Parental psychological distress associated with COVID-19 outbreak: A large-scale multicenter survey from Turkey

Aims: Pandemics can cause substantial psychological distress; however, we do not know the impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown and mental health burden on the parents of school age children. We aimed to comparatively examine the COVID-19 related the stress and psychological burden of the parents with different occupational, locational, and mental health status related backgrounds. Methods: A large-scale multicenter online survey was completed by the parents (n = 3,278) of children aged 6 to 18 years, parents with different occupational (health care workers—HCW [18.2%] vs. others), geographical (İstanbul [38.2%] vs. others), and psychiatric (child with a mental disorder [37.8%]) backgrounds. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being a HCW parent (odds ratio 1.79, p <.001), a mother (odds ratio 1.67, p <.001), and a younger parent (odds ratio 0.98, p =.012); living with an adult with a chronic physical illness (odds ratio 1.38, p <.001), having an acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.22, p =.043), positive psychiatric history (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001), and living with a child with moderate or high emotional distress (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001; vs. odds ratio 2.61, p <.001) were independently associated with significant parental distress. Conclusions: Parents report significant psychological distress associated with COVID-19 pandemic and further research is needed to investigate its wider impact including on the whole family unit. © The Author(s) 2020

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a 15 year-old girl; A case-report

Abstract: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a relatively common clinical condition that can cause sufferers to experience significant disability and distress, which may be further exacerbated by a lack of understanding from others, including health professionals. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been widely researched and reported to be an evidence-based effective treatment approach for CSF. Cognitive-behavioural theory of CFS aims to describe how certain cognitions and behaviours could account for the symptoms, distress, and disability that maintain the illness. In this case study, a successful application of CBT in a 15-year-old young person with a twelve-month-history of disabling CFS is presented. We argue that for a clinical success, a non-judgemental approach to address the parental role in maintenance of the sick role is necessary. [JCBPR 2015; 4(2.000): 97-103

Television-viewing Habits in a Preschool Age Clinical Population with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Clinical Groups

Objective: We aimed to compare the television (TV)-viewing habits in a clinical sample of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and those diagnosed with language delay, disruptive behavior disorders, and depression/anxiety and those who had no clinical diagnosis (no dx)

Assessment of electronic media use in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective: Electronic media use is an emerging area of research interest, however its relationship with Attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is neglected in Turkish literature. We therefore aimed to examine its relationship with certain variables and ADHD subtypes. Methods: A total of 360 participants aged between 6-18 years, who attended Bezmialem University, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic between January 2016 and October 2016, were screened with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children K-SADS) interview to ascertain diagnoses and a sociodemographic information tool was used to collect the relevant data. Results: The mean age of the sample was 9.47 +/- 2.67 years, and 81.9% of them consisted of males. 20.6% of the sample was reported to spend between 2 and 4 hours a day using electronic media gadgets (TV viewing, cell phone and/or tablet/computer use), while 4-6 hours of use was reported in 15.8%, 6-8 hours in 11.4%, 8-10 hours in 9.4% and more than 10 hours/day in 18.2% of the total sample. Heavy users of electronic media (> 6 hours/day) reportedly had significantly higher academic achievement and lower socioeconomic status as compared to those who used it at medium (2-6 hours/day) and low levels (< 2 hours/day). Gender, the content of TV viewing and total electronic media use within the household also significantly differed between the heavy, medium and low intensity users. Regression analyses revealed that total daily electronic media use for 10 hours and above was significantly and independently associated with the current family psychiatric illness and low academic achievement of the child. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting use of a variety of electronic media gadgets in a Turkish clinical sample of children and adolescents with ADHD. Results are in line with the existing international literature and highlights the excessive electronic media use in this clinical population. We recommend a routine screening for electronic media exposure in ADHD minors and increase awareness in their families and schools. Longitudinal and methodologically more robust studies are needed to examine cause-effect relationships

Examination of risk factors for dropout in a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic

