To compare psychiatric emergencies and self-harm at emergency departments (EDs) 1 year into the pandemic, to early pandemic and pre-pandemic, and to examine the changes in the characteristics of self-harm presentations. This retrospective cohort study expanded on the Pandemic-Related Emergency Psychiatric Presentations (PREP-kids) study. Routine record data in March to April of 2019, 2020, and 2021 from 62 EDs in 25 countries were included. ED presentations made by children and adolescents for any mental health reasons were analyzed. Altogether, 8,174 psychiatric presentations were recorded (63.5% female; mean [SD] age, 14.3 [2.6] years), 3,742 of which were self-harm presentations. Rate of psychiatric ED presentations in March to April 2021 was twice as high as in March to April 2020 (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.60-2.33), and 50% higher than in March to April 2019 (IRR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.25-1.81). Rate of self-harm presentations doubled between March to April 2020 and March to April 2021 (IRR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.68-2.34), and was overall 1.7 times higher than in March to April 2019 (IRR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.44-2.00). Comparing self-harm characteristics in March to April 2021 with March to April 2019, self-harm contributed to a higher proportion of all psychiatric presentations (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05-1.62), whereas female representation in self-harm presentations doubled (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.45-2.72) and follow-up appointments were offered 4 times as often (OR, 4.46; 95% CI, 2.32-8.58). Increased pediatric ED visits for both self-harm and psychiatric reasons were observed, suggesting potential deterioration in child mental health. Self-harm in girls possibly increased and needs to be prioritized. Clinical services should continue using follow-up appointments to support discharge from EDs. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work.

Objective: Chronotype refers to the time of the day that a person’s physical and cognitive functions are active. Simply this is a circadian phase preference of a person. While some of the people are morning active (so called larks ) others are more active at nights (The owls). The study of circadian rhythms, known as chronobiology, is all about the metabolic and psychiatric differences between people who have different chronotypes. A few tests are used to determine chronotypes. The CCTQ (Children’s Chronotype Questionnaire) is a parent-report, 27-item mixed format questionnaire measuring chronotype of children in multiple domains : the midsleep point on free days (MSF), a morningness/eveningness scale(M/E) score, and a five-point chronotype (CT) score. The aim of this study is adapting Children’s Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ) into Turkish language and validating the instrument in Turkish population. Materials and Methods: 101 children aged nine through eighteen constitude the sample of the study. The sample was composed of clinical (n=51) and community groups (n=50). CCTQ and Morningness Eveningness Scale for Children (MESC) questionnaires were applied to children and parents, then the CCTQ and MESC scores were compared to examine the validity of CCTQ. Results: The internal consistency and external validity of the Turkish CCTQ was sufficient to compare MESC-Turkish. As a result of this research carried out in accordance with methodological research principles, correlation between the M/E scores of CCTQ and MESC was significant. Conclusion: The Turkish version of CCTQ has been found to be valid and reliable in Turkish children.

Coronavirus disease (also known as COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the world. In Turkey, which has a strong health system, most hospitals have been turned into pandemic hospitals, elective procedures have been postponed, and doctors have been reassigned to treat COVID-19. Efforts to limit spread of COVID-19 have been effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Behind this success was not only the intrinsic strength of the health system but also the strict changes in everyday life wrought by the crisis. It is an inescapable fact that these new measures, such as the imposition of curfew and lockdown, have had a significant effect on the mental health of the general population. Anxiety caused by COVID-19 has spread to the mental state of everyone. Although coronavirus-related diseases will end soon, it is predicted that serious psychiatric disorders will be a lasting consequence of the pandemic. Despite the many negatives brought by COVID-19, it has led to a positive unity between the public and healthcare professionals, and in spite of significant risks to their own health, healthcare workers have risen to the challenge of COVID-19.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder in children. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain its etiology. Mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) is suggested to be one of the causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between MD and ADHD by investigating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels from peripheral blood leukocytes, one of the best biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction. This study included 56 children aged 6-16 years who were diagnosed with ADHD for the first time and 56 age- and sex-matched children without ADHD. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the relative mtDNA copy number in each study participant. The mean mtDNA copy number of the case group was 57.623±24.827 and that of the control group was 44.204±18.926 (p=0.002). The mtDNA copy number of the case group was higher than that of the control group. Results of ROC curve analysis provided a mtDNA cutoff value of 45. Significantly higher mtDNA copy number in ADHD group may suggest mitochondrial dysfunction in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD.

Objective: To investigate prevalence of internalized and externalized psychological symptoms and war-related adverse events among a representative secondary-school sample of Syrian refugee adolescents, and to compare levels of depression, anxiety, and stress between Syrian refugee adolescents and Turkish adolescents. Methods: Syrian refugee adolescents (n=70) and Turkish adolescents (n=70) were asked to complete the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-42) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: DASS and SDQ scores were significantly different between the two groups; scores in all problem areas were higher in refugees. Loss of a family member increased depression, stress, and total difficulty scored, whereas witnessing death increased anxiety and stress and experiencing multiple events increased depression, anxiety, and total difficulty scores. Maternal years of schooling correlated inversely with SDQ emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and hyperactivity/inattention problem scores. Both parents’ years of schooling correlated inversely with SDQ total difficulties scores. Conclusion: Syrian refugee adolescents had higher depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, peer relationship problems, and general difficulties than their Turkish peers. Facilitating refugees’ access to mental health services, educating their parents, consulting, and monitoring at-risk children may contribute to reducing psychosocial problems in refugee children.

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for 2-4 year olds (SDQ 2-4) is one of the best of these scales developed to screen children in early childhood for psychosocial problems. The aim of this study is to investigate the psychometric properties of SDQ 2-4 in Turkish for the age group of 2-4 years. The study was conducted with 159 participants. SDQ 2-4 Parent and BITSEA scales were applied to parents. Patients whose scores were detected to be at risk were referred to the hospital and a clinical interview was performed. Chronbach alpha value for total difficulties scale was 0.80. Total difficulties score of the SDQ was positively correlated with the BITSEA/P score, and negatively correlated with the BITSEA/C score. Prosocial Behaviors score of SDQ was positively correlated with BITSEA/C while it was negatively correlated with BITSEA/P. In all scales of SDQ that identified the problem, the scores of the participants with clinical diagnosis were significantly higher than the scores of the participants not diagnosed. The cut-off value for total difficulties scale was calculated as 10 with 80% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The SDQ 2-4 scale is valid and reliable in the Turkish language.