Serum claudin-5, claudin-11, occludin, vinculin, paxillin, and beta-catenin levels in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder.

AIM: Increased intestinal and blood-brain barriers (BBB) permeability has been suggested to have a role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Claudin-5, claudin-11, occludin, ß-catenin, vinculin, and paxillin are crucial components of these barriers. This study assessed concentrations of these molecules in preschool children with ASD. METHODS: A total of 80 children with ASD and 40 controls aged 18-60 months were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of biochemical variables were determined using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: Serum claudin-11, occludin, and ß-catenin levels were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group. However, no significant difference for serum claudin-5, vinculin, and paxillin levels was detected between the groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that claudin-11, occludin, and ß-catenin may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. These proteins may affect the brain by causing dysregulation in intestinal or blood-brain barrier permeability or with other unknown mechanisms.

Increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels are associated with obsessive compulsive disorder in medication­free children.

This study aimed to investigate serum levels of neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NTF3), and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) members including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The possible relationships between serum neurotrophins and HPA axis members were also addressed. A total of 60 medication-free children with OCD and 57 controls aged 8-18 years were enrolled in this study. The severity of OCD symptoms was determined by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. The severity of anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed by self-report inventories. The serum levels of neurotrophins, ACTH, and cortisol were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Serum BDNF levels were significantly higher in the OCD group than in the control group for either sex and for the whole sample. Compared to controls, serum ACTH levels were significantly higher in the OCD group for the whole sample. An analysis of covariance was also conducted for the whole sample and indicated that, while controlling the potential confounders, including body-mass index percentile, age, sex, and the severity of depression and anxiety, the results did not change. Strong negative correlations between BDNF, NGF and NTF3, and HPA axis members were determined in the patient group for either sex and for the whole sample. These findings suggest that dysregulations of BDNF and ACTH may be associated with childhood OCD. Furthermore, there may be inverse relationships between certain neurotrophins and HPA axis members in these patients.

Altered kynurenine pathway metabolite levels in toddlers and preschool children with autism spectrum disorder.

AIM: There are increasing reports about the potential role of kynurenine pathway metabolites in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Early childhood is a very crucial period of time for the etiopathogenesis of ASD and previous studies reported an age-dependent alteration in kynurenine metabolism. However, no study specifically examined kynurenine metabolites in very young children with ASD. This study aimed to investigate kynurenine pathway metabolite levels, kynurenine pathway enzyme activities and neuroprotective index (kynurenic acid/3-hydroxykynurenine ratio) in toddlers and preschool children with ASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 68 children with ASD and 44 healthy controls aged between 18 and 60 months were included in this study. Serum levels of kynurenine pathway metabolites were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry system. RESULTS: Serum 3-hydroxykynurenine and kynurenic acid concentrations were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group, whereas serum 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid concentrations were significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that the kynurenine pathway may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ASD in early childhood.

The validity and reliability of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 items Scale in Turkish health care professionals.

There is a need for a valid and reliable measurement tool that will detect the psychological symptoms of health care workers in the epidemic and pandemic periods that have been effective worldwide in recent years. This study has aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 items Scale (SAVE-9) in Turkish health care professionals. The study was carried out with 150 health care professionals. All participants were asked to complete the SAVE-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). The Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated. Also, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the factor structure. The SAVE-9 scores positively correlated with the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and negatively correlated with the BRS. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported two-factor structure similar to the original scale. The first factor consists of five items (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8), and the second factor consists of three items (6, 7, 9). The Cronbach's α coefficient was found as 0.77. The Turkish version of SAVE-9 is a valid and reliable tool for Turkish health care professionals.

Exploring the association between depression, suicidality and serum neurotrophin levels in adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify potential differences in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NTF3) levels in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to healthy controls. The possible relationship between serum neurotrophin levels and suicidality in adolescents with MDD was also addressed.Methods: A total of 70 treatment-free adolescents with MDD and 40 healthy controls aged 11 to 19 years were enrolled. The severity of suicidality was determined using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms were evaluated by self-report inventories. Serum levels of neurotrophins were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The mean serum BDNF levels were significantly higher in adolescents with MDD than in control subjects; no significant difference was found between the groups for serum GDNF, NGF and NTF3 levels. No correlations were found between the levels of serum neurotrophins and the severity of depression or suicidality.Conclusions: The study results suggest that elevated serum BDNF levels may be related to MDD in adolescents. However, our findings did not support a role for neurotrophins in suicidality.Key pointsSerum BDNF levels were higher in adolescents with MDD than in controls.No significant alterations of serum levels of GDNF, NGF and NTF3 were evident in adolescents with MDD.Neurotrophin levels were not associated with suicidal ideation and behaviours.

