Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which has multifactorial etiology. Parents of children diagnosed with ASD often use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on the grounds that they do not benefit from traditional medical treatments. In this article it is aimed to clarify the definition of CAM, to examine the prevalence of the use of CAM in ASD, to examine the CAM interventions and their efficacy used in ASD, and to review the studies about use of CAM among children diagnosed ASD in Turkey. For this purpose, publications in the Science Citation Index (SCI) and SCI-Expanded, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, DergiPark, TÜBİTAK/ULAKBİM-Turkish Medical Index, Turkish Psychiatry Index and Turkish Medline indexes were reviewed. Although current data on the effectiveness of CAM is limited, considering the usage rates, physicians should be informed about CAM interventions, clearly ask about the use of CAM and share information on the subject

Adjustment disorder after botulinum toxin injection in an adolescent palatal myoclonus case: The importance of informed consent in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in children and adolescents

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Hiccup Due to Aripiprazole Plus Methylphenidate Treatment in an Adolescent with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and Conduct Disorder: A Case Report

Our case had hiccups arising in an adolescent with the attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD) after adding aripiprazole treatment to extended-release methylphenidate. Actually, antipsychotics are also used in the treatment of hiccups, but studies suggest that they can cause hiccups as well. Within 12 hours of taking 2.5 mg aripiprazole added to extended-release methylphenidate at a dose of 54 mg/day, 16-year-old boy began having hiccups in the morning, which lasted after 3-4 hours. As a result, aripiprazole was discontinued and methylphenidate was continued alone because we could not convince the patient to use another additional drug due to this side effect. Subsequently, when his behavior got worsened day by day, his mother administered aripiprazole alone again at the dose of 2.5 mg/day at the weekend and continued treatment because hiccup did not occur again. But when it was administered with methylphenidate on Monday, hiccup started again next morning and lasted one hour at this time. In conclusion, we concluded that concurrent use of methylphenidate and aripiprazole in this adolescent led to hiccups

Emotion Dysregulation in Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and its Treatment

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may seriously affect youth’s home, school, and social functions. Comorbidity with emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increases the severity of symptoms, leads to more risky behaviors, more deterioration in peer relationships, social and romantic relationships. There are many methods for assessing emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are several pharma-cological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches available in treatment of emotion dysregu-lation among patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The aim of this article is to review the impact of emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its treatment

Neurobiological Components of Sexual Identity Development and Epigenetic Effects of Environmental Stressors

In this review, we explore the intricate development of sexual identity, drawing insights from genetic, endocrinological, neuroanatomical, and neurophysiological studies. Gender identity, encapsulating an individual's internal perception as male or female, undergoes a nuanced and gradual formation, commencing early in life and progressing through distinct stages. Gender nonconformity delineates behaviors that diverge from culturally prescribed norms, while gender dysphoria encompasses the emotional distress experienced by some individuals due to a mismatch between their gender identity and assigned sex at birth. The genesis of sexual identity involves multifaceted processes spanning numerous years. Human sex differentiation involves the suppression or inactivation of specific genes, a phenomenon illuminated by genetic investigations into gender dysphoria, which have shown comparable rates of genetic variations to the general population. Nevertheless, twin studies suggest an augmented likelihood of transsexuality among family members, hinting at potential environmental influences. Brain sexual differentiation occurs during mid-to-late pregnancy due to the impact of gonadal hormones. The mechanisms underpinning the loss of feminine brain characteristics and subsequent masculinization likely involve a combination of factors, indicating a complex interplay rather than a singular cause. Studies propose that human sexual behavior is not governed by a solitary gene but rather by a network of genes dispersed across the genome. Notably, disparities in brain structures, functionalities between genders, as well as variations in endocrine and serotonin-dopamine levels, are implicated in the etiology of gender dysphoria, contributing to the understanding of this complex phenomenon situated between genders

Atomoxetine treatment may decrease striatal dopaminergic transporter availability after 8 weeks: pilot SPECT report of three cases

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. The pathophysiology is thought to involve noradrenaline and dopamine. The role of dopamine transporter (DAT) was evaluated in imaging studies using mostly dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Atomoxetine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. Here we report the results of a pilot study conducted to evaluate changes in striatal DAT after 8 weeks of atomoxetine treatment. Our results suggest that 8 weeks of atomoxetine treatment may change striatal DAT bioavailability as measured via SPECT but that change was not correlated with genotype or clinical improvement