Childhood subclinical characteristics have not been fully investigated in patients with schizophrenia. To elucidate the picture of them, and to find out indicators which predict later development of schizophrenia, childhood behaviors of the adult schizophrenia subjects were investigated in a questionnaire-based retrospective study.

Schizophrenia outpatients (n=20) in his/her twenties and normal healthy subjects (n = 120) were investigated. All patients are diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR as schizophrenia, and who present now mainly negative symptoms after passing an acute stage. By modified use of the CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist) as a retrospective assessment questionnaire, the parents of the patients and of control subjects rated their childhood behavior.

The hit-rate when classifying the schizophrenic and normal subjects by discriminant function using all items of CBCL totaled 97.0%. Notable in an item-level analysis was an extremely attenuated aggression in personal relations in the schizophrenia subjects. Among eight subscales of the CBCL, those of Withdrawal, Social Problems, Attention Problems and Aggressive Behavior contributed most to the accuracy of the prediction of group membership.

It was suggested that subclinical behavioral and psychological characteristics of schizophrenia already exist in the patients’ childhood.

The 40 item Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) screens for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is quicker to administer than the (two hour) Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). A recent study, however, found that two questions on the SCQ were answered “autism positive” in 40% of a normal population children's sample. A modified SCQ (MSCQ) without these questions may be more specific than the SCQ.

To compare the performance of the MSCQ with that of the ADI-R.

42 children were recruited to the study, 22 from Mater CAMHS and 20 from St Paul's Hospital and Special School. 20 were diagnosed with autism, 10 with ASD, and 12 with other clinical diagnoses. The MSCQ was sent out as a postal questionnaire to be completed before attending for ADI-R interview. To assess the diagnostic validity of the MSCQ correlations between the MSCQ and ADI-R were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then applied to assess its discriminate ability.

A strong correlation of 0.84 was found between ADI-RTotal and MSCQTotal scores. Using ROC Curves, a cut-off of 14.5 on the MSCQ had a sensitivity of 0.90 and a specificity of 0.82 for identifying ASD from other clinical disorders. A cut-off of 21.5 on the MSCQ had a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.77 for identifying autism from other diagnoses.

These preliminary findings suggest that the MSCQ is a clinically useful and accurate method of assessing for ASD.

To examine the personality variable of self disclosure, and its relationship to depression, anxiety, aggression in adolescents.

80 adolescent inpatients in four university affiliated hospitals and 57 healthy adolescent controls were evaluated. The following measurements were employed: Beck Depression Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, The Impulse Control Scale, State and Trait Anger Expression Inventory, The Feeling and Acts of Violence Scale and Shulman Self Disclosure Scale.

There were significant negative correlations between depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and self disclosure to family members and significant positive correlations between control of anger and self disclosure towards family members, in the patient group.

The ability to self-disclose may be a protective variable. A focal point of intervention in preventing and treating psychopathology in adolescents may be fostering self- disclosure.

Prospective investigation of the intellectual development at the age of 6-7 years till age 15-16 years among persons exposed in utero following the Chernobyl accident.

250 persons from Belarus exposed in utero following the Chernobyl accident and a control group of 250 persons from non- and slightly contaminated regions. Рsychological examinations were performed among persons of both groups at the age 6-7 years, 11-12 years, and 16 years as well as dosimetrical analysis.

Mean antenatal internal dose to thyroid gland arising from the intake of 131I among persons of exposed group is 390±550 mGy (maximal dose - 4100 mGy), in control group - 35±65 mGy. Mean antenatal external dose among persons of exposed group is 10±13 mGy. At the age of 6-7 years the persons in the exposed group had a mean Full Scale IQ lower than the control group (89.6±10.2 vs 92.1±10.5, P=0.007). At the age of 11-12 years there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (94.3±10.4 vs 95.8±10.9, P=0.117). Positive dynamics of intellectual development in persons of both groups has been observed up to age of 16 years (98.7±10.2 и 99.5 ± 10.5, P=0.171).

No statistically significant correlation was found in exposed group between individual thyroid dose as well as individual antenatal external dose and IQ at the different ages.

Studies suggest that psychosocial events (stressors) may play a role in the precipitation of the episodes of Depression. Some individuals become upset by one episode. Others do not feel stress. Such trait affects their feelings.

Subjects are 108 children. They are 6-13 years old. The subjects completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) Japanese-version. They also completed “the Depressive Trait Questionnaire”. It consists of the descriptions of 12 events. Subjects were asked how they concerned themselves about each event, if the events occurred. Subjects marked as follows; 0: not at all, 1: a little, 2: deeply and 3: overly.