Effect of adenotonsillectomy on sleep problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, and quality of life of children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and sleep-disordered breathing.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the most common etiologic reason for upper airway obstruction in childhood and has been found to be associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders and poor quality of life. In the present study, we investigated the impact of adenotonsillectomy on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, sleep problems, and quality of life in children with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy. METHODS: The parents of children with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy filled out the Conners's Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short form (CPRS-RS), Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Parent version (PedsQL-P) before and six months after adenotonsillectomy. RESULTS: A total of 64 children were included in the study (mean age = 6.8 ± 2.4 years; boy:girl ratio= 1). The mean attention deficit hyperactivity disorder index and oppositionality subdomain scores of the CPRS-RS and all of the CSHQ subdomain scores (bedtime resistance, sleep-onset delay, sleep anxiety, night waking, parasomnias, sleep-disordered breathing, and daytime sleepiness) except for sleep duration significantly decreased after adenotonsillectomy ( p < 0.05). The PedsQL-P total score and both PedsQL-P physical health and psychosocial health subdomain scores were significantly higher at six months after adenotonsillectomy ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Child and adolescent psychiatrists should check the symptoms of chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy to identify children with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy who suffer from sleep disturbance, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms, and oppositionality. Adenotonsillectomy seems to be beneficial for coexisting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep disorder symptoms and quality of life in these children.

Psychiatric symptoms and health-related quality of life in children with epilepsy and their mothers.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the psychiatric symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children with epilepsy and psychiatric symptoms of their mothers, and compared them to those of healthy children and their mothers. This study also explored the influence of the child-related and maternal psychiatric variables and seizure-specific factors on the HRQLs of children with epilepsy according to both the children's and parents' perspectives. METHOD: Ninety-nine children with epilepsy (8 to 17years old), their mothers, and a control group (n=51) participated in this study. The depression and anxiety symptoms of the children were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), respectively. The severities of the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) symptoms were assessed via the mother-rated Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavioral Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S). In addition, the mothers completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to assess their depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Child-reported and parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventories were used to evaluate the HRQLs of the children. RESULTS: The patients exhibited higher inattention and ODD scores than the controls did. With the exception of the child-reported physical health scores, all of the child- and parent-reported HRQL scores were significantly lower in the patient group. According to the regression analysis, the child-related psychiatric and seizure-specific factors, but not the maternal psychiatric factors, were associated with the child's HRQL. The explained variances for the overall HRQL and HRQL subscales were similar between the child-reported (0.373 to 0.654) and parent-reported (0.499 to 0.682) questionnaires. The largest contributors to the total variance were the child-related psychiatric factors for both the child-reported and parent-reported HRQLs by far. CONCLUSION: Epilepsy is associated with a poor psychiatric status and HRQL in childhood. The impact of epilepsy on the HRQL occurs mainly through child-related psychiatric factors. Both the child-reported and parent-reported questionnaires seem to be useful for the evaluation of the HRQL in pediatric epilepsy cases.

Cytokine, chemokine and BDNF levels in medication-free pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the serum levels of IL-12, IL-17, TGFß, TNF-alpha, sTNFR1, sTNFR2, IL-1ß, CCL3, CCL24, CXCL8, and BDNF are associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in medication-free children. A total of 44 (22 boys/22 girls) medication-free children with OCD and 40 (23 boys/17 girls) healthy controls were included in this study. The severity of the OCD symptoms were assessed by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory. The Children's Depression Inventory and the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders were applied to the children in order to determine depression and anxiety levels. IL-17, IL-12, TGF ß, TNF-alpha, sTNFR1, sTNFR2, IL-1ß, CCL3, CCL24, CXCL8, and BDNF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed a significant main effect on both groups for the levels of serum cytokine, chemokine, and BDNF, an effect that was independent of severities of depression and anxiety [Pillai's Trace V = 0.371, F (11, 70) = 3.756, p < 0.001, hp2 = 0.187]. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that serum TNF-alpha levels were significantly higher in the OCD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, serum IL-12 levels were significantly lower in the OCD group than in the control group (p = 0.014). These findings suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-12 may play a role in the pathophysiology of OCD in children. The causal relationship between these proinflammatory cytokines and pediatric OCD requires further investigation.

