increased. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that problem solving and decisionmaking skills and irritability levels of the adolescents together with the family attitudes, affect substance use disorder in adolescence. These variables should be considered in preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Atypical antipsychotics in children and adolescents are widely used for aggression, emotional variability and psychosis treatment. Aripiprazole is also an atypical antipsychotic that increasingly used in children and adolescents with schizophrenia, autism and bipolar disorder. In this case report, a medically healthy patient with autism associated with behavioral problems is presented with the development of hypertension after the onset of aripiprazole and the return of blood pressure to normal levels after withdrawal of the drug. The purpose of this case study is to discuss and report the emergence of aripiprazole-induced hypertension as a side effect of drugs in children and adolescents.

Aims: Peer bullying is a frequent problem among adolescents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of complementary prevention for peer bullying in 11-14-year-old adolescents with family, teacher, student collaboration and to assess the effect of peer bullying on the quality of life. Methods: Seven hundred sixty students registered in school between ages 11-14, and who accepted to participate in the study were included in our investigation. Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were used as data collection tools in the study. After the pre-test, school teachers and two selected students from each class; a total of 48 students were trained in peer bullying in small group. Interactive awareness activities were organized for the students at the school with all trained students and teachers to raise awareness of peer bullying. Afterwards, information brochures were distributed to the children and parents. 3 weeks after the training post-test was applied. The statistical evaluation of the study was carried out by using Chi-square and Student’s t-tests. Results: The questions about bullying and victimization were analyzed. In the study, the rate of victim students reduced from 43.2% to 30.4%; the rate of bully students reduced from 23.4% to 21.7%. There was a significant reduction in the rate of people involved in peer bullying. Nevertheless, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory assessment of health-related quality of life in our group showed that the quality of life of students who were not involved in peer bullying was significantly higher. After our training, quality of life significantly increased in students who were not involved in bullying, compared to the ones who are involved in bullying. Conclusion: In our study group, it was observed that the quality of life of students who were not involved in peer bullying was significantly higher. The number of people involved in peer bullying decreased significantly. The low number of invalid surveys revealed that our research was successful in attracting the attention of the target group.

AIMS About 3.5 million Syrian refugees are living within the borders of Turkey. This study examined depression, loneliness and factors influencing refugee children who live outside the camps and attend school in Turkey. METHODS This was a descriptive study in Sanliurfa, which has the second highest refugee population in Turkey. The sample consisted of 535 students attending 6-8 grades in five schools randomly selected of 18 schools located in the city centre where the Syrian children received their education. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Question Form, the Depression Scale for Children and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Data were analysed by IBM spss v23. The percentage, average and standard deviation were determined. A linear regression analysis was used to examine the independent variables affecting loneliness and depression scores, and the Backward method was used to include independent variables in the model. Significance level was considered as P

PubMed: 33459915 The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a child affects family processes, increases parenting stress and marital conflicts, and may lead to parental psychopathology. It may also affect the prognosis for their children. The aim of this study is to determine depression and burnout levels as well as their predictors among parents of children with ASD compared with those of healthy children. We also sought to evaluate rate of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions among parents and explore the associations of this phenomenon in an exploratory fashion. 145 children with ASD and 127 control children were enrolled along with their mothers and fathers. Beck Depression Inventory and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to evaluate parents’ depression symptoms and burnout levels. Symptoms of children with ASDs were evaluated according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale by the clinicians. Family, child and CAM variables were screened by means of a sociodemographic data form. Descriptive, bivariate and correlation analyses were used in statistical evaluations. Predictors of burnout were evaluated with multiple regression analysis. Burnout and depression levels among parents of children with ASD were significantly elevated compared to controls. Burnout levels of mothers were significantly elevated compared to fathers while depression scores of fathers were significantly elevated compared to mothers. Maternal burnout was significantly predicted by presence of functional speech in child while paternal burnout was significantly predicted by paternal vocation. Maternal depression was associated with paternal depression, lack of speech in child and attendance of child to special education services. Paternal depression was associated with autistic symptom severity and maternal depression. More than half the parents sought CAM interventions. Education level did not affect search for CAM interventions while both maternal and paternal psychopathology and presence of epilepsy among children increased use of CAM methods. Psychological support should be provided to both mothers and fathers of a child receiving a diagnosis of ASD. Addressing parents’ burnout and stress levels and facilitating their negotiation of knowledge on etiology and treatments for ASD may be beneficial for the family unit as a whole. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.

