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Background: Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and describing emotions and an externally oriented thinking style, is a personality trait linked to various mental health issues. Despite its recognized importance, research on alexithymia in early childhood is sparse. This study addresses this gap by investigating alexithymia in preschool-aged children and its correlation with psychopathology, along with parental alexithymia. Methods: Data were analyzed from 174 parents of preschoolers aged 3 to 6, including 27 children in an interdisciplinary intervention program, all of whom attended regular preschools. Parents filled out online questionnaires assessing their children's alexithymia (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire–Parent Report) and psychopathology (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), as well as their own alexithymia (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire) and emotion recognition (Reading Mind in the Eyes Test). Linear multivariable regressions were computed to predict child psychopathology based on both child and parental alexithymia. Results: Preschool children's alexithymia could be predicted by their parents' alexithymia and parents' emotion recognition skills. Internalizing symptomatology could be predicted by overall child alexithymia, whereas externalizing symptomatology was predicted by difficulties describing negative feelings only. Parental alexithymia was linked to both child alexithymia and psychopathology. Conclusions: The findings provide first evidence of the importance of alexithymia as a possible risk factor in early childhood and contribute to understanding the presentation and role of alexithymia. This could inform future research aimed at investigating the causes, prevention, and intervention strategies for psychopathology in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal hypoxia due to placental dysfunction is the hallmark of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Preferential perfusion of the brain (brain-sparing effect), as a part of physiological placental cardiovascular compensatory mechanisms to hypoxia, in FGR was reported. Therefore, the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) protein expression in the FGR placentas and newborns' early neurological outcome was examined. This study included 50 women with FGR complicated pregnancies and 30 uneventful pregnancies. Fetal hemodynamic parameters, neonatal acid–base status after delivery, placental pathohistology and VEGF-A expression were followed. Early neonatal morphological brain evaluation by ultrasound and functional evaluation of neurological status by Amiel – Tison Neurological Assessment at Term (ATNAT) were performed. VEGF-A protein expression level was significantly higher in the FGR placentas than normal term placentas (Fisher–Freeman–Halton's test, p≤0.001). No statistically significant correlation between placental VEGF-A expression and different prenatal and postnatal parameters was noticed. Whereas the alteration of an early neurological status assessed by ATNAT was found in 58 % of FGR newborns, morphological brain changes evaluated by UZV was noticed in 48 % of cases. No association between the level of placental VEGF-A expression and the early neurological deficits was found. As far as we know this is the first study of a possible connection between VEGF-A protein expression in the FGR placentas and neonates' early neurological outcomes. The lack of correlation between the FGR placental VEGF-A expression and neonates' neurological outcome could indicate that optimal early neurodevelopment may take place due to compensatory mechanism not related to placental VEGF-A expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is considerable evidence to support Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) in the adult population, it has not been empirically studied in youth. EFT does not rely on an individual's adherence to manualized strategies or between-session homework tasks, focusing instead on within-session processes. These processes activate and transform core emotions that are often linked to experiences with primary caregivers, family members, and other significant relationships. This novel study reports on an adaptation of EFT for youth. Building upon the evidence base for EFT with adults, we examined the impact of an 8-session EFT-Y intervention on clinical disorders in youth (n = 43). Using a single-site randomized waitlist-controlled design, outcomes from a treatment group (n = 22) were compared to a waitlist control group (n = 21), similar in age and presenting problems. In comparison to youth in the waitlist control group, the treatment group reported a significant decrease in their emotion dysregulation and depression scores at the end of treatment. Youth in the treatment group also demonstrated a decrease in their emotion difficulties, conduct problems, and overall difficulties, with baseline scores controlled for. These findings provide preliminary evidence that EFT-Y is an efficacious therapeutic approach for common child and adolescent psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender clinic and single‐item questionnaire‐based data report increased co‐occurrence of gender diversity and neurodevelopmental conditions. The nuances of these associations are under‐studied. We used a transdiagnostic approach, combining categorical and dimensional characterization of neurodiversity, to further the understanding of its associations with gender diversity in identity and expression in children. Methods: Data from 291 children (Autism N = 104, ADHD N = 104, Autism + ADHD N = 17, neurotypical N = 66) aged 4–12 years enrolled in the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Network were analyzed. Gender diversity was measured multi‐dimensionally using a well‐validated parent‐report instrument, the Gender Identity Questionnaire for Children (GIQC). We used gamma regression models to determine the significant correlates of gender diversity among age, puberty, sex‐assigned‐at‐birth, categorical neurodevelopmental diagnoses, and dimensional neurodivergent traits (using the Social Communication Questionnaire and the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Rating Scales). Internalizing and externalizing problems were included as covariates. Results: Neither a categorical diagnosis of autism nor ADHD significantly correlated with current GIQC‐derived scores. Instead, higher early‐childhood dimensional autistic social‐communication traits correlated with higher current overall gender incongruence (as defined by GIQC‐14 score). This correlation was potentially moderated by sex‐assigned‐at‐birth: greater early‐childhood autistic social‐communication traits were associated with higher current overall gender incongruence in assigned‐males‐at‐birth, but not assigned‐females‐at‐birth. For fine‐grained gender diversity domains, greater autistic restricted‐repetitive behavior traits were associated with greater diversity in gender identity across sexes‐assigned‐at‐birth; greater autistic social‐communication traits were associated with lower stereotypical male expression across sexes‐assigned‐at‐birth. Conclusions: Dimensional autistic traits, rather than ADHD traits or categorical neurodevelopmental diagnoses, were associated with gender diversity domains across neurodivergent and neurotypical children. The association between early‐childhood autistic social‐communication traits and overall current gender diversity was most evident in assigned‐males‐at‐birth. Nuanced interrelationships between neurodivergence and gender diversity should be better understood to clarify developmental links and to offer tailored support for neurodivergent and gender‐diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sibling bullying is associated with mental health difficulties; both in the short and long term. It is commonly assumed that sibling bullying leads to mental health difficulties but additional explanations for the relationship between the two are seldom investigated. Methods: To address this gap in knowledge, we used a genetically sensitive design with data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (maximum N = 3,959, 53% female). At ages 11–13 years, individuals self‐reported their involvement in sibling bullying, as a victim and perpetrator, and parents reported on their child's mental health difficulties. Polygenic scores, indices of genetic risk for psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) were computed using children's genetic data. Regression and structural equation models were fitted to the data. Results: Sibling bullying, victimisation and perpetration, and polygenic scores both predicted mental health difficulties in an additive manner but there was no interaction between them. Polygenic scores for mental health difficulties were also associated with sibling bullying. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sibling bullying, victimisation and perpetration, is associated with mental health difficulties, even after accounting for some genetic effects. Additionally, the relationship between sibling bullying and mental health difficulties may be, at least partly, due to shared genetic aetiology. One possibility is that genetic risk for mental health difficulties influences the onset of mental health difficulties which in turn make children more susceptible to sibling bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The ganglionic eminences (GE) are fetal-specific structures that give rise to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and acetylcholine-releasing neurons of the forebrain. Given the evidence for GABAergic, cholinergic, and neurodevelopmental disturbances in schizophrenia, we tested the potential involvement of GE neuron development in mediating genetic risk for the condition. Study Design We combined data from a recent large-scale genome-wide association study of schizophrenia with single-cell RNA sequencing data from the human GE to test the enrichment of schizophrenia risk variation in genes with high expression specificity for developing GE cell populations. We additionally performed the single nuclei Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with Sequencing (snATAC-Seq) to map potential regulatory genomic regions operating in individual cell populations of the human GE, using these to test for enrichment of schizophrenia common genetic variant liability and to functionally annotate non-coding variants-associated with the disorder. Study Results Schizophrenia common variant liability was enriched in genes with high expression specificity for developing neuron populations that are predicted to form dopamine D1 and D2 receptor-expressing GABAergic medium spiny neurons of the striatum, cortical somatostatin-positive GABAergic interneurons, calretinin-positive GABAergic neurons, and cholinergic neurons. Consistent with these findings, schizophrenia genetic risk was concentrated in predicted regulatory genomic sequence mapped in developing neuronal populations of the GE. Conclusions Our study implicates prenatal development of specific populations of GABAergic and cholinergic neurons in later susceptibility to schizophrenia, and provides a map of predicted regulatory genomic elements operating in cells of the GE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluate changes in two-wheel cycling skills and biking participation goals for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) receiving a home visit and email following iCan Bike camp. Participants: 11 children with ND, 9–16 years, and one of their parents. A cycling skills checklist, two-wheel riding Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), and biking participation GAS were completed before camp (T1), at support visit after camp (T2), and three months following camp (T3). Parents completed biking practice logs. Participants received a support visit to provide instruction, coaching, and address questions, and an email to check progress. Significant changes were made in two-wheel riding GAS T1 to T2 (p = 0.01), biking participation GAS T2 to T3 (p = 0.02), and cycling skills T1 to T2 (p = 0.01) and T2 to T3 (p = 0.02). Practice frequency was related to cycling skills (0.72, p = 0.01) and biking participation (0.86, p < 0.001); cycling skills were related to biking participation (0.81, p = 0.003). Children improved cycling skills and biking participation following camp, support visit, and email check-in. Children who practiced more had greater cycling skills and biking participation. Encouraging weekly bicycling and providing support may promote cycling skills and participation following camp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The literature indicates that sexuality education provided in schools/colleges in the United Kingdom (UK) may not be appropriate for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There appears to be a lack of understanding of the subject regarding young people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a dual diagnosis (ASD co-occurring with ADHD). Research also suggests that compared to neurotypical peers, young people with ASD tend to receive less support on sexuality from their parents, who often feel that they lack the appropriate skills to help their children with some sex-related issues. Some young people with ASD and ADHD also report lacking an understanding of the social nuances of dating and intimacy, which is crucial for navigating romantic relationships. Design/methodology/approach This study explored sexuality education and romantic relationships in young people based on a semi-structured interview approach to the topic. Thematic Analysis (TA) was employed to analyze the data. Findings Six themes were developed from the participants' narratives: Societal ideology about sexuality; Substandard school-based sexuality education; The role of adults in sexuality education; Pornography, as a very powerful alternative means of sexuality education; Young people and romance—a complicated world to navigate; Experience of abuse in the young neurodivergent population is a serious matter. Findings revealed that many neurodivergent and neurotypical young people received basic sex education in their schools/colleges and homes and encountered challenges navigating romantic relationships. Neurodivergent young people reported experiencing greater challenges related to their understanding of and building romantic relationships than their neurotypical peers. Originality/value To the researchers' knowledge, this is the first exploration of romantic relationships and sexuality education in neurotypical young people as well as three groups of neurodivergent young people (with ASD, ADHD, and ASD co-occurring with ADHD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It has been suggested that inhibin B (InhB), Anti-Müllerian hormone (Müllerian-inhibiting substance, AMH) levels, and 2D/4D finger length ratios are related to sex differences in neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of InhB, AMH levels, and 2D/4D finger length ratios in male children with specific learning disorder (SLD). Methods: The study included 38 male children diagnosed with SLD and 38 males of similar ages without SLD as the control group. Tests used in the evaluation were the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version, Specific learning disorder clinical observation battery, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), and Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form. Serum AMH, InhB, and Testosterone levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Male children diagnosed with SLD demonstrated significantly higher levels of serum InhB compared to controls (t= 2.59 p=0.009); both groups had similar levels of serum testosterone and AMH. The 2D/4D finger ratios in the SLD group were found to be lower than those in the control group (t= 2.92 p= 0.005). Serum InhB levels were positively correlated with WISC-R verbal scores (p= 0.003). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that serum InhB levels and the 2D/4D ratio, which is an indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure, may play a role in the male predominance of SLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Objectives: Exposure to adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) in childhood is associated with poorer long-term health outcomes. Within structurally marginalized populations, there are disproportionately high rates of developmentally vulnerable children. The RICHER (Responsive, Intersectoral, Child and Community Health, Education and Research) social pediatric model was designed to increase access to care in marginalized neighborhoods. The purpose of this study was to describe the children and youth engaged with the RICHER model of service and characterize the needs of the population. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on children and youth who accessed primary care services through the program between January 1, 2018 and April 30, 2021. Basic descriptive data analysis was done using Stata v15.1. Results: A total of 210 charts were reviewed. The mean age in years at initial assessment was 6.32. Patients most commonly identified their race/ethnicity as Indigenous (33%) and 15% were recent newcomers to Canada. Evidence of at least 1 adverse SDoH was noted in 41% of charts; the most common included material poverty (34%), food insecurity (11%), and child welfare involvement (20%). The median number of diagnoses per patient was 4. The most frequently documented diagnoses were neurodevelopmental disorders (50%) including developmental delay (39%), ADHD (32%), and learning disability (26%). The program referred 72% of patients to general pediatricians and/or other subspecialists; 34% were referred for tertiary neuropsychological assessments and 35% for mental health services. Conclusions: Our data suggests that this low-barrier, place-based primary care RICHER model was able to reach a medically, developmentally, and socially complex population living in disenfranchised urban neighborhoods. Half of the patients identified in our review had neurodevelopmental concerns and a third had mental health concerns, in contrast to an estimated 17% prevalence for mental health, behavioral, or developmental disorders in North American general pediatric aged populations. This highlights the impact adverse SDoH can have on child health and the importance of working with community partners to identify developmentally vulnerable children and support place-based programs in connecting with children who may be missed, overlooked, or disadvantaged through traditional models of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prosocial behaviours – acts that benefit others – are of crucial importance for many species including humans. However, adolescents with conduct problems (CP), unlike their typically developing (TD) peers, demonstrate markedly reduced engagement in prosocial behaviours. This pattern is particularly pronounced in adolescents with CP and high levels of callous‐unemotional traits (CP/HCU) who are at increased risk of developing psychopathy in adulthood. While a substantial amount of research has investigated the cognitive‐affective mechanisms thought to underlie antisocial behaviour, much less is known about the mechanisms that could explain reduced prosocial behaviours in adolescents with CP. Methods: Here we examined the willingness to exert effort to benefit oneself (self) and another person (other, prosocial condition) in children with CP/HCU, CP and lower levels of CU traits (CP/LCU) and their TD peers. The task captured both prosocial choices, and actual effort exerted following prosocial choices, in adolescent boys aged 11–16 (27 CP/HCU; 34 CP/LCU; 33 TD). We used computational modelling to reveal the mechanistic processes involved when choosing prosocial acts. Results: We found that both CP/HCU and CP/LCU groups were more averse to initiating effortful prosocial acts than TD adolescents – both at a cognitive and at a behavioural level. Strikingly, even if they chose to initiate a prosocial act, the CP/HCU group exerted less effort following this prosocial choice than other groups. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that reduced exertion of effort to benefit others may be an important factor that differentiates adolescents with CP/HCU from their peers with CP/LCU. They offer new insights into what might drive low prosocial behaviour in adolescents with CP, including vulnerabilities that may particularly characterise those with high levels of CU traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Do prospective and retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment show different associations with psychopathology? Findings: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 studies (including 15 485 individuals), psychopathology was more strongly associated with retrospective than prospective measures of childhood maltreatment. The associations between retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment and psychopathology were stronger when the assessment of psychopathology was based on self-reports and was focused on internalizing (emotional) disorders. Meaning: The results support cognitive theories of childhood maltreatment-related psychopathology, which focus on subjective interpretation, conscious recall, and their associated schemas as key targets for intervention. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates associations between childhood maltreatment and psychopathology. Importance: Prospective and retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment identify largely different groups of individuals. However, it is unclear if these measures are differentially associated with psychopathology. Objective: To analyze the associations of prospective and retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment with psychopathology. Data Sources: Based on a preregistered protocol, Embase, PsycInfo, and MEDLINE were searched for peer-reviewed studies published by January 1, 2023, that measured the associations of prospective and retrospective measures of child maltreatment with psychopathology. Study Selection: Titles and abstracts of all articles captured by the search and full texts of potentially eligible studies were independently screened by 2 authors. Observational studies with measures of the association of prospective and retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment with psychopathology were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Multiple investigators independently extracted data. Multilevel random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool the results and test predictors of heterogeneity. Main Outcome and Measures: Associations between prospective or retrospective measures of child maltreatment and psychopathology, both unadjusted and adjusted (ie, the association between prospective measures of maltreatment and psychopathology adjusted for retrospective measures, and vice versa), and moderation of these associations by preselected variables. Results: The meta-analyses were based on 24 studies including 15 485 individuals (51.0% female; mean age, 21.3 years at retrospective report). Retrospective measures of childhood maltreatment showed stronger associations with psychopathology relative to prospective measures in both unadjusted analyses (retrospective measures: odds ratio [OR], 2.21; 95%, 1.94-2.42 vs prospective measures: OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.39-1.76) and adjusted analyses (retrospective measures: OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.90-2.42 vs prospective measures: OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.41). There was no statistically significant moderation of the unadjusted or adjusted associations between prospective measures of child maltreatment and psychopathology. The associations between retrospective measures and psychopathology were stronger when the assessment of psychopathology was based on self-reports and was focused on internalizing or emotional disorders. Conclusions and Relevance: Psychopathology is more strongly associated with retrospective measures—which capture the first-person, subjective appraisal of childhood events reflected in memory recall—compared to prospective measures—which essentially capture third-person accounts of such events. Maltreatment-related psychopathology may be driven by subjective interpretations of experiences, distressing memories, and associated schemas, which could be targeted by cognitive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, in addition to its clinical importance, interest in the social-cognitive aspect of internet gaming disorder (IGD) has increased. This study aimed to investigate autistic traits, executive functions, and self-regulation abilities of patients with IGD. Eighty-seven male patients with IGD and eighty-three male healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. All patients were diagnosed with IGD as per the diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. Healthy controls without any comorbid psychiatric diagnosis were recruited from the community. The Brief Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were implemented to evaluate autistic traits, executive functions, and self-regulation skills. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Disorders and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale—Short-Form were used to evaluate psychopathology. The effect size of the impairments in executive functions and self-regulation skills was large (Cohen's d = 1.0–2.0). IGD groups had higher levels of autistic traits compared to healthy controls (d = 1.0–1.4). The differences in BDI and BRIEF scores remained significant in logistic regression analysis. Age at illness-onset, total severity of anxiety, and autistic traits were found as significant correlates of deficits in executive functions among patients with IGD. The results of this study supported the higher autistic traits and poorer executive function skills of patients with IGD. Deficits in executive functions were associated with autistic traits and younger age-onset of the illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent violence in the home is a growing public health issue and remains under reported and under-researched. The focus of the present research is to investigate factors that may contribute to adolescent violence in the home, among acohort of young people with co-occurring early psychosis. Data relates to 50 young people (16 females, 33 males, 1 nonbinary) aged from 16-25 who were clients at a youth early psychosis service in Melbourne, Australia. Results from a discriminant function analysis revealed the two major contributing factors to whether someone used violence in the home, were whether a young person had a coexisting neurodevelopmental or intellectual disability and whether they used violence outside the home. The findings provide preliminary evidence that engaging in violence outside the home and the presence of a neurodevelopmental or intellectual disability may make it more likely for young people with early psychosis to use violence in the home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive function challenges are linked to important outcomes in adulthood, including mental and physical health and employment. Executive function skills can be taught but require support for generalization into home and school settings. The present study examined the feasibility of a series of brief videos (e.g., animations, expert and caregiver interviews) for caregivers of children with symptoms consistent with a neurodevelopmental disorder and flexibility or planning/organization problems. Caregivers (n = 102) viewed 12 videos over a four-month time period that describe ways to support and model executive function skills for their children. Quantitative and qualitative feedback suggest caregivers found the videos acceptable, feasible, and that they changed their view of their child's EF challenges. In addition, caregiver knowledge of key executive function strategies and concepts improved. Results suggested these videos show promise to reduce caregiver-reported sense of strain and child executive function problems; however, caregiver competence did not improve from pre- to post-video review. These findings suggest even brief, online, and asynchronous caregiver-oriented instructional videos on executive function supports may improve caregiver and child outcomes. Moreover, they raise the possibility that low-cost, highly accessible caregiver support tools may yield important benefits for a common and potent childhood difficulty. Given the present study is a preliminary feasibility study of the caregiver support videos, future randomized controlled trials are necessary to fully examine caregiver- and child-related outcomes. Highlights: We aimed to both develop and deliver executive function support videos to caregivers of children with executive function challenges. Videos were iteratively developed in partnership with a community advisory board and research participants. As a preliminary study of the video suite, we evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of videos for caregivers. Caregivers found the videos helpful, informative, efficacious, acceptable, and feasible to use. The videos show promise to reduce caregiver-reported strain and child executive function challenges. This study implies that brief, low-cost support tools are acceptable and feasible for caregivers to use and may benefit caregivers and their children with executive function challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With considerable debate concerning the impact of culture on the expression of callous–unemotional (CU) traits, it is unclear whether the core features of CU traits generalize to youth across cultures. This study aimed to examine whether cultural differences are reflected in the core features of CU traits and the associations among these features. Network analysis was employed to identify