The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine process a center in Turkey on anxiety levels of pediatric patients with epilepsy

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to compare the levels of state and trait anxiety in pediatric patients with epilepsy and healthy controls during the COVID-19 outbreak in Turkey. Materials and Methods: In this study, the state (STAI-I) and trait (STAI-II) anxiety scales were applied to patients between the ages of 10-17 years that had been followed due to epilepsy and were in quarantine. Anxiety status and potential risk factors were compared with healthy age and gender-matched control group. Results: This study included 40 epilepsy patients and 40 controls. Among the patients in the epilepsy group 92.5% had moderate and 7.5% had severe anxiety (mean value of STAI-I and STAI-II were 40.3±4.8 and 40.9±10.5, respectively). There was no significant difference between epilepsy and controls groups in terms of mean STAI-I and STAI-II scale scores (p=0.756, 0.914). When the state anxiety scores were categorized as low, moderate, and high anxiety levels, moderate-to-high state anxiety was detected in the epilepsy group, and moderate-to-low state anxiety in the control group. The state anxiety level was found to be high in patients with high seizure frequency (p=0.045). No significant relationship was found between state and trait anxiety scale scores and factors such as epilepsy duration, quarantine duration, seizure type, drug resistance, and type of antiepileptics. Conclusion: In situations that commonly affect community health, clinicians should focus also on the mental health of epileptic patients. Therefore, we believe that mental health support should be provided to pediatric patients with epilepsy

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDREN WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER AND PERSONALITY TRAITS OF THEIR MOTHERS

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine whether there is a relationship between maternal personality traits and the child's psychiatric disorder. Materials and Methods: The data for this cross-sectional case-control study were collected from mothers of 134 children with a psychiatric disorder who applied to the child psychiatry department of a university hospital between February and June 2021 and the mothers of 92 children without any psychiatric disorders. Participants were evaluated by using Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Short Form. Results: A total of 226 mothers participated in our study, 59.29% (134) of whom were the mothers of a child diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, and 40.71% (92) were the mothers of a healthy child. The neuroticism and psychoticism scores were significantly higher in the mothers of the patient group, and the extraversion score was significantly higher in the mothers of the control group. (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of lie traits scores (p=0.309). While the highest maternal extraversion scores were seen in the group with skin picking disorder followed by attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the highest lie traits score was found in the mothers of children with ADHD. Neuroticism and psychoticism scores were the highest, while extraversion scores were the lowest in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. Conclusion: We determined that there was a significant relationship between the presence of psychiatric disorders in children and the personality traits of the mothers

Fear of COVID-19 infection in children and adolescents diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder

COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde alınan önlemler, sosyal izolasyon, okulların kapatılması, sosyal medya paylaşımları, sosyal aktivitelerin azalması çocuklarda korku ve kaygıya neden olmaktadır. Çalışmamızda Yaygın Anksiyete Bozukluğu (YAB) olan çocukların anksiyete ve COVID-19 korkusu düzeyini araştırmayı amaçladık. Aralık 2020-Şubat 2021 tarihleri arasında çocuk psikiyatri polikliniğine başvuran YAB tanılı çocuklar ile sağlıklı çocuklar değerlendirildi. Katılımcılara sosyodemografik veri formu, Durumluk-Sürekli Anksiyete Ölçeği (STAI) ve COVID-19 Korkusu Ölçeği verildi. Çalışmamıza YAB tanılı 47 hasta ile sağlıklı 41 çocuk katıldı. Hasta grubun yaş ortalamaları 13,4±2,4 yıl, kontrol grubunun 12,6±2,4 yıl olarak bulundu. STAI-S puan ortalaması; hasta grubunda 49,5±9,7, kontrol grubunda 29,3±6,7 bulundu. STAI-T puan ortalaması; hasta grubunda 61,4±8,9, kontrol grubunda 32,6±6,2 olarak gözlendi. COVID-19 Korkusu Ölçeği puanları; hasta grubunda 22,2±5,5 tespit edildi ve orta düzeyde COVID-19 korkusu olabileceği düşünüldü. Kontrol grubunda 11,2±4,4 olarak gözlendi COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmemiş ve karantinaya alınmamış, YAB tanılı çocukların anksiyete ve COVID-19 korkusu düzeyleri yüksek bulunmuştur. Literatürde bu konuda yapılan çalışmalar sınırlıdır. Çalışmamızın YAB olan çocukların pandemi döneminde daha çok korku ve kaygı göstermesi konusunda literatüre katkı sağlayacağına inanıyoruz.The measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, closure of schools, social media posts, and decrease in social activities cause fear and anxiety in children. In our study, we aimed to investigate the level of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 in children with General- ized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Children with GAD and healthy children who applied to the child psych iatry outpatient clinic between De- cember 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. The participants were given a sociodemographic data form, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI), and the COVID-19 Fear Scale.47 patients with GAD and 41 healthy children were included in our study. The mean age of the patient group was 13.4±2.4 years, and 12.6±2.4 years in the control group. STAI-S average score; 49.5±9.7 in the patient group and 29.3±6.7 in the control group. STAI-T mean score; it was observed as 61.4±8.9 in the patient group and 32.6±6.2 in the control group. COVID-19 Fear Scale scores; 22.2±5.5 was detected in the patient group and it was thought that there may be a moderate fear of COVID-19. It was observed as 11.2±4.4 in the control group. The levels of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 were found to be high in children with GAD who did not have COVID-19 infection and were not quarantined. Studies on this subject in the literature are limited. We believe that our study will contribute to the literature on children with GAD showing more fear and anxiety during the pandemic period