8-F2-isoprostane, thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase levels in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

PURPOSE: Accumulating data demonstrate that oxidative stress may play a crucial role in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study aimed to investigate the role of 8-F2-isoprostane, thioredoxin (Trx), and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in children with OCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three drug-free children with OCD and 35 healthy controls were included in this study. The severity of OCD symptoms was assessed via the Children's Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. The severity of anxiety levels was determined through the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders. Plasma levels of 8-F2-isoprostane, Trx, and TrxR were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: Plasma 8-F2-isoprostane, Trx, and TrxR levels did not show any significant differences between patient and control groups. There were no significant correlations between plasma levels of these antioxidants and severity of OCD. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study did not support the involvement of oxidative stress in the etiology of childhood OCD.

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, and neurotrophin-3 levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

It has been suggested that neurotrophins are involved in the etiopathogenesis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin-3 (NTF3) levels between children with ADHD and healthy controls. A total of 110 treatment-naive children with the combined presentation of ADHD and 44 healthy controls aged 8-18 years were enrolled in this study. The severity of ADHD symptoms was determined by scores on the Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-Revised Short. The severity of depression and anxiety symptoms of the children were evaluated by the self-report inventories. Serum levels of neurotrophins were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed a significant main effect of groups in the levels of serum neurotrophins, an effect that was independent of age, sex, and the severity of the depression and anxiety. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that the mean serum GDNF and NTF3 levels of ADHD patients were significantly higher than that of controls. However, serum BDNF and NGF levels did not show any significant differences between groups. No correlations between the levels of serum neurotrophins and the severity of ADHD were observed. These results suggest that elevated serum GDNF and NTF3 levels may be related to ADHD in children.

Association of Reactive-Proactive Aggression and Anxiety Sensitivity with Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

This study evaluates the associations among the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD) in the context of their relationships with reactive-proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 342 treatment-naive children with ADHD. The severity of ADHD and DBD symptoms were assessed via parent- and teacher-rated inventories. Anxiety sensitivity, reactive-proactive aggression and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms of children were evaluated by self-report inventories. According to structural equation modeling, depression and anxiety scores had a relation with the DBD scores through reactive-proactive aggression. Results also showed a negative relation of the total scores of anxiety sensitivity on DBD scores, while conduct disorder scores had a positive relation with anxiety scores. This study suggests that examining the relations of reactive-proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity with internalizing and externalizing disorders could be useful for understanding the link among these disorders in ADHD.

The impact of anxiety sensitivity on suicidality in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the link between anxiety sensitivity (AS) and suicidality among adolescents with major depressive disorder; thus, there is a need to explore this relationship in order to fill the research gap. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association among AS and suicidal behaviour while taking into account the effects of potential third variables such as the presence of anxiety disorders and hopelessness in adolescents with major depressive disorder. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Participants (n=101) completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms, AS, hopelessness and suicidal ideation severity. The presence of anxiety disorders and suicide attempt history were determined with psychiatric interviews. The association between psychiatric variables was evaluated using structural equation modelling. RESULTS: Results showed that AS cognitive concerns had a positive effect on suicidal ideation mediated by the severity of depression. AS physical concerns had a negative direct effect on suicidal ideation, but there was also a positive relationship among these variables through hopelessness, thus, the total effect of AS physical concerns was not significant. There were also positive relationships between hopelessness and suicidal ideation, and the presence of anxiety disorders to suicide attempt history. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that higher AS cognitive concerns may be a risk factor for suicidality through the severity of depression in adolescents who are diagnosed with major depressive disorder.