Background: Approximately 80% of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) cases begin in childhood. Various genetic, psychological, sociological factors and biological mechanisms are involved in the etiology of OCD. To the best of our knowledge the relationship between inflammation and OCD is unclear. Chronic inflammation was shown to increase neopterin and decrease tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels by activating the neopterin–BH4 pathway. In addition, studies have shown that it can be an important biomarker in psychiatric disorders. Objective: This study compared serum TGF-1β, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, neopterin, BH4, and nitric oxide (NO) levels between child and adolescent patients diagnosed with OCD and a healthy control group. Methods: The study included 29 patients diagnosed with OCD (comorbidity free, drug free) and 28 healthy children as an aged and sex matched control group. For the measurement of neurobiological markers, venous blood samples were collected, and analyzed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: All cytokine levels were found to be low, but this decrease was statistically significant only for TGF-1β. The neopterin and NO levels were significantly higher and BH4 significantly lower in children with OCD compared to the healthy control group. Conclusion: The results of our study show that the levels of TGF-1β and NO and the activation of the neopterin–BH4 pathway may be implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD. Additionally, anti-oxidant and BH4 adjuvant therapies should be investigated as treatment options for OCD.

Topal, Zehra/0000-0001-8397-5636; Kandemir, Hasan/0000-0002-1138-4973; Tufan, Evren/0000-0001-5207-6240; KUTUK, OZGUR/0000-0001-9854-7220 WOS: 000554002300029 PubMed: 32563959 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in communication and social interaction as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. The pathogenesis of ASD is not completely understood, but a growing body of research has demonstrated that the immune response may be a contributing factor in the etiology and/or ontogeny of ASD. The aim of this study was to determine the expression levels of IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children with ASD and healthy controls in order to determine the contributions of cytokines to ASD. Within the study timeframe, 195 children with ASDs (80.5% male) and 162 controls (73.6% male) were enrolled. Most children with ASD had a comorbid disorder (n = 114, 58.5%), with the most common diagnoses as Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD, n = 64, 32.8%) and ADHD (n = 64, 32.8%). The majority of children with ASD had severe autistic symptoms as evaluated via Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS, n = 130, 64.6%). The mean CARS score in the ASD sample was 40.8 (S.D. = 7.6). The patients with ASD were found to have significantly higher levels of IL-6 (p < 0.001) and significantly lower levels of IL-17 (p < 0.05, all Bonferroni corrected). Treatment tended to affect IL-4 levels. Lastly, discriminant function analysis (DFA) revealed that a combination of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-1 alpha correctly classified 56.6% of cases. Despite extensive immunological evidence suggesting immune system aberrations, further research is required to clarify the relationship between immune profiles and ASD symptoms. Science Academy BAGEP program Ozgur Kutuk acknowledges support from Science Academy BAGEP program.

Aim To determine the attitudes of child and adolescent psychiatrists working in different institutions throughout Turkey towards smoking addiction and intervention steps. Material and methods An information form assessing physicians' 5As approach was established considering the studies included in the literature, and this form was applied to physicians working in the area of child psychiatry by way of e-mail and phone. Results Although most physicians (52.5%) asked about smoking status, which is included in the first step in the 5As approach used in smoking cessation, it was observed that they implemented further steps of the 5As with gradually decreasing rates in our study. Only 15% of the physicians performed follow-up in smoking cessation treatment. Conclusion Physicians who work with pediatric and adolescent patients in Turkey have low levels of awareness about smoking addiction and they do not feel competent. Considering that tobacco and related addictions are gradually increasing in children and adolescents, physicians must receive training in the area of smoking cessation methods and start practicing these methods. It was thought that organizing smoking cessation training for physicians would contribute positively to the treatment of patients.

