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Background: Literature states that parents of individuals affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can present social and cognitive deficits, restricted behavior patterns and psychiatric difficulties, without meeting standard diagnostic criteria for ASD ("broader autism phenotype"). We explored the relationship between parenting of children affected by ASD and levels of empathy and lack of emotion understanding (alexithymia)., Methods: We enlisted 58 families in which a child was affected by ASD. Parents' empathy and alexithymia were respectively assessed by means of Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Additionally, we included the assessment of the perception of children's behavior through the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)., Results: Our findings suggest that most parents have normal empathy and do not show significant alexithymia. We found lower EQ and higher TAS-20 scores being more frequent in fathers. Moreover, each parent's empathy degree negatively relates to his/her alexithymia and vice versa, showing that these two features are inversely correlated. Our study unveiled a strong correlation between maternal empathy and alexithymia and child's externalizing problems, as reported by mothers., Conclusions: Our data reveal differences in mothers and fathers' empathy and alexithymia profiles and confirm the importance of considering both parents' points of view either in the diagnostic and the therapeutic interventions. Parental empathy and alexithymia levels not only play a fundamental role in the evaluation of child's difficulties but can also influence the development of a good relationship with the child for what concerns affective resonance.

Purpose: Psychosis is a symptom common to several mental illnesses and a defining feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, whose onset typically occurs in adolescence. Neuroradiological studies have reported evidence of brain structural abnormalities in patients with overt psychosis. However, early identification of brain structural changes in young subjects at risk for developing psychosis (such as those with Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome -APS) is currently lacking., Methods: Brain 3D T 1 -weighted and 64 directions diffusion-weighted images were acquired on 55 help-seeking adolescents (12-17 years old) with psychiatric disorders who referred to our Institute. Patients were divided into three groups: non-APS (n = 20), APS (n = 20), and Early-Onset Psychosis (n = 15). Cortical thickness was calculated from T 1 w images, and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analysis was performed to study the distribution of white matter fractional anisotropy and all diffusivity metrics. A thorough neuropsychological test battery was adopted to investigate cognitive performance in several domains., Results: In patients with Attenuated Psychotic Syndrome, the left superior frontal gyrus was significantly thinner compared to patients with non-APS (p = 0.048), and their right medial orbitofrontal cortex thickness was associated with lower working memory scores (p = 0.0025, r = -0.668 for the working memory index and p = 0.001, r = -0.738 for the digit span). Early-Onset Psychosis patients showed thinner left pars triangularis compared to non-APS individuals (p = 0.024), and their left pars orbitalis was associated with impaired performance at the symbol search test (p = 0.005, r = -0.726). No differences in diffusivity along main tracts were found between sub-groups (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: This study showed specific associations between structural imaging features and cognitive performance in patients with APS. Characterizing this disorder using neuroimaging could reveal useful information that may aid in the development and evaluation of preventive strategies in these individuals., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Many studies have already shown that individuals suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present low levels of empathy: in fact, reduced emotional reciprocity is considered a clinically significant indicator of autistic functioning. We decided to investigate the role of empathy in determining pathological behaviors in children affected by ASD considering parents' point of view; and to evaluate the presence of differences between mothers and fathers' perception of their child's empathy and behaviors., Methods: We compared empathy levels in a sample of 58 patients with ASD as reported by a parent-filled questionnaire with the results of a global evaluation conducted by means of play observations, clinician-rated scales, a semistructured interview with both caregivers and parent-filled questionnaires., Results: The majority of ASD patients have low levels of empathy according to both parents' points of view; noteworthy, mothers and fathers are highly concordant in this respect. Children's levels of empathy negatively correlate with many behavioral problems, both internalizing and externalizing. Furthermore, we found that mothers tend to perceive more internalizing problems, while fathers are more willing to notice externalizing ones., Conclusions: Involving both caregivers in children's diagnostic assessment could deepen patient's evaluation and finally the therapeutic results. Mothers and fathers seem to be highly consistent in describing the psychological characteristics of their child, but not in respect to symptoms.