the core features and to examine the network structure of CU traits operationalized by the Inventory of Callous Unemotional traits (ICU) in four community youth samples from different nations (Australia, N = 190; the UK, N = 437; the USA, N = 330; China, N = 503). The item "Apologizes to people" was identified as a cross-cultural core feature in the ICU network with a greater centrality of this item compared to others in all four samples. In addition, some items were identified as culture-specific core features in the network, differing in their centrality across samples. The network structures of the youth self-report ICU items were moderately similar across samples, while the structures of parent-report items showed substantial differences. These findings have important implications for cross-cultural research on CU traits as well as practical implications for screening and treatment. The core features of ICU appear to be generalizable in youth across cultures, although cultural-specific manifestations should be noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common childhood mental disorders, and they have substantial comorbidity. The developmental precursor model has long been widely used to explain the mechanisms of comorbidity between ODD and ADHD, however whether it is equally effective at the symptomatic level is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to (a) examine the stability of the ODD and ADHD comorbidity network in a longitudinal sample of high-risk children in China; and (b) examine the longitudinal relationship between the ODD and ADHD symptom networks based on a developmental precursor model. Two hundred sixty-three Chinese children aged 6 to 13 years with ODD and/or ADHD were assessed for symptoms of ODD and ADHD in two surveys conducted 1 year apart. We used data from these two time points to construct two cross-sectional networks and a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) to explore the symptom network for comorbidity of ODD and ADHD. The analysis shows that: (1) the two cross-sectional networks are highly similar in terms of structure, existence of edges, centrality estimates, and the invariance test shows that there is no significant difference between them. The symptoms "follow through", "interrupts/intrudes", "difficulty playing quietly" and "concentration" had the highest expected influence centrality at both time points. (2) Combined with the results of the cross-sectional and cross-lagged networks, we found that "annoy" and "blame" are potential bridge symptoms between the ODD and ADHD symptom networks. The symptom "annoy" forms a reciprocal predictive relationship with "interrupts/intrudes", while "blame" unidirectionally predicts "close attention". In addition, we found that "vindictive" predicted numerous ADHD symptoms, whereas "angry" was predicted by numerous ADHD symptoms. The findings emphasize the broad predictive relationship between ODD and ADHD symptoms with each other, and that ODD symptoms may lead to activation of the ADHD symptom network and vice versa. These findings suggest that the developmental precursor model at the symptom level may partially explain the comorbidity mechanisms of ODD and ADHD, and future studies should further investigate the underlying multiple mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-regulation (SR) difficulties are implicated in a wide range of disorders which develop in childhood, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), anxiety and depression. However, the integration of the existing research evidence is challenging because of varying terminology and the wide range of tasks used, as well as the heterogeneity and comorbidity within and across diagnostic categories. The current study used the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework to guide the examination of different SR processes in young children showing a wide range of symptomatology. Children (aged 4–8) referred by teachers for moderate-to-high conduct, hyperactivity and/or emotional problems at school (assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) subscales; n = 212), and children in SDQ typical ranges (n = 30) completed computerised cognitive control and decision-making tasks. Parents completed questionnaires to assess ADHD, ODD, anxiety and depression symptoms (n = 191). Compared to children with no teacher-reported difficulties, those with moderate-to-high problems showed poorer visuomotor control and decision-making. A factor analysis revealed that task variables adhered to RDoC dimensions and predicted variance in specific disorders: difficulties in cognitive control predicted ADHD symptoms, low reward-seeking was associated with depression and high reward-seeking was associated with ODD. This study highlights how the assessment of cognitive processes positioned within the RDoC framework can inform our understanding of disorder-specific and transdiagnostic difficulties in SR which are associated with diverse clinical symptoms in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The dorsal stream vulnerability hypothesis posits that the dorsal stream, responsible for visual motion and visuo-motor processing, may be particularly vulnerable during neurodevelopment. Consistent with this, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with deficits in global motion integration, though deficits in ventral stream tasks, such as form identification, have also been reported. In the current study, we examined whether a similar pattern of results is found in a cohort of 381 children born with neurodevelopmental risk factors and exhibiting a wide spectrum of caregiver-reported autistic traits. Methods: We examined the associations between global motion perception, global form perception, fine motor function, visual-motor integration, and autistic traits (autism spectrum quotient, AQ) using linear regression, accounting for possible interactions with sex and other factors relevant to neurodevelopment. Results: All assessments of dorsal stream function were significantly associated with AQ such that worse performance predicted higher AQ scores. We also observed a significant sex interaction, with worse global form perception associated with higher AQ in boys (n = 202) but not girls (n = 179). Conclusion: We found widespread associations between dorsal stream functions and autistic traits. These associations were observed in a large group of children with a range of AQ scores, demonstrating a range of visual function across the full spectrum of autistic traits. In addition, ventral function was associated with AQ in boys but not girls. Sex differences in the associations between visual processing and neurodevelopment should be considered in the designs of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and behaviors or interests. Besides behavioral, psychopharmacological and biomedical interventions there is increasing evidence of non-invasive treatments like neurofeedback (NFB) that can improve brain activity. In this study, we have investigated whether NFB can improve cognitive functions in children with ASD. Thirty-five children with ASD (7–17 years) were selected by purposive sampling. The subjects underwent 30 sessions of NFB training for 20 min over 10 weeks' period. Psychometric tests i.e. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), IQ scoring and Reward sensitivity tests were administered at baseline. Pre and post NFB intervention assessment of executive functions, working memory and processing speed were done by NIH Toolbox Cognition Batteries. Friedman test revealed that children showed a statistically significant improvement in the NIH Tool Box cognitive assessments, including the Flankers Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Pre-test = 3.63, Post-test = 5.22; p = 0.00), the Dimensional Change Card Sorting Test (Pre-test = 2.88, Post-test = 3.26; p = 0.00), the Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (Pre-test = 6.00, Post-test = 11:00; p = 0.00) and the List Sorting Working Memory Test (Pre-test = 4.00, Post-test = 6:00; p = 0.00), and displayed a trend of improvement at 2-month follow-up (Flankers Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Post-test = 5.11 ± 2.79, Follow-Up = 5.31 ± 2.67; p = 0.21), the Dimensional Change Card Sorting Test (Post-test = 3.32 ± 2.37, Follow-Up = 3.67 ± 2.35; p = 0.054), the Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (Post-test = 13.69 ± 9.53, Follow-Up = 14.42 ± 10.23 p = 0.079) and the List Sorting Working Memory Test (Post-test = 6.17 ± 4.41, Follow-Up = 5.94 ± 4.03; p = 0.334). Our findings suggest NFB intervention for 10 weeks produce improvement in executive functions (Inhibitory Control and Attention and Cognitive Flexibility), Processing Speed and Working Memory in ASD Children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study investigated school absence among 1,076 5–15 year-old children with neurodevelopmental conditions (intellectual disability and/or autism) approximately one year following the start of COVID-19 in the UK. Methods: Parents completed an online survey indicating whether their child was absent from school during May 2021 and the reason for each absence. Multi-variable regression models investigated child, family and school variables associated with absenteeism and types of absenteeism. Qualitative data were collected on barriers and facilitators of school attendance. Results: During May 2021, 32% of children presented with persistent absence (missing ≥ 10% of school). School refusal and absence due to ill-health were the most frequent types of absence, accounting for 37% and 22% of days missed, respectively. COVID-19 related absence accounted for just 11% of days missed. Child anxiety was associated with overall absenteeism and with days missed because of school refusal. Parent pandemic anxiety and child conduct problems were not associated with school absenteeism. Hyperactivity was associated with lower levels of absenteeism and school refusal but higher levels of school exclusion. A positive parent-teacher relationship was associated with lower levels of absenteeism, school refusal and exclusion. Child unmet need in school was the most frequently reported barrier to attendance while COVID-19 was one of the least frequently reported barriers. Conclusion: COVID-19 had a limited impact on school attendance problems during this period. Findings highlighted the role of child mental health in different types of absence and the likely protective role of a positive parent-teacher relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sweden, people living independently and requiring daily living support can access 'housing support', a form of practical, educational, and social support provided by the municipalities. About two-thirds of those receiving this support have neurodevelopmental conditions, primarily autism or ADHD. Many are young adults in the process of adapting to new roles and expectations in different life domains, including education, work, and accommodation. This study aimed to provide a qualitative description of support workers' views on current practice in housing support for young adults (aged 18 to 29) with neurodevelopmental conditions. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 34 housing support workers across 19 Swedish regions. An inductive qualitative content analysis approach was used. The interviews depicted a complex service, subject to organizational aspects (roles, responsibilities, availability, and allocation), the joint effort of key players (young adults, relatives, and support workers), and practical aspects of service provision (finding common ground for the work, and delivery of support). Some elements of the service were poorly designed for the target group. The support workers expressed a need for more knowledge about neurodevelopmental conditions, but also described new insights related to remote delivery of support. The results raise important questions about how housing support should be organized and delivered to strike the right balance between support and autonomy, meet specific needs, and ensure equal services across municipalities. Future research should adopt multiple perspectives and approaches, to help translate best practice and available evidence into a flexible and sustainable service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spastic tetraplegia, thin corpus callosum, and progressive microcephaly (SPATCCM) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the onset of those features and severely impaired global development in early infancy, and caused by biallelic deleterious SLC1A4 variants. SLC1A4 encodes for the neutral amino acid transporter, ASCT1, which is necessary for L-serine and D-serine cellular transport to neurons. The objective of this study was to contribute to the genotype–phenotype correlation of SLC1A4 variants. We evaluated a Turkish patient presenting with SPATCCM without seizures and reviewed all previously reported cases of the SLC1A4 mutation. Whole exome sequencing revealed a missense biallelic p.R457W variant in SLC1A4 in a child of Palestinian origin. We suggest that the SLC1A4 should be considered in the diagnosis of unexplained severe early-onset neurodevelopmental impairment, progressive microcephaly, and spastic tetraparesis with or without epilepsy, regardless of ethnicity and encourage the analysis of SLC1A4 variants via molecular genetic testing. The presence or absence of epilepsy should not distract from the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current meta-analysis examined the mediating role of sensitive-responsive parenting in the relationship between depression in mothers and internalizing and externalizing behavior in children. A systematic review of the path of maternal sensitive responsiveness to child psychopathology identified eligible studies. Meta-analytic structural equation modelling (MASEM) allowed for the systematic examination of the magnitude of the indirect effect across 68 studies (N = 15,579) for internalizing and 92 studies (N = 26,218) for externalizing psychopathology. The synthesized sample included predominantly White, English-speaking children (age range = 1 to 205 months; Mage = 66 months; 47% female) from Western, industrialized countries. The indirect pathway was small in magnitude and similar for externalizing (b =.02) and internalizing psychopathology (b =.01). Moderator analyses found that the indirect pathway for externalizing problems was stronger when mother-child interactions were observed during naturalistic and free-play tasks rather than structured tasks. Other tested moderators were not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In clinical practice, it is crucial to identify diagnostic methods that can forecast the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very preterm neonates. Our study aimed to assess the predictive significance of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) for the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants at 12 months corrected age and to establish the cut-off score that could indicate potential neurodevelopmental impairments. Methods. Preterm neonates born before 32 weeks of gestational age between June 2020 and July 2022 were included in a prospective manner. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography recordings were conducted at five age intervals (days 1–3; first, second, third and fourth weeks). Recordings were analyzed using the Burdjalov scoring system. The neurodevelopment assessment with Bayley Scales of Infant Development—Second Edition was carried out at 12 months corrected age. Results. A total of 140 newborns were included in the study. Neurodevelopment was assessed in 108 infants at 12 months corrected age. Higher total aEEG Burdjalov scores were observed in groups with normal cognitive and motor development. The most sensitive and specific score for prediction of cognitive impairment in 12 months corrected age was an aEEG evaluation of 5.5 according to Burdjalov score within the first three days. The most sensitive and specific score for prediction of motor impairment was 8.5 within the first week. Conclusions. According to our research there is currently not enough data to accurately foresee the development of newborns at 12 months corrected age according to early aEEG test results. However, conducting a research with bigger sample size and repeated evaluations at a later age might increase the prognostic value of aEEG. In this study cut-off scores of aEEG performed early in life to predict later neurodevelopment outcomes were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit more executive function (EF) deficits compared to typically developing (TD) peers. EF deficits are linked to various impairments in daily functioning and increased parental stress. The first aim of the present study is to investigate EFs in children with ASD and ADHD compared to their TD peers. The second aim is to explore profiles of executive functions in children with ASD and ADHD and, finally, to determine the differences of EF profiles in relation to parental stress and children's functional impairments. Methods: The sample comprised 30 TD children, 47 children with ASD, and 34 children with ADHD, aged 8 to 12 years. Parents completed questionnaires of parenting stress, and children's social and daily-life functioning. Parents and teachers reported information about children's EF. Results: The results indicated significantly greater impairment of EFs in the clinical groups compared to the TD group. Moreover, three distinct clusters of functioning were identified based on the severity of reported EF difficulties. The significant findings showed that children with more severe EF profiles were associated with greater daily impairment and higher levels of perceived parental stress. Conclusions: Given the impact of EF deficits on the lives of children with ASD and ADHD and their families, it is crucial that studies like this enhance our understanding and inspire future interventions aimed at improving executive functions in children with ASD and ADHD. Such interventions could help reduce parental stress and improve daily functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motor skills have been linked to executive functions (EFs) in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). However, the traits of other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, remain overlooked. Therefore, this study explored the association between motor skills, occupational performance, and mental health in older kindergarten children with DCD and other NDDs. Overall, 95 participants aged 5–6 years were included in this study and divided into four groups: DCD traits (DCD-t), DCD-t + NDD traits (DCD-t + NDD-t), NDD-t-only, and typically developing children. Motor skills, EFs, and mental health were assessed using the DCD Questionnaire (DCDQ-J) and Movement Assessment Battery for Children—Second Edition, School Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (S-AMPS), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), respectively. The DCD-t + NDD-t group exhibited a strong correlation between the S-AMPS motor skill score and the DCDQ-J fine motor skill score (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and between the total DCDQ-J score and the SDQ Total Difficulties Score (r = −0.94, p < 0.001). The findings indicate that children with DCD-t and NDD-t are more likely to experience EF and mental health problems than those with DCD-t only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of diseases that severely affect the physical and mental health of children. The PPP2R5D gene encodes B56δ, the regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). NDDs related to the PPP2R5D gene have recently been defined as Houge–Janssens syndrome 1. Methods: Clinical/whole exome sequencing was performed on approximately 3000 patients with NDDs from 2017 to 2023. In vitro experiments were performed to assess the impairment of variants to protein expression and the assembly of PP2A holoenzyme. The genetic information and phenotypes of the reported