KUTUK, OZGUR/0000-0001-9854-7220; Kandemir, Hasan/0000-0002-1138-4973; Tufan, Evren/0000-0001-5207-6240; Topal, Zehra/0000-0001-8397-5636 WOS: 000539280500032 PubMed: 32113788 Immune dysregulation may be important in the etiology of obsessive-compulsive and related disordersandbody-focusedrepetitivebehaviors, such as Trichotillomania (TTM). The role of inflammation and inflammatory markers in TTM has received relatively little attention. This study was aimed to determine the expression levels of inflammatory markers (i.e. IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-alpha and TGF-5) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children with TTM and healthy controls and to evaluate their association with clinical variables. Seventy-seven patients with TTM and 107 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood was collected in standardized conditions. The mean age of patients and controls did not differ significantly (10.8 +/- 4.4 and 12.0 +/- 3.2 years; respectively). The majority of patients with TTM and controls were females (n = 55, 71.4 % and n = 55, 51.4 %; respectively); with a greater preponderance of females among TTM. Patients with TTM had significantly elevated expression levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-17 compared to controls. However, the expression level of IL-4 was significantly reduced in TTM patients compared to controls. Accordingly, we found a proinflammatory state in TTM and those findings may suggest novel treatment options for TTM and further, crossdisciplinary studies focusing on neuro- inflammation in TTM conducted on larger samples are needed. Science Academy BAGEP program Ozgur Kutuk acknowledges support from the Science Academy BAGEP program.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a major psychiatric disorder with an unclear pathophysiology. Peripheral blood samples are easily drawn, making them are good candidates for diagnosing diseases. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3′- UTR of mRNAs and directing their degradation. The aim of this study was to use blood plasma to investigate microRNA dysregulations in bipolar manic and euthymic patients. Subjects and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 58 patients with bipolar I disorder (19 manic, 39 euthymic) and 51 healthy controls. Results: Four microRNAs (miR-29a-3p, p = 0.035; miR-106b-5p, p = 0.014; miR-107, p = 0.011; and miR-125a-3p, p = 0.014) were upregulated in the entire bipolar group, compared to the healthy controls. Seven microRNAs (miR-9-5p, p = 0.032; miR-29a-3p, p = 0.001; miR-106a-5p, p = 0.034; miR-106b-5p, p = 0.003; miR-107, p < 0.001; miR-125a-3p, p = 0.016; and miR-125b-5p, p = 0.004) were more upregulated in bipolar manic patients compared to the healthy controls, and two microRNAs (miR-106a-5p, p = 0.013, and miR-107, p = 0.021) showed statistically significant upregulation in the manic patients compared to the euthymic patients. Conclusions: Our results showed greater miRNA dysregulation in the manic patients than in the euthymic patients. Two microRNAs could be more selective for bipolar manic episodes. Future studies should include depressive patients along with euthymic and manic patients. © 2019

EgeUn###, Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood psychopathologies in Turkey. Method: A nation-wide, randomly selected, representative population of 5830 children (6-13 years-old) enrolled as a 2nd,3rd or 4th grade student in 30 cities were evaluated for presence of a psychiatric or mental disorder by a Sociodemographic Form, Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents scales. Impairment criterion was assessed via a 3 point-Likert scale by the parent and the teacher independently. Results: Overall prevalence of any psychopathology was 37.6% without impairment criterion, and 17.1% with impairment criterion. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by anxiety (19.5% and 16.7% without impairment, 12.4% and 5.3% with impairment, respectively). Lower education level and presence of a physical or psychiatric problem of the parents were independent predictors of any psychopathology of the offspring. Conclusion: This is the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of psychopathologies in children and adolescents in Turkey. Our results partly higher than, and partly comparable to previous national and international studies. It also contributes to the literature by determining the independent predictors of psychopathologies in this age group.

