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Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a lasting effect on the quality of life (QoL) of children and their parents. Children with ADHD as well as their parents report a lower QoL compared with healthy children and children with chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the changes of QoL of children with ADHD and their parents' subjective well-being before and after starting pharmacotherapy. We used the appropriate KINDL questionnaire for assessing the children's QoL and the World Health Organization (WHO) Big Five Questionnaire for assessing parental well-being. Methods: We assessed the QoL and the parental well-being in 60 children and adolescents with ADHD between the ages of 6 and 12 years [mean age 8.7 years, (standard deviation = 1.8)], treated at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the Medical University of Vienna. QoL was rated using the KINDL questionnaires, and parental well-being was assessed using the WHO Big Five Questionnaire (WHO-5) before and after starting pharmacotherapy. We used t-tests and three-way GLM-ANOVA (SPSS, version 22; IBM Corp.) for evaluating the statistical significance of pre-post differences. Results: The QoL of the children with ADHD and the subjective well-being of the parents improved significantly after introducing pharmacotherapy. Conclusions: Pharmacotherapy is recommended in children with clinically significant ADHD not only because it helps to improve the symptoms of ADHD, but also their QoL and the well-being of their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Suicidal behavior of young people is a topic of utmost importance because suicide is irreversible, and should be prevented. Knowing about the psychosocial background and the triggering events could help in preventing suicidal behavior. We therefore aimed at identifying psychosocial factors that may trigger suicidal behavior in youth. Methods:We analyzed retrospectively the standardized records of 2232 youths aged ≤25 years, who were treated after a suicide attempt at emergency units of public hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey during a period of 1 year. We describe this population according to sex and socio-economic conditions, like educational, occupational, relationship status and link them with their reported reasons for suicide attempts. Results:The majority of patients were female (81.6%,N = 1822 females, 18.4%,N = 410 males). Independent of their educational and occupational background, patients indicated most frequently intra-familial problems (females 45.8%, males 30.5%), intrapersonal problems (females 19.9%, males 18.5%), and relationship problems (females 11.3%, males 23.9%) as triggering reasons. Conclusions:Because intra-familial problems were the most frequently reported triggers of suicide attempts, preventive measures should focus on handling intra-familial conflicts. As sex differences were observed for the second-most common trigger-reasons, prevention should also focus on differentially handling intrapersonal and relationship conflicts better. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Seasonal changes and climatic factors like ambient temperature, sunlight duration and rainfall can influence suicidal behavior. Methods: This study analyses the relationship between seasonal changes and climatic variations and suicide attempts in 2131 young patients in Istanbul, Turkey. Results: In our study sample, there was an association between suicide attempts in youths and seasonal changes, as suicide attempts occurred most frequently during summer in females as well as in males. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the mean temperature over the past 10 days and temperature at the index day and suicide attempts in females. After seasonality effects were mathematically removed, the mean temperature 10 days before a suicide attempt remained significant in males only, indicating a possible short-term influence of temperature on suicide attempts. Conclusions: This study shows an association between suicide attempts of young people and climatic changes, in particular temperature changes as well as seasonal changes. Therefore, the influence of seasonal changes and climatic factors on young suicide attempters should get more attention in research to understand the biopsychosocial mechanisms playing a role in suicide attempts of young people. As suicide attempts most frequently occur in young people, further research is of considerable clinical importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different psychosocial factors might have an impact on suicidal behaviour and evidence shows that there may be an association between monthly, diurnal and circadian changes and suicidal behaviours. Methods: In the present study we analysed retrospectively records of 2232 youth, who were treated in emergency units of state hospitals in Istanbul/Turkey after attempting suicide. Results: The majority of the suicide attempters were females (81.6%). In both sexes, suicide attempts most frequently occurred at the beginning of the calendar week and between evening and midnight. Conclusions: This study shows that suicide attempts in youth follow diurnal and circadian changes. As suicide attempts of youth most frequently occurred at the beginning of the calendar week and between evening and midnight, health