There is limited research in adolescents at risk for psychosis. The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition attenuated psychosis syndrome (DSM-5 APS) criteria have not been validated in this group. We conducted a RECORD-compliant, real-world, prospective, 5-year cohort study addressing clinical profile, transition to psychosis, and prognostic accuracy of DSM-5 APS in help-seeking inpatient/outpatient adolescents accessing Children and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric services at IRCCS Mondino Foundation (Pavia, Lombardy, Italy) between 2012 and 2019. About 243 adolescents (31 early-onset psychosis [EOP]; 110 meeting DSM-5 APS criteria, DSM-5 APS; 102 not meeting psychotic or DSM-5 APS criteria, non-APS) were included. At baseline, DSM-5 APS adolescents (aged 15.4 ± 1.6) had on average 2.3 comorbid disorders (higher than EOP/non-APS, P < .001). DSM-5 APS adolescents had an intermediate psychopathological profile between non-APS/EOP (P < .001) and worsen Clinical Global Impression-Severity than non-APS (P < .001). DSM-5 APS functioning was intermediate between non-APS and EOP. 39.1% of DSM-5 APS were treated with psychotropic drugs (average = 64 days); 53.6% received psychotherapy. Follow-up of DSM-5 APS and non-APS groups lasted 33 and 26 months, respectively (median). The cumulative risk of transition at 1-5 years was 13%, 17%, 24.2%, 26.8%, and 26.8% in the DSM-5 APS group, 0%, 0%, 3.2%, 3.2%, and 3.2% in the non-APS group. The 5-year prognostic accuracy of the DSM-5 APS in adolescent was adequate (area under the curve = 0.77; Harrell's C = 0.736, 95%CI 0.697-0.775), with high sensitivity (91.3%) and suboptimal specificity (63.2%). The DSM-5 APS diagnosis can be used to detect help-seeking adolescents at risk of psychosis and predict their long-term outcomes. Future research should consolidate these findings., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Much is not known about the efficacy of interventions to prevent poor mental health outcomes in young people by targeting either the general population (universal prevention) or asymptomatic individuals with high risk of developing a mental disorder (selective prevention)., Methods: We conducted a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of Web of Science to identify studies comparing post-test efficacy (effect size [ES]; Hedges' g) of universal or selective interventions for poor mental health outcomes versus control groups, in samples with mean age <35 years (PROSPERO: CRD42018102143). Measurements included random-effects models, I2 statistics, publication bias, meta-regression, sensitivity analyses, quality assessments, number needed to treat, and population impact number., Results: 295 articles (447,206 individuals; mean age = 15.4) appraising 17 poor mental health outcomes were included. Compared to control conditions, universal and selective interventions improved (in descending magnitude order) interpersonal violence, general psychological distress, alcohol use, anxiety features, affective symptoms, other emotional and behavioral problems, consequences of alcohol use, posttraumatic stress disorder features, conduct problems, tobacco use, externalizing behaviors, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder features, and cannabis use, but not eating-related problems, impaired functioning, internalizing behavior, or sleep-related problems. Psychoeducation had the highest effect size for ADHD features, affective symptoms, and interpersonal violence. Psychotherapy had the highest effect size for anxiety features., Conclusion: Universal and selective preventive interventions for young individuals are feasible and can improve poor mental health outcomes., (Copyright © 2021 President and Fellows of Harvard College.)

Promotion of good mental health in young people is important. Our aim was to evaluate the consistency and magnitude of the efficacy of universal/selective interventions to promote good mental health. A systematic PRISMA/RIGHT-compliant meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42018088708) search of Web of Science until 04/31/2019 identified original studies comparing the efficacy of universal/selective interventions for good mental health vs a control group, in samples with a mean age <35 years. Meta-analytical random-effects model, heterogeneity statistics, assessment of publication bias, study quality and sensitivity analyses investigated the efficacy (Hedges' g=effect size, ES) of universal/selective interventions to promote 14 good mental health outcomes defined a-priori. 276 studies were included (total participants: 159,508, 79,142 interventions and 80,366 controls), mean age=15.0 (SD=7.4); female=56.0%. There was a significant overall improvement in 10/13 good mental health outcome categories that could be meta-analysed: compared to controls, interventions significantly improved (in descending order of magnitude) mental health literacy (ES=0.685, p<0.001), emotions (ES=0.541, p<0.001), self-perceptions and values (ES=0.49, p<0.001), quality of life (ES=0.457, p=0.001), cognitive skills (ES=0.428, p<0.001), social skills (ES=0.371, p<0.001), physical health (ES=0.285, p<0.001), sexual health (ES=0.257, p=0.017), academic/occupational performance (ES=0.211, p<0.001) and attitude towards mental disorders (ES=0.177, p=0.006). Psychoeducation was the most effective intervention for promoting mental health literacy (ES=0.774, p<0.001) and cognitive