Identification of the structural causes of depression is important for the treatment process, and toxoplasmosis may be related to psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) seropositivity and depression in children and adolescents. This case-control study included 37 children and adolescents aged 11–18 years diagnosed with depression who were followed by the Manisa Celal Bayar University Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and 36 children and adolescents aged 11–18 years with no history of depressive episodes or psychiatric disorder treated by the Pediatric Outpatient Department. The T. gondii serology of these two groups was evaluated and compared. There were no statistically significant age or sex differences between the 37 participants with depression and the 36 healthy controls. Eight patients and two controls were seropositive for T. gondii, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.046). Seropositivity was significantly higher in patients with suicidal ideation (p = 0.005) than in those without suicidal ideation. The seropositivity of seven of the nine participants who attempted suicide was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of participants who did not. Thus, T. gondii infection may affect the predisposition for and severity of depression. © 2019

Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, that starts in early childhood and presents with deficiencies in social-communicational domains along with restricted and repetitive behaviours/interests. While genetic factors are dominant in its pathogenesis, many factors, including neurological, environmental and immunological have been identified. Furtheremore, although cerebellar dysfunction in the etiology of autism has been shown in different studies, the possible causes of the dysfunction and the role of neuroinflammation among these causes have not been clarified yet. Anti-Yo, anti-Hu, anti-Ri and anti-Amphiphysin antibodies have been found to be associated with cerebellar degeneration. The aim of the present study was to compare anti-Yo, anti-Hu, anti-Ri and anti- Amphiphysin antibodies and 8-OHdG values in blood using the ELISA method between ASD patients and healthy children to demonstrate the role of neuroinflammation as a potential cause of cerebellar dysfunction and DNA damage and evaluate the relationship between Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores in children diagnosed with ASD and these parameters. Methods: Thirty-five consecutive children between the ages of 3 and 12 referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of Harran University Hospital and diagnosed with ASD according to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria were included in the study. The children did not have any chronic physical disorders and were treatment naive. Thirty-three healthy children between the ages of 3 and 12 without any physical or psychiatric disorders were included as the healthy control group. For psychiatric evaluation, a sociodemographic form and to measure the severity of autism, CARS was used. In the study, anti-Yo, anti-Hu, anti-Ri and anti-Amphiphysin antibodies and 8-OHdG values in blood were investigated using the ELISA method. Results: Thirty-five cases with autism (62.9% males) and thirty-three healthy controls (72.7% males) were included in the present study (p = 0.385). The median age was 6.0 in the ASD group and 7.0 in the control group (p = 0.146). Among ASD patients, anti-Ri antibody positivity was detected, while no anti-Ri antibody positivity was found in the control group (p = 0.002). In the ASD group, the anti-Hu and 8-OHdG values were found to be significantly higher than those of the controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.001); no significant difference was found between the ASD and control groups with regard to the anti-Yo and anti-Amphiphysin values (p = 0.113, p = 0.275). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that antibodies against cerebellum may be present among children with ASD and DNA damage may occur due to oxidative stress. © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The biological mechanisms underlying obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) are not sufficiently elucidated. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress were shown to increase neopterin and decrease tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels by activating the neopterin–BH4 pathway. This study compared serum TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, neopterin, BH4, and nitric oxide (NO) levels between child and adolescent patients diagnosed with OCD and a healthy control group. The study included 29 patients diagnosed with OCD (comorbidity free, drug free) and 28 healthy children as an aged and sex matched control group. Serum samples were analyzed for TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, neopterin, and BH4 by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and NO concentrations were assessed by colorimetric method based on Griess reaction. All cytokine levels were found to be low, but this decrease was statistically significant only for TGF-β1. The neopterin and NO levels were significantly higher and BH4 significantly lower in children with OCD compared to the healthy control group. Also, a statistically significant correlation was found between NO, neopterin, and BH4 levels. The results of our study show that the levels of TGF-β1 and NO and the activation of the neopterin–BH4 pathway may be implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD.