patients, as well as patients in this study, were summarized, and the genotype–phenotype relationship was analyzed. The probability of pathogenic missense variants in PPP2R5D was predicted using AlphaMissense (AM), and the relationship between certain phenotype and 3D protein structural features were analyzed. Results: Thirteen new patients carrying twelve PPP2R5D gene variants were detected, including five novel missense variants and one novel frameshift variant. In vitro experiments revealed that the frameshift variant p.H463Mfs*3 resulted in a ~50 kDa truncated protein with lower expression level. Except for E420K and T536R, other missense variants impaired holoenzyme assembly. Furthermore, we found that pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants that have been reported so far were all missense variants and clustered in three conserved regions, and the likelihood of P/LP mutations located in these conserved regions was extremely high. In addition, the macrocephaly phenotype was related to negatively charged residues involved in substrate recruitment. Conclusions: We reported thirteen new patients with PPP2R5D gene variants and expanded the PPP2R5D variant spectrum. We confirmed the pathogenicity of novel variants through in vitro experiments. Our findings in genotype–phenotype relationship provide inspiration for genetic counseling and interpretation of variants. We also provide directions for further research on the mechanism of macrocephaly phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is widespread recognition of the importance and complexity of measuring neighborhood contexts within research on child psychopathology. In this study, we assessed the cross-sectional associations between two measures of neighborhood quality and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in preadolescence. Methods: Drawing on baseline data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (n = 10,577 preadolescents), we examined two multi-component assessments of neighborhood quality in relation to children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms: the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), which measures socioeconomic adversity, and the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 (COI), which measures economic, educational, and environmental opportunity. Both measures were categorized into quintiles. We then used mixed-effects linear regression models to examine bivariate and adjusted associations. Results: The bivariate associations displayed strong inverse associations between the COI and ADI and externalizing symptoms, with a graded pattern of fewer externalizing behaviors with increasing neighborhood quality. Only the ADI was associated with externalizing behaviors in models adjusted for child and family characteristics. We did not observe a clear association between either measure of neighborhood quality and internalizing behaviors in bivariate or adjusted models. Conclusions: Neighborhood quality, as measured by the COI and ADI, was associated with externalizing behaviors in preadolescent children. The association using the ADI persisted after adjustment for family-level characteristics, including financial strain. Our results indicate that different assessments of neighborhood quality display distinct associations with preadolescent behavioral health. Future research is needed to assess the association between neighborhood quality and behavior trajectories and to identify place-based intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have reported on the association between parental and childhood psychopathologies. Despite this, little is known about the psychopathologies between parents and children in a non-clinical population. We present such a study, the first in a Kenyan setting in an attempt to fill this gap. The objective of this study was to determine the association between self-rating psychopathology in children, parent-rating psychopathology in their children and self-rating psychopathology in parents in a non-clinical population of children attending schools in Kenya. We identified 113 participants, comprising children and their parents in 10 randomly sampled primary schools in South East Kenya. The children completed the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale and parents completed the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) on their children and the Adult Self-Reports (ASR) on themselves. These instruments are part of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA), developed in the USA for a comprehensive approach to assessing adaptation and maladaptive behavior in children and adolescents. There was back and forth translation of the instruments from English to Swahili and the local dialect, Kamba. Every revision of the English translation was sent to the instrument author who sent back comments until the revised version was in sync with the version developed by the author. We used the ASEBA in-built algorithm for scoring to determine cut-off points for problematic and non-problematic behavior. Correlations, linear regression and independent sample t-test were used to explore these associations. The mean age of the children was 12.7. While there was no significant association between child problems as measured by YSR (self-reported) and parent problems as measured by ASR and CBCL in the overall correlations, there was a significant association when examining specific groups (clinical range vs. non-clinical). Moreover, significant association existed between total problems on YSR and ASR internalizing problems (t=-2.3,p = 0.023), with clinical range having a higher mean than the normal range. In addition, a significant relationship (p < 0.05) was found between psychopathology in children as reported by both parents (CBCL) and psychopathology in parents as self-reported (ASR). Mothers were more likely to report lower syndrome scores of their children as compared to fathers. Our findings indicate discrepancies between children self-rating and parent ratings, suggesting that one cannot manage psychopathology in children without reference to psychopathology in their parents. We suggest broad-based psycho-education to include children and parents to enhance shared awareness of psychopathology and uptake of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has investigated the effects of parental psychopathology in young children, but few studies have examined the role that comorbid parental psychopathology within and between parents has on emerging adults. These effects can differ depending on the gender of the emerging adult and the parent. The current study examined how maternal and paternal psychopathology is associated with emerging adult psychopathology from the emerging adults' perspectives by gender. To increase parsimony, the study focused on depressive, anxious, and antisocial problems. Results demonstrated that parental psychopathology strongly associated with the same psychopathology in emerging adults. Women and men reported moderate depressive problems when indicating high scores for both maternal antisocial and paternal anxiety problems, whereas being high in one parental problem and low in the other resulted in higher depressive problems. The findings indicated that comorbid psychopathology within and between parents may increase psychopathology in emerging adults, but some combinations may moderate effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional somatic symptoms (FSS), which commonly cannot be attributed to well-defined organic pathology, often co-occur with internalizing psychopathology and fluctuate throughout different life stages. We examined FSS courses throughout adolescence, and the association between preadolescent FSS, FSS severity and internalizing psychopathology at late adolescence. Methods: Data from the Copenhagen Child Cohort (CCC2000) were utilized from assessments at ages 11–12 years (preadolescence; T0) and 16–17 years (late adolescence; T1). Self-report questionnaire and interview data on FSS, internalizing psychopathology, chronic medical conditions, and sociodemographic data from Danish national registers were available for 1285 youths. FSS courses were categorized into persistent (high FSS at T0 & T1), remission (high FSS only at T0), incident (high FSS only at T1) or no FSS (no FSS at T0 & T1). Multiple linear and multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to investigate the FSS/psychopathology association. Results: 1.8% of adolescents fell into the persistent FSS course group throughout adolescence. Higher preadolescent FSS predicted FSS (b = 0.07, p <.001), anxiety (b = 0.05, p <.001) and depression (b = 0.06, p <.001) at age 16/17, even after controlling for sex, parental education, a chronic medical condition and internalizing psychopathology in preadolescence. Persistent, incident, and remittent FSS courses were associated with significantly higher mean levels of anxiety and depression compared to the reference group (no FSS). Conclusions: FSS during pre- and late adolescence might increase and co-occur with anxiety and depression throughout adolescence, potentially due to shared underlying risk factors and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Disruptive and conduct behaviors are the most common conditions used to help adolescent patients refer to mental health clinics for counseling. The prevalence of this disorder is increasing and it is necessary to concentrate on this topic. The comorbidity of conduct disorder (CD) with other emotional and behavioral problems is common. One of the comorbidity disorders for which contradictory results are reported is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several studies have demonstrated the comorbidity of these two disorders in patients with a younger age of onset, more severe symptoms, and more stable disease. Hence, this study determines the prognostic value of the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory adolescent-restructured form (MMPI-A-RF) for CDs and investigates the effect of comorbidities, such