skills (ES=1.153, p=0.03). Physical therapy, exercise and relaxation were more effective than psychoeducation and psychotherapy for promoting physical health (ES=0.498, p<0.001). In conclusion, several universal/selective interventions can be effective to promote good mental health in young people. Future research should consolidate and extend these findings., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The presence of subthreshold psychotic symptoms in adolescents with eating disorders is poorly described. This study provides a detailed characterization of adolescents affected by eating disorders in the absence or presence of subthreshold psychotic symptoms, taking into account a wide set of sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical variables., Methods: Ninety-four adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders were interviewed, focusing on clinical anamnesis and sociodemographic data collection. The Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) was used to assess the presence (HR+) or absence (HR-) of subthreshold psychosis. The clinicians completed a questionnaire on eating disorders severity, whereas patients provided self-report measures of global social functioning and psychological symptoms associated with eating disorders., Results: Attenuated psychotic symptoms were highly frequent (84% of subjects). HR+ patients experienced more frequently purging behaviors and dysmorphophobia and received a greater amount of antipsychotic drugs. Compared to HR- counterparts, HR+ patients reported higher eating disorders severity and psychological symptoms (i.e., ineffectiveness, interpersonal and affective problems) associated with eating disorders. Finally, a significant correlation between global social functioning and eating disorders severity emerged only for HR- subjects., Conclusions: These descriptive data are warranted to identify a potential psychotic core in eating disorders, mainly concerning body image and weight as well as specific psychological features. The availability of reliable and valid markers of risk can further increase our capacity to detect the early emergence of psychosis in adolescents with eating disorders, whose outcome might be worsened by the presence of psychotic symptoms.

31 families of female adolescents affected by anorexia nervosa (AN) and 20 of girls with emotional and behavioral disorders participated in a semi-standardized videotaped game: the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTPc). We aimed to clarify if there is a typical AN family profile and if the LTPc procedure could predict the risk of developing AN. We confirmed that AN families exhibit dysfunctional alliances. Particularly because of the difficulty of the three members to be available to the interaction at least with their body (participation) and to comply with the role expected at each stage of the game (organization). Moreover, these families show a significant worse functioning, especially regards to the mother-daughter phase of the game, in focal attention and affective contact functional levels, while in triadic and couple phases they present lower scores than comparison group in all functional levels. Furthermore, we found that LTPc may predict the possibility of belonging to a family with a daughter with AN rather than one whose daughter has a different disorder. Therefore, LTPc would allow clinicians foresee the risk of developing AN and tailoring the most suitable therapeutic intervention and finally see its effectiveness using LTPc for later follow-up video feedback sessions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The questionnaires completed by the parents give a first general information on the behavioral problems of the child-adolescent, as a useful orientation to the clinical evaluation. The Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory (CABI) is a 75-item parent questionnaire, which explores a large number of problem areas. The study of its predictive validity for the clinical diagnosis, in comparison with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM )-oriented scales of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), can assess whether its use may be advantageous., Material and Methods: Parents/caregivers of 462 children and adolescents responded to both CABI and CBCL as a preliminary routine investigation. The results were compared with those of diagnoses obtained after the completion of the usual clinical procedure., Results: Accuracy values (probability of correct classification) resulted high for both instruments and significantly better for CABI anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) scales, and for CBCL oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) scales; no significant difference was found for depression scales. All the areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic analysis reached excellent values, suggesting a very good predictive ability of the five scales of the two instruments. The comparison of AUC showed the CABI's anxiety and ADHD scales to give significantly higher values than those of CBCL, indicating that these two scales have a better predictive ability., Conclusion: The study indicates a very good comparative (vs CBCL) and predictive validity of the CABI, suggesting an advantage in the use of this shorter questionnaire, available for free use both for clinical practice and supposedly for screening and epidemiological evaluations.