Objective The prevalence of schizophrenia is 1%, and it is a debilitating disorder that often results in a shortened lifespan. Peripheral blood samples are good candidates to investigate because they can be easily drawn, and they are widely studied in psychiatric disorders. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts. They regulate the expression of genes by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs and pointing them to degrade. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of miR-9-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-106-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-107, miR-125a-3p, and miR-125b-3p in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. Methods We collected blood samples from 16 patients with schizophrenia and 16 healthy controls. MicroRNAs were measured with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Schizophrenia patients showed statistically significant upregulation of five microRNAs: miR9-5p (p=0.002), miR29a-3p (p＜0.001), miR106b-5p (p=0.002), miR125a-3p (p＜0.001), and miR125b-3p (p=0.018). Conclusion Our results increased the value of the miR106 and miR29 families as potentially and consistently dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. Our results should be considered preliminary, and they need confirmation in future studies with larger sample sizes.

Objective: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the plasma homocysteine levels and oxidative stress parameters in patients with adult ADHD (A-ADHD). Method: Blood samples were taken from 32 A-ADHD patients and 32 controls enrolled in the study and plasma homocysteine, serum folate, vitamin B12, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined. Results were compared between the groups. Results: Patients’ plasma homocysteine level was significantly lower and serum folate level was significantly higher than the controls. The means of plasma homocysteine and folate levels were statistically significantly different between the groups ( p < .05). However, a statistically significant difference was not detected between groups for mean serum vitamin B12, TAS, TOS, and OSI levels ( p > .05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that oxidative balance is not impaired in A-ADHD, and contrary to other psychiatric disorders, homocysteine levels were found to be lower.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate oxidative stress in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), paraxonase-1 (PON-1) and arylesterase (ARE) activity were measured in 76 children (44 boys, 32 girls) diagnosed with ADHD according to the DSM-IV and 78 healthy children (46 boys, 32 girls). Results: Age and sex were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). TOS and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were higher in the patient group than the control group (P

Objectives: The aim of this study is to research the aggression level in parents of patients with substance use disorder and to examine the relationship between aggression and the level of depression and anxiety. Methods: 40 parents of patients with substance use disorder are included in substance use parents group. 40 participants who were equalized with the substance use parents group in terms of age and gender and do not have an Axis I diagnosis are considered as the control group. Parents who accepted to participate to the study and signed informed consent form included in the study. With the aim of collecting the data, a Sociodemographic Data Form, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were given to the participants. In order to determine DSM-IVTR Axis I diagnoses, The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR was used. Results: As we compared two groups in terms of scale scores, it was found that the scores of Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory was higher in substance use parents group than the control group. It was revealed that 18 participants in substance use parents group (45%) had Axis I diagnosis comorbidity. Regarding the relationship between scales, there was a positive relationship between aggression and the level of depression and anxiety. Cocnclusion: In this study, it could be suggested that the aggression level was higher in the families of patients with substance use disorder and that there was a relationship between aggression and the level of depression and anxiety. In substance use parents group, high prevalence of Axis I diagnosis comorbidity was observed. We think that it is essential to handle the aggression problems of parents in the process of treatment of patients with substance use disorder.

