Abuse and Neglect of Children With Specific Learning Disorders in Türkiye: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Although it is often stated that children with special needs are at risk of being abused and neglected, research conducted on the abuse of children with specific learning disorders (SLDs) is limited. METHODS: This case-control study aims to compare exposure to neglect and abuse among children diagnosed with SLDs (case group) and children with typical development (control group). The study included children aged 6 to 12 years who were referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic and Pediatric Clinic of a hospital in Türkiye. The data collection process included 196 participants and lasted for 7 months in 2020. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of the data collected with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Turkish Version (K-SADS-PL-T) and the Abuse Assessment Questionnaire, we determined that children with SLDs were physically and emotionally abused more than the children of the control group. In addition, they witnessed violence between their parents more than the control group. Physical abuse, emotional abuse and witnessing family violence were identified as significant predictors for SLD. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SLDs is a significant risk factor for children to be exposed to abuse even in the absence of ADHD as a comorbidity.

Are Mental Health Problems and Mindfulness Awareness Related to Levothyroxine Replacement in Adolescent Patients With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?

Considering the possible adverse effects of thyroid autoantibodies on the brain, the present study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in mental health difficulties and mindfulness awareness levels between subclinical Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients with and without levothyroxine (LT4) use. A case-control study was conducted. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) were used to screen mental health difficulties and mindfulness awareness. Scale scores were compared by performing correlation analysis between the groups with respect to LT4 use and thyroid autoantibodies. Levothyroxine alone does not affect scale results. Higher thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) titers were positively correlated with the behavioral problems subscale of the SDQ, while awareness level in patients was inversely correlated with higher thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels.

Attitudes of parents of children with ADHD towards genetic testing: Data from a Turkish sample.

This study aimed to examine the opinions of parents with children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder about genetic tests. A total of 540 parents living in Turkey participated in the study face-to-face and online. A questionnaire form prepared by the researchers was used as the data collection instrument. Face-to-face data were collected in different institutions in the cities of Izmir, Bursa and Antalya, while online data were collected through Google Forms. The results revealed that parents' views on genetic testing differed according to the sex and age of the child, as well as the parents' level of education and income, and whether the parents had genetic testing during pregnancy (p < 0.05). In the analysis, it was determined that parents' knowledge and awareness levels about genetic tests were generally low, while parents who reported that they would consider having genetic tests had concerns about the storage of their DNA materials, family conflicts that could be caused by genetic tests, and the compatibility of genetic tests with their religious beliefs.

Investigation of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and quality of life of children of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, and quality of life of children whose parents were healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period. METHODS: The participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the depression inventory for children (CDI), the screening for anxiety disorders in children (SCARED), the Maudsley obsessive compulsive question list (MOCQL), and the pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL) using online applications. A total of 153 children and adolescents whose parents were healthcare workers and 356 children and adolescents whose parents were not healthcare workers were included in the study. RESULTS: One tenth of all children participating in our study had a high level of depression, and nearly half of them had a high level of anxiety. There was no significant difference in CDI (p = 0.306), SCARED (p = 0.841), and PedsQL (p = 0.863) scale scores between the two groups. The MOCQL scale scores were higher in the group whose parents were not health professionals for cleanliness (p<0.001), slowness (p = 0.001), and total score (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: It was found that all participants were affected by anxiety, depression, and quality of life decline; moreover, obsessive-compulsive symptoms were more common in children whose parents were healthcare workers. In this context, our findings could help determine possible mental health problems of children and adolescents whose parents are or are not healthcare workers.

Examination of relationship factors between psychological resilience and social support in adolescent obesity.

PURPOSE: Childhood obesity is one of the most severe public health problems, and psychiatric conditions have been associated with obesity. In this study, we aimed to investigate psychological resilience and possible related factors in adolescents with obesity. METHOD: The study included 90 adolescents with obesity and 100 healthy adolescents of similar age. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 (CYRM-28), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Scale scores were compared by Pearson's correlation coefficient test with SPSS-23. Multiple linear regression was performed to describe the relationships between variables. RESULTS: The adolescents participating in the study were similar in terms of age and gender. Psychological resilience and social support in the obesity group were lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). A negative relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and resilience levels of adolescents with obesity, and a positive relationship was found between social support and resilience levels (p = 0.027 and p < 0.001, respectively). The perceived family and significant other social support subscale scores of adolescents in the obesity group were significantly lower than in the control group (p = 0.037 and p = 0.023, respectively). The most related variable with the CYRM-28 was the level of perceived social support: standardized ß = 0.409; t(151) = 5.626; p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: A higher BMI has a negative effect on psychological resilience, and family support tends to be lower in these cases. New studies are needed to clarify whether this result is one of the causes of obesity or one of its consequences.

