Why is autism on the rise?

Editoria

The relationship between child rearing attitudes of mothers and problematic behaviors in their preschool period children

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the child rearing attitudes of mothers having children at preschool period and to compare the child psychiatry outpatient referred mothers with nonreferred ones and to investigate the effects of problematic child behavior and mother's education on rearing attitude. Methods: There are three groups (n=200) consisting of preschool children between ages of 24 and 72 months old and their mothers. Study group (n=71) was taken from children who referred to Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. Risk group (n=59) was taken from siblings whose brother/sister have been admitted to child psychiatry clinic. Healthy control group (n=70) was composed of children in day-care units, whose families haven't been referred to child psychiatry. Demographic data form including psychosocial risk factors and developmental properties, Childhood Behavior Checklist CBCL/2-3 and CBCL/4-18 and Parent Research Instrument (PARI) were instruments. The data was analysed using SPSS 16.0 programme. Results: Among three groups there were significant differences in the subdimensions of over-protective motherhood, rejection of homemaking role, marital conflict and harsh discipline; mother who has admitted to child psychiatry outpatient clinic (those were in study group and risk group) exhibited more negative child rearing attitudes. Mothers with lower school education(less than high school) showed more negative attitude than the ones with higher education (equals to or more than high school). There were no significant differences in the PARI scores between the children with physical disorders and children without any. There was a relation between the marital conflict and both of the externalizing and internatizing symptoms of the children. Also higher means in the subdimensions of rejection of homemaking role and harsh discipline were observed in higher externalizing symptoms whereas overprotective motherhood was found in correlation with the internalizing scores. Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between the maternal negative attitudes and the psychopathology of the children. Positive child rearing attitude is observed in higher educated mothers. Family atmosphere must be evaluted in every children referred to the clinics regardless of what the diagnosis is. The parents must be supported in the development of appropriate child growing and in coping against the psychopathology in their offsprings. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2012;13:67-74

Long-acting Injectable Risperidone Use in an 11-Years-Old Bipolar Child

Early-onset bipolar disorder is difficult for child psychiatrists in terms of both diagnosis and treatment. The proper diagnostic evaluation is negatively impacted by the atypical clinical manifestation and rapid cycling pattern of the disease, together with common comorbidity with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorder. In addition to poor insight, nonadherence to treatment, poor family coping skills, and insufficient child psychiatric inpatient units make clinicians unsuccessful in following up and treating such patients. Risperidone is a commonly used atypical antipsychotic it has been approved for the treatment of manic and mixed episodes of bipolar disorder even in 10-17-year-old patients, and it is commonly used. It has a long-acting injectable formulation. Studies on its long-acting form in younger children are limited. In this case presentation, the diagnostic procedure in an 11-year old child with bipolar disorder will be presented. Long-acting injectable risperidone use in the case of nonadherence to treatment and observed side effects will be discussed

Assessment of Sleep Problems and Related Risk Factors Observed in Turkish Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sleep problems are common and difficult to manage in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Another major adverse impact of sleep problems is that they exacerbate behavioral problems. To assess sleep problems and possible behavioral risk factors in detail, we aimed to compare sleep habits of children with ASD, with healthy children. The relationship between sleep difficulties and concomitant behavioral problems such as repetitive behaviors, hyperactivity, and social withdrawal were also examined. Hundred and seventeen children and adolescents including 64 with the diagnosis of ASD and 53 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Diagnostic Interview for ASD was performed according to DSM-IV-TR. Socio-demographical data form and childhood autism rating scale were filled by researchers. Aberrant behavior checklist (ABC), child behavior checklist and pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ) were completed by the parents of the children. Children with ASD had higher frequency of sleep problems, snoring, breathing problems, behavioral problems compared with healthy children (for all parameters; P < 0.001). A positive correlation was identified between the total score of PSQ and the total score of ABC (P < 0.05, Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.347). Sleep latency was prolonged in children with ASD compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.001). In accordance with the current literature, children with ASD were subject to sleep problems significantly more than the control group. Identified risk factors for sleep problems in ASD children were behavioral factors such as stereotypies, self-mutilation, hyperactivity, and social withdrawal. (C) 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Clinical, psychological and maternal characteristics in early functional constipation

BackgroundThis cross-sectional study investigated the clinical features of functional constipation (FC) at preschool age, as well as emotional and behavioral characteristics of the children, psychological symptom level and parental attitudes of the mothers, and compared these with that of non-referred typically developing controls with normal intestinal habits

Assessment of suicidality in children and adolescents with diagnosis of high functioning autism spectrum disorder in a Turkish clinical sample

Objectives: Considering that suicide is one of the most common reasons of adolescent death worldwide, there is a lack of clinical awareness on suicidal behaviors of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aims to assess the rate of suicidality (suicidal ideation, behaviors and attempts) and associated risk factors for suicidality in high functioning ASD

An examination of the symptoms of anxiety and parental attitude in children with hemophilia

Background/aim: Hemophilia is an inherited disease with serious repercussions. Psychiatric symptoms are frequently seen in children and adolescents with hemophilia. The aim of this study was to assess symptoms of anxiety in children with hemophilia and parental attitude towards children with hemophilia

Parental adjustment, parenting attitudes and emotional and behavioral problems in children with selective mutism

The present study investigated emotional and behavioral problems in children with selective mutism (SM) along with the psychological adjustment and parenting attitudes of their mothers and fathers. Participants included 26 children with SM (mean age = 8.11 +/- 2.11 years), 32 healthy controls (mean age = 8.18 +/- 2.55 years) and the parents of all children. Children with SM displayed higher problem scores than controls in a variety of emotional and behavioral parameters. They predominantly displayed internalizing problems, whereas aggressive and delinquent behavior was described among a subsample of the children. Significant differences existed between the SM and control groups only in paternal psychopathology, which included anxiety and depression. They did not differ with respect to maternal psychological distress or mother or father reported parental attitudes. Another important result of the present study was that the severity of emotional and behavioral problems of children with SM was correlated with maternal psychopathology but not paternal psychopathology. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of Impairment on the Prevalence and Comorbidities of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a National Survey: Nation-Wide Prevalence and Comorbidities of ADHD

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and comorbidities of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by evaluating a large-scale nation-wide sample of children. Method: The inclusion criterion was being enrolled as a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th-grade student. A semi-structured diagnostic interview (K-SADS-PL), DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders, and assessment of impairment (by both parents and teachers) were applied to 5,842 participants. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 19.5% without impairment and 12.4% with impairment. Both ADHD with and without impairment groups had similar psychiatric comorbidity rates except for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) diagnoses. Impairment in the ADHD group resulted in significantly higher ODD and CD diagnoses. Conclusion: Even when impairment is not described, other psychiatric disorders accompany the diagnosis of ADHD and may cause impairment in the future. Impairment in the diagnosis of ADHD significantly increases the likelihood of ODD and CD