The Effect of Internet Addiction on Sleep Quality of Children and Adolescents

Objectives:Internet addiction (IA) has been shown to be associated with sleep disorders. In our study, we aimed to investigate psychiatric comorbidities and sleep quality in children and adolescents with IA.Materials and Methods:Children with IA and healthy children who applied to the child psychiatry outpatient clinic were included in our study. Psychiatric comorbidities of children and adolescents were evaluated by applying the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School - Age Children - Present and Lifetime Version - Turkish Adaptation. Socio-demographic data form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Young Internet Addiction Scale-Short Form (YIAS-SF) were given to the participants.Results:Forty six children with IA and 35 healthy children participated in our study. Of the 46 participants in the study group, 26 were diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 13 with anxiety disorders, 9 with depression, and 11 with conduct disorder. In the study group, PSQI and YIAS-SF scores were found to be high. There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of scale scores.Conclusion:As a result of our study, it was found that the most common psychiatric diagnoses accompanying IA were ADHD, anxiety disorders and conduct disorders. It was determined that the academic achievement of children with IA was lower. Sleep quality was found to be poor in children with high IA level. It is important to provide training on conscious internet use for children and families in order to increase awareness about IA

Evaluation of suicide probability in children and adolescents with epilepsy

Background We aimed to examine suicide probability, factors affecting suicide, and personality traits of children and adolescents diagnosed with epilepsy, and to compare their results with those of children without epilepsy. Methods Fifty-six children diagnosed with epilepsy and 56 control children, aged 11-16 years, were evaluated by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria, the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present and Lifetime Version, the Child Depression Inventory, the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 - Brief Form - Children (PID-5-BF) scales. Factors predicting suicide risk in children with epilepsy were analyzed. Results The mean age, SPS total score, and hopelessness subscale score, PID-5-BF total score as well as disinhibition and psychoticism subscale scores of the epilepsy group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the Child Depression Inventory, and other subscales of the Suicide Probability Scales and PID-5-BF scales. The SPS total score was higher in patients with comorbid psychiatric diseases, those using psychiatric drugs, and girls (P < 0.05). An ANCOVA analysis indicated that the most important factor that predicted the probability of suicide and its subscale scores was the level of depression, and the presence of epilepsy was not predictive. Conclusions We found a high probability of suicide and personality pathology in children with epilepsy but the main predictor of suicide probability was the level of depression, not the presence of epilepsy

Psychiatric morbidity in children and adolescents with dermatological disorders

Understanding the existence of a cycle, where psychological disturbances cause skin diseases and in turn, skin diseases cause psychological disorders, provides the basis for good dermatological practice