Toxoplasma Gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite which may infect all nucleated cells. Studies conducted in adult patients show that toxoplasmosis may be related to psychiatric diseases and there is a correlation between Toxoplasma Gondii and schizophrenia, depressive disorder, type 1 bipolar disorder, increased suicide rates, obsessive compulsive disorder, high aggressiveness and impulsivity. Besides psychosocial causes, biological entities such as chronic physical diseases, neuroendocrine disorders and infections that affect immune system are also blamed for depression. The mechanism by which infections affect the immune system and cause an increase in depression and suicidal behaviours has been tried to be explained by the changes in monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. In this case, an adolescent girl with treatment-resistant major depression, was treated of her depression after she was diagnosed and treated for T. Gondii infection. Globally, Toxoplasma Gondii infection is usually asymptomatic with 33% prevalence but its effects on brain are uncertain. Its effects may vary from individual to individual. Immunosuppressed persons may experience many different clinical pictures, and those with good immunity may experience psychiatric symptoms or even treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. Seropositivity of toxoplasma gondii should also be considered in treatment-related psychiatric disorders.

Antipsychotics usage in children and adolescents is becoming widespread. One of the extrapyramidal side effects associated with long-term antipsychotic drug use follow-up is an oculogyric crisis (OGC). OGC is defined as a dystonic reaction commonly observed after typical antipsychotic drug administration. However, there are rare cases which report OGC after atypical antipsychotic use. In this report, we present an adolescent with bipolar disorder who developed OGC after 2 years of aripiprazole and quetiapine use. To best of our knowledge, this case report has been the first case to present the clinical presentation of tardive OGC due to aripiprazole treatment in an adolescent patient. It is important to note that OGC might be observed in the acute phase and it might be as a result of chronic use detected during a clinical follow-up. Safety, tolerability and efficiency of aripiprazole in pediatric populations should be further analyzed in the future studies.

In this paper, several kinect-based games which are developed and implemented for the improvement of attention and sensory-motor coordination will be presented. The interface, and difficulty levels of these games are specially designed for the ease of different age groups. The games involve physical activities for the fulfillment of some basic tasks within the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) game, such as fruit picking and air hockey, with different difficulty levels based on varying parameters of the games. The human action is observed and recognized via Kinect RGB-D sensors. The games are tested with a group of deaf children (3.5–5 years) as a part of the experiments of an ongoing project, to decrease the stress of the children, and increase their enjoyment, attention and sensory-motor coordination before the main tests. Both the game results and the evaluation of the therapists and the pedagogues show that the games have a positive impact on the children. The games are also tested with a group of adults as a control group and the attention levels of the adults were also observed via mobile EEG device. The children were supposed to use the EEG device in the main tests therefore the device was not integrated to their game sessions.

GOKCEN, CEM/0000-0003-3824-5890; Topal, Zehra/0000-0001-8397-5636; Tural, Umit/0000-0002-1593-2180; Unal, Fatih/0000-0001-8386-9884; Acikel, Burak/0000-0002-8964-9513; Erden, Semih/0000-0002-7723-9584; Kilic, Birim Gunay/0000-0002-4566-2564; Ucar, Halit Necmi/0000-0002-2706-7454; CELIK, GONCA/0000-0001-6101-0796; Gunes, Serkan/0000-0002-8247-2145; Isik, Umit/0000-0001-6006-3247; Coskun, Murat/0000-0002-4808-5870; Tufan, ALI EVREN/0000-0001-5207-6240; Donmez, Yunus Emre/0000-0002-7785-2805; Ceri, Veysi/0000-0001-6152-0227; Uzun, Necati/0000-0003-3381-2331; Hesapcioglu, Selma Tural/0000-0002-4816-0228; Kandemir, Hasan/0000-0002-1138-4973; Gormez, Vahdet/0000-0002-2704-9520 WOS: 000439557000070 PubMed: 29936389 Aim: To determine the prevalence of affective disorders in Turkey among a representative sample of Turkish population. Methods: This study was conducted as a part of the "The Epidemiology of Childhood Psychopathology in Turkey" (EPICPAT-T) Study, which was designed by the Turkish Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The inclusion criterion was being a student between the second and fourth grades in the schools assigned as study centers. The assessment tools used were the K-SADS-PL, and a sociodemographic form that was designed by the authors. Impairment was assessed via a 3 point-Likert type scale independently rated by a parent and a teacher. Results: A total of 5842 participants were included in the analyses. The prevalence of affective disorders was 2.5 % without considering impairment and 1.6 % when impairment was taken into account. In our sample, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder was lacking, thus depressive disorders constituted all the cases. Among depressive disorders with impairment, major depressive disorder (MDD) (prevalence of 1.06%) was the most common, followed by dysthymia (prevalence of 0.2%), adjustment disorder with depressive features (prevalence of 0.17%), and depressive disorder-NOS (prevalence of 0.14%). There were no statistically significant gender differences for depression. Maternal psychopathology and paternal physical illness were predictors of affective disorders with pervasive impairment. Conclusion: MDD was the most common depressive disorder among Turkish children in this nationwide epidemiological study. This highlights the severe nature of depression and the importance of early interventions. Populations with maternal psychopathology and paternal physical illness may be the most appropriate targets for interventions to prevent and treat depression in children and adolescents.