108 children completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); mean score: 8.56, standard deviation: 8.87. The scores of CES-D of these children ranged from 0 to 54. Children whose CES-D were 16 and more were supposed to be with depression. Factor analysis was performed on the 12 item scores of “the Depressive Trait Questionnaire”. The items which loaded Factor 1 represent anxiety for interpersonal relationship. The items which loaded Factor 2 and Factor 3 represent the image of loss and the emotion of anger respectively. Using logistic regression analysis, Anxiety subscale was significantly associated with depression (odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.17-1.87).

Among children to age 13, high subscale score of Anxiety may increase odds of depression. Anxiety may lead children to depression. It is needed to help children deal with anxiety for interpersonal relationship.

To report a 9-year-old girl with semantic-pragmatic language disorder.

Clinical manifestations and neuropsychological findings of the girl are presented.

The difficulties have occurred in communication. The difficulties have interfered with peer communication since she was a toddler. She cannot find appropriate words to explain what she would like to do or what she had done. She has made vocabulary errors. It is sometimes to say incorrect grammar. She has had difficulty understanding words. Tasks involving memory (e.g., memorizing writing Kanji or Kanji compounds) has been excellent for her. Japanese children are made to study a lot of kanji. Kanji has a complex shape. Though she can read and write Kanji, she cannot understand the words. Qualitative impairment in social interaction or restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior had not been found. She has also short attention span. She had been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder the Predominantly Inattentive Type when she was aged 5 years.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) was administered to her (FIQ = 103, VIQ = 97 and PIQ = 108). The scores on Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities Japanese-version were substantially below those obtained from standardized measures of nonverbal intellectual capacity. There was a discrepancy between the abilities of verbal and non-verbal semantic comprehension.

Atomoxetin has been administered to her. Her mother and her teachers understood her manifestations. Using pictures or other concrete examples, she has been educated. Gradually, she became to be interested in the meaning of words.

ADHD is supposed to be a heterogenous disorder with a complex etiology. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been reported to play a role for a wide range of learning and mood disorders, including ADHD. Furthermore, various additional factors might be beneficial to the buffering effect of PUFAs, including zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg). Zn protects lipids against peroxidation by its antioxidative force, as well as it is necessary for the maintenance of fatty acid metabolism enzyme activity. Mg is known to be an indispensable element for fatty acid enzymes and neuronal activities.

In this study, lipid, Zn and Mg concentrations were analysed to investigate the pathological processes within the lipid metabolism in ADHD. We assumed that children displaying symptoms of ADHD would have lower concentrations of Mg, Zn and/or different lipoproteins, compared to controls.

Blood serum concentrations of Zn, Mg, total cholesterol (Chol), Apolipoproteins a and b (Apo a and Apo b), High density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL) and Low density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL) were analysed in nine boys with ADHS (8.2 ± 0.6 years) and 11 controls (7.9 ± 0.87 years), at three times under different stressful conditions.

Mg and HDL concentrations were significantly higher as Apo b concentrations were lower in ADHD compared to the control group. None of the other parameters did show differences between both groups.

Mg and lipoproteins may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD. Further investigations should prove the controverse findings about the interrelationships between Mg concentrations and ADHD symptoms.

To review the literature on child sexual abuse with emphasis on psychosocial/psychodynamic aspects.

Systematic literature review from the articles indexed in Medline, PSYinfo, Pepsic, Lilacs and Scielo in the last ten years. Terms researched were: child sexual abuse, psychosocial, psychodynamic and psychoanalysis.

Child sexual abuse can have devastating consequences for the psychological functioning of children, possibly interfering with their proper process of development. It can contribute to violent behavior, acts of delinquency and mental disorders in adolescence and adulthood, as well as the development of comorbid post-traumatic stress and self-aggressive behaviors, risk behaviors and teenage pregnancy. Gravity of psychic consequences increase in relation to the frequency of abuse. Aspects of power, seduction and coercion are involved. Inequalities of age and gender are highlighted. Often practiced without the use of physical force, it may be difficult to be proven. A frequent abuser of familiarity with the child creates conditions that foster abuse. The revelation of the abuse may not occur, perpetuating the suffering and helplessness of the child. Sexually abused children may develop identification with the abuser and even become sexual offenders in adulthood. There are difficulties in the conceptual definition of abuse, the establishment of protocols for investigative and therapeutic management of cases and in predicting the immediate consequences along with the medium and long-term consequences.

