Turkish Adaptation Study of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions in Adolescents.

Introduction: This study aimed to demonstrate the validity of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) in a clinical sample consisting of adolescents admitted to child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP), and then to confirm its validation in those presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED), which was the main target group for the study. Method: This cross-sectional study evaluated the compatibility of the ASQ with the suicide probability scale, which is a standardized measure, to identify cases with suicide risk in 248 adolescents aged 10-18 years. To demonstrate the clinical validity of the scale, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), Kappa, and area under the curve (AUC) performance metrics and 95% confidence interval (CI) values were calculated. Results: Positive screening rate, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for the CAP patients were calculated as 31.8%, 100% (95% CI: 100.0-100.0), 70.9% (95% CI: 63.4-78.4), 12.8% (95% CI: 3.2-22.3) and 100% (95% CI: 100.0-100.0), respectively. The PLR and AUC were calculated as 3.4% (95% CI: 2.7-4.5) and 0.855 (95% CI: 0.817-0.892), respectively. Positive screening rate, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for the PED patients were calculated as 28%, 100% (95% CI: 100.0-100.0), 75.3% (95% CI: 66.3-84.2), 21.4% (95% CI: 6.2-36.6) and 100% (95% CI: 100.0-100.0), respectively. The PLR, Kappa and AUC were 4.05% (95% CI: 2.82-5.81), 0.278 and 0.876 (95% CI: 0.832-0.921), respectively. Conclusion: This study showed the first evidence that Turkish adaptation of the ASQ is a valid screening tool for identifying those at risk of suicide among adolescents who applied to the CAP and PED.

Evaluation of emotional, Behavioral, and clinical characteristics of children aged 1-5 with a history of food-related anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to investigate emotional, behavioral, and social characteristics assessed with internationally validated psychometric scales and their relationship with demographic, clinical, and laboratory data in children with a history of food-related anaphylaxis. METHOD: The study included patients aged 1-5 who were followed up in the pediatric allergy outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of food-related anaphylaxis. All participants were evaluated during admission to the clinic using a study questionnaire, which was prepared by the authors, consisting of three parts: a sociodemographic information form, a clinical evaluation form, and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) for psychiatric evaluation. Parents answered the questionnaires regarding the patients' emotional and behavioral health. RESULTS: Thirty patients aged between 12 and 62 months were included in the study. The data were compared with 30 healthy controls with similar age and gender distribution. The total ABC score (p = 0.015), and the stereotypic behavior (p = 0.003) and hyperactivity (p = 0.002) subscale scores were significantly higher in patients with anaphylaxis history compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Emotional and behavioral status assessments and the clinical follow-up of food allergies of patients who experienced anaphylaxis in early childhood are useful for the holistic management and early recognition of possible pathologies.

The role of self-discontentment and impulsivity for youth smoking behavior, nicotine dependence and future smoking intention in a clinical sample of Turkish adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is one of the most important public health problems among young people. Potential risk factors that may cause vulnerability to smoke in youth should be well known and investigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations of current smoking behavior and future smoking intention with high-risk personality traits for substance abuse in a clinical sample of Turkish adolescents, and also evaluate nicotine dependence and smoking characteristics with the personality traits in a subsample of regular smokers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was adopted in which 196 participants took part (aged 14-18 years with a mean of 16.7 years). The assessment consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire that also questions current smoking behavior and future smoking intention; and additionally, two self-administered instruments including the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) for all participants, and Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) for only regular smokers. RESULTS: Regular smokers scored higher than never smokers on the lack of self-contentment subscale of SURPS (F(2)=3.30, p=.039). Future smoking intention was found to be associated with nicotine dependence (F(3)=6.67, p=.001). Regular smokers with high levels of nicotine dependence had higher levels of impulsivity and smoked more cigarettes per day than those with low levels of nicotine dependence (t=2.489, p=.017; and t=3.530, p=.001, respectively). The structural equation models (SEM) were created based on these results and the personality theory for substance abuse. The SEM results showed that the first evidence that lack of selfcontentment positively influences regularly smoking behavior and impulsivity positively influences future smoking intention through nicotine dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of self-contentment and impulsivity may mediate the transition from current smoking behavior to future tobacco use disorders in Turkish adolescents. The assessment and intervention of selfdiscontentment and impulsivity can be beneficial in reducing the current smoking behavior in Turkish adolescents.