services such as specialized counselling for youth should especially be available during this time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Despite the growing number of young second-generation immigrant (SGI) children and adolescents, studies about their mental health are rare. The objective of this study was to investigate the mental health problems of SGI children and adolescents in Istanbul, Turkey. Methods:In a clinical sample the mental health of 54 SGIs and 50 native children and adolescents were examined using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) and Children’s Global Assessment Scale. The assessments were carried out by a blinded rater. Results:SGI children had higher rates of psychiatric disorders such as depression (p = 0.001), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (p = 0.011) and anxiety disorders (p = 0.013), more comorbid disorders and lower functionality scores compared to their native counterparts (p = 0.001). Conclusions:SGI children seem to have higher rates of psychiatric disorders most probably due to migration-induced burdens. The professionals treating SGI children should have more awareness for these problems to be able to approach them in a culture and language sensitive way. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – The migration background can influence the life satisfaction of migrants. The purpose of this paper is to examine the life satisfaction of migrants and particularly the satisfaction regarding their health in comparison to natives. Design/methodology/approach – The life satisfaction of 50 Turkish-speaking migrants living in Vienna was compared with the life satisfaction of 50 native Austrians by the questionnaire of life satisfaction by Fahrenberg et al. (2000). Findings – Turkish-speaking migrants had lower values than natives in all scales of the questionnaire concerning life satisfaction. Turkish-speaking women reported the lowest satisfaction regarding their health state. In the migrant group the satisfaction regarding health decreased with increasing age. Research limitations/implications – The Turkish version of the questionnaire was translated into Turkish by authors but not formally validated. Furthermore acculturation strategies as well as the mental and physical health state of the participant, which can crucially influence the life satisfaction of migrants, were not surveyed. Practical implications – Migrants have lower life satisfaction possibly because of their physical and mental health problems. Therefore in countries with a high proportion of migrants the health-care system should be adapted for the needs of migrants, especially for the needs of women and older migrants in order to increase the utilization of the health-care services, primarily the use of the preventive health-care services. Social implications – The results of the present study can be helpful to develop strategies for improving the life satisfaction of migrants, especially the satisfaction regarding their health. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first research project in Vienna conducted to estimate the impact of migration background on life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated prevention measures affected the mental health and psychological well-being of young people with and without a migratory background. The present study aimed to compare the mental health and psychological well-being of migrant and non-migrant young people before and after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign period in two countries which had different policies to deal with the pandemic. The "Psychological General Well-being" of young people and their experiences during the pandemic were investigated using an anonymous online survey during two pandemic waves before the vaccination campaign and 6 months after its start. A majority of the 6154 participants (aged between 15 and 25 years in all study groups) reported a decrease of mental health from the time period before the vaccination (BV) to after the vaccination (AV) campaign ( b  = 0.27, p  < .001). This association was higher in females ( b  = 0.04, p  = 0.008) and in youth with financial problems ( b  = 0.13, p  < .001). Furthermore, this decrease was more pronounced in people ≤17 years old (40% to 62%) than in those >17 years (59% to 67%). Contrary to expectation, vulnerable groups such as the economically disadvantaged, younger, and female participants did not experience a significant easing of the pandemic's psychological burden AV. Vaccination campaigns should continue emphasizing the beneficial effects of COVID-19 vaccination on general well-being, but with an acknowledgement that the road to recovery is still a long one. Concurrently, free access to psychological treatment and financial support should be offered, especially for vulnerable groups., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04366-x., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAll authors declare no competing interest. T.W.: No conflict of interest. I had been invited to comment on the original proposal by the donor, but I see no conflict of interest as I receive no funding or any renumeration myself. I only participated as independent advisor and in writing of the final paper based on a request to WPA section. I do not work in the same department as the other authors., (© The Author(s) 2023.)