Child abuse, mental health, mandatory reporting law [Çocuk istismari, ruh saglig ve adli bildirim zorunlulugu]

Objective: The aims of the present study were to present the follow-up findings of abuse cases whose legal reporting procedures initiated by clinicians, to inform about the way of legal reporting procedures and to discuss this subject from legal, ethical and treatment point of views. Methods: Sixteen abuse cases whose legal reporting procedure was initiated by physicians were included in the study. Data were gathered from patient file records, retrospectively. Findings: The causes for the legal reporting were sexual abuse in 81.3% (n=13), neglect in 18.8% (n=3), physical abuse in 6.3% (n=1) and emotional abuse in 6.3% (n=1) of the cases. Among these cases, 33.8% (n=7) were dislodged from the milieu of abuse, where as 81.3% (n=13) of them were taken under custodial care of social services. There was not any follow-up information about 18.8% (n=3) of the cases, 81.3% (n=13) of cases have been treated for their psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion: On the contrary of the anticipation of many people, legal reporting procedures may be useful for most of the abuse cases. The law for mandatory reporting of abuse and the ways of legal procedures should be considered and included in general medical curriculum. Clinical studies including large samples are warranted in this issue to reflect the exact nature of the abuse in society

The clinical features of children and adolescents with school refusal [Okul reddi olan çocuk ve ergenlerin klinik özellikleri]

Objective: To assess the clinical features of children with school refusal and discuss them in the light of the resources reviewed. Methods: Fifty-five children with school refusal have been included in the study. Firstly, we gave information about study and got informed consent. Detailed clinical interviews were made with child and parents. A sociodemographic information form and a Symptom Check List for Separation Anxiety Disorder were applied to the parents. Definitive statistics were employed in the evaluation of the data. Results: It was found that among children who presented with complaints of school refusal the number of boys was higher; the average age of children was 9.1±3.0; school refusal was more frequently seen in children who go through important transition periods such as starting primary school (5-7 years) and junior high school (10-11 years); most of the families had either one child or two children; school refusal was more frequently seen in the first child of the family; the most frequently seen psychiatric disorder was separation anxiety disorder; and the most frequently seen accompanying diagnosis in children with separation anxiety disorder was another anxiety disorder. Conclusions: School refusal should be considered as an important problem due to its effects that could be permanent in the social, emotional, and educational life of the affected individual. The early identification and treatment of the cases will inhibit the development of psychiatric disorders. Today there is still ongoing controversy regarding school refusal. Thus, in child and adolescent population, future studies are needed to determine the etiology, epidemiology, subtypes, diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of school refusal

The investigation of domestic violence in child psychiatric sample [Çocuk psikiyatri olgularinda aile içi şiddet öyküsünün sorgulanmasi]

Objective: When the studies are reviewed about domestic violence against partner and child, there are a few studies which include psychiatric sample, especially children. The aim of this study is to compare the two methods to domestic violence against child (DVAC) and domestic violence against partner (DVAP) in the pediatric psychiatric sample. Methods: In this study, DVAC and DVAP were investigated with two different methods. The first was self-report questionnaire. The second was to ask similar questions during face to face intervention, Participants were 510 mothers who had 4-12 years old child and who applied child and adolescent psychiatry department. Findings: Both DVAC and DVAP were determined higher rates in the first method. Additionally, correlation between two methods was very little. DVAC rates increased in the children who had DVAP history in their family. Conclusion: This study results were not similar to literature knowledge that 'DV should be examined as short and close and questions during face to face intervention'; according to our results the rate of this suggested method was effective at a level of only half-of the another method. This traditional method might be true, but it couldn't forget that this rate might bring Iower results than the reality. When there is a doubt about the presence of DV in family, different methods should be use, and each family member should be examined separately

A diabetes camp activity [Bir diyabet kampi etkinligi]

Objective: In this study it is aimed to evaluate efficiency of the diabetes summer camping in the mean of participants' psychological symptoms and diabetes education. A summer camp was organized for diabetic adolescent in the partnership of Çukurova University Medicine Faculty Pediatric Endocrinology Department and Çukurova University Medicine Faculty Child Psychiatry Departments. Methods: Eighteen (9 male, 9 female) participants aged between 10-17 were included in the scope of study. A test comprises 20 questions which are prepared by Çukurova University Medicine Faculty Pediatric Endocrinology Department was applied to participants before and after camping in order to measure knowledge of participants about diabetes. Children Depression Inventory (CD1), Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Questionnaire (MOCQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C) was also applied to participants. Results: Correct answers ratio of diabetes pre-test was 12.8 ± 2.5 while this ratio was 16.7 ± 3.0 after camping. This result was statistically meaningful (p=0.003). The mean point of was CD1 10. 1 ± 4.3 while MOCQ was found to be 18.7 ± 6.6. The mean of STAI-1 was 35.7 ± 5.5 and mean of STAI-2 was measured to be 28.8 ± 4.5. After camping, the means were consecutively 9.8 ± 7.2 19. 1 ± 7.1, 33.7 ± 6.2, 30.5 ± 6.3. These results were not statistically meaningful. Discussion: Diabetic children may have depression or other psychiatric problems more than healthy children. In this respect, the psychiatric evaluation and follow-up is important. Camp programs which are organized for chronic diseases provide follow-up opportunities for child and adolescent psychiatrists. To inform patients about their situation is an important step of therapy in diabetes and such chronic diseases. Diabetes camps are activities which are organized for this purpose. In this study it can be said that the camping has reached its aim

