Theory of mind in adolescents with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A cross-sectional study

  Objective Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which may be associated with impaired Theory of Mind (ToM) and social cognition. ToM is a domain in social cognition which refers to one's ability to attribute beliefs, intents, perspectives, and understandings to oneself or others and to understand other's mental state. Materials & Methods The present study enrolled 52 ADHD of adolescents and 41 healthyage-matched controls in this study. This study applied The Readingthe Mind in The Eyes Task (RMET) and Theory of Mind AssessmentScale (Th.o.m.a.s.) for all participants. The results of these tasks were compared between the two study groups. Results e no significant differences between these two study groups in terms of ToM abilities using mean scores in Th.o.m.a.s inventory and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Also, we did not find any association between the mean score in ToM (in both study groups) and our study parameters of gender, mean age, birth rank, family structure, and income. Conclusion This study did not support the hypothesis that adolescents with ADHD perform worse on ToM tasks

Effectiveness of Virtual/Augmented Reality–Based Therapeutic Interventions on Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

In recent years, the application of virtual reality (VR) for therapeutic purposes has escalated dramatically. Favorable properties of VR for engaging patients with autism, in particular, have motivated an enormous body of investigations targeting autism-related disabilities with this technology. This study aims to provide a comprehensive meta-analysis for evaluating the effectiveness of VR on the rehabilitation and training of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic search of related databases and, after screening for inclusion criteria, reviewed 33 studies for more detailed analysis. Results revealed that individuals undergoing VR training have remarkable improvements with a relatively large effect size with Hedges g of 0.74. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of different skills indicated diverse effectiveness. The strongest effect was observed for daily living skills (g = 1.15). This effect was moderate for other skills: g = 0.45 for cognitive skills, g = 0.46 for emotion regulation and recognition skills, and g = 0.69 for social and communication skills. Moreover, five studies that had used augmented reality also showed promising efficacy (g = 0.92) that calls for more research on this tool. In conclusion, the application of VR-based settings in clinical practice is highly encouraged, although their standardization and customization need more research

The Effect of Methylphenidate on Cervical Vertebral Maturation and Dental Age in Patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Statement of the Problem: It is postulated that attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with or without medication has an inhibitory effect on the children’s growth and development. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the dental age and cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stage in ADHD patients with or without medication. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study evaluated the pretreatment panoramic and lateral cephalograms of 129 patients (70 males, 59 females aged 8-14 years). Demirjian index and Baccetti’s CVM index were used to determine the dental age and CVM stage, respectively. The subjects were evaluated in two groups of ADHD (case, n=59) and healthy individuals (control, n=70). The ADHD patients were divided into two groups of AWT (ADHD with Treatment, n=43) and AW (ADHD without treatment, n=16) based on the use of methylphenidate. Paired t-test was used to compare the mean dental age between the groups. Linear and ordered logistic regression models were used to detect differences between the groups. The association between dental and chronological age was assessed by using Pearson correlation coefficient (p< 0.05). Results: After age and sex adjustment, the skeletal maturity stage was found to be similar to the control group based on the presence of the disorder or use of medication (p= 0.711 and p= 0.436, respectively). Similarly, the patients’ dental age was similar to the controls in AW and AWT groups (p= 0.180 and p= 0.421, respectively). The correlation between dental age and chronological age was 0.79 in AWT, 0.88 in AW, and 0.88 in control group (p< 0.001 for all the three). Conclusion: After age and sex adjustment, the dental and skeletal age of ADHD patients with or without Methylphenidate treatment do no manifest a significan

Social Skills Training as a Classroom Program among a Group of Female Students of a Primary School

"n Objective: "n "nThe main objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of social skill training as a classroom program in schoolgirl students of a primary school with a control group. "nMethod: The 4th grade school girls of two classes in a primary school and at least one of their parents or caregivers participated in this study and they were allocated in the case and control groups. The student&apos;s age range was 9-11 years. The social skill education program was designed for primary school children by child and adolescent psychiatry department of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences .Demographic characteristics were recorded in a designed questionnaire , and included name, age, prior history of psychiatric and medical condition, and prior history of participation in a social skill education program . Achenbach Child Behavior Check List parent&apos;s report form (CBCL) was used before and after the study in the case group to evaluate the efficacy of the program interventions and, it was also used for the controls at the same times . The change of mean scores, inter and intra groups, and the categorical shifts were compared using repeated measure ANOVA and Chi square statistical methods of analysis by the SPSS-15 statistical software. "nResults: "nThe total number of 66 students with the mean age of 9.80±0.49 years participated in the study: 39 students were assigned to the experimental group and 27 students to the control group. The comparison of the mean age revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The results showed an increment in internalizing problems and total competence and also in affective, anxiety, oppositionality and conduct problem scores which are statistically significant. The percentage of change in behavioral problems was compared between the cases and controls after the interventions. Based on the results, 25.6% of the intervention group got worse in internalizing problems after the intervention compared to the 3.7% in the control group which is statistically significant. "nConclusion: Social skill training in classroom settings may worsen some behavioral problems in girls; therefore, this type of training needs standard settings