Background: The literature shows that parents of preterm infants are at risk of psychological distress and that this may impact on the quality of the parent-child relationship and on the child's development. Aim: This longitudinal study was conducted to examine in preterm infants relationships between maternal psychological variables, parental protective factors, perinatal infant variables, and neurodevelopmental outcome. Furthermore, we explored the impact of these variables on the quality of the mother-infant relationship (dyadic synchrony). Subjects and methods: A total of 29 preterm infants (GA < 34 weeks) and their mothers were evaluated twice: at t 0 , during the infant's hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and at 12 months of infant corrected age (t2). Results: With the exception of decreases in anxiety and perceived social support and an increase in the rate of severe depression at follow-up, there were no significant changes between t 0 and t 1 assessments. The infant's perinatal risk status was the variable that impacted most on maternal psychopathology. Furthermore, our data revealed that baseline maternal stress related to the appearance of the child and to the mother's perception of her parenting role represent a risk factor in relation to developmental outcome at 12 months of corrected age. Finally, no correlations emerged between dyadic synchrony and infant perinatal data, maternal psychological variables (at t 0 and at t 1 ), or child developmental outcome at t 1 . Conclusions: Our results underline the need to identify negative maternal affective states early in the mother-child relationship and to provide mothers with adequate support in the NICU, to enhance their parental role.

Background: Children require anesthesia for MRI to maintain immobility and reduce discomfort; clear indications about the best anesthesiologic management are lacking and each center developed its own protocol. Moreover, children with neuropsychiatric disorders more likely require sedation and are described in literature as more prone to general and respiratory complications. Aim of this study was to analyze the applicability of a sevoflurane-based approach, to describe general and respiratory complications and to identify risk factors in a pediatric neuropsychiatric population., Methods: Retrospective cohort study, university Hospital (January 2007-December 2016). All the 1469 anesthesiologic records of children addressed from Neuropsychiatric Unit to undergo MRI under general anesthesia were analyzed; 12 patients equal or older than 18-year-old were excluded. We identified post-hoc nine macro-categories: static encephalopathies, metabolic/evolutive encephalopathies, epileptic encephalopathies, neuromuscular diseases, autistic spectrum disorders, migraine, psychiatric disorders, intellectual disabilities, others. A logistic regression model for events with low frequency (Firth's penalized likelihood approach) was carried out to identify the mutually adjusted effect among endpoints (complications) and the independent variables chosen on the basis of statistical significance (univariate analysis, p ≤ 0.05) and clinical judgment., Results: Of 1457 anesthesiologic records (age 4.0 (IQR 2.0 to 7.0) year-old, males 891 (61.2%), weight 17.0 (IQR 12.0 to 24.9) kg), 18 were cancelled for high anesthesiologic risk, 50 were cooperative, 1389 were anesthetized. A sevoflurane-based anesthesia was feasible in 92.3%; these patients required significantly less mechanical ventilation (8.6 vs. 16.2%; p = 0.012). Complications' rate was low (6.2%; 3.1% respiratory). The risk for general complications increases with ASA score > 1 (OR 2.22, 95 CI% 1.30 to 3.77, p = 0.003), male sex (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.81, p = 0.025), multi-drug anesthesia (OR 2.98, 95 CI% 1.26 to 7.06, p = 0.013). For respiratory complications, it increases with ASA score > 1 (OR 2.34, 95 CI% 1.19 to 4.73, p = 0.017), autumn-winter (OR 2.01, 95 CI% 1.06 to 3.78, p = 0.030), neuromuscular disorders (OR 3.18, 95 CI% 1.20 to 8.41, p = 0.020). We had no major complications compromising patients' outcome or requiring admission to ICU., Conclusions: Sevoflurane anesthesia is feasible and safe for children affected by neuropsychiatric disorders undergoing MRI. Specific risk factors for general and respiratory complications should be considered.