Introduction Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a common parasitic infectious disease caused by different species of the leishmania genus. The skin lesions are usually found on exposed areas, especially the face, arms and legs. Although the disease does not cause significant morbidity, the lesions can be troublesome and unsightly. The disease have negative impacts in areas such as patients’ psychological well-being, social life and daily activities in adults. Aim To determine the frequency of psychiatric morbidity in children and adolescents who have cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and to determine the effect of CL on their levels of depression and anxiety and on their quality of life (QoL). Material and methods Fifty-four patients with CL (29 males and 25 females), who were 7 to 18 years of age, were assessed with the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories for Children (STAIC). The patients and their mothers were assessed with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Parent and Child Versions (PedQL-P and C, respectively). This questionnaires were filled in by the control group consisting of 40 healthy children and adolescents (20 males and 20 females) and their parents from the local community matched for age, gender, and education level of the parents. Results Both the patient group and the control group had high scores on the depression measurement scale (t = 5.36, p < 0.05). These measurements also show significant differences between children and adolescents, who were defined as 12 years of age and under as well as older than 12 years, respectively (12 years of age and under (t = 3.14, p = 0.04); over 12 years (t = 5.37, p < 0.001)). However, there was no significant difference between the anxiety scores of the general patient group and the control group when classified according to age. The anxiety sensitivity index scores did not differ in either group from those of the control group. The patients’ and the mothers’ QoL scores for all of the scales, including all subscale scores, were significantly different from those of the control group (both 12 years of age and under as well as older than 12 years). Conclusions The results have shown that the frequency of depressive symptoms is much higher in patients who have CL than in healthy controls. In addition, the QoL of children and adolescents with CL and of their mothers was found to be much lower than that of the control group. Therefore, the follow-up for patients with CL who are referred to dermatology clinics should include a psychiatric evaluation. If necessary, they should be referred for psychiatric support.

High levels of childhood traumatic experiences have been observed among substance abusers. There has been insufficient study of the effects of childhood trauma in adulthood.The aim of this study is to research the relationship between childhood trauma, self-esteem, and levels of depression and anxiety in substance-dependent (SD) people.This study took place between March 2012 and April 2013, at Balıklı Rum Hospital (Istanbul) substance dependency clinic. It included 50 patients diagnosed as substance dependent according to the criteria of DSM-IV as compared with 45 healthy controls. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Diagnosis (SCID-I) was used to identify Axis I disorders. All other data was collected using a semi-structured socio-demographic questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).The total scores of the SD group on the CTQ and on its Emotional Abuse/Emotional Neglect (EA/EN), Physical Abuse (PA) and Sexual Abuse (SA) subscales were statistically significant. In relation to the healthy controls, the SD group scored higher on the RSES, BDI and BAI. A correlation was observed between the total scores of SD individuals on the CTQ and their scores on the RSES, BDI and BAI.This study showed high levels of childhood traumatic experiences for SD people and indicates that there may be a relationship between these experiences and their levels of self-esteem, depression and anxiety.