Objective: Dropout from the ongoing treatment is defined as premature termination of the treatment against the clinician's advice. Dropout may lead to insufficient treatment, endurance of the disorder and worse quality of life. The aim of the present study is to investigate relationship of dropout with a list of possible predictive factors including; diagnosis, treatment modality, previous contact with services and child and family-related sociodemographic characteristics related to the child and their families. Methods: The sample consisted of a total of 954 children and adolescents, aged 6-18 years, attended to Bezmialem University Hospital, child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic between July 2015 and May 2016. A semi-structured clinical examination was used to endorse clinical diagnosis. Results: Dropout rate in the total sample was 52.0% (29.0% for early; 23.0% for late drop out). Almost 70% of the subjects, who were treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy continued with their treatment. Diagnosis of an externalizing disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were significantly higher in the late dropout group, while internalizing disorder was higher in those who engaged with treatment. Mother's higher education attainment showed positive relationship with service engagement. Previous psychiatric diagnosis in the child was an independent protective factor for discontinuation of treatment (OR=1.251,CI= 1.05-1.49, p=0.011). In terms of the treatment modalities, most of those who were treated with medication only dropped out late (74.6%), however pharmacological treatment on its own also appeared to be an independent predictor of dropout (OR=0.586, CI=0.47-0.72, p<0.001). Discussion: Dropout rates were higher than previous studies. Motivation to contact the service and treatment modality offered to the patient can predict their service engagement. Further local studies are needed to address factors related to dropout and the role of the current mental health system and lack of resources in poor service engagement needs to be clarified

Re-evaluating the Digital Gaming Profiles of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis Comprising 2 Years of Pre-Pandemic Data

In this study, we aimed to examine the technology use behaviors and problematic gaming profiles of children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown period. We compared the findings with data collected before the pandemic. The Internet Gaming Disorder Questionnaire (IGDQ) was distributed online to students aged 10 to 18 years. More than half of the participants (54%) spent more time playing digital games during the pandemic. Compared with the data from May 2018, the time spent playing digital games and the total score of the IGDQ were significantly higher in boys than in girls (p<0.001). The percentage of students who spent over 40 hours a week playing digital games was 3.9% in May 2018 compared with 8.7% in June 2020. Before the pandemic, 43.6% of the participants reported that they had spent 8 hours or more per week on digital gaming, whereas this amount was as high as 683% during the pandemic. Male students spent more time on digital gaming, while female students spent more time on social media and testing. Despite the list of uncontrolled confounders in this study, children and adolescents are likely to spend more time on digital gaming. The subsequent psychosocial impact may require further attention, especially during lockdown restrictions

Re-evaluating the Digital Gaming Profiles of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis Comprising 2 Years of Pre-Pandemic Data

In this study, we aimed to examine the technology use behaviors and problematic gaming profiles of children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown period. We compared the findings with data collected before the pandemic. The Internet Gaming Disorder Questionnaire (IGDQ) was distributed online to students aged 10 to 18 years. More than half of the participants (54%) spent more time playing digital games during the pandemic. Compared with the data from May 2018, the time spent playing digital games and the total score of the IGDQ were significantly higher in boys than in girls (p<0.001). The percentage of students who spent over 40 hours a week playing digital games was 3.9% in May 2018 compared with 8.7% in June 2020. Before the pandemic, 43.6% of the participants reported that they had spent 8 hours or more per week on digital gaming, whereas this amount was as high as 683% during the pandemic. Male students spent more time on digital gaming, while female students spent more time on social media and testing. Despite the list of uncontrolled confounders in this study, children and adolescents are likely to spend more time on digital gaming. The subsequent psychosocial impact may require further attention, especially during lockdown restrictions

Emetophobia (specific phobia of vomiting): Its Relationship with Anxiety-related Disorders and Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic Approach

Emetophobia (specific phobia of vomiting) emerges as one of the most neglected clinical conditions in clinical practice and academic literature. In this article, a phenomenological, epidemiologic and clinical picture of emetophobia is presented and the cognitive behavioral model is discussed as a therapeutic approach for its treatment [JCBPR 2017; 6(1.000): 39-48

Diagnostic and demographic characteristics of patients referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic

Objective: The aim of the present study is to examine the diagnostic categories of the patients referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic and the relationship of such categories with age and gender