Studies on the therapeutic practices used for the treatment of abused children and their families can help to construct therapeutic models, minimizing suffering in this terrible situation of violence.

To investigate socio-demographic and clinical trials of 19 sexually abused children.

Statistical analysis with SPSS of data on psychiatric and pediatric care of sexually abused children, aged 2-12 years old, treated at the Pediatric Service of University of Campinas-Brazil Clinical Hospital in 2007.

From a total of 19 children, 2 (10.5%) were boys and 17 (89.5%) girls. The average age group was 7.4 years. Eleven (57.9%) attended regular school, one (5.3%) attended special school, one (5.3%) pre-school and six (31.5%) did not attend any school. Regarding ethnicity, 11 (57.9%) children were white and eight (42.1%) non-white. The abuse was committed with physical threats in nine (47.4%) cases, without threats in two (10.5%). Eight children were unable to define physical threat. The abuse occurred only once in 10 (52.6%) cases and several times in nine (47.4%). Prior psychiatric treatment occurred in two (5.3%) children and psychological treatment in six (31.6%). Twelve (63.2%) children had never attended psychological or psychiatric consultations. Eleven (57.9%) children received a psychiatric diagnosis and referral for treatment. In 13 (68.4%) attendance was diagnosed in the Z-code of the International Classification of Diseases-10. Family and people close to children appear as abusers in 15 cases (78.9%).

Despite the small sample, this study supports the literature in which child sexual abuse appears as a phenomenon more frequent in girls, dysfunctional families, and practiced mainly by family members or close friends of children. The relationship with psychiatric disorders was also highlighted.

We investigated the timing of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use initiation in adolescents, focusing on three levels of predictors: (1) individual-, (2) family- and (3) neighborhood characteristics.

A community-representative sample of 440 mother-child dyads was assessed 4 times over 6 years. Children were on average 10 (+ 2) years old at baseline (T1), with equal SES, gender and ethnic representation.

We examined the timing of first alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use as reported by children on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) at T3 in relation to predictors collected at baseline (T1).

Individual-level predictors at T1 included child gender, race, and child reports of sensation seeking. Family-level predictors included household size, maternal education, family income, and child-reported exposure to home violence. Finally, maternal and child reports regarding gangs and drugs in the neighborhood, and child reports of neighborhood violence were factor-analyzed into a single scale, where higher scores reflected unsafer neighborhoods.

To examine the timing of first cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use as a function of the above predictors, three separate Cox regression (i.e., survival) models were estimated.

Controlling for all other predictors, neighborhood safety remained significant predictor of substance use initiation among adolescents across all three examined substances. Children living in unsafe neighborhoods started, on average, smoking, drinking, and using marijuana at an earlier age, as indicated by positive and significant regression coefficients.

These results point to the importance of broader contextual influences - such as neighborhoods - on underage substance use initiation.

Impaired facial emotion recognition, especially fear were widely described in adolescents with conduct disorder, and some literature data indicate similar changes in adolescents with ADHD. However, to our best knowledge the relationship between emotion recognition, conduct symptoms and hyperactivity measures in a mixed clinical population were not investigated.

A mixed clinical population of 56 adolescents (19 girls) between age 11-16 (13.4 on average) admitted to the acute department of Vadaskert Child Psychiatry Hospital was taken part in our study. The parental and self-report version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), facial emotion recognition test including six basic emotions (FEEST) and Raven IQ measures were performed.

In the overall population, in 21 cases externalization symptoms, while in 35 cases internalizing symptoms dominated the condition. Fear recognition irrespective to age and IQ were significantly worse in externalizing teens compared to internalizing ones (p< 0.05), while the recognition of other investigated emotions (anger, disgust, happiness, sadness, surprise) did not show significant differences. In the overall population, only fear recognition was significantly related to self reported conduct (R=-0.35, p< 0.01) and hyperactivity problems (R=-0.27, p< 0.05), while overall emotion recognition was related to both self reported hyperactivity (R=-0.33, p< 0.02) and parent reported hyperactivity problems (R=-0.29, p< 0.03).

Our results indicate that hyperactivity symptoms measured by SDQ were specifically related to impairments in fear recognition, and this effect is irrespective from attention problems as no relationship between symptom severity and other emotions were observed.