In children and adolescents, schizophrenia is one of the ten main causes of disability-adjusted life years. The identification of people at Clinical High Risk of developing Psychosis (CHR-P) is one of the most promising strategies to improve outcomes. However, in children and adolescents research on the CHR-P state is still in its infancy and the clinical validity of at-risk criteria appears understudied in this population. Furthermore, only few studies have evaluated the psychopathological, neuropsychological, neuroimaging characteristics and, especially, long-term outcomes of adolescents at high risk. We present here the protocol of an innovative longitudinal cohort study of adolescents aged 12-17. The sample will consist of patients admitted to a third level neuropsychiatric unit, belonging to one of the following three subgroups: 1) adolescents with established Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-Fifth Edition psychosis, 2) adolescents with CHR-P, and 3) adolescents with psychiatric symptoms other than established psychosis or CHR-P. The primary aim of our study is to evaluate the 2-year prognosis across the three groups. We will measure transition to psychosis (or the stability of the diagnosis of psychosis in the psychotic group), the risk of development of other psychiatric disorders, as well as socio-occupational functioning at outcome. The secondary aim will be to explore the effect of specific predictors (clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging factors) on the prognosis. At baseline, 1-year and 2-year follow-up participants will be assessed using standardized semi-structured interviews and instruments. Psychopathological and functioning variables, as well as neuropsychological domains will be compared across the three subgroups. Moreover, at baseline and 2-year follow-up all recruited patients will undergo a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging examination and diffusion tensor imaging parameters will be analyzed. We believe that this study will advance our ability to predict outcomes in underage CHR-P samples. In particular, our data will enable a better understanding of the clinical significance of CHR-P in adolescents, and shed new light on prognostic factors that can be used to refine the prediction of clinical outcomes and the implementation of preventive interventions., (Copyright © 2019 Molteni, Filosi, Mensi, Spada, Zandrini, Ferro, Paoletti, Pichiecchio, Bonoldi and Balottin.)

Background: Preterm birth does not only affect infants but also represents an unexpected and traumatic event for parents. There are few reports on parenting stress during early infancy comparing preterm and term mothers, with the results being somewhat inconsistent., Methods: As part of a longitudinal study, preterm mother-infant and term mother-infant dyads were enrolled. Dyads were assessed twice: during hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and at 3 months of infant age (corrected age for preterm). Each mother completed a self-report set of psychological questionnaire in both time points. All the children underwent a neurological examination at 40 weeks post conceptional age and at 3 months (corrected age for preterm)., Results: 20 preterm and 20 term dyads were included. NICU mothers reported elevated postnatal depressive symptoms and high stress level, even if the preterm infants were with low perinatal risk and normal neurological examination. Comparing preterm infant with low perinatal risk and normal neurological examination with term-born children at 3 months, we found higher parental stress in term mothers than in preterm mothers., Limitations: This study was limited by a relatively small sample size; findings are preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger-scale study., Conclusions: Findings confirm that becoming a mother of a preterm infant is an event associated with emotional distress. These symptoms may resolve with time, and sometimes are independent of the infant's clinical severity. Assessing parental sources of stress and subsequent follow-up is essential to promote parental support, both for preterm and term mothers., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A recent study has applied a novel statistical framework (functional linear modeling: FLM) to the study of circadian activity rhythm (CAR) in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), pointing out the absence of the physiological post-lunch dip. The aim of the present study was to apply FLM to explore the features of CAR in pediatric ADHD. To this end, a secondary analysis of previously collected data was carried out. Twenty-four ADHD children (four females, mean age 8.67 ± 1.74) and 107 controls (C, 60 females, mean age 10.25 ± 0.48) were examined. The actigraph model Actiwatch AW64 was used to objectively monitor sleep/wake behavior and CAR. In the original study each participant wore the actigraph on the non-dominant wrist for one week. FLM was applied to examine the differences between groups in CAR. Compared with C, the CAR of ADHD children was distinguished by a higher motor activity during the whole of the daytime and within a reduced time window during the nighttime., Competing Interests: Conflicts of InterestL.T., M.Z., G.R., U.B., M.FA., M.FI., M.M., and V.N. declare no conflict of interest., (© 2019 by the authors.)

