Semiha Comertoglu Arslan, Ibrahim Selcuk Esin, Atilla Cayır, Zerrin Orbak, Onur Burak Dursun. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci 2021;19:498-506. https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2021.19.3.498

Although trichotillomania (TTM) is a common, typically pediatric-onset disorder, data on the phenomenology of TTM in children, accompanying comorbid psychiatric disorders, and treatment options are...

Existing literature offers some insights into the prevalence of anxiety and depression in children with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). However, the literature on anxiety sensitivity (AS) and quality of life (QoL) in these children remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate psychiatric diagnoses, anxiety and depression levels, AS, and QoL in children with CSU compared to healthy controls. The CSU group consisted of 44 children aged 8 to 17 years who were diagnosed with CSU, while the control group consisted of 44 healthy children. A child psychiatrist conducted the psychiatric assessment of the children. The Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scales (RCADS), the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI), and the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) were administered. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of QoL, considering several potential factors, including the urticaria activity score, duration of urticaria, presence of a psychiatric diagnosis, scores on the RCADS major depression disorder, RCADS-total anxiety, and total CASI. A significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses and anxiety disorders was observed in the CSU group (P < .05). In the CSU group with a psychiatric diagnosis, CASI-total (0.011), CASI-physical (0.049), CASI-social (0.022), and CDLQI scores (P < .001) were significantly higher than those without a psychiatric diagnosis. In the multiple linear regression analysis, only the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis was found to be a significant predictor of CDLQI scores (OR, 5.918; 95% CI, 2.505–9.330; P: .001). This study indicated that children with CSU exhibited a higher prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses than controls. Additionally, children with psychopathology in the CSU group demonstrated higher AS and greater impairment of QoL than those without psychiatric diagnoses. Furthermore, the most significant predictor of a decline in QoL was the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis.

Sleep disorders are very common in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and can negatively impact their lives, mental health, developmental processes, families' lives, and emotional well-being. It is essential to determine the specific sleep disorder and its underlying cause in treatment planning. Currently, nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions are the main treatments for improving sleep disorders in children and adolescents with ASD. If nonpharmacological strategies are unsuccessful or difficult to implement, medications should be considered and used in conjunction with them. Melatonin, behavioral interventions, and parent education are the most effective treatments to improve sleep, relative to other pharmacological treatments. Medications used to treat sleep disorders in these children are used off-label. Melatonin appearing to be safe and effective may be an evidence-based and efficacious first-line treatment for treating insomnia symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD. Antipsychotics (e.g.low dose quetiapine), antidepressants with strong sedative effects such as trazodone and mirtazapine, antihistamines (e.g.diphenhydramine, niaprazine), alpha-adrenergic drugs (e.g. clonidine), benzodiazepines (e.g.clonazepam) and other hypnotic drugs, anticonvulsants (e.g. gabapentin), Alzheimer's drugs (e..g donepezil), superoxide and iron treatment are other drugs used in pharmacological treatment. Depending on the type of sleep disorders and the presence of comorbidities, the most effective pharmacological treatment should be selected on a case-by-case basis.

Previous studies have linked peer bullying to nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the evidence is largely limited to population-based groups. This study examined whether there is a relationship between NSSI and being a victim of peer bullying among adolescents in a clinical sample and how this may be influenced by types of bullying. The sample consisted of 96 outpatients with NSSI and 107 healthy adolescents. The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, Peer Bullying Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were applied. Whereas the scores of each bullying type of adolescents with NSSI were significantly higher, their self-esteem scores were significantly lower. Each victimization score of bullying had a negative correlation with NSSI-onset age and self-esteem scores and a positive correlation with self-injury scores. This study demonstrated that being a victim of any type of bullying is strongly associated with self-injury. It would be advisable to screen adolescents with self-injury for exposure to bullying, and vice versa.