To assess efficacy and safety of tenoten for children (TC, ultra-low doses of antibodies to S100 protein) in ADHD patients.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study 50 children (6-12 years) met DSM-IV criteria, mild/moderate CGI-ADHD-Severity and ADHDRS-IV-Parent:Inv > 22 points were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either TC (2 tablets BID, n=25) or placebo (n=25) for 12 weeks. ADHD symptoms were assessed by ADHDRS-IV-Parent:Inv, CPRS-R:S and CGI-ADHD-Severity.

According to both parents and investigators assessment TC decreased ADHD symptoms: ADHDRS-IV total score reduced by 13.5 points, hyperactivity by 6.7 points, inattention by 6.8 points (5.4, 2.3 and 3.2 in placebo); CPRS-R:S total score reduced by 12.8 points, hyperactivity by 3.6 points, inattention by 6.1 points (4.8, 1.8 and 1.7 in placebo). ADHD severity reduced in 9 patients received TC and 3 patients received placebo. No adverse effects were reported in both groups.

The study demonstrated good clinical efficacy and safety of TC in children with ADHD.

PMU, Emma Children's Hospital, AMC Amsterdam, tertiary referral centre for children with invalidating functional complaints (at least two present):

1. - impact on their social/family life's

2. - given up their hobbies

3. - school absenteeism

Complaints; long-lasting (> 3 months) and therapy resistant

PMU-approach:

• • integrated approach starting at intake by paediatrician and psychiatrist/psychotherapist; → Explanation; body and mind belong together

• • Validation of complaints by full history and thorough physical examination → Complaints are real, no doubt.

• • Explanation of complaints by models (stress model, brain-gut axis, sensitisation model)

• • Individual treatment (rehabilitation, graded exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy etc.)

:

• • Retrospective observational study (charts) in children with abdominal pain (ap) and headache as primary complaint

• • Measuring persistence of complaints/ invalidation level

• • 66 pt evaluated (42 pt with ap, 24 pt with headache), 43 girls (65.2%) Age at first visit; mean 13.5 yr (range 6-17):

  1. - 34 pt finished treatment

  2. - 19 pt in treatment

  3. - 6 pt one consult planned

  4. - 5 pt no follow-up after intake

  5. - 2 pt no complaints at moment of intake

• • Duration complaints: >2 yrs in 31 pt (47.0%), school absenteeism ≥ 20% in 46 pt (69.7%), 33,3% visited > 5 care providers for complaints.

• • 16 pt (47.1%) treatment < 6 months

• • 25 pt (73,5%) lost/minimized complaints, 22 pt (64.7%) no school absenteeism.

PMU-approach; good results for this serious invalidated patient group with therapy resistant functional complaints. Note; relative small group, not yet long term follow-up.

Anorexia mentalis is a psychiatric disease followed by body deterioration.Goal: The selecting of medicament treatment and psychotherapy, following certain procedures which will lead the patient into the quickest psychosomatics functioning.

During the period from January till December 2007, 15 female patients, age 14-19, were treated. Six of them were treated with Haloperidol, and 9 received Olanzapine treatment.The therapy consists of:A:A “two-way” therapy and “multi-level”therapy”: food intake (high energy supplements and meals) and body mass growth curve, i.e. physical and psychical conditions are simultaneously monitored (horizontal level).B: Pharmacotherapy (neuroleptics and antidepressives)C: Psychotherapy (individual, family, behavioral, psychodynamic) (vertical level A, B)The treatment is pervasive and in stages, with individual corrections by the therapist according to specificity of each patient.

The following parameters were observed: body weight, BMI, hormonal status, regaining menstrual cycle, and psychical status, brain NMR scan, period of hospitalization. Female patients treated with Olanzapine gained 3-4 kg in one month, during that period psychopathology gradually faded: obsessive thoughts about weight loss, disturbed body image. Depressive emotionality lasts longer; therefore the antidepressives are included in therapy. Female patients treated with Haloperidol gained body weight slower, in a period of five months in average, and they also showed slower psychopathological restitution.

Anorexia is very serious psychological disease that can be a death threat to a patients physical health, therefore, an early disease detection, timely reaction and treatment are essential.

The relationship of DRD4exonIII48bp VNTR and executive function were studied in 86 children with Tourette's Syndrome.

86 Han Chinese children with GTS were tested using a set of neuropsychological test(Stroop test, trail making test,modified Wisconsin Card sorting test) and compared with 51 healthy control group to understand the relationship between executive deficits and genetics.

Compared with normal children, The GTS group showed impairment on almost all psychological measures. In some stroop test, combined ADHD group differed from the GTS-alone group. No evidence show significantly difference among DRD4exonIII48bp VNTR and executive function.