The effect of hyperandrogenism and obesity on mindfulness and metacognition in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The aim of this study was to determine whether serum androgen levels have an effect on mindfulness and metacognition in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Adolescents diagnosed with PCOS were asked to answer a questionnaire that included socio-demographic information and two scales: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Metacognition Scale Child and Adolescent form (MCQ-C). The patients were divided into two groups, the hyperandrogenism group and the non-hyperandrogenism group, according to serum androgen levels. The scores of MAAS and MCQ-C were compared between the groups. The study sample consisted of 70 adolescents. Of these, 44 had hyperandrogenism according to a blood test. No statistically significant difference was found in MAAS scores between the hyperandrogenism and the non-hyperandrogenism groups (p = 0.79). However, the level of mindfulness was found to be lower in participants with a higher modified Ferriman-Gallwey score (mFGS) (r = 0.26, p = 0.02). Mindfulness levels were also lower for obese patients with PCOS compared to non-obese patients with PCOS (p = 0.02). Cognitive monitoring (MCQ-C-CM), one of the MCQ-C sub-scales, was significantly higher in the non-hyperandrogenism group (p = 0.03), and similarly, a positive correlation was detected between higher androgen levels and the positive meta-worry (MCQ-C-PM) sub-scale of the MCQ-C (for total testosterone; r = 0.348, p = 0.03, and for androstenedione; r = 0.35, p = 0.03). High serum androgen levels in PCOS had no effect on mindfulness, but as the modified Ferriman Gallwey score increased, mindfulness levels decreased. For the sub-scales of MCQ-C,MCQ-C-CM, and MCQ-C-PM, the scores increased as androgen levels increased. In line with the results of the present study, evaluating mindfulness in PCOS patients with increased hair growth and metacognition in PCOS patients with serum hyperandrogenism may contribute well-being in adulthood by reducing the psychological burden caused by the disease.

Effects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on child abuse and neglect.

It is known that children with mental and developmental problems are at risk of abuse and neglect. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most frequent neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study is to examine whether children diagnosed with ADHD are under more risk in terms of child abuse and neglect compared to controls. In this case-control study, 104 children, who applied to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit of Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital between January and June 2015, were diagnosed with ADHD, and had no other psychiatric comorbidity except for disruptive behavior disorders, and 104 healthy children were compared. Abuse Assessment Questionnaire was applied to children after approval of the families was received. It was determined that the children diagnosed with ADHD were exposed to more physical (96.2%) and emotional abuse (87.5%) in a statistically significant way compared to controls (46.2%; 34.6%), they were exposed to physical and emotional neglect (5.8%) at a lower rate compared to healthy children (24.0%), and there was no difference between them and healthy children in terms of witnessing family violence (56.7%; 47.1%) and being exposed to sexual abuse (5.8%; 1.9%). The children diagnosed with ADHD were exposed to physical and emotional abuse at a higher rate; further studies should emphasize the role of parents in this topic and how parental education and treatment programs change the results.

Influence of body mass index on mindfulness awareness and coping methods for stress in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological state may affect the body weight through the hypothalamus and vice versa. The goal of this study is to investigate whether body mass index affect mindfulness awareness (MA) levels and type of coping with stress. METHODS: Healthy adolescents were included in the study. The mindfulness attention awareness scale (MAAS), indicating the ways of coping checklist inventory was performed and body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) of adolescents were calculated. The influence of BMI on MA and ways of coping with stress was tested. According to BMI percentiles the study population was grouped as obese (including overweight), normal-weighted and underweight. RESULTS: A total of 270 adolescents (mean age: 13.63±2.07 years; 165 female/105 male) participated in the study. No significant correlation was found between BMI and MA scores (r=-0.085; p=0.161) and coping strategies were not different between the groups. When MA scores are compared with stress coping methods, it appeares that participants with high awareness levels chose positive coping styles. CONCLUSION: BMI is not effective on MA levels and choice of stress coping methods. But the higher MA levels are associated with positive coping styles.

Fear of Circumcision in Boys Considerably Vanishes within Ten Days of Procedure.

PURPOSE: To compare fear of circumcision, before, immediately after, and ten days after the operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control study in which participants in the operation group consisted of children admitted for circumcision at the outpatient clinics of a hospital. The Children's Fear Scale and the Venham Picture Test were administered by face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 100 boys who were circumcised and 99 who have not been circumcised yet. Children's Fear Scale scores measured before (P = .000) and immediately after the operation (P = .000) were significantly different from scores obtained on the 10th day after the operation. Total fear scores of the Venham Picture Test of boys whose families were in the higher economic level were higher than those of boys from low-income families (P < .05). The primary reason for admission for circumcision was religious, and the reason for the remaining boys was a combination of religious and hygienic factors. The boys who came to have circumcision solely because of religious reasons were found to be less fearful compared with the boys who were brought to surgery for both religious and medical reasons (P < .05). The lowest fear scores were obtained for boys who were six years of age or older. Boys who knew what the circumcision meant were less afraid of circumcision compared with those who were unaware of the procedure. CONCLUSION: Fear from circumcision does not persist; it considerably vanishes within ten days. It seems reasonable to recommend circumcision for boys six years of age or older. Pre-operative education may help boys to overcome fear originated from circumcision.

Prolonged rooming-in in infancy is associated with generalized anxiety disorder in the adolescent period.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate whether anxiety disorders in adolescents have a link with the separation time of bed/bedroom sharing with parents. It also aims to raise awareness in society about the issue of minimizing anxiety disorders in childhood. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in Sevket Yilmaz Training and Research Hospital between June 2013 and May 2014. The participants included 51 adolescents who were diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with no-comorbidity and 71 healthy adolescents as the control group, who were chosen randomly. Diagnosis of GAD was based on the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed) by child and adolescent psychiatry doctors. The Turkish version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used for the control group. A special survey about demographics and bed-sharing statements was constructed for the purpose of the study. The groups were analyzed in terms of duration of co-sleeping (bed-sharing) and rooming-in (keeping the mother and the baby in same room) with parents during infancy and the development of anxiety disorders in later period. RESULTS: Mean duration of rooming-in was significantly longer in the case group than in the control group (p=0.009). Similarly, mean duration of co-sleeping in the case group was longer than that of the control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.529). CONCLUSION: Sleeping in the same room with children for a long time may result in anxiety disorders in later period due to possible difficulties in bonding and/or less self-confidence.