Aim: In this study, it was aimed to compare parental attachment and childhood traumas in adolescents with NSSI with healthy peers. Methods: Fifty adolescents aged 14-18 years with lifetime NSSI and 56 healthy peers were included in the study. Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (ISAS), The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28) scales were used. Results: Eighty-two percentage of the NSSI group and 70% of the control group were girls. The mean age was 15.6 +/- 1.1 years in the NSSI group and 15.3 +/- 0.9 years in the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age and gender. The NSSI group had more negative scores than the control group in terms of childhood traumas and attachment characteristics to both mother and father. The analyses showed that mother PBI care/control and sexual abuse score had a relationship with both ISAS Autonomic Functions and ISAS Social Functions scores. Conclusions: These results suggest that secure attachment with the mother may be protective for both the autonomic and social functions of the NSSI. Therefore, interventions for dysfunctional parental attachment may prevent the development of NSSI.

There are studies reporting different results on whether there is an increased incidence of cardiovascular problems in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to examine carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), an early marker of atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with ASD. This single-center case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Eighty-five children (36 children with autism and 49 healthy controls) aged 6–18 were enrolled. After a clinical interview, Children’s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were filled out and laboratory measures were collected for ASD group. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist and hip) of each participant were assessed. The cIMT was measured with an ultrasound probe on both sides of the neck. Age, gender, body mass index percentile and waist/hip ratio adjusted right/left common carotid arteries IMT and right/left bulb IMT were statistically significantly higher in the autism group than controls (0.45 ± 0.01 mm and 0.55 ± 0.01 mm, respectively, p < 0.001). We performed multiple linear regression analysis to determine statistically significant related factors of the cIMT in ASD. Early onset of autism symptoms were related with high carotid IMT (β = −0.496, p = 0.01). These findings suggest that atherosclerosis may begin earlier in children with ASD, which is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. The cIMT measurement, which is an easy and noninvasive method in the cardiovascular assessment and follow-up can be recommended for clinical use for individuals with ASD.

The high prevalence of tic disorders in males may be related to androgenic steroids during the intrauterine period. During the critical period of fetal development, the release of high levels of gonadal androgens and stress hormones may contribute to the etiology of tic disorders. To investigate the possible association between these hormones and tic disorder, the ratio of two to four digits (2D:4D) was used as a measure of fetal hormone exposure. Eighty children aged 7–17 years, including 40 children diagnosed with tic disorder and 40 healthy controls, were included in a cross‐sectional study. All participants had a psychopathology assessment, and their 2D:4D ratio was measured digitally. The 2D:4D ratio in the left hand was significantly higher in the controls than in the cases ( p = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also supported that a low left 2D:4D ratio was independently associated with tic disorder ( p = 0.011). Girls showed a positive correlation between right 2D:4D ratio and vocal tic scores ( r = 0.715, p = 0.013). However, the 2D:4D ratio did not appear to be significantly associated with comorbidities, age at diagnosis, or age at onset of motor tic, vocal tic, or sensory phenomena. The results suggest that fetal sex hormone exposure may play a role in the development of tic disorders. This study showed that children and young people with tic disorders had a different 2D:4D ratio compared to healthy controls. A correlation between the ratio and the severity of the symptoms was also found. These novel findings may provide a solid basis for future longitudinal and mechanistic studies examining prenatal androgen exposure as a contributing factor in the etiology and clinical heterogeneity of tic disorders.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often co-occurs with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), exacerbating functional challenges. Standard ADHD treatments are often less effective and less well tolerated in ASD. Guanfacine XR, a non-stimulant ADHD medication, shows promise for managing hyperactivity and irritability in ASD-ADHD but with mixed results. This retrospective study analyzed data from 29 children aged 6–18 years with ASD-ADHD treated with Guanfacine XR at three healthcare centers. Clinicians initiated Guanfacine XR in cases with persistent ADHD symptoms, partial response, or side effects associated with psychostimulants or atomoxetine. Guanfacine was administered as monotherapy in some cases and as adjunctive therapy to psychostimulants or atomoxetine in others, depending on previous ADHD treatment response. Pre- and post-treatment scores from the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scales (CPRS-RS, CTRS-RS) were compared. Adverse effects and vital sign changes were documented. Of 29 participants completing treatment, significant reductions were seen in hyperactivity, irritability, and stereotypy scores. Improvements in irritability mediated reductions in hyperactivity and stereotypy. However, three children discontinued treatment due to increased irritability. Common side effects included somnolence, increased appetite, and dizziness, while vital sign changes were minimal and tolerable. Guanfacine XR may effectively reduce hyperactivity and irritability in ASD-ADHD, with hyperactivity improvements mediated via reduced irritability and stereotypy. However, individual variability, including cases of increased irritability, warrants careful monitoring. Its tolerability supports its use in polypharmacy, though further research is essential.