Advancing patient care: novel scales for assessing adherence and attitudes toward medication among adolescents with psychiatric disorders and their parents.

Adolescents with psychiatric disorders may struggle with medication adherence and this can lead to ineffective treatment. Subjective factors, such as attitudes, beliefs, experiences, have a greater impact on adherence in adolescents than objective factors. To better understand these subjective attitudes, self-evaluation rating scales should be developed.

The impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents with eating disorders: a follow-up study from Türkiye.

Background: At the onset of the pandemic, we conducted a study on adolescents with eating disorders (EDs) and found no deterioration in ED symptoms. The objective of this subsequent study was to conduct a follow-up evaluation of the same cohort and investigate the consequences of the prolonged pandemic.

Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted one year after the first study between May 2021 and June 2021 with 37 adolescents aged 12-18 years (pre-existing EDs).

Possible effects of N-acetylcysteine in autism spectrum disorders: major clinical aspects, eating behaviors, and sleeping habits.

Background: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a promising agent for reducing irritability and hyperactivity and enhancing social responsiveness in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study aims to examine the effects of NAC on cardinal symptoms, eating, and sleeping habits in preschool children with autism.

Methods: The medical records of ASD patients were investigated retrospectively.

Neural correlates of distorted body images in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa: How is it different from major depressive disorder?

Body image disturbance is closely linked to eating disorders including anorexia nervosa (AN). Distorted body image perception, dissatisfaction and preoccupation with weight and shape are often key factors in the development and maintenance of these disorders. Although the pathophysiological mechanism of body image disorder is not yet fully understood, aberrant biological processes may interfere with perceptive, cognitive and emotional aspects of body image.

Investigation of Relaxin-3 Serum Levels in terms of Social Interaction, Communication, and Appetite as a Biomarker in Children with Autism.

Objective: To investigate the possible relationship between relaxin-3 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Serum relaxin-3 was measured in 80 children (50 children diagnosed with ASD and 30 controls). Symptom severity in the ASD group was evaluated by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).

Investigation of the Relation between Epithelial Barrier Function and Autism Symptom Severity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in mutual communication and social interaction as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. The possible role of biological abnormalities in the etiopathogenesis of this disorder arouses research interest in this area. This is a case-control study evaluating epithelial barrier function by comparing serum concentrations of occludin and zonulin in children with ASD (n = 60) and controls (n = 30).

Autistic Traits and Social Responsiveness: The Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Comorbid Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa.

Introduction: It is known that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) display social difficulties like social responsiveness and high levels of autistic behaviors such as rigidity, narrow interests of food and weight; however it is not clear whether they have comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or it is about acute phase of illness. In this study it is aimed to investigate autistic traits and social responsiveness in adolescents with AN.

Methods: Study group was consisted of 39 female AN patients aged between 12-18 years.

The effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on adolescents with an eating disorder and identifying factors predicting disordered eating behaviour.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on adolescents with eating disorders (ED) and identify factors predicting ED behaviour.

Method: This study took place during an age-stratified lockdown for those under 20 years in Turkey. Participants completed a survey developed to evaluate the effects of the lockdown on ED behaviour, well-being and quality of life (QoL) and additionally the eating disorder examination questionnaire (EDE-Q), and scales for depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviour.

Serum B12, homocysteine, and anti-parietal cell antibody levels in children with autism.

Aims: To compare vitamin B12, homocysteine, and anti-parietal cell antibody (APCA) levels between children with ASD and controls, paired in terms of age, sex, and socioeconomic level.

Methods: The research group consisted of 69 children, 36 with ASD and 33 controls. The severity of ASD was determined using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).

Attachment Security and Perceived Expressed Emotion in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the attachment security and perceived expressed emotion of female adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and those without any psychiatric disorder and to compare the expressed emotion of their parents. We also aimed to investigate the relationships between these variables and the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms of the adolescents on attachment security, perceived expressed emotion and expressed emotion of the parents.

Method: The study enrolled 43 female adolescents aged 12-18 years diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and an age and economic statusmatched control group of 37 healthy female adolescents.

Emotion regulation, emotion recognition, and empathy in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Purpose: Emotional functions may play an important role in anorexia nervosa (AN). The onset of the disorder generally occurs during adolescence, which is a critical period of emotional development. However, most studies that evaluated emotional functions in AN were conducted in adult patients.

The prevalence of childhood psychopathology in Turkey: a cross-sectional multicenter nationwide study (EPICPAT-T).

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood psychopathologies in Turkey.

Method: A nation-wide, randomly selected, representative population of 5830 children (6-13 years-old) enrolled as a 2nd,3rd or 4th grade student in 30 cities were evaluated for presence of a psychiatric or mental disorder by a Sociodemographic Form, Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), and DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents scales. Impairment criterion was assessed via a 3 point-Likert scale by the parent and the teacher independently.

Predictors of self-esteem in adolescents with a psychiatric referral.

In the literature self-esteem is found to be lower in clinically referred adolescents compared to adolescents without any psychiatric disorder. The aim of this study is to examine self-esteem and associated socio-demographical and psychological factors in clinically referred adolescents in Turkey. Three hundred forty-nine adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years admitted to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with a psychiatric complaint were enrolled.