Investigating thyroid function and iodine status in adolescents with and without paediatric major depressive disorder.

Depression has been associated with subclinical hypothyroidism and altered hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis functioning. Adequate iodine nutrition is essential for healthy thyroid functioning. We therefore determined associations of iodine and thyroid status with paediatric major depressive disorder (pMDD) among Swiss adolescents and explored whether associations are sex-specific and mediated by stress.

Dealing with the challenges of the pandemic - results of a population-based survey during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic contrasting benefits and burden.

Background: The pandemic and the associated consequences have been ongoing stressors with severe impacts on the population and particularly on families. Research focusing on groups dealing well with the challenges of the pandemic is scarce. Here, we aimed to identify groups being well-adjusted during the pandemic and associated predictors.

Iron status in Swiss adolescents with paediatric major depressive disorder and healthy controls: a matched case-control study.

Purpose: Depression is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation and impaired intestinal function, both of which may reduce dietary iron absorption. Low iron status has been associated with depression in adults and adolescents. In Swiss adolescents, we determined the associations between paediatric major depressive disorder (pMDD), inflammation, intestinal permeability and iron status.

Clinical utility of the standardized observation tool Autism Behavior Coding System for early intervention research in autism spectrum disorder.

The Autism Behavior Coding System (ABCS) was developed to help evaluating the effectiveness of early intensive interventions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The video-based ABCS assesses eight core autistic behavioral variables during therapist-child interaction using standardized quantitative criteria, four behaviors according to their frequency of occurrence, four according to their duration. The present study focuses (1) on the correspondence of ABCS scores with scores on two standard clinical instruments (the ADOS-2 and an ASD-adaptation of the Children's Global Assessment Scale, DD-CGAS), (2) on the sensitivity to change of ABCS scores by the end of an intensive 18 days intervention period (EIP) and (c) on the predictability of short- and longer-term changes in social and repetitive behaviors from ABCS scores at baseline and EIP.

Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)-an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services.

Evidence-based assessment (EBA) in mental health is a critical aspect of improving patient outcomes and addressing the gaps in mental health care. EBA involves the use of psychometric instruments to gather data that can inform clinical decision-making, inform policymakers, and serve as a basis for research and quality management. Despite its potential, EBA is often hindered by barriers such as workload and cost, leading to its underutilization.

Impaired Personality Functioning in Children and Adolescents Assessed with the in Parent-Report and Convergence with Maladaptive Personality Traits and Personality Structure in School and Clinic Samples.

To investigate if the Personality Disorder (PD) severity concept (Criterion A) of the ICD-11 and DSM-5 AMPD is applicable to children and adolescents, following the ICD-11 lifespan perspective of mental disorders, age-specific and informant-adapted assessment tools are needed. The (Levels of Personality Functioning Questionnaire Parent Rating) was developed to assess Impaired Personality Functioning (IPF) in children aged 6-18 in parent-reported form. It is based on the established self-report questionnaire .

Associations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status and intake with paediatric major depressive disorder in Swiss adolescents: A case-control study.

Background: Observational studies suggest a link between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake, n-3 PUFA status, and depression in adults, but studies in adolescents are scarce. This study aimed to determine associations of n-3 PUFA status and intake with paediatric major depressive disorder (pMDD) in Swiss adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study in 95 adolescents diagnosed with pMDD and 95 healthy controls aged 13 to <18 years.

Executive functions and borderline personality features in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

Background: Executive functions (EF) consolidate during adolescence and are impaired in various emerging psychiatric disorders, such as pediatric Major Depressive Disorder (pMDD) and Borderline Personality Disorder. Previous studies point to a marked heterogeneity of deficits in EF in pMDD. We examined the hypothesis that deficits in EF in adolescents with pMDD might be related to comorbid Borderline Personality features (BPF).

Key insights from studies on the stability of personality disorders in different age groups.

While for decades, temporal stability has been conceived as a defining feature of personality disorders (PDs), cumulative findings appear to question the stability of PDs and PD symptoms over time. However, stability itself is a complex notion and findings are highly heterogenous. Building upon a literature search from a systematic review and meta-analysis, this narrative review aims to capture key findings in order to provide critical implications, both for clinical practice and future research.

The stability of personality disorders and personality disorder criteria: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the diagnostic, the dimensional mean-level, and rank-order stability of personality disorders (PDs) and PD criteria over time. EMBASE, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in either English, German, or French between the first publication of the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980 and December 20, 2022. Inclusion criteria were a prospective longitudinal study design, assessing the stability of PDs or PD criteria over at least two measurement occasions at least one month apart, and using the same assessment at baseline and follow-up.

Patterns of parent screen use, child screen time, and child socio-emotional problems at 5 years.

Digital media screens have become an essential part of our family life. However, we have insufficient knowledge about parental screen use patterns and how these affect children's socio-emotional development. In total, 867 Canadian parents of 5-year-old children from the TARGet Kids! Cohort (73.

Increased empathic distress in adults is associated with higher levels of childhood maltreatment.