Impact of end-stage renal disease on psychological status and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QOL) in a cohort of children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), to compare these findings with healthy controls, and to evaluate the association between these psychological symptoms, QOL, and clinical variables related to ESRD. METHODS: Thirty-two children and adolescents 8-18 years of age were enrolled in the study. The sociodemographic data were evaluated. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the psychological status and QOL of the patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean depression score, which was significantly higher for the ESRD patients. Mean state anxiety score was significantly lower for ESRD patients than for controls. Regarding QOL score, there were significant differences between the ESRD patients and control groups for both child-rated and parent-rated QOL scores, which were significantly lower for ESRD patients. Trait anxiety was a negative predictor of all subscales of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4. CONCLUSIONS: End-stage renal disease was related to significant morbidity and poorer QOL. The assessment and enhancement of QOL and comorbid psychiatric disorders in ESRD should be a part of disease management.

Exploratory study to evaluate plasma vasopressin and apelin-13 levels in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

AIM: Vasopressin exerts robust influences on social communication and behavior in humans. Apelin is a relatively novel neuropeptide that could counteract vasopressin's actions and has been shown to be closely related with a broad range of physiological functions. Abnormalities in vasopressin and apelin have been detected in a variety of psychiatric disorders, but their relation to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unknown. In the present study, we explored the plasma levels of vasopressin and apelin-13 in children with ADHD. METHODS: Thirty-four children with ADHD and 36 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed via Conners' Parent Rating Scale and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. Plasma levels of vasopressin and apelin-13 were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The mean plasma apelin-13 levels were significantly higher in male children with ADHD than in male control subjects; no significant difference was found between the groups for plasma apelin-13 levels in girls or in the entire subject cohort. Plasma vasopressin levels did not show any significant differences between groups. There were no significant correlations between plasma levels of these neuropeptides and scores for Conners' Parent Rating Scale and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a sex-specific association between plasma apelin-13 levels and ADHD. Apelin-13 may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD either with a direct impact on the apelin receptor or via its opposing effect on the vasopressinergic system.

Relationships among depression, anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and perceived social support in adolescents with conversion disorder.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the relationships of depression, anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and perceived social support with conversion symptoms in adolescents with conversion disorder (CD). METHODS: Fifty outpatients, aged 8-18 years, who had been diagnosed with CD and members of a control group were assessed using the psychological questionnaires. RESULTS: Compared with controls, adolescents with CD scored higher on the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Screen for Child Anxiety-related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) total, CASI physical and cognitive subscales, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support family subscale. Multiple regression analysis showed that CDI, CASI total, and CASI cognitive scores predicted the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) scores and that CDI and CASI total scores predicted the Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI) scores of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggest that adolescents with CD had poor psychosocial well-being, and depression, global anxiety sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns are related to conversion symptoms.

ADHD symptoms, breast-feeding and obesity in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been found to be related to overweight/obesity in children and adolescents, but it is a heterogeneous disorder, and the relationships between the dimensions of ADHD and overweight/obesity are not clear. The aim of this study was to explore which dimensions of the disorder are specifically associated with overweight/obesity. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 300 treatment-naive children with ADHD and 75 healthy controls aged 7-17 years. The ADHD module of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version was used to diagnose ADHD. The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed via Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). The weight, height, and breast-feeding duration of the study samples and controls were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) was categorized according to the national age/sex-specific reference values. RESULTS: The rate of overweight/obese children was higher in the ADHD group. The association between ADHD symptoms and BMI percentile scores was evaluated using structural equation modeling. In that model, it was observed that the Cognitive Problems/Inattentive and Oppositional subscores of the CPRS had a positive predictive effect on the BMI percentile scores, but breast-feeding duration had a negative predictive effect on the BMI percentile scores. CONCLUSION: Inattention, oppositionality and breast-feeding duration were associated with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents with ADHD. Longitudinal studies are needed to more fully understand this relationship and the mechanisms underlying the association between ADHD and overweight/obesity.

