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). The reassessment included an evaluation of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on ED behaviors, well-being, and quality of life. All the participants underwent a re-administration of the ED examination questionnaire (EDE-Q), Beck Depression Inventory, the State Anxiety Inventory for Children, and the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the EDE-Q scores or the ED examination questionnaire scores between the initial (T1) and subsequent (T2) study. The ED-related quality of life was seen to have slightly improved in the later stage. While depression (T1: 18, T2: 15, p=0.883) and obsession scores (T1: 11, T2: 14, p: 0.536) showed no disparity between the studies, anxiety scores (T1: 38, T2: 43, p:0.011) exhibited a significant increase. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the early phase, no exacerbation of ED symptoms in adolescents was observed during the later stages of the pandemic. Close clinical monitoring during the pandemic might have been protective against the deteriorating effects of the pandemic. During social isolation, it is important to monitor adolescents with EDs continously for depression and anxiety.

Investigation of adolescents and their mothers in terms of nomophobia.

BACKGROUND: Nomophobia (NoMP) is the fear of being unable to interact with others via mobile phones and is a current topic in adolescents` mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between NoMP in adolescents and their mothers` level of NoMP. METHODS: The levels of depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, NoMP, and perceived parental emotional availability were examined. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five adolescents (60% girls) were included in the study with their mothers. Ninetythree (60%) adolescents (67.7% girls) and 64 (41.3%) mothers were classified as nomophobic. There was a positive correlation between the NoMP levels of adolescents and their mothers. Nomophobic girls perceived less paternal support. All psychopathologic symptoms were higher in the nomophobic mothers. There was no difference between nomophobic and non-nomophobic adolescents in terms of maternal psychopathologies. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that parental effects should be investigated during the assessment of NoMP, especially in adolescent girls. The phone usage habits of mothers and their relationship with their adolescent children were closely associated with adolescent NoMP.

Pregabalin abuse in adolescence: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Pregabalin is an inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and can be abused, especially by polydrug abuser adults. Drug abuse is one of the many risky behaviors that can be seen during adolescence. Here, three adolescents with pregabalin abuse were described. CASE: These adolescents abused pregabalin to cope with their depressive and anxiety symptoms, become tranquilized, boost other drug effects, and reduce withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, the risk factors should be assessed while pregabalin is prescribed to adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The cases were reported in order to increase awareness concerning the abuse risk of pregabalin among adolescents.

Initial Ophthalmic Findings in Turkish Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently have ophthalmologic disorders. Due to poor cooperation with ophthalmological examination, ocular abnormalities in such children may be overlooked. We retrospectively studied the records of 324 patients diagnosed as ASD that underwent ophthalmological examination between January 2011 and November 2014 at Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Ophthalmic pathology was noted in 26.9% of patients with ASD, of which 22% had significant refractive errors and 8.6% had strabismus. Comprehensive eye examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist is recommended for all children diagnosed as ASD.

Change in metabolic parameters and weight in response to risperidone monotherapy in young children with nonpsychotic disorders: a prospective open-label study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates changes in metabolic parameters in prepubertal children after 14-16 weeks of treatment with low-dose risperidone. METHOD: Thirty-one children (mean age 5.46 ± 1.98 years) were treated with risperidone (0.25-1 mg/day; 0.01-0.07 mg/kg/day). Patients were excluded if they were using any medication other than risperidone or were diagnosed with any medical problem in addition to a non-psychotic disorder. RESULTS: Weight (Δ: 2.51 ± 1.94 kg), height (Δ: 0.03 ± 0.04 cm), BMI (Δ: 0.82 ± 1.4), BMI percentile (Δ: 9.72 ± 16.40), BMI z-score (Δ: 0.33 ± 1.03), triglyceride (Δ: 1.50 ± 23.97 mg/dl), very low density lipoprotein (Δ: 2.99 ± 4.76 mg/dl), insulin (Δ: 3.07 ± 3.38 mIU/ml), and leptin (Δ: 3.02 ± 4.69 ng/ml) were significantly increased (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The metabolic side effects of risperidone must be carefully monitored in prepubertal children.