Ömer Faruk Akça

Mothers ' alexithymia, depression and anxiety levels and their association with the quality of mother- infant relationship: A preliminary study

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the relationship between mothers and their developmentally normal infants in terms of maternal alexithymia, depression and anxiety, and marital satisfaction. Methods. Fifty children between 18 and 48 months of age, and their mothers, were referred consecutively to the Infant Mental Health Unit of Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The sociodemographic features of the families and the depressive symptoms, anxiety, marital satisfaction and alexithymia levels of the mothers were assessed. The relationships between children in normal developmental stages and their mothers were evaluated and rated using a structured clinical procedure. Results. There was a negative correlation between the mothers’ alexithymia scores and the quality of the mother-infant relationship (p < 0.05). Mothers with high alexithymia showed higher depression and lower relationship qualities than mothers with low alexithymia, according to the correlation analysis. When depression and anxiety were controlled, high alexithymia levels were predictive of a low, impaired mother-infant relationship. Conclusion. Since alexithymia is a trait-like variable which has a negative correlation with impairment in a mother-infant relationship, it must be investigated in the assessment of mothers’ interactions with their babies.

ADHD symptoms, breast‐feeding and obesity in children and adolescents

Attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been found to be related to overweight/obesity in children and adolescents, but it is a heterogeneous disorder, and the relationships between the dimensions of ADHD and overweight/obesity are not clear. The aim of this study was to explore which dimensions of the disorder are specifically associated with overweight/obesity.

Anxiety sensitivity: Changes with puberty and cardiovascular variables

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a relatively stable dispositional variable that may increase the risk for anxiety‐related symptoms, particularly panic attack, among individuals of all age groups. Changes in AS during adolescence in healthy individuals, however, has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the relationship of AS with puberty level, pulse rate, and blood pressure in healthy adolescents.

The Relationship between ADHD Symptoms, Breastfeeding and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been found to be related to overweight/obesity in children and adolescents, but it is a heterogeneous disorder, and the relationships between the dimensions of ADHD and overweight/obesity are not clear. The aim of this study was to explore which dimensions of the disorder are specifically associated with overweight/obesity.

Underinvolved Relationship Disorder and related factors in a sample of young children

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The interaction between the infant and the caregiver is stated to be very important in the development of a child. When there is inadequacy of interaction, several emotional and developmental problems can emerge. We aimed to investigate the socio-demographic and clinical features of children diagnosed with Underinvolved Relationship Disorder according to the DC:0-3R classification system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Four hundred and fifty seven children aged between 1 and 59 months, who had been admitted to an infant mental health clinic were assessed using the DC:0-3R classification system and the whole sample was divided into two groups, the group in which Underinvolved Relationship Disorder between the child and the caregiver had been detected (URD), and the group in which this had not been detected (NURD). These two groups were compared with regard to socio-demographic features, reasons for referral, primary diagnoses, relational disorders, medical/developmental conditions, psychosocial stressors and the Parent-Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIRGAS) scores of children. RESULTS Language delay, insufficient social interaction and aggression were found to be significantly more frequent reasons for referral in URD. Disorders of Relating and Communicating (equivalent to the Pervasive Developmental Disorders in DSM IV) and Deprivation/Maltreatment Disorder were more frequent primary diagnoses, Verbally or Physically Abusive Relationship Disorder was significantly more frequent relational disorder in URD. Mild and moderate mental retardation were significantly more frequent in URD, and social environment, educational/child care and health-care access challenges were found to be more frequent psychosocial stressors in the parents of URD. The Mean PIRGAS scores were significantly lower in URD connoting that the parent-infant relationship is poorer. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of Underinvolved Relationship Disorder according to the DC:0-3R classification system is related to some developmental and psychosocial problems.

The Relationship Between Parental Affective Temperament Traits and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Symptoms in Children With ADHD

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between parental affective temperaments and the oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) symptoms of children with ADHD. Method: The sample consisted of 542 treatment-naive children with ADHD and their biological parents. Children were assessed via both parent- and teacher-rated behavioral disorder scales. Parental affective temperament and ADHD symptoms were measured by self-report inventories. The relationships between psychiatric variables were evaluated using structural equation modeling. Results: According to parent-rated behavioral disorder scales, paternal cyclothymic and maternal irritable temperaments were associated with ODD scores, and maternal depressive temperament was associated with CD scores. In terms of teacher-rated behavioral disorder scales, maternal anxious temperament was associated with ODD scores, and paternal cyclothymic and maternal depressive temperaments were associated with CD scores. Conclusion: These results suggest that certain parental affective temperaments are related to an increase in symptoms of disruptive behavioral disorders in children with ADHD.