as ADHD. Materials & Methods The sample of the present comparative casual study consisted of 295 adolescents who were selected by purposeful sampling, based on the current and the Kiddie schedule for affective disorder and schizophrenia-present and lifetime for school-age children (6-18 years old) and the final version of the MMPI-A-RF questionnaire. The Mean±SD of all the MMPI-A-RF scores were compared among three groups of patients with CD (n=40), patients with a comorbid diagnosis of conduct disorder and ADHD (n=68 people), and patients with other psychiatric disorders (mood and anxiety disorders). Analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of differences among the three groups. If the deviations were significant, the Games–Howell post hoc test was used to inspect differences between the groups. Results The comparison of CD and CD+ADHD patients with other disorders revealed meaningful differ)ences in almost all the indicators related to externalizing problems. The CD+ADHD group had markedly greater scores on the scales of antisocial behaviors (P<0.001), aggressive-revised personality (P<0.001), and conduct problems (P<0.001) compared to the CD group and other psychiatric disorders group. Conclusion The results are consistent with the background and revealed more severe symptoms and more functional degradation in the CD+ADHD group compared to the CD and other psychiatric disorders group. This subgroup can have different risk symptoms, clinical courses, and drug responses. MMPI-A-RF can supply valuable information about the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) is a class of food refusal behavior that is commonly observed in children with neurodevelopmental disorders or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. An abundance of research has demonstrated that IMB is commonly maintained by negative reinforcement in the form of escape from food or drink presentation. Given the common association between IMB and escape as a reinforcer, more efficient methods of conducting functional analyses have been called for. The present study examined the extent to which indirect assessments and a functional analysis screening process reliably predicted an escape function in three children with autism spectrum disorder who engaged in IMB. The results of the two assessments were then compared to a standard functional analysis. For all participants, the functional analysis identified an escape function, which corresponded with both the indirect assessment and screening. Additionally, within‐session analyses of screening sessions further validated the screening process. The functional analysis screening of IMB is discussed in terms of its efficiency, practicality, and experimental design. The results of this study offer a framework for efficiently assessing the function of IMB, while providing recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examine age-related differences in muscle size and strength of the knee extensors in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and individuals with typical development (TD). 54 individuals with CP (14.5 ± 4.5 years, GMFCS I–V) and 33 individuals with TD (16.2 ± 5.5 years) were included. Relationships between rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle volume and isokinetic knee extensor strength with age were examined with linear regression and ANCOVA to test age-related differences between groups. Linear regression for muscle volume with age was statistically significant in TD (VL: r2 = 0.48, RF: r2 = 0.56, p <.05) and those with CP (VL: r = 0.36, RF: r2 = 0.27, p <.05) with no differences in regression slopes between groups (p >.05). Age-related strength differences were observed in TD (r2 = 0.66, p <.001) and those with CP (r2 = 0.096, p =.024), but the slopes were significantly different between CP and TD (p <.001). Age-related linear differences in muscle volume and strength were observed in both groups. The linear slope of the age-related differences in knee extensor muscle strength and strength-to-body mass ratio were significantly lower in individuals with CP compared to individuals with TD, suggesting that strength is insufficient to keep up with gains in body mass during growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association was investigated between healthcare practitioners' actions of routinely identifying children of adults with mental illness by asking whether they have children under the age of 18 and practitioners' perspectives and practices regarding supporting parents and their children. The factors that contribute to practitioners' such routine identification were also determined. A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted using an anonymous self-report questionnaire among Japanese healthcare practitioners. The responses (84.7% were nurses) from 1138 participants were analysed. More than half of the participants (73.7%) routinely identified whether adults with mental illness had children. Participants who routinely identified children also provided more support to children and to the client regarding his or her parenting. Three factors were found to contribute to the participants' routine identification of children: (1) recognising 'difficulty with parenting' as a reason why support for children is necessary; (2) 'assessing parenting status when supporting a parent with a mental illness' and (3) realising that participants 'do not know how to provide support' as a reason why support for children is difficult. Providing education to practitioners regarding supporting children whose parents have a mental illness will help increase the routine identification of children in mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pain is a significant burden for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities but is difficult for clinicians to identify. No pain assessment tools for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities have been validated for use in pediatric intensive care units. The Individualized Numeric Rating Scale (INRS) is an adapted 0-to-10 rating that includes parents' input on their child's pain indicators. Objectives: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and feasibility and acceptability of use of the INRS for assessing pain in critically ill children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Methods: This observational study enrolled critically ill patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities aged 3 to 17 years in 2 pediatric intensive care units at a children's hospital using a prospective repeated-measures cohort design. Structured parent interviews were used to populate each patient's INRS. Bedside nurses assessed pain using the INRS throughout the study. The research team completed independent INRS ratings using video clips. Participating parents and nurses completed feasibility and acceptability surveys. Psychometric properties of the INRS and survey responses were evaluated with appropriate statistical methods. Results: For 481 paired INRS pain ratings in 34 patients, interrater reliability between nurse and research team ratings was moderate (weighted κ = 0.56). Parents said that creating the INRS was easy, made them feel more involved in care, and helped them communicate with nurses. Conclusions: The INRS has adequate measurement properties for assessing pain in critically ill children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. It furthers goals of patient- and family-centered care but may have implementation barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines child welfare worker definitions of difficult cases and how definitions change over time. Seven waves of child welfare worker responses to survey questions asking what makes a case particularly difficult were collected over 3.5 years. Findings identified eight general difficult categories: case attributes, parent/caregiver issues, case tasks, children's issues, uncooperative/non-compliant clients, communication/logistical issues, case type, and agency-related issues. Across waves, case attributes, parent/caregiver issues, and case tasks were cited most frequently. Frequencies for some categories (i.e. case attributes) changed over time. Implications for workload and caseload management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although empirical findings have indicated that both familial and neurobiological risk factors contribute to the development of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children, relatively few studies have investigated how these two factors interact to influence these traits. The current study focused on the combined effects of parental emotion socialization and child's resting heart rate on CU traits. Parents of Chinese children (N = 166) completed the Coping with Children's Negative Scale when children were 9.39 years old (SD = 0.92), while children's resting heart rate data were collected when they were 10.21 years old (SD = 0.72). When they were 11.15 years old (SD = 0.67), parents completed the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits Short-Form. Results showed that parental supportive emotion socialization was negatively associated with CU traits and Callous behaviors in particular. In addition, resting heart rate moderated the relationship between parental emotion socialization and child's CU traits. Findings provide further evidence that an interdisciplinary approach that combines both psychosocial and biological factors is essential to further our understanding of CU traits in youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cumulative comorbidity of mental disorders is common, but the extent and patterns of comorbid psychopathology in childhood are not well established. The current study aimed to elucidate the emergent patterns of cumulative mental disorder comorbidity in children using network analysis of diagnoses recorded between birth and age 12 years. Participants were 90,269 children (mean age 12.7 years; 51.8% male) within the New South Wales Child Development Study (NSW-CDS)—a longitudinal