Navigating young minds: reliability and validity of the Greek version of kiddie - schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia - present and lifetime DSM-5 version (K-SADS-PL-GR-5).

BACKGROUND: The Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) is one of the most popular semi-structured psychiatric interviews for children and adolescents. Its latest DSM-5 version (K-SADS-PL DSM-5) has only recently been adapted and validated in various languages. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the Greek version of the K-SADS-PL DSM-5. METHODS: A total of 137 patients consecutively referred for admission, aged 7-17, were included. The K-SADS-PL DSM-IV was translated and adapted to correspond to DSM-5 categories. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed against two self-report rating scales, Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Inter-rater reliability was calculated exclusively for instances where a diagnosis involved three or more patients. RESULTS: Our findings revealed good to excellent inter-rater reliability and good to excellent consensual validity across most psychiatric diagnoses, except for panic disorder. Diagnostic efficiency, measured by sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, consistently showed high specificity and negative predictive validity across all diagnostic categories. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the applicability of the Greek version of the K-SADS-PL DSM-5 as a reliable and valid diagnostic tool in Greek-speaking populations.

Perceptions, emotional reactions and needs of adolescent psychiatric inpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews.

BACKGROUND: The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has been accompanied by severe psychological pressure on the entire population. However, little is known about how this pandemic could affect the more vulnerable population with severe mental illness. AIMS: To explore adolescent psychiatric inpatients' perceptions, emotional reactions and needs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with nine psychiatric inpatients aged 12-17 years. Through open-ended questions, interviewers initiated five themes: (a) knowledge about coronavirus pandemic, (b) changes in everyday routine due to the pandemic, (c) adolescents' feelings about the pandemic, (d) adolescents' positive thoughts and behaviors, and (e) how the social environment can help adolescents deal with the pandemic-related situation. A thematic analysis was conducted using line-by-line open coding. RESULTS: Regarding their knowledge of the impact of the current pandemic, almost all adolescents focused on information about the nature of coronavirus and on existing crisis management practices. Almost all patients identified predominantly negative changes due to the quarantine state, including restrictions on both social life and personal freedom as well as excessive contact with family members during home isolation. As far as their emotions were concerned, adolescents did acknowledge anxiety about self-harm and harming their loved ones as well as mood swings within the family nucleus; anxiety was also manifested about the unknown and the management of the pandemic in other countries. Avoidance of thought rumination about the coronavirus and its consequences, positive thinking and looking towards the future were reported as constructive strategies for coping with challenging emotions. Additionally, a sense of belongingness seems to have been playing a pivotal role in the adolescents coping strategies. Trust in the authorities and the community was another quite noteworthy point that emerged during the interviews. Lastly, our findings indicated adolescents' benefit from receiving balanced health messaging coupled with balanced thinking within their social and family environment. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced comprehension of possible mediating psychological pathways is needed to help clinicians, researchers, and decision-makers to avert the deterioration of mental disorders and overall functioning, as well as additional stress-related disorders.

A boy with conduct disorder (CD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline intellectual disability, and 47,XXY syndrome in combination with a 7q11.23 duplication, 11p15.5 deletion, and 20q13.33 deletion.

BACKGROUND: This is a case with multiple chromosomal aberrations which are likely etiological for the observed psychiatric phenotype consisting of attention deficit hyperactivity and conduct disorders. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on an 11 year-old boy, admitted to the pediatric hospital for behavioral difficulties and a delayed neurodevelopmental trajectory. A cytogenetic analysis and high-resolution microarray comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis was performed. The cytogenetic analysis revealed 47,XYY syndrome, while CGH analysis revealed an additional duplication and two deletions. The 7q11.23 duplication is associated with speech and language delay and behavioral symptoms, a 20q13.33 deletion is associated with autism and early onset schizophrenia and the 11p15.5 microdeletion is associated with developmental delay, autism, and epilepsy. The patient underwent a psychiatric history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and a detailed cognitive, psychiatric, and occupational therapy evaluation which are reported here in detail. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of psychiatric patients presenting with complex genetic aberrations and additional psychosocial problems, traditional psychiatric and psychological approaches can lead to significantly improved functioning. Genetic diagnostic testing can be highly informative in the diagnostic process and may be applied to patients in psychiatry in case of complex clinical presentations.