Association of reactive-proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

This study evaluates the associations among the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD) in the context of their relationships with reactive–proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 342 treatment-naive children with ADHD. The severity of ADHD and DBD symptoms were assessed via parent- and teacher-rated inventories. Anxiety sensitivity, reactive–proactive aggression and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms of children were evaluated by self-report inventories. According to structural equation modeling, depression and anxiety scores had a relation with the DBD scores through reactive–proactive aggression. Results also showed a negative relation of the total scores of anxiety sensitivity on DBD scores, while conduct disorder scores had a positive relation with anxiety scores. This study suggests that examining the relations of reactive–proactive aggression and anxiety sensitivity with internalizing and externalizing disorders could be useful for understanding the link among these disorders in ADHD.

Relationships among depression, anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and perceived social support in adolescents with conversion disorder.

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationships of depression, anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and perceived social support with conversion symptoms in adolescents with conversion disorder (CD). Methods: Fifty outpatients, aged 8–18 years, who had been diagnosed with CD and members of a control group were assessed using the psychological questionnaires. Results: Compared with controls, adolescents with CD scored higher on the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Screen for Child Anxiety-related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) total, CASI physical and cognitive subscales, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support family subscale. Multiple regression analysis showed that CDI, CASI total, and CASI cognitive scores predicted the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) scores and that CDI and CASI total scores predicted the Childrens Somatization Inventory (CSI) scores of subjects. Conclusions: This study suggest that adolescents with CD had poor psychosocial well-being, and depression, global anxiety sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns are related to conversion symptoms.

Relationships Among Depression, Anxiety, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Perceived Social Support in Adolescents with Conversion Disorder

Introduction Only a limited number of studies have examined the association of conversion disorder (CD) with depression and anxiety in adolescents. Furthermore, no data regarding the association of CD with anxiety sensitivity and perceived social support are available. This study aimed to assess the relationships among psychological characteristics and conversion symptoms in adolescents. Methods We assessed 50 outpatients, aged 8–18 years, who had been diagnosed with CD and members of a control group using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Screen for Child Anxiety-related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Symptoms of CD were assessed using the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) and Childrens Somatization Inventory (CSI). Results Compared with controls, adolescents with CD scored higher on the CDI, SCARED, CASI total, CASI physical and cognitive subscales, and MSPSS total and MSPSS family subscale. Multiple regression analysis showed that CDI, CASI total, and CASI cognitive scores predicted the SDQ scores and that CDI and CASI total scores predicted the CSI scores of subjects. Conclusion This study suggest that adolescents with CD had poor psychosocial well-being, and depression and global AS and AS cognitive concerns may play a role in the development of conversion symptoms.

Association of Anxiety, Anxiety Sensitivity and Depressive Symptoms with Aggression and Disruptive Behavioral Disorders in Children with ADHD

Introduction Numerous factors including anxiety, anxiety sensitivity (AS), and depression were reported to be relevant to the aggression both for disruptive behavioral disorders (DBD) in children and for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the pathways through which they act are insufficiently understood. Objectives To investigate the role of anxiety, AS, and depression in the relationship between aggression and DBD symptoms in ADHD children. Methods The sample consisted of 342 treatment naive children with ADHD aged 9-17 years. ADHD severity and comorbid DBD were assessed via parent and teacher rated Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavioral Disorders Screening and Rating Scale. Severity of anxiety, AS, depression, and reactive and proactive agression of children were evaluated by self-report inventories. The association between DBD and other psychiatric variables was evaluated with two separate structural equation models. Results Relationships of psychiatric variables and DBD symptoms were presented in Figures 1 and 2. Discussion: These results may suggest the presence of a vicious circle between anxiety, reactive aggression and DBD in ADHD children. However, global AS seems to have a protective effect on the development of DBD, probably due to its role in aversive conditioning. Download : Download full-size image Download : Download full-size image Figure . Structural model for the perdictores of parent-rated disruptice behavioural disorders symptoms in children with ADHD