Fluvoxamine for the Treatment of Child and Adolescent Depression: An Open Label Trial

"n&nbsp;Objective: "n Major depressive disorder is a severe disorder that has a significant impact on the psychological and social functioning of children and adolescents. Considering current limitations in the treatment of this disorder, the present study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of fluvoxamine in the treatment of children and adolescents with major depressive disorder. "nMethod: In an open trial, the efficacy of fluvoxamine (50-200 mg/d) on children and adolescents with major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder was evaluated using the "Children&apos;s Depression Inventory", the "Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale", the "Children - Global Assessment Scale", the "Clinical Global Impression Scale", and the "Drug Side Effect Questionnaire" at the beginning and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the beginning of the treatment. The frequency of suicidal ideas was evaluated as well. "nResults: Treatment with fluvoxamine caused statistically significant improvement in all of the above scales. The frequency of suicidal ideas decreased from 88.9 percent to zero after 8 weeks. No significant side effects were observed. "nConclusion: Fluvoxamine can be used as a safe and effective drug in the treatment of major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder of children and adolescents

Data on the prevalence of addiction to the Internet among individuals with a history of drug abuse

The purpose of this data article is to present the prevalence of Internet addiction in people with a history of substance abuse disorder in Kerman during 2016–2017. For this purpose, 223 people with the history of substance abuse disorder in three cities of Kerman province completed the demographic form and Young׳s Internet addiction questionnaire. Demographic characteristics of participants was analyzed and presented here. Young׳s Addiction Commitment Questionnaire contains 20 questions, each with a score of 1 to 5. The history of participants about the drug abuse was investigated. In addition, the prevalence of Internet addiction among the participants was evaluated. The internet addiction is more common in people with a history of drug abuse which may be a behavioral substitute for drug addiction. Keywords: Internet addiction, Drug use, Iran, Kerma

Experiences of parents of children with psychiatric disorder from Covid‐19 pandemic and its related quarantine: A qualitative study

Abstract Introduction Owing to the considerable mortality caused by Covid‐19, different countries have made some decisions for dealing with this virus, one of which was quarantine. It was shown that a range of behavioral and emotional changes may exacerbate in children while staying more at home, and parents may then experience these positive or negative behavioral changes. The present study was conducted to examine the experiences of families with children with psychiatric disorders in a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Iran. Method The phenomenological method, which is a qualitative approach, was used in this study. The population was the parents of children with psychiatric disorders referred to the pediatric psychiatric clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital. Sampling was purposeful, which continued until data saturation. Finally, the number of included participants reached 14. As well, the Colaizzi method was used for data analysis. Results The results of this study included 12 secondary codes and 10 tertiary codes, which were divided into three main thematic groups as follows: effective factors for improving behavior, effective factors for worsening behavior, and affective factors on creating a new behavior during quarantine. Conclusion In conclusion, quarantine, social restrictions, closure of schools, and online classes can affect the mental health status of children and adolescents in different ways, especially in children with a history of psychiatric disorders

‎ Comparison of Creativity between Children with and without ‎Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: ‎A Case-Control ‎Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare creativity in children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity ‎disorder. Method: This was an analytic and descriptive study. Participants were 33 children aged 7-12 years selected from a ‎child and adolescent psychiatric clinic at Imam Hossein hospital (Tehran, Iran), who were diagnosed with ‎ADHD by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. They met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD and had ‎no comorbidity according to K-SADS (Kiddi-Scadule for Affective disorders and Schizophrenia). They ‎were requested not to take any medication. They took the Figural TTCT (Torrance Test of Creativity ‎Thinking) and Raven Intelligence test after using medication. Thirty-three age and sex-matched children ‎selected from the regional schools were recruited for the control group. They did not have any ‎psychiatric disorders according to K-SADS. The Figural TTCT and Raven Intelligence test were conducted ‎for the controls as well. ‎ Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the intelligence score and the mean±SD of the total ‎score of creativity between children with ADHD (125.2 ± 42.6) and the control group (130.6 ± 47.5) (P ‎value = 0.49). Children with ADHD had worse function in fluency and flexibility items and were not ‎different in originality and elaboration items.‎ Conclusion: The creativity of children with ADHD is not different from that of the control group.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-based therapeutic interventions on individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A comprehensive meta-analysis

We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis for evaluating the effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) on the rehabilitation and training of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. After a systematic search and targeted screening, 33 articles were analyzed. Results revealed that individuals undergoing VR training have remarkable improvements with a large effect size (g= 0.76). Furthermore, the results of the analysis of different skills indicated diverse effectiveness. The strongest effect was observed for daily living skills (g=1.23). This effect was moderate for other skills: g=0.45 for Cognitive skills, g=0.47 for Emotion Recognition skills, and g=0.67 for Social and Communication skills. In conclusion, the application of VR-based settings in clinical practice is highly encouraged, though their standardization and customization need more research