Frequency of Anxiety, Depression, and Irritability Symptoms in Children During the COVID-19 Outbreak and Potential Risk Factors Associated With These Symptoms.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anxiety, depression, and irritability symptoms in children during the COVID-19 outbreak and to investigate the associated factors of these symptoms. This study was conducted with 1071 children aged 6 to 17. Results showed that 49.9% of the participants had anxiety symptoms, 29.5% had depression symptoms, and 51.4% had irritability symptoms. Low age was a potential risk factor for anxiety symptoms. Female sex was a potential risk factor for anxiety and depression symptoms. A COVID-19 death in the family or environment was a potential risk factor for depression and irritability symptoms. Exposure to COVID-19 information on television and on the internet was a potential risk factor for anxiety, depression, and irritability symptoms. In conclusion, this study revealed that the COVID-19 outbreak may have serious effects on the mental health of children, and the study highlighted potential risk factors.

Problematic internet gaming in adolescents, and its relationship with emotional regulation and perceived social support.

Technological developments and the increased use of the internet have created some risks for adolescents, including problematic internet gaming (PIG). The aim of this study is to investigate the role of age, gender, emotional dysregulation and perceived social support in PIG. The study was conducted with 1,291 adolescents. Participants completed the game addiction scale (GAS), difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), and multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) under the observation of their teachers. According to the results of the GAS, participants were divided into two groups: those with PIG and those without PIG. The effect of age, gender, DERS scores, and MSPSS scores on PIG was investigated using stepwise logistic regression analysis. The mean age of participants was 14.7 years and the frequency of PIG was 13.5% (n = 144). The frequency of PIG was significantly higher in males than in females. The results showed that male gender, high emotional dysregulation and low perceived social support were significantly associated with PIG. The present study indicate that PIG is highly observed in adolescents, especially in males, and as in other behavioral addictions, emotional dysregulation and perceived social support can play an important role in PIG.

Association of Reactive-Proactive Aggression and Anxiety Sensitivity with Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

This study evaluates the associations among the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD) in the context of their relationships with reactive-proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 342 treatment-naive children with ADHD. The severity of ADHD and DBD symptoms were assessed via parent- and teacher-rated inventories. Anxiety sensitivity, reactive-proactive aggression and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms of children were evaluated by self-report inventories. According to structural equation modeling, depression and anxiety scores had a relation with the DBD scores through reactive-proactive aggression. Results also showed a negative relation of the total scores of anxiety sensitivity on DBD scores, while conduct disorder scores had a positive relation with anxiety scores. This study suggests that examining the relations of reactive-proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity with internalizing and externalizing disorders could be useful for understanding the link among these disorders in ADHD.

Developmental delays in preschool children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of adenotonsillar hypertrophy on general development, as well as fine and gross motor capabilities, social communication, and language development in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy by applying the Denver Developmental Screening Test-II. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients (12 boys, 18 girls; mean age 53.3±12.2 months; range 32 to 72 months) who were indicated for adenotonsillectomy due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy between February 2013 and July 2013. The control group comprised 30 children participants (12 boys, 18 girls; mean age 53.1±12.8 months; range 32 to 72 months) with no adenotonsillectomy indication. All participants included in the study were performed routine physical examination, flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, and tympanometry. Brodsky scale and fiberendoscopic findings were used to categorize tonsil and adenoid sizes, respectively. Following ear, nose, and throat evaluation, a psychologist conducted Denver Developmental Screening Test-II in all participants blindly. RESULTS: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy patients had higher abnormal levels of general development (c2=7.13, p=0.028). Although patients and controls had similar levels of fine motor, gross motor, and personal-social development levels, there was a statistically borderline difference between them in terms of language development (t=1.82, p=0.074). CONCLUSION: The possibility of adenotonsillar hypertrophy should definitely be considered in children with delayed general and language developments.