Background and aim: Recent evidence suggests that growth factors might be involved in the pathophysiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to determine whether serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), nerve growth factor (NGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were altered in children with ADHD. Methods: Serum levels of BDNF, GDNF, NT-3, NGF, VEGF and FGF-2 were analyzed in 49 treatment- naive children with ADHD and age, gender matched 36 healthy controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ADHD symptoms were scored by Du Paul ADHD Rating Scale and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: We found that serum VEGF levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001) and GDNF levels were significantly higher in ADHD group compared to control group (p = 0.003). However, we found no correlations between ADHD symptoms and serum VEGF or GDNF levels. Furthermore, we observed no significant alterations in serum BDNF, NT-3, NGF, FGF-2 levels in children with ADHD. Conclusion: To our knowledge, the present study is the first to examine serum VEGF and FGF-2 levels in children with ADHD. Our results indicate that VEGF and GDNF might be involved in the etiology of ADHD. Further studies are required to determine the role of growth factors in the etiology and consequently in the treatment of ADHD.

En tr Objective: The main focus of the study is to evaluate the relationship between the development of gender role perception during the adolescence and the social demographic background such as sex; age; educational level, financial situation and working status of the parents, etc... Methods: 100 individuals aged between 12 and 17, living in Istanbul were chosen as a study group. All participants were chosen from the patients who admitted to the clinics of The Balikli Greek Hospital. To analyze the sociodemographic backgrounds of the participants, a semi structured questionaire designed by the researcher were applied to all subjects. To describe the sexual role and gender role perceptions of each individual, two exisiting measures are used: BEM Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and The Gender Roles Attitude Scale (GRAS). Results: The subcategories of the Gender Roles Attitude Scale (GRAS) (egalitarian gender roles, female gender roles, marriage gender roles, traditional gender roles and male gender roles) were significantly different according to different age and gender groups. Similar results are obtained for the subgroups of BEM Sex Role Inventory (femininity, masculinity, and neutral) as well. Furthermore, the novel finding of this study is the significant relationship between the educational and financial situation of the parents and the gender role perception in their children: while children of the families with low education and low income are more prone to have traditional view, the children with highly educated parents, working mother and high income tend to have more egalitarian view. Conclusion: Results of the present study clearly suggest that certain sociodemographic backgrounds of adolescents are significantly associated with certain aspects of their gender role perceptions. Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, yaşları 12 ile 17 arasında değişen İstanbul’da yaşamakta olan bir grup ergenin toplumsal cinsiyet rolü algılarının cinsiyet; yaş; anne babanın eğitim durumu, ekonomik durumu, çalışma durumu gibi bir takım sosyodemografik özellikler ile ilişkilerini analiz etmektir. Yöntem: Toplamda 100 katılımcının bulunduğu bu çalışmanın örneklemini Balıklı Rum Vakfı Hastanesi kliniklerine başvuran bireyler oluşturmaktadır. Katılımcıların sosyodemografik özelliklerini değerlendirmek adına araştırmacı tarafından oluşturulan yarı yapılandırılmış Sosyodemografik Veri Formu, cinsiyet algılarını ve toplumsal cinsiyet rollerini değerlendirmek adına ise “BEM Cinsiyet Rolü Envanteri” ve “Toplumsal Cinsiyet Rolleri Tutum Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: “Toplumsal Cinsiyet Rolleri Tutum Ölçeği” alt boyutları (eşitlikçi cinsiyet rolü, kadın cinsiyet rolü, evlilikte cinsiyet rolü, geleneksel cinsiyet rolü, erkek cinsiyet rolü) ile yaş, cinsiyet, anne baba eğitim düzeyi, annenin çalışma durumu, ekonomik düzey değişkenleri ile anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. “BEM Cinsiyet Rolü Envanteri” alt boyutları (feminenlik, maskülenlik, nötr) ile de yaş, cinsiyet, anne eğitim düzeyi, annenin çalışma durumu ve ekonomik düzey değişkenleri ile anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur. Düşük eğitim düzeyi ve düşük ekonomik gelire sahip ailelerin çocuklarının toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine ilişkin daha çok “geleneksel cinsiyet rolü” algısına sahip olduğu; annenin çalıştığı, eğitim düzeyi ve ekonomik geliri yüksek ailelerin çocuklarının ise daha çok “ eşitlikçi cinsiyet rolü” algısına sahip olduğu saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Ergenlerin yaşı, cinsiyeti ve ailelerinin ekonomik durumu ve eğitim düzeyi gibi sosyodemografik özellikleri ile toplumsal cinsiyet algıları arasında anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur.

“Skin picking disorder,” also known as “dermatillomania” or “psychogenic excoriation,” is classified in the “Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders” category in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and characterized by repetitive skin picking behaviors resulting in skin lesions. Atomoxetine (ATX) is a selective norepinephrine (noradrenaline) reuptake inhibitor commonly used in the management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Atomoxetine is considered to increase levels of noradrenaline and dopamine by inhibiting norepinephrine transporters. In this case report, we present an 8-year-old male attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder patient with skin picking behavior due to ATX treatment. We discussed possible explanations of skin picking behavior with ATX in the light of the current literature. To our knowledge, this is the first report of skin picking due to ATX in literature, and further studies are needed to investigate the frequency and mechanisms of skin picking with ATX.

“Skin picking disorder” (SPD: also known as neurotic excoriation, psychogenic excoriation, or dermatillomania) is classified in the “obsessive-compulsive and related disorders” category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and characterized by unintentional, repetitive skin picking behaviors. Atomoxetine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this case report, we present a 9-year-old girl with the comorbid diagnosis of ADHD and SPD treated successfully with atomoxetine. To our knowledge, this is the first report of skin picking treated with atomoxetine in a patient with ADHD. We discussed possible explanations of mechanisms. Further studies are required on the effectiveness of atomoxetine for the treatment of SPD in the presence and absence of comorbid ADHD.