Background: Stress-related disorders, including PTSD, acute stress disorders, adjustment disorder, and attachment disorders, arise from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental stressors. While early environmental factors play a central role in the development of these disorders, there is growing evidence that genetic predisposition also contributes to individual differences in vulnerability and resilience. This narrative review examines current evidence on genetic predisposition and resilience mechanisms in stress-related psychopathology during developmental age. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane, MedRxiv, and Medline databases, focusing on studies published between 2010 and 2025, written in English, in the pediatric and adolescent population. Priority was given to original research articles and high-impact reviews. Studies were selected based on relevance to the genetic mechanisms underlying vulnerability and resilience to stress. 71 of 317 were selected. Two hundred forty-six articles were excluded due to a lack of relevance to the topic or because they included an adult population. Results: Polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications in genes involved in hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (FKBP5, NR3C1, ADCYAP1R1 and ACE), serotoninergic (SLC6A4 and HTR2A), noradrenergic and dopaminergic system (COMT and MAOA), BDNF, estrogen receptor and excitatory amino acid transporters are associated with increased risk of psychopathology following early trauma, but are also implicated in the development of resilience. Conclusions: Genetic factors influence both vulnerability and resilience to stress-related disorders. However, further studies based on the role of genetics are needed to advance precision and personalized medicine, which is still largely underexplored to this day in the field of stress-induced disorders.

Background/Objectives: Clinical pharmacy plays a crucial role in optimizing medication use, particularly in pediatric settings where drug therapy can be complex and understudied. This study aims to assess the impact of clinical pharmacists in the Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit of the Padova University Hospital, focusing on physician acceptance of pharmacist suggestions and the types of advice most frequently followed. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted over 13 weeks to describe the implementation phase of clinical pharmacists’ involvement in medication reconciliation in this setting. The study consisted of three steps. The study utilized a cluster model to categorize pharmacist suggestions and to evaluate physician acceptance rates. Results: The study included 57 hospitalized pediatric patients (53% male) with a median age of 3 years (IQR: 1–10.25). A total of 138 recommendations were shared, with an overall acceptance rate of 42%. Medication errors accounted for the largest cluster of suggestions (45%), though only 32% were accepted. Among the most frequently shared categories of suggestions, pharmaceutical form optimization (A) and drug supply (E) exhibited higher acceptance rates by clinicians (64% and 42%, respectively). The acceptance rate increased over time, peaking at 100% during weeks 7 and 11, correlating positively with enhanced collaboration between pharmacists and clinicians (R² = 0.59). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of clinical pharmacists in pediatric care, particularly in improving medication management through targeted interventions. The findings suggest that integrating clinical pharmacists into multidisciplinary teams can enhance patient care quality by fostering collaboration and trust among healthcare professionals.

A headache is the most common neurological symptom in children. Its subtypes are migraine (MH) and tension-type headache (TTH). Internalizing rather than externalizing symptoms are more frequent in children with headaches, but little is known about the reasons why. We aim to: (a) examine the interplay between emotional experience, affective regulation, and internalizing symptoms in children suffering from primary headaches and their caregivers; (b) identify potential predictors of children with migraines’ internalizing symptoms. Fifty children and adolescents with a diagnosis of primary headaches and their caregivers were compared to a sample of fifty-one healthy peers and caregivers. Self-reports and parent-reports were administered. Results indicate higher negative affect and internalizing symptoms and lower bodily awareness of emotions in the clinical sample (n = 50; Mage = 11.66, SD = 2.25) compared to controls (n = 51; Mage = 11.73, SD = 2.32); mothers of TTH children self-reported lower emotional awareness and higher difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behavior; a higher frequency of headaches was associated with greater emotional regulation difficulties. Internalizing symptoms were predicted by higher self-reported negative affect and parent-reported internalizing symptoms, and lower self-reported ability in the verbal sharing of emotions. These findings suggest the importance of assessing the psychological features linked to children with primary headaches’ psychological well-being.

The literature on cold-stimulus headache (CSH) is relatively sparse compared to other primary headache disorders and the studies on the pediatric population are very limited. This systematic review aims to analyze the evidence on CSH in children and adolescents focusing on epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenic mechanisms, and treatments. Our review included 25 studies, among which 9 papers include pediatric cases (4 pediatric samples, 5 mixed samples of children and adults). The aim of this work is to highlight the features of CSH in children and adolescents. In children, the prevalence of CSH is higher than in adults and it is not gender-specific. There is a relevant family history for CSH and the comorbidity with migraine is significant. The triggers and clinical features of CSH due to ingesting a cold stimulus in children overlap with those in adults. CSH due to external application of a cold stimulus (or to environmentally low temperatures) is not studied in children and adolescents. We describe in detail a new pediatric case of CSH triggered by low ambient temperatures; to the best of our knowledge, this represents the first description in the literature. In conclusion, CSH in children is probably underestimated and has peculiar features compared to adults; further studies are needed to better understand its clinical features and pathophysiology.

Background: Acupuncture is a spreading and promising intervention, which has proven to be very useful in the treatment and prevention of chronic pain, in particular chronic headaches, in adults; the literature about the treatment of pediatric chronic headaches is scarce. In addition, few guidelines advise its use in children. The aim of this review is to collect all relevant studies with available data about the use, effect, and tolerability of acupuncture as a treatment for pediatric primary headaches. Methods: This is a narrative review based on eight studies selected from 135 papers including pediatric cases treated with acupuncture for headache. Results: Despite the differences in tools, procedures, and application sites, acupuncture demonstrated a positive effect on both the frequency and intensity of headaches and was well tolerated. There are no studies considering the long-term efficacy of acupuncture. Conclusion: Further additional studies are needed on acupuncture in children and adolescents, with larger series and standardized procedures, in order to better assess efficacy, tolerability, and long-term prognosis and to define guidelines for the use of this promising and safe treatment. It is particularly relevant to identify safe and well-tolerated treatment options in pediatric patients affected by recurrent and debilitating headaches.

Background: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are a group of enzymes responsible for the first step of protein translation. Among them, the KARS1 gene encodes lysyl-tRNA synthetase 1, an enzyme essential for charging tRNA-Lys with lysine in both the cytoplasm and mitochondria. Mutations in KARS1 are associated with a wide range of clinical phenotypes, including leukoencephalopathy, hereditary deafness, peripheral neuropathies, and multisystemic involvement. Methods: We hereby report a detailed case study of a 15-month-old boy presenting at age 5 months with developmental delay, microcephaly, hypotonia, sensorineural deafness, retinopathy, visual impairment, nystagmoid eye movements, and hepatic and immuno-hematological abnormalities. In addition, he exhibited a severe hyperkinetic movement disorder, not previously reported in the literature, and developed epilepsy at 13 months. Genetic testing identified two rare compound heterozygous variants in the KARS1 gene. Results: With this report, we aim to contribute to the expanding of both the clinical phenotype and the allelic spectrum of lysyl-tRNA synthetase-related disorders. Our study also includes a review of previously described KARS1 cases presenting with movement disorders. Conclusions: Our findings further highlight the importance of assessing systemic involvement and performing brain and spinal neuroimaging, as well as implementing genetic screening, in infants presenting with global developmental delay, sensory deficits, and movement disorders—features that may suggest a mitochondrial disorder such as those involving ARS mutations.