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The present study examined how maltreatment experience was associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children under institutional care. The key caregivers of children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years who were under institutional care in Nagano prefecture, Japan were asked to answer the background questionnaire, ADHD-Rating Scale, and the Japanese children's version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. A total of 378 valid responses were obtained, of which 222 reported maltreatment experience prior to institutionalization. Both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive scores were significantly higher in the maltreated group. Maltreatment experience was significantly associated with the presence of hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (p = 0.003) and inattentive symptoms (p = 0.027). Particularly, those who had experienced physical abuse were significantly more likely to have hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (p = 0.012) and autistic trait (p = 0.002). Thorough assessment of neurodevelopmental symptoms should be performed when placing children with maltreatment experience into institutional care.

The present study aimed to identify the cumulative incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a thoroughly screened population and to examine the behavioral and motor characteristics observed in children with ASD at the age of 18 months. Subjects were 1067 children who underwent a screening assessment for ASD at the routine 18-months health checkup. By the age of 6 years, 3.1% (4.3% of boys and 2.0% of girls) were diagnosed as having ASD by their attending pediatricians. Higher rate of difficulties in motor skills and social and communication skills had been reported in children with ASD at 18 months of age. This study showed that careful community-based screening system may be helpful in detecting ASD at early age.

Multi‐family therapy for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa (MFT‐AN) draws on the same principles as family therapy for AN (FT‐AN), but is delivered in a more intensive format to help families overcome a sense of isolation and stigmatisation and to maximise their own resources. In Japan, the main treatment for AN is inpatient care, and family‐based treatment that is based on the practice at the Maudsley Hospital in the 1980s has started to be introduced at an inpatient level in Japan. MFT‐AN could offer more opportunities to practice managing AN symptoms and reduce the family's anxiety. It may also act as a step‐down intervention during transition from inpatient to outpatient care or a step‐up in intensity if outpatient treatment is stalling. This article reports on MFT‐AN's theoretical underpinnings, the current Japanese eating disorder treatment context, and the way MFT‐AN may be adapted for the unique Japanese socio‐cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention deficit/hyperactivity behaviors in children are often unnoticed until they reach school age; however, evidence suggests that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tends to develop at an earlier age. Recent studies also indicate that perinatal maternal mental health is associated with ADHD symptoms in offspring. This study examines the association between maternal postpartum depression, early hyperactive/aggressive behavior, and later ADHD symptoms. This longitudinal cohort study used data from health checkups and surveys. Mothers with a postpartum Edinburgh postnatal depression scale score ⩾ 9 were considered as having postpartum depression symptoms. The presence of early hyperactive/aggressive behavior was determined based on 3-year-old children's health checkup data. The ADHD rating scale (ADHD-RS) answered by the caregivers of 182 sixth-grade children was used for the analysis. ADHD-RS scores were significantly higher in children with early hyperactive and/or aggressive behavior (p =.002) and for children of mothers who had postpartum depression symptoms (p <.001). Early hyperactive/aggressive behavior did not mediate the predictive association of maternal postpartum depression symptoms with ADHD symptoms in sixth grade. ADHD symptoms in the sixth grade were independently associated with childhood hyperactive/aggressive behavior at age 3 and maternal postpartum depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to determine the extent to which preschool teachers and childcare workers are aware of the presence of developmental problems among children and to what extent they share information with parents about their concerns regarding a child's development or diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Methods: We wrote to all 924 preschools and childcare centres in Japan's Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures to request participants. We then sent survey forms to the preschools and childcare centres that agreed to cooperate for three grades comprising 3‐, 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds in the school year 2020. We asked the staff member in charge of each child to complete the survey. The survey included questions about the teacher's concerns regarding the possibility of an NDD and whether the matter had been shared with the children's parents. Results: We obtained data for 10 354 children from 206 preschools and childcare centres (response rate = 22.3%). Among these children, 457 (4.4%) had an NDD diagnosis that their parents shared with the teachers. However, the teachers of 1274 children (12.3%) had concerns regarding their development but were not informed by the parents about the diagnosis, if any. These 1274 children included 775 (60.8%) cases where the teachers failed to share their concerns with parents because (1) the teachers could not communicate with parents (n = 119), (2) the teachers were not sure if there was a neurodevelopmental problem (n = 360) and (3) the parents were not aware of the problem (n = 296). Conclusions: Preschool teachers and childcare workers had concerns about the development of a substantial proportion of children in their charge. However, teachers and childcare workers did not share their concerns regarding many children's developmental problems with their parents. The findings suggest that there are challenges in information‐sharing between teachers/childcare workers and parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's screen time may affect their growth and development. However, differences in the impact of various psychiatric and psychological factors on children's screen time is a research gap. This study aimed to explore the differences in the influence of related factors affecting children's screen time based on their sleep, difficulties, and parental control among Japanese elementary and junior high school students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among parents in Japan. Data on screen time duration, parent–child background, strengths and difficulties, sleep variables, and parental control types were collected from 225 households. A regression analysis revealed that high Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores (β = 0.166, p = 0.008), sleep duration (β = −0.281, p < 0.001), and parental control (β = −0.204, p = 0.001) were significantly related to children's screen time. Additionally, it was found that parents' late bedtimes affect children's screen time by mediating children's sleep duration. This study, together with previous research, provides comprehensive insights into design interventions to decrease the screen time of children in the Japanese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]