Internet addiction is related to attention deficit but not hyperactivity in a sample of high school students.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom dimensions on Internet addiction (IA) after controlling for Internet usage features among high school students. METHODS: This study consisted of 640 students (331 females and 309 males) ranging from 14 to 19 years of age. The Internet Addiction Scale, the Conners-Wells' Adolescent Self-Report Scale-Short Form, and a personal information form were completed by the participants. Statistical analyses were conducted for both sexes and the total sample. RESULTS: According to the logistic regression analysis, attention deficit and playing online games were significant predictors of IA in both sexes. Other predictors of IA included behavioral problems for females, total weekly Internet usage time, and lifelong total Internet use for males. Hyperactivity and other Internet usage features did not predict IA. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that attention deficit and playing online games are important determinants of IA in this age group.

Parental attachment and childhood trauma in adolescents engaged in non-suicidal self-injury.

AIM: In this study, it was aimed to compare parental attachment and childhood traumas in adolescents with NSSI with healthy peers. METHODS: Fifty adolescents aged 14-18 years with lifetime NSSI and 56 healthy peers were included in the study. Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (ISAS), The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28) scales were used. RESULTS: Eighty-two percentage of the NSSI group and 70% of the control group were girls. The mean age was 15.6 ± 1.1 years in the NSSI group and 15.3 ± 0.9 years in the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age and gender. The NSSI group had more negative scores than the control group in terms of childhood traumas and attachment characteristics to both mother and father. The analyses showed that mother PBI care/control and sexual abuse score had a relationship with both ISAS Autonomic Functions and ISAS Social Functions scores. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that secure attachment with the mother may be protective for both the autonomic and social functions of the NSSI. Therefore, interventions for dysfunctional parental attachment may prevent the development of NSSI.

Relationship between anxiety, anxiety sensitivity and conduct disorder symptoms in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often comorbid with anxiety disorders and previous studies observed that anxiety could have an impact on the clinical course of ADHD and comorbid disruptive behavioral disorders (conduct disorders and oppositional-defiant disorders). Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a different concept from anxiety per se and it is believed to represent the constitutionally based sensitivity of individuals to anxiety and anxiety symptoms. We aimed to assess the associations between anxiety, AS and symptoms of disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD) in a clinical sample of children and adolescents with ADHD. The sample consisted of 274 treatment naive children with ADHD aged 8-17 years. The severity of ADHD symptoms and comorbid DBD were assessed via parent rated Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavioral Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S), Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS). AS and severity of anxiety symptoms of children were evaluated by self-report inventories. The association between anxiety, AS, and DBD was evaluated using structural equation modeling. Analyses revealed that AS social subscale scores negatively predicted symptoms of conduct disorder (CD) reported in T-DSM-IV-S. On the other hand, CD symptoms positively predicted severity of anxiety. No direct relationships were detected between anxiety, AS and oppositional-defiant behavior scores in any scales. These results may suggest a protective effect of AS social area on the development of conduct disorder in the presence of a diagnosis of ADHD, while the presence of symptoms of CD may be a vulnerability factor for the development of anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD.

The Validity and Reliability of Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children-Short Form in Turkish Adolescents. / Borderline Kisilik Özellikleri Çocuk Ölçegi­Kisa Formunun Türk Ergenlerinde Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalismasi.

OBJECTIVE: This study has aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children-Short Form (BPFSC-SF-TR) in Turkish adolescents. METHOD: The study was carried out with adolescents between the ages of 12-18 from clinical (N=168) and community (N=181) backgrounds. All participants were asked to complete the BPFSC-SF-TR, the Personality Belief Questionaire - Short Form (PBQ-SF), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5- Short Form (PID-5-SF) scales. Also, the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version-Turkish Version (K-SADS-PL-TR) was administered to the participants in the clinical group and their parents were asked to complete the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDsQL). Test-retest correlations and the Cronbach's α coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: BPFSC-SF-TR scores of both groups of participants positively correlated with the PBQ-BF borderline subscale, the PID-5-SF borderline related facets and the BSI scores, and negatively correlated with the PedsQL in the clinical group. Furthermore, the clinical group had higher total BPFSC-SF-TR scores than the community group, and their scores positively correlated with the number of diagnoses and psychiatric symptoms determined by using the KSADS-PL-TR. Exploratory and multi-group confirmatory factor analyses of the data of both groups supported a single factor structure. The Cronbach's α of the scale was 0.84 in the clinical group, and 0.79 in the community group. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficient of the scale was 0.71. CONCLUSION: The BPFSC-SF-TR is a valid and reliable tool for Turkish adolescents.