Background: Most studies in the literature on comorbid psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome (AS) either consist of individual case reports or have evaluated cases only in terms of a specific comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. Therefore, especially in recent years, there are few studies in the literature examining the comorbidity of all psychi-atric disorders in patients with AS in a holistic manner. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of comorbid psychiatric disorders in a clinic-based sample of 34 children and adolescents with AS. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four children and adolescents with AS [31 males (91.2%), 3 females (8.8%) mean age 12.62±3.75 years] were gathered from clinical referrals between 2017 and 2024. Participants' sociodemographic characteris-tics, age at first diagnosis of AS, clinical features, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and treatment regimens were retrospective-ly reviewed from each hospital's records. AS diagnosis was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV) criteria. Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed using DSM-5 criteria. Results: Comorbid psychiatric disorders were present in 31 (91.2%) of the cases, with 5 (14.7%) having a single comorbid disorder and 26 (76.5%) having at least two. The most common comorbid diagnoses were anxiety disorders (67.6%, n=23), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (64.7%, n=22), obsessive-compulsive disorder (29.4%, n=10), and depression (29.4%, n=10). No cases were identified with post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, eating disorders, alcohol or substance use, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorders. In age-related comparisons, conduct disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, and enuresis were more frequently observed in childhood, whereas social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression were more prevalent in adolescence. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with AS, often involving multiple conditions. Routine assessment of psychiatric comorbidity should be an integral part of clinical evaluations for this population.

Background: Previous studies have revealed a close relationship between a variety of psychopathologies and psychosocial factors, and bruxism. However, psychosocial factors and psychiatric difficulties in children and adolescents with bruxism have not been extensively studied. In the current study, we sought to examine the sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, and comorbid psychopathologies of children and adolescents with sleep bruxism. Materials and Methods: The study included 67 children and adolescents between the ages of 4-17 who were diagnosed with sleep bruxism and followed up at two different Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinics between 2018 and 2024. Data on behavioral and emotional characteristics and comorbid psychiatric disorders of these patients, clinical features of bruxism, and treatment approaches to bruxism were retrospectively investigated. Results: Our results indicated that 41.8 of the sample had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder, and 10.4% had subthreshold psychiatric symptoms. The most common comorbid psychiatric disorders were anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nocturnal enuresis, and conduct disorders. In 41.8% of cases, bruxism was linked to psychosocial factors. Comorbid psychiatric disorders were significantly more prevalent in the school and adolescent age groups than in preschoolers. Similarly, the connection between bruxism and psychosocial factors became more evident with age. The frequency of a positive family history of bruxism was 44.8%. As treatment options for bruxism, the behavioral approach and pharmacotherapy were preferred in 88.1% of cases, and only the behavioral approach was applied to 11.9%. The most common drugs used in pharmacotherapy were hydroxyzine, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, atypical antidepressants, and melatonin. In terms of response to treatment, 83.6% of the sample responded (completely or partially), while 16.4% did not respond or were resistant to treatment. Conclusions: This study yielded that psychiatric comorbidity is quite common in the pediatric population with sleep bruxism. The outcomes suggest that bruxism is not only a dental problem but is also associated with a variety of psychopathologies and psychosocial factors. Therefore, health professionals who may encounter bruxism should be aware of the relationship between bruxism and psychopathologies and psychosocial factors. It is recommended that children with bruxism be investigated carefully in a multidisciplinary and holistic approach from a bio-psycho-social perspective and screened for psychosocial and psychiatric difficulties.

Objective: To examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children with school refusal, identify accompanying psychopathologies, and investigate the relationship between comorbid psychopathologies and the severity of school refusal and demographic features. Method: The study included 52 children and adolescents aged 7-16 who presented to a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic between November 2023 and November 2024 with reluctance to attend school and a diagnosis of school refusal. The researcher administered a questionnaire to participants that included sociodemographic data and questions related to school refusal. Children were asked to complete a school refusal rating scale. Semi-structured psychiatric interviews were conducted with children and their families to identify psychopathologies accompanying school refusal in children.Results: Of the cases, 48.1% were male, and 51.9% were female. The mean age was 12.31±2.73 years. At the time of referral to the outpatient clinic, more than two-thirds of the children had never attended school. More than two-thirds of the cases were accompanied by at least one psychopathology, and this rate was significantly higher in males. The most common comorbid psychopathologies were generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and separation anxiety disorder. In the younger age group, somatic complaints were statistically significantly more frequent, and separation anxiety disorder was more commonly comorbid. No significant relationships were found between school refusal rating scale scores and demographic data, clinical characteristics, or comorbid psychopathology.Conclusion: School refusal is one of the child psychiatric emergencies that causes serious academic, social, and psychological problems in children and adolescents in the short and long term. Furthermore, the presence of accompanying psychopathology further worsens the prognosis. Therefore, understanding the demographic and clinical factors in these children, examining their relationship with comorbidity, and addressing these factors in clinical practice will positively influence intervention processes and prognosis.

Ultra-processed foods, characterized by high levels of saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium, but low levels of protein, dietary fiber, and essential micronutrients, contain various components that may be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to examine the relationship between ultra-processed foods consumption and ADHD symptoms. This cross-sectional study included healthy children aged 11 to 14 years. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the revised Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-RS). Ultra-processed food consumption was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire based on the NOVA classification. Among 101 children (mean age was 12.3±0.8 years), 57.4% were girls. The median daily intake of ultra-processed foods was 293.2 (156.1–663.7) g/day. Children in the highest quartile of ultra-processed foods consumption exhibited significantly longer screen time and sleep duration (p0.05). Further well-designed studies that control for potential confounding factors are needed to clarify the relationship between ultra-processed foods and ADHD.

Grief is a normal process that occurs following the irreversible loss of a loved one. This process, characterized by painful experiences, varies widely and is influenced by numerous factors, including the identity of the deceased, the circumstances of their death, the individual characteristics of the bereaved, and the availability of support systems. The suddenness and violence of a loss can disrupt the normal grieving process, leading to the manifestation of traumatic symptoms. This phenomenon, referred to as “traumatic grief” in the literature, is associated with an increased risk of various psychiatric disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The death of a parent represents a profound loss for an adolescent, complicating their coping mechanisms and significantly impacting their psychological well-being. Parental loss alone is a significant risk factor for suicidal behavior in adolescents. When a parent’s death is traumatic, it can further exacerbate this risk, leading to suicidal thoughts and behaviors by disrupting the normal grief process, even in adolescents who were previously mentally healthy. This article presents the diagnosis and treatment of a 17-year-old girl who exhibited active suicidal thoughts and behaviors after her father was killed with a firearm. The objective of this case report is to explore the atypical grief symptoms that can follow traumatic losses during adolescence and to assess the effectiveness of holistic approaches that combine supportive psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy in treating such cases.