record-linkage cohort study of Australian children born in NSW between 2002 and 2005. Binary indicators for eight types of mental disorder were derived from administrative health records. Patterns of conditional association between mental disorders were assessed utilising network analysis. Of 90,269 children, 2268 (2.5%) had at least one mental disorder by age 12 years; of the 2268 children who had at least one mental disorder by age 12 years, 461 (20.3%) were diagnosed with two or more different disorders out of the eight disorder types included in analyses. All disorders were either directly or indirectly interconnected, with childhood affective and emotional disorders and developmental disorders being most central to the network overall. Mental disorder nodes aggregated weakly (modularity = 0.185) into two communities, representative of internalising and externalising disorders, and neurodevelopmental and sleep disorders. Considerable sex differences in the structure of the mental disorder comorbidity networks were also observed. Developmental and childhood affective and emotional disorders appear to be key to mental disorder comorbidity in childhood, potentially reflecting that these disorders share symptoms in common with many other disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS), previously referred to as sluggish cognitive tempo, is a set of symptoms characterized by excessive daydreaming, mental fogginess, and slowed behavior/thinking. Studies examining the association between CDS and academic functioning have reported mixed findings and have relied upon limited measures of CDS, broad ratings of academic impairment, and/or focused only on elementary-aged children. The current study examined the relationship between CDS and academic functioning in adolescents using a comprehensive, multi-informant, multi-method design. Participants were 302 adolescents (Mage = 13.17 years; 44.7% female; 81.8% White; 52% with ADHD) recruited in the fall of their 8th grade. Above and beyond ADHD inattentive symptoms, CDS symptoms were related to poorer homework performance, lower math fluency, and lower daily academic motivation across multiple informants, and teacher-reported CDS symptoms were related to lower grades. Findings were not moderated by ADHD diagnosis, suggesting that associations between CDS and academic outcomes do not differ for adolescents with and without ADHD. Findings demonstrate that CDS symptoms are uniquely associated with daily academic difficulties as well as global indices of academic performance. These findings have implications for assessing and monitoring CDS symptoms in interventions aiming to improve the academic functioning in adolescents with and without ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial accompanies the JADD Special Issue on Sensory Features in Autism and Related Conditions: Developmental Approaches, Mechanisms and Targeted Interventions. The editorial is a commentary on the state of the science in sensory features in autism and related conditions and provides a synopsis of the information contained in the special issue including provocative thoughts about moving the field forward in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine genetic variations underlying the early neurodevelopmental outcome of developmental disabilities (DDs). The study cohort consisted of 191 children with DDs. Diagnosis was assessed at baseline and at the index age (72–84 months). Exome sequencing was conducted and putative risk variants were identified. According to the diagnostic improvement, children were categorized into the improvement group (n = 19) and the non-improvement group (n = 172). Compared to the non-improvement group, the improvement group had lower number of risk variants in known DD genes and haploinsufficient genes, and lower number of overall putative risk variants. Our results may serve as a preliminary basis for developing a model that informs clinical outcome by sequencing analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies have transformed our lives in different social areas, facilitating interpersonal relationships thanks to technological tools. In the specific case of people with disabilities, Assistive Technologies (ATs) break down barriers and increase opportunities to become active members of society with equal opportunities. This paper presents a systematic mapping study that analyzes the current state-of-the-art of ATs proposed in the literature to support the empowering of people with disability. Specifically, this paper focuses on (1) describing a global vision of the scientific literature published in the last 20 years about ATs in the computer science field and (2) identifying research needs, gaps, and trends. For this purpose, an in-depth analysis of 389 primary studies is presented. The information obtained from the mapping process is also constrained. Concretely, 35 ATs versus 22 disabilities are compared, obtaining striking peaks for some disabilities described in the discussion. Finally, the findings show that several areas have been covered only lightly, revealing interesting future directions and challenges for junior researchers. • ATs have the potential to break down barriers for people with disabilities, enabling them to participate more fully in society. This implies a need for rehabilitation programs to incorporate ATs into their strategies to enhance social inclusion. • Given the transformative role of ICT, rehabilitation programs should focus on helping people with disabilities develop the necessary technological skills to utilize ATs effectively. • This work highlights the diversity of ATs and disabilities, suggesting a need for personalized rehabilitation plans that match specific ATs to individual disabilities. • Rehabilitation professionals should be trained to assess and recommend appropriate ATs for each case. Rehabilitation programs should consider incorporating cutting-edge ATs and staying involved in research to contribute to future developments to cover gaps and challenges identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although teen pregnancy and birth rates have declined over the decades, all adolescentpopulations are at risk. Disparities among adolescent pregnancies still exist, including increased risk and rates of unplanned pregnancy among vulnerable adolescents, including those with a mental health diagnosis.Adolescent girls with mental health disorders are notably at higher risk and are three timesmore likely to become pregnant than those without a mental illness. Adolescents who have experienced trauma and have a mental health diagnosis are much more likely to engage in high-risk sexual activity, to not participate in contraceptive use, and to become pregnant than their counterparts.Using Trauma Informed Care (TIC) to assess mental health diagnoses, high-risk sexual behaviors, and risk for unplanned pregnancy among adolescent populations can be an effective approach for primary prevention. There is increased expectation for clinicians to practice TIC and to establish relationships with patients while understanding how mental health diagnoses can impact health behaviors. The focus of this paper is to examine the effects of adolescent unplanned pregnancy, identify the increased risk for adolescents with mental health disorders, and discuss general methods for TIC in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sensory processing issues are frequent in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), with very variable prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 95%. This study aimed to investigate sensory processing in preschool-aged children with NDDs, to clarify the epidemiology, and to identify associated or correlated clinical and psychometric variables. Methods: A total of 141 NDD children (age range 2–5 years old) were included and enrolled in two subgroups: 72 with ASD and 69 with other NDDs. A standardized neuropsychological evaluation was assessed (Griffiths III/WPPSI-III/Leiter-R, ADOS-2) and the parents completed the CBCL ½–5, the SPM-P, and the ADI-R. Results: Atypical sensory processing was reported in 39.7% of the total sample, more frequently in ASD (44.4%) than in other NDDs (34.8%). No statistically significant differences were found regarding gender and developmental level. A positive correlation was found between sensory processing abnormalities and behavioral problems (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Compared to other NDDs, ASDs more frequently have atypical sensory processing and appear to present a specific vulnerability in the processing of proprioceptive and vestibular inputs. Our results suggest that sensory processing difficulties should be considered regardless of developmental level and in children with behavioral problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of the human gut microbiome initiates in utero, and its maturation is established during the first 2–3 years of life. Numerous factors alter the composition of the gut microbiome and its functions, including mode of delivery, early onset of breastfeeding, exposure to antibiotics and chemicals, and maternal stress, among others. The gut microbiome–brain axis refers to the interconnection of biological networks that allow bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the brain, involving the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome and its metabolic byproducts are actively implicated in the regulation of the early brain development. Any disturbance during this stage may adversely affect brain functions, resulting in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). In the present study, we reviewed recent evidence regarding the impact of the gut microbiome on early brain development, alongside its correlation with significant NDDs, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and genetic NDDs (Rett, Down, Angelman, and Turner syndromes). Understanding changes in the gut microbiome in NDDs may provide new chances for their treatment in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]