Recent results show that in mainland Italian children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), HLA-G coding alleles distribution is skewed and an association between HLA-G*01:05N and ASD is present. Herein, in an independent cohort of Sardinian ASD (sASD) children and their relatives, we verify whether HLA-G allele association with ASD could be confirmed in this genetically peculiar insular population. One hundred children with a diagnosis of ASD, born in Sardinia and of Sardinian descent, 91 of their mothers, and 40 of their healthy siblings were enrolled. DNA sequencing analysis of HLA-G exon 2, 3 and 4 was used to obtain HLA-G allelic frequencies. Alleles distribution was compared with that of continental ASD children and with a control group of Caucasoid couples of multiparous women and their partners from Brazil and Denmark. Skewing of HLA-G allele distribution was replicated in sASD children; in particular, the HLA-G*01:03 allele, associated with reduced fetal tolerogenicity and development of myeloid leukemia, was more common in both ASD groups compared to controls (p c  = 1 × 10 -3 ; OR:3.5, 95%CI: 1.8-6.8). However, given the lack of data on HLA-G*01:03 allelic distribution among Sardinian healthy subjects, we cannot exclude a population effect. These data confirm an association of HLA-G locus with ASD development, particularly with those alleles linked to a lower expression of tolerogenic HLA-G protein, thus warranting further studies on HLA-G polymorphism distribution in different ASD populations., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics, which commonly presents with multiple behavioral problems, including co-morbid attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Both tics and co-morbid conditions have been shown to potentially affect patients' health-related quality of life. While TS typically presents in childhood, its manifestations peak in severity during adolescence, a critical period in which affected individuals are exposed to potential stigma from peers. Physical and behavioral manifestations can also contribute to stigma, which subsequently leads to poorer health outcomes, discrimination, and a reduced willingness to seek help. The available evidence suggests that young patients with TS can experience reduced social acceptance from peers and difficulties establishing relationships. There is also evidence that some health care professionals share the unhelpful belief that young patients with TS should be disciplined in order to correct their disruptive behavior, based on the erroneous assumption that tics can be consciously controlled. Studies focussed on self-perception in patients with TS have yielded inconsistent results, with some studies showing problems in the domains of self-concept and self-esteem. Feelings of isolation, loneliness, and experiences of bullying have been reported more consistently. Interventions are required to reduce misconceptions about the condition and thus reduce stigma through targeted education and behavioral interventions. A multi-faceted approach that focuses on educating children, adults, and educators about TS would be beneficial to help alleviate stigma. This can be combined with self-advocacy and tailored psychological therapies for young patients with TS. The present paper reviews the current literature on stigma and self-perception in adolescents with TS in order to inform clinical decisions about management strategies and possible interventions to improve health-related quality of life., Competing Interests: Professor Andrea E Cavanna reports personal fees from Associazione Tincontro, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.

Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves difficulties in goal-directed motor coordination, with ineffective control of fine and gross motor movements in the absence of sensory impairment or neurological condition. DCD is frequently reported in children born very preterm (VP) who survive without CP., Aims: To measure the risk of DCD at school age in a large area-based cohort of VP children and general population controls, adjusting for gender, birth weight by gestational age and age at assessment., Methods: VP children (N = 608) were part of a prospective cohort study in Italy. Controls (N = 370) were participants in the DCDQ-Italian validation study in the same age range. The Italian version of Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ-Italian) was used to measure the performances in motor coordination during ordinary activities from the parental point of view. Multivariable regression analysis was used to obtain adjusted risk ratios of screening positive for DCD., Results: VP children had scores significantly lower than peers, and about 30% of them appeared at risk of DCD using the 15th percentile cut-off of the Italian validation study. Birth-weight <10th percentile for gestational age and male gender were significant predictors. A slight trend effect was present, with extremely preterm children (<28 weeks gestation) showing the highest risk., Conclusions: Our study confirmed the higher DCD risk in VP children, particularly when males and SGA., (Copyright © 2019 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The study aims to explore the connection between the family interactive patterns, investigated with a standardized observational tool based on a recorded play session, the Lausanne Trilogue Play, and the outcome of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa after a 6 months treatment, based on the Morgan-Russel Outcome Assessment Schedule. Seventy-two parents and adolescent daughters with anorexia nervosa, consecutively referred to an adolescent neuropsychiatric service, participated in the study and underwent an integrated model of treatment, based on constant neuropsychiatric and dietary monitoring, weekly individual psychotherapy for the daughter, and parental counselling and support. A better adolescents' functioning in family relationships, in particular in the triadic ones, at first assessment, was associated with a better outcome. Data on family interactions may help predict the most appropriate intervention for the patient and his family., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Mutations occurring in the orthodenticle homeobox 2 gene (OTX2) are responsible for a rare genetic syndrome, characterized mainly by microphthalmia/anophthalmia associated with extra-ocular defects such as brain malformations, pituitary abnormalities, short stature and intellectual disability. To date, the spectrum of radiological features observed in patients with OTX2 mutations has never been summarized., Case Presentation: In this report, we describe a case of large microdeletion encompassing OTX2 but not BMP4 presenting with a syndromic anophthalmia with corpus callosum hypoplasia, pituitary gland hypoplasia and vermian hypoplasia., Conclusion: Our case report provides an illustration of the neuroradiological spectrum in a case of OTX2-related syndrome and the first radiological evidence of 14q22.2q23.1 deletion associated posterior cranial fossa anomalies.

