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Background: Thousands of children sustain mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) worldwide each year. Multiple physical and somatic symptoms can occur following pediatric mTBI, including new-onset mood symptoms, headaches, and pain. Objective: This scoping review examined the existing literature pertaining to mood and anxiety symptoms following pediatric mTBI, in order to summarize the current evidence and identify areas for future research. Methods: The Pubmed, EMBase, and APA PsycINFO databases were searched to identify articles that examined mood and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents following mTBI. Results: A total of 20 published articles were included in the review. The existing research suggests that mood and anxiety symptoms are more common in children and adolescents with mTBI, when compared to orthopedically injured or healthy controls. Several factors may contribute to the development of these symptoms: injury characteristics, older age at injury, female sex, and psychosocial variables including lower socioeconomic status and family history of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion: The findings of this review highlight the need for additional research on the relationship between pediatric mTBI and subsequent mood and anxiety symptoms. We particularly recommend long-term prospective cohort studies which include appropriate control groups as well as a neuroimaging component to distinguish complicated from uncomplicated mTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the clinical characteristics of adolescent girls consulting in a mood disorder clinic with a history of physical or sexual abuse. Method: A retrospective review was conducted of the charts of 55 adolescent girls consulting in a mood disorder clinic. An analysis grid was used to gather data on demographics, personal antecedents, symptoms and diagnoses. Girls with a history of physical or sexual abuse were compared with girls without such a history. Univariate analyses and a logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Adolescent girls with a history of physical or sexual abuse did not differ statistically from those without such a history in terms of depressive symptoms or type and number of diagnoses. However, proportionally more girls with a history of physical or sexual abuse presented self-harm and relational problems with their parents and peers. Conclusion: Both history of physical or sexual abuse and self-destructive behaviors are rooted in relational problems. The results show that these are related to one another among those adolescent girls. Clinically, these findings suggest that it is important for clinicians do a thorough exploration of self-destructive behaviors and family and peer relations when assessing depressed adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Contraception-induced mood changes have been identified since the 1960s. To our knowledge, there has been no reported case about self-mutilation associated to any form of contraception. We report the case of a 17-year-old adolescent girl who presented with de novo self-mutilation and depressive symptoms three and a half weeks after the administration of 150 mg of Depot-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA). Method: Clinical case report and literature review. Possible confounding factors are reviewed. Results: The patient had no personal psychiatric history and no significant family psychiatric history. A DSM-IV diagnosis of "mood disorder due to DMPA with depressive features" was formulated. There was no evidence of abnormal personality functioning. The mental status exam and collateral information validated the severity of her condition. Discussion: DMPA is a birth control method especially useful for adolescent girls and possible secondary mood symptoms should not limit its access. However, since depressive symptoms substantially interfere with daily functioning and may have unfortunate consequences like self-mutilation and suicidal ideation, it is important to remain vigilant regarding the onset of mood symptoms following contraceptive use in adolescent girls. This vigilance should be more specific regarding adolescent girls with a history of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, selfmutilation or family diathesis of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Early life experiences are associated with severe and long-lasting effects on behavioural and emotional functioning, which in turn are thought to increase the risk for unipolar depression and other disorders of affect regulation. The neurobiological and psychological mechanisms through which adverse early life experiences confer risk are poorly understood. Method: Alterations in brain structure and function in limbic and prefrontal cortical regions have been linked to early negative experiences and to mood disorders. Results: There are a number of psychological domains that may be dysfunctional in people with mood disorders, and which, if the dysfunction occurs prior to onset of mood symptoms, may signify a risk factor for depression. Cognitive dysfunction has been examined in patients with mood disorders, with some suggestion that changes in cognitive function may antedate the onset of mood symptoms, and may be exacerbated in those who experienced early negative trauma. Social cognition, including emotion comprehension, theory of mind and empathy, represent under-studied domains of psychological function that may be negatively influenced by early adverse experience. Temperament and personality factors may also leave people vulnerable to mood instability. Conclusion: This review summarizes the evidence for dysfunction in each of these domains for people with mood disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]