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This study aims to investigate the validation of the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T) in Turkish toddlers between 18 and 36 months of age. Children aged 18–36 months were referred to the department of child psychiatry for concerns of autism spectrum disorder, language disorder, developmental delay, and typically developing children were enrolled. A total of 81 toddlers participating in the study received clinical interviews according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. They received the translated RIT-T from reliably trained and blinded providers. Parents completed the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers form. A cut-off score was calculated based on the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the RITA-T total score that best differentiates autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. For all participants, the RITA-T total score correlated with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (r = 0.715) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale total score (r = 0.825). Using a cut-off score of ⩾17, the RITA-T had a sensitivity of.90 and a specificity of.927 for identifying autism spectrum disorder risk. The area under the curve was.977. Our findings demonstrate that the RITA-T is effective in Turkish toddlers for the early identification of autism spectrum disorder, early intervention settings, and allowing access to treatment. It is important to diagnose autism spectrum disorder at an early age and to start an early intervention program without delay. In this study, we aimed to validate the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T) in a group of Turkish children and found that the RITA-T which has been shown to be a valid and reliable screening test for 18- to 36-month-old children in studies conducted in different countries, is also valid in Turkish children. Similar to previous studies, our results showed that the RITA-T has good sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder. We think that our study will contribute to the timely initiation of early intervention programs for many children with autism by enabling a valid test to be used in screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety comorbidity is quite common in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What is known about the relationship between anxiety, attachment and emotion regulation in such children is still limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between attachment, emotion regulation and comorbid anxiety in children with ADHD. 100 children with ADHD and 100 children without any diagnosis aged 8–13 years were included. After the participants were clinically evaluated, Turgay ADHD Scale, Emotion Regulation Checklist, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Child Version (RCADS-CV) and Kerns' Security Scale were completed. According to the RCADS-CV scores, ADHD/ANX(+), ADHD/ANX(−), and control groups were formed. The emotional lability/negativity levels were higher in the ADHD groups compared to the non-ADHD controls. Paternal and maternal attachment security levels were lower in the ADHD/ANX(+) group compared to the controls. The regression analysis indicated that higher hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom levels and lower maternal attachment quality were associated with higher anxiety in children with ADHD. These results suggest that focusing on attachment quality and emotion regulation problems may be significant in management of core symptoms and comorbid anxiety problems in children with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Pandemics can cause substantial psychological distress; however, we do not know the impact of the COVID-19 related lockdown and mental health burden on the parents of school age children. We aimed to comparatively examine the COVID-19 related the stress and psychological burden of the parents with different occupational, locational, and mental health status related backgrounds. Methods: A large-scale multicenter online survey was completed by the parents (n = 3,278) of children aged 6 to 18 years, parents with different occupational (health care workers—HCW [18.2%] vs. others), geographical (İstanbul [38.2%] vs. others), and psychiatric (child with a mental disorder [37.8%]) backgrounds. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that being a HCW parent (odds ratio 1.79, p <.001), a mother (odds ratio 1.67, p <.001), and a younger parent (odds ratio 0.98, p =.012); living with an adult with a chronic physical illness (odds ratio 1.38, p <.001), having an acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.22, p =.043), positive psychiatric history (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001), and living with a child with moderate or high emotional distress (odds ratio 1.29, p <.001; vs. odds ratio 2.61, p <.001) were independently associated with significant parental distress. Conclusions: Parents report significant psychological distress associated with COVID-19 pandemic and further research is needed to investigate its wider impact including on the whole family unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]