A Retrospective Evaluation on Demographic, Phenomenological, and Comorbidity Features of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

ABSTRACT: The impacts of sex, age of onset, phenotype, and comorbidity on clinical features were explored in a large clinical sample with pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (p-OCD) (n = 457), along with concomitant specific features in the framework of different symptom dimensions/phenotypes, by a retrospective cross-sectional evaluation design. The most prevalent phenotype was obsession/checking (almost half), and the clinical features belonging to different phenotypes varied among sexes, age of onset, severity, and comorbidities. The contamination and aggressive obsessions, along with the compulsions such as cleaning and repeating routine activities, were the most prevalent symptoms, which were prevalently accompanied by generalized anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and depression. Females with OCD were likely prone to exhibit comorbid internalizing disorders, whereas males were prone to externalizing. This recent study on a large Turkish clinical sample of p-OCD followed up within 5 years, highlighting separate evidence on subtyping of p-OCD in phenotype and comorbidity frame.

Effects of subclinical emotional and behavioral problems on metabolic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Role of maternal and adolescent personality traits.

BACKGROUND: Personality traits of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and those of their mothers may lead to poor glycemic control through psychiatric comorbidity. However, it is not yet known how the personality traits of adolescents with T1DM and those of their mothers affect metabolic control in the absence of or before the development of psychiatric disorders. We aimed to determine the effects of subclinical emotional and behavioral problems, as well as maternal and own personality traits, on metabolic control in adolescents with T1DM. METHODS: A total of 48 adolescents with diabetes (19 females and 29 males), with a median age of 14 years, who did not meet diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric condition, and their mothers completed the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (J-TCI) as well as the adolescent and parent forms of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the TCI for adults. The mean HbA1c levels measured in the past year were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Personality traits and the emotional and behavioral difficulties in adolescents with poor metabolic control were similar to those with good metabolic control (p>.05). However, the self-directedness and cooperativeness subscale scores of the TCI completed by the mothers of those in the poor metabolic control group were significantly lower than the others: 25.5 vs. 30.4; t(39)= 3.737, p= .001, and 27.3 vs. 31.5; t(46)= 2.759, p= .008; respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that adolescents' personality and subclinical symptoms were not related to HbA1c levels in the absence of psychiatric comorbidity, while some maternal personality traits were associated with metabolic control. Management of T1DM should be tailored to adolescents and their needs with the proper involvement of mothers.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish version of the Morningness - Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) in Adolescents.

Morningness-Eveningness Stability Scale improved (MESSi) is an assessment tool that evaluates distinctness of daily changes as well as the person's propensity for morningness and eveningness. The aim of this study is to evaluate psychometric properties of the Turkish version of MESSi and associations of chronotypes and diurnal variations with personality, affect, sleep quality as well as validity of the scale in Turkish adolescents. The sample of this study consisted of 445 students between ages of 10-19. Participants filled in MESSi, Morningness/Eveningness Scale for Children, Composite Scale of Morningness, Personality Traits Scale (BIG-5), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Reliability analysis of the scale showed quite reliable internal consistency values. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test construct validity of three-factor model of MESSi. An acceptable model fit was demonstrated in CFA. There was a moderate and significant relationship between MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi. A moderate but negative correlation was found between MA and EV subscale scores of MESSi. MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi were found to be weakly correlated with conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness to experience and subscale scores of BIG-5, respectively. There was a positive correlation of positive affect subscale scores of PANAS with MA and DI subscale scores of MESSi. MA subscale scores of MESSi were found to be negatively correlated with scores of subjective sleep quality, latency, duration, disturbances, habitual sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, and global scores of PSQI. This study shows that Turkish version of MESSi is valid and reliable for use in adolescents. Three-factor MESSi provides an advantage over other chronotype scales in adolescence since it includes DI subscale as well as MA and EV subscales. Psychometric results were supported by other chronotype scales and clinical features such as sleep, affect, and personality.

Psychometric evaluation of the Turkish version of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale in adolescents.

The Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) was developed as a self-report measure to screen four high-risk personality dimensions (hopelessness, anxiety sensitivity, impulsivity, and sensation seeking) that predict specific patterns of vulnerability to substance use and other problematic behavior. The scale has previously been shown to have adequate psychometric properties in various other languages. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the SURPS. A cross-sectional total sampling design was adopted in which 875 Turkish participants took part (mean age 15.58 years, SD = 1.03). Using exploratory factor and correlational analyses, the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and concurrent validity were evaluated. The SURPS demonstrated good psychometric and construct validity. The results provide clear evidence that the Turkish version of the SURPS is valid and reliable. The Turkish version of the SURPS may become an important tool for daily clinical practice and clinical research.