COVID-19 and Turkish University Students With Visual Impairments: An In-Depth Inquiry.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on the academic life, psychological well-being, social relations, and physical health of university students with visual impairments via their personal judgments. Methods: A qualitative research design was utilized with 19 participants studying at 10 Turkish universities located across seven cities. Personal online semi-structured interviews were held in January 2021. The audio-taped qualitative data were analyzed deductively in light of four predetermined themes: academic life, physical health, psychological well-being, and social relations. Results: Findings revealed the negative effects of the lockdown on daily and, specifically, campus life. Most participants claimed their preference for traditional over online education due to certain academic, psychological, and social difficulties, stating also that campus life had many academic and social advantages compared to online education. Physical health issues including access to medical treatments and lack of activity/mobility were also stressed. Discussion: It was interesting to observe that despite the interviews' focus on daily life, students provided views on the benefits of traditional education and how and why their individual needs should be met by universities, much more than expected. Implications for Practitioners: It may be concluded that several developmental domains of students with visual impairments are affected by attendance at a university and that offices of disability services of higher education institutions and university counseling centers should take thoughtful actions to meet the specific needs of this student population tailored to both online and traditional education.

A Promising Preliminary Study of Aripiprazole for Treatment-Resistant Childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a relatively frequent disease in childhood, which is generally treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and/or clomipramine and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, nearly half of the cases are treatment resistant. Aripiprazole was shown to be beneficial in augmentation therapy in treatment-refractory OCD. This study evaluated its effectiveness as a single agent in these cases. METHODS: Sixteen children (nine girls, seven boys), who were nonresponders to treatment with at least two types of SSRIs and CBT, were administered 12 weeks of aripiprazole treatment with a mean dose of 4.75 mg/day (range: 2-7.5 mg/day). Treatment outcomes were evaluated by the Childhood Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity and Improvement (CGI-S and CGI-I) scales. RESULTS: Children with a mean age of 10.9±2.9 years had severe obsessive compulsive symptoms at baseline, and >80% of them had another comorbid psychiatric disease. Significant improvements in symptoms were achieved after 12 weeks of aripiprazole treatment, which were evaluated by significant decreases in symptom scores in the CY-BOCS, and improvements in CGI-I scores. CONCLUSIONS: This very small study of aripiprazole, given to children with OCD resistant to at least 12 weeks treatment with at least two SSRIs and CBT, demonstrated striking improvement in CGI scores (all subsets, p≤0.002) for 13 of 16 children, and halved all CY-BOCS subscores after ∼12 weeks of treatment.

The effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on clothing selection and habits among Turkish University students.

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence the shopping attitudes of college students with and without ADHD. This study also examined the effects of ADHD on the academic and social lives of college students. The sample consisted of 219 university students. These students were interviewed by a psychiatrist with regard to ADHD symptoms according to the DSM-IV. The Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS), the Teen Interpersonal Influence Scale, and a demographic information form were used as measurement devices. The ADHD and control groups were classified in three different ways: (1) met the ADHD criteria for both Clinical Diagnosis and the ASRS; (2) met only the criteria for Clinical Diagnosis; or (3) met only the criteria of the ASRS. Our research shows that individuals with ADHD experience more problems with money management and are more affected by the media, friends, and brands compared with individuals without ADHD. Smoking and alcohol use disorders, accidents, being held back, and disciplinary actions often accompany ADHD in college students. To the best of our knowledge, the shopping attitudes of young adults with ADHD and the influence of the media, peers, family, and brands have not been studied until now.

Predicting aggression in children with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: The present study uses structural equation modeling of latent traits to examine the extent to which family factors, cognitive factors and perceptions of rejection in mother-child relations differentially correlate with aggression at home and at school. METHODS: Data were collected from 476 school-age (7-15 years old) children with a diagnosis of ADHD who had previously shown different types of aggressive behavior, as well as from their parents and teachers. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the differential relationships between maternal rejection, family, cognitive factors and aggression in home and school settings. RESULTS: Family factors influenced aggression reported at home (.68) and at school (.44); maternal rejection seems to be related to aggression at home (.21). Cognitive factors influenced aggression reported at school (.-05) and at home (-.12). CONCLUSIONS: Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of aggressive behavior in ADHD. Identifying key risk factors will advance the development of appropriate clinical interventions and prevention strategies and will provide information to guide the targeting of resources to those children at highest risk.

Effect of methylphenidate on neurocognitive test battery: an evaluation according to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, subtypes.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the neuropsychological characteristics of the restrictive (R) subtype according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition and the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) combined (CB) type and predominantly inattentive (PI) type subtypes and to evaluate whether methylphenidate (MPH) affects neurocognitive test battery scores according to these subtypes. This study included 360 children and adolescents (277 boys, 83 girls) between 7 and 15 years of age who had been diagnosed with ADHD and compared the neuropsychological characteristics and MPH treatment responses of patients with the R subtype-which has been suggested for inclusion among the ADHD subtypes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-with those of patients with the PI and CB subtypes. They did not differ from the control subjects in the complex attention domain, which includes Continuous Performance Test, Stroop test, and Shifting Attention Test, which suggests that the R subtype displayed a lower level of deterioration in these domains compared with the PI and CB subtypes. The patients with the CB and PI subtypes did not differ from the control subjects in the Continuous Performance Test correct response domain, whereas those with the R subtype presented a poorer performance than the control subjects. The R subtype requires a more detailed evaluation because it presented similar results in the remaining neuropsychological evaluations and MPH responses.

Atomoxetine response in the inattentive and combined subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a retrospective chart review.

The DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994, American Psychiatric Association) describes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a heterogeneous disorder; providing diagnostic criteria for three subtypes: hyperactive/impulsive (ADHD/HI), inattentive (ADHD/I), and combined type (ADHD/C). Differences among the subtypes are well defined, but there may be also differences in terms of treatment responses. The aim of this study is to assess the responses of ADHD/I and ADHD/C to atomoxetine treatment. The medical records of the January-June 2012 term, first time referrals to outpatient clinic, were reviewed, and 37 ADHD diagnosed primary school age children (18 ADHD/I, 19 ADHD/C) that were treated with atomoxetine were determined. Thirty-five of them who completed 8 weeks of treatment duration were recruited for the study. The children with an ADHD medication use history in 2 months time prior to onset of treatment and/or the children receiving additional psychopharmacologic treatment to atomoxetine were excluded. Baseline and eighth week assessment, records were evaluated. Efficacy assessments included Turgay DSM-IV ADHD Screening and Rating Scale parent and teacher forms (T-DSM-IV) and Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity and Improvement subscales. Safety assessments included laboratory and body weight assessments, ECG, heart rate, and blood pressure evaluations (baseline and eighth week) along a scale filled by the parents at the eighth week to review side effects. Atomoxetine was found to be effective in both ADHD/I and ADHD/C groups. Atomoxetine also decreased the opposition defiance subscale scores of T-DSM-IV (both parent and teacher forms), whereas it was not found to make statistically significant difference in the conduct disorder subscale scores. Mean difference in 8-week time in T-DSM-IV hyperactivity subscale and total scores of parent and teacher forms; inattention subscale scores of only parent forms and the CGI- severity subscale scores; differed significantly among the ADHD/I and ADHD/C groups; that ADHD/C types responded better to medication. Results of this study revealed that atomoxetine is effective both in ADHD/I and ADHD/C subtypes. ADHD/C types may be responding better to atomoxetine treatment than the ADHD/I subtypes.