While many studies investigated basic facets of empathy, less is known about the association with early life adversity (ELA). To investigate a possible association of empathy with ELA, we assessed self-reported ELA, using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) for mother and father, and empathy, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), in a sample of N = 228 (83% female, age = 30.51 ± 9.

Parental stress and physical violence against children during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a population-based survey in Germany.

Background: Parents and caregivers belonged to those with the highest burdens during the COVID-pandemic. Considering the close link between parental stress and child maltreatment, identifying families with high parental stress is of utmost importance to prevent violence against children. Within this study, we thus aimed to investigate the interplay of parental stress, changes in parental stress, and physical violence against children during the second year of the COVID-pandemic on an exploratory level.

Personality functioning and the pathogenic effect of childhood maltreatment in a high-risk sample.

Background: While the psychopathological sequalae of childhood maltreatment are widely acknowledged, less is known about the underlying pathways by which childhood maltreatment might lead to an increased risk for mental health problems. Recent studies indicated that impaired personality functioning might mediate this relationship. The aim of the present paper was to extend the current literature by investigating the mediating effect of impaired personality functioning between different types of childhood maltreatment and self-reported mental health problems in a high-risk sample.

Examination of the importance of anger/irritability and limited prosocial emotion/callous-unemotional traits to understand externalizing symptoms and adjustment problems in adolescence: A 10-year longitudinal study.

Objective: Within a longitudinal study (10-year follow-up), we aim to examine the role of anger/irritability and limited prosocial emotion/callous-unemotional traits in predicting externalizing symptoms and adjustment problems in individuals formerly in youth residential care institutions.

Method: These dimensions were assessed in 203 young adults, with baseline assessments during youth residential care and a follow-up 10 years later.

Results: In general, emotional problems and psychopathological symptoms did not reduce over time.

Addressing the mental health needs and burdens of children fleeing war: a field update from ongoing mental health and psychosocial support efforts at the Ukrainian border.

Unlabelled: The ongoing horrors of the war in Ukraine have led to enormous consequences: loss of life, severe injuries, and mass movements of civilians. Exposure to war, living in conflict zones, and forced displacement increase the risk of experiencing a broad spectrum of direct and indirect burdens towards physical and mental health, in particular among children. This letter to the editor aims to provide multiple clinical and 'mental health and psychosocial support' (MHPSS) systems' perspectives by experts working in ongoing aid efforts to bridge and disseminate their current observations towards child and adolescent mental health services involved in the mental health response to the current war in Ukraine.

A DSM-5 AMPD and ICD-11 compatible measure for an early identification of personality disorders in adolescence-LoPF-Q 12-18 latent structure and short form.

The LoPF-Q 12-18 (Levels of Personality Functioning Questionnaire) was designed for clinical use and to promote early detection of personality disorder (PD). It is a self-report measure with 97 items to assess personality functioning in adolescents from 12 years up. It operationalizes the dimensional concept of personality disorder (PD) severity used in the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders and the ICD-11.

Temperament and Offending Behaviors in Male Adolescents.

The aim of the current paper was to examine temperament profiles and temperament dimensions as risk factors for persistent criminal behavior in juveniles who offended (JOs). A sample of 137 male adolescents from a Swiss detention center and 137 age and sex matched community controls were included in the present study. Temperament was measured with the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI).

The Impact of Mental Health and Sociodemographic Characteristics on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic-Results of a Population-Based Survey in Germany.

A decreased quality of life was shown for numerous factors at the beginning of the pandemic. However, it is important to identify people who are at-risk for long-term impairments during the pandemic and its aftermath. Within this study, we aimed to investigate quality of life within a German population-based sample (2515 participants; 51.

Higher hair cortisol concentrations associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length in high-risk young adults.

Chronic stress is associated with accelerated biological aging as indexed by short age-adjusted leukocyte telomere length (LTL). Exploring links of biological stress responses with LTL has proved challenging due to the lack of biological measures of chronic psychological stress. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has emerged as a measure of chronic hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation, allowing the examination of relationships between aggregate cortisol concentrations over time and LTL.

Stability of self-reported psychopathic traits in at-risk adolescents in youth welfare and juvenile justice institutions.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the self-reported stability of psychopathic traits in adolescents in residential care (both child welfare and juvenile justice placed juveniles) and potential influencing factors.

Methods: We applied the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory (YPI) in a sample of 162 adolescents (M = 15.0 years, SD = 1.

Nature-Based Relaxation Videos and Their Effect on Heart Rate Variability.

Growing evidence suggests that natural environments - whether in outdoor or indoor settings - foster psychological health and physiological relaxation, indicated by increased wellbeing, reduced stress levels, and increased parasympathetic activity. Greater insight into differential psychological aspects modulating psychophysiological responses to nature-based relaxation videos could help understand modes of action and develop personalized relaxation interventions. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of autonomic regulation, specifically parasympathetic activity, in response to a 10-min video intervention in two consecutive studies as well as heart rate (HR).