Post-earthquake dizziness and its psychiatric comorbidities among adolescents following the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, have detrimental effects on mental health. The occurrence of dizziness following earthquakes, termed post-earthquake dizziness syndrome (PEDS), has been noted in the epicenter and surrounding areas. The current study aimed to explore the prevalence of PEDS and its association with psychiatric disorders among adolescents. METHODS: The sample consisted of 100 adolescents, aged 10-17 years, who had no history of vertigo or dizziness and were treated at a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. RESULTS: In the aftermath of the earthquake, 68.0% of the adolescents reported experiencing PEDS. A higher prevalence of PEDS was found among female adolescents compared to males. The most frequently reported symptom of PEDS was a sensation of ground shaking, typically experienced indoors within a week following the earthquake. Unpaired t-test analysis revealed that adolescents with PEDS had significantly higher scores on scales measuring panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder compared to those without PEDS. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the findings highlight the potential association between PEDS and psychiatric disorders in adolescents. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, necessitating further research to elucidate the connections between PEDS and psychiatric conditions for more effective treatment strategies.

Exploring Teachers' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment in a District of Turkey.

Background Teachers are pivotal in integrating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) into academic and social contexts. Their comprehension of and attitudes toward ADHD significantly influence the inclusion of these children. This study was conducted to assess teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about ADHD and its treatment within a representative sample from Turkey. Methods An online self-administered questionnaire was formulated to gauge teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions related to ADHD and its treatment. Results Of the respondents, 57.7% accurately identified that ADHD is more commonly present in boys. Furthermore, a majority of teachers (60.8%) correctly answered the question related to the comorbidity of ADHD and learning disabilities. However, 20.3% of teachers believed that ADHD medications were addictive, with 9.7% expressing reluctance to use such treatment for their children if needed. Conclusion The results highlight the need for revising the current training curricula for novice teachers and providing additional training for experienced teachers. Such initiatives should aim to rectify any negative perceptions and attitudes toward ADHD held by teachers.

Prenatal Attachment and Mental Well-Being Among Expectant Fathers Amidst COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant threats to global physical and mental health, notably impacting the psychological management of pregnancy. The mental health of parents plays a critical role in fostering the emotional bond with their unborn child, referred to as prenatal attachment. Despite the significance of this bond, research has primarily concentrated on maternal outcomes, often neglecting the paternal aspect during the pandemic. This study investigates the correlation between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk perception and paternal prenatal attachment, further exploring the mediating role of well-being within this association. Methods A total of 141 expectant fathers attending the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic with their partners were recruited. Participants completed measures including the Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (PAAS), the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5), and the COVID-19 Perceived Risk Scale (CPRS). Results Data analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between COVID-19 risk perception and well-being (ß = -.34, p < .001). There was a positive correlation between well-being and prenatal attachment (ß = .37, p = .002). The prenatal attachment was also positively linked to COVID-19 risk perception (ß = .20, p = .047). Furthermore, well-being mediated the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and prenatal attachment. Conclusion The findings underscore the potential of the COVID-19 risk perception to disrupt the prenatal attachment process for expectant fathers by interfering with psychological well-being. However, it can also promote prenatal attachment through various mechanisms. Consequently, acknowledging and understanding the experiences of fathers during pregnancy is of paramount importance. Future longitudinal studies are necessitated to examine the parent-child relationship dynamics that have evolved under the influence of the pandemic.

Sociodemographic and social barriers to early detection of autism.

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common finding of many studies. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment approaches for ASD can provide favourable clinical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the age at diagnosis, in children with ASD. METHODS: Two hundred and two cases diagnosed with ASD were included in the study, according to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, at the Mersin City Training and Research Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinics, between April 2021 and August 2022. Clinical features and sociodemographic data that may be related to early diagnosis were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 36.76 ± 15.30 months. In 71.3% of cases parents were the first to suspect that children were developmentally different. In 38.1% of the cases, at least one of the parents denied the symptoms and evaluated their child`s development as age-appropriate. It was found that 32.7% of the cases evaluated by pediatricians and 32.5% of cases evaluated by family physicians, were referred to child psychiatry examination. The present study revealed that higher educational level of the father and the middlehigh socioeconomic status, were associated with early diagnosis. There was also a positive correlation between paternal age and age at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The age at diagnosis is below the target level for early diagnosis. Studies should focus on increasing awareness of health professionals and parents about ASD.