Introduction:  From the prognostic perspective, the quality of the mother-child relationship during the first months of life has been variously associated with different factors such as the child's psychomotor/cognitive development and emotional-behavioral disorders., Methods:  The main aim of this study was to describe, at term age and 3 months of corrected age, the features and the prevalent patterns of the mother-child relationship in a group of 20 mother-preterm infant dyads and to compare them with those of a group of 20 mother-term infant dyads., Results:  A relatively high rate of inadequate dyadic synchrony was found in our sample of preterms at 40 weeks of gestational age (half of the sample analyzed). The quality of the dyadic relationship and the prevalent patterns of the mother-child relationship were found to differ between the two groups we studied; moreover, the subjects at risk of relational problems remained substantially the same during the first 3 months of life., Discussion:  These data underline that in preterm children, the first weeks of life, coinciding with their hospitalization, represent a crucial time for establishing a valid dyadic relationship and for considering and planning any preventive interventions; after all, the earlier the risk of relational problems becomes a real possibility, the more likely it is to negatively impact on a child's overall development., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Background: Writing ability requires to use and control several processes of visual and phonological information processing and an adequate programming and coordination of motor sequences. We studied a writing precursor gesture in children with developmental dysorthography and/or developmental dysgraphia in order to point out anomalies to be treated with specific rehabilitative interventions., Methods: Twenty-five children affected by developmental dysortography (ICD 9 CM: 315.09; ICD 10: F81.1) and/or developmental dysgraphia (ICD 9 CM: 315.2; ICD 10: F81.8) (mean age 9.1 years [range: 6.3-11.4 years]) ran a maze, project in front of them, using a wireless mouse. Data regarding angular excursions, execution times and gesture accuracy were collected and elaborated using Dartfish 6.0 software and the labyrinth generating program (PRINC), and compared with normative data previously obtained from a sample of 226 healthy children of the same age and grade., Results: The comparison did not evidence significant differences regarding gesture structure (trajectories of arm segments and angular excursions of interested joints). Angular and temporal execution patterns were reached in delay in these children. No correlation was found with general cognitive and visuomotor integration skills; a deficit of visual attention was associated with an abnormal elbow range of motion., Conclusions: Although these findings need to be confirmed in larger studies, data obtained evidence that children with developmental writing disorders have a time delay in the acquisition of writing motor patterns and not an alteration of gesture structure itself. This has relevant implications for the rehabilitative approach.

The literature examining primary headache, including migraine, in adolescents, has pointed out the key role played by a wide range of psychiatric disorders in reducing the patients' quality of life. Moreover, pioneering studies showed that preexisting personality characteristics, specific emotion regulation styles and psychological-psychiatric difficulties are likely to increase the risk of the onset, maintenance, and outcome of headache. Still personality issues in migraine have been poorly studied, in particular in children and adolescents. This study aims, therefore, to investigate the specific characteristics of personality, and in particular emotion regulation and coping strategies, in adolescent with migraine, comparing them with age-matched patients with idiopathic epilepsy and healthy adolescents. 52 adolescents (age: 11-17) were assessed using a multi-method test battery, which included a self-report questionnaire (the youth self-report), a proxy-report (child behavior checklist) along with a projective personality test, the Rorschach Test, administered and scored according to the Exner comprehensive system. The results showed specific personality characteristics in adolescents with migraine, revealing a marked difficulty in modulating and regulating affections through thoughts and reflections, resorting instead to impulsive acts and maladaptive coping strategies, thus revealing a vague and immature perception of reality. Differently from adolescents belonging to the general population, but similarly to patients with epilepsy, adolescents with migraine perceive a high situational stress, probably related to the condition of suffering from chronic disease. They have, therefore, a lower self-consideration and self-esteem along with a poorer insight regarding themselves as well as the relations with others. In line with previous findings, these preliminary results suggest the need for further research on ample samples, using also standardized projective test in order to better understand the pathogenesis of psychological difficulties in patients with migraine. As a clinical implication, the results seem to indicate that providing a psychological integrated approach can play a pivotal role in the assessment and treatment of adolescent with migraine, in order to improve the outcome and the quality of life of the young patients.