Sexual abuse in a classroom of ten male students: A group victimization

PubMedID: 22994692The term professional perpetrator is used to describe individuals who commit sexual abuse in the capacity of a position of trust such as a teacher, household member, or employer. There is an increasing body of evidence focusing on educator sexual abuse in the school environment. However, data are limited about this topic. The aim of this paper is to present the rare occurrence of the case of a male teacher in Turkey who sexually abused his students in an elementary school. Although it is unknown which populations are most vulnerable to sexual abuse, in Turkey we think that the indigenous population is at risk. Abuse cases are not logged into the criminal justice system because the majority of abuse allegations are ignored or disbelieved by families. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

False allegation in abuse cases: A case report [Istismar olgularinda asilsiz bildiri: Bir olgu sunumu]

Abuse and its complications are the important part of child and adolescent psychiatry services. Professionals who worked in this area can be faced with false abuse allegation. Treatment, ethic and forensic necessity are the most important difficulties in these cases. The aims of this study are to inform about of the false allegation case whose legal reporting procedures initiated by clinicians and to discuss this case from psychiatric, forensic and ethical point of views

The effectiveness of melatonin in head banging: A case report

Head banging is one of the three typical subtypes of rhythmic movement disorder. It typically involves anteroposterior movements of the head. Rhythmic movement disorder usually resolves in early childhood but less commonly persists into adolescence and adulthood. Although benzodiazepines commonly used, the universal effectiveness of any pharmacologic agent has not been approved. Herein, we present an 8-year-old girl patient suffered from head banging who responded to melatonin after in failure to imipramine treatment. Although nocomplete remission has been obtained, this is the first melatonin trial in a child patient with headbanging. © 2019 Brazilian Association of Sleep and Latin American Federation of Sleep Societies. All rights reserved

Inpatient treatment of abused children and adolescents

Objective: Inpatient rehabilitation and treatment systems, the Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) are widely used in the treatment of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) cases and offer the advantages of keeping a combination of several applications. 'Oguz Kagan Koksal Social Care and Rehabitation Center' is the first RTC in Turkey providing services to girl CSA victims. In this study, demographic, clinical and follow-up findings of patients treated in this center since the establishment of the six year period will be presented. Methods: This study included 152 girls aged between 8-18 years who had histories of CSA, neglect or other kinds of adverse experiences, and in need for treatment or protecttion. Demographic and abuse-specific data were obtained from file records. The Child Beck Depression Inventory, the Trait-State Anxiety Inventory-1, -2, the Moudsley Obsessive Compulsive Questionnaire, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale were administered at the beginning and at the end of the treatment period. Results: A history of CSA was reported by 120 girls. Almost half of the cases were diagnosed as posttraumatic stress disorder, 23.7% as borderline personality disorder, 21.1% as destructive behavior disorders, and 9.2 as bipolar disorder. In the treatment, 95% of cases taken at least one psychotropic medication. The most commonly used drugs were antipsychotics, and given in treatment of 81.4% of girls. In addition, 51.7% of cases taken mood stabilizers, and 25.5% of them took antidepressants. Mean score of all psychometric tests were improved significantly at the end point compared to the baseline. Conclusion: Our findings support the usefulness of the system presented herein for child and adolescent victims

Periodic fever and hyperimmunoglobulin D syndrome in a boy with pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with group a ß-hemolytic streptococcus

PubMedID: 23647138[No abstract available

Mannose-binding lectin 2 gene polymorphism in PANDAS patients

Introduction: Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), a subgroup of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), has received much attention even though the specific underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key factor in the innate immune response. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of MBL2 gene polymorphisms in pediatric OCD patients diagnosed as PANDAS, PANDAS-Variant and non-PANDAS. Methods: The study included 102 pediatric OCD patients (59 [57.8% ] PANDAS, 20 [19.6% ] non-PANDAS, and 23 [22.5% ] PANDAS-Variant) and 60 healthy controls. Polymorphisms at codon 52, 54 and 57 of the MBL2 gene were investigated. Results: Codon 54 polymorphism and any variant of MBL2 gene were significantly more frequent in the OCD group than in the control group (OR=2.97, 95% CI: 1.26–6.97; and OR=2.66, 95% CI: 1.32–5.38, respectively). According to regression analysis, the presence of any variant of MBL2 gene was found in 14.50-fold increased frequency in the PANDAS subgroup compared with the non-PANDAS subgroup (95% CI: 2.49–84.19). Conclusions: Our findings support an association between MBL2 genotypes and pediatric OCD, particularly PANDAS-OCD. © 2018 by Turkish Association of Neuropsychiatry.TF2011BAP36Acknowledgements: This study was presented as a poster at the 21st National Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Meeting, Antalya, Turkey, 2011. This study received the Best Research Project Award from the National Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2010. Ethics Committee Approval: The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Çukurova University (B.10 OTHG. 0.79.00.07). Informed Consent: Informed consent was obtained from all of the patients and their parents. Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed. Author Contributions: Concept - GGÇ, DAT; Design - GS, EE; Supervision - AA, PÇR; Resource - AYT; Materials - EE; Data Collection and/ or Processing - GGÇ; Analysis and/ or Interpretation - GS, GGÇ; Literature Search -PY, GGÇ; Writing - GGÇ, AYT; Critical Reviews - DAT, AA, GGÇ. Conflict of Interest: The authors do not have any conflict of interest to report regarding this study. Financial Disclosure: The authors disclose receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The work was supported by grants from the Çukurova University Scientific Research Department, Adana, Turkey (TF2011BAP36)