GTS patient has executive function deficits,these deficits may have nothing to do with DRD4exonIII48bp VNTR.For comorbid, there is a certain influence in the executive function.

Were violent/non-violent traumatic life events and victimization by/witnessing violence associates of attempted suicide among depressed adolescents who were also less resilient at early adulthood?

The present study examined a subset of mainly depressed, age-and-gender matched, adolescents derived from a representative sample of 2464 students (T1, mean age = 13.7 years) followed-up after one year (T2Q) and reassessed 5 years later (T3, n = 252, mean age = 20.0 years, 73% participation), with a questionnaire, including the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and K-SADS-PL psychiatric interviews which also tapped traumatic life events.

Logistic regression analyses revealed that attempters were victims, not witnesses of violence; more depressed and less resilient than non-attempters, and that resilience was a moderator of lifetime violent events and attempted suicide, even in the presence of antecedent depression.

To analyze the different combination of personality pathology associated to variables of psychiatric hospital admissions (number of admissions, total of days spent as psychiatric inpatient, average of days for admission, and number of admissions in a day care hospital).

The ICD-10 and DSM-IV modules of the semi-structured interview IPDE (International Personality Disorders Examination) were administered, in a sample of 107 adolescent psychiatric patients (M=15.8, SD=0.8 years old; age rank 15-17; 79% female).

Personality pathology group identified by the IPDE showed significantly higher number (p< .001) of psychiatric admissions (M=1.48) than no personality pathology group (M=0.57), but not significant higher number of admissions in a day care hospital. Psychotic patients showed the highest rate of admissions (M=2.88). In present sample, between 30% and 38% of all hospital admitted patients showed a Cluster B personality disorder (PD).The users of psychiatric inpatient services with a complex PD (two o more PD from different clusters) presents in average: 2-2.5 admissions, 34-53 total days spent as psychiatric inpatient, and 11-16 days on each admission.

Patients with psychotic disorders or complex PD were the highest users of inpatients services, but not of day care hospital admissions.

The family is one of main factors, which have influence on body and mental health of the children especially in early ages. The aim of study was to explore the family status of the children with behavior disorders.

During 2007-2008 years 112 families were observed with children 10-15 years old with behavior disorders. The research methods were clinical-anamnesistical and clinical-psychological. Also the parents of the children answered on the questionnaire about development of their child in infancy and upbringing.

There are following types of unfortunate families: incomplete family (46,3%), formal family (25%) where parents are at the stage of divorcement and the mutual respect and understanding are absent; family with alcoholic way of life (74,5%), antisocial family (79,8%) with criminal and antisocial mode of life. The prevalent method in upbringing was hypo wardship at the 46, 4% (n = 51. In 43,6% (n = 48) of cases type of upbringing was estimated as child neglect generally it was family where both parents led antisocial way of life. In 10% (n = 11) of families upbringing was made as hyper wardship. In the majority of cases (79 5% (n = 89)) children had the poor conditions of life.

The conducted investigation showed that families where children were bringing up with violations of behaviour could be considered as socially deformed with antisocial mode of upbringing. The findings could be useful for development of complex rehabilitation program for children with behavior disorders.

The results showed that the adolescents were more concerned about their physical appearance (body dissatisfaction and obsession with being thin), by their social environment (interpersonal distrust). The Anorexia (AN) has alarming increase of the disorders of the food conduct in the last two decades. The conception etiopatogénica current is multifactorial: biopsicosocial, where the more important are the sociocultural factors.

To assess the presence of symptoms of cognitive and behavioural symptoms characteristic of eating disorders in adolescents.

Clinical case: four neighbors of the same village, who initiated being adolescents, food restriction. Finally, three of them needed hospitable revenue. In our case, they are athletes, favorite children of the best families and they form part of the regional soccer team. Like a jobby, being children, they competed furtively “to see wich one lost more weight “

Theory Multifactorial postulates that the Anorexia nervosa would be a complex interaction betewing the psychological and family factors that would lead the teenager to rejecting the food; the consistent malnutrition would produce changes hipotalámicos and endocrine that would contribute to the disorders of the corporal image and the fear of the obesity.

Our adolescents with normal weight showed specific factors for developing eating disorders in the future. The sociocultural influences and concretly, “the longing thinness ” constitute the principal factor predisposition of maintenance of these disorders. It seems to be important to anticipate the clinical conditions that they could accompany on the future cases in our young men.