Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) involves deliberately causing harm to one’s body without the intention of suicide. As the numbers of adolescents presenting NSSI have been steadily increasing during the last years, we intended to investigate adolescent patients exhibiting NSSI, admitted to our clinic—a Romanian child psychiatry inpatient clinic, over the course of five years. A total of 100 adolescents (80 females, 20 males, mean age: 14.9 years) hospitalized for various neuropsychiatric disorders and engaging in self-harm were studied. The self-harm methods most frequently used in our sample were, for the female group: cutting (all), skin tearing (76%), scratching/pinching (72%), and for males: cutting (all), wound-healing hindrance (85%), striking objects (80%). The initial motivations for NSSI were represented by distress (females 89%, males 90%) and seeking pleasure (females 84%). In terms of the roles of NSSI, it was primarily used for emotional regulation (females 89%) and anger management (males 90%). This study highlights the prevalence of self-harm in hospitalized adolescents, differences in methods and motivations between genders, and the need for more targeted therapy interventions. By documenting trends, investigating underlying motivations and functions, and proposing hypotheses for further research, our findings offer valuable insights on adolescent NSSI and have the potential to increase awareness among various clinicians and specialists who interact with adolescents, thus addressing the escalating prevalence of self-harm behaviours among teenagers.

The aim of the present study is to describe and measure the cognitive emotion regulation strategies of inpatient adolescents with clinical depression, aged 13–18, and to analyse these coping strategies in relation to different comorbidities of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Methods: There were 112 adolescents with MDD who were admitted to hospital and 78 healthy adolescents included in the study. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) was used to assess nine specific cognitive coping strategies. A cognitive coping style model for depression in adolescents was described by analysing the differences between the two groups. The CERQ scores in MDD participants, grouped by comorbidity, were also assessed. Results: Adolescents with MDD had significantly higher scores for Self-Blame and Catastrophising strategies, and significantly lower scores for Positive Refocusing, Refocusing on Planning, and Positive Reappraisal. Adolescents with MDD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) traits had significantly higher scores for Rumination, Catastrophising, and Blaming Others than adolescents with MDD and anxiety or with no comorbidity. Conclusions: Clinical depression in adolescents is associated with a cognitive profile that consists of an increased use of maladaptive coping styles and low employment of adaptive strategies. Early identification can contribute to the development of specific, individualised prevention and intervention programmes, while further longitudinal studies are necessary to adequately measure the outcome of these interventions.

Background: Recent research still focuses on the psychological impact on siblings and the problematic relationships in families with children with chronic illnesses. Our study evaluates the dynamics in sibling relationships in families with a child diagnosed with a chronic disease. Methods: We comparatively evaluated the degree of empathy, involvement, friendship, and rivalry in sibling relationships in two groups of families who have a child with a chronic pediatric disorder versus a chronic mental disorder. Results: The levels of involvement/friendship, empathy/care/concern, and education/learning were significantly higher in the pediatric group. Where there were siblings under the age of 10, rivalry scores tended to be higher in both groups. Conclusions: Coping strategies, emphatic interactions, and implications in common activities are difficult to identify in the relationship between siblings when one of them has a chronic mental disorder. All of these negative aspects entail poor quality sibling relationships and draw alarm signals regarding the need for monitoring and intervention familial programs.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the parent-reported quality of life (QoL) of children and adolescents diagnosed with a chronic mental health disorder to that of those with a chronic somatic disorder. Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted between two clinical groups: one comprising patients with psychiatric diagnoses and the other with somatic diagnoses. QoL was assessed using the CHIP-CE/PRF questionnaire completed by caregivers. Statistical analyses evaluated differences across domains such as well-being, self-esteem, peer relationships, family engagement, and academic performance. Results: Parents of children with somatic conditions reported significantly higher scores in the domains of health and well-being (U = 799.50, p = 0.002), peer relations (U = 872.50, p = 0.009), and academic performance (U = 445.50, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in emotional and somatic symptoms or behavior at home. Conclusions: The findings suggest that, from a parental perspective, psychiatric disorders are associated with lower perceived quality of life in several key areas of functioning. These results emphasize the need for targeted support strategies and coordinated care for families of children with mental health conditions.

Background: In recent years, there has been a growing concern regarding social media driving the decline of mental health, especially among adolescents. However, scientific consensus remains mixed, with many studies reporting only small or inconsistent associations. Aims: This paper aims to present the latest and most influential findings in the field of social media, with a focus on understanding the impact it has on adolescents’ mental health by looking at clinical versus non-clinical populations. Method: We conducted a comprehensive search through Scopus, looking for scientific articles and reviews published from January 2020 to March 2026 that include social media and adolescents with mental health conditions. We examined social media use patterns, affordances, mechanisms of impact, and clinical versus non-clinical populations. Results: There is limited literature comparing clinical versus non-clinical adolescent populations. Adolescents with mental health disorders spend more time online, teens with internalizing conditions report being more prone to social comparison and more sensitive to digital feedback, while those with externalizing conditions report a lack of control over how much time they spend on social media. Screen time alone is not sufficient to determine the impact on mental health. Among the features that might be associated with mental health problems are sharing personal content and scrolling through others’ posts. Conclusions: The impact of social media could be shaped by pre-existing vulnerabilities. There is a need for longitudinal study designs to test temporal associations and more research to cover the gap on clinical populations to develop better policies and interventions.

Background/Objectives: Aggression in adolescents with autism, particularly those with high-functioning autism (HFA), presents a unique clinical profile. The aim of this study was to assess and compare anger expression and regulation in adolescents with HFA, those diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD), and a control group with no psychiatric diagnoses. Methods: A total of 120 adolescents aged 14–17 were divided into three equal groups: 40 with HFA, 40 with CD, and 40 controls. Participants were assessed using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2), which measures emotional intensity, trait predisposition, and modes of anger expression and control. Non-parametric statistical analyses were conducted to examine group differences. Results: Statistically significant differences were found across most STAXI-2 scales. Adolescents with CD exhibited the highest scores on anger intensity and expression, followed—at a lower level—by those with HFA. The autism group showed significantly elevated levels of verbal anger expression and frustration reactivity compared to controls, but lower tendencies for physical aggression. Trait anger was also higher in the HFA group, particularly in response to frustration or criticism. No significant differences were found between the HFA and control groups on anger control scales individually; however, the overall Anger Expression Index was significantly elevated in HFA, reflecting a global imbalance between anger expression and regulation. Conclusions: Adolescents with high-functioning autism exhibit a distinct profile of emotional dysregulation, characterized by increased verbal anger and frustration sensitivity, despite lower levels of overt aggression. This comparative pilot study contributes to a better understanding of emotional dysregulation and anger expression in adolescents with HFA. These findings highlight the need for tailored emotion regulation interventions. School-based programs focused on emotional awareness and verbal anger management could offer meaningful benefits for this population. Future research should expand sample diversity, explore gender differences, include common comorbidities like ADHD, and investigate longitudinal and neurobiological patterns of anger regulation in ASD.