There are few literature evidences about the intellectual profile of adolescents with headache and no study has used the fourth edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) in patients with a diagnosis of headache according to the ICHD-III-beta. We recruited 30 patients (age 11-14 years; male:female = 1:2) seen for headache in a tertiary center in Northern Italy and 30 healthy controls matched for age and sex, recruited in a public school from the same geographic area. The diagnosis of headache was done according to the ICHD-III criteria (beta version): the case group was composed of 16 patients with migraine and 14 with tension-type headache. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the WISC-IV. Recruited patients with idiopathic headache diagnosis had on average a cognitive function within the normal range. We found no statistically significant differences in the total Intellective Quotient comparing patients with headache and controls; the Working Memory Index was, however, lower in patients with headache ( p  = 0.012), and in particular, we found a lower Digit Span ( p  < 0.001). We also found a borderline statistical difference ( p  = 0.051) between case and controls Verbal Comprehension Index (CVI), which was due to a lower score in the Similarities subtest ( p  < 0.001). Our results suggest that, although within normal limits, cognitive functioning of adolescents with headache differs from that of healthy peers regarding memory and verbal skills. The Working Memory Index is related to the subject's ability to store new information and keep them in short-term memory, to maintain focused attention and to manipulate them to find solutions. The difference in Similarities is also important because it provides a measure of the level of verbal reasoning and concept formation; it is also a measure of verbal abstract thinking skills relevant for language development, lexical knowledge, auditory comprehension, memory, and ability to discriminate between essential and non-essential characteristics. Our data, in keep with previous findings, suggest the need for further researches to better understand the pathogenesis of these difficulties and obtain ideas for an adequate rehabilitative treatment.

Activating KIR-HLA-C ligand complexes and HLA-G∗14bp insertion/deletion (+/-) polymorphism were associated to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and were suggested to correlate with inflammation during fetal development. We evaluated whether HLA-G∗14bp(+/-) and KIR-HLA-C complexes are associated with cognitive and behavioral scores and EEG profile in 119 ASD children (58 from Sardinia, 61 from Peninsular Italy). KIR2DS1-C2; KIR2DS2-C1; KIR2DL1-C2; KIR2DL2-C1; KIR2DL3-C1 and HLA-G∗14bp(+/-) were molecularly genotyped by Single Specific Primer PCR and gel electrophoresis. Univariate linear model analysis adjusted for age, gender and provenience showed statistically higher scores of Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autistic Core Behavior in KIR2DS1-C2+/HLA-G∗14bp+ASD children (43.7±1.5, p=0.03; 3.3±0.1, p=0.03, respectively). These results suggested a synergistic polygenic association of KIR2DS1-HLAC2+/HLA-G∗14bp+ pattern with behavioral impairment in ASD children., (Copyright © 2017 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Different isoforms of HLA-G protein are endowed with a differential ability to induce allogenic tolerance during pregnancy. As prenatal immune activation is suggested to play a role in the onset of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), we evaluated HLA G*01:01-*01:06 allelic polymorphism in a cohort of Italian children affected by ASD (N=111) their mothers (N=81), and their healthy siblings (N=39). DNA sequencing analysis of HLA-G exon 2, 3 and 4 was used to obtain HLA-G allelic frequencies; alleles distribution was compared with that of two control groups of Caucasoid couples of multiparous women and their partners from Brazil and Denmark. HLA-G distribution was significantly different in ASD children compared to both control groups (Brazilian p c =1×10 -4 ; Danish p c =1×10 -3 ). Since HLA-G distribution was similar in the two control groups, their data were pooled. Results indicated that HLA-G*01:01 was significantly less frequent (p c =1×10 -4 ; OR:0.5, 95%CI: 0.3-0.7) whereas HLA-G*01:05N was significantly more frequent (p c =2×10 -3 ; OR:7.3, 95%CI: 2.4-26.6) in ASD children compared to combined controls. Finally, no clear pattern emerged when HLA-G allelic distribution was analyzed in healthy sibs. Notably, HLA-G allelic distribution found in ASD mothers was similar to that observed in the control subgroup of women with recurrent miscarriages, whilst it was significantly different compared to women without miscarriages (p c =6×10 -4 df=12). Since HLA-G*01:01 is associated with the elicitation of KIR-mediated tolerogenic responses and HLA-G*01:05N correlates with NK cells activation, results herein indicate that an immune activating milieu during pregnancy is more likely observed in association with the development of ASD, similarly to what occurs in women with recurrent miscarriages., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)