Online Behavioral Addictions Among Adolescents Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic changed people's lives and created a "new normal." It threatened individuals' mental health owing to reduced physical activity and social interaction, excessive indoor time, financial hardship, and insecurity. Moreover, the risk of online behavioral addiction increased in the general population, particularly among adolescents. The present study examined the differences between the pre-and post-pandemic periods regarding online behavioral addictions in adolescents. Methods The pre-pandemic data were obtained from 175 adolescents (August 2019 to February 2020) (T1). An online survey was sent to these participants to obtain the post-pandemic data (March to September 2022) (T2). Seventy participants completed the online survey (response rate: 40%). The participants completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale 9-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and the Social Media Disorder Scale-Short Form (SMDS-SF) both before and after the pandemic. Results  Before the pandemic, females had significantly higher SMDS-SF scores compared to males (p = 0.005). On the other hand, males had higher IGDS9-SF scores than females before the pandemic (p<.001). Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had higher IGDS9-SF scores before the pandemic than those with depressive disorders or other diagnoses (p = 0.004). However, the primary diagnosis was not related to pre-pandemic SAS and SMDS-SF scores. Lastly, there was no significant difference in IGDS9-SF (p = 0.151), SMDS-SF (p = 0.200), or SAS scores (p = 0.413) between pre-pandemic and post-pandemic scores. Conclusion Although the current study did not support this view, in emotionally challenging times, people may spend more time on online activities, which can lead to behavioral addiction. It is important for parents to monitor their children's online activities and provide guidance. More research is needed to compare online behavioral addictions before and after the pandemic.

Maternal prenatal attachment during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the roles of pregnancy-related anxiety, risk perception, and well-being.

Pregnant women have faced novel physical and mental health risks during the pandemic. This situation is remarkable because a parent's emotional bond with their unborn baby (also known as prenatal attachment) is related to the parent's mental state. Prenatal attachment helps parents psychologically prepare for the transition into parenthood. Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in the future parentchild relationship and psychosocial development of the baby. Based on the available literature, the current study integrated risk perception theories with mental health indicators to examine maternal prenatal attachment during the pandemic. Pregnant women (n = 258) completed the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revision 2 (PRAQ-R2), the WHO Well-being Index (WHO-5), the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), and answered questions about COVID-19 risk perception. The findings illustrated that pregnancy-related anxiety was positively associated with maternal prenatal attachment. Moreover, COVID-19 risk perception and well-being mediated this relationship. In other words, the higher levels of pregnancy-related anxiety were associated with increased COVID-19 risk perception and decreased well-being, inhibiting prenatal attachment in pregnant women. Considering the importance of prenatal attachment, it is crucial to understand the experiences of pregnant women and develop policies for promoting prenatal attachment, especially during challenging times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parental COVID-19 anxiety and emotional exhaustion in healthcare workers: exploring the roles of resilience, prosocialness, and optimism.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) also became the main protagonist of the tragic pandemic story. They have had a markedly higher risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. Outside work, healthcare workers with children have experienced mental health challenges, including the worry that they may carry COVID-19 home and infect their children. Based on these, the current study aimed to examine the effect of parental COVID-19 anxiety on emotional exhaustion and identify the roles of resilience, prosocialness, and optimism in this relationship. The findings demonstrated that prosocialness moderated the relationship between personal COVID-19 anxiety and emotional exhaustion by alleviating the depleting effects of personal COVID-19 anxiety. At the same time, prosocialness reinforced the negative effect of resilience on emotional exhaustion. On the other side, optimism moderated the relationship between parental COVID-19 anxiety and resilience by alleviating the adverse effect of parental COVID-19 anxiety. Moreover, it buffered the exacerbating effect of parental anxiety on personal anxiety. In conclusion, promoting personal resources (i.e., resilience, prosocialness, and optimism) seems an excellent way to mitigate the adverse consequences of the pandemic on mental health. Furthermore, the increment in parental mental health problems during COVID-19 pandemic may have long-term effects on children. Considering this perspective, we need to develop a proactive approach for parents' now and children's futures.

Psychological State of Parents of Children with Primary Immunodeficiencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 has affected humanity not only physically but also mentally. It was expected to have impact on high-risk groups such as the immunocompromised patients and parents/caregivers of them. Our study was aimed to investigate the COVID-19 related anxiety, post-traumatic stress levels, and sleep-related parameters of the parents of children with primary immunodeficiency. Methods: Parents of children with primary immunodeficiency and age and gender-matched control group completed questionnaires. Results: Anxiety and post-traumatic stress levels of the study group were found to be significantly higher than the control group. Furthermore, sleep time of the study group was significantly lower than the control group. The subjective sleep quality of the study group was also lower in the study group, but the difference did not reach a significant level. Conclusions: In the ongoing and other possible pandemic